Black, White and Red all over - Heights Modern Loft

This pair of empty nesters migrated south from Colorado to Texas and settled in the lovely historic Heights of Houston. With their human kids grown up and gone away (they still have two feline fur babies), they decided to downsize to a loft and upgrade to a more modern look. Lofts present some spacial challenges because they are small and relatively unstructured. In order to visually and functionally expand the space, design must be streamlined and free of clutter, with pieces strategically placed to add shape and form to the free flowing nature of many lofts. Ceilings that cap at fourteen feet definitely aid in opening up the area, and provide sufficient wall space for this couple's extensive art collection, but this tremendous downsize was still a challenge. See how we put their art on display, complemented by some old and new pieces of furniture, and gave their new home a modern, yet traditional and homey look. 

Concrete floors and exposed brick can feel a bit cold and industrial, especially paired with the contrasting color combo of red, black, and white. In order to bring in some unifying warmth, we featured several walnut pieces throughout that blended the red-brown of the brick with the black pieces that accessorize their home. 

 

Finding a place to sit in this living room is a nonissue. You can choose between the modern sofa bench, the pair of matching chairs, or the four red hot bar stools. To keep themselves and their fur babies happy, the couple needed to use comfy yet sturdy materials that they kitties could climb on and relax.

Speaking of seating, this modern sofa bench not only opens up the space by providing visual flow, but it also opens up the options of where to sit. The removable seat backs provide guests with endless possibilities to maximize (or even minimize!) their social interactions. 

This may seem like a simple coffee table, but it is so, SO smart-- especially for this space. Though a unique shape, the triangular with rounded corners is perfectly positioned between the living room's available seating. The base faces the sofa and the other two sides face the matching chairs that seated at nearly the same angle. Still nothing can get in the way of guests chatting and gliding from space to space.

Just beyond the sofa is the dining area. Again, the sofa allows the living and dining 'rooms' to be brought together perfectly so guests can feel free to glide from space to space. Here is a great example how to blend traditional with modern: a refinished antique dining table and chairs offsets the cool edge of the modern pieces.

Perfect for parties, we equipped the dining area with a full bar cabinet to the left, and a sideboard storage to the right that can easily serve a buffet. This loft was designed for entertaining! However, the large windows may make some nosy neighbors jealous they weren't invited... Maybe next time, neighbors!

Enough talk about the furniture- let's move on to the art and accessories! When space is limited, its crucial that displayed items are always kept organized in a way that looks deliberate. Board games, books, religious symbols, family photos, and vases can all coexist on these floating shelves in a visually appealing manner because they're grouped by color and complemented by other items to be equal in height.

You can bet that I needed a ladder to install the artwork here. Tall ceilings are lovely, elegant, and elongating especially when the walls are adorned with art. This couple had a fairly extensive collection of pieces dear to them that they wanted to put on display. Even though they downsized, there was plenty of wall space to accommodate. 

The paintings were continuous with the classic color scheme of red, black, and white featured in the furnishings, textiles, and other accessories. Fresh paintings subtly bring in more color to a space to make it overall more interesting. 

Just to brag about these ceilings one more time, we had enough height to add not just one but TWO chandeliers! In a loft, this is a big deal. One in the living space and one in the dining area bring in just enough light to the rest of the room. 

What a wonderful, fresh start for a new chapter in this couple's life together: a cool loft in a hip part of town, modern, and designed with entertaining in mind. They may be empty nesters, but their kids are sure to stop in for a visit (or maybe just a drink or two!). 

If you have a project in mind but just don't know where to start, we can help! Contact us! 

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Coakley Residence- Bloom Where You Are Planted

  For this jet-setting professional, finding a place she could lovingly call ‘home’ wasn’t always an option-- until she one day decided to root herself in Houston. Starting from the ground up, this home needed everything--down to a mattress! While a fresh start is always exciting and the opportunities seem endless, this new homeowner already had a vision of planting the perfect home.

 Feeling as if you can float through this home, the ocean blues and greens found in every room offer a serene continuity that is vastly welcoming and comforting. Each guest bedroom serves as a haven for all of the travelers that pass through. Comfort, charm, and ample storage create the perfect space for guests to feel at home.

  

Along with the blues and greens, gray is used throughout the home to be neutral and calming. To add a touch of depth and intrigue, try using many of the infinite shades of gray rather than trying tirelessly to match gray swatches (boring!). As seen in this living room, texture and myriad hues of the same color make this room deeply interesting yet with a calming effect. The sleek leather chair, velveteen couch, and tufted chair are large neutral pieces that allow for small bursts of color to really spark interest.

 Seating arrangements must be strategic! All chairs, sofas, and love seats need to be positioned comfortably so that all guests can socialize without leaving anyone out. This can be difficult to achieve, especially while keeping people’s seating preferences in mind. Whether in the kitchen, dining room, or living room, there is usually a visual focal point in a room for guests to be actively or passively engaged with (think cooking, watching the game on TV, playing Pictionary, looking at each other across the room, whatever!).

  

Our client longed for her home to be clutter free. As you’ll notice in her minimalist office, furniture in the center of the room is streamlined and skeletal. It fulfills its duty as a desk, chair, computer, etc. while keeping the rest of the room visible. Larger pieces of furniture are placed against the wall to keep the room appearing spacious, while concealing anything that may clutter this workspace.

 

 I never quite understood the phrase ‘the devil is in the details.’ The wooden hexagons pieced carefully together to create this beautiful desk seems rather heavenly to me. I suppose that phrase is highly interpretive, but I’d rather replace ‘devil’ with ‘beauty.’ I’d even go so far to say that this desk and wonderfully colorful rug were a match made in design heaven.

When she isn’t working from home, entertaining guests, or traveling the world, our client retreats to her home’s master bedroom to relax and rejuvenate. Soothing grays, blues, and whites seem like rolling waves that crash soft and white upon a quiet shore. All that is needed for a satisfying rest is a bed and a pair of bed-side lamps.

 Being the traveler she is, she understands the importance of having a comfortable place to touch base, and aimed to offer just that to her guests who spend a night or two (or ten!). And with that, her home bloomed where it was planted: from an empty space in Houston into a haven where all her loved ones can gather.

 

 

Not enough seating? Don’t worry- there’s another entire kitchen and dining area OUTSIDE! This is by far the most impressive feature a host can offer her guests. Outdoor hospitality in Houston is a must- Houstonians are proud to handle the heat, but from a shaded distance. Grilling, making refreshing cocktails, and keeping beer cold are just a few of the amenities offered in this outdoor kitchen.

And still, guests are able to socialize in style and comfort as the colors from inside continue outside, but with new textures. The blue hues in the slate blend the orange from the house’s brick in with the gray of the furniture. Stainless steel appliances add sophistication to this outdoor kitchen.

Urban Residence: The Dwelling of a Homo Sapiens Urbano

At the turn of the twentieth century, a novel and peculiar species of man evolved: the homo sapiens urbano. Distinct from other species of man, the homo sapiens urbano tactfully merges elements of the outside concrete jungle with the sacred space inside their home. This urban residence transforms into a serene escape from city life while keeping consistent with the neutral palette and pops of color seen in any bustling cityscape. 

 

 As a functional city requires a straightforward, streamlined layout; so does a functional home. The homo sapiens urbano has a heightened awareness of this necessity, as evidenced in the minimalist philosophy that defines the style of this clean living space.

Additionally, this species proves to be quite territorial, marking its space with unique artifacts such as the custom paintings and artwork displayed throughout the home. These offer opportunity for abstract thought, profound reflection, or simply for aesthetic admiration for the artist.  

The dwelling place of the homo sapiens urbano achieves balance between dark and light by using slightly muted tones of orange and yellow that accent the stone and light sapphire painted walls. 

Just as blooming flora and bright fauna diversify an environment, the color, shape, and texture of pillows, rugs, throws, upholstery and other accent textiles simultaneously offer diversity and comfort to this urban abode.  

If you have a project in mind but just don't know where to start, we can help! Contact us! 

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Design Tip: Adding Accent Colors to a Neutral Palette

Color is a difficult thing for many people when designing a space. They know what they like just maybe not the right shade or don't know how much to use.  It is your home, so do what makes you happy but for those of you who don't know exactly how to pull together a space with what makes you happy, here are some pointers! Enjoy!

 Let there be one dominate accent color. Lots of blue on the wall and a single object in red.

 Don't want too much color? Try a neutral palette with a few pieces in a bright colors. Also this makes it easy to change your color scheme when you feel the need.

Bright white is always a great choice when adding really bold colors in a room. It lets the accents speak up. 

 Want to use more than two colors? Of course you can!  Make sure they have enough contrast and are given a neutral background.

Bold wallpaper is always a great way to introduce a color. Make sure to leave the rest of the room neutral enough so the wallpaper is the focus and nothing will compete with it.

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Let the Inspiration Begin!

Hi There!  Glad you found my blog! I am Suzanne and I hope to inspire you with fresh, fun ideas for your dwelling.  Whether you are new to the wonderful world of design or you are an enthusiast like me, you will find something that inspires!

But first, I will share with you a little about me! I enjoy all kinds of design and anything creative. Sharing ideas and the creativity it sparks is what drove me to blogging.

I hope to highlight some new ideas and products that you would have maybe missed, if it wasn't for this design blog.  Giving you some inspiration and a place to connect with me and other design loving people.

Here are a few of my favorite things! Enjoy.

 This is the way to use a bold color in a room.  Just a little for the accent chair and in a few medium accessories and VOILA!  Also, notice the different wood tones. Perfect way to blend them without being matchy-matchy. It creates a more "collected" look that looks like you built your room piece by piece.

 Gore Design Co. makes these AH-mazing sinks out of concrete. I think they're beautiful and really durable. Definitely having one made for my next bathroom design!

The Eames Lounge Chair. 

Best chair all around (obviously my favorite)- it is comfortable and looks good in just about any space. Pair it with an ultra  modern living room or a relaxed cottage living room, pretty sure it will look great in both! 

  

 I did a similar photo arrangement in my first place.  Random frames, all painted to match and black and white pictures. Did this down the entire hall it had a cool effect- cohesive yet eclectic.

The santomer dining table has always been one of my favs! Its reclaimed wood from building tear downs.  You can get the base in various stains but I love the striking look of ebony stained mahogany. Pair this with any style of chair; I like the ghost chair from Kartell. 

 I LOVE exposed brick! I have yet to have some in any of my dwellings but someday I will have it! 

There is just something about old brick paired with new furniture.....so delish. 

Unique storage is always fun! What would have been a hollow blank wall 

can be transformed into a wall of bookshelves! Giving you plenty of storage for all you 

book lovers and an attractive wall of art!

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One Piece...Two Uses!

Not everyone lives a large and in-charge house and has abundant storage areas. Like me, and most of the city dwellers I know, we have limited space to keep the things we love, need and use throughout our everyday lives. I am always looking for multifunctional pieces of furniture to use in not only my own home but the homes of my clients as well. For those of you who need a little insight into the wonderful world of multi-use furniture....here you go! Enjoy!

 It's a shelf....not it's a desk.... it's BOTH! This is perfect for a laptop user that doesn't really need a full blown desk.  Taking up less floor space than a traditional desk and looks pretty cool too!

 Coffee Table with built in floor cushions. Brilliant! Could also store items in the middle part.

 Sit. Store. Drink Wine. What a great idea for those who love wine but don't really have a giant collection or a wine cellar. And sitting in this chair means you don't even have to leave you seat to fill your glass up!

Bookshelf turned eating area!! Store anything you want in the cubbies and when you need a place to eat just pull out a chair! This is great for any small space!

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