Project: A Place Fit for a Queen

I recently finished a project where my client wanted to use her favorite color, purple. Being a designer can have it's challenges, such as designing with a new color or creating an overall look or style that you have yet to do before. Designing high rise lofts has become a favorite for me and every time I get the chance to design them I have a blast! With my most recent project that was the case and we were going to design with a color that we don't use very often. For this project, my client a cheerful, easy-going lady who wanted her home to be show stopping. Incorporating her love for purple, making each space have a wow factor was important. She wanted something unique, functional and stunning. Here are some photos of the finished spaces and I want to share them with you! Enjoy!

 We wanted the bedroom to have a little femininity to it but nothing over the top. A soft ivory linen, tufted headboard was a great place to start and to make the bed more of a focal point we used a warm grey paint as the accent wall. This made for a nice backdrop for the white and purple painting. 

 A chandelier is always a must for a queen's bedroom, with the 10' ceilings this allowed us to use a decent size chandelier without being too large for the space.

 When the sun goes down there is light to be need at night. We used small mercury glass lamps on the bedside chests for soft lighting in the bedroom. The chests were a must for this smaller room to give our client enough storage and to keep her organized.

 While we kept  most of the room neutral, we wanted to bedding to be the pop of color we need. Solid in color but heavy in texture gives the bed that inviting feel while also mimicking the tufted headboard.

 Crisp and clean lines make this room feel relaxing even with the bold purple bedding.

 Client requested a good amount of pillows and so that is what we gave her, a hotel looking bed with plenty of pillows.

 The views in this place are amazing so we opted for no window treatments to allow the views to be a focus. Minimal furniture in this space to allow traffic to flow from room to room. We used the same grey paint from the bedroom in the living room and it works perfectly with the charcoal sofa.

We did a personal photo wall in the entry. I love giving clients something that makes there place reflect them even more. We mounted large black and white photos on gold paper and framed in a simple, clean black frames. Gold was an accent we use a little in each space but since the hallway need a little more interest, we decided to use in as the backdrop for the photos.

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 Details: 5 Tips for a Perfect Kitchen

When designing a kitchen there is a lot that goes into it. Things that you may have never thought about until your designer brought them to your attention. Things like what counter top edge or a handle or knob for your cabinets do you prefer. These are things that can bring your kitchen together and make it reflect you.  Whether you are doing a few small kitchen upgrades or gutting and starting over these are some good things to keep in mind. Enjoy!

Tile: Stone? Glass? Ceramic? Think about how you cook, do you splatter occasionally or are you as neat as can be? These make a difference when selecting a tile for your back splash and even your floor.  Stone is a natural product which many people like but if not sealed properly it can be prone to stains and if the stone tile is heavily textured it could get food particles stuck in the crevices. Glass is pretty easy to clean,  not usually a good idea for floors. Now it can show fingerprints and water spots but those disappear once you wipe it off. Ceramic tile is a good inexpensive option and durable.  Ceramic comes in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes so if you are looking for ceramic you will can easily find something you like.

Lighting: Overhead and Task Lighting is important in a working kitchen. Usually when doing a remodel recessed lights are a great choice but don't forget about task lighting. Under cabinet lighting is a great choice fr task lighting. Overhead light can be blocked by your shadow when doing tasks like cutting veggies. Make sure not to overlook this important detail that can make cooking in your kitchen more functional. 

Counter Tops: Granite? Concrete? Wood? Granite has reigned champion for many years now and yes it is durable, its a rock. But there are other options and regardless what material you choose think about the finished edge of your counter top. Bull nose is commonly used in more traditional designs or a rounded bevel edge but think beyond your neighbors kitchen. If you are going for a more modern look then maybe a 90 degree edge is best.  Granite is abundant but who knows how long we will be able to source it. Keep in mind granite does need to be sealed and every year or so you could reseal it to keep it looking great. Concrete, this versatile man-made material is making a splash in the residential interior design world.  Concrete counter top fabricators can make exactly what you want; you can get any color you want by staining it and you can also get additional materials set in the concrete. I have done a concrete with recycled glass set in it and it turned out great! So no it doesn't have to be just grey. Wood Counter tops are making a comeback! For people who do a lot of prep work (chopping) a wood counter could be your own built in butcher block! But some prefer only doing a certain section of their counters in wood. Also wood can be used as an interesting bar material. A slab of wood with a live edge can be a great accent in a kitchen and even a conversation piece. 

Cabinet Hardware: Handle or Knob? Think how you grab to open a drawer or cabinet. This will help you make a comfortable decision.  Some prefer knobs that are easy to grab others prefer pulls or a handle style. If you have a tendency to brush against the cabinets and snag your clothes then something with a smooth edge or doesn't stick out too far is probably what you want to keep in mind when looking for new cabinet hardware.  Also placement on the drawer or cabinet can make a difference in ease of use.

Cabinet Finish:Gloss or Matte Think about the other elements in your kitchen. Did you go with a glossy glass back splash or high gloss counters? You want some variety in your materials. Try to not make every surface the same gloss level. If you have high shine on back splash and/or counters then consider doing a more matte finish on cabinets. If you go with a natural stone that has a matte finish then high gloss cabinets can be a good choice to create more interest. 

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Little cost, BIG effect!

A little bit of COLOR can add a lot to a space!  A simple change brightens a room, pull components together and makes a statement all at once.  These are few rooms that I think are good examples of transforming a room just by painting the walls.  If you have been hesitant to paint your walls...relax...its just paint!  Enjoy!

A soothing shade of blue will help create a serene and relaxing look. This bathroom 

appears inviting and cozy while the white tones make you feel fresh and clean. 

Orange is a bold accent choice, but applied in the correct way and hue, can be very elegant.  The design of this room is calm and classic but the color orange brings life to a space that may have other wise been dull.  This examplebrings your attention to the fireplace while maintaining a simple and clean look.

 Classic Black and White...but wait....add a vivid green to the walls and POW, its become THE accessory in the room.  And if you get bored with the green (or any color for that matter) just paint again! It is an inexpensive way to make a big statement.

Yellow and grey walls bring your attention up and allow the use of lighter colors in the rest of the room providing a more open feel.  Also, since the yellow is on the headboard wall, it wont be too bright for your eyes when you decide to rise and shine. 

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