Designing Smart and Healthy Spaces: COVID19

All of us have been affected by COVID19 and before this pandemic time design requirements looked a little bit different.  Hospitals and medical settings were on the forefront of sanitizing and preventing spread of germs in interior design. That importance is spreading into everyday design for residential, office and restaurant/hospitality design. A majority of my design work is residential but occasionally a small office or hair salon make it into my design work.

Keeping surfaces clean is making its way to being top priority for everything aspect of life. This can start with interior designers doing their part when sourcing materials for projects. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) has been doing it's part in recognizing designs that take it's impact on the world seriously and making better design choices for the greater good. I am happy to see that I see more LEED residential projects each year and this is what we need as a society. Better materials, smarter design and overall less negative impact on us.

To touch on a few key points, clean-ability, durability and sourcing local have always been important in my design selections for clients. Now these will still remain important but now we add another up and coming important element in material selections, killing bacteria! There are materials out there that have anti-microbial elements to help kill and keep surfaces cleaner and less likely to spread diseases. Some materials commonly in hour home that could have a healthier option to a traditional material. Countertops, tile and paint are all good places to start when designing a kitchen or bathroom in your home.  Silestone is one of those manufacturers who design their material to help keep bacteria away and not penetrate into the surface.

Another company that takes killing germs seriously is Sherwin Williams, they have formulated a paint called paint shield that is seen mostly in hospitals for it's ability to kill surface bacteria quickly. I think we will see that product in homes more often since COVID19.

Tile is also one of those materials that can be formatted to be easier to clean and resist bacteria to grow on it's surface. Natural stone tiles isn't always the best choice as something like a porcelain might be better suited for a certain application. Interceramic is another manufacturer who is taking "green" design seriously in not only commercial spaces but applying that into residential spaces. Having safer, smarter and cleaning materials will improve our quality of life and reduce our chances of spreading germs.

Sometimes these materials might be more costly than it's less health conscious option nut in the long run your health is important and these materials with these technologies can last you longer therefore remodeling as often might not be needed. When thinking of your next design project, remember there are healthier material optinos and you should ask your designer for these if this is an important thing for you.

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

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City Home Fit for a New Family!

This family with a newborn was in the market for a new home: their very first house, in fact! Since taking care of a brand new human is task enough, this family didn't want to totally start from scratch. With a few ideas in mind of what they wanted, we didn't need to gut the whole place- just update it a bit. The kitchen was the focal point of the design update, and the rest of the home flowed from there. We were even able to incorporate a lot of their existing furniture into this mid-century modern home. The family wanted to start living in their new home right away with an updated, modern style they always wanted. Take a look at how we achieved a budget-friendly home face lift!

Where light is sparse, it's imperative that you amplify the available light by using colors and sleek appliances that allow sunlight to dance around. This kitchen has a decent-sized window at the sink area as well as a glass double-door that lets enough light in. To keep the light growing, the back splash was finished with limestone tiles.

A great cost-saving measure is to keep your cabinetry and just change the doors and hardware. Here, we just replaced the plain cabinet doors with new textured glass doors. We painted the cabinets light gray to modernize it from the old oak that aged and darkened the kitchen before. The cabinets also got brand new brushed steel hardware to complete this new, modern look.

I know it's hard, but please stop staring at this gorgeous counter top. Look up! We installed a new pot rack that fits perfectly over the enormous island. No need to hide your pots, pans, spatulas, or ladles- put your tools on display! This makes for very easy access and increases your amount of storage.

One of the most fabulous upgrades to this kitchen is the sparkling quartz counter top! This shiny surface looks especially amazing on the brand-new extended peninsula. This is like going from being stranded on a desolate Florida Key isle to partying on the mainland peninsula: it's not a far or difficult trip, and it's definitely well worth it.

 

"Seeing red" doesn't always mean getting angry. Rather, it often just means getting energized! This couple wanted to use red as an accent color throughout their home, which otherwise maintains a soothing, calming palette. The red accent rugs in the kitchen and beneath the dining room set give warm, joyful pops of color that can be found throughout the house.

This beautiful dining room set was seamlessly transplanted into this upgraded mid-century modern home. Pro tip: chairs with larger, higher backs sometimes section off a space. To keep a 'flowing feeling,' set a bench at the side of the table adjacent to a walkway. That way, nothing 'visually blocks' a pathway to another room, which even makes the dining area even more inviting.

A home with kids doesn't have to be void of all 'adult' forms of entertainment. This four-tiered wine rack and minibar flushed against the wall is incredibly convenient when entertaining guests. Just out of reach of children, but perfectly placed for adults to open a bottle of wine, relax and easily spend time with their friends.

The living room features a gray scale color palette with pops of red in textiles. The art above the couch brings in a bit more color while keeping in line with the streamlined, modern look of the house. 

For mid-century modern houses, bringing outside elements inside the home is quintessential. For example, natural brick is generally associated with the facade of a house, but here it is featured in the family room.

 

The 'cozy' is strong with this one. A genuine fire place nestled inside a brick cladding makes you just want to cuddle up, doesn't it?! Here, photos of this loving family are displayed on the wooden mantle in sleek white frames.

This reading nook for two is modern yet cozy, flowing naturally from the living room. The shelving in this home library is perfect for putting books on display, or whatever else you'd like. I love the woven ottoman here! It is modern, playful, and functional (and fairly reminiscent of a giant hacky sack, which is probably the real reason I love it so much).

 

And last (though usually first) is the entry way! This first impression of your home is an important one. Organized and minimalist, the first few steps you take through the door are sure to give you a good idea of what else is in store. In this case, you're sure to find a blend of modernity and comfort in a neutral color scheme with pops of energizing color, fit for a new family's home.

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

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White and Light: Wooded Retreat Kitchen

Surrounded by woods, the plentiful windows to this home provide a beautiful view of the great outdoors, but often don’t let in enough light. However, this home is perfectly situated for a nature-loving couple with two kids under 5 years old to enjoy, escape, and explore- they just needed to let a little more light in. Our goal with this kitchen and living room renovation was to increase the presence of natural light by brightening up the space with materials that allow sunlight to bounce around. This 1980s kitchen needed to be updated with the most efficient, functional fixtures and materials. With two children who love to play outside, it was extremely important that surfaces look clean, even when they’re not entirely spotless from dirt that the kids drag in. Just in need of a slight facelift, read about the small, but significant, changes we made to illuminate the beauty of this space.

The clients loved the original cabinetry and wanted to incorporate it into the rest of the kitchen’s design. Before, the cabinets were a blonde wood which didn’t darken the kitchen, but didn’t allow light to reflect much either. So, we finished them with a white satin finish which allowed sunlight to bounce off to illuminate the rest of the kitchen.

 

In previous projects, clients opted to gut the cabinetry completely and have them go up all the way to the ceiling. Luckily, this client got much use and enjoyment out of the beautifully crafted original cabinets, complete with French-styled doors that allow you to safely display the dishes inside.

 

We didn’t replace the cabinets, but we made sure we added ample lighting underneath. After all, counter space is where you work and it should be well lit. To maximize the brightness, the backsplash is light grey glazed subway tile. This adds a streamlined, modern touch to the kitchen, and the material allows enough light to reflect onto the working surface.

 

Our client loves classic designs with modern touches. So, we added two shiny chrome industrial pendant lights over the island to achieve that look exactly. Once more, see how these reflect the light? Everything we did in this kitchen subtly adds glow to the entire space- in a way that is functional AND fashionable.

 

As for the floor, the surface needed to be easy to clean yet difficult to spot dirt. This grey-brown porcelain tile is not only a smooth finish for easy-clean up, but also helps to blend the natural granite, the breakfast area furniture, and the grey modern touches together.

Moving onto the living room, the double-sided fireplace that is meant to bring both rooms together actually poses an interesting obstacle. The previous, outdated mantle used to jut out into the walkway, making passersby duck and dodge to avoid bumping into the sharp corner. We removed this hazard, and created a custom mantle that fit perfectly into the living room side of the fireplace. We outlined the fireplace with mini brick slate tiles continuous in style with the fusion of modern, natural, and classic elements that the kitchen now features. To streamline the journey from the kitchen to the living room, we changed the structure of the doorway to an open arch, rather than a closed, blunt line. This simple structural solution opened up the entire space, allowing the kitchen to be admired from the living room. Now, the double-sided fireplace didn’t have to feel like it was two-timing the kitchen and living room: rather, with the help of the arched doorways, it was uniting the two as one. This is especially important if you are the type who loves to entertain! The happenin’ rooms are of course the space where you cook the culinary creations your guests crave, and the space where your guests gather to sit, chat, and socialize with one another. 

 

Mi Casa es su Casa: Designer's Home

When we purchased this original mid century home in Houston, my husband and I knew what an undertaking it would be. Of course, I loved the layout and design of the house itself, but it was in dire need of my personal TLC. Though very happy with the progress, we know we have a bit further to go in order to transform it into our ideal home. Much of the major work so far has been on an intense kitchen renovation, with all other spaces in the house getting a (less intense but still major) facelift. So, without further ado, allow me to welcome you into our home!

Let's begin where most home tours begin: the living room. First, you'll notice the neutral color palette and the blues and greens that welcome you into a state of calm. To add height to the room, we used long grommet curtains with an abstract geometric pattern, which add some interest. The large window at the front of the house allows streams of light to pour in and inundate our home with glowing warmth (by the way, our dog absolutely loves to sun bathe here!). 

In keeping with a mid century designed home, bringing outside elements inside is crucial. The wooden furnishings in our living room are made of re-purposed wood, smoothed and stained to perfection. Quality wood furnishings are harder to come by these days, but their durability, strength, and style will allow them to virtually last forever! In case you're wondering, the side table (blocks) are suuuuper heavy- looks are deceiving!

Just a few pieces I want to mention before moving on: take a quick look at the glass-globe side table lamps, the varying accent pillows, low profile couch, and the archetypal mid century modern chair. If you haven't noticed, I love incorporating original art work in the homes I work on to add an even more personal, and unique touch. This piece in particular is actually my own creation! Can you guess what it is?! It's an abstract representation of a magnified hop bud (my husband and I are avid craft beer fans)! 

Before we move into the kitchen here is a little before and after of this 1950's original kitchen!

 Passing through the living room, we enter the heart of our home: the kitchen. Because we love to cook and entertain so much, we had to extend our kitchen three whole feet! We wanted a strategic, clean design with maximum storage space. Our next phase in the renovation is to gut the flooring in the entire house, which needless to say will be a huge project. So, ignore the floor and take a look at everything else! 

Since storage is of utmost importance, we removed the bulkhead (also known as a fur head) which is the useless gap between the tops of cabinets and the ceiling that is only inhabitable by dust bunnies and spiders. I don't understand why kitchens were so popularly designed with bulkheads, but I made sure to promptly remove it from my own. Now, these large cabinets flushed with the ceiling store everything we have and will acquire in the future. 

 

Next to the fridge (which was moved down for better accessed), we installed a pullout pantry cabinet that runs the height of the kitchen. Without this nifty pantry, this would have just been an empty little nook. Because the shape, size, and design of kitchens and large kitchen appliances don't always cooperate, it's important to utilize whatever leftover space there may be, especially if you want ample storage and a clean, streamlined design. 

Though you see a lot of black in this chic kitchen, we were sure to install LED lights under the cabinets to illuminate the counter work space. The recessed can light above the sink replaced the old fluorescent lights that yellow a room and damper the mood. To bring in more light, our kitchen came equipped with a pleasant little greenhouse window above the sink as well. The earthy, stacked limestone tiled back splash softens the image of our edgy black and stainless steel kitchen which helps to brighten up the space, along with chrome accents scattered throughout the kitchen. 

Now, let's shine the spotlight on our lovely composite sink, equipped with a professional-grade faucet. No nobs, no hoses, no problem: we love the simple, streamlined design of this heavy duty faucet! The sink reaches the depths we need, all in stylish black granite. This contrasts beautifully with the white quartz counters, all illuminated by the chrome industrial style pendant hung from above.

Moving on to the guest room: a space where visitors can relax in style. All furnishings are new, except the velveteen yellow tufted chair: it was an heirloom piece from my abuela! With mostly calming neutral colors, the yellow was incorporated in order to blend the chair in with the rest of the room.

Coincidentally, the yellow chair and neutral color palette also worked perfectly with this beautiful Japanese fan, which was a gift to me from my father from his travels. Coordinating colors and keeping consistency is easy to achieve by employing various patterns in throw pillows and other textiles. 

This guest room has a perfectly placed window that lets in all the sun. It's not even on the same side of the house as our front room, but there's just as much sunlight pouring in! Again, we used the elegantly elongated curtains here to shield some of the light, and offer a gorgeous glow to the room. 

Before we reach our final destination of the tour, take a look at this gray-scale hallway. This was such a fun project, and actually my husband's suggestion! On the wall, we donned custom art from the two places we've lived together: Texas and Philadelphia. 

Last stop of the tour is our master bedroom. We wanted a space that was truly ours, with bright colors calmed by gray textiles and wooden furnishings. The series of paintings above the bed are my personal creations, and combine all the colors featured in this room: the green from the walls, sunny orange from the medium toned wood, and gray from the bed spread.

Symmetry is a symbol of order, and we wanted our room to be a place where we could find balance. The bed side tables and cylinder lamps are smaller furnishings that complete this feeling of centrality. In addition, the bed frame is fashioned in a way that showcases its beautiful wood and smooth lines.

 

And with that, my home tour is concluded! I am incredibly thankful to have a place where I can always find my inner peace, and where guests can always feel welcomed and entertained: that's the beautiful balance found in mixing a calming, neutral palette with pops of color and intriguing designs.

 We have quite a bit more to do in our home, so keep checking back to see our future projects!

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

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Sea of Blue: Seabrook Island Master Bathroom

This week, we’re featuring yet another remodeled master bathroom! This couple is celebrating their ten year anniversary of living in a city by the sea by finally getting around to modernize their master bath. As you can see, neutral colors are very popular for master bathrooms, but this couple had a particular theme in mind: the coast! See how we brought the oceanside inside this Seabrook Island home with coastal colors, textures, patterns, and a fresh, more functional floorplan! 

But first let me share a few before photos.

 And now for what it turned out like!

 For those of you who are extra vain, you’ll love this extra long vanity! In addition to the ample counter and storage space, there are three recessed mirrored medicine cabinets. Now there is no excuse for any bathroom clutter: you know, shave cream cans on the counter, makeup scattered about, or hair styling tools on accidental display. With more than enough room between sinks, Jack and Jill can perfect their morning routines without bumping elbows!
 

 

When mirrors are in abundance, lighting must be too! The bright glow from the wall sconces allow for a soft, clean light to reflect all your beauty (and flaws, if you have any!). A small, double-sided mirror attached to the wall is a perfect add-on to any bathroom. Notice that all the metal matches: it is especially crucial to keep continuity in the metals used in any space.

 

Step on in to your stupendous shower! This oversized shower has room for two, or enough dancing space for one. Though massive, it manages to keep the bathroom spacious with its crystal clear glass and tiles to match the floor. Though opposite the vanity, the same metal is still used in the shower head, faucet, handle, and on top of the shower- never feel that you must compromise continuity! You can always get exactly what you want.

Now, let’s take a look at the color scheme: grays, blues, whites, and sandy gradients bring in the beach. Even the gray backsplash features tiles with a ‘sea glass’ effect. The walls are the color of where sea meets sky: a subtly blue hue. The tile and countertops feature sandy gradients, while the white cabinetry with its custom millwork reflect the style of southern, beachside properties.

If you didn’t think there was enough storage between the recessed mirror medicine cabinets and the extra long vanity, look to the right! No master bathroom is complete without standing linen storage: his and hers. Where else could you store all bathroom and beach necessities?!

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

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