COVID19: The Remote Designer

During this time we all are trying to have some normality in this weird time and designers are just like every other professional trying to keep projects going. This particular project was done completely remotely. It took a team of people to make this happen but the finish product turned out just the way I designed it!

The beginning started with construction drawings from the builder, for me that gave me a sense of how much of each material was going to be throughout the home. So when I began sourcing materials this was a key point in making sure nothing was overkill or too subtle for each space.

This particular builder had a some options for countertops and cabinet finishes and these were my building blocks for the rest of the selections. I helped my client decide what direction they wanted to go and what overall look they were trying to achieve.

Also this being a semi custom home we wanted to make sure each space had slightly different selections but all coordinated throughout the entire home.

The kitchen selections turned out great together with the warm natural wood floor, soft gray cabinets and a white quartz with a little grey speckle throughout, finished off with a stone looking skinny rectangular back splash tile.

In the master bathroom we wanted a relaxing but sophisticated look. A wall like that looks like concrete and a hexagon shape floor tile to coordinate with so different pattern and texture for all the other surfaces in the bathroom. So drama with the darker grey wood stained vanity and added lightness with the white quartz counters for a high contrast look.

For the guest bath we went with a matte finish wall tile, which looks so clean and minimal just something other than a white subway tile. This tile did the trick! contracting with all the chrome fixtures these two finishes really complement each other well.

This was a home built in Philadelphia and I work in Houston. I share this info because I have had potential clients in the past say "Oh I don't live in Houston, but I really love your work and want to work together!" This is a possibility and a great finished product came out of it! This is one of a handful of remote projects I have successfully completed and so happy to have people who enjoy my work and want me to be a part of their new 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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Spa Like Bath with A Six Foot Tub!

This bathroom was all about utilizing the existing square footage. This was a large bathroom to begin with but poorly laid out for two people to function easily in. A couple things my client had on their must have list included a 6 foot tub, a curb-less shower and plenty of storage for everything they needed to access everyday in the bathroom.

We relocated the shower and tub to allow for a larger that normal tub and giving plenty of light from the cave of a shower they had before. In the shower there was no where to store anything so we installed 2 niches in the pony walls so they visually were hidden and give each person their own space for shower items. Keeping this a clean and minimal space. All the bells and whistles in this spa like shower, body sprays, an hand held and a rain shower head! Something for everyone.

In the tub area we made the perfect relaxing alcove. Free standing 6 foot tub long enough for even the tallest person to lay in and it also features a handheld sprayer. We did a feature wall in a marble and glass diamond mosaic tile which gave a great contract to the larger white tub.

On the vanities we did deep drawers with cut outs for the plumbing to maximize the storage space. We incorporated a pull out laundry bin as well. Her vanity has a lowered countertop for putting on make up with some additional storage above and small shelves and drawers for everyday items.

The color palette we wanted something light, natural looking and easy to clean. The floor we did a 24' square porcelain tile that looks almost seamless with a color match grout. Shower wall tiles are a matte white finish that will hide water spots and be super easy to clean. topping the vanities, shower niches, window sill and pony walls we did a leather finished quartzite. It's natural stone and has a semi matte finish so it gives even more of a natural look instead of a smooth gloss finish.

We framed the large mirrors with a wood build-out going all the way to the ceiling with a crown to top it off. This was a great feature to give the appearance that all the custom cabinetry a more furniture look.

Overall this bathroom feels 10 times bigger than before and has made it a stunning place to spend some time!

 

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

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Kitchen Design Tips to Consider

So you have been dreaming about your less than inspiring kitchen you cook in daily. The time has finally come to make that dream kitchen come to life and join you and your home together again! 

A kitchen is much more than a pretty space to look at. It is first and foremost about function. That's right, it can look gorgeous and by all means make you feel happy when you are in there but there are design elements that go deeper than just the pattern of your backsplash tile. 

 

Layout - the floorplan, the footprint and how you walk and stand in the space is important. Do you have a weird existing layout you have been "just living with" for years?  Or that galley kitchen that could have a second entrance into the kitchen or pull the peninsula away from the wall to make room for a fully functioning island you have always wanted?

Maybe these are issues in your kitchen we need to address or at least think about in your new design. 

Perhaps there are too many entrances into your kitchen from more than 3 rooms, maybe the previous homeowner wanted to knock down as many walls as possible forgetting that sometimes you do need walls for elements like a tall pantry cabinet with fully extending interior drawers to see can you have available not just the ones in the front of the shelf.

Open Shelves, Glass Doors or Closed Cabinets - Lately we have all see the lovely photos of kitchen with open shelving. While this is a great idea to give the space a lighter more open space while still giving you storage, it also opens some people open to collect clutter. I have always said if there is a surface some one will put as much as they can on that surface because it us there to be used. This all depends on the individual, some people prone to do this others are not so the amount of open shelves should be considered based on what works for your storage needs.

    

 

All the Cabinets - More isn't always better. More efficient is. That 16 foot span of wall cabinets may not be needed if we utilized the base cabinets to be more efficient with deep drawers or pull outs for specialty appliances. Having a home for everything you need to access in the kitchen is the most important thing. if you have 3 crock-pots and want to keep them all, we need to find a home for all those in the new design.

Materials - Easy to clean. That is my first priority in a kitchen. Everyone who cooks can be messy at some point. Oh you really like that white carrara marble but use turmeric (stains a lot of materials even if sealed) a lot in your cooking? That is probably not the best material for you then. Using a material like quartz or something that achieves the look you want but also giving you the functional counter so you don't worry about the bottle of red wine you left on the counter and left a ring that you cant get out easily.

These are just a few things to consider when thinking of remodeling a kitchen. A designer should be able to guide you in making the best decisions for your kitchen you are planning to spend a decent amount of money on. We want it to last for years so selections are important as far as quality, function and aesthetics. 

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

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Clean it Up: Bathroom Edition

A Bathroom is usually where you start your morning once you get the energy to roll out of your comfy bed. Bathrooms are especially important because it gets used everyday. Functionality in this space is crucial and they best way to get the most of our your bathroom is to evaluate your routine. How many people are using it, what times and the order of tasks you go through each morning. These particular bathrooms below are all crisp and clean in white. This can be very relaxing in the morning and keep you calm, rather than stressed.  Some may think an all white bathroom is boring but with the right textures and some lacquer finishes you can create interest without having to introduce any other colors! Let the form of the bathroom fixtures make create the interest. Take a look and let us know what you think! Enjoy! 

Tiling the wall all the way to the ceiling is a great way to give your bathroom more height and with a hot shower your walls won't be sweating they moisture will just run right off. 

Windows at the ceiling line brings in lots of light without sacrificing privacy. Even in the shower you can have a window! 

White Shelves and white accessories make this white bathroom even whiter! Little hints of stainless steel break up the all white bathroom.

The flooring is amazing! Small flat stones give a much needed texture and natural pattern for a white bathroom. 

 Reflective surfaces like mirrors and glass let the light bounce around the space, making it appear as if there is more light than there really is.

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Working With an Interior Designer: What to Know

When most people are looking to hire an interior designer, they usually think of the finishes: what colors or textures they want and forget there is so much before that point to achieve the aesthetic a client is looking for. An interior designer goes beyond whats on the surface and begins focus on the space itself.  How a person uses, travels through, and envisions the space as whole unit.  Want to learn more? Then read on!

What an interior designer does:  For starters, an interior designer has an education and professional experience.  Interior designers consult with you to help determine project goals and objectives, generate ideas for the functional and aesthetic possibilities of the space, create illustrations and renderings, develop documents and specifications relative to interior spaces in compliance with, allocate, organize and arrange a space to suit its function, manage construction and installation of design, select and specify fixtures, furnishings, products, materials and colors, purchase products and fixtures.  When to hire one: When you are too busy to do it all yourself.  A designer will help you save time and money. If you spend vast amounts of time flipping through design magazines or websites looking for design ideas. When you are open to suggestions. An interior designer will do the work for you and get it right the first time.

What it will cost: Some designers work on hourly, flat, cost plus fees. In my experience my clients like to know what they are paying up front.  After our initial design consultation, I work up a flat fee for the project and provide you with details about the project. This ensures you truly will be happy with our design.

Be sure the designer is a good match for your style.  Look through their website, take a look at past projects and find reviews of them. These will give you a better idea of their work and if you think they would be a good fit for you.

Collect samples.  Have photos of interiors or products you like. These help the designer get a visual of what you like. There are great websites for ideas such as houzz and pinterest. 

Decide in advance which pieces must stay.  Sometimes you want to get rid of everything and start over, and that can be done, but think about what you like. You purchased items in your home because you liked them. So go through your home or room and pick out what you want to be re-worked into the design. If you truly want to start with a clean slate, that works too but keep in mind a realistic budget when doing so.

Involve the designer as early as possible in the building process. The earlier the better. This will prevent moving backwards or having to re-do something. If you are building a new home and have the option to select your flooring, cabinets, counter tops, fixtures and paint this is when a designer should be brought in.  They can make sure all of the selections work with each other and then move into the next design phase.

Try to have all household members present at the outset. Whoever is using the space it is best to have them present in the decision making. This ensures the proper design elements are present and happiness in the design will be achieved. Ask the designer to clarify billing procedures.  Make sure everyone is on the same page with billing. This is something to be discussed early in the project to ensure a smooth progress throughout the design process.

Keep an open mind.  An interior designer will have other ideas that you may have not considered. You want your home to reflect you and be unique. There might be things your designer shows you that you love but had never heard of before and that is what will make you truly happy with the finished space.

Look toward refreshing down the road. Interior design is always evolving which means your needs and/or taste may change over the years and that is ok. Let your interior change with you.  It is living art, embrace it.

If you are ready to make your house a dream home please contact us, we would love to help make that happen!

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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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10 Kitchen Design Tips

Everyone dreams of their perfect kitchen, and whenever that time comes to make it happen you need to make sure everything has been thought through down to the smallest detail.  Kitchen renovations can be stressful if you are not prepared for it or if you try to take on too much by yourself without consulting a professional.  These are some key things that should be considered before taking on a major kitchen renovation alone.

 

1. Unique Flooring

 If you decide to go with a neutral palette and solid colors a bold floor is a great option to bring in interest. Here, classic black and white share the stage and create a truly unique floor.

2. Integrated Appliances  

 Starting from "scratch" on a kitchen is the perfect opportunity to give yourself maximum storage and function.  Integrated fridge drawers for the kids or dishwasher drawers so you can wash a partial load these ideas can make or break your everyday tasks if you don't consider them. Also, disguising them with your cabinet face gives your kitchen a seamless look.
 

3. Update Cabinets

So you kitchen has the function you need, but its just outdated. Refinishing your existing cabinets can be a huge cost saver and frees up your budget for other key elements you want in your dream kitchen.  

4. Hardware

 Using finger pulls instead of decorative pulls creates a more streamline look.

5. Use a Similar Color

Bring other colors from adjacent rooms to make your new and improved kitchen flow with the rest of the house. Kind of like it has always been there!

6. Durable Solutions

In a hard working kitchen durable surfaces are important.  Countertops are one of the most because they get the most abuse. So make sure you pick a material like quartz, concrete or stainless for a longer lasting counter.

7. Open Up Your Space 

Ever had the chance to knock down a wall? Its a great feeling, like a therapy session or anger management at home! Also makes for a closer family or better entertaining space. Even though square footage wasn't added your home will feel bigger.

8. The Social Island

The kitchen is the heart of the home, right? Well at least that's where everyone migrates to. Creating ample seating for others to hang out with the chef is always good. It allows you to still be apart of the action and a comfortable place for others to sit.

9. Creative Backspash

There are so many options for backsplashes now so why not take advantage of them?  This one shows irregular shaped stainless tiles. They are just as simple to install as sheeted mosaic tiles but are more interesting. 

10. Mix It Up

Two tone cabinetry is a great way to introduce another color into your kitchen as well as create some interest instead of having a sea of one color cabinetry.

Hope you guys enjoyed today's inspiration! Fell free to leave a comment.  Tell us what you liked and if you are in need of inspiration and its not here.....we will find you some!

 

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