Mirror, Mirror on the...

Ah the mirror, so many uses, yet you don't want to cover every surface with it right? In today's design world mirror furniture, accessories and tile are bring made of, you guessed it, mirror!  You love the way it makes a small space feel larger, a dark room feel brighter, and is great for getting ready in the bathroom. Although, it seems like an easy to use material, it can be tricky to know just where and how much to use in a room. Don't worry, I am here to help! Here are a few examples of how to tastefully use mirror and integrate it into an existing design or if you are doing a remodel how to use just the right amount. Enjoy!

A mirror backsplash is a great way to introduce a nice reflective surface in a kitchen. This particular one is a irregular mosaic tile, that allows light to bounce around under the cabinets instead of a place you would look at yourself.

Parsons tables are always a popular table style, but what happens when you cover it in mirror? It looks that much better! This is a less "permanent" way to bring mirror into a space.

 

 The closet, a place were most people need a mirror. Instead of buying one of the slim cheap ones from your local hardware store, think about integration. If it is something that will make you everyday life a little easier, why wouldn't you do it! Closed storage with mirror doors, functional and looks great too!

 Do you just want to try in out for a little? To see if you like it? Small accessories, such as a tray, is a great way to introduce this wonderful material. After some time, if you decide it's not for you, at least you didn't invest a lot into it! :)

 The wall mirror is what started this whole movement! How about a really interesting wall mirror? One that says "hey I'm not just a mirror, I'm a piece of art too". Try to get creative with it, think outside the square, rectangle or circle, irregular shapes can add interest and still give you the functionality that you need.

The bathroom mirror, pretty much every bathroom has one, and if it doesn't something is wrong! Think about not only the mirror above the sink, but introducing a full length mirror as well. This is another place in the home that it will come in handy while getting ready.

 And for all of you who had homes built in the 70's probably had a mirror somewhere in there, it's ok, you can leave it now that mirror is back in style. Can you imagine this dining room without the mirror? Would probably look much smaller.

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.

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

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Lake House Laundry Room Renovation -Before,During,After

One of our most recent projects was redesigning a functional laundry room for one of my favorite repeat clients. Their home is beautiful and has plenty of space but lacked the storage and functionality in a space they used frequently. After several years living with a laundry room that was missing usable storage they finally decided they had enough and it was time for an over-haul.  Now in a room, such as a laundry room,  function is everything. Thinking about how they move in the space and what order they do things; this made them really think about the layout and that is where I came in. 

Here is the project- Before, During and After:

For starters, there is only one little wall cabinet. That is it for storage! And the swing door limited what you could do with the wall on the right.

 For some reason the water supply and outlets were not in ideal locations. So they needed a little reworking for the new layout. Also with lack of storage, items that usually would be out of sight were just sitting on the floor.

 In reaction to not having enough storage, my clients used this make-shift storage shelf be their means to store household items. Brooms and mops just hung out next to it.

 The swing door prevented precious wall space from being utilized, so we had to change that!

Construction begins by moving the plumbing and electrical to the left wall and removing the wall cabinet.

 Then the old tube florescent light fixture is replaced with two recessed cans.

 Once all the behind the walls are done we framed out the new pocket door and relocated the light switches to the outside for easy access. This pocket door has allowed us the maximize the cabinetry in this 5'x8' room. Giving us 10' span of cabinets for plenty of storage.

Cabinet installation begins! These are 8' tall and they are full of storage space inside!

 Ta Da! Tall 24" deep cabinets on either side of the washer and dryer, one with pull out drawers and the other to hold a hamper and other laundry items. A cabinet above for less used items.

 On the other 5' wall we did 12" deep cabinets for smaller, frequently used items and left a space on the floor for the dog crate and have a hanging rod for drying clothes. This wall used to be where the swing door sat when door was open, now much more functional with lots of storage!

 

Finished the white cabinets off with hand finished brushed nickel hardware. 

 The pocket door made this room!

 As you can see, yes this room is only 5' wide and we utilized as much space as we could. With 10' ceilings this means think vertical storage, and that is just what we did!

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

 

 

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Coastal Living at it's Finest!

Coastal living has always been sought after for relaxation or to get away from your everyday routine. Some people chose to live on the coast full time and I am sure they enjoy every minute of it. If you choose to build a waterfront home make sure the views are first priority! From every part of home you should see a stunning view, no acceptations. Now, here are some tips when you decide to make your dream retirement home or just have a love for water. Like I said before, the views are priority, why else would you live there, right? The main living areas, kitchen, bedrooms and even the bathrooms and laundry areas should have a view. even if you can't put a huge picture window, think of how you use that space and position your windows accordingly. Here are some rooms that take advantage of their amazing views without sacrificing functionality.  Enjoy!

 Ah the first view you have when you awake. Stunning right? For a bedroom you always want the view to be facing the bed so when you rise and shine you instantly feel refreshed. Also a great way to start your day. Adding a stone fireplace to blend with the natural rocks outside is a great way to blend the inside and out nicely. Also think about native materials when choosing them for the interior.

 Now you always want to have a water friendly area accessible from the outside, And this sitting room is just that. You can relax in a more casual space that you can sit in your wet swim suits. When the weather is nice this is a great feature to have a wall of doors that fully open to the deck. Then you can enjoy the view, be "outside"  and not get sunburned all from a comfortable seat.

  What a comfortable looking room. The picture window and door give you living art that changes with the seasons. Who wouldn't want that! People tend to steer away from light color fabircs but using indoor/ outdoor fabric, such as Sunbrella, can allow you to get the crisp, clean look you want and still be able to clean it if something happened.

  Who needs lighting when you have this much natural when putting your make up on in the morning! Most people like a mirror in the bathroom and this is great application so you don't obstruct the wonder beach view.  With plenty of storage this bathroom has all you need and much more!

Hope you enjoyed this week's inspiration! Get ready for summer and enjoy! 

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Storing Wine....Creatively!

Wine storage for those of us who lack a cellar or just don't have a large collection of bottles these are some great storage ideas for you! Some of these ideas are DIY which is always fun others are ideas for when you decide to finally renovate that kitchen you have always dreamed of! Wine storage is something people often look over and just simply buy a table top rack that holds few bottles.  That doesn't seem like a very creative idea for your precious wine collection, does it? You want your display to standout and house your wonderful collection for all to see. Here are a few ideas to get your thinking. Enjoy!

 

 Above the cabinets in the kitchen has always been a place to store bottles, but what if you could integrate your storage system? This kitchen shows the holes in the brick wall but this could easily be done on a typical wall or any material for that matter, just make sure to plan for it when designing your kitchen.

 

 Ah concrete, one of my favorite materials to use in design. Inexpensive, industrial looking and durable.

 Postal tubes are great for shipping drawings or anything that can be rolled up easily, but wine storage? Yes, please! Cut them down to your desired size, arrange your design and ta da! Easy on the wallet so you can buy more wine to store in your DIY storage system.

 This teardrop design is simple and sleek and a perfect piece for modern designed interior.

 Reclaimed wood is another one of my favorite materials to use in design. This can be a DIY project that is sure to hold your all of your bottles.

Oh the classic wine cellar look. If you can get your hands on one or two these would make great storage for a small collection. Can either be free standing or mounted on the wall!

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The Modern Bedroom

Ah....the bedroom. The place where you retire at night, read in bed, snuggle with your partner and of course sleep. Bedrooms should be a relaxing and clutter-free space, so when you wake up to start your day you feel refreshed and happy! Being an interior designer, I sometimes get asked to design a bedroom or two. This is always fun for me! Bedrooms usually consist of lots of textiles and soft materials which can make your room have that cozy, curl up feeling. A client of mine had seen a previous bedroom I designed on my website and was so happy to find a designer that didn't just add "stuff" to a room to fill voids. Empty space can be beautiful and should be in every room. It gives your eyes a resting place and can make a space look larger than it really is. Below are a few bedrooms I designed with a somewhat minimalist approach. Enjoy!

 

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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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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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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