Reinventing a Colonial, with a Few Compromises

This week I got an email from an eager client. She and her husband decided to stay put in their "starter home"—a colonial typical of many around here—rather than move, and they are looking for ways to reinvent their space.

This is my favorite type of project. I not only love this, I LIVE this. I couldn't wait to see the space and discuss the details.

The home is charming, but some rooms are too open (no true foyer) and some are too closed (the large dining room is closed off from the kitchen). Without making structural changes (otherwise I'd call in an architect) how could we shift the space to work?

We spent a few hours together, and discussed some compromises that might need to be made.
On the wish list:

• Renovating the kitchen top to bottom and creating an opening in the wall between kitchen and dining room to create a casual dining bar. The large dining room is under utilized. There will be plenty of space in this room to hang a flat screen television and have a cozy sectional to create a fully functional great room for this family of four. In the kitchen, the awkward location of the refrigerator, blocking the entry, will shift to a small dining alcove, where cabinetry and additional counter space will allow storage for small appliances and a snack prep zone for the kids. The new kitchen design will have plenty of counter space on each side of the stove, with ample storage in a full height cabinet (where the old refrigerator was). The sink will shift under a window, with a dishwasher adjacent. There is even enough space for a bank of drawers  and upper cabinets on this wall, making it easy to unload the dishwasher.
A compromise? A south facing window in the alcove will need to be closed, and it was determined there is not sufficient space for a laundry room in this space as well.

• Turning an enclosed rear porch (now used as an office) into a jewel box of a formal dining room. Sliding doors (replace 1950's era windows) will lead to a deck the couple already planned on building and increase the southern exposure, bringing more light into the space. The cozy room (9x13) fits the couple's narrow, rustic table perfectly. With dramatic dark colors, new trim to match the original trim (instead of builder's grade cove moulding) and a sparkly chandelier, this space will be wonderful for intimate dinner parties. A mirror hanging in the existing dining room will reflect the setting sun.
A compromise? The entry to the powder room is in this space, but moving it would either leave the entry in the kitchen or mean the entire powder room needs to be redone. The door will be replaced with a mirrored french door. It's location is ideal for the family, and when entertaining, guests can be directed to the upstairs bath.

• Turning a tiny sunroom in the front of the house into an enclosed office off the formal living room. All that's needed to do here is to reframe a curved archway (this detail is not seen elsewhere) and add french doors to allow light in but create a distinct divide between the two rooms. The homeowner's own office furniture can be reused here, or low wood bookcases and a wood counter can be built in under the windows, budget permitting. The only compromise here is not having this space to store tons of toys!

• Reconfiguring the formal living room, whether simply with new furniture and floor plan changes or by adding a wall to divide the large open space to create a true entry. A compromise here might just be budgetary.

I am working on the proposal for the homeowner to discuss with her husband. This will give them a starting point when they meet with contractors to bid on the project. Once they determine what they can do, we will start the fun stuff, picking out colors, furnishings and finishes.

Selecting finishes for a classic, elegant master bath

Back in the summer, I helped my client JD do a plan for her master bathroom. She had a good idea of what she wanted, but she needed a way to present it to potential contractors. Well, present it she did! I think JD met with about ten contractors, and she was thrilled to be able to show them my virtual mock up to give them a visual of what she wanted. Unfortunately, it took that many meetings to find the right guy for the job. At least now she is confident with her choice and demo will be underway soon.

Last week, we went tile shopping in preparation for her to meet with the tile setter. She knew she wanted cararra, so that made my job pretty easy. We found a beautiful basketweave mosaic for inside the shower, and to keep the rest of the bathroom clean looking, we decided to do honed cararra in a 12x12 size, set in a running bond pattern. In addition, JD decided she would like to have chair rail height paneling in the bathroom, to tie this space in with other areas of her stately home.


JD asked if I could present her with another virtual mock up for the tile guy. Sure! The meeting was changed from later in the week to TODAY, and I was able to execute the mock ups just in time.


Here's hoping the demo goes smoothly. Next we shop for the rest of the bathroom!

Upscale Classic Master Bath for a Stately Home

JD contacted me about her master bathroom. She had lots of ideas and tear sheets, but needs a clear, concise way to present this information to potential contractors. We met at her beautiful, stately home where I could appreciate her aesthetic sensibility. She wants her bathroom to be upscale classic—carrara marble, soft gray-green walls, a large custom vanity, painted white or cream and a spacious shower with bench. What she doesn't want or need in this bathroom is a large soaking tub, double sinks—oh—and NO subway tile!

Working with the room's dimensions, photos of the existing space and some tear sheets, I make a "virtual room" board JD can present to contractors. It has a simple layout, an illustration of the vanity and an image that best illustrates the overall style of the room. Now, before we spend time shopping for fixtures, JD can meet with contractors and be able to present them with a visual to get some estimates. A nominal cost, but it will be really helpful for her to explain what she is looking for in her master bath.

Teen Space and Visual Storage for a Creative Kid

M wants my help in organizing and redecorating her room. M collects vintage shoes, has several animal tanks and is very visual. Her room, like many teenagers' rooms, is a mess! Storage is lacking, for sure. The first thing her mom asked me about was a new dresser. I opened the closet, and there is one garment hanging, a small old dresser stuck in there and no shelf space. There is another larger dresser in the room. Rather than another dresser, I suggest we redo the closet so M can see her clothes. The closet is typical of an older home, just under four feet wide, but with more shelf space, enough storage for  at least ten pairs of shoes, and hanging for the few party dresses M has now and might have over the next few years, and room for a few laundry baskets on the floor, it will be a lot simpler for M to store her stuff.


Here's what I came up with.


The total cost including installation is less than half what we would need to spend on a quality dresser, and without moving parts and drawers that need to be closed, it is more likely that M will actually put her stuff IN the closet. M's existing dresser may be painted so she can store overflow in there, and her snake tank will rest on top. The closet will be a good first step in renovating this teen space.

Classic Bathroom in an Eclectic Home

My client MB contacted me last winter about her bathroom. She is overwhelmed by the many options available and needed some help choosing finishes. Her home is filled to the brim with sunny colors, eclectic artwork and furnishings, stacks and stacks of books, and dozens of animals. She wanted a bathroom that would fit with the style of the home, but how could I not add some color? And storage...that was a must!

Rather than a store-bought vanity, I designed cabinetry that would fill the space and give the family of three room for toiletries, laundry and anything else that might land in this first floor bath. Taking color cues from the glass mosaics, I had the cabinet maker finish the cabinet in a gray-green with a subtle gray glaze. MB chose chrome fixtures, but with the deeper tones in the mosaics I suggested oil rubbed bronze hardware for the cabinetry, just to mix it up. White tiles, gray grout and a carrara marble vanity top contrast the cabinetry, and the walls and ceiling are painted the same neutral—not beige, not yellow, not green, not gray—Benjamin Moore Camouflage, which actually makes the small room feel larger than it would had we painted the ceiling white.

The family loves it!

What M Wants, M Gets...

My client, MB, has a very artistic daughter M, and she wants her to be able to express her creativity as I do, through my design choices. MB contacted me several weeks ago, as her bath project was finishing up. She needed me to help them choose exterior paint colors...but M wanted the house to be purple. My only issue with this was that the lower half of the house is brick. How could I combine brick red and purple successfully? This might be a challenge.

Looking at swatches, we actually were able to find a great color—a muted violet with hints of navy and gray—that picked up the deeper tones in the brick, accentuated the stained glass transom and read as the same value as the brick so the house feels more cohesive. Initially MB wanted the shutters and front door to be red, but that got lost against the brick so we did them both in high-gloss black. Bright white trim blends with the new windows.

The hint of purple in the body color picks up the color in their spring flowers, and contrasts nicely against the greens of the summer foliage.

I am happy to say I pleased both MB and her daughter with this choice.

BJ's Kitchen Reveal and The Ultimate Compliment

"My mother raved about it…" When the mother in question is a successful businesswoman, a gourmet cook and very particular, I know I've done good! Who doesn't want a mother's approval?

The view when you enter the kitchen. This alcove was transformed from a disorganized space crammed with clutter, to a useful buffet space, ideal for countertop appliances, with lots of needed storage. New light fixture and outlets are a practical addition. The brand new tin wainscoting adds vintage charm. Marmoleum Click linoleum floor tiles by Forbo are comfortable underfoot and an eco-conscious choice. 

Today for the first time I visited BJ's home since her current renovations were completed. I was blown away! The house was transformed from, (as BJ referred to it) what looked like a frat house to a vibrant, warm home for a young, busy family. 

Talk about color! If I told you we used cream, orange, blue, black, white and red together would you flip? The colors are bold, but in balance, so they work. 

I am so happy with the results, but most importantly, BJ and her husband are thrilled. Compliments from mom are just the icing on the cake! 

New paint finishes transform the previously "painter's tape" blue cabinets. The cream uppers blend in with the soffit and ceiling to open up the space, while the blue-gray base cabinets help black appliances blend in and anchor the space. The color also pops against the warmer "autumnal" colors of the flooring, creating a look that is classic, but not boring. The existing sink functioned well, but was updated with new oil rubbed bronze faucet. Walnut plywood (with custom-fabricated edge) finished with tung oil is easy to maintain, water resistant and food safe (though it should not be cut on). New light fixture (which is a larger version of the alcove's fixture) illuminates the space much better than the old flush mount, and adds a touch of old world style. 

Detail of the tin panels used on the wall and some of the homeowner's own accessories, which were able to be reused.

Classic Combination—Contemporary Space

My client PL wants to renovate the master bathroom in his 1970's era home. Though initially the home didn't have much architecture to speak of, PL has added details such as columns and crown moulding. The recent kitchen facelift combines terracotta-look porcelain tile with some more craftsman inspired tile work. Another renovated bath uses classic white subway tile. From the inspiration shots PL has sent me, I can tell he is not interested in making his home look sleek and modern. He prefers the classics. His concern about choosing his own finishes is that everything would be beige. He explains that he likes both the classic look of carrara marble, but also the warmer look of limestone.

Taking inspiration from a dramatic circular foyer and oversized bronze lantern in the entry, and PL's master bedroom furniture which is craftsman inspired cherry with bronze hardware, I think of Mediterranean-inspired old California ranches I have admired in pictures collected over the years—a combination of warm stone with honed carrara. PL's bathroom is quite large, and I remembered a 12x24 tile I admired in a mottled cement gray color. I can envision this tile set in a running bond pattern, to accentuate the length of the room, and lead one in to the large garden tub. To contrast with the larger tile, I envision smaller hex tile for the shower floor. The tones are similar, and the scale and shapes create a nice juxtaposition. The soft white and warm veining of honed statuary or calcutta marble will pop against the deeper tones of the floor.

The garden tub is rarely used, but needs a facelift so we intend to either tile over the cultured marble surround or wrap it in woodwork to complement the painted vanity. The vanity can be saved—we will remove the cultured marble  and replace it with real honed carrara, statuary or calcutta marble, and replace doors and hardware. To further enhance the warm feeling PL is seeking, I am thinking of a mid-tone putty color for the vanity and the tub surround that will enhance both the deeper floor and lighter (new) marble on the vanity.

PL would like a statement light fixture, and I am on the lookout for a bronze lantern. For hardware I am thinking of bronze pulls and knobs paired with either chrome or brushed nickel faucets. The entire bathroom will have an eclectic feel that will not be tied to one decade, kind of like PL's house!

I am really excited to begin this project!

Implementing the Plan

BJs kitchen is all planned out. After reviewing my mockups, we chose specific colors in the space, tweaking from the virtual as we felt necessary. BJ is a super shopper and has been a very hands-on client, finding a great deal on discontinued Marmoleum (we opted for a cream and terracotta checkerboard as opposed to the plainer looking cork floor).

Colors: For the base cabinets we chose BM Knoxville Gray, which has undertones of blue and green and should really pop against the warmer tones of the floor. Upper cabinets, walls and ceiling will be BM Lancaster Whitewash, which I love because it is a warm, creamy off-white that looks like old white furniture that's aged over time. For subtle contrast, we chose BM White Dove for the trim and tin backsplash/wainscoting. In an under-used alcove of the kitchen, we decided to use off-the-rack base cabinets that are the same style as the rest of the cabinets in the room. This will give the family a place to store countertop appliances and with 5 extra feet of base cabinets, lots more storage and prep space. Bjs contractor will scribe them to fit in the space perfectly, and they will be painted to match the rest of the base cabinets.

All of these changes are not that expensive but will really improve the look and function of the space. I can't wait to see it transformed! Construction starts in less than two weeks!

Virtually Yours

It's very easy for me to tell a client what I think will work, but sometimes it can be difficult for them to visualize. My clients trust me, but being able to show them realistic virtual mockups really helps things click. As a designer, I like to take a few risks to keep things interesting. Being able to show a client a new idea in a virtual mockup helps them take the leap of faith.

BJ's Kitchen Plan Part 1

To make the space feel brighter, larger and more cohesive I made the upper cabinets and walls a creamy white. Base cabinets in midnight blue help the black appliances disappear visually. Tin ceiling panels can be applied over the existing tile backsplash but also used as wainscoting in the alcove to help unite the two spaces and make the small kitchen feel larger. Wood counters finished with tung oil are food safe and can be fabricated fairly inexpensively. They also warm up the room. Cork flooring is one possibility, though BJ would like to see the floor done with a checkerboard linoleum—another option we discussed. To add more light, I found simple iron lanterns that will work in the main part of the kitchen and the alcove in two different sizes. Bronze knobs and a new, yet classic, faucet feel more current and add a finishing touch.

Refresher Course

My client BJ contacted me last week about some issues in her home. Without doing major construction, she wanted to update her space. Could I help? Of course! This is one of my favorite kinds of projects. With permission, I will document some of my ideas here.

The kitchen in a 'nutshell'
Several years ago the walls and cabinets were painted. The cabinets are structurally sound and the overall layout works for the family, though there are some storage issues we need to resolve. With some shelves added to a tall cabinet flanking the refrigerator we can create more functional pantry storage or get recycling hidden from view. The kitchen is somewhat dark. Peanut butter colored walls and bright cobalt blue cabinets—the color of painter's tape—(BJ originally chose an aubergine color but her painters didn't like the color and wanted to use a blue!) show personality, but are not exactly cohesive.

Finding inspiration on a shelf
Initially I looked at some fabric valances in the space and considered pulling colors from there, but we determined those will go to the attic. BJ said she likes distressed black cabinety, and with the black appliances this is certainly an option, but my concern is it will seem to dark and heavy in this small space. Perhaps we could choose a darker color for the base cabinets but keep the uppers lighter and brighter? BJ loves the color combination of blue and white and has a few pieces of pottery with these colors, so my thought is to choose a medium-dark color in the blue family for the base cabinets but do the uppers in a white or off-white.
I will also look into new light fixtures, new flooring, a freestanding storage piece/buffet, window treatments and new countertops.

I took some photographs and my next step will be to present BJ with some virtual mockups showing some different color options.

Once in a Blue Room

Though blue is not necessarily one of my favorite paint colors, I am inspired by House Beautiful's March 2010 "All About Blue" Issue.  Don't get me wrong...I love blue. Blue eyes, blue jeans and blue skies. I think I mentioned my "Bordello Blue" bedroom below ("Looking Up" post)...so it's not as though I haven't experimented with blue. As a matter of fact, I do find myself being drawn to certain deep blues. Here are some ideas:

Blue cabinetry: in my daughters' bathroom, I chose a deep blue gray color for the custom built-in vanity. We went with Benjamin Moore Affinity color Flint, but I was inspired by the Farrow and Ball color Down Pipe. There is a great stained glass window in there and I considered using a lime green instead, but thought this would fit the character of the house and feel more neutral. With all the crisp white tile, carrara marble and "French gray" grout, the end result is VERY neutral but in no way boring. The walls and trim are all painted a very soft warm gray (Restoration Hardware Ash) so there is plenty of contrast, but the end result is still soothing and spa-like.

Blue walls: The right blue can be a perfect complement to wood tones. For a room with lots of wood trim and built-ins I chose Benjamin Moore Quarry Rock. It is a murky blue/green/gray color. Imagine the color of the ocean at night when you are on a cruise. It doesn't scream "blue" but it works really well with warmer colors, black, all different metal finishes and wood tones from light to dark. It evokes "sea" enough to use it as an accent in a beach house (especially in a room used at night). A similar color is Restoration Hardware's Blue Sage, and another Benjamin Moore deep blue I love is Knoxville Gray.

A friend recently asked me what color to paint her media room. Instead of the typical deep red, I suggested Restoration Hardware's Dusk. Similar to the colors mentioned above, it has enough gray in it and it works really well with wood/leather, all browns, grays, blacks and yes, even red accents. Want to brighten it up? Use a creamy white or very pale gray trim. Because it's a cool color, it will recede and make the space feel larger.

Any of these blues mentioned can work in a more masculine room with wood and leather, or be brightened with whites, creams and soft grays.

Come to think of it, maybe blue IS one of my favorite colors. It just needs to be the right blue!

Keep It Together

I am one of those people who actually enjoys organizing. I find the more useful storage I have, the easier it is for me to stay neat. It's not effortless, but if everything has a place and you use it, it works.

The problem: Awhile back I was frustrated by a messy drawer in our dining room table. What started off as a few pens and pencils became a chaotic junk drawer. It makes sense to keep some office supplies there, since the kids often do homework at this table. The drawer is shallow, and none of the store bought baskets and bins I had purchased would work. I looked into customizable options, but they can be quite expensive. I wanted this to be a DIY project.

The solution: Thinking of the supplies we had around the house I came up with two options; trimming a plexiglass sheet into 1 1/2 inch high strips at various lengths and using silicon cement to bond them, or using some leftover wood trim and basic white glue and/or thin nails. I opted to use the wood trim.

The method: First, I dumped out the contents of the drawer. I sorted all the items, and limited the contents, storing extra markers, crayons, etc. in a dedicated craft storage area in the basement. I measured out compartments for the supplies and trimmed a few pieces of wood to size. I positioned them and using white glue, put them in place. Eventually I may need to nail them into the drawer, but for now this solution is a huge improvement. Had I not had this extra 1x2 trim on hand I would have bought narrower strips from the hardware store.

Total cost: FREE! Wood scraps and glue we already had on hand, and an hour or so of my time. Much better than buying custom drawer inserts from a place like The Container Store or Bed, Bath & Beyond.

I hope this idea inspires you to organize a cluttered drawer. Homework time is already less chaotic because pencils, pens, rulers and supplies are much easier to find. If you need suggestions or tips on an easy, inexpensive way to organize a space in your house, just ask. I am happy to share ideas!

Use It Wisely

I am a big fan of reinventing spaces. In every place I've ever lived (or considered living) I shifted rooms around to accommodate our needs. Here in the NYC area, many of us don't have space to waste. Big screen televisions end up in rooms that once served at formal living rooms, dining rooms double as libraries and offices.

Do you use all the rooms in your home? I grew up in a home with a living room/dining room used only for entertaining. My Mom would know if I sneaked in to read a book or magazine by the window because of the footprints in the carpet.

In our home we use our living room as a place to play a board game or do a puzzle (a giant ottoman holds an assortment), read, or just think and relax. Since our kitchen is small, we eat every meal in the dining room and the kids do homework at the big farm table. The entry parlor now has a set of small-scale leather club chairs and small accent table where my husband and I can enjoy our morning coffee or a drink in the evening. Our walk-in "butler's" pantry has become a mini-kitchen, with coffee maker, microwave, toaster oven and beverage refrigerator. Its plentiful cabinetry holds breakfast foods, snacks, a set of dishes,  glassware and utensils. What once seemed like a beautiful space with little purpose is now used constantly after a few minor upgrades.

When renovating spaces in your home, think outside the box. With the help of an architect or designer, your rooms can be repurposed—without ruining the "feel" of an older home—while improving the "flow". Furniture can be arranged to help a room serve multi-purposes.

Things are looking up.

How could I post about area rugs and then not post about ceilings? Let's get one thing straight; have been painting ceilings for as long as I have been painting. Even when I went to school for interior design my instructors (all interior designers themselves) said they NEVER used white paint on ceilings. At the very least they would mix in some of the wall paint. I admit I have taken it too far on occasion. I nicknamed our first home's master bedroom "Bordello Blue" after painting all the walls and the ceiling a navy blue (and then glazing the entire room in a multi-step process). Hey, as they say, "It's only paint."

Some of my favorite rooms have been those in light to mid-tones where the ceiling is painted a contrasting color. If the walls are light, try a deep ceiling color for a dramatic effect (while still keeping the room light). One such bedroom is painted Benjamin Moore Adams Gold HC-18 and the ceiling is an almost-midnight blue, Hudson Bay 1680. If you want to make a room feel expansive, (such as a bathroom or kitchen) and you paint it a light color, do the ceiling in the same color.  A bathroom I am working on now will have white tile in the shower and white floor tile. A custom vanity will be painted a sage green to complement some glass mosaic tile. We chose Benjamin Moore Camoulflage 2143-40 for the remaining walls and ceiling. I have done the same thing with Benjamin Moore's Senora Gray and Coastal Fog, and Restoration Hardware's pale gray color Ash, to name a few. All of these colors are "atmospheric"—even though they are not white, they don't exactly read as color.

I have a lot more to say about what happens overhead. But for now, I will just say next time you are painting, consider your ceilings.

Let's Get to the Bottom of it!

When a friend or client asks me about area rugs, usually the first words out of my mouth are "seagrass" or "sisal". Now, I am far from the "neutral" or "beige" school of decorating, but even my own home is filled with seagrass rugs.
First of all, they are affordable. I'd sooner spend a few hundred on a natural seagrass rug than try to find an inexpensive poly or olefin wannabe Oriental rug. They also help bridge styles (see "Juxtaposition" below). Say you inherited (or purchased secondhand) some more formal wood pieces but your style is a bit more casual; or, in the case of some clients I had, did the whole chintz/English garden living room but now want to break up the formality somewhat. Introducing a natural texture like sisal or seagrass is a simple, inexpensive way for your room to say "don't be afraid, come on in, I'm not as serious as I look." Now, I happen to love the way seagrass feels underfoot, but, if you find it too scratchy or have a baby that crawls around, there are some options using wool/sisal blends, and yes, even poly sisal which can be hosed down or even used on a porch or deck.
I have found great prices on sisal rugs at Overstock.com, Homedecoratorsoutlet.com, Restorationhardware.com and at Ikea. 

Juxtaposition

The projects I am working on have inspired me to create a blog.

I love to see something old, worn and rough next to something more clean-lined. Right now I am admiring the way an old steamer trunk with darkened brass and wood trim contrasts against boxy white slipper chairs with pewter nailheads. Wrinkly linen drapery panels hang beside gold and mirrored candle holders. In my own home, and now with my clients, I love to create that juxtaposition.