Showing posts with label interior design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interior design. Show all posts

Friday, June 17, 2016

2016 Design Excellence Award Winning Bathroom

2016 Design Excellence Award Winning Bathroom 

After moving in, the new owners of a ninety two year old traditional center hall colonial quickly realized it was essential to rework the awkward second floor bedroom with attached bathroom.  The existing bathroom ran directly through the middle of the room, creating two compartmentalized bedroom spaces with a cramped, disconnected bathroom that included a small fiber glass shower stall.  Two floor plan options were presented to the owners.  After careful consideration and collaboration, it was decided that the bathroom would now be absorbed by the front of the house, where the previous owner placed the bed and dresser.  Conscientious of the young families’ needs and future resale marketability, the floor plan needed to include an apron front, cast iron tub to accommodate bathing youngsters.  The original window was in good shape, however its panes were replaced with tempered glass due to its proximity to the bathtub.  Also original to the space is the entrance door, hung using the refurbished brass hinges and hardware retrieved during renovation.  Interest was added to the space with the choice of flooring, Carrara Marble hexagonal tiles, mindful of the homes Colonial Revival backdrop.  Open storage shelving, open sink base and white walls were chosen to maintain a line of sight to every inch of the room’s footprint.  The decor was chosen to add pops of color throughout the room, which resulted in a fun child’s bathroom that plays nicely with the adjoining bedroom’s design.  



Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Designed for Living

Drawn to the elegant simplicity inherent to most Colonial Revival homes, the new owners were eager to modify the small third floor bathroom to accommodate the daily needs of a young child and the occasional guest.  Due to its size, it was imperative to design a space that efficiently utilized every inch of the small bathroom without sacrificing period style.  The overall installation of a shed dormer and squaring off the awkward room helped in gaining the necessary square footage to create a floor plan that increased mobility, both vertically and horizontally.  In its infancy, the design hope was to include the cast iron claw foot tub that was currently housed in the bathroom.  We soon realized that the tub was not in any shape for continued use.  With a clean slate, we were then able to create a nicely sized custom Carrera Marble tiled shower stall, closing off the shower with a frameless sliding shower door.  The added space also allowed for the installation of a 30 inch, period specific sink and base and custom heavy gauge baked on enamel radiator cover for extra table top space.
http://www.northjersey.com/community-news/home-and-gardening/a-colonial-revival-bath-1.1566993

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Forcing Paper-Whites

Often viewed as a time honored holiday tradition, forcing Paper-white Narcissus bulbs into bloom during the winter months is a simple way to introduce the fragrant elegance of spring into your home. 
This season I wanted to incorporate some family artifacts that often go unused during holiday entertaining, but are beautiful reminders of treasured family members.  I chose to use an inherited punch bowl set as containers for forcing this years Paper-whites.  The beautiful craftsmanship of the crystal set is complimented by the simply graceful Paper-whites.




For more information on how to force Paper-white bulbs, visit http://www.marthastewart.com/268221/forcing-paper-whites.  

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

The Window Treatment

The practical purpose of window treatments is two fold; they provide privacy and manage daylight.  In addition to the practical is the aesthetic enhancement of the window architect and the larger room decor.  Window treatments add dimension to a room, create an element of texture/color and offer an upscale touch to any space.


Great attention was paid to the seamless integration of this bedroom's window treatments with the existing tray ceiling.  Important to the room design was maintaining a clean line where the ceiling meets the wall.  Using substantial decorative molding, to hide the treatment hardware, was important in producing this clean, subtle look.  Adding to its overall subtlety - intensifying the monochromatic palette, muted in color - panels were constructed out of the French Linen, offering a touch of luxury.  For practical purposes, automated cellular shades were installed to manage day lighting.  The entire picture framed the room in an understated tone of grandeur.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Making A Statement

An aspect of interior design, an element interwoven into the art of home decor, is the incorporation of a statement piece.  A statement piece does just that, it makes a definite or clear expression, offers a perspective, that enhances a space.  In most cases, this occurs through the use of bold color, unique shape, and/or material.

The Gehry Cross Check Armchair (http://www.dwr.com/product/gehry-cross-check-armchair.do?gclid+CLLviZz_iL0CFaN9OgodUHEA4Q) featured was designed as part of the Gehry Collection by the critically acclaimed, award winning architect Frank Gehry and was commissioned by Knoll - a retail company committed to the philosophy of presenting customers with modern furniture that complements an architectural space, but does not compete with it (http://www.knoll.com/discover-knoll/our-story).  Bold in its form, color, and material this chair easily functions as a piece of art; making it a beautiful statement piece within any room.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Repurposing

Inherent in the name, The Repurposed Home incorporates repurposing as part of the design process.  Repurposing, the idea of adapting an object or material to be used in a different capacity or way, is not new to the world of interior design.  Its stronghold is ever more present due to waste reduction awareness, but primarily because it is cost effective.

I like to help my clients reevaluate what they have; looking at the potential in all of their pieces and personal belongings as opportunities for repurposing.  Most clients are more than happy to customize their space with items used in different and unique ways.  Viewing it more as a process of constructing historical art; art and accessories that reflect and are relevant to their life's journey.  This element of creativity is another added value to the simple, practical idea of repurposing.

The Album Occasional Table featured highlights the idea of repurposing or upcycling as a way to create a distinctive invaluable product from items set for collecting dust.  This functionally modern accent table was designed for a client whose LP collection was personally valuable but not in use.  Using the collection as a starting point, a beautiful showcase was created.