The beach house project: Before’s and After galleries.

We recently installed part of the project – the new sectional sofa and custom throw pillows.  Since there are still various elements to be installed, I thought Id post a few images to show how the process of choosing some of the soft furnishing elements came about.

If you are in Paris this store is worth a visit, as my snapshots fall well short of translating atmosphere when you are in the space.

Polar bear anyone??

All were visual delights and I can assure you, all had the most delectable things to taste!

Last night I visited some of the showrooms on the ‘Paris Deco-Off ‘ route and happened to snap a few pics of the beautiful window display at Nobilis showing some of their latest textile collections.  I particularly liked their embroidered linens that play the matte linen base off shimmering threads in the embroiderie achieving a gorgeous & subtle effect.

note: not great photos as they dont really do justice to the beauty of the fabrics – hopefully I’ll get some better ones today or tomorrow!

We also have a large custom designed outdoor lantern in the works – it is going to feature a glorious hand blown, colbolt blue irredescent glass globe and intricate copper metal work for the body and hanging system.

The design is based off a pineapple – which adds a touch of whimsy & fun, and plays to the tropical theme.  The lantern will be the focal element above the dining table which takes center position under a large pergola which also houses the outdoor kitchen.  The metal work is being crafted by the talented artisan Ed Fickbohm and the glass blown by Rob Adamson, both based in Washington state.

Heres a picture of Rob holding the glass globe soon after it was made to show the glorious blue glass work and just how big this baby is going to be!

I recently renovated a truely aweful small bathroom in our 1929 fixer upper (it hadnt been touched since built and wasn’t wearing well).  A conundrum for me with this project, was that I have plans in the future to renovate & expand the house; at which time this particular bathroom will become a stairwell. So how to renovate a bathroom on a modest budget with as much bang for our buck, so that should we sell before my renovation plans are realized the bathroom adds value to the property but doesn’t cost us an arm or a leg.

In the beginning the number of different ways I could style the bathroom seemed boundless. Then I realized I had a direction: what could I afford!  The key influence to the look of the finished bathroom came down to a product of having budgetary constraints. For a classic but highly economical design simple white tile is hard to beat – but thats a little dull for my designer sensibilities.  However white tile with a crackle glaze has a touch more interest and so became the starting point for the overall look.

The white tile I used is from the Walker Zanger ‘Soho’ collection and comes with simple elegant choices for trim pieces.  It was the simple style of the trim pieces and the classic looking tile that established the design style for the bathroom.  The inexpensive black vanity from Home Depot pared with a custom marble counter and backsplash afforded a high end look for a mid level price.  Walls painted to match the same white of the tiles, and the ceiling painted a dramatic ’stary night sky’ black gave the space a theatrical touch.  The proportions of the room are such that it was very conducive to painting the ceiling such a dark color.

Paring the dark ceiling with the wide crown molding in the same color as the walls gives you the feeling of being outdoors ie: the ceiling feels like it is allot further away and you are tempted to believe it is coved.  The flush mounted ceiling light with cut glass shade from Restoration Hardware turns into the moon in the night sky.

The large ceramic floor tiles were a end of stock sale item from a discontinued line from Walker Zanger, so they were very budget friendly. As was discontinued and on sale line of bath hardware & fixtures from Restoration Hardware.

Softness and a touch of color are in the choice of the shower curtain – the one I used is a printed & embroidered cotton from Anthropologie.

The bathroom was in such bad shape prior to the renovation that we ended up striping it down to the studs and installed all new plumbing, walls, floor and ceiling.  Because we were taking everything out it was the perfect opportunity to relocate various elements: The sink and the toilet flipped positions enabling a recessed medicine cabinet to be installed over the sink, and the shower location was flipped to the other end of the bath and we were able to maximize space by installing a pocket sliding door.

The inexpensive acrylic bathtub is from Kohler (#Archer w/integrated apron & tile flange) and is ingenious in that you get a deep soaking level with a low step over height.  The water overflow is a long slotted shape and placed high up enabling me to fill the bath to a decent level so that I can have a relaxing soak and the overall height of the bath is low enough to be able to comfortably step in and out to shower, or to bathe my children.

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Thank you to Erica Berger for taking such great photos.

I have found that unless you have a long relationship with a client, being given some specific constraints right from the start of a project produces better results than when you are given cart blanc or no direction.  I always aim to design for my clients – giving them the home that they wished for but better than they could have ever imagined it could be.  My clients house needs to feel like their home not mine.

A projects success is conditional on the willingness of the clients to be active participants in the process and to do their due diligence. By this I mean, to have thought about what the atmosphere of the finished space should be – before the project starts. A client’s research can be a simple as having flicked through a few design magazines to help them clarify their preferences.

A great client is one who can -with prudence- trust and allow the designer to do their job.  The results are always more delightful when you give a designer descriptive not prescriptive input.  Clients who let their designer push them beyond what they might have thought their comfort zone is by allowing themselves to be introduced to new ideas, new forms and new ways to live, reap the rewards of senses thrilled, practical needs being met and timely completions.

In the end like any successful relationship, it requires mutual respect and involvement.

I am fortunate that my projects have allowed me to work with clients that have been thoughtful, engaged and open to new ideas and give clear feedback when design suggestions have strayed too far from their vision. They appreciate & value design and budget accordingly.