Gramercy Park Studio Bathroom Transformation 12/08/2009
And the gramercy park studio transformation continues with the tiny bathroom. As you see, also dated, dark and plain ol' eeek.... Bathroom Before    Design Plan & Inspiration Material Selection The goal of this bathroom transformation is to create a classic, timeless, gender neutral design with modern details and complete functionality. Since the bathroom is tiny, I have chosen crystal white marble subway tiles for the walls and a porcelain floor time that resembles carrera marble for it's durability and easy maintenance. Chrome accents on the medicine cabinet, wall scone, faucet and accessories will add brightness and sparkle to the small bath. A rich java vanity will offer lots of storage. Because it looks like a gorgeous piece of furniture rather than an ordinary sink base the tiny bath will be a sophisticated space rather than a ho hum generic bathroom. The use of glass shelving above the toilet will add visual interest and extra storage for pretty toiletries and candles for those relaxing bubble baths. Remodel in Progress            My current project is a studio remodel in Gramercy, New York City. My client lives in a fabulous luxury building, but her studio is less than fabulous.....And that's where I come in. I took this dated kitchen from uninspiring to superb. Scroll below for the pictoral footage of the transformation and the unveiling of this jewel of a kitchen. Dated kitchen in dire need of a makeover.....    Currently the kitchen is small, dark, dated, awkward and lacks function/storage, it's pretty much a laundry list of problems...No fret, here's my vision- Design Plan + Inspiration Material Selection While we can't expand the kitchen, by simply making the doorway wider the kitchen will feel larger and brighter. Incorporating simple, shaker style white cabinets with glass doors, adding interior lighting, and stainless steel appliances the kitchen takes on a classic, timeless and modern look. I have selected low maintenance and durable materials like the porcelain floor tile, ceramic subway tile for the backsplash and white ceasar stone for the countertops which will make this kitchen practical and easy to clean and maintain. Transformation in Progress         Transformation complete, and a beauty she is!  DIY Living Room Design 10/11/2009
Dear Francesca, I just saw your kitchen remodel on apartment therapy and think it looks great. My husband and I just purchased our first apartment and we have a number of items that need to be changed. I think it would be a great idea to start working with a designer now so there is a cohesive look when everything is done. We look forward to working with you on helping us design our new home. Sincerely, New Homeowners Floor Plan The goal of the room was to maintain the open "lofty" feeling and to create a space versatile and comfortable for entertaining their large family and friends. The New Homeowners wanted a contemporary feel, mixed with mid-century pieces along with modern/eclectic accents. Here is my design plan: I started with selecting a classic style contemporary sofa. Its clean lines will allow me to introduce accents with interesting shapes to make the space eclectic and energetic. A jute bucle area rug offers a natural organic touch while keeping the room feeling casual and approachable. Slipper chairs with mid century lines keep the space feeling airy with it's long slender legs. They are also light weight and can be moved to have intimate conversations. Floor to ceiling drapery elongates the height of the ceilings making the space feel grand. Keeping all the upholstery pieces in neutral tones, sets the stage for vibrant, bold accessories in tones of lime green and peacock blue that add an unexpected touch which makes this room unique and a cheerful space to hang out. I will post the photos once the room is complete....Stay tuned- Furniture Plan  You can make your bath seem bigger without knocking out walls or adding on to your house. Take a look at this recent remodeling project I completed for inspiration. Before Renovation Remodel in Progress  Design tips to make the most of a small bathroomPearly Whites Deep-hued sinks, toilets, and tubs can look dramatic in a large bath, but induce claustrophobia in a small one. Go with classic white and express your sense of style with the design of the fixtures. Scale Down Fixtures Replace space-stealing fixtures with smaller versions, like these scaled-down wall-mounted sinks. You'll also find small basins or slim-and-trim pedestal sinks designed especially for small baths. The downside to a pedestal sink is that it doesn't allow for much storage. However, adding a small ledge above the sink, like the glass ledge here, creates room to store bathroom essentials. If you can handle a major remodeling, consider replacing a typical tub with a soaking tub like this one -- it's deeper but smaller in circumference. And if you rarely use your tub and want to gain space, you may want to replace it with a sleek shower stall. Take a Neutral Stance Because pale and cool colors reflect light, soft whites, pastels, and neutrals can make a bath feel bigger. Woodwork, trim, and doors will "disappear" if they are painted the same hue as the walls. The effect is enhanced if cabinets and counters are the same color as the walls. For variety, use a light color of paint for the walls and a lighter tint for the ceiling. This combination will make surfaces recede from view and make the room seem larger. To keep a neutral scheme from appearing bland, introduce bolder colors through accessories, linens, and artwork. Treat Windows Simply No matter what their size or style, windows help enlarge the feel of a room if they're allowed to transmit light. If possible, leave windows unadorned with clear or frosted glass. Mini-blinds, matchstick blinds, or shades that can be drawn to the top of the window are other sleek solutions. Or cover the lower half of the glass with sheer fabric held in place with tension rods or shutters that will readily admit light but still maintain privacy. Transformation Complete How to make the most of your small space 07/28/2009
 Space Savers: Use armless or slender-armed sofas. Living rooms are called on to do a lot of entertaining, but finding spots for guests to sit isn't always easy. Despite its limited size, this one makes space for multiple seating options without sacrificing comfort, thanks to two plush but armless chairs, an armless love seat, and a slender-armed sofa.  Space Saver: Choose clear furniture and accessories that don't visually take up space. For a family in need of a spot for casual TV dinners, drawing sessions, and game time, an acrylic coffee table provides a stylish and almost invisible solution in this tiny living room. Adding minimal visual weight, the table is sturdy yet lightweight, and it doesn't bite back if you bump into it.  Space Saver: Nesting Tables Nesting tables are perfect for squeezing a lot of storage out of minimum space. Pull out the lower table when you need an extra surface for holding drinks or reading material, then tuck it away when you're done. Here, a stylish fabric-covered bin keeps DVDs accessible but contained.  Space Saver: Use large mirrors on one wall to make a space feel more open. Sometimes even small rooms suffer from too-tall ceilings that leave the space feeling cold. To visually lower the lofty ceiling, an extra tier of molding was added. You could achieve a similar effect at less expense with paint. On the back wall, mirrors pull off their expanding act by reflecting other parts of a room as well as bouncing light all around. Grouped together, the three tall mirrors make a striking focal point while stretching the dimensions of this one-room loft.  Space Saver: Choose lower furniture that will complement the size of the room. The success of many small living rooms relies on smart furnishings. A pair of low chairs allows an uninterrupted view through this apartment while providing a chat-friendly seating arrangement.  Space Saver: The placement of your furniture is key to maximizing your space. An unbroken sweep of wood flooring is tops for making a room look larger. Arranging the sofa and chairs on an angle instead of lining them up against walls also kept this room from feeling boxy. Now it's all the more interesting.  Space Saver: Take advantage of your crown molding to make a room look taller. Lofty ceilings make even tiny rooms feel less claustrophobic. But if your ceilings aren't much higher than 8 feet, try to trick the eye into believing they are. The top of a tall and slender armoire sits just under the crown molding in this living room. Its height seems to lift the ceiling, an illusion that's enhanced by the unit's slender width.  Space Saver: Stick with the same colors. Subtle tone-on-tone patterns add interest to the draperies, area rug, and sofa upholstery in this living room without making the space feel busy. "See-through" legs on the sofa, side tables, and coffee table also help keep the room's feel open and airy.  Space Saver: Use artwork to add big style to a small room. Give artwork extra sizzle against light-reflecting white walls by layering it on top of an inexpensive painted artist's canvas.  Space Saver: Choose furniture that can do double duty like this ottoman. Two trays quickly take an oversize ottoman from a casual put-your-feet-up piece to one fit for formal entertaining. In this tight living room, the soft corners also ease the pain of inevitable knee bumps.  Space Saver: Hide your clutter in undercover storage units. For an inexpensive take on a coffee table that's flexible to move and packs hidden storage, try a pair of cubes. Children's toys can be stashed inside these wicker models for easy access and they look great in almost any room. Before Renovation Remodel in Progress   Transformation Complete - The removal of the wall allowed us to introduce a peninsula which has access from both sides. The side facing into the room has drawers offering storage from either side of the room. Having multiple access points allows the peninsula to serve double duty as preparation surface as well as a serving area when entertaining. Make yourself happy with COLOR 07/16/2009
If you've been stuck in a rut lately, here are some easy color tips to turn your apartment walls into the ultimate pick me up-  If you survived layoffs but now you're overworked, underpaid and need a place to retreat to use a serene sea foam green that will conjure up beautiful, rip-roaring expanse of ocean in your sub-conscious.  You want to start dating but aren't feeling so fab, try a fleshy pinky beige so you feel good going out and look good when you are home.  All those recession-proof pizzas took their toll on your beach body and you need to get back in shape? Blur the line between indoors and out with a granny smith apple green that will do to your eye what the apple does to your palate- and make you run a marathon.  Your boyfriend is out of town on business for a few weeks and you miss him? Make his favorite color blue a little girlier like periwinkle which is very calming, cool and soothing. When you wake up alone it will be as if he's hugging you. 
Awkward Living Room Layout Dilemma Solved 06/22/2009
I received this letter from Laura who was in dire need of decorating advice for her awkward living room layout in her new home. Laura's Awkward Living Room LayoutThe room has several challenges: 1. It is a small space 14' wide by 18' long 2. It has a total of 2 entryways and a door opening to the patio 3. It only has two wall placement options for furniture 4. The room will serve multiple functions Laura also mentioned the family will use the room to watch TV, which will go above the fire place, play games and entertain. And she would love to have a reading area. Since Laura would like a versatile furniture floor plan I have put together 3 different furniture plans that she can choose from that best suits her family's needs. The most important factor in designing a small and awkward space is the scale (size) of your furniture. I have carefully selected furniture that will keep the room feeling open, airy and keep it fluid so you're not bumping into furniture. Also, because the kids are of a young age, I made sure to use soft edges and surfaces. Floor Plan A In Floor Plan A, I propose Laura use a small scale sofa with narrow arms along with two small scale side tables with table lamps. This will create a sense of balance in the room and make the room bright when they are playing games, or entertainig. I have included two accent chairs, one adjacent to the sofa and the other next to the fire place, either can be used to cozy up with a good book. By using chairs with legs and open arms, they will have a light feeling and can easily be moved around. The ottoman and ceramic stool I propose next to the fire place can also be used as extra seating when needed. Across the sofa, I propose two small scale lounge chairs that make a great conversation area and also give this awkward room a sense of balance. Using a large 9x12' rug, grounds the space and makes the room feel larger than it is. The round and oval shapes in the lamp shades, cocktail table and stool, give the room visual interest and make the room feel soft and airy. Small Space Tip: Avoid using sharp angles in tables in a small space. Using rounded edges or upholstered ottomans will make the space child and pet friendly while making the space more fluid to walk through. Floor Plan B In Floor Plan B I offer the option to use two small scale sofas facing each other and an multi purpose upholstered storage ottoman between them that can serve to store throws, pillows or the kids toys/games. The ottoman can also serve as extra seating and when used with a tray can be used as a cocktail table. Small Space Tip 2: Use furniture that can serve multi purposes like the storage ottoman proposed here. Floor Plan C In Floor Plan C, I propose a more traditional furniture plan using a sofa and love seat facing each other. I incorporated two armless chairs to keep the room feeling open and airy. Glass bunching tables as a cocktail table keep the room feeling open and give the illusion of more space. I added nesting tables next to the larger sofa to offer additional surfaces for entertaining. The storage bench near the fire place can serve as additional seating and emergency storage when unexpected guests arrive. With kids, I find you always need an emergency storage solution. Small Space Tip 3: Use glass and mirrored tables, it's reflective qualities will make a space feel larger and airy. Family & Pet Friendly Fabric RecommendationsBecause Laura has two young boys and a puppy on the way, it is important that the room have textures and materials that are low maintenance and be able to widthstand many "oops" moments. I recommend mixing different textures to create a unique, sophisticated, harmonious space that the entire family can enjoy, even Fido. Family friendly fabric Tips & Suggestions:
Turning a foyer alcove from drab to fab 06/12/2009
Fresh Nest Design featured my DIY project where I turned my drab foyer to a grand fabulous entrance. Check it out, with little creativity and elbow grease, any space can become glamourous. Now when I walk into my home, I always feel welcome, and of course, fabulous.   |
