Molkenburh Residence
October 25, 2010
This South Charlotte home was a great remodel project. A dramatic 20′-0″ sloped ceiling greets you as you enter this three bedroom home. Upon entering the living space your eye is immediately drawn to the personal art collection of the client wonderfully displayed on the large wall above the sofa. The dining space now boasts a dramatic pendant fixture and woven jute seating for a casual elegance that correlates with the espresso cabinets in the completely renovated galley kitchen. A freshly appointed master suite finishes out the first floor of this home. The second floor of this home houses a newly configured office space as well as a tailored guest retreat complete with new carpet and color schemes.
A modern sofa with a hint of color brightens the living space and works in conjunction with the various colors of the artwork on the walls above.
A life long collection of theater posters is on diplay just above the sofa in the living space.
By using a stacking coffee table you can entertain for any number of guests.
From the second floor of the home, the living space is open and bright. A great space to entertain guests.
Painting the dining room walls a stone color allows for the architectural style of the pendant fixture to be the main focus within the space.
Removing the existing white cabinets and replacing them with a sleek dark cabinet taken to the ceiling makes this galley kitchen appear larger than life.
Adding just a pop of color on the windows takes this kitchen to a more refined level.
The simple bedding and subtle color on the walls of the master suite make this space feel sleek and uncluttered.
The small powder room received a complete makeover. A small vanity was added along with new lighting.
The second bedroom upstairs has been arranged as the owner's office. A small seating area has been created on one wall and on the opposite wall a large open shelf unit is used to display items and houses the worksurface for the client's computer work.
The guest bedroom on the second floor houses another collection of paintings from the owner's collection.
Layered bedding in simple textures pulls this space together.
John Residence
October 25, 2010
This three-story townhome just off of 485 was a fantastic project to design. Neutrals can be color especially when used correctly and more importantly coordinating with each other throughout the home. Starting at the entry, color and art are the theme and this theme is carried throughout the second and third floors of the home. Dressing up the stair walls on all levels of the home help to unify the art collections. The open plan on the second floor allows for varied levels of entertaining and was designed to include the option of outdoor entertaining as well.
From the living space the kitchen and dining areas are seen, allowing varied colors and textures to be used throughout.
No living space is complete without the TV and entertainment center. Wall mounting the cabinets as well as the TV and speakers really makes great use of the wall space.
Adding undercabinet lighting to showcase the mixed glass tile of the backsplash really makes this kitchen pop.
Home offices do not have to be just for work. By adding two side chairs and a small table along with artwork, this space doubles as a great hangout or reading nook.
The adjacent master bedroom pulls color hues from the master bathroom to create a true master suite.
The vaulted ceiling in the master bedroom is painted to match the walls which really lifts the ceiling, giving this room more height and drama.
The drama of this master bathroom was created by the color of the walls contrasting with the cabinets as well as the individual mirrors and towel pegs.
The guest suite has an accent wall to create a backdrop for the bed as well as a fantastic pendant light to enhance the overall style.
When you have a space that becomes a walk-thru, create interest by accessorizing with artwork and small furnishings. Don't be afraid to have fun.
Various artwork collected by the client is displayed in the walk-thru 'Gallery' in various sizes and content.
When living in a townhome, you want to create a retreat for you and your guests. By using modular furniture, the deck can be reconfigured to suit any number of guests.
Easily update a room with these few steps:
September 15, 2008
- Color - Paint entire space or just one accent wall.
- Lighting - Add new lamps or work in recessed lighting within the space.
- Furniture - Try adding slipcovers to existing pieces that have great shapes or what we like to call “good bones”.
- Accent Pieces - Create a presence or impact a space by placing items that are alike or small collections together on a wall.
- Minimize Clutter - Less is really more-your eye should not jump quickly from one place in a room to another. De-clutter and let all the pieces within a space have their own time in the spotlight.
House Plants
September 11, 2008
Succulants thrive in climates with high temperatures and low precipitation; going long periods of time with no water. Succulants are year-round, indoor/outdoor plants-they can be left on the front porch in the heat of summer and then brought inside during our cooler months of fall and winter where they will continue to thrive. The following are four selections that make great houseplants according to Lisa Thompkins, landscape designer and horticulturalist at Charlotte’s Pike Family Nursery in Ballantyne.
- Aloe Vera - Spiky-yet-decorative perennials have medicinal qualities.
- Sedums (Stonecrops) and Sempervivums (Hen & Chicks) - Semps carry round or rosette shapes while the fine tecture of sedums’ five petals can fill in any area in a flower bed.
- Yucca and Agave - Yucca have variegated greens-and-whites and greens-and-yellows. Agave has aloelike greyish or green sword-shaped leaves. It only flowers once in its lifetime.
- Christmas cactus - Blooms at the holiday season with a gorgeous flower, either red, pink, white or purple. These cacti thrive in bright, indirect sunlight and create buds when exposed to six- to eight-weeks’ worth of cooler temperatures.
**Source: Charlotte Home and Garden Magazine-Fall 2007 Home Elements. Pgs. 31-35**
Color in Design
September 9, 2008
“Colour trends develop, and are largely due to fashion trends and historical and social reasons. Recently, the trend has been to use neutrals and accent with colour,” says Harley Anstee, managing director of long-established Australian design firm Nexus Designs. But as we all travel the world and move around the globe more easily, changes in the use of color in our personal spaces are eminent. People are traveling to other countries that use color inherently within their homes and places of business and bringing back with them some of those influences and using them as inspiration within their own homes. When chosing color there are no right or wrong combinations; it all just comes down to individual tastes and about expressing yourself within your own home. When working with clients to create the interior palette of the home, I talk with them about collections, travel experiences and current positions in life. I have found that once the “interview” process of color is complete both myself, as the designer, and the client have a much better understanding of the usage and need for color within the interiors of the home. This becomes the basis or “start’ point for the design plan; I have found with having the plan and visuals to help guide both myself and the client the plan becomes easier to execute and complete in a more timely manner.
Sources: TrendsIdeas.com September 2008-Australia
Value of Interior Designers
August 28, 2008
Hiring a professional Interior Designer can bring unsurpassed value to any project large or small. Clients rely on designers for their creativity, technical knowledge and project management skills. In addition to their breath of knowledge of products, materials and finishes, professional designers have the expertise to plan, schedule, execute and manage your project from start to finish. The relationships designers foster with vendors, contractors and other service providers helps them to better coordinate with and orchestrate the entire design team throughout the course of the project. Designers can also provide specification and purchasing services to procure materials, furniture, accessories and art which you may not be able to locate on your own.
“When you hire an interior designer, you get the benefit of an experienced priofessional who can solve problems, help you avoid costly mistakes and, most importantly, create and attractive, affordable space designed specifically to meet your lifestyle needs.” ASID Icon July/August08
Sustainable Flooring
August 25, 2008
New ideas for products that have been around and used a while now in design. I have personally used Bamboo flooring in several projects now in the past two years. It is ideal for installing just as hardwood but the advantage is that most brands can be installed over concrete floors as well. Most hardwoods can not be used in this way. Another sustainable flooring choice is cork. I love this product. I have used cork in several projects including using it as a texture on the walls. I have access to a company that can provide rolled sheets for flooring or walls as well as beveled pieces to be used as stair treads. The colors are magnificent and can punch up any floor or wall in any space. Lower-density cork has insulation properties as well as no dust absorption. My favorite feature of cork is the fact that it will not rot when exposed to water.