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Showing posts with label GRANITE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GRANITE. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

An Inspired Design...

I am both excited and sad to say that this project is completed and now home to such a wonderful family!  It is always a bittersweet ending to a project when working so close with amazing clients...so sweet to complete a fabulous project and have them feel overjoyed and comfortable in their new home but bitter to have withdrawals from seeing, talking and working with them every day! We selected and designed together everything from the door knobs, casing style/size, cabinetry, granite, tile, flooring, lighting, plumbing, custom glass railing..you name it...and the result...FANTASTIC!


The inspiration for this Fargo home was truly my clients.  They dreamed of a home with their modern and contemporary style but still with a sense of warmth and comfort.

Ron Morlock, the builder for this home already had a unique plan for the home when my clients decided to build.  The home has huge vaulted ceilings, unique curved walls, custom soffits and many other elements that I was excited to work with and incorporate into the design - or tailor the design to - whichever way you want to look at it. The home has a light feeling even though it has dark cabinetry - for example in the corner of the top photo you can see part of the dining room chandelier.  It is one of my favorite pieces in the home - it is a 2-tier chandelier hung by cables so it appears as if it is floating - so neat!


We selected espresso cabinetry by our Floor to Ceiling Custom Cabinetry line in a simple door style with a little inside profile to add just the tiniest bit of detail.  A simple stock molding crown ends the cabinetry beautifully and we built the pantry door right into the cabinetry design.  I think that lighting is one of the most important elements in a design so we incorporated under cabinet lights, lights in the glass island cabinets, lights in the upper stacked cabinetry and throughout the entertainment center as well.  The granite tops have numerous shades of brown which tie together the espresso cabinetry, maple flooring, and the shades of brown found in the paint selections.

A stunning backsplash adds just enough sparkle to the space.  We used a porcelain 6" x 24" tile and offset it and framed in polished glass with stainless steel below the range.


The living room is a focal point from the kitchen so we wanted to make sure we had a space where my clients could relax but still be able to dress up and have some display space.  Inspired by a few ideas my client had come across we designed the fireplace wall seen below.  We custom made mirrors to match the cabinetry and floating shelves.  The floating shelves all come out a different angles - from the front they look flat but from the side are all a little bit different and unique. The TV will go in the center and we have clear glass on the left for their components and frosted back lit glass on the right for extra storage and a  nice accent to coordinate with the frosted glass in the kitchen.  Linear carpet makes for a unique twist and adds to the contemporary feel of the space.



Another one of my favorite parts of the home (there are many!).....the wine cellar!  Inside we did cork flooring...of course..to compliment the wine corks that will be in the space (hehe).  On the outside we covered the space with the same stone from the outside of the home which creates a unique rustic feel.  Inside is an outdoor rustic fixture which creates the perfect ambiance. 



The master bath was a unique space - and very spacious with such high ceilings!  The vanity wall is the focal point.  We selected really neat circle sinks and simplistic single handle faucets.  I had custom his and hers curved mirrors fabricated which gave the space a fresh look.  The walk-in shower is such a neat space.  The shower is curved and to let more light in we cut a hole in the wall and inserted a rain glass panel with a brushed nickel channel to create some contrast. 


A large format 12" x 24" tile with a linen look created a smooth linear feel and although it is hard to see in the photo the paint selected is a dark grey which contrasts beautifully with the light creamy tile and espresso cabinetry.
The lower level was designed with a cozy rustic feeling but kept elements from the upper level so the two spaces tie together seamlessly.  Warm plush carpet was used along with rustic hickory cabinetry.  A bar in the lower level is the perfect space for entertaining.


Photography by: Rob Siverson Photography
Builder: Ron Morlock Construction
Designer: Sarah Brown
Glass: Jeremy & Frontier Glass & Mirror
Cabinetry: Floor to Ceiling
Countertops: Floor to Ceiling
Flooring & Tile: Floor to Ceiling
Lighting: The Lighthouse
Plumbing: Northern Plumbing

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Lesson 1: Quarter Sawn Oak





I would have to say that one of my favorite wood species is quarter sawn oak.  MMmmmm...it always looks gorgeous and beautiful!


It creates a feeling of warmth within any home and always seems to have a sense of history.  In the above bathroom I used quarter sawn oak to create a Arts & Crafts style bathroom.  I paired it with a stunning granite top, oil rubbed bronze fixtures and to complete the look a stone & glass backsplash that spills out around the mirror. 

What is quarter sawn oak?

Oak and quarter sawn oak are the same wood species but the difference is in the way that they are cut from the log.  Quarter sawn oak is cut at a 90 degree angle from the growth rings.  The chart below shows how they determine the cuts that will come from the log.  Quarter sawn oak is typically an upgrade because it is less efficient to cut the wood comparted to a standard sawn material and there is more waste when you cut the log as shown below.  Quarter sawn oak is famous for it's warm feel, silver graining (the little white streaks) and ability to stain beautifuly. 



The photo below from my cabinet line, Omega Cabinetry shows the graning typical of a quarter sawn oak.  As you can see it stains beautifully and has a warm & rich look to it.


Here are a few more photos of the above bathroom I designed using the quarter sawn oak.


Bathroom vanity & linen.  You can also see the new shower in the background.


Vanity sink & shower
A hand held shower is an option to consider in a custom shower.  Becuase it can detach the shower head can make it extermely easy to clean the shower as you can just spray down the entire space.




Dan Savageau was the contractor on this job and did an AMAZING job with the doors!  Check out the awesome details the incorporated.


I enjoy incorporating small details into my designs!  It is the little things that count and can make a huge difference in the overall completed space such as this tile border that wraps around the room.





Tuesday, January 31, 2012

A New Bath...

As an interior designer I work on all spaces of a home or business but one of the most challenging is always a bathroom.  They are typically small spaces but need to fit a lot of items and serve many functions.

A few months ago I worked on a bathroom renovation for a wonderful family.  The design was to stay traditional and blend into their home but dramatically update their bathroom.  Materials were chosen that kept within those boundaries but still allowed them to have a little fun by adding glass and some detailed plumbing fixtures.  Another key element was a sitting area for getting ready in the morning.


Granite was selected as a countertop material and rich dark alder for the cabinetry.  Oil rubbed bronze & Venetian bronze were selected for all of the fixtures and bath accessories.


A procelain tile was used that resembled a natural stone which meant a rich look but low maintenace as it does not need to be sealed to keep water from penetrating it.  Glass was utilized as an accent in the shower and around the tub and frameless glass created a rich, open and crisp space.


A bench was put in the entry corner along with the shower controls so that the shower could be turned on immediately when entering the shower - no need to get sprayed with icy cold water while leaning all of the way in the turn it on like a standard shower.


A hand held shower is such a nice add-on to put into a shower because it provides a means of easy cleaning.  Instead of scrubbing down your shower walls you can spray them down easily to clean them. 


I am so thrilled with how this bath turned out.  It is a relaxing place for the family to get ready in the morning and met all of the needs that they came to me with.  See below for a list of materials used in this project.


Tile: DalTile
Countertops: Granite
Cabinetry: Alder
Hardware & Fixtures: Venetian Bronze
Shower Accessories: Corian
Contractor: Dan Savageau
Finishes & Installation: Floor to Ceiling