Christmas in May

We just LOVE getting presents in the mail! And what we mean by presents are new samples.  It is like opening a holiday gift..so exciting!  Below are the three doors and colors that we are using in an upcoming renovation from our Dynasty cabinetry line by Omega that just arrived on my desk this morning..  The stunning mitered Loring door in three colors.  Painted Pearl, Painted Pearl with a Pewter glaze & Pumice.  Later this summer I should have photos of the finished project.

Today's Focus

Each day we have a project that we are focusing on - lately more that one each day as the spring gets busier and busier.  Today we are working on a fun classic design with a country feel.  This project walks the line of the trends we have been seeing come to the area.  Classic pieces such as this marble backsplash paired with contemporary elements such as the dark cabinetry and rounded out with a rustic element - in this case a rustic oak look laminate floor.  All together this will be a bright and fresh country kitchen!

TLC

It's November!!

Fall is always one of the busiest times of the year for me - both with work - and with life in general!  Somehow I have found some time to catch my breath and reflect  on a few projects.  I head out to cabinetry training in Canada next week to learn the latest and greatest in frameless cabinetry design and then have a few wild weeks so here's a few blogs to wrap up this month- in advance!

Like I always say... I LOVE my clients - and here's just another example of a project that I have completed for an awesome family!!

This home was not even quite purchased when I started this project.  The family was moving in town from out in the country and had me come in and take a look at the home before it was purchased to make sure it had potential - and it totally did!  It was a very simple home that was basically just a little out dated - it just needed a little TLC and a swap out of most of the interior materials.

Since the job was a while out of town I set them up with a local contractor to take care of construction, putting in a sliding glass door for a new deck that will be installed this coming spring and coordinating plumbing, electrical, moving and so much more - and he did great!!

The design was very simple - keeping things light, warm, cozy and neutral so they could get moved in and then spend time putting their own touch on the home with their new furniture & accessories along with a few existing pieces they were brining with.  I have seen photos since with furniture and they did a great job with their selections!!

 

In the bathroom we tore out the existing acrylic tub/shower and gold door - which was so gorgeous - but I just could not bear to let it stay!  Warm tile with a soft accent was added and touched off with a stunning glass & oil rubbed bronze door - with of course a clear shield finish to shed water deposits and keep the glass crystal clear!!

Of course accessories were added - a bench & shelving for storage.  A mosaic allows a bit of contrast between the floor & wall tile.  The bathroom floor is a vinyl tile so that it adds a little warmth for feet.  We kept the existing cabinetry in the home because it was in good condition but added new lighting, plumbing & HD laminate tops with under mount sinks.

 

Through the rest of the house we did a fresh coat of paint, new carpet, new vinyl tile in the other bathroom & added a few updates in the kitchen and dining room.  A new chandelier was added for over the dining table in the foyer.

In the kitchen we did a custom stain & door match and added a desk area to the kitchen.  We also replaced the plumbing and added this great faucet - I love the design AND it has a magnet where the sprayer is recessed so that over time it doesn't start to droop.  New HD laminate tops and an under mount sink were also added. 

A travertine backsplash polishes off the kitchen.  I adore the classic look of travertine & the harlequin pattern is PERFECT for this kitchen! 

Wood flooring and a new chandelier was another addition - the floor is GORGEOUS!!  It is a rustic hickory and was the perfect option to contrast with the existing trim, doors & cabinetry.  It added just enough character and looks great with their new furniture that is now in the space!

Another design inspired - by another wonderful client - another renovation successfully COMPLETE!

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

North Dakota Country Living

I am proud to say that this space I designed was featured in our ad for this month's "Inspired Home" magazine!!  Below is the awesome ad that was put together to feature our store's work for all of Fargo to see!

This project was a huge undertaking and it really pushed me as a designer because it was the largest scope of work that I have had for a client.  Myself and a salesperson at our store named Brian worked on this project for months to create a truly unique space for this family.

This is a renovation of an existing home along with an addition.  Basically a home was built around an existing home and our goal was to keep as much as the existing space while creating a seamless transition to the new spaces in the home. 

Finishes were selected to create a space with a feeling of warmth (which is important with our chilly winters) and a timeless design with a fun twist on country & traditional design elements.  Rustic furniture with traditional travertine & contemporary appliances blended styles that the clients liked to create a look unique to them.

Kitchen & eat in dining space

 

Kitchen range wall & island

  Kitchen island & HUGE pantry - I would cook much more often if I had all of that storage!  I try to use baskets or drawers on the bottom of pantry cabinetry so you have to bend down and dig less to get items from the lower spaces.

Dining Room

Custom entry bench & laundry room

Entry into the master bathroom shower

Aaah...Spa! Master bathroom shower

Master bath custom wood tub surround - perfect for both access for plumbing and a custom look!

Master bath vanities - Each has a linen on the end with a central storage cabinet in the center.

Custom rustic alder fireplace mantle

 

Custom built in cabinetry in the mud room & my FAVORITE accessories! This pull out goes in a vanity cabinet and provides a safe place to store hot irons and curling irons when you are finished using them and need to get going with your day!  There are also storage bins below the stainless iron storage spaces.  This piece is worth every penny and provides easy and accessible storage!

Accessible bathroom

 

Retro Country Kitchen

I have to say that this may be one of the most adorable kitchens that I have designed so far!

It can be a difficult to create the feel of character in a home when using new materials - but I do always say that I enjoy a challenge so this was another perfect one for me!  In this kitchen we had the perfect blend of distressed cabinetry, a floor with a cool retro feel and a classic subway tile splash to create the look and feel my client desired.

Because this was a small kitchen storage was key.  We tried to utilize every bit of space while keeping walk ways clear and closing in the space as little as possible.  The peninsula upper cabinetry had to stay for storage however we shortened up the cabinetry to open up the space towards the kitchen and added glass to enable more light to shine through them and into the kitchen.

It is hard to see in the photos but a wall covering with a vintage floral look was selected for the rest of the kitchen & dining room walls.  I LOVE working with wall coverings and fabrics.  At the design center I work at we do not carry those products so when I get to select them I always jump at the chance!

I adore this kitchen - so cute & comfortable!!

Custom Details Make The Difference!

Check out these awesome custom stain glass panels I designed for a client! My clients wanted a custom piece in their kitchen that would reflect their contemporary style that was blended with warm wood tones and unique pieces of furniture throughout their home.

My clients LOVED bright fun colors such as lime green which became the inspiration for the color scheme! We decided on an Onyx stone backsplash and used that as our base for the stain glass colors pulling out rich gold, green, and white colors found in the gorgeous stone.

After drawing up plans I had the stain glass panels custom made for each cabinet and they were the last finishing touch on this kitchen renovation.  New stainless appliances, custom black painted accent moldings, custom cherry cabinets and a streamline Corian Witch Hazel top rounded out this kitchen to create a contemporary but warm space for the family to enjoy.

I always LOVE a challenge!

When I first started working on this kitchen I was told by my client that she had a "unique layout" and to "have fun" coming up with ideas. Boy... was I going to have to do some brain storming and custom drawings, as the house turned out to be in the shape of a hexagon!  My client was open to ideas and was soo inspirational in the design process as she was really excited about her unique space and the changes it would soon see.

Before Dan Savageau & I started working on the kitchen it was outdated and not as functional as it could be.

The kitchen rests in two corners of the hexagon shape of the home.  This photo shows the exterior walls of the home that the kitchen sits against and the photo below shows the hexagon fireplace which is the center of the home.

The largest challenge for this kitchen was to create a space that increased the functionality of the space while fitting in all of the required appliances & accessories and still having enough circulation space.  After space planning we came up with a plan that worked well and our client was satisfied with! 

 The results....amazing!

The result was a more spacious and functional kitchen that was bright and welcoming.

The perimeter contains the refrigerator , range, oven & microwave while the island houses the sink and dishwasher which results in an efficient layout for cooking and prep work.  Dan made custom cabinetry to match the rest of the kitchen cabinetry to go around the fireplace to create a built-in area for extra storage and buffet style serving.  We also installed a custom TV cabinet in the back corner of the room, gorgeous Pirouette window treatments & a simple but stylish chandelier above the dining table.

I selected rustic hickory cabinetry with a black glazing and accented it with black painted rustic alder with rub through distressing.  Paired with stainless appliances and Cambria quartz tops it creates a country feel with a modern twist. Smokey grey glass pendants tied together the paint, quartz and backsplash tile while also coordinating with color tones in the new flooring to create a cohesive color scheme.

In the mud room I designed a custom bench piece which Dan built and installed.  It ties in the wood species from the kitchen to the mud room and creates a furniture piece look.

I have been having a ton of fun photographing recently finished projects lately so stay tuned & check back soon!