Throw Back

This post is a throw back to a project I finished a couple years ago but is just so timeless that I feel it can still be shared!  If there is one space that I LOVE to work on it is a powder room! 

The reasons:
-You aren't in there often so you can do something fun and you won't get tired of it
-Your guests use it so it is the perfect place to show off a little bit
-The space is small so unique finishes that might be cost prohibitive in larger space can be used

 

For this lovely little space we used lighting to really take the space up a notch.  Crystal pendants were selected that cast an incredible faux finish onto the walls and emit just enough light for the powder room to be usable but still make a statement with mood lighting.  Quartz tops and a stunning hammered nickel sink are the finishing touches along with a uniquely shaped mirror.  Still one of my favorite spaces.

 



Tuesday

While my husband and a friend work down in the basement I figured I had better get another blog composed and out to the world!  I suppose the sound of the compressor and nail gun from two floors below somehow ended up reminding me of work.. hmmm...I wonder why that is!?

This day...this week....this month...this year have been crazy and I have a few big projects wrapping up over the next month or so that I am really excited to share with you but before that I want to show a job I completed not too long ago.

I designed this family's basement and I will be showing it in parts becuase it was a large project but one of my favorite parts was a reading nook for their kids.  We had a huge space to work with and wanted to add some extra seating for the entertainment area, extra storage for toys and of course a spot where the kids could hang out and read.  At first I think they thought I was a little nuts (that the kids would read more often if they had a reading nook) but I am a big beleiver that if you have a designated space to do something and it is properly designed and of course comfortable - that you will use it more than you think!

Since we started with a blank concrete shell I don't have a before photo but here is one during the construction process - can you say "dusty!?".  At this time I was trying to select the perfect fabric and Dan Savageau, the contractor on the job was wrapping up cabinetry.  I enjoy being on site for projects - I think that it is amazing to see the process of how a project goes from this....

To this....

We used beautiful alder cabinetry with oil rubbed bronze accessories. The pendant lighting helps to make reading a possibility for the kids and a comfy bench helps too!  We used an accent paint color between the cabinetry that coordinates with the fabric to give the space a fun bright feeling.  The most rewarding part.....a few months after we completed the project I was told that the kids actually go down to read there!!! So cute!!

More next time!

Designer: Sarah Brown with Floor to Ceiling
Contractor: Dan Savageau Construction
Cabinetry: Omega Cabinetry by Floor to Ceiling
Carpet: Tigressa Carpet by Floor to Ceiling
Lighting: The Lighthouse

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

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. 

www.workshopcompanion.com

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.

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

 

Bath Design

Gosh it has been a while! This spring has been crazy! Between the Fargo & Moorhead areas booming with new construction and remodeling and being in Chicago for the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show I need to catch up on my blogging. I have so many projects to post it is hard to decide which to share with you next!

This bathroom is one that I had a blast working on.... although thinking back...I have a great time working with all of my clients on their projects! When I first walked into this bathroom I noticed that it had great bones to work with but needed a face lift. The client’s intentions were not to tear out the entire space but to keep the pieces that still really worked for them. Any time that I can save pieces in a space I am happy to - it saves my client cost, gives us a piece to start with and work around and best of all - keeps materials out of landfills! The pieces that we saved include the cabinetry & tub; which were the largest items in the space.

The design concept and goal for this space was to create a spa feeling while keeping the space warm and using 2 colors that my client favored - rust & teal. We decided to keep the existing vanities however swapped the tops for a stunning rust color of Cambria quartz. We also switched out the existing chrome fixtures for oil rubbed bronze. To give each vanity a bit more of a furniture piece look sconces were added to each side of the new mirrors (stained to match the existing cabinetry).

The item that made the biggest difference in this space.....tile! We tore out white tile with navy blue accents and opted for a much more luxurious and warm stone look in a porcelain tile. To bring my clients color scheme full circle a handmade glass mosaic from Oceanside Glass was selected to extend around the room to tie the space together. We framed the beautiful mosaic in with hand crafted glass liners from Oceanside Glass. In the shower a pebble floor was used to achieve a spa feeling however we selected flat pebbles so there is not as much texture to the floor.

A light soft teal paint brought color into the space and was the perfect finishing touch to round out the space. Of course we added fun accessories to match such as oil rubbed bronze towel bars, Corian accessories in the shower & rich heavy oil rubbed bronze hardware for the cabinetry.

Project Details:

Interior Designer: Sarah Brown

Contractor: Dan Savageau Construction

Countertops: Cambria

Tile: Dal Tile

Accents: Oceanside Glass

Accessory Finish: Oil Rubbed Bronze

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!