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. 

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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.

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!

A New Bathroom

I completed this project several months ago in Fargo and had a blast designing this with my customer.  It is a renovation of an existing bathroom.  The goal for this project was to create a space with a relaxing, revitalizing & peaceful feel to it.  My client just loved painted cabinetry and wanted to use a painted cabinet in a fun color to create a unique look for the space.  We chose a teal cabinet which was neither too bright or too dull but just perfect to stand out just enough.

We used brushed nickel for all of the fixtures to match what is existing through the rest of the home as well as to brighten up the space in order to not have too much dark contrast to get the desired look and feel my client wanted. 

Beautiful hand made backsplash tile fills in between the 2 upper storage cabinets.  The tile sparkles when the light from the vanity shines on it and adds a touch of luxuriousness to the space. 



A quartz top with a crisp white under mount sink divides the upper and lower cabinets while providing a work surface for getting ready in the morning and storing items.  We selected a fun sink that was a bit different shape, as it bows out in the center.

The bath was tiled in a high definition ink jet printed porcelain tile.  The tile is stunning in person and resembles a vein cut travertine.  I designed a custom mural which is framed in above the tub.  My client did not want a piece of art work in the bath so we designed this custom piece as a built in piece of artwork.  It is composed of fired glazed crackle tile which also extends as a decorative border around the rest of the room & throught the custom walk-in shower.

The finishing touch in this bath was the rain glass frameless shower door.  It is absolutely beautiful and catches your eye immediately when you enter the room becuase of how it catches the light.  See below for a list of material information for this project.

Contractor: Dan Savageau Construction

Interior Designer: Sarah Brown

Cabinetry: Decor Frameless Cabinetry from Floor to Ceiling in Fargo

Top: Cambria Quartz

Glass: Rain - Frameless

Tile: Jeffrey Court, Oceanside Glass & Ira