After many searches for a client’s remodeling project, I finally saw this tile with a color combination I liked more than anything else I had seen. It could be used indoors or out and was inexpensive! Felix, my tile contractor, fabricated a top for my outdoor table eliminating the glass top that was labor intensive to maintain. Six months later it was also perfect for a client’s laundry and certainty added interest to an otherwise plain space and hall.
So we are all home more with time on our hands. Designers, Contractors and Suppliers are open. Let’s make improvements! Replace worn, dated and boring with a refreshed look! Start the process with “I’ve won the lottery!” and think about how good can it get! In reality, redecorating usually doesn’t take the lottery. It does take editing. One wow factor in each space. Recently while on a search for counter-top material and other items for a client, I came across some exciting materials to build around. It just requires proper placement, distribution and repetition to create flow. Let’s give your space a lift!
Consider these options for creating a beautiful black and white design scheme!
We have a team to help you with the process. Contact Sherry at Hauser Design/LuxeSpecs. I’ll bring in Karen at Brandt’s Interiors and Linda at Galleria of Floors. We have a total of 100 years of experience! Our experience will be of value to you. Our design concepts are up to date because we are all working in the field every day to bring you the latest with a lot of knowledge behind our advice. We’re into beautiful interiors!
A recent article in the Mansion Section of the Wall Street Journal had a NEW idea – custom art! My clients know we have always been into custom art! First it was with model homes then ASID show houses. Artists doing custom finishes that were fine art and voila! We have the perfect solution for that space! In the past forty years, there have been more canvases than Betty, Dawn and I can count. Sometimes the space needs color. So pick it and paint it! These details are the difference between boring and exciting. Continuity that can be simple or chaotic! You have probably heard that art shouldn’t match the fabric, I agree, that is too much. Whether you have a verifiable work of art or do-it-yourself, the overall feeling of the space should be pleasing whether exciting or subdued. Custom art is for a particular space and for an end user with input – a very individualized approach.
Here are 3 projects I’ve done with artist Betty Hahn.
For a model home in the ‘90s we hinged particle board and Betty painted black cactus.
In an ASID showhouse the gathering room had a walkway behind it so Betty painted three large canvases to tie in the colors of the seating area and make a backdrop to ground the room.
We had a kitchen remodel that did not include new windows. No problem, we created art to balance the space and won First Place for kitchen design!
Certainly a blog post for the times! Who needs toilet paper! We have Toto Washlets! If you have an existing Toto, you can get a new seat added with electricity. Everyone I know that has one loves it! A plumber with electrical abilities can get you on track for a stress-free, paperless experience! It washes and drys. The units and parts are available at Ferguson’s, Arizona Central Supply and Clyde Hardware.
Caning is back! If you have always liked the look, now is the time to incorporate a new piece in whatever room needs an update! If you have a retro piece, repair and paint to give it a refreshed look. Maybe with a colorful pad!
Colors go through cycles. Gray has been in for many years now – maybe 10 or more. In the cycle of design that is a long time! Many of my clients had a warm base of wood or stone and therefore NEVER wanted gray.
I just finished a renovation at the end of the year. Existing warmer tones and updating numerous baths and counter-tops led to material searches that were not easy. Gray was the dominant color and not integrating it would create a lack of continuity throughout the home. From six sources, there were three options for replacing the dated wall tile in the tub and shower areas. The materials used – included wood, carpet, three different quartz colors for counter-tops, bath wall tiles and porcelain bath floors – were all compatible but hints of gray were there.
On a recent home tour I attended, the master shower was gray and the remainder of the home was warm tones. The shower looked out of context.
So, no doubt, gray has to be going as its been the longest gray run we have ever had. If you’re selecting for a new build or renovation, work harder for a newer look so your project is not dated upon completion! Don’t go for easy, go for the most return on your investment.
I have had a yellow room in my home during most of my adult years! This year every shade of yellow is big in women’s fashion. Which means we will see more and more of it in home furnishings. See some examples on my Paint and Wall Finishes board on Pinterest. A color often used to chase the gray of the Pacific northwest, it is a favorite of bright and sunny people no matter where they live! We have over 300 hundred days of sunshine in the Southwest but adding more inside just adds to the upbeat mood. It can be subtle: a light tint for a warmer off-white base color, a perfect backdrop for your blue and white dishes in the kitchen or dining area, a warm and inviting powder room or bedroom. With all of the gray tones currently in use, yellow is a perfect color to add. An accent pillow, a bowl of lemons by the bar or flowers on the table… the pop of color creates visual impact. It is also beautiful with white moldings. A classic! Always worth consideration!
Mosaic tile patterns are great for kitchen backsplash and bath focal points! When designers consider spaces prior to construction, placing focal points is a top priority! Open design kitchens call for an interesting treatment to be viewed from a distance. Upon entering a bath, the item with the most impact is an obvious point of interest. New Ravena is stellar with these mosaic designs! There are certainly other companies as well that have some great products. If you need custom work, then laserjet cutting allows you to create at will. These beautiful accents should be selected first with the other room elements supporting them. If art is a top consideration start with that, then add interest in other areas with a blend of elements throughout the project.
