Dec 30

Refresh and Renew Designing Purposefully for the New Year

By pattisays In artistic expression, blue and white, Color schemes, color trends, colors, context of interior design, creative process, creativity, decorative accessories, design, design challenges, design details, design process, design scenes, design solutions, design tips, design trends, designing with a purpose, dining and design, drama of color, entertaining, floral arrangement, good design, hiring an interior designer, home, home improvements, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design preferences, interior design trends, interior enhancements, joy, kitchen, kitchen design, kitchen remodel, lifestyle, organization, paint colors, personal expression, personal taste, planning a remodel, practical design, re-purpose, re-upholstery, Refresh, remodeling, room arrangement, selecting colors, silk flowers, sofas, stone countertops, Subscribers, table dressings, table top, trends, value of good design, white kitchens /

Designing with a purpose is always the way to begin a project. But it is particularly valuable as a tool to start the New Year off fresh! What I mean by purpose is that your interiors should reflect the purpose that they serve for you and your family. By establishing a purpose for your spaces, you will achieve happiness.

Sounds simple, but happiness is proved by what brings you joy, peace and a smile to your face. To achieve this, you will need to evaluate your lifestyle, routines and the rooms in which you perform certain functions.

Upon entering your home, do you feel satisfied? Does arriving home make you feel happy? Is it your safe and comfy retreat from the outside world? Do you like the smell? Yes it matters. Like a realtor telling a home seller to boil some cinnamon sticks on the stove to create the scent of spices in the chilly months or fragrant floral bouquets in the spring and summer…all of the senses come into play when you are staging an interior. And to enhance the design of your own home – you are staging for yourself! If your home smells musty or stale, consider the sources and do a little fabric refreshing, open windows, check for grease in the kitchen…purge the unpleasant odors.

So how do you start your day? Is your room light or dark and how adjustable is it to modify as needed? Is the floor upon which you first set your feet in the morning warm or cool, rough or soft? How do these elements make you feel? How do you want to feel? Consider all of your senses. Consider the purpose of the space and what you want it to do for you. As you evaluate these small details, ask yourself “Do I want to make changes in any of these existing conditions? It’s usually fairly easy to do and if you just take one piece at a time, you will find that the improvements are very effective.

Is your bedroom restful? Are your feel happy when they hit the floor? Examine the sensory details to get started designing with a purpose.

If you enjoy cooking, see how your kitchen functions and how it looks to you as a workplace. Do you have things handy? Is what you use most often easily accessible? Evaluate and rearrange if needed. Re-organize your kitchen.

Some cooks like everything concealed, while some like having certain of their equipment out and ready. Make it suit your purpose.

When you entertain, how do you like to do it? Is your style casual or more formal? Where do people gather and how many at a given time? You can “zone” your entertaining so that some are gathered in established seating areas while others might pull up a stool and watch you cook. Consider the flow of your gatherings. Consider the purpose. I find that I am up and down a lot and therefore I opt for a little upholstered ottoman that I can scoot under the glass top coffee table when not in use. Benches, ottomans, even floor pillows can be great supplemental seating for overflow and these pieces are lower and visually less crowded than pulling chairs in from adjacent rooms.

With regard to seating, do you have pets, kids? Are you hard on your upholstery? This might determine what fabrics you select, if you are considering new pieces or re-upholstery of existing pieces, in your home.

I write often about color. There are so many paint choices that is impossible not to find the right color combinations for your spaces. Consider the purpose. Remember that different rooms can have different color schemes, if that serves your purpose. If you want a space to be restful, select soothing colors and if your want to express a more vibrant spirited feeling, choose colors that are more bright, bold and intense. Consider the purpose of the space and its color scheme regarding how you want it to make you feel.

It all boils down to observing your rooms and their details, letting go of things that no longer serve a purpose. If they do not function well or make you smile – let go. Rearrange your things. This is a neat trick to re-purposing your possessions and giving rooms a new look. Move things from one room to another or just within the same room. You will feel refreshed merely by making these simple changes.

As is true with all good New Year’s resolutions…don’t put off tomorrow, what you can do today! So get started and see how you can make your home the place where you gain strength and rejuvenation, achieve happiness and surround yourself with the things that bring you joy.

Nov 18

Rejuvenate and Expand Your Interior Spaces by Opening Walls

By pattisays In Albuquerque, New Mexico, art and interior design, artistic expression, artistic talent, artists, before and after, blue and white, breakfast rooms, color and temperature re: interior design, Color schemes, color trends, colors, context of interior design, creative process, creativity, custom design interior design, decorative arts, design, design details, design process, design solutions, Design Team, design tips, design trends, drama of color, element of surprise in design, expanding spaces, Federico Leon de la Vega, Food and art, food and interior design, good design, good taste, hiring an interior designer, home, home improvements, houses, illusion of space, illusions of space, Impressionist painters, inspiration, inspiration from nature, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design preferences, interior design trends, interior enhancements, joy, kitchen, kitchen cabinets, kitchen design, kitchen remodel, kitchen remodeling, lifestyle, mosaic, mosaic tile, murals, paint colors, painters, patio, personal expression, personal taste, planning a remodel, practical design, proportion in design, re-purpose, remodeling, room arrangement, selecting colors, slate floors, southwestern design, stone countertops, Subscribers, Talavera Tile, tile, timeless colors, update design, updating, value of art, value of good design, wall treatments, white kitchens /

In past blogs Patti Says a lot about selecting paint colors. Pondering paint colors and the elusive nature of selecting just the right color. https://patriciandesign.com/5677-2/

Walls surround your world. Walls encapsulate and enclose your personal spaces. They can also frame your world and dramatize a focal point. They add effective dimension when punctured.

A current study we have in front of us is about those specific things. Walls – opening them, their color and the context of the color decision. Months ago we examined a wall in a kitchen soon to be remodeled. Re-painting it was the most obvious and least complicated of the options. We also looked at creating a dimensional recess to house art or an accent color or something to take the curse off of its up-close, massive, solidness. It was like the 10,000 pound elephant in the room!

The wall encapsulated close quarters. It divided the space between the kitchen and the parallel hallway.

What we were looking to change was atmosphere. This involved improving the dated and worn cabinets and counter-tops, updating the lighting, enhancing the back-splash and addressing the closed, isolated feeling of the room.

Smoke and mirrors might be the answer. Like a magician appearing and disappearing behind a veil/dimension of smoke – or when the physical space is not negotiable, mirrors will give the illusion of added space. They are VERY effective tools, but neither was the right solution for this room’s current condition. Yet, we knew we needed dimension, depth and something to help expand the space.

Hmmm…the window over the sink offered an exciting option to open out to the patio. We did that – save that for another story. However, this large elephant of a wall was still so confining.

Sometimes small spaces can be cozy. Some people prefer tight spaces while others find them to be claustrophobic. This was not exactly claustrophobia instilling, yet it certainly spoke to all of us as an imposing, confining factor that needed attention.

After discussing all the colors and recessed options someone has the brilliant idea to ask – “What about removing the wall?” That seemed a bit radical considering that it only opened to the hallway and it served a purpose of defining the access to the kitchen and opposite bedroom quarters. To open it entirely might have given an orientation to the kitchen that suggested that the island seats be positioned facing that point-of-arrival. Hence looking directly into the far hallway wall. That was not the desire. Rather, we decided to cut a large opening in the wall exposing the far hallway wall while maintaining the orientation of the kitchen toward the outdoors and island seats facing into the kitchen not out into the hall. It worked!

The space was instantly enlarged. Opening the space onto the patio and this opposing generous puncture of the Great Wall of Kitchen changed everything! The light borrowed from the skylights in the hallway was significant and the sensation of enlarging the space was undeniable. Except the footprint had not changed.

The physical feeling of a space is what counts. It was proven here that it wasn’t about enlarging the space but feeling like it was enlarged. Like mirrors, the illusion of space is so important. But, unlike mirrors this space was physically opened creating the sensation of enlarging the space by adding actual dimensional reality . The benefits were immediate. It actually conveyed a palpable feeling of relaxation. It was freeing and created an entirely new experience of enjoyment.

A passing idea for a stenciled surround was entertained…

Tight spaces give some people comfort. Contrarily, open spaces give comfort to others. Personal reactions to space, color, texture, temperature all enter into the equation of good design. What tasks are being performed also play a part in determining what solutions are best.

This dark, isolated kitchen benefited from changing the cabinets to a white traditional raised panel style detailed with crown molding which added a refreshingly light element. The house was a decades old vintage bungalow and had been dealt a disservice to have had the kitchen remodeled years ago in a not-so-sensitive, style-of-the-day fashion. But, in addition to the more traditional timeless approach to the design, opening the space resulted in additional natural light borrowed from the hall’s skylight and an enlarged interior over-the-sink window brought more coming in from the patio. Now colors…

So we know that picking colors is contextual.. .what’s in and around the room are all part of the equation. Any walls that are seen beyond (through doorways, around corners) contribute to the layering of colors and therefore, participate as well. The floors are multi-colored mottled slate. The tile chosen to enhance the backsplash and also serve as wall-covering was a blue and white Talavera accented with a soft aqua mosaic. The ceiling mimicked the floor as the beams were a smoky grey with caramel-color stained knotty pine boards between – we embraced these existing design features as their unselfconscious non-trendy nature suggested a more grounded, permanent place – one with organic finishes that might have resulted from local availability sourcing and craft – and probably did all those decades ago. See what Patti Says in another blog about this very project: https://patriciandesign.com/trust-and-custom-designs/

The fact that all of these elements contribute to the equation, for deciding a color, is key to our study today. After discussing the options for treating this newly opened wall, we found ourselves doing the paint sample potpourri on the walls!

Taking cues from the aqua accent mosaic which was derived from those tones found in the slate floor, we directed the color choices toward smoky aquas and grey blue tones.

Sometimes white is actually a color, rather than the absence of color. The wall was currently frosted with smooth crisp drywall mud as an aftermath to the demolition and framing of the new opening. The stark white was clean and fresh. Like matting around a painting – this might just be the way to go.

And at this point, we must introduce the idea that was also in the works and that was to have a painting commissioned that would POP through the opening providing a spectacular backdrop to the kitchen and dress the dimensional contribution that the opening into the far wall of the hall presented.

We knew that yellow was a great color POP for this cool kitchen pallet. A recurring bowl of lemons kept proving that to be true. Lemons became the fresh, culinary subject that seemed to be the perfect fit. So we enlisted our master muralist Federico Leon de la Vega to meet the challenge. Armed with the blue and white scheme and the accents of aqua he created a miniature to test the concept.

Isolating the image and framing it is always an important component in the formatting of scene. Whether to spotlight a sculpture on a pedestal, or properly and effectively matting a painting in a frame, this aura is important to highlight art. The same became true as we considered the painting being “framed” by this opening. The wall itself became the mat. So to get an idea of what this might look like, a quick digital manipulation did the trick.

The final decision seems to be that we will keep the wall with the opening white, as though a matting around a painting, while painting the perpendicular wall a smoky aqua. Another opportunity for layering these two colors occurs when the smoky aqua wall is layered over a receding laundry room wall soon to also be painted white.

Watch for the completion of this wonderfully unique little kitchen to be unveiled with all the dramatic before and afters! Meanwhile, look around your interior and see if opening a wall might be an option to expanding your sense of space. The transformation can be rejuvenating!

Nov 05

Patience and Reward for Design Processes

By pattisays In Albuquerque, New Mexico, artistic expression, before and after, blue and white, breakfast rooms, cabinet pulls, creative process, creativity, custom design interior design, design, design details, design process, design solutions, design tips, drama of color, drapery rods, drapery treatments, engineered concrete counter tops, existing materials, flooring, good design, hardwood floors, hiring an interior designer, home, home improvements, houses, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design preferences, interior design trends, interior enhancements, kitchen, kitchen cabinets, kitchen design, kitchen remodeling, mosaic, mosaic tile, natural stone, paint colors, personal expression, personal taste, planning a remodel, Refresh, remodeling, selecting colors, slate floors, Subscribers, Talavera Tile, tile, timeless colors, value of good design /

Patience. Good design requires patience. Do you have it? The design process can either take the route of “all planned before anything starts” (everything drawn and detailed, all finishes selected, all fixtures and furnishings, fabrics and accessories decided and specified, for perfect inclusion into the design) or the process of “design-as-you-go”. The “all planned” design process allows for exact pricing and budget planning. But if the process takes too long, some of the things specified might no longer be available – that has happened more than once! The other “design-as-you-go process” is more random. There can be and often is a combination of these two approaches, but the second requires more patience and less precisely scheduled time.

The luxury of time, experimentation, trial and error, wait and see, what if, all are elements of the “design-as-you-go” process. It is decidedly the more fun and more participatory process. It starts and evolves before your very eyes, with the in-the-field options, to change, modify, massage, delete, add, think and re-think, all available while the action takes place, it is like creating an art piece one stroke at a time. Artistic expression rarely progresses in a straight line.

All of the above can be said of the pre-planning process too. You can illustrate, render, draft, erase, alter and change all the while – but you are doing it prior to commitment, prior to actually seeing the actual design unfold in real time.

Changes and additions can arrest the process – whether in pre-construction planning or live-in-the-field. However, live-in-the-field is much more int-eruptive and possibly costly. Changes and additions can cause scheduling delays which can domino throughout the otherwise planned program. This can result in not only cost considerations, but disarray and a prolonged inability to use the space.

As I visited one of two parallel kitchen remodels nearing completion that I have previously mentioned, the owner mused “It’s a painful process.” But as we stand there enjoying the transformation he continues “It is almost hard to remember all the phases we’ve been through to get here. Kind of like childbirth.” We laughed at the fact that the world would be filled with “only children” as no mother in their right mind would go through that pain again!! He and I both never having experienced it for ourselves – yet, “they say” that it’s true. All very much worth it in the end!!! The ultimate reward!

This BEFORE shot of this kitchen shows dated, anemic face-framed radius flat panel cabinets, granite tile counter-tops and back-splash.

Not quite finished, cabinet pulls are being installed, final painting details are underway and the transformation is being unveiled. New cabinet doors add a classic raised panel detail painted white, with new concrete-like engineered Italian counter-tops, and striking Talavera tile back-splash punctuated with mini mosaic Spanish tile accents. A new window opens to the outside patio with the counter-top passing through and the window closing directly on the top.

Residential design – those private, personal spaces always involve knitted brows, vacillation, additional worry and more indecision than commercial designs. Not to say that commercial designs don’t involve interested parties, if not actual owners, the investment in the personal pocketbook and personal emotion is not the same. Furthermore, there are greater personal thrills and disappointments in the residential projects.

Well, back to patience. It’s a virtue and I often struggle to practice it. I tend to be overly eager for instant gratification. But patience is very important when creating something of value and timeless appeal.

Design takes patience during the various stages of design details. We are not talking about building a rocket ship – but imagine the design and engineering required for that!. Let’s just talk about something simple, like custom drapery rods. The client thinks – fast and easy. While on vacay they experience a lovely accommodation that features hand-forged drapery rods. “Cool” they say. Filing that away among their thoughts of interesting interior details. A couple of weeks later, they are in front of an art booth and meet an iron-worker who offers all manner of custom iron work. So they recall the cool drapery rods and inquire as to whether he would do something like they described. “Sure,” he sings and whips out his portfolio of photos among which are very cool twisted iron drapery rods with swirly finials adorning the ends. They’re sold! They invite him over to see their windows and get started. At this point, their interior designer knows nothing of this idea or the contact and engagement.

Remember, they are thinking fast and easy. So they expose their idea and plan that is already underway asking their interior designer on advice for drapery fabric. With this opening, the designer asks about the rods. Come to find, they aren’t sure how far past the windows they have been measured to go, they haven’t considered that the 5/8″ solid stock might want to sag after a while spanning 8 feet and they have no idea how they are going to hang the draperies…”Oh” we need rings? So it seems that the conversation with the iron-worker has been rather cursory. Questions that needed to be asked and answered at the outset had not been thoroughly considered.

Fortunately, these details will now be addressed, issues solved and finished product all as it should be with proper extension past the actual window opening, matching rings to the iron rods, and a stout enough rod so as not to require a center support – an element to be avoided if at all possible. Whew – caught that one before it was too late!! (Watch for the installation of the hand-forged rods and custom draperies in the next few weeks).

Paint colors often wait until other decisions are made. I have mentioned previously that we usually pick things that have fewer options. There are more paint colors than anything else in our design world with fewer fabrics and even fewer rugs. In that order, we might pick the rug first, fabrics to build upon it and paint colors to bring it all together. Not necessarily – but that is a pretty good example.

Starting with an existing hardwood floors well preserved by decades of wall-to-wall carpeting, we discussed the desire to create a colorfully transforming interior and opening of the space to better connect the kitchen with the living area.

As we met to hang artwork, discuss iron drapery rods, custom chandelier and finishing touches, the clients remarked that this was so exciting to be nearing the end of this dramatically colorful transformation that so nearly has transported them back to Guatemala where so many fond memories have been established over the years.

Oct 01

Trust and Custom Designs

By pattisays In Albuquerque, New Mexico, artistic expression, before and after, blue and white, context of interior design, creative process, creativity, custom design interior design, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, discovering artistic talent, element of surprise in design, engineered concrete counter tops, fireplaces, good design, handcraft, handmade, hiring an interior designer, home improvements, inspiration, interior design, interior design preferences, interior enhancements, joy, kitchen, kitchen design, kitchen remodeling, Mexico, mosaic, mosaic tile, natural stone, personal expression, personal taste, planning a remodel, practical design, remodeling, Santa Fe, New Mexico, slate floors, southwestern design, Spanish Colonial, Subscribers, Talavera Tile, tile, value of good design, wall treatments, wallcovering, white kitchens / 1 Comment

Trust. When asking any kind of advice, you generally ask those you trust. That’s not to say that you might not question the advice. There is never only one way to accomplish something, therefore, advice can be as different as the number of advisers you ask!

From a design standpoint, to offer and create custom elements, it’s often the case that the client will say, “Can you show me an example of that?” If something is new and different, created specifically in context and for this project, there IS no example. There might be similar things, or close approximations of the design – or not – but not the actual design. Trusting your designer to extract your wishes, taste, preferences and applicability to the space is key to creating something very special.

So, I can show examples of mixed pattern Talavera on a wall. I first did this in Tucson about 13 years ago to create a wallpaper-like full wall installation.

As I referenced this casita installation for my clients, while planning their kitchen remodel, I also came upon a restaurant in St. Louis this last spring that used a similar approach in an Italian theme…Talavera? Mexican? Italian? Oh well…another example I brought to the conversation.

For this new kitchen remodel project, we were working with existing conditions, the layout and the mottled green, rust, aqua, charcoal slate floor. All else was up for grabs. However, because I really feel strongly about context, I mentally gathered elements from other parts of the home and intentionally embraced the floor.

This fireplace was given a face lift last year to add the stone hearth and mantle with the decorative Talavera tile detailing.

I believe to abandon existing design themes reads like a designer show home – each room done by a different designer, without any cohesive design continuity. Pair the idea to make an effort to lace the rooms together, with the effort to adopt certain fixed materials and you have compelling diagram of creative remodeling guidelines.

When it is either not practical to replace an existing design element or when the existence of the that design element makes for an un-self conscious part of the composition, it can be priceless. The slate floor was of smaller 12″ format tiles than might be more popular today, but it’s unusual color and very organic feel was worth the challenge. Turning a questionable design element into an asset is success!

Once the flooring was determined to be key in the new design, extracting features (specifically colors) from it became the next task. We had already discussed bringing the blue and white Talavera in from the living room, but my client was not feeling the joy of pairing it with this wildly mottled slate floor.

To meld the design elements together, I selected a concrete-like engineered countertop (which came in two colors both of which were seen in the mottled slate – and provides fodder for a future story). This provided a solid anchor for the design between the mottled floor and the multi-patterned Talavera.

But what might be the one more thing to make this design be even more unique and more cohesive? I set forth to find the impossible, an aqua, handmade tile that would complement the Talavera in the light irregularity and “hecho a mano” feel.

The perfect handmade aqua tile from Spain (photo reads more blue) from DAL tile was the perfect accent.

The absolutely ideal accent appeared unexpectedly as I thought I would be searching farther and wider for this perfect piece. By cutting it into 1″ pieces we would have the artistic accent woven through the patchwork of Talavera, thereby inserting the aqua and adding interest and unexpected detail.

By not planning a symmetrical grid of the accent mosaics, but by creating random lines the unexpected quality of the installation continues.

At this stage, the grout could be grey or white – specifically off white (of which there are many). Opting for the white, to allow the tile to read in its patchwork pattern, without added confusion with a grid of grout competing for attention. We then made a last minute switch on the white grout to a creamier one after seeing the many colors of off-white Talavera up on the wall – leaning more creamy than merely off-white. Could I have shown an example of this design scheme? No, this was created specifically for this project, this client and the space that deserves such attention to detail.

We’re not finished yet. Watch for this transformation to be unveiled in coming weeks complete with before and afters!

Aug 19

Decorative Wallcovering – Fun with Tile

By pattisays In Abstract Art, Albuquerque, New Mexico, architecture, art and interior design, artistic expression, artistic talent, artists, bathroom remodel, before and after, blue and white, breakfast rooms, commercial interior design, creative process, creativity, custom design interior design, decorative mirrors, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, design trends, DIY design, eclectic design, exterior - outdoor design, fireplaces, functional art, good design, graphic designs in interiors, handcraft, handmade, hiring an interior designer, home improvements, inspiration, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design preferences, interior design trends, interior enhancements, kitchen, kitchen design, kitchen remodeling, lifestyle, master bathrooms, mirrors, mosaic, mosaic tile, murals, natural stone, personal expression, personal taste, planning a remodel, powder rooms, public restrooms, recycle, recycle design, remodeling, residential restrooms, restaurant restrooms, stone, stone countertops, Subscribers, Talavera Tile, tile, update design, updating, urban art, wall texture, wall treatments, wallcovering / 2 Comments

When you think about finishing a wall, you probably think about paint colors…you might think about a wallcovering – wallpaper, or even a mirror – I’ve previously noted how mirroring an entire wall can exponentially expand a room – a dimensional effect/illusion that suggests the room extends well beyond its actual size. But another wall treatment, with which I LOVE to play, is tile!

All over the world, the art of designing and creating decorative finishes with tile has been evolving for centuries. All cultures have utilized mud and clay, glazes and fire to bake beautiful patterns and colors onto geometric slabs. Shapes of rectangular, square, octagonal, dots or diamonds – the geometric shapes are many and the designs are limitless.

As is true with other wall treatments, I prefer not to stop on an outside corner. I believe that the color or material should suggest a built mass – part of the architecture. To stop on an outside corner suggests a veneer. It proves that the finish on the element is not a structural/integral part of a built mass. When you paint into an inside corner and stop, it allows the mass the read as though solid and not merely superficially treated. The same is true with tile. Don’t stop it until you get to an inside corner – if possible. There are situations that force a finished edge on the flat plain of a wall – but avoid outside corners at all cost!!

This entire shower is tiled floor to ceiling, around the pony wall, bench…no door…it reads like a built environment of stone tile.

Think of the surface as an architectural element. Tile from floor to ceiling, inside corner to inside corner – wrapping corners, if needed, along the way.

Take a backsplash…customarily used to do just that – catch splashes at the back wall of a wet area (sink) countertop…bathrooms and kitchens, behind sinks and between upper and lower cabinets – but why stop there?

The entire back wall of this kitchen is mosaic marble tiles in a herringbone pattern.

Think of it as a true wallcovering – wallpaper. Commit to the entire surface. Here are more effective examples…

The backsplash and entire adjacent wall were covered in glass mosaic tiles. It “reads” like wallpaper.

here again, the classic blue and white Talavera tile backsplash is continued along the entire wall from floor to ceiling.

We are currently working on a couple of kitchen projects that will soon be completed. They both use tile liberally. Each quite different from the other. Stay tuned for the finished products!

In bathrooms, the area around a mirror can be more than merely the backsplash. Embed the mirror into the tile surround or tile the entire wall and hang a mirror on top of the tile surface.

This mirror is flush with the surrounding tile, suggesting that it is embedded into a tile wall.

Planning this transformation, the mosaic vase was the inspiration. Then loose tiles were scattered on the countertop and the concept began. Note, the existing mirror was attached to wall with light fixture mounted above it and a medicine cabinet off to the side.

The transformation involved removing the medicine cabinet, taking the floor tile up the wall and wrapping it floor to ceiling. It was also cut into smaller squares to use behind the sink as a “full-wall backsplash.” Then punctuated with glass and glazed tiles to create an updated design. Relocating electrical to flanking the mirror for a pair of new sconces and a new countertop, faucet and sink with existing cabinets painted resulted in a cost-effective design.

Here a mirror is mounted on top of the fully tiled wall. Inside and outside of the shower enclosure the tile is a true wall treatment.

I recently received this advertisement in my email. It was such a spectacular collection that it caught my eye and I share here one of the patterns and context shots as the backdrop to a range.

Mosaic assemblages can be fun! Here is a fireplace surround.

The addition of three-dimensional pieces adds interest.

This exterior fireplace surround tolerates the elements – an all-season installation.

Here is a mosaic mural of a dynamic geometric abstraction discovered in New Zealand. We are using this inspiration to establish a theme in a current restaurant project. An interpretation of this in the form of geometric tiles of various sizes, colors and patterns will be used to create a cohesive repeated design element through various areas of the restaurant – both inside and out. Watch for this completed project in coming months.

Commercial restrooms can benefit from full-wall tile treatments too. Not only does it look complete, but it is an ease of maintenance consideration.

Three dimensional tiles add interest to this cactus motif!

Fun with color and texture, tile are also easy too keep clean – terrific for public restrooms.

Murals are also terrific ways to use tile as art in your interior/exterior designs!

This is embedded into the stucco for an integral installation.

When using outside though, remember to consider the range of temperature and moisture to which it will be exposed. Porcelain is the most durable in areas where the temperatures get to and below freezing. Freezing and thawing can destroy tile. Many murals are made from clay that is not suitable in cold climates!

Inset into the tile wall treatment is this stunning glass mosaic abstract mural.

Tile – it’s a nearly limitless medium. So consider the possibilities for your next project! As a piece of art, an accent wall or an entire installation – full-wall treatments make a statement! Have fun with tile!

Aug 13

Southwest Style – What is it?

By pattisays In Albuquerque, New Mexico, architecture, art and food, art and interior design, artistic expression, artistic talent, artists, bathroom remodel, beauty behold it, blue and white, civilization, color forecasting, Color schemes, color trends, colors, context of interior design, cowhides, creative process, creativity, custom design interior design, decorative arts, decorative mirrors, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, design trends, designs in nature, dining and design, drama of color, eclectic design, eclecticism, functional art, hammered metal, handcraft, handmade tableware, hiring an interior designer, historic properties, historical interior design, home improvements, houses, inspiration, inspiration from nature, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design preferences, interior design trends, interior enhancements, joy, kitchen, kitchen design, Leon de la Vega, lifestyle, Mexico, natural designs, nature, nostalgia and design, organic design, paint colors, personal expression, personal taste, powder rooms, Pueblo pottery, quilting, Regional design, residential restrooms, Santa Fe, New Mexico, selecting colors, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Spanish Colonial, stone countertops, Subscribers, table dressings, table top, tableware, Talavera Tile, terracotta, textiles, tile, timeless colors, travel and design, trends, value of good design, weavings / 1 2 Comments

Arriving for the first time in our American Southwest, one might feel like they have entered a different country, if not a different world!! To fly from anywhere else where there are rolling green hills, or green fields or dense green wooded landscapes, not to mention tropical environs and cruise over America’s Southwest, it looks like the moon – or some barren planet. Everyone remembers their first impression. Whether exotic or scary, lonely or seemingly uninhabitable, once you get on the ground and explore the beauty and variety of what’s here, you’re bitten – even smitten.

In all fairness, this is a completely defoliated winter shot!! Many now know how lush this magnificent Sandia Mountain can be at the top, in the summer. Yes, I said lush.

No other region has the distinct architecture and tri-cultural identity of what has become the elemental design style and flavor of this magical place. From “sea to shining sea” New England to Southern California you will find nuances of regional distinction – but not to the degree that the American southwest is set apart. Architectural influences from colonization have been the standard guiding style nationwide. Yet the ancient, practical elements, of civilization that long preceded the Europeans discovering the New World, is at the roots of this enchanting design style.

Tri-cultural architecture and interior design results from the remarkable history combining Native Americans carving out of stone walls, building with mud (adobe) bricks, devising simple, practical designs to capture heat and insulate in cold while minimizing solar gain in the warm weather months, with the conquering Spaniards and their colonial influences, and finally the pioneers from the east with their colonial English influences. Now more often replicated, with frame construction and stucco facades, this unique melding is the core of Southwestern architectural design.

When one hears the term “earth tones” setting a design trend in the 70s, it suggests the brown, tan, orange palette that was terribly limiting. Certainly to label it earth tones, it became a curse of a color scheme. Sadly to link it to a representation of southwestern design was misplaced and unfortunate. And how sad to think that it was so broadly accepted – like lemmings following blindly – everyone adopted this as a truism. So often the case with trends. The 70’s also spawned a diametrically opposite color scheme of blues and greens to refresh that which had been so mired in the “earth-tone” movement.

However, real earth tones are limitless. Earth tones are all colors…look down…look around. Even if you confine your interpretation to the dirt beneath your feet – the colors are vastly more than the brown, tan, rust, orange that became the rage. Soft pinks and grays, pale blue and whites…look at dirt. It might be more clay, might be more peat – from soft terracotta to dark espresso – dirt is earth and the colors and tones are limitless.

Tom Glover captured the beauty of the natural landscape through his artistic photographic medium that Georgia O’Keeffe and others have depicted through their artistic media.

Georgia O’Keeffe saw it and captured it in her own enduring style.

Nature offers color. Natural dyes have riddled that art world through time. Synthetic dyes took it a level further. But nature is at the core of all we have in this world.

http://www.quilthistory.com/dye.htm

Turquoise being a natural mineral in the American Southwest became a signature accent color punctuating the soft earthen tones of the adobe design palette.

Artist Victoria Martinez Rodgers paints a valley apple orchard and the turquoise wall is the perfect backdrop.

Color was always there for those who cared to notice. The great painters of this region presented it well. Their recordings of everything from the many colors of the rugged windswept landscapes to lush green mountain forests with shimmering golden aspen groves – and bosque cottonwoods screaming with yellow brilliance capture and convey so much more.

In autumn, bosque cottonwoods explode with color sending a streak of brilliant yellow all along the Rio Grande. Federico Leon de la Vega create this commissioned oil painting from a photo provided by his clients.

There are the natural and also synthetic dyes that were woven through the magnificent textiles of the Native Americans – blankets and articles of clothing were not limited to buckskin animal hides.

Ernest Blumenschein was the founder of the Taos Society of Artists capturing the color and textures of the realities that he encountered in this Land of Enchantment.

Sunsets everywhere play a part in the imagery of the landscape – here we see vast landscapes with brilliant fiery skies and those exciting corals and lavenders, soft pink and blue wisps provide inspiration for wall colors and backdrops to our richly embellished interior designs.

Yet spare, understated neutral interpretations also offer elegant representations of southwestern style.

So what do you visualize when you think of Southwestern Design? Please don’t say a turquoise wooden cutout of a howling coyote! Death by Southwestern Style – the overdose resulting from overdone clichés and trends that have spoiled the real art and beauty.

It doesn’t have to be all about cow skulls and pelts…but these cow hide butterfly chairs are pretty cool!!!

Perhaps you see a Mexican influence which is also part of the melding of the regional style – like food, we have a fine line sometimes with certain traditional dishes that when adopted and adapted by American Southwest kitchens took on a unique identity all its own – differing between Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. We all enjoy bringing art and craft from our southern neighbors into our designs.

Borrowing, sharing, combining so many design elements such as adobe architecture, colonial wood trim detailing, fired brick technology, Mexican Talavera tile and pottery,

Native American textiles and so many other handcrafts

The owners of this interior have an intimate relationship with each of the artists that they have collected down to this magnificent mount of a buffalo. They knew him and his name and why he was put down.

from punched and tooled tin, paintings and pottery – southwestern interior design is rich with color, texture, artistic detailing and true soul. The connection to the earth is undeniable and nature always plays a key role.

So how might you introduce southwestern influences into YOUR design scheme? You could tile the wall(s) of a powder room in Talavera Tile. Maybe just a mirror surround?

You might paint an accent wall – or all walls in a room or some other bold color inspired by a regional image

Mango watercolor by Susan Weeks splashes coral against the golden yellow wall with a lime green lighted cabinet showcasing old, traditional, low-fire Talavera tableware. classic Talavera blue and white tile frame the bar opening and on through out the kitchen.

and collect art pieces such a punched tin crosses, wood and straw,

landscape or still life painting, hang a blanket or drape a bed with a beautiful woven textile…introducing different styles speaks to last week’s story about eclecticism. Don’t be afraid to mix things that you like. What brings you joy?

Jul 22

Living Room Transformation

By pattisays In ambiance, bar, before and after, blue and white, breakfast rooms, cats, Color schemes, color trends, colors, contrasts for balance in design, creative process, custom design interior design, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, design trends, dining and design, dining rooms, entertaining, family rooms, faux finishes, fireplaces, flooring, furniture finds, good design, hardwood floors, hiring an interior designer, home improvements, inspiration, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design preferences, interior design trends, interior enhancements, kitchen, kitchen cabinets, kitchen design, kitchen lighting, kitchen remodeling, lifestyle, lighting, Millenial, modern cabinets, mosaic, mosaic tile, natural stone, open floorplans, paint colors, patterns, personal expression, personal taste, planning a remodel, practical design, re-upholstery, remodeling, sectional sofas, selecting colors, stone, Subscribers, tile, trends, update design, updating, upholstery, value of good design, wall-to-wall carpeting, white kitchens / 1 Comment

As an adjunct to last week’s story about the progressive young couple and their dramatic kitchen remodel, I thought I should finish the subject and tell about the adjacent living room transformation and comfortable family room on the lower level.

When the kitchen grew to become the focal point upon entering and the bar counter expanded into the living area, it reduced that space to now become a comfortable sitting room for guests to gather or the family to relax while activities are brewing in the kitchen.

Looking through to the dining room where a built-in storage bench was added along the window wall, offers additional seating. A new fabric-shade chandelier softens the light levels. All lighting in this remodel are on dimmers.

The former white brick wall had gently rubbed edges to suggest a distressed condition exposing the red brick beneath. The fireplace had an unrelated golden oak mantle and surround with insipid tile inset also used to cover the hearth. The tile was a glazed faux marble with a Victorian design accent feature.

By simply painting the oak white to match the rest of the wood trim throughout the home and also painting the brick a soft taupe/grey tone, the look was instantly transformed. But they still had that awful tile…so here’s a design tip: to buy time either while you decide or until you save-up for the next phase, paint the tile away!!! To accommodate a new TV that is to go over the mantle, the wood surround was shortened. Notice the extra piece of wood trim that was removed to lower the mantle.

The hearth was removed and rebuilt (without the cut-off corners) with brick and painted to match the wall. Lucky for them the hardwood floor went beneath the hearth – so when they modified the size, they didn’t have to patch the floor! Tile was removed and replaced with 2×2 mosaic Carrara marble to coordinate with the herringbone mosaic of the same marble in the new kitchen backsplash/wall (see last week’s blog).

A sofa found, for nearly free, was in good shape and reupholstered beautifully in this plush, durable navy solid.

The classic blue and white motif was punctuated with organic yellow.

The newly refinished original hardwood floors – taken from a golden oak finish to a rich espresso/walnut stain…

…with the blue and white wool hook rug creates a handsome contrast. The rug actually “reads” blue and white, but upon closer inspection has warm khaki tones, soft turquoise detailing and is quite complex.

This revitalized cozy ambiance of this new sitting area/living room is perfect for this growing young family!

And for a more expansive gathering space, the lower level family room received a new sectional sofa in a durable charcoal fabric and a low-pile small diamond patterned wall to wall carpeting to conceal what had been cold tile floors and make a comfortable room for all seasons!

Purrrrrrhaps someday they’ll have a cat to climb that crazy rope-wrapped pole!!!!!

Jul 17

Young Family Prioritizes Remodel

By pattisays In artistic expression, blue and white, breakfast rooms, brick, cabinet pulls, Color schemes, context of interior design, creative process, creativity, design, design solutions, design tips, design trends, dining rooms, entertaining, existing materials, fireplaces, flooring, good design, hiring an interior designer, home improvements, illusion of space, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design preferences, interior design trends, interior enhancements, kitchen, kitchen cabinets, kitchen design, kitchen lighting, kitchen remodeling, lifestyle, lighting, lofts, Millenial, mosaic, mosaic tile, natural stone, open floorplans, paint colors, patterns, personal taste, planning a remodel, practical design, Refresh, remodeling, room arrangement, selecting colors, stone, Subscribers, tile, timeless colors, update design, updating, value of good design, white kitchens / 1 Comment

We all know that traditional housing floor plans are changing to maximize smaller footprints. The result is a more open layout. This preference, often seen in “loft” design where warehouse space is converted to living spaces – without many walls and with an eye on the interestingly industrial finishes of the existing space. But this same concept applies to new home construction for starters or down-sizing to smaller homes and is definitely applicable in remodels of existing traditionally compartmentalized plans.

Lifestyles too have opened kitchens. Although often to maximize smaller spaces, they are also more open as cooking is more celebrated in the home and related activities are shared. Kitchens have truly become the fulcrum of family life. So when this young couple purchased their first home, the vintage 1960s split-level plan was not quite right.

The kitchen was a narrow galley-style tucked into a rear corner of the main floor. And although it had recently been remodeled, it was confining and not conducive to entertaining and growing a family.

The point of arrival was an open space with entry wall about 12-15 feet from the front door. To the right, the living room had a focal fireplace and the adjacent dining room made an “L” back to where the kitchen was tucked behind that previously mentioned entry wall.

So this progressive young couple thought way beyond merely opening the wall creating a pass-through bar to better connect the kitchen to the living spaces. No, they said ” Let’s blast this baby out of here!” And with that they proceeded to visualize the point of arrival being the actual kitchen in full-view as guests arrived. Hello!!!!!

The former kitchen containment was revealed to present the new elongated welcoming bar counter-top, luminous glass pendants and supplemental recessed down lights, to meet and greet all who pass through their front door! Original hardwood floors were refinished in a dark walnut stain.

Their priorities were to create a larger, more functional kitchen with a clean, modern look and feel while making all open to better interact with their soon-to-arrive baby!

The clean white on white finishes in the kitchen are fresh and crisp. Lest you think they saved and added to existing cabinets, they did not – all cabinets are new!

And this might be considered gilding the lily, but we added a splash of artistic expression when we hand-painted the small squares in the new brushed stainless cabinet pulls to give them a bit of extra pizzazz!!!

By using the Carrara mosaic as a wall-covering, rather than merely a back-splash, the walls get a truly finished built-environment “read.”

The upper bar counter-top bows at bar-level to offer a more comfortable conversation scene.

The living room became a cozy sitting area off this wonderfully open kitchen and dining area.

Existing brick walls were softened with a grey-taupe to contrast with the white trim making it POP!

The fireplace now has a complimentary new Carrara mosaic in a diamond pattern to coordinate with the new herringbone mosaic of the kitchen wall.

And baby accoutrements adds colorful animation to the beautifully finished scene!

“HELLO!” they say. “Welcome to our beautiful new home!”

Jul 01

Mirror Mirror on the Wall – Do You Even Notice Me at All?

By pattisays In architecture, art and interior design, artistic expression, artistic talent, beauty behold it, before and after, commercial interior design, creativity, custom design interior design, decorative mirrors, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, design trends, designs in nature, dining rooms, DIY design, element of surprise in design, functional art, handcraft, handmade, hiring an interior designer, home improvements, illusion of space, inspiration, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design trends, interior enhancements, kitchen, kitchen design, kitchen remodeling, lifestyle, master bathrooms, mirrored walls, mirrors, murals, personal expression, powder rooms, practical design, remodeling, residential restrooms, Subscribers, Talavera Tile, theatrical design, trompe l oeil, update design, updating, value of good design /

Designers use tricks, “trompe l oeil” – ever heard of it? Parlez-vous français? It’s a trick of the eye – and how handy is that to create an effect? Often murals are painted to give the illusion of depth or a scene that is not real, yet might fool you into thinking it is. Similarly, mirrors can create the illusion of dimension and improve spaces – especially small spaces or rooms that feel particularly one-sided. Like the idea? Want to hear some fun designer tips?

Large decorative mirrors expand the dining space in this restaurant. Faux finish composite material give the impression of hand-carved wood – not!

Mirrors in the Bath We know mirrors are commonly used for practical purposes such as bathroom vanities. They can be simple over-the-sink functional elements or framed versions for decorative pizzazz.

Below, a built-in tiled surround is nearly a full-wall treatment but with a little relief.

an a more encapsulated/inset mirror shown here

or full wall-to wall treatments that “go away” leaving only the illusion that the room continues beyond…you don’t really “see” the mirror, you see the illusion of space that it creates.

Bathrooms can be intimate spaces of decorative interest

or expanded to be grand spaces of extraordinary volume.

Dining Room Décor and Expansion Other rooms of the house can benefit from mirrors too. Often mirrors are placed in dining rooms over buffets to once again give the illusion of space to a room that is often small for the number of furniture pieces and people that gather there. It is an opportunity to add a decorative element as well as expand the space.

Mixing Geometrics A rectangular console table, sideboard, buffet or dresser enjoys the contrast of a round mirror

Mirrors as Artistic Accessories There are also fun additions to existing pieces like this framed grill-work which is given a new element of interest by adding a mirror behind the iron, set into the frame. Depth and interest instantly change the nature of this decorative wall piece.

Yes, the mirror becomes the decorative focal point. Large framed mirrors can become just that – a great focal point AND provide an illusion of depth. Notice too, the entire wall was tiled behind this focal piece adding further drama and interest.

The limitless options for frames and shapes makes mirrors a valuable accessory similar to a piece of artwork!

Kitchen Surprises Here’s a little trick…rather than looking into a tiled wall behind your cook-top, insert a mirror into the back-splash! It will give the illusion of an opening passing through to another room!!

Wish for a Window Add a “window” where you have none. A “fake window” adds dimension to an otherwise encapsulated interior space. This can be with an actual window to which you add mirrored glass to replace existing or merely a grouping of mirrors to suggest a window to the world.

Embellish with Crafts Here we added white shells to have a little DIY fun!

Make it BIGGER – Make it Better Expand your living space, add value and create perceived square-footage!! Truly enlarging a room with a trick of design expertise is to know where to mirror an entire wall to achieve that illusion of a much larger space.

Consider what is being reflected. You won’t want it reflecting an open bathroom door necessarily…You can even enhance the area that will be reflected to maximize the effect.

Theatrical/Dramatic Lighting Effects and Mirrors

ART & Technology As is true with our fast-paced word today, the art of creating mirrors has gone from fine craft to commodity. Phenomenal prices are now available for what once was a luxury item. Certainly, there are exquisite hand carved, fantastically finished and even gilded wood frames still being designed and handcrafted by artisans around the world,

but the offerings for production pieces of man-made faux wood and other interesting composites are now on the market. Beveling used to be an art. It was performed by hand (and still is – but it is a lost art and it’s not as necessary a trade with the advances in technology to achieve the detail).

Difficult to see the hand-beveled work on this amazing hand-carved mirror.

The effects of a bevel either on the mirror within a frame or here as a frame itself, bevels add detail of angular reflection that add interest to a mirror’s single-plane depth providing the angular plane to reflect other surrounding facets of the scene.

Mirrors are one of the most versatile and effective design components. Look at them, look into them, use them, play with them – they will expand your world!!

Jun 24

A Tale of Two Kitchens

By pattisays In aesthetic medical, Albuquerque, New Mexico, before and after, breakfast rooms, Color schemes, colors, contrasts for balance in design, creative process, creativity, custom design interior design, design, design process, design solutions, Design Team, design tips, design trends, Disruption in design, DIY design, drama of color, element of surprise in design, existing materials, flooring, hiring an interior designer, home improvements, illusions of space, interior design, interior design trends, interior enhancements, joy, kitchen, kitchen cabinets, kitchen design, kitchen remodeling, lifestyle, Mexico, natural stone, nostalgia and design, paint colors, planning a remodel, practical design, re-purpose, Refresh, remodeling, selecting colors, Sherwin Williams, Subscribers, Talavera Tile, terracotta, tile, timeless colors, update design, updating, value of good design /

Often with remodeling…it’s both the best of times as the anticipation for the exciting transitions is ignited, but since it takes “breaking an egg to make an omelet”, it is often the worst of times too as the demolition and displacement begins. Thank you Mr. Dickens, you set forth a mastery of profoundly conflicting opposites that I have used here which describe so many design project experiences so well.

Currently, in our shop, we are designing almost parallel kitchens. They are at nearly identical beginning stages. The owners share little in common, if anything, except perhaps the age of their homes. The sizes are similar, yet one is a bit larger offering different options for design consideration.

Both kitchens had been remodeled, from their originals, somewhere in the 70s and possibly 80s. One installed traditional drop-panel golden-oak with a curvy valance over the sink.

Brilliant blue paint to come will transform these re-purposed/salvaged cabinets with new personality!

The other flat panel radius corners for a “modern” look – also in lighter bleached oak.

Each set of cabinets were in good condition opening the conversation to salvage versus replace. Certainly we encounter cabinets that have been destroyed by hard use and neglect, but when the boxes are reasonably well constructed – or enough so that some reinforcement will enhance their weight-bearing and usability qualities, we often take the route of refurbishing. (NOTE: As a DIY, this requires much research to insure that a new finish will be flawless, durable and easy to maintain.)

The beginning for each project propelled forward with distinctly different ideas. One to follow the original character of the home’s raised panels painted white doors and trim throughout, the other seeking an entire transformation to a multi-colored fiesta of fun!

Mexican Talavera tile with Mexican terracotta Saltillo for the kitchen floor adjacent to white oak narrow plank original tongue and groove floor recently unveiled from beneath wall-to-wall carpeting.

Now that’s not to say that the more traditional soon-to-be white, raised panel kitchen will not be full of fun – as it will ultimately have a “party pass-through” connecting the kitchen through to the patio beyond and counter-top that transitions seamlessly from the sink area inside straight out to a party bar! A custom-sized double-hung window will open the scene in the warm weather months. We know that it’s going to be classic with a tremendous twist of fun!!!

The patio level is a step down. The kitchen counter inside will flow through a new window that is lower – opening directly on the countertop surface – providing bar height outside.

Both kitchens are being “opened” by removing portions of walls which have isolated them in years past. By removing the walls, additional daylight will be evident, a perceive expansion of the space will be realized and a connectivity to the other living areas for personal and entertaining enjoyment will become a reality.

Breaking through to daylight from the hallway skylight – adds not only light, but incredible depth and dimension!!

This is soon to open into the living room and large picture window beyond – a peak at the mountain will be an added reward.

A bit of structural modification to both are resulting in minor delays for permitting processes – other aspects of the work will continue, in the meanwhile, like the continued selection of finish materials, lighting fixtures and cabinet modifications.

In both cases we have discussed the design challenge of existing materials. I have found over the years that often, when confronted with existing conditions you might not have set-forth to include, they add character and an element of unselfconscious cool-ness. It occurs when certain conditions or materials are in place that you might not have chosen or planned into the design. Designs from scratch, that are too well coordinated or too perfectly planned, can lack that element of surprise or unexpected interest.

The first home had slate tile floors with a unusual mottling of colors leading with a cool aqua and including charcoal grays, smoky blues, ochre and rusty tones.

The other inherited period hollow mahogany doors all trimmed with white molding and original cabinetry. Do we paint them white – which would be the customary response or leave them and invite that element of “oh you kept these doors?”

In this second example it would be easy to “neutralize,” if not replace, the dated doors. However, the homeowner, having many fond experiences in Guatemala, appreciated the great condition of the tropical wood, grain and finish – so we will start without painting them and re-evaluate down the line as the new colors and finishes splash their celebration over the scene. As the transformation takes place, the decision regarding the doors can be re-evaluated.

This is a prime example of the design process. Often there are elements on a project that are a puzzlement. The great thing is that often the decision to remove, modify or leave unchanged can wait until the scene evolves. If you have the luxury to design as you go, you will have more opportunities to consider context, contrast, new options etc…that are often obscured by the overwhelming and often daunting task of visualizing the finished product.

Sharing the same vision is one of the hardest aspects of the design process. Full color architectural renderings, illustrations and even sketches go a long way in conveying the intent, but no two people see exactly the same thing through their mind’s eye. During these preliminary stages of design concepts, nebulous ideas and imagined finished products, the opportunities for misconception are great.

I remember a hospital project many years ago where the head nurse was wincing at our suggestion of maple cabinets, headboards and other carpentry details. She kept quiet, but we (the design team) kept hearing rumors that she loved the color scheme, direction of the interior design and all of its architectural interest and design finishes, yet she could not embrace our suggestion of maple cabinets. One afternoon once we had gathered the materials for a touchy-feely presentation of color boards and tangible design elements, she had this incredibly surprised expression and exclaimed that she had never seen maple that color – it was natural – like a blond, wood, basketball floor. She further explained that she “pictured” the dark reddish Ethan Allen maple furniture of her childhood in her grandmother’s house. Needless to say, she had been having great difficulty accepting its inclusion into a design scheme of smoky lavenders, pastel clay tones, creamy whites, warm terra cottas and maple wood (in our mind’s eye – natural – and in hers, what she always thought was natural maple – dark reddish brown!!).

Communication is a powerful tool… often major decisions, opinions and actions can result in miscues due to miscommunications. To avoid such misunderstandings take care to provide thorough explanations along with tangible samples and other visual aids.

As we progress with these two kitchen remodels, we look forward to dramatic transformations, exciting phases of design work, some anxious anticipation, and ultimately four happy clients each enjoying their personal spaces, reflecting their lifestyle, home style and distinct personalities. Watch for updates and before and after dazzlers!