A Master Bathroom Gets a New Life. On a Budget.

We showed you the budget-savvy kitchen makeover we did for our client Jina B., a few weeks ago. You know Jina, the dream client who let me get away with all kinds of Shenanigans when we did her powder room, foyer and master bedroom earlier this year. We're now working on the design plans for her family room/kitchenette and can't wait to get that rolling.

But today we're revealing her very budget-friendly master bathroom makeover.This is also a true his/her bathroom. A massive shower sits in the middle with duplicate vanity/toilet on opposite sides. I think this is the perfect set up especially if your guy shaves and leaves his mess around - ya never have to see it. Genius! 

Cost: $350 for materials/accessories. No joke.

Here's what a can of black paint, new hardware, molding and some accessories will get you. If you're patient and have some faith.

Black paint! Debbie's idea to add black was ingenuous and it turned some pretty lame developer grade cabinets into a fab focal piece. Jina raised an eyebrow when I suggested black, but in true Jina fashion, she said, okay, go ahead. Love it!

Confession: My before pics are often a hot mess! I'm usually busy taking copious notes, measurements and sketching out floor plans that taking a photo often takes a back seat. I'm trying. I really am. Any who, that's Jina's mom, Pat, reflected in the mirror. She's equally fab, cooks up a mean dish in the mammoth kitchen we designed for her last year, makes a killer cocktail and is a huge supporter of NWD.

Too messy to spray the cabinets in this small space so we brushed and rolled.

Isn't that black stunning? Rich and glossy as can be. Knobs were a $1.97 a pop from Home Depot. Adding molding around an existing mirror is one of my fail-safe ways to achieve a fab mirror at a fraction of the cost.

All photos by Circle Ten Media

And there you have it. A master bath that's fit for the queen of the home - with a heck of a friendly price tag.

Get the Look  

Paint - Sherwin Williams 

Cabinet handles, towel racks and molding - Home Depot  

Towels/accessories - Target & Home Goods

Scones, Mimosas and a Garden Party It Is.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one suffering from a little weekend cabin fever. I mean, it has rained consistently two weekends in a row and if the steady rainfall this week is any indication of what the weather Gods have in store, we are surely doomed. 
But hey, it's hump day, which means we're halfway to the weekend and my bucket full of optimism tells me there will be plenty of sunshine and a chance to plan/dream up a fab soiree. This time I'm thinking of the garden. I envision a day kicked off with a fabulously delicious brunch.... 

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..and of course, no brunch is complete without an endless supply of mimosas.

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Despite the rain sometimes being a downer, I must acknowledge that a great advantage about living in South Florida, is the chance to be able to use outdoor furniture year round...whether contemporary or eclectic or a mish-mash of everything in between.

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But a garden party aint no garden party without a bit of croquet and bocce ball tossed in.

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And the only way to top the day off would be to relax with your favorite cocktail while watching Titanic for the 100th time..under the stars.

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Since I live a townhouse, and the only patch of grass is the one that runs parallel to sidewalk, a garden party might just be wishful thinking on my part. I won't turn down an invite though...and since I never drive on the highways (it's a long, long story), all I need is enough drive-time notice for me to make it there on time.

How do you treat yourself after suffering from weather induced cabin fever?

xoxo

Debbie B.

Daycare, the Munchkin and My Inevitable Tears

The 'lil man is growing up. Fast. 

I started this blog when he was just three months old! Next week, he'll be a month shy of his first birthday soiree and my head is still spinning. 

So in the midst of working a day job, running the biz and blogging, I've also been scurrying around town with the hubs searching for a daycare center. 

We'd been blessed for months to have my husband's mom with us. She had committed to shuttle back and forth from DC until he was a year-old, but we started to feel guilty when we realized everyone at the airport knew her by name!

Plus, we felt it was just time for him to spend some time around other kids and get ready for the world. 

We spent weeks searching and coming face-to-face with the insane prices of childcare. Er, Montessori, I love thee but we'd have to rob the bank to send Xavier. Sigh. In the end, we settled on a cute and cozy bilingual center. Raising a kid in Miami definitely requires some Espanol and besides, the kid changes the channel to a Spanish-speaking one all the time. I kid you not. Monday was the day.

In honor of his first day, he opted for a tie. The kid is a fashionisto.

He claimed his high chair right away at the center and started to scope out the scene. Hmm, lots of kids and new faces mom. I likes.

Really mom? Can you stop kissing me and cuddling up so close in front of all these girls? You're messing up my flow. I took the hint.

And cried all the way to work and at work! I was a hot, hot, mess! Apologies again to all my colleagues who had to deal with my tears every time they asked an innocent question. I'll do better today. I promise.To all you lovely parents/grandparents, please tell me this gets easier?

The Shades Of Fall

Since we live in South Florida, it's kinda hard to get excited about the pleasures of Fall. But if a season change would get rid of all this annoying rain that poured all weekend - I would gladly do cartwheels and whip out a cashmere sweater. 
Our weather issues aside, it's still easy for us to get excited about designs that highlights the subtle shades of Fall.  Take a peek and get inspired.

Source: Uploaded by user via Kate on Pinterest

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                         Contemporary Home Office design by New York Interior Designer Holzman Interiors, Inc

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Modern Living Room design by Photographer Elad Gonen & Zeev Beech

What's your favorite season? Do you redecorate according to the seasons?

Have a great week.

xoxo

Debbie B. 

A Chic Contemporary Home In The Big Easy

Whenever I think about homes in New Orleans, I always pictured them heavy on the traditional side, jam packed with antiques similar to those at Grandma's house. 

Source                                 The Historic Williams Residence on Royal Street

So imagine my surprise when I stumbled across this very contemporary home designed by New Orleans' own Lee Ledbetter for Sidney D. Torres IV and his fiance. The exterior of the home doesn't even give so much as a hint of the contemporary gems hidden behind it walls. Take a gander and you'll see what I mean.

Sidney D. Torres, IV and his fiance - are the extremely lucky couple that get to call this amazing place home.

Images Via 

Now I have never been to New Orleans, (Nikki has been twice! Hate her!) but I'm dying to try some beignets at Cafe Du Monde and some authentic shrimp and grits so it's definitely on my Travel Bucket List. 

Do you think a home this contemporary loses that vibe that is unique to New Orleans? What do you think about Ledbetter's use of mostly neutral colors. Check out more Ledbetter's amazing work here.

Have a great weekend. See you on the flip side.

xoxo

Debbie B. 

Our Pop-Up Store Reveal

Our pop-up store adventure started in the historic Moore Building in Miami's Design District. The architectural details are simply stunning so our design would need to be as simplistic as possible.
Simple too, since when you're involved in a campaign event, there is no budget i.e. no funds to purchase anything! A challenge was created. This meant Asanyah and I needed to pull items from our own inventory and borrow from friends.

These frames were among the items we used from Asanyah's own array of items. I spray painted them over the weekend. I'm not the biggest DIY chick - I simply don't have patience! But occasionally I does what I gotta do.

And here we are. A store is created.



 The carpet is Flor tiles, left over from this recent office makeover. I say leftover, but in reality the client hated it and since it was too late to return them, he handed them over to moi. It was an amazing gift that I knew would come in handy one day. Aren't they perfect? The coffee table and vases are from my home and the red trays had been purchased years ago for a Valentine's day party.

 

Remember those frames? Well here they are, framing some amazing scarves from the runway to win collection. Unfortunately the scarves have since sold out. The mirror and red side table are from Asanyah's home. Table with the horse legs from my former business partner Ralph, at Oasis IED who was gracious enough to help us out that day (I owe him two pots of Jamaican stew peas for sure). Lamps, trays are from moi.  



Asanyah killed it with this design. The skirt was made from fabric I sourced last weekend for just a $1 a yard from Arnold's Fabric, one of my favorite stores. The top is actually a scarf by designer Yigal Azrouël also in the collection, and the leather belt is from Asanyah's own wardrobe. All items from the store can be purchased at the Runway to Win online store. All proceeds from each item goes directly to the campaign.

We used two of these Ikea shelving units for obvious reasons - loads of space to stock all the items for sale. Many thanks again to Ralph and Khadeen of Kreativ Myndz for loaning them to us. Yes, those are tees for your favorite pup - I Bark for Obama. Priceless. I got one for my friend Sophia's little pup, the Lady, Shady McNasty.

   

Of course, I couldn't let the night go by without sampling all the amazing food donated by some of Miami's finest chefs - ya'll know I'm a foodie at heart! I passed on all the liquor since I needed to be at the day job at 8 a.m. the next day. Yep, it was madness.

All foodie photos courtest of the  Miami New Times

Me sizing up the treats from the amazing chefs from Chef Creations Catering. Their tomato gazpacho soup was amazing! 

Chef Aria Kagan from the Next Food Network star showing her support - in a big way!

It was a 15 hour day for moi and by the end of the night let's just say my feet had had it. 

Still, we had an amazing time. Thanks again to the Miami-based host committee to re-elect President Obama for having us. Thanks too to several of my clients who have been waiting patiently for me to be done with this event so I can finalize theirs! You guys rock!