A Nautical Nursery

 

Something about designing a nursery just makes me fall in love with design all over again. We take so much more risks with color, and allow ourselves to keep the focus on being playful, and fun, which is always a recipe for good design.
This nursery is now home to two little boys, brothers Ethan and Tyler. If you recall, our client Samantha was pregnant with baby Tyler when we tackled an ambitious renovation at the family's home last year. You can see the full reveal of that project here
This is no easy feat for anyone to handle and kudos to Samantha for staying sane throughout the dust and overall renovation chaos, and delivering a healthy baby.


The goal: The boys are a year apart so the space needed to meet the needs of two. Samantha and hubby Risson wanted a nautical theme. Theme rooms can be tricky as you need to find a balance between highlighting the theme without going overboard. Pun intended! 

Our initial plan was to have the cribs side by side. But since there were two windows in the bedroom, it made sense to place a crib under each window for symmetry. The cribs can also be transformed into toddler beds and having this layout will maximize that option and give the boys their own little zone.

 

Once Samantha settled on the cribs, we moved ahead with the other design elements: Subtle striping detail on one wall, this knotted rug, a porthole mirror.

These rope shelves played off the ropes in the rug and added some texture to what would have been just ordinary white shelves. 

It's the perfect spot for baby Ethan's signed sonogram and the cutest little sail boats ever, that Samantha hopes will encourage the boys to set sail on many adventures.

We nestled a very comfortable glider in the corner for Samantha or Risson to rock baby Tyler to sleep, or to read to Ethan. This dresser served double duty as a space for much needed storage (two little boys equals lots of clothing!) and as a changing table.

And quite possibly my favorite item, these custom oars with the boys names, helped declare this as their very own chill zone to create some special brotherly memories.
Huge thanks again to Samantha and Risson for allowing us to transform this final space in their home to cap off our renovation project.

~ Get The Look ~

(1)Crib (2)Art; Art (3)Drum Light (4)Curtains (5)Glider (6)Storage Bins (7)Dresser (8)Area Rug (9) Floor Lamp (10) Pouf

A Kitchen Renovation With Some Unorthodox Solutions

Our client, Doris, is one of the few clients we've had who was not a referral. We met years ago at a meeting of the National Association of Professional Women or NAPW. We sat next to each other and hit it off. Turns out, she had just decided to decorate her youngest daughter's room and was overwhelmed. I offered a free consultation and three years later we've transformed several rooms in her home including her son Eric's room, daughters Jaylin and Leslie, the kids bathroom and this summer we tackled the kitchen.
It's a small space for a tiny woman (she's barely 5 feet) who loves to cook. She's the kind of person who won't let you leave her home unless you've had something to eat so you can understand why the kitchen was to be a most important project.
And it had some inherited challenges. For starters, the previous owners installed a tiny island with a massive commercial grade hood. To be clear, that's a commercial grade hood in a kitchen that's just 11 x 13. Bananas. The lighting was also poor and there simply was not enough space to store all her items. 

The white cabinets helped to make the space feel lighter but they weren't real wood so we decided to get all new cabinets and donate these and the existing counter tops o Goodwill.

I wanted to do white or off-white cabinets but like every client I've had recently she wanted that dark/chocolate cabinets. Once we settled on the cabinet color we also offered some unorthodox ideas: remove  the island and that massive hood, and reduce the size of a window so we could accommodate a new, more modern hood. WTH? Removing the island was a tough sell, most people are dying to have one not lose one. If that wasn't bizarre enough, we also suggested shrinking a window. Say what now? It took some convincing. But since said window opened into an often messy back patio, and since the kitchen had two windows and we needed to vent because there would be no stand alone microwave to do so, so she eventually acquiesced.

As you can see, the layout around the perimeter remained the same, with the exception of removing the island and the location of the hood. But we gained plenty of storage by upgrading from 30" cabinets to 42" and installing deep drawers under the cook top to store large pots and pans. We also tried, but failed, to add a second pantry next to the refrigerator. The original plan was to borrow a few inches from the wall that housed the existing pocket doors, but it was solid concrete and also housed some plumbing and our budget would not allow for us to relocate it all.
Speaking of some unorthodox ideas, we also debated whether to select a white quartz counter top or red. Yep, red. She loves red and bold colors and wanted to incorporate it some place in the kitchen but on the counter top? That was a hot topic of discussion which involved the entire family taking a vote. We'll find out next week what they eventually agreed on. 

Oklawho?

"Born and Raised in the County of Wade, Born and Raised in the County of Wade!" Well after Games 6 and 7, it might just become King James County.
In honor of the Miami Heat's victory over the Celtics on Saturday, I thought I would dedicate this post to them. Even though the arena was flooded with white for Saturday's game, when I think of the Heat colors it's all about black and red.


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So on Tuesday when they finally meet the OKC Thunder, many might be chanting Durant, Westbrook, Perkins or Jackson. Miami fans will be chanting Oklawho? Because as we all know, Miami will take the Finals.....There. We said it. Let the Finals begin!


GO HEAT!!!!!

Trend Spotting

So I think we're definitely on the trend-spotting team. 

Guess what color Elle Decor has featured on it's March cover? 

You guessed it: Red.

Morning Morning Hues

I hope you all had a great weekend. I've having a case of the Mondays and coffee is just not cutting it today....sigh.  But have no fear this too shall pass...I hope.

One of the great things about blogging is that while doing research for posts I'm forced to think outside the box.  That's so true when it comes to today's chosen Monday Hue.....RED. Now, I would live, die and breathe orange and pink but it's something about the color red that never really grabbed me.  Maybe it's too strong, too much or simply just not my taste.  But I think these images are forcing me to take a second and third look at red.

Modern kitchen design by London photographer David Churchill - Architectural  Photographer

Asian living room design by Los Angeles interior designer Olga Rechdouni Allied ASID

Modern powder room design by Austin architect Webber + Studio, Architects

Contemporary kitchen design by kitchen and bath Snaidero

                                    Ellen O'Neill' House - House Beautiful

                                   Oksana -All The Pretty Birds

                                      Elisa Nalin All The Pretty Birds

                                                  Image Source

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Feeling my anxiety about incorporating red elements into your designs? Start off with one or two signature pieces. 

SPLURGE

                                        The Sculptural Rocking Chair by Russell Woodard $825

                                                         CB2 Fuel-Red-Credenza $499


STEAL

                                                 Zgallerie Faux-Coral $59.95

                                         Zgallerie Keep Calm and Carry On Tray $19.95

What color have you been dying to add to your color resolution but have been afraid to take that leap?  I hope this gives you the push you need. Hope you all have a great week.

xoxo

Debbie B