Volume 22: February
Color is on the horizon 🌈
How are you feeling in 2023?
I, for one, was very excited to enter this new year. Grateful to be feeling stronger and healthier, I'm focusing on the new and fresh ideas in home design. This is an amazing time for those planning a remodel, getting a new sofa, or adding wallpaper to a family room.
The Kitchen & Bath Show as well as the Furniture Market in Las Vegas were both wonderful sources of inspiration this month. These shows offered a glimpse of everything new and on-trend for your home (notice I didn't say trendy). If it goes on your home, in your home, or around your home it was there. I walked around learning about it for days, trying to take it all in.
Please reach out with your question about features, styles, or materials you'd like to know more about. Even if, you too, loved that pink refrigerator, I'd love to hear it.
If white subway tile is not your jam, we've got some new options waiting for you. Bold colors and patterns are back, baby! Some of us never let them leave. Deep ocean blues, calming greens, and bold yellow are having their moment in home furnishings and tiles.
A few design elements you'll be seeing more of in the near future are more organic in nature. Think curvilinear shapes, wood and stone materials, and chunky textiles. All of these give a fun, updated '70's vibe.
We see customization as a game-changer in the appliance world. Your induction range doesn't have to be the same stainless steel as your neighbor's. Personalization makes your choice special and brings a feeling of connectedness.
So tell me...
Which of these can you see incorporating into your home?
Which colors are your favorites?
See you next month!
Volume 21: December
Warmest wishes this holiday season
As we near the end of this time of celebrations and gatherings, we want to thank you for welcoming us into your home - even while wearing masks.😊 It's been a helluva year full of changes and amazement that brought us renewed energy and continues to keep us on our toes.
We wish you the benefit of peace and good health this season and in the coming year.
What did you celebrate with your loved ones this year? We celebrated my Dad, aka Grandpa, turning 80 years young and a milestone year with my partner.
It is with a full and appreciative heart this holiday season that we say thank you for reading these words and supporting our work.
Happy New Year to you and yours. Cheers to 2023!
Volume 20: November
Thankfulness, charity, and a little indulgence
The holiday season is upon us
I don't know about you, but I am pretty excited.
We are fully into fall and quickly approaching all of the end-of-year holidays. I love this time of year as it means more time with family and friends filled with fun activities and new memories made. Here are a few that I am looking forward to.
Enjoy some family time while giving back
Years ago I shared a holiday promotion that “charity is contagious” and I still believe it to be true! Over the years, I am proud to have participated in Providence O'Christmas Trees supporting Providence Home and Community Care. Check out their events at The Westin in downtown Seattle to get your holiday cheer on while supporting a wonderful organization. You can even get a picture with Santa!
'Tis the season!
You (probably) know I love to collect holiday décor. You may not know that I prioritize supporting other female-owned businesses. If your mantel needs a little holiday cheer, Nutcracker Ballet Gifts is a great website to peruse. Here’s a cheerful way to celebrate Pride with these stylish nutcrackers. This cracker is giving us big nut energy!
Treat yourself
This tends to be the biggest time of year for baking (at least in my house) and a good cinnamon roll on a cold morning hits the spot like nothing else. For my fellow gluten-free foodies, have you checked out Mom’s Gluten Free? They have plenty of tasty treats to make at home. Please let me know if you have any favorites! I'm always on the lookout for new recipes.
Most importantly, we want to say thank you for your support and we appreciate you welcoming us into your home! With our deepest heartfelt gratitude, have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Cheers,
Volume 19: October
You'll want to save this for your next project
Getting ready for a home renovation is often full of many unknowns, especially if it’s your first time remodeling. You are so excited to get to the end result, but not sure what to expect in the time waiting to get there. We know that it can seem scary or frustrating at times. It can feel like the waiting is taking FOREVER.
The most important stage of your remodel – planning - is your magic time to prepare…before the dust starts flying. This phase can (and should!) take a little time. Take the time to prepare for living and happily surviving through your remodel.
We have put together a guide to share our best tips for getting your space and life ready to welcome contractors into your home. Life will be different for a while, but with these steps, you will be able to find a little peace during the chaos.
Are you ready for your next remodeling project? Now is the time to chat with us as we are scheduling well into 2023. Sounds crazy right? We are still working closely with our vendors and suppliers to best prepare for supply chain delays and labor shortages (unfortunately, these are still a reality) to make your projects run as smoothly as possible.
Contact us to schedule now. We are here for you!
Volume 18: September
Happy September!
Here we are on this first day of the month but summer is not over yet!
We want to share with you a new beginning for one of our clients.
This 1920s cottage was in need of a refresh and updated kitchen floor plan after multiple remodels through the years. We set out to meet the needs of our clients by giving them more color, light, and function to accommodate their love of entertaining and fur babies.
In the kitchen, we updated the layout for better flow, installed these shaker teal cabinets, and added a touch of gold with the unique light fixture over the sink.
This Dutch door gives a more accessible and charming point of entry to and from the deck for the clients’ two dogs.
A simple paint treatment adds interest in the dining room, with forest green anchoring the space.
We created a functional focal point in the dining room by taking advantage of this existing alcove. The space was opened up and we added lighting. A built in buffet creates the perfect stop for a party spread.
At the fireplace wall in the living room, we added two windows to bring in more light. This added balance to the already vaulted ceiling. We took advantage of this height and raised the fireplace all the way. Shades of green (a favorite of the client) tile and a reclaimed wood mantle finish off the fireplace with layers of color and texture.
Our clients are so happy with the warm and welcoming vibe that this remodel has given them.
We were honored to submit this kitchen for consideration in the NKBA Puget Sound Chapter Design Awards this year and we won 2nd Place for Small | Medium Kitchen - woohoo!
We're currently scheduling for 2023 and would love to discuss your upcoming projects. Contact us to schedule yours.
Volume 17: July
Some of our favorite things
It's that time of year!
If you've been with us for long you know that we look forward to the Nordstrom anniversary sale every year. This month we've rounded up some of our home decor favorites from this year's sale.
#1
As you know I love Palm Springs! Here is a print of the Saguaro Hotel where we stayed earlier this year.
The colors in the print will coordinate with most wall colors and bring a bit of summertime cheer to your home.
If you ever get the chance to stay in this beautiful hotel, be ready for some fun with music playing from weddings and parties day and night.
#2
I discovered these grapefruit candles from Nest a couple of years ago and am hooked. I'm a sucker for the light citrus scent. These make great hostess gifts as well.
Candles are a great way to elevate your bathroom decor.
#3
These bowls from Great Jones are perfect for leaving out on the kitchen counter. The fun red graphic can also add a bit of color and texture to your shelves or in your glass front cabinets.
These bowls are part of a collection that includes other baking dishes, too.
#4
Just look at this color! How fantastic is this Fig colorway? It's pretty enough to store on your stovetop.
I love my Emile Henry casserole dish - fabulous for my vegetarian daughter - but I don't have their Dutch oven. This color may be the reason to add this to my collection.
#5
If you haven't upped your serving board game in awhile, here's your chance. This marble serving board makes entertaining easy and elevates the look of any spread you are preparing.
Marble and wood boards can be left out as decorative items for easy use.
#6
I LOVE stripes! Want an easy way to freshen up your shower routine? A new shower curtain can update the look of your bathroom without breaking the bank. This style is designer approved; it comes in gray or navy and is machine washable.
The sale ends online and in-store on Sunday! We'll be finishing up our shopping this weekend while enjoying the warm summer evening in our backyard.
And stay tuned for next month's newsletter; we'll be sharing a couple of projects we've recently completed. The before and afters are amazing!
Volume 16: June
Everyone needs inspiration
Where do you find your inspiration?
For us, it can be found in a variety of locations. Some places we like to find inspiration are showcase houses, seasonal markets, and vendor launches. It helps us keep ahead of design trends that we can share with and incorporate for our clients.
In May we had the opportunity to go back and visit the Pasadena Showcase House down in sunny California. I especially love to visit as I was a participant years ago in my early design days - we won’t talk about how long ago that was. 😉
Inspiration + an escape from the rain? Yes, please!
The showcase does an excellent job of featuring a historic home modernized by a group of selected designers. This year we couldn’t help but notice the use of wallpaper everywhere.
Wallpaper is making a comeback and it’s not only for your living room walls. We saw treatments in closets, on ceilings, and on the back of bookshelves. It’s an interesting way to infuse color and dimension into your home.
There are different types of wall coverings to choose from as its available in vinyl, paper, or woven. Styles run the gamut from modern to traditional, classic motifs to abstract shapes.
We have a few projects in the works featuring unique wallpaper placement that we are also excited about. The finished product on this one will be gorgeous!
We're here if you have questions about wall coverings or are wondering how you might otherwise update your home. Contact us to inquire about our Designer for a Day package where we can support you in navigating the parts of your remodeling project that you find the most overwhelming.
Have a wonderful Independence Day!
Volume 15: April
Who's ready for more sunshine?
Yes, I'm ready for more sunshine
Cold weather aside, it's been a fantastic spring! We've had the pleasure of meeting new clients and connecting with previous clients.
We also just returned from a long overdue family trip to Hawaii over Spring Break. Hopefully, you were able to get away, too! Being able to spend that precious time together was just what we needed after the last couple of years.
Did I mention all the pink? This trip affirmed that I definitely need more pink in my life. The Hawaiian resort architecture and design were so inspiring.
If you've worked with us, you know we love a swath of color even with the most neutral palettes which was the case with a bathroom remodel we completed last year. The spa-like feel dominates the main part of the bathroom with a bright burst of color in the water closet. MyDomaine recently featured this bathroom reconfiguration as their Makeover of the Week.
We hope you are enjoying this spring (we're sure the cold is going away soon!). You can catch me with my hands in the dirt pulling weeds and putting down fresh mulch.
See you next month!
Volume 14: February
P.S. I love you
For the love of Mid-Century Design
Why do I love it? I think my appreciation is related to my love of cars, or maybe my love of television - that doesn’t mean I’m a couch potato, but I do love a good Netflix binge (The Queen's Gambit, anyone?).
Palm Springs, a desert oasis, is the perfect place to get your mid-century modern (MCM) design inspiration and fix. Especially popular in the 1950s, it was a place for the Hollywood elite to escape for privacy while gathering in their unique homes or lounging on the back patio. Architects were commissioned to build cutting-edge designs for high-end clientele. Modern construction techniques of the time can be found in Palm Springs’ hotels and civic buildings, too, with metal and lots of glass which made for easy indoor/outdoor living.
Historic Dr. Franz Alexander house. Note the slight curve in the ceiling beams and fireplace.
Poolside at Limon, an all steel MCM boutique hotel.
A delightful way to see how this all became so cool is to visit Palm Springs during Modernism Week. I have gone to it a couple of times and was there again last week to not only soak up the sunshine but participate in the jam-packed schedule of house tours, lectures, and parties celebrating MCM architecture. The tours showcase renovations, preservation projects as well as new construction in the mid-century spirit. All have something beautiful to share in keeping the easy design character of the post-World War II era. Modernism Week happens in February, with a “Fall Preview” weekend in October, both of which are great times to visit Southern California.
Clockwise from top left: (1) A patio at the Polynesian themed Royal Hawaiian Estates condo community; (2) Renovation of the Dr. Franz Alexander house kitchen with walnut cabinetry featuring JennAir appliances; (3) A guest room at the Limon hotel featuring bright colors and a corrugated metal ceiling; (4) Stone and metal fireplace at the Dr. Franz Alexander house
Last week was, no question, a wonderful escape from the dreary weather we've been having in Seattle. It also fed my love for color and MCM design leaving me inspired to bring pieces of these concepts to my clients.
See you next month!
Volume 13: January
We continue to have absolutely amazing clients and projects that we get to design. Some of these projects are taking longer than planned due to supply chain issues and delays. Through it all, though, we are grateful to our clients and especially grateful to the clients that complete one remodel project and jump into another one.
Bring on the new year!
Phew 2022!
How is everyone doing?
We continue to have absolutely amazing clients and projects that we get to design. Some of these projects are taking longer than planned due to supply chain issues and delays. Through it all, though, we are grateful to our clients and especially grateful to the clients that complete one remodel project and jump into another one. That is the case with two bathroom projects we recently completed with repeat clients. That means they lived through the dust the first time remodeling their kitchens and chose to do it again with a bathroom! Both of these bathrooms function as a powder room for guests as well as serving guest bedrooms. We designed a luxe experience for the guests staying for dinner as well as the weekend.
Navy + Gold Bathroom
This bathroom started with a finish from every decade that wasn’t easy to maintain. I think I’ve blocked out just how many shades of harvest gold or green and laminate there were in this small space. We started with a classic color palette to carry this update into this decade. The real key in the design was to gain the feeling of space. A custom shallow vanity and a wall-hung toilet are game changers. Easier to maintain and clean for the win!
Mid-Mod Bathroom
Here we had a 1990’s bathroom trapped in a 1960’s home. Ouch, please no more green marble. So it was out with the old and in with a unique color-blocked vanity. Clean lines, mosaic tile and modern fixtures allow for guests to pamper themselves in style.
It’s a new year and we still hope you and yours are safe and healthy as it has been a struggle for many. Our creative process continues to move forward with our amazing local showrooms, vendors and tradespeople. Patience is the name of the game with remodeling and a glass of wine might help.
Cheers!
Check out our latest projects.
We look forward to working with you!