Home turf.

It’s March and it’s warm outside…I’m not wasting time!  Spring has sprung for outdoor projects around my home.  It’s like those people you see who break out the flip-flops at the first 70 degree day…that’s me!  I’ve put a temporary hold on indoor projects to focus my attention on my balcony during the 80 degree temperatures.  With only 72 square feet of outdoor space, I want to maximize the function and enjoyment for the few months we get to use it!

(Above:  The remains of the balcony from last summer.)

I made some improvements to our basic, no frills balcony last summer, but this summer I’m taking things further.  Although I had purchased a table with two chairs and potted modern white planters with sculptural evergreens, it still looked unfinished.  The biggest problem was the rough concrete floor.  It looked raw and the rough texture was very uncomfortable on bare feet.  I wanted something that looked and felt like an extension of our living room.  I researched several options for outdoor flooring, but all seemed too difficult to install or too expensive.  The solution?  Good old astroturf.  Yes, the same thing you find in trailer parks and miniature golf courses across the country.  However, to coordinate with my interior dark wood flooring…I’ve selected black!  Check it out.

(Above:  The rough concrete floor about to receive a cushy layer of black astroturf.)

(Above:  It’s easy to install, and at $50, there are very few options that will give you a look as dramatic!)

(Above:  Installation in under 1 hour.  The new flooring coordinates with the black furniture, umbrella, and railing to keep things less busy looking in such a small space.)

(Above:  The best thing?  It’s so comfortable to walk on.  No need for sandals.)

(Above:  Just vacuum to clean it.  It’s glittery in the sunlight.)

(Above:  The dogs really love it!)

What’s next for outside?  

Obviously, I need to freshen up the plants a bit.  I’m also considering making use of that brick wall for a vertical garden.  Here’s a few quick inspiration images.

(Above:  West Elm’s ceramic wall planters by Shane Powers.)

(Above:  Woollypocket vertical garden.)

Get a grip.

During the design process, it’s quite common that one change sparks another…and another…and another.  The Design Avalanche is what I like to call it!  With the new doors installed, it seemed like a missed opportunity not to change the door levers to something gorgeous.  Something shiny.  What good is a new door when it looks like it belongs in an dental office hallway?  If you think I’m going overboard with insignificant details, take a look below as the photos defend my spending.

(Above:  The old commercial grade handles that were given to me standard with my new construction home.  Sexy?…not a chance in hell.)

(Above:  In this battle of new and old, it’s obvious which one is the winner.)

(Above:  Polished chrome makes all the difference.  They look very luxe and sexy for sure.  They’re my jewelry for such simple doors.)

(Above:  I’m calling an end to Satin Nickel as the default finish!  Bring on the chrome.)

(Above:  I’m sure you can agree with me now…money very well spent.  These little details provide daily enjoyment and really make a statement to the quality of your home’s construction.)

Flat as a Board.

Simple decorating can only get you so far sometimes.  The architecture of your space must support your decorative concept, or things seem wrong.  Perhaps even forced.  My condo’s architecture is pretty simple and clean-lined (which I like), but there are a few details that cling to a transitional style.  I’ve turned the kitchen from ‘suburban builder basic’ to ‘Modern Men’s Lounge’, but there’s been one more challenge I’ve had to face in my quest for modern.  My double raised panel, hollow-core doors.  They just don’t work.  I thought I might be able to ignore their resistance to the design concept…but no.  They must go.

Some might say I’m scrapping perfectly good materials for such a trivial clash of aesthetics.  I can’t deny it.  That’s exactly what I’m doing.  But, sometimes you just need to go the extra inch to carry through your concept.  Why stop two feet from the finish line?  I couldn’t afford to completely re-do my kitchen, but I CAN afford to replace all the doors.  Bye bye raised panels.  I hope they find a lovely traditional home somewhere far away from me.

(Above:  The bedroom BEFORE.)

(Above:  No bumps on these babies!  Flat slab, flush doors simplify EVERYTHING.  The focus is no longer on the doors, but on the furnishings.)

(Above:  The living room BEFORE.  Only one door, but very visible.)

(Above:  The new door competes with NOTHING.  It’s just a door…plain and simple.)

(Above:  The powder room door in the office BEFORE.)

(Above:  A much cleaner, urban look.)

Once you go flat, you’ll never go back!  Maybe.  One thing to remember if you’re planning new doors:  Do solid core wherever possible!  My previous doors were all hollow-core and had the feel of cardboard.  Now, they are substantial and shut like a vault.  It’s the little things.

Shopaholism.

The majority of what I do as a designer involves sourcing the right materials and items for a project.  I shop all the time.  Seriously, all the time.  When I go to lunch, I stop at an antique shop nearby.  When I have a client meeting, I arrive early to scout the nearby home stores.  Even on vacation, I make a point to research and visit interesting stores.  If you’re going to fill your home with a diverse collection of beautiful things, you have to shop…OFTEN.  You never know what you’re going to find.  I feel that when I’m looking for something specific, I never find it.  Casually and routinely looking each opportunity I get…that’s what turns up the good stuff!  Take a look at some of my new fabulous finds.  I hope they’ll inspire you to keep your eyes open each time you’re out and about!

(Above:  Are designs from the 80′s back in style?  Who cares…especially with a piece so gorgeous?  Trust what speaks to you.  Found this while Ebay shopping in bed.)

(Above:  I’ve been drawn to glass objects lately.  This Mandruzzato Murano dish is an exquisite example of superb craftsmanship with solid glass.  Undeniably sexy.)

(Above:  More glass.  Stumbled upon this insanely stunning Murano glass lamp.  The base is lucite, and it’s mesmerizing when the light glows through the globe’s intentional inclusions.)

(Above:  I know nothing about this set of candle holders.  They have a very streamlined Calvin Klein look to them.  Also, not sure if they are new or old…but it’s so interesting how the candles are recessed.  Purchased at Edgewater Antique Mall.)

(Above:  A recent vacation in Miami Beach helped me find this great piece.  It’s matte black ceramic with a gloss drip glaze pattern.  I dedicated an entire day of the trip to scoping out all the great antique shops.)

(Above:  If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’re aware of my love for matte white porcelain!  I scored this beautiful Rosenthal Studio piece here in Chicago at a great new store, Aosta on West Diversey.  I highly recommend you stop in when you get the chance.)

(Above:  I’ve said it before…scent is a very important accessory in your home.  While visiting the famous Delano Hotel in South Beach a few weeks ago, I fell in love with the lobby’s fragrance.  A quick stop to the gift shop revealed their secret!  It’s amazing what such an intoxicating fragrance to do to create a mood in a space.  I re-live my vacation everyday now!)

$@#%…or get off the pot.

Have trouble starting a project?  Too overwhelmed with getting all the perfect pieces together before actually diving in?  There’s safety in procrastination, I get it.  However, most of the time it’s best to just DO something.  The best solutions have a way of presenting themselves along the way.

For a few months, I’ve been talking about getting started on the master bathroom.  Trouble was, I didn’t have the clearest idea of what I wanted yet.  I knew I wanted the walls painted, and I had the color picked out for weeks.  Having this blog has actually provided a great deal of motivation to tackle my projects.  If not for running out of posts, I would have let the bathroom painting slide yet another week!  I’m happy the push happened.  I hate painting, but the results are just what I need to excite me into the next steps!

(Above:  Finally started the master bathroom project.  Paint…done!)

(Above:  The BEFORE.  It’s hard to be motivated and inspired when this is what you’re looking at everyday.)

(Above:  The AFTER.  It’s so much easier to be inspired when your room starts to reveal its potential!  It’s amazing what a simple paint job can do to transform a space’s mood.)

Now that the room is painted, the entire feeling has changed.  It feels like a completely different room.  Now that I’ve taken the first step in the design process…I’m already inspired to tackle the next!  Sometimes rooms take on a life of their own, and they seem to tell you what’s necessary.  Take a look at some of my quick thoughts that came to mind right after painting.

(Above:  I’ve eliminated the ugly towel bars the contractors installed in favor of simple hooks from Restoration Hardware.  I like the casual-ness of hanging a towel.  Fussy folding wastes my time in the morning!)

(Above:  The casual hanging towels make me think of Turkish baths.  My instant thought is to introduce peshtemals instead of traditional towels.  It’s not exactly the most modern approach in the bathroom, but it DOES create a ritualistic, spa-like experience each morning.  I like that.)

(Above:  I’m not going to take this inspiration too far, but I can’t help but be inspired by the peshtemal concept along with my black and white floor.  I think adding the warmth and tradition of an antique rug will make a huge statement!  All other elements in the room will lean to modern…but my textiles will be old-world.)

John-be-gone.

There have been many improvements in the past several years to the design, but let’s face it…a toilet is a toilet.  No matter how pretty.  Some of us are lucky enough to have a separate room within the bathroom to hide the fixture.  Me?  Nope.  We are all human…and we do human things, but if I can draw a bit of attention away from the John…I’m going to!

My plan is to use art in the bathroom to distract from the toilet.  You don’t normally consider the bathroom a possible location for your best artwork, but it’s a great concept to consider!  It’s such an important concept that I’m starting with the art selection and placement before anything else in the room’s re-design.  Most of the time, the art will inspire the decisions you’ll make in the rest of the space.  Take a look at the focal points I created in the powder room and master bathroom as perfect examples.

(Above:  The powder room is visible upon entering the condo, and I tend to leave the room’s door open most of the time.  Instead of peeking in at a toilet, I’d like to stop the eye at a very powerful piece of artwork.  This 42″ diameter, vintage metal wall sculpture certainly does that.  To offset the sculpture even more, I’m planning to install a metallic silver wallpaper behind it and paint all the other walls black.)

(Above:  A detail shot of the gorgeous piece I found at Broadway Antique Market here in Chicago.  Took about 4 hours of cleaning, but it was worth it!)

(Above:  See how a large, original piece of art draws your eye right past the toilet?  The darkness in the art references the richly stained cabinetry.  The walls will soon be painted a warm, medium-tone grey (as seen in the swatches) pulled directly from the artwork.  Ignore the other stuff in the photo…it’s all soon to change!)

Cornered.

I love when a floor plan presents me with corner to fill.  They’re always great spots for a little retreat from the main seating arrangement.  I get an opportunity to define the corner’s purpose, and layer in interesting pieces to make it special.  In my living room, I have a corner outlined by open wall on one side and floor-to-ceiling draperies on the other.  The perfect backdrop for something sculptural.  I don’t need media equipment or furniture for storage here.  What I need is an extra little seating spot to relax with an iPad or a comfortable spot to have a phone chat.  Of course, it must stand on its own as a beautifully designated little area separate from (but still in balance with) the main seating group.  Take a look at the corner I’m working with.

(Above:  My living room’s furniture plan illustrating the corner I’m working with.)

I’ve decided to furnish the corner with a sculptural lounge chair for additional seating.  Here are some things I kept in mind while sourcing the proper pieces:

Tips:

1.  Make sure the piece is in balance with the opposite side of the room.  For me, I have a chandelier hanging in the opposite corner.  I also have floor-to ceiling drapes along the window wall.  My chair needs to have a high back to balance both of these surrounding elements.  It can’t be a low piece!

2.  How will it relate to other furniture in the room?  All my other seating pieces in the living room are fully upholstered.  To do another fully upholstered piece in the corner would seem heavy and repetitive.  I need something with exposed arms, wood, thinner lines.

3.  Make sure the chair is grounded.  A chair by itself would seem lonely.  To give this space a bit more function and purpose, I’m planning a small side table.  The table must NOT overpower the chair in any way.

4.  Light it up!  I have no lighting in the corner.  To enhance function and illuminate my selections, I’m planning a gorgeous little cast glass table lamp for the corner grouping.

5.  Is the corner adequately filled?  Since I’ve chosen to do a small table lamp and not a floor lamp, I have to compensate for not having enough height.  My chair back is high at 39″, but I need more interest on the wall.  Artwork is essential to the grouping.  It makes the space feel fully furnished and complete.

(Above:  A newly produced Lamino Chair available through Design Within Reach.  Beech frame and sheepskin upholstery.)

My winning selection?  A vintage Lamino chair designed by Yngve Ekstrom for Swedese.  The form is sculptural, and it commands a great deal of attention on its own.  The lines are fluid and clean.  It’s amazing to me that this chair was designed in 1956!  No wonder it was voted the 20th Century’s best Swedish furniture design in 1999.  I’m glad I own a little piece of history.  Mine is in oak and teak with black leather upholstery.

(Above:  The ‘blank canvas’ corner.  Floor-to-ceiling drapes on the left side.)

(Above:  The vintage Lamino in position.)

(Above:  A side table with simple form adds more function to the corner and pairs nicely with the chair, while not overpowering it.  I chose the very economically priced “Martini Side Table” from West Elm in black.)

(Above:  Because my chandelier in the opposite corner is such a focal point, I wanted the lighting here to be more subtle.  The vintage cast glass Pukeberg lamp is perfect!  I also allows me an opportunity to further dress the corner with a large piece of artwork.  PLEASE NOTE:  This is not conceptual artwork.  I bought this acrylic frame from an artist and will fill it soon.  I’m still deciding on options!)

As you can see, this corner becomes quite special with the addition of some carefully selected pieces.  They all work well together, and the focus is still on the chair.  The artwork that will someday will the empty frame will complement the composition.  I think that will be another post entirely!  I love the result, HOWEVER…something is a little off.

As much as I LOVE the black leather upholstery on the chair, the contrast between it and the charcoal drapes behind is not enough.  I’m proposing reupholstery.  Finding an appropriate fabric for the look of the chair, while meeting my needs for contrast has been a bit difficult, but I think I may have stumbled on the winner.

(Above:  A stunning linen textured velvet fabric by Christopher Farr.  It’s dark chocolate, but the lightness of the background gives me the contrast against the draperies behind.  It will look fabulous.  Once I decide on this for sure, I’ll post the reupholstered results!)

(Above:  Another shot of the gorgeous profile.  Because it was designed to follow the natural curves of the human body, it’s unbelievably comfortable!)