Decorating Den INTERIORS

Oct 2012

Our client purchased the house and called for help as it hadn't been worked on for ten or more years and she wanted to start with a customized look to suit her own style. We started with the lower levels. First the great room with its tall ceilings, then the kitchen which was a total gut job. We then went on to the powder room and entryway adding a custom wood inlay and a Schonbek crystal chandelier. The following year we then attacked upstairs with a full renovation of the master bedroom and bathroom.

$500k

Audubon, PA

Oct 2015

A great thing about building a new home is that you are starting fresh. Being a Florida decorator, many of our clients are moving from the Northern or Mid-West states. We advise them to leave their often dark, large pieces of traditional furniture behind and just bring pieces that have value to them whether sentimental or monetary. This dining room was a pleasure because it was a clean slate with large windows letting in the morning sun. The floors are hand-scraped engineered wood in Brazilian walnut which give the entire home a warm feel to counteract the stark white walls. The home owners have a large art collection and specifically chose the white paint so that the paintings can be seen at their best and moved around the home easily. The owners host many dinner parties throughout the year and wanted a table that was virtually indestructible, and that visitors didn’t have to be careful with. This long Mango wood trestle table comfortably seats between eight and ten and has an antique grey, distressed look that is similar to driftwood. We alternated turquoise and light blue dining chairs for some contrast. An outstanding centerpiece for the room is a dazzling grey chandelier with an outstanding display of brilliant graphite crystals. Hundreds of faceted crystals are suspended from ten fluted glass arms. Wall sconces in chrome with grey linen shades were added and all the lighting is on dimmers for a choice of bright or mood lighting depending on the required ambience. To control the harsh Florida sunlight that can leech color out of furnishings within weeks, we installed light grey Silhouette window shades which keep approximately 97% of harmful UV rays out but still let in light even when fully closed. Traversing draperies were installed floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall providing a spectacular color wall of cream, green, purple and turquoise. The hardware is hidden behind the crown moulding for a clean, modern look. The best part of this design story lies in the large-scale artwork. The home owner had been given the painting years ago when she lived in Philadelphia but the colors didn’t suit her Northern palette. The painting was hidden in the attic but during the move was crated and sent to Florida. After not seeing it for sixteen years she had forgotten what it looked like and when she saw the crate about to be off-loaded asked the removal crew to take it away. At the last minute she decided to look in the crate and was surprised and delighted to find the perfect artwork for her dining room! Lastly, hand-torn wallpaper was installed in a custom color in the tray ceiling. As this room is used for dinner parties, games and even casual dining we decided not to install a rug for ease of use and movement around the table.

Naples, FL

Aug 2015

This kitchen is in a newly built home, part of an 800-home community with a choice of 20 models and three kitchen layouts per model. There were few allowances for change and the challenge was to create a functional, attractive kitchen around the set of rules that suited the home owner who is a kitchen designer herself! She knew exactly what she wanted and working with the community design enter proved to be challenging in every aspect as each slight deviation from the norm had to be discussed and approved by the Board. An example of this is that this home was expected to have floor tile not hardwood. Ultimately we were able to make some substantial alterations which allowed us to: • Build an additional wall to create an alcove for the home-owners antique shelves to house everyday china and dishes. • Install the hardwood floors and lighting fixtures after closing which not only gave the home-owner the finishes she wanted but was also substantially less expensive. • Add additional pot drawers and other utilitarian cabinets for increased functionality. • Install our choice of range hood adding some modernity to what could be a very traditional kitchen. Once the beautiful hand-scraped walnut floors were laid and the multiple layers of lighting were installed we were able to demo the 4-inch backsplash. We added a mixed premium Calcutta marble and antique mirror tile backsplash not only between the cabinets but also up to the ceiling. The brilliant mirror in the patterned tile reflects light and brings a touch of Hollywood glamour to the kitchen. With the kitchen ready for move-in we added window shades to protect the floor and furniture from the harsh Florida light topped with colorful cornice boards that reflect the colors chosen throughout the home. This homeowner likes things to be highly reflective which we achieved with the lighting, tile and metal table base. The crystal chandelier over the table adds to the subtle drama. One of our fun finds for this kitchen are the barstools which were found in a consignment store, rusted and filthy. We loved the lattice pattern and the stools were so comfortable to sit in. We purchased them, sprayed them a bright white and added a silvery grey fabric to tone in with the overall color scheme. Although this is a predominantly white kitchen with grey glazed doors and marble look-alike quartz countertops, the central island contrasts with a dark granite and sun-washed dark cabinetry. Moldings above and below the wall cabinets conceal additional lighting. This is a kitchen that is well-used by two eager cooks who managed to bypass the system!

$78k

Naples, FL

Jun 2011

The client purchased a home built in the Eighties and wanted a complete gut job. We took the kitchen down to the studs and created a custom design with lots of lighting, contrasting cabinets and countertops, and Thermador appliances.

$125k

Audubon, PA