before & during

Hi.  Just wanted to check in and share what we’ve been up to.

We are nearing the completion of the renovation of the home below (’70s ranch in the Atlanta suburbs).  And while the family is darling and have been such a joy to work for, this kitchen was a tad needy.

It needed much attention and demanded all of our brain-power and creativity.  It wanted Anisa to sketch her not once, not twice, but about twelve times.  It is the oddest and longest kitchen we’ve encountered, but we think we’ve set her straight.

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We made her taller and painted her green.  She’ll be wearing a little brass, too, when we are all done.

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We didn’t think anyone needed a kitchen quite so elongated, so we planned for a banquette near the back where all the windows are.  We are quite taken with this banquette (and the pink–our client loves pink & color of any sort, really)

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We try to salvage what we can in any kitchen (or room, really), but she required a total extreme makeover.  All appliances and wonky cabinetry had to be sacrificed.

photoThe new kitchen will boast this Craigslist find:

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And they saved enough on the fridge that they could swing for the white Viking range (with the white knobs!)200811-a-mm-viking-rangeThe color of the cabinets is tea light by Benjamin Moore

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Their four (and growing…) children will loving this long great room, just like Anisa’s little one, Ava
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Most of the progress pics we send back and forth have a kid or two in them

Here is my Wyatt modeling their new master bathroom:

 

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This room was the former owner’s master bedroom:

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The former formal living room is now their new bedroom (who receives houseguests in a formal living room anymore?  anyone?), and now this bedroom will have two walk-in closets, a freestanding tub, two custom vanities and a separate shower.

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The tub will go in between the vanities, and, yes, we will have blinds on the windows (our contractors…again….think we are crazy).

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We wouldn’t recommend hardwoods in a kids’ bath, but we think they are great for the parents’ bathroom.

 

We chose BM Galveston Gray for the paint above the 1″ x 8″ boards.  It is such a rich & warm gray. modern-paints-stains-and-glazes

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I’ve gotta share my favorite gray of all time, I think.  Anisa introduced me to it–BM Sparrow.

All of the interior doors are now this color (and will be in our new home, too!)

4755225342_c1d38966bbMost of the ceilings are blue, too (why not?  So much better that boring flat ceiling paint.)

photo-31Sorry this post is so long…..but want to share some other “during” photos of our other client who already had a beautiful home before we showed up.

Her sun-filled dining room is coming together….

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As well as her playroom/ keeping room…

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I remember reading in House Beautiful that Roland Alonso of Commune Design in LA said that hot pink is a neutral (or rather that he learned that from Issac Mizrahi).  I love that and think I agree.

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I think mostly that clients hire us to ask permission.  ”You sure a mint green kitchen isn’t too crazy?”   No!!!   “You sure you can mix navy and hot pink and teal?”   Yes!!!   It is like trying on an outfit before a date and asking your girlfriend, “Do I look cute?”  Don’t we all want to ask someone?

Thanks for listening to my design ramblings on this rainy summer Sunday….Our power went out when I was writing this post.  I love when that happens….especially on a Sunday.

xo,

Julie

Grant Park & Tabarka tile

We have our first referral from the work we did at Aqua Restaurant at Rosemary Beach.  Our clients (the wife–a total artist at heart, the husband–an architect, and two young boys) were vacationing on 30A in Florida recently.  She loves the whole rustic-modern vibe and is planning for their 1910 Grant Park home (Atlanta) to have the same feel.  They are in the throes of a total gut job there, so they called us for some guidance when they returned home.  (Thanks, Kim & Kevin!–the owners of Aqua and La Crema)

Oh, it would be so cool to live in Grant Park.  It is one of the oldest (and coolest) neighborhoods in the city.  The homes are from the turn of the 20th Century and, thus, filled with hardwoods, stained-glass windows, tall ceilings and inherent charm.  Our clients’ home is no different.  We are excited to be invited to be on board!

Some of what you find in Grant Park:

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Grant Park flowers

 

First matter of business:  tile for the new master bath

One thing they know for certain?  They want Tabarka terracotta tiles on the bathroom floor.  They are gorgeous!  They are antiqued and each one painted by hand.

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We narrowed down their favorites to two:

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How beautiful are these?  And all the colors you see above (the vintage green, the royal blue, etc.) can all be changed.  You can mix and match each style & color you love.  Here are the colors:

(the color scheme for the home?  lots of gray & white with hints of turquoise, navy, poppy and yellow…okay, and green, too.)

 

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The tile is, shall we say, not plain.  To make it work on the floor, we are editing what we do everywhere else–matte subway tiles, light grout, chunky wooden vanity (but clean-lined), simple frameless mirrors.  The only other bold choice are polished brass fittings & faucets!

kinda like these bathrooms below (I don’t know proper credits)

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Tabarka’s offerings remind me a bit of the backsplash in our kitchen:
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(as featured in BHG, photo by Rob Brinson, styled by Annette Joseph)

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I’m not sure if they are used in this kitchen, but how gorgeous for a kitchen floor or wall?

 

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I hope you have a beautiful weekend…..no news on the home front yet.  We countered again this morning.  Of course I’ll let you know!  (Their realtor said “our offer was quite low for a seller’s environment”…..the drama continues.

xo,

Julie

 

 

 

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