April 19, 2013

Happenins’ 4/19/13

Another busy week here at DM! We have so many great projects going on that I am constantly feeling inspired, excited, stressed, challenged and rewarded. I don’t know about you, but time is just flying by and I’m just trying to eek out a moment here and there to stop and admire the flowering trees. Work is great, but there is more to life than renovations, right? After working through last weekend, I’m really excited to totally unplug this weekend. I’m hosting another guest (my third in three weeks) and I also have plans to BBQ, dine downtown, get a manicure and work in my garden with mom. I can’t wait!

Here are some bits from our week. (Some from instagram and some seen here first!)

We started a new kitchen project that I am EXTREMELY excited about. It has so many special details… I just can’t wait to see it come to life.

On Monday, the room looked like the space above, and by yesterday it was the blank slate below. More on this one soon…

I had a bedroom install yesterday and spent much of the day steaming and stuffing pillows. I kept saying I was a “lean, mean, steaming machine” and giggling about it. Mind you, I was alone. Nerd Alert. Anywho, we aren’t done the room yet, but I’m very pleased with what we have so far!

{That’s a custom blue velvet bed}

{Cute reading area in what used to be an awkward nook}

This foyer got updated this week. Tile, pickled oak and purple carpet are all gone! I will be overseeing the installation of a new runner today.

My baby niece is in town, so there have been lots of stolen moments to kiss her cheeks and nibble on her legs. I haven’t gotten a photo of her and I yet on this trip, but here she is with Grammy.

And one last one for you. Technically this was last week, but on Friday I installed the major furniture pieces for this dining room. This whole home is amazing and I am bursting at the seams to get in there and photograph it proper. We just need a few more final pieces and then I’ll share for realz.

And there ‘ya have it: 7 Days of DM.

Have a great weekend!

January 30, 2013

Project Modern Organic Update

Guess what? In 24 hours I will be down in Mexico with my family and I am SO excited. It’s perfect timing because we are wrapping up our most recent bathroom renovation, #ProjectModernOrganic. It still needs its finishing details but I thought I’d share what has been a really fun design project for me.

The sink cabinet is a modern gray stain wood with an awesome concrete trough sinktop.

It’s seamless and beautiful. I love the concept of two faucets and one sink- really clean yet elegant.

The simple slab drawers will look more tailored and finished once we install the hardware.

Wall sconces set into the mirror will also finish this look.

Instead of a traditional linen cabinet, we built this tall narrow depth piece.

The top doors are antique mirrors. The unit also houses a hamper.

The floors may look like wood, but they are porcelain tile! So gorgeous in person.

The dedicated vanity/make up area is coming together nicely.

It’s hard to see, but that’s a wood counter wrapping down the sides of the desk.

Our area of Philadelphia is pretty traditional, so I always have a blast when my client’s are down for a modern look. I love how the clean lines blend nicely with more organic elements, like the “wood” floors and pebble shower. Once the accessories and textiles are in, it will really shine.

I’m off for now, but have planned a few posts for next week while I’m relaxing in the sun. You will DEFINITELY want to check back here on Monday. I have an exciting announcement.

January 7, 2013

The Construction Schedule

The new year has a way of making us want to do everything a little better, am I right? With a VERY busy project schedule so far this year, we are more focused than ever on having each renovation run smoothly and our clients having a great experience. Part of this process involves clear communication and expectations. We present a calendar to each client on the first day of construction detailing how the next several weeks will progress. This calendar below is for a master bathroom we are starting today.

I have learned from my own cottage renovation that the more I knew about the process timeline the less stress I felt. It is certainly my goal for my clients to feel as little stress as possible. I’m not a therapist or life coach, so I can’t promise to alleviate all stress from your life, but I can do my part to have no delays, materials ordered and delivered on time, plus a stellar looking room at the end.

FYI – while each job is different, this is a good idea of a timetable for a full bathroom renovation. Feel free to use it with your own contractor. Custom shower doors must be measured on site, so they are the last piece of the puzzle to arrive, but the rest of the bathroom should be up and running in about 4 weeks.

I’m late for our 1^stDay Pow-wow, so I gotta run. More to come throughout the week. Like…. I’m getting some wood floors installed at the cottage. That is always a fun few days of the schedule J

November 2, 2012

Happenins’ 11/2/12

Well it’s been another busy week here at DM! We were extremely lucky to emerge from Hurricane Sandy unscathed. Obviously, many others have suffered greatly. My heart goes out to all of those who have lost their homes or been displaced to due flooding or power outages. Wanting to do something, I contributed RedCross Disaster Relief. You can too, if you feel inclined.

But, as they say, the show must go on. Once the storm quieted down we were back on a jobsites pushing projects along. My Chestnut Hill job got some wallpaper in the dining room. This is going to be such a pretty space when its done!

My house has been a complete mess this week- with more drywall being torn down to do complete re-wiring. Turns out the old wiring was done all wrong and was a complete fire hazard. LOVE it when people cut corners in construction. Sike.

I did get a tub and that was exciting!

It’s modern and deep and I’m quite pleased with it. (It’s the Mirabelle Edenton that I talked about here.)

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

I shared a Living Room project yesterday and you guys were so awesome with feedback. Thank you to everyone who blogged and pinned and tweeted my work. Sharing is caring! Each and every comment means so much to me. I love hearing about which details were your favorite!

Also, I was absolutely frickin thrilled to be featured on House Beautiful’s blog this week. Check out “Bloggers Tips for a Happier Home.” First step website, next step in print, right?

And let’s not forget the lovely Thanksgiving Brunch feature I attended over on HGTV.

ELSEWHERE

Sabra threw the wedding shower of the year. You must check out her posts here. I’m admittedly anti-shower, but this is one party I would have loved to attend.

Image via Lonely Wife Project

November 1, 2012

DM Project: Client W Living Room Before and After

Hey guys. Today is a fun today because it’s the last Before & After Project for Client W. This room- the living room- also happens to be my favorite room in the house. We started with great bones; windows on three sides, great light and a fireplace.

The real issue was the furniture arrangement. With the sofa cross-wise in the space, it cut the room in the half and the beautiful back windows weren’t being enjoyed. We decided to move things around, add seating, remove the television armoire and update the fireplace mantel.

Here is the room before…

We moved the sofa to the long wall and made a slipcover for it to soften the modern lines. The Barcelona chairs moved to the back windows. This is now a lovely reading area. I never liked the back of the Barcelonas at the front of the room, but the new settee has a lovely back and I think it fits well here.

My clients really didn’t care for the old fireplace. The mantel wasn’t their style and the gas function didn’t appeal to them.

Since they have a working wood fireplace in their Family Room, we disconnected this gas fireplace and filled it will logs. We also designed a new wood mantel. Christiana Cabinetry made the mantel for us. The mirror above was a vintage find.

One of my goals with the space was to mix traditional and global pieces in with my clients’ existing modern furnishings. We replaced the low modern sideboard to the right of the fireplace with a vintage ebonized commode. It took me months to find a piece that wasn’t crazy expensive but I’m so happy with the one we ended up scoring.

Here we see the French Settee with commode and foyer in the background. The oil paintings were part of my clients collection. When paired in threes they look three times more chic. The middle pillow was one of the first fabrics I chose for the room. I love it! (Some of you may recognize that I used a scrap of this fabric in my own loft.)

As I mentioned above, it’s the same sofa as before, just covered with a slipcover and lots of fun pillows! We continued the theme of yellow, pink and blue that we have going on in the contiguous foyer, powder room and dining room. The rug is an over-dyed Persian. It totally makes the room.

One of my favorite details is the vintage Blanc de Chine table lamps. The iron end tables are pretty fun too, though.

The coffee table is a great weathered wood in a cross pattern. No need for coasters here! Actually the whole room was designed with my clients young sons in mind. Even the white cotton slipcover can be pulled off and washed.

We added a tulip table between my clients Barcelona chairs. Behind them is a vintage Asian console I stumbled upon while shopping one day in Philadelphia. The fiddle leaf fig and driftwood floor lamp balance out each side.

One last look at the coffee table styling. My clients gave me carte blanche and I had a fun time mixing in vintage and new items.

And that, my friends, is the last of Project Client W. That is until we tackle the master suite. Hopefully next year? I feel so fortunate for having such amazing clients who totally get my vision!

I hope you liked the tour. Get caught up on the dining room, foyer, powder room and family room.

Thank you to Courtney Apple for taking al of the lovely images