Sneak Peek: Music Room/Library

Today, I'm giving you a sneak peek into a music room/library I am designing. You can see my color palette of turquoise and chartreuse here in the reupholstery pic (yes a tad blurry...sorry) of one of the sofas. There will also be grey and a tiny proportion of lavender. You'll have to stay tuned for the final look!!

Have a "COLORFUL" week!!!

***Susan***

Island Project

Hi,

I know I have been so delinquent in blog posts this summer...it's been very busy in the design biz so that's a good thing, huh? I keep telling myself just do a quick little blurb with one pic just to keep it going, but sometimes that's just not enough of an incentive.  However, I'm not giving up on that idea yet!!

Here are some pics of a fabulous project I am currently working on. So far, we have the custom 108" long ( yep it's a biggie!) Caperton sofa with F. Schumacher burnt orange velvet installed, and the Bernhardt cocktail and side tables. Both tables are new pieces for Bernhardt and I love them. Need I say so did my clients' grandkids, as the first thing they did was crawl back and forth through the large hole! Stay tuned for more -- lots to come!!

Toodles!!!!!!

Susan

A Contemporary, Colorful Living Room

Hello my fabulous blog followers!

Below are pics of a living room I recently completed. It is in the same house as the kitchen from my last post. The final piece for this living room took awhile. It was finding just the right table for the corner in between the two purple sofas. With those high arms on the sofas, we knew the table had to be fairly high for function, but if it was the same height as the arms, it would look awkward...happy balance time! We also really wanted a pop of copper on top (say that 5 times fast :) to tie in the chairs and complement the purple sofas. I really like the Asian art and the Asian feel of the table lamp. Both of those features soften or take the edge off of the contemporary lines and add more visual depth. Enjoy!

 Keeping everything very geometric for a contemporary feel...also the nature of the architecture of the house.

 I love the windows in this house! Beautiful dichroic glass art on the coffee table by Designs by Shoshana. 

Looking into the dining room...tying the rooms together with red.

Off set wall hung shelves provide a nice place for art, family pics, and mementos.

Later, Susan

Finished Kitchen!

I'm sharing with you a kitchen I recently finished.  The home is a wonderfully designed architectural gem, and clients I have worked with for many years. The home has high ceilings, fabulous large windows, and an open but very warm and inviting environment...I love it! Enjoy!

 Stainless steel tile backsplash and granite countertops. I love how my woodworker Walt McHenry decided to continue the maple top trim of the cabinets around the cooktop hood!

 White laminate and maple cabinets with maple floors

 A look into the adjacent family room

 A closeup of the backsplash tiles and granite countertops

 Stainless appliances and cabinet hardware

 I can't decide if I like the pic better with the undercabinet lights off or...

on! So thought I'd include both! Now to find the perfect table and chairs!

Later! Susan

Redecker Hedgehog Brush

The Redecker Hedgehog Crumb Brush from Crate & Barrel. Get it here!

Isn't this just the cutest crumb brush ever? Not that many of us really take the time to get out a particular utensil to brush the crumbs off our tables. In fact, that's the one pet peeve my dear hubby has when we go to a nice restaurant...the crumb brushing..."really, is that necessary". Of course, at the restaurants, they use the bent metal type apparatus called a Crumb Catcher...not quite as appealing!

I don't think I would ever really use a crumb "catcher" or "brush", but it's just so cute! Only $12.95 and ships for free! What else could I use it for?? What would you use it for if not for crumbs? Let's think of something. I need some rationalization for buying this cute little creature!

Enjoy the weekend!!

XOXO Susan

Sun Room Update

Happy Spring! Not a pleasant topic in this northern neck of the woods, as we are continuously getting dumped on by Old Man Winter...and yes, it is getting "old"! One small project I am currently working on is a sun room update. However, in addition to a sunroom, this room is also the main, year-round family/TV watching room...and not a large space.  Currently the room is painted blue with wood trim and ceiling of a golden hued tint.

The goal of the space is a soft, monochromatic environment accented by dark wood furniture and a pop of color in the artwork. We are going to paint the walls a wonderful warm grey, Ben Moore's Smoke Embers 1466 above. The planked wood ceiling and trim will be painted Ben Moore's White Dove OC-17...my always go-to white.

Above is the existing grey/brown leather sofa and loveseat.

The new carpet:  Love this Shaw carpet! It's called Polished Comfort and this color is Silver Smoke. Sooo reasonably priced -- gotta love that!

My color palette: folded branch-like Duralee fabric will be the roman shades with the Dwell Studio's Robert Allen diamond pattern in a large ottoman with accent welting in a silvery vinyl that turns tan/gold when the sunlight hits it, like in the picture above. How cool is that? Perfect for this color combo, huh? The remaining fabrics are pillows.

Now for the punch of color...no final decisions yet, but up for grabs from MN artist Jessie Schreier:

 Buddy and/or...

Lilypads

Or...

Stay tuned for the final before and after results!

Toodles my dear noodles...Susan

Decorative Glass in the Kitchen

Decorative glass used in remodeling has become so popular over the past few years that I thought I had seen it all.  But NO! I'm excited to introduce Shahab Shokouhi, my guest author today, discussing and showing fabulous ways to use glass in the kitchen.  Enjoy!

 

Kitchen Remodeling via 

Kitchen overhauls are not the easiest remodeling jobs out there, but there are definite trends you can utilize to make your kitchen look stylish. In this post we are going to look at various examples from back-painted glass backsplashes, to glass kitchen counter tops, to kitchen islands, all of which will make your kitchen a modern cooking oasis! Glass backsplashes and colored glass panels are a perfect way to not only add light and a beautifully modern shine to your kitchen, but color-coordinating is also extremely easy.

   

Different Colored Glass Painted Kitchen Backsplashes via 

At Dulles Glass and Mirror, custom-colors are offered based on most major paint manufacturers including Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams color codes, as you can see above.

   

Green Glass Backsplash via 

There are many styles of glass backsplashes. You can get a whole glass panel custom-cut for your kitchen wall, or you can use individual tiled glass backsplashes like above. And if you're looking for a bit of a modern flare, there are a lot of backlit options when it comes to glass in the kitchen.

   

Textured Backlit Glass Casing Island Countertops via

Above is a glass casing kitchen island countertop with backlights. Similar to glass backsplashes with installed LED lighting, this island is decorative, functional, and injects a unique vibrant light into the kitchen; the ultimate in modern technological decorative flare. Another common, often overlooked style of glass in the kitchen are glass kitchen cabinet doors.

   

Glass Kitchen Cabinet Doors via 

Glass kitchen cabinet doors are perfect to show off your most interesting of items, giving your kitchen a contemporary look. If you're looking for a more traditional look, white colored backsplashes are available as well.

   

White Colored Kitchen Backsplash via

Often times with back-splashes, it's a good idea to match your switch-plates and outlets to the color of your backsplash.

   

Hand-Made Glass Countertops via

When it comes to the kitchen, there is a lot of functional hand-made glass art available, like the hand-made glass countertop above. There are glass art houses that are creating masterful glass kitchen countertops, producing a one-of-a-kind look that will clearly turn heads. 

   

Kitchen Island via

Not everything has to be a full-on overhaul. One easy way to add a new bit of flare to the kitchen is a kitchen island. While this one pictured is a very high-end and rustic kitchen island, there are a lot of kitchen island options available for you. From the DIY low end IKEA models, to designer models, it's absolutely the easiest way to add countertop space to one's kitchen. Follow these trends and your kitchen will be a brighter, easier to clean, and more productive cooking space.

About the Author Shahab Shokouhi is a Writer at Dulles Glass and Mirror-- a manufacturer of commercial and residential glass products including glass table tops, vanity mirrors and glass sheets.

Susan here again! I can't decide if my favorite is the Textured Backlit Glass surrounding the island OR the Rustic Kitchen Island with a glass insert on the top.  I think I'm going to have to go with the latter.  I love contrast!!  Ready to use some glass in your kitchen now? Tell me your ideas!

Toodles! Susan