Before and After: Lake Greehaven Remodel

Often, it's hard to truly appreciate an after photo until you see where it all started.  Today I'm featuring a few photos from one of my recent kitchen and bath remodels which has easily become one of my favorites.

Kitchen Before

Kitchen after

Kitchen before

Kitchen after

Guest bath before

Guest bath after

Master bath before

Master Bath after

 The client and designer are very happy with the results!

Before photos by Rebecca Ward
After photos by Steve Folino of InnerVision Photography

Ruby Splash and Orange Crush

Today I'm in the land of bright fabrics.  I'm surrounded by names like Volcano, Tobasco, Poppy and Red Pepper while narrowing down my choices for the project I'm working on.  So many options and great fabrics, so little things to apply them to.  Thanks goodness for throw pillows since they allow me to keep a few more of the fun fabrics in the loop. 

My current project is bringing together contemporary and old world, antique furniture and modern color and patterns.  It's been really fun bringing it all together.  These two books have a been a great source of inspiration:

Glamour from Met Home

and New Classic Style from Better Homes and Garden. 

(You can find these in my amazon bookstore).

I'll be presenting the project next week to the client so I'm sure you will be getting a glimpse of the presentation board when it's done.  Have a great weekend!

Photos by Rebecca Ward

A Modern Dose of Rugs

In doing research for a project, I was looking through the fun website, Modern Dose.  I have been here before and had forgotten about it.  Years ago when the firm I was working at needed an inexpensive zebra skin rug, we somehow found this site.  They may have been at the Las Vegas Market, I'm not sure.  At any rate,  I keep this website tabbed for the day when I can put the fake zebra skin rug in my own house.  This rug is actually a cow skin dyed to look like a zebra, which is good enough for me!

The zebra is not the only fun rug they offer.  Take a look at these others:

Can't you picture this fabulous round rug under a great looking round dining table? 

And you might as well browse the rest of their site while you're at it.  You won't be disappointed.


Images from Modern Dose

Give Your Bathroom an Uplift

I am currently working on a master bathroom remodel.  The look is to be very sleek and I thought the Robern Uplift medicine cabinets would be a perfect fit against a glass tiled wall.  What a nice alternative to the traditional medicine cabinet!

Check out more great Robern products here!

Photo from Robern, CAD drawing by Rebecca Ward

Sassy in Black

Duravit, the German manufacturer of bathroom fixtures, recently announced that they are launching their Vero collection in Black this month.  Looking classy in high gloss black will be modern sinks, toilets and bidets.  The modern Vero collection ia also available in white and can offer nice contrasting elements for any contemporary bathroom. Take a look and learn more here.

Images from Duravit

Design: Sacramento

I decided to start a column for my local readers and anyone interested in Sacramento.  I will highlight some great companies and finds around Sacramento that I have found useful in my profession or worth taking notice.

Today's Sacramento Source is Lumens Light and Living.

I have been familiar with Lumens since the company's conception.  This great lighting showroom used to be housed at the firm of Benning Design Associates, where I did my college internship and worked for a time.  At the time, the lighting showroom was a part of the firm.  The lighting showroom portion of the firm was sold and Lumens was born.  Soon, it was too large for its location and moved not far away to the heart of Sacramento's artsy midtown.

This great showroom is known for their contemporary lines of lighting but carries most styles as well as ceiling fans, some furniture and accessories.  Lumens is definitely one of Sacramento's best sources for lighting.

Images from Lumens.com

Renovate

I always keep an eye out for discounted design books. I happened to be in an office supply store and found this Metropolitan Home book called Renovate. It was shrink wrapped so I couldn't see what it had to offer but since it was on clearance for a few bucks, I figured it was worth the risk. I was pleasantly surprised by all of the inspiring photos inside regarding giving new life to an existing space. The style is mostly the transitional and contemporary styles featured in the loved magazine. If you happen to come by it, I recommend picking it up or you can get it for a meager price on Amazon here.

Making Progress

Since so many of you ask about what I'm working on right now, I thought I would show you. This is one of my clients right now that is pulling together pretty well. It's a remodel of a condominium. The major design challenge for this project is: WHITE. This client loves white. She currently has white carpet, white walls, white vertical blinds, white tile countertops over white cabinets. She mentioned that when she moved in and had the walls painted white, she made sure it was pure white and not an off-white.This, of course is unacceptable in my book. Everything looks so monotone and bleak. So we are incorporating hints of color in the neutral cool tones and natural woods and stone. Implementing these in a clean, contemporary look I think will achieve the same aesthetic the client likes about the color white with adding some life and interest to her home.
I'm very excited about using large grey limestone tiles on the fireplace wall. Grey limestone is probably my favorite of all natural stones. (What a surprise coming from someone whose favorite color is grey!)