Interior Design Photos – Before & After or After & Before?

I’m always trying to decide what blog readers like to see first – the before or the after portion of a design project?  Do you like to be wowed, at the start, or do you like a big reveal?  Inquiring minds want to know!

For this post, I’ll start at the beginning:

A client’s guest bath, accessed directly from a guest bedroom, also served as the main level powder bath.  It had a traditional tub/shower combination with white tile.  Certainly clean and crisp with Ryegrass walls.  The challenge was to make it seem less, “bathroomy”, while maintaining the bathroom function.  Covering it up just seemed to call more attention to the bathing area and it closed off the room.

The Before:

The After:  Presto!  (Well, it always seems to be so in the photographs.)  The tub and surround were removed, added an overhead light, a new shower pan was installed, along with new tile, new fixtures and some dust and labor. Though this doesn't bode for an overnight process, my project’s contractor did move things along!  (A note to myself . . next time, turn off the vanity lights for a photo!)

The Before:  A nice sized vanity for any guest.  It just wanted to be a bit more special.

The After:  Another viola!  The original drawer layout worked but the cabinet height was raised.  We had a vision to add wainscoting to the walls, so we chose a recessed panel style.  The cabinet was topped with leathered, mocha limestone.  The arched valance base makes it more furniture-like.  Gorgeous porcelain tile looks like stone but is much lower maintenance.  (An extra molding strip, at the side, will be finished to match the rest of the paneling.)

Here is a detail of the wainscoting.  It’s simply a series of wood rails and stiles, with a top cap, added to the walls.  An added shaped insert prevents the panels from becoming too Shaker.  It also catches the glaze.

The mocha limestone – close-up view:

We decided to add the glaze to the entire bathroom to tie it all together.  With the texture of the limestone and the tile, straight-out painting would have been too dull.  We left the walls alone to let the moldings pop.  We’re going to go back with just a touch of the wall tint for the ceiling.  It will keep the spa feeling flowing.

The project is almost done.  Just a few bathroom touches and I’m off to do the adjoining guestroom!  After that, my pro photographer, Whitney Gray will capture the images with her magical lens!

So, which do you like to see first?  The before & after, or the after & before?  Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

. . . And in the end, let me know if I can be of help! ~ Wanda

Design Projects Are Under Construction!

Thankfully, my desk isn’t quite this bad . . .

. . . but it’s a reminder of how important it is to stay on top of the management of interior design projects.  Interior Design is more than the “pretty” selections we make.  In fact, the behind-the-scenes or the “during” process can be downright unattractive.  Most people are anxious to get from point A to point Z, in the blink of an eye, but aren’t interested in managing the work that takes place in between.

Sometimes it’s difficult to have a concept of how the whole process will come to completion.  I’m glad I have my “virtual design vision” to rely upon.  Of course, I appreciate all aspects of design.  I actually thought my client’s “before”, framed-out-dome was quite beautiful.  The fellow who did this was an artist, in my opinion!

Okay . . . This might be the scary stage for some!  In order to arrive at an aged, metallic copper finish, the dome had to be base-coated in a pumpkin color.  For the folks, in my area, who are Clemson Tiger’s fans, this color could have been cheering them on!  Beauty can be in the eye of the beholder.

Each additional layer brings the room closer to focus.  Remember, if you have any doubts, be careful in pulling the plug midstream.  If my client had done so, in the “pumpkin” phase, we wouldn’t have made it to these glorious results.  Having a professional designer by your side, during all of the project applications, gives you peace-of-mind . . . and a hand to hold.  (And a big Thank You goes to my fabulous decorative artist, Whitney Preslar Bayer ,for her consummate professionalism and talent, on this massive home project.) 

Now, the table is ready for setting and for receiving guests.  (And for the professional photographer!)  We left the chandelier a little higher, if she decides to use a taller arrangement for special events.

I’ve been working on my “Designing A Room At A Time” series.  It’s still a work-in-progress, because, aside from being a Design Blogger, I am first and foremost, an Interior Designer.   Client projects are under construction so they’ve been needing my time and attention.  Just like any project I undertake, I want to make sure my list is complete in order to allow for the best outcome. 

In the dining room, shown above, here is the list for creating this room, from floor to ceiling:

1. Review plans with architect.  (In this case, we swapped the dining room space, for a living room.  The original dining room was to be in an area with a 24’ foot high ceiling and a glass dome.  There would have been difficulty in placing a chandelier in the glass dome, maintenance issues, and we wanted the room to feel a bit cozier for guests.)
2. Space planning, based on meetings with architect, builder, and blueprints.
3. Meet with framer to design dome size, dependent on depth of room space above this ceiling.
4. Meet with woodworker to determine molding profiles, size of crown mold, and flex molding for dome base.
5. Select cast stone base mold.
6. Meet with electrician to review layout of outlets, switches, positioning of chandelier, and wall sconces.
7. Meet with smart home wiring company to determine placement of security sensors and audio speakers.
8. Select flooring – polished and honed marble combination with inlaid stone border around the perimeter.  Meet with installer to review placement.
9. Select door styles, (not clearly shown in photo), wood species, stain color, finish type, hardware style, and function.  (May want to open to loggia or keep fixed.)
10. Get specs for windows to begin the window treatment design process.  Pay attention to where attachment may be needed to decide if board mount is better.  Discuss options with workroom.
11. Pull color palette together for walls, ceiling, dome, windows, and chair seats.
12. Source fabrics, trims, hardware, furniture, and future accessories/artwork.
13. Double-check all measurements, post completion of construction, for accuracy against blueprints and changes.
14. Create quotes, order product, coordinate deliveries, and installations.
15. Be available to oversee all processes.

Today’s interior designer wears many hats.  While some may specialize in certain areas, we all still must be involved in the project management.  The wise client will select someone who can be a team player and act as the liaison for translating the pieces of paper to a real life experience.  Rooms just don’t pop off the magazine pages or the internet screen!

Back to my “construction site”.  I’ve got more lists to make into reality.  What project do you have in progress?  I would love to know more about it!

A Bathing Beauty – Modern Design Meets Italian “Fusion”

I’m sharing a little side “trip” from my series, “Designing A Room At A Time”, by featuring a portion of a new-build project I completed, last year.  Actually, my client and I are still adding personalized touches, due to the scale of the process, but the bulk of the work has been done.  You’ll be able to view the architectural designer’s featured link to the home – Here. (It may be best viewed if you have Flash.)  I was the project’s interior designer, from blueprint to finish, and from top to bottom.  (The architect’s photography was done in an earlier stage, but you will have a good grasp of the overall design concept.)  There were so many special spaces in this home! It has been difficult to decide which one is my favorite.  Each area has its own little story.

One bath and bedroom area, in particular, required a little extra thought, given the overall design is an Italian Villa meets the French Mediterranean.  This area was designated to be a guest suite, as well as to be a retreat for a daughter, during her visits home.  She loved the aesthetic of a streamlined, fabulous hotel suite.  As I was pondering how to create this area, while still honoring the areas leading into this space, I knew I could call on color to be my “first assistant”.  I decided to focus on some of the softer palettes of green, mocha, and brick. I’m sharing with you the final results of the bath, and I do think “she” turned out to be a real bathing beauty!

 

The cabinet compliments the strié tile, with the sparkling deco inserts of crackled glass.  The broad horizontal plane, painted in the same color of the trim, creates the perfect location for placing crystallized, tile-like color accents.  It also brings a tall ceiling down to human scale.  The vanity light defers to an iron scroll design, used in the bedroom window treatments.

 

A closer look at the crystallized accents.  You can see the glimmer of green on top of the rust base.  Every girl loves a little bling!

The location of the bedroom and bath faces a very sunny exposure.  The mostly green palette virtually brings the temps down on a hot day.

This paisley bedding adds some feminine curves to the bedroom.  We are still tweaking that area so watch for a future post on the completed look.  The colors are spot on!

The starting point . . . This beautiful White River granite made us feel as if we were sailing on the Italian Riviera.

It was fun travelling with you, today!  I would love to hear about one of the most beautiful bathrooms you’ve seen.  Tell me what made it so special or about a favorite feature.

Con Grazie!