An Update For A Master Bedroom

We were pushing the budget here.

We remodeled the master bath in a big way. It is DIVINE! I'll share later when I get into my new digs.

For this update for the bedroom, we saved the furniture for later.  That can be added in without all the dust and mayhem that construction causes.  Time to get the mess made now, when there was a bigger mess just next door.

before

Things to fix....awkward fireplace surround with its little door for the gas key and cheap tile, crown moulding in the alcove that chops up the space, tired carpet, two different sized windows (both wider and different heights)...alternating....around an octagonal room, and we need a nice light fixture.  Lots to fix.

See the different sized windows?  Finishes complete here....ready for window treatments.

Solution.....

during construction

slate tile butted together with no grout and bullnosed edges for the surround....simple...it's all about the beautiful, natural cleft  material....go ahead, touch it, you know you want to, 

my design sketch (we didn't go with the band at the top)

new wood floors,

no crown moulding in the alcove and a paint color that covers the entire area so that the space expands and appears less chopped up,

simple panels on a single metal rod (actually quite complex...custom made to fit like a glove so that when closed a wall of evenly spaced drapery makes a clean backdrop...and those draperies gliiiiiide across those rods so beautifully), 

and a pretty new light fixture to top the cake.

  The shell is complete. Fill in at your convenience. 

A lovely ambience...simple, peaceful, done.

...for now.


After photos by Miro Dvorscak


Linking to:
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Feathered Nest Friday on French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday At the Picket Fence

More Project Photos

After - Living Room

More before and after photos of my remodel project today.  I posted previously HERE and HERE about this job.

Before - Living Room 

That big chunky crown at the window really bugged me. It divided the view in half. I also didn't care for that wide flat board surrounding the arch. Simpler, smaller mouldings painted the color of the walls take your eye right out the window to the view beyond.

After - Fireplace

We kept the fireplace surround and had it finished to be similar in color to the walls.  (It was mauve before!) Adding a new, distressed wood mantel in a color and finish to match the floor brings the wood element up into the room and makes for a beefier mantel. Now she can actually put something on the mantel without worrying about it falling off.

Before - Living Room Fireplace

We removed those sconces beside the fireplace.  The homeowner really wanted to hang her art and there wasn't much wall space in this house!  The wood floors made such a tremendous difference in the feel of this house.  The warm white on all the walls, ceilings, and mouldings freshened everything up.

After - hallway

New wood doors and bronze hardware were added.

Before - hallway

After - Master Bath



Limestone on the floor and counter introduces some nice texture in the bath.  Kept the details very simple here.  The statement is coming.

Before - Master Bath

After - Tub

Directly across from the entrance....the beautiful, sculptural tub with an exotic pendant.  We had plenty of room for the limestone ledge behind the tub after tearing out the large cultured marble surround.  The curve of the ceiling is repeated in the tub and the bulbous shape of the old Moroccan fixture. You should see the pattern of light it creates at night.

Before - Tub

Excess mouldings and columns were removed to reveal the nice bones of the room.....a soft, curve to the ceiling and a roomy bathing alcove.



Now for the special place for the cats!

Before - the unused knee space

After - Kitty litter box is enclosed in the cabinet

The cats have their opening to pass in and out through the wall.  Just open the cabinet doors and remove the litter tray for cleaning!

Lots of nice little visual moments in this house.  I'm so happy to add this one to the portfolio!

Many thanks to Susan Fox of Love Where You Live blog for featuring a recent bathroom reno project!  Susan is a field editor for Meredith Publishing and she does such a great job describing design work.  Please check it out!

Progress at the Job Site

Construction is under way on one of my remodel projects.  While many people dread this aspect of a job, I love it.  I really enjoy seeing everything we've planned get pulled together and start to come to life.  At this point, you can really see how making material selections, laying out tile work, lighting, electrical, etc. is so important to do before you start.  I've spent many hours on the design of this large remodel and my time spent up front is paying off.

This was a 1990's contemporary.  It had a very good floor plan, but the chunky, bullnosed style was dated.  It had some unique details like that stepped sheetrock design (which was everywhere!) at the ceiling that made the space seem very horizontal and oppressive.  The 12" x 12" slate (too little and too busy for the wide open space in this house) has been busted out. The dark oak kitchen cabinets and heavy, plain style just had to go. 

The homeowner wanted a traditional style with a light warm color scheme.  She likes beautiful wood mouldings and travertine floors.  A simplified, rectangular island shape and new cooktop location on the end wall of the kitchen, helps the bring the layout up to date and give the kitchen a nice focal point.



It's so nice to see those dark cabinets out and the stepped sheetrock gone.  The space already seems so much brighter and more uplifting.

New crown moulding going in where the sheetrock steps once were.

Travertine floor has begun.  



The larger tile is so much more appropriate for the size of the rooms.  Laying tile on the diagonal opens up the room and the tile appears even larger than it would run straight.

Before - Master tub deck with steps.  It's really very difficult to get into a tub with steps up to it.  It's much easier to sit down on the edge of a tub and swing your legs over to get in.  Even if you step into the tub, at least you're not climbing over the steps or stepping down into the tub from the deck.  I suppose it's to make the tub look grand????

New tub deck without the steps!  We will have some beautiful tile work to come.

Before - The living room fireplace.  Rather lackluster and there are those steps at the ceiling again.

I think it looks better already!

If you're ready to take on a big remodel, contact Aston Design Studio for a timeless interior, custom made for you!

Redo Simply

I recently finished this remodel where the homeowner wanted an update in her kitchen and family room. This is a typical remodel request in this area, new countertops, appliances, paint, backsplash, lighting, hardware at a minimal cost but with a big impact. I think we hit the nail on the head with a dramatic change and a more sophisticated look within the confines of the budget. After photo above.

Here's the before photo. The older white appliances had to go as did the tile backsplash and counters. We kept the existing cabinets and stained them and kept the tile floor. The homeowners wanted a darker, cherry stained finish for their cabinetry for a richer look.

The photo above was their existing fireplace wall, directly across from the kitchen. I thought it was just too busy and appeared as a sort of quad diagram, everything divided up in sections, with too many colors and finishes. Something needed to stand out and become a focal point, the fireplace!


Here is the after photo, much neater, tidier, and visually cleaned up. The fireplace has more prominence and the room appears cozy and comfortable. The built-in on the right of the fp was minimized with paint to match the wall with only shelving that contrasts. The long mantel that divided the wall in half was eliminated and a proper mantel stained to match the kitchen was installed. Tile surrounding the fp was changed out to a granite tile that matched the mantel in color. The tv was mounted above the fp instead of pushed back into the far corner as before. We reupholstered the existing seating and did a new textural rug to further enhance the rich look.

I love simplifying spaces so that beautiful features can then be noticed. Visual clutter and too many colors and accessories just create busy, uncomfortable environments. If you unite different features in a room with color or finish, you can make them bolder and more striking. I love how this project turned out, a much calmer and more sophisticated space.

Fabric on the chairs from Duralee, rug through Aston Design Studio. Granite is Crema Bordeaux from Arizona Tile, tile from Daltile, paint is Sherwin Williams, Latte. Photography by Cathi Taraboi Photography.