MUST-SEE: A Dark, Dramatic Woman's Retreat!

I’m so excited to share the final photos of our Showhouse room!

In a home that was creamy white and light, this space was a contrast, as I designed it as a dark, dramatic, woman’s retreat.

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We started with the gray cabinetry, which was already in the room, and then worked with the existing color. Adding an indigo/navy blue enhanced the gray and made it feel richer and more luxurious. I wanted it to feel private, feminine, and personal. I selected this dramatic Cole and Son wallpaper that worked beautifully in the room. The birds are a bit iridescent and don’t really stand out until you get in the room and see the light reflecting off them. I love the femininity and the lightness of spirit they bring.

The rug from Stark is amazing. It’s one of my favorite patterns; and in navy it just sings! And what woman doesn’t love a little animal print. It’s just perfect for this space. (BTW... It’s for sale!)

Some velvet and silk pillows add more luxury here. This beautiful chair from Duralee fits nicely in the space, with a Highland Court velvet used on it and the bench cushion. It is just pure quality that adds so much to the room.

The touches of brass and white brighten and add contrast in the room. The alabaster lamp from Currey and Co., as well as the small marble and brass side table, were lovely additions. That lamp has such a beautiful shape, and the gilded shade stands out in the dark room. The same combination is used in the floor lamp from Circa Lighting that’s next to the chair. I love that bit of modernity it brings.

The desk from Stanley combines a beautiful wood finish with a lovely painted gray base that stands off the lively rug pattern. I love the contemporary white desk chair that was borrowed from a client, as it injected a more modern look into what’s really a more traditional space. (BTW: This desk is currently sitting in Still Goode Consignments and looking for a new home!)

In the remodel of this space we had brackets and paneling added to the cabinet. One of the most popular upgrades we did in the room was the faux finishing that was done by Phyllis Palmer of Transformations by Phyllis. The countertop was just that plain gray paint before, but artisan Luis Altamirano — who works with Transformations — did a wood grain finish for me on the top that adds so much quality to the space. Phyllis did a pearlized finish on the ceiling that adds a little gleam and finishes off the room beautifully. I was so happy to have her work in my space, as I’ve worked with her for years.

Faux finish wood top adds quality and upgrades the look of this built-in cabinet - done by Luis Altamirano of Transformations by Phyllis

The art for the room was provided by Stacy Hosrich, with framing by Framecrafters. It’s the perfect splash of a white and contemporary look, making it really stand out on top of the dark, traditional wallpaper. I think it brightens the room and makes it feel more personal.

The switches and outlets for the room were from Legrand. My wallpaper installer covered them beautifully, and we used the magnesium finish in the closet. It looked sooooo much better than what was there before. Thanks to Amy Collier, our local rep, for providing those.

Here are the before and afters of the switches:

Before

After

I collected those white ginger jars and vases during the past few months by grabbing one or two on a whim while out accessory shopping for clients. They work beautifully in the tall, open shelving above the cabinets. I thought about a blue and white chinoiserie pattern for those, but it would have resulted in busy, feminine overkill here (if you ask me), and I wanted the wallpaper to stand out more. I love the glossy, curvy shape of these; it was just enough to fill the void, and add some brightness to the room.

However, the blue and whites were perfect on the countertop of the room. In this particular spot, some pattern and a little dressiness were in order.

I used one large jar I had left over from my Christmas tree stand; it was absolutely perfect for keeping my little tree up off the carpet and relating to the rest of the room. We kept it watered throughout the show and found it to be the perfect container. I’m gonna keep that tree trimming trick in my back pocket in the years to come.

Thanks so much to all of you who came out to visit with us. We loved hosting you in the tour of this lovely home. I really enjoyed doing this showhouse with such a fab group of local designers. There’s already another one in the works for Spring 2017! I’ll keep you posted.

In case you missed some of my links up there…

I have lots of luxury left from my Showhouse room that you can buy here on my website. Check out my Online Outlet Store for pricing on some of the beautiful items in my room that are still available.

Photo Credit: All “after” images were taken by Miro Dvorscak.

AFTERS

A Woman's Retreat!

INTERIOR DESIGNER: Carla Aston | PHOTOGRAPHER: Miro Dvorscak

Can Hardwood Floors Get Mold?

Dear Bob and Betsy,
Over the holidays, my brother’s family stayed with us. When I woke up one morning I found a puddle of water on the floor. I cleaned it up quickly but I’m worried. Now, I’m starting to notice some mold forming (or at least I think it’s mold). Can hardwood floors get mold? What can I do if mine have it?
-Tracy S.

Dear Tracy,

Yes, hardwood floors can get mold. When it does, it’s dangerous.

Mold poses a major risk to your health. Some types of mold are more dangerous than others. For example, if it’s black mold, you might want to get a professional cleaner to remove it.

If you are able to remove the mold yourself, it’s important to do so as quickly as possible. Gather the following materials before you get started.

• A face mask
• Protective gloves, such as rubber, latex, or vinyl
• White vinegar
• A spray bottle
• Paper towels
• Vacuum

With these materials you’ll be able to remove the mold off the surface of your hardwood floors.

Step 1: Ventilate the area

To begin, open all of the windows in your house. Mold can cause health problems, so you want to be sure the spores don’t linger as you bring it up. You might also want to use a dehumidifier to lessen the moisture content in the room. This can help stop further mold growth.

Step 2: Spray with vinegar and water

Create a homemade mixture of ¼ cup white vinegar and 1 cup water. You might need to double this mixture if there is a lot of mold. In severe cases, you can use equal parts water and vinegar.

Spray the moldy area. Cover it completely.

Step 3: Clean

Once the moldy area has been covered in water and vinegar, wipe it up immediately using a paper towel. Make sure you do this wearing your rubber or latex gloves!

Step 4: Use a clean paper towel to wipe down the area

After the mold is removed, dampen a clean paper towel. Use this to wipe down the area, picking up any vinegar traces, lingering moisture or mold.

Step 5: Vacuum

Once finished, vacuum over the area to remove any extra mold from the floors. This will also help to keep the area dry. Remove the vacuum bag when you are finished.

Place all of the materials you used to clean the mold in a plastic trash bag and dispose of it outside.

Mold can be especially dangerous. By following these steps to remove it as soon as you see it, you’ll stop it before it spreads.

Learn More:

• Are Hardwood Floors Waterproof?
• Tips on How to Clean Hardwood Floors
• How To Get Stains Out of Hardwood Flooring

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How Two Bathroom Remodels Increased This Home's Value & Fun Factor

Christmas has come and gone. Now it’s time to begin thinking about the new year!

Are you considering any interior design projects for 2016? If so, whet your appetite a bit by taking a look at an example of what we here at DESIGNED w/Carla Aston do. I’m certain what follows will cause you to begin thinking about all of your home’s possibilities.

does your home need a lift? * if so, subscribe to DESIGN REFRESH, my monthly newsletter featuring design tips & tools that will have your home looking fresh and new in no time! Thank you!

Right now I’m working with a former client on two small bathroom remodels in their home.

One is a powder room/guest bath; the other is a jack and jill bathroom that is shared by her two little boys.

The existing bathrooms were ordinary and had some fixtures that needed to be replaced. If you ask me, that means now is the perfect time to do a redo. ;-)

Here are the before shots:

We know this client quite well. We’ve worked in her home on projects twice before, so we understood her style and priorities from the get-go. She likes a fresh, updated look, with whites and cool, soft colors that are combined with warm woods and some interesting lighting.

The boys’ bath needed to be durable and long-lasting in style. It needed to feel more spacious and work as these boys grew. She wanted to remove the wall and door between the sink and the toilet/tub room. (There are only so many doors that a small space can take!) We did a partial height wall there that opened up the space visually, and we also got rid of that door.

Click images to enlarge:

I know all too well from designing my own kids’ bathrooms how tile on the walls of a small bathroom can keep water damage at bay. In a small bathroom water will be sloshed! I proposed a large white subway tile for a clean, fresh look on all the walls. We topped that with some color that will work with the soft cool colors in the adjoining bedrooms by wrapping it on the top part of the walls and onto the ceiling.

My client didn’t want any extra cabinetry on the walls — like a head-knocker above the toilet. We still needed to incorporate some storage into the room. We did that with a beautiful warm, wood cabinet that would be slightly distressed, as well as some great medicine cabinets from Restoration Hardware. (Every little bit of storage helps!)

We did some vintage look lighting and plumbing fixtures (love the “X” handles). We incorporated that design into the cabinet door as well. One way to add style to any space is to do a surface mount or close-to-the-ceiling light fixture instead of a can light. We did two of those here to add interest and to give a hint of a vintage look.

Everyone is mad for mosaics these days, and we are too! We love using them in small bathrooms on the floor. The grout helps with traction; and interesting floors can go a long way in making a style statement. We went with a white, glazed penny tile — not too pricey, though — with a dark gray grout to give some detail and make the space a bit more interesting. You know how I love a well-designed shampoo niche, and that penny tile will be great in there.

We did hooks in here instead of towel bars, because a wood rack with hooks on the tub side adds some warmth to that side of the room. I also added hooks on the wood vanity on each side, which provides convenience for these little guys and offers just a bit more elbow room at the vanity.

Here’s how everything combined: (BTW, those light fixtures would be the same bronze finish, we just didn't have the image that reflected that.)

For the powder/guest bath we kept the fresh white and wood approach by using some upgraded materials, such as... a hex marble mosaic for the floor, and marble subway tile on the walls surrounding the tub (along with a neat shampoo niche too, of course). We did white shiplap style paneling here up the main vanity wall (our homeowner’s request, and a good one at that), as well as a stained wood countertop and framed mirror to interject warmth and a natural appeal. That counter stretching across the the toilet area — the one with the wide mirror and sconces spread out — will help make this small bathroom look bigger. I also love the chunky white bowl sink and the vintage look faucet, too.

I used polished nickel finishes in here because it just feels a little less rustic and adds some polish to this space. A pretty custom shower curtain adds a finishing touch.

Were these “before” bathrooms horrible? No. But they were plain, boring, and had some chipped tubs. What we did was add some personality into these rooms by adding style and interesting details. We upgraded and customized the design of these spaces so they’d add value to the home and make them fun to be in.

Just in case you think we throw this stuff together without thought or planning…

This rundown should assure you that our selections are made as a result of many strategic thought processes; there’s a reason for everything. And yes...details really do make the room, even in the smallest of spaces.

Best of 2015

Post Christmas greetings everyone! This week I’m in Las Vegas staying at the house we remodeled, finishing up one last project. I’m also visiting with many family members and friends that live in the area. I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and are squeezing in some relaxing down time between now and New Year’s Eve.

Today my friend Rhoda is hosting a “Best Of” party like she does every year so naturally it’s a good time to feature a few highlights from 2015. Looking back I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to work on transforming several spaces including two bathrooms and two kitchens, and also I loved designing and featuring new fabric patterns. There will be more to come in 2016 but let’s take a look back shall we?

Here’s the list of favorite projects over the last 12 months:

Spring Fabric Collection

Gray + White Kitchen Remodel

Master Vanity Makeover

Laundry Room Refresh

Bathroom Remodel

 Shelter Family Room

Blue & White Sunroom

Kitchen Remodel #2

Studio Tour

Fireplace Makeover

And these two new prints for the “Fabric of the Month” series:

 dotty / painted paisley

And the top 10 Design & Decorating Articles from the year:

five (more) ways to update a bathroom / 20 ways to make a bed / modern farmhouse style / modern ceiling fans

paint it black outdoors / modern desert style / styling traditional wood furniture / wallpapered laundry rooms

Find these decorating articles and many more in the Style Files, there are links to all from the navigation bar. You’ll also find all of my DIY, craft, and fabric projects from the past year categorized on the Projects page.

I’m taking this week off but I’ll be back on Thursday with a few favorite links for the weekend… see you then.

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Our Biggest Splurge Of The Year!

We’re so excited about our newest home update and if you follow us on Facebook or Instagram (you of course should be!) It’s been a long time coming and we’re thrilled to be sharing it with you – we have a new velvet Chesterfield sofa! Isn’t it gorgeous?! It’s so comfortable and we love that... 

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! We’re busy unwrapping our Christmas gifts and getting the champagne opened, but just quickly wanted to pop in to wish you all a lovely festive day! Thank you so much for stopping by over the last year! We truly appreciate every comment and piece of advice that you share with us! We have... 

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Neves Maatwerk

Wanneer het aankomt op maatwerk, is Neves de steevaste partnerkeuze van Gebroeders Janssen. Wat uw noden ook zijn, Neves Belgium weet er niet alleen een prachtige oplossing voor te creëren, maar ook één die u toelaat om de beschikbare ruimtes optimaal in te delen en te benutten. Maatkasten, dressings op maat, schuifdeuren op maat, scheidingswanden of zelfs modul'in, het bedrijf weet perfect hoe het uw project zo optimaal mogelijk kan aanpakken. Bovendien laten de kasten op maat toe om elektrische voorzieningen zoals stopcontacten en elektriciteitskasten op een optimale manier in te werken, zodat deze niet langer uw prachtige interieur hoeven te ontsieren.

Lees meer op gebroedersjanssen.be

Calm for Christmas

It’s been said that this is the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ and that’s true if the season itself doesn’t become too hectic or overwhelming. As much as I love holiday decorating (like this walk down Christmas memory lane) I felt this year it was more important to exercise restraint and instead of decorating every corner of the house, to spend time with friends and family.

I know myself. If I don’t allow plenty of time to decorate in November then decorating in December becomes a chore. After traveling in November for three weeks to the other side of the globe on my return I wanted more than ever to have a very calm Christmas. So I didn’t string lights outdoors or hang garland up the stairs, and (gasp) I even decided not to host a Christmas party this year. I kept the decor simple. I moved the white tree to the family room to make room for a fresh tree in the living room, turned on the fireplace, and watched a few favorite movies instead.

  

Layering with winter white makes decorating easy and adds to the calm mood I purposefully created in my home.

After adding the new mirror and sconces earlier this year I didn’t feel the need to add much more to the mantel other than a few white ceramic trees and gold bulbs. I moved the gemstone garland to the white tree and hung the same quilted stockings on the mantel I do year after year. Once I was done I was satisfied, so I tucked all the extra bins and boxes of Christmas decor back into storage and decided that this year’s decorations, although simple, were enough.

Last week the family picked a fir tree for the living room and I asked for it to be flocked at the lot like I’ve done in years past, this time just the tips of the boughs so the fragrance remains and the green shows through. (The festive banners I found on sale at my local Pottery Barn, and I made that fur tree skirt many years ago.)

 

It’s Christmas Eve Eve and on this night I drive around and deliver cookies and gifts to friends around town. I love the smiles on the faces of the children when I hand them the bag of homemade cookies and the hugs received from friends as we wish each other good cheer.

I have a “Best of 2015” round up post scheduled next week and some favorite links to share on New Year’s Eve, but other than that I am taking the rest of December off from blogging to enjoy this quiet time. I want to thank you all for stopping by. Words cannot express how grateful I am to you for reading along in my adventures in home improvement and design. I read all of your comments and love so much being a part of the blog community, and I owe so much to you for visiting and subscribing.

Wishing you all a calm and cozy Christmas.

~ Kate

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Kärcher Window Vac Review*

Over the course of the last year, we’ve been lucky enough to have partnered with Kärcher to review some of their fab products. All of the Kärcher products we’ve received so far have been amazing and unlike a lot of gadgets that get bought and disappear into the cupboard after a few uses never to... 

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