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Before & After: Tiny Bathroom Gets the Dwelement Treatment!

Mar 08, 2010

Dwelement is different from many interior design businesses. I present plans and then give homeowners the ability to put it all together on their own schedule, as their budgets allow and without paying high prices and product mark-ups. The concept has been well received by DIY fans and regular people who want professional ideas but don't want the expense or commitment of working with a conventional interior designer. And working from photos, it allows me to work with clients anywhere in the world, or right down the road.

So I drove down the road to Bellaire when Bev and Terry asked for my help with their small bathroom renovation. The bathroom is primarily Terry's domain, but with its central location is also used by guests. The couple wanted a masculine look that was up to date but blended with the rest of their rustic riverside home.

The existing 3/4 bathroom functioned pretty well but needed a style update. So the plan was to keep the existing layout and redo the flooring and fixtures. Here's a look at the "before":

We talked about function and style preferences, and I put a plan together for a bathroom with a crisp but natural feel. I started by choosing the tile and the rest of the look followed from there. American Olean Porte Leona porcelain tile in Noce with Universal Brick accent strip has a clean and earthy look that's classic enough to have a long life. The upper walls pick up the brick color in the tile with Sherwin-Williams' Reddened Earth (SW6053). I also specified a neutral paint (Versatile Gray, SW6072) as a more conservative option, but Bev and Terry liked the bold reddish brown, and I'm happy they chose it!

I gave Bev and Terry another option by specifying both a pedestal sink and an enclosed vanity cabinet. We discussed the pros and cons of each, and they opted for more storage with a vanity. (Most of the renderings here show the pedestal sink option with a cabinet on the facing wall for storage.) Once the major decisions were made, work began and everything came together to create a simple but bold bathroom that fits the couple's style and functional needs.

Here's a peek at some of the 3D Views I prepared to help my clients visualize the results. There's no guesswork when you can see the space before you spend a dime.

Plan view

Section planes, or cut-away views, make visualizing a small space easier. It's like removing a wall.

Even small details, like the stone shelving with bronze brackets, are shown in the 3D views.

I did a rough rendering of the alternative vanity option, which the clients ultimately chose.

Here's the bold "after":

A grey granite top settles just beneath the row of accent tiles, and a handsome rubbed bronze faucet is a focal point. I chose square lines for many of the fixtures to create a masculine feel. The undermounted sink is as low-maintenance as it gets.

The vanity is a simple stock unit from Lowes. Its Shaker lines blend with the cabinetry in the adjacent kitchen.

The shower is shown to full effect with a frameless glass door. (Beautiful tile installation by Wayne Strang Tile& Stone, Traverse City.)

This is one of my favorite features: granite shelving above the toilet replaced a dated oak cabinet. Kudos to carpenter Steve Poel for developing a sturdy hanging solution for these heavy but statement-making shelves.

This example illustrates a couple of key points that distinguish my working style from that of conventional interior designers.

You don't have to give your space over to a professional's preferences.

My approach to design is often collaborative. I enjoy giving homeowners choices and helping them understand the merits of each option. The result is a room that fits the homeowner's style, but perhaps with solutions they couldn't have imagined on their own. They feel more invested in the design when it's clear that they have played a part in its development. When a client understands the reasoning and artistry behind a design, they're more confident making future choices for the space.

You don't have to pay for anything but my design advice.

Once I handed over the plan, Bev and Terry were happy to manage the contractors and do the shopping themselves. The plan included live links to all of the products I chose, and I recommended a local tile installer and gave them a local source for the tile I'd specified. They paid no mark-ups on the products, and saved a lot of money by taking on the nuts-and-bolts aspects of the job themselves.

Download the Inspiration Board for this bathroom with live links to all the products here:

Bev & Terry's Handsome Simplicity

Do you need a "second set of eyes" on your room remodel? Maybe you only need help with a few small decisions. No design dilemma is too small for me. I can help you understand your options and lead you to the best decision, saving time and money down the road. Just email me, and I'll figure out the best, most affordable way I can help you solve your design problems. —Diane

TAGS: bathroom renovation remodel before and after pictures photos tile edecorating e-decorating edecor interior designer decorator traverse city bellaire michigan

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Style Steal: Tiago Tables

Mar 05, 2010

{Short & Sweet Friday}

TGIF! How about a little shopping distraction to go with that weekend attitude? Crate & Barrel just added a slew of items to their online outlet, and these simple but bold tables really caught my eye at this seriously reduced price. The Tiago side table and coffee table fold flat on their X bases and have carmelized bamboo tops and tool-free assembly. Side table, $50 (regularly $199). Coffee table, $60 (regularly $299).

Want me to find the perfect Style Steals to outfit a whole room? Check out my eDecor Plans.

TAGS: crate & barrel tiago tables outlet style steal

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Enter the Dwelement Giveaway!

Mar 04, 2010

You may already have noticed that Inspired Room Design is now called Dwelement Home Design! I'm excited about the change but bummed that Facebook made me start my fan page from scratch instead of simply changing the name.

So, to fill the new page with creative, budget-decor fans like you, I'm running a contest. If you are one of the first 250 fans, you'll be entered to win a free eDecor Plan! And all of the first 250 will receive a 10% discount code, but not until the goal is reached. So click on over, and then invite your friends who might enjoy a daily dose of decor inspiration. The sooner we hit 250, the sooner the goodies will be passed out. :)  Thanks for your loyalty and readership! —Diane

Here's the tally so far…

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Juxtaposition: Sleek Lines & Texture

Mar 03, 2010

The simple lines and bold but understated look of modern design have always appealed to me. The challenge is making a modern room look warm and inviting. Smooth surfaces, sharp angles, geometric shapes, and crisp lines form the foundation of the look, but I find it requires some added warmth to look really appealing and homey. So how do you get that warmth without sacrificing the bold look you wanted in the first place? With texture. Here are a few rooms that do it well. I specifically chose somewhat monochromatic rooms so that the contrast of shape and texture would be most apparent.

This living room by architects Fernlund + Logan illustrates the idea beautifully. The windows, columns, built-ins, and major furniture pieces are spare and simple. But the room feels warm due to loads of light, a rough-hewn beam, fabrics and textiles with different textures, and accessories that introduce curves and whimsical forms.

Another Fernlund + Logan home is a bit more traditional, but the emphasis on clean simplicity is the same. A stark color palette draws attention to architectural detail. Curves in the architecture and furniture counteract severe straight lines, and texture warms it up: a sheepskin throw, a driftwood lamp base, rough pine floors, and woolen upholstery.

The juxtaposition works here within individual pieces. Chairs with right angles look warmer with rush seats. Clean-lined roller shades get added interest from a diamond pattern. A smooth aluminum accent lamp is the perfect foil for all the natural textures. Photo: Sköna Hem.

A dark room makes textures stand out even more. A textural painting complements the brick hearth, and white accents keep the room from looking too somber. A curvy, molded fiberglass rocker sidles up to its polar opposite, a very linear wooden chair. Photo: Sköna Hem.

A room like this might normally inspire strict geometry and masculine shapes. But the coverlet and hassocks are all it takes to soften the sharp space and make it more cozy. Photo: Sköna Hem.

Want to make modern work in your own home? (Or any other style?) I can help. An eDecor Plan will give you all the ideas, sources, and know-how you need to pull of a sleek but cozy room in your own house. Check out the benefits of eDecor here or just email me. —Diane

TAGS: modern sleek minimalist style interior design how to warm up modern cozy texture inviting photos of modern interiors rooms

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This is why I don't have a fresh blog post today.

Mar 02, 2010

Someone is hampering my productivity this week. :)

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