Chicago Interior Designer Blog

I took a trip to Birmingham Alabama for a three day weekend recently.  I have always felt very comfortable in southern states......I love the people, the climate, the lush greenery, and the homes are pristine and carefully detailed. I found people put more emphasis on landscaping, outdoor lighting, and perfecting their homes........no spec homes in Mountain Brook which is so refreshing.  Everyone seemed to have gorgeous wooded lots and gravel driveways. Lots of painted brick veneers with muted soft natural colors.  

Mountain Brook is a great area for shopping. They have darling shops and its all outdoor shopping, boutique style. Many designers showrooms and antique stores. Shops to try: Charlotte Woodson, Christines, J. McLaughlin. The deli across from Circa Interiors, Olexa's Cafe had the most amazing salads.

Charlotte Woodson has an interesting mix of antiques. Christines has the most delicate, sophisticated baby clothes....very traditional but all the little girls were wearing her fabulous pima cotton dresses down there and I have to say its so much nicer to see then something trendy. Her clothes are simple in their lines. Its the details that go into their making...high thread count cotton, soft gathering and suede like fine whale cordoroys. The pieces were tailored but comfortable looking.  J. McLaughlin's store my Husband loved. Their oxford shirts with skulls and whales, worn in linen embroidered pants and shorts are every modern preppy's dream.  Circa Interiors was my favorite shop. A combination of antiques and upholstery lines....They had a lovely pair of french grey and gilded bookcases. I highly recommend to shoppers on the look for something large in scale and interesting.

A fun thing to do is simply is drive on charmingly labeled roads such as Canterbury Road, Montevallo Road....and look at all the houses. There are so many roads to browse in this area. You could be busy for hours. Take your camera--you will get inspired by the landscaping and subtle details that make this area so unique.

 

I tend to like walls with depth, drama and dimension that also serve a purpose of quieting noise and annoying echoes in rooms.Grasscloths and certain woven patternstend to absorb sounds better than paint--- and add dimension to an otherwise flat walls.

But better yet areupholstered walls. Stepping intorooms that have upholstered walls isa bit strange at first......you don't tend to hear all the noise pollution that comes along with flat dry walled rooms. Its likebeingbeing put into a sound studio .There is this amazing stillness to rooms with this application.Yes, it's definitely a luxewall treatment because you will needmany yards of fabric, and additionallyhave the cost oflabor to upholster the wall--which can cost more than the fabric itself depending on what the client desires.

You always wantexperiencedprofessionals whospecializein upholstered walls. There are soffits, outlets, light switches---lots of considerations.Since upholsteredroomshave a practical purpose, many clients are willing to spend the extra money. Ultimately using upholstered walls in a private study ora dining room where theytend to entertain often, private gyms or yoga/meditation rooms,and media rooms. This treatmentgivesthe room a feeling of exclusivity, and the needed peace &quiet the client desires to get the maximum enjoymentfrom their home.

Case Study 1:

Lincoln Park Loft

Completely open 1st floor so kitchen will need an update to flow with rest of the finished space. Kitchen was a combo of traditional cabinetry with contemporary countertops. Client bought condo and preferred a more a modern minimal look. She wanted to keep cabinetry and appliances for now because everything was going in condo funds needed to be somewhat conserved.

BEFORE Lighting:

· Island lights removed because they competed w/dining room which were outdated deco style

· New island lamps installed in timbers in ceiling by electrician

· Top boxes separated out from under cabinet lighting by electrician

· All lighting on dimmers by electrician

· New lighting to light the pantry cabinet by electrician

· Lighting to light front of cabinetry & new pantry by electrician

 

Countertops:

· From totally late 90’s shiny granite to honed creamy stone

· Backsplash in same material/cutout for one outlet

 

Sinks & Plumbing:

· Kohler Cast Iron sink, more durable than stainless without the scratching 

· Push satin nickel button disposal button added to countertop

· Modern Satin Nickel fixtures added

 

AFTER Top Boxes:

· Removed ribbed dated glass and replaced with frosted glass

 

Pantry:

· Client needed more cabinetry space so put in simple modern matching cabinetry pantry with jacks for fax machine

 

Windowsills:

· Matched shiny black countertops; client wanted them removed but would cost a fortune and be a mess. So Candice had custom flower boxes made for space to cover the sills and give a little life to the inside of the home since exposure was great and client has green thumb

 

Walls & Ducting:

· Dingy looking yellow cast paint, grey ducting with white ventilation covers that need to disappear. Painted ducting & vents to blend with the original wood ceiling and put a fresh white on the walls to brighten the area. Paint walls and vent covers.

 

Barstools:

· Current ones too small in scale for chunky kitchen island.

· New stools for the kitchen

 

Window Treatment:

· Pull down woven to match brick. The window treatments are not a focal point in this particular home

 

Cabinetry:

· New Satin Nickel Hardware to replace old

 

Floors:

· Sanded and stained; chocolate sisal runner added to protect floor

1.  Overhead Lighting in Bathrooms:    

Overhead light is harsh unforgiving light that casts shadows on the face of all who look into the mirror underneath them.......downlight makes you appear much older and tired by creating under eye bags and emphasizing dark circles.  To feel your best in the morning, it's worthwhile to invest more thought and money into lighting the vanity correctly. You want the light to hit your face at cheek or eye level and to illuminate evenly. Its fine to have a few tiny 3" cans or smaller in the bathroom for the shower or sink area. Or even a gorgeous chandelier that will compliment the sconces but where you look into the mirror has to be lighting the face horizontally, not vertically. 

 

2. Too Much General Light in Rooms:  

Too much general light in rooms make everything look flat and boring. General light is the same kind of light you have in public spaces like schools or libraries, where its super bright and everything is lit evenly, but nothing is highlighted.  When lighting designers work up a plan to light a room, they first request an approved space plan because you do not generally a room without knowing what needs to be lit and how.    Most builders (except true design/build and custom firms) will throw in a grid pattern in the ceiling of cans, not knowing what they are lighting. But if you are building a home or designing your home, its wise to put in some specialized lighting to highlight artwork, millwork, casegoods and to help pick up the textures of certain fabrics or drapery.

 

3. Cans Too Large In The Ceiling:   

There is nothing more unsightly than 6" cans in ceilings. Even 4" cans can be too large in some circumstances. The smaller cans cost a little more but are less ceiling acne.....and are more pleasing aesthetically. I could see using larger cans in very high ceilings of 15 feet or over.....but not in anything lower than this.

 

4. Inappropriate Lighting in Kitchens: 

 Aisle lighting is just not right in a high-end kitchen. There are so options to lighting a kitchen these days and overhead lighting tends to make a space look flat. Like I mentioned in point one, its going to still make you look tired....to your guests and friends. Its nicer to wash the cabinets or use upper and lower cabinet lighting and nice pendants/lanterns over the island.  In a kitchen, the aisle is not the focal point and it will create shadows of what you are prepping at the countertops. The cabinetry, backsplash, countertops are the focal points. Make sure your kitchen designer works with your electrician so that cans can be placed to wash the front of your cabinetry so they know what they are trying to light before putting in your lighting in the kitchen. And that you will have the correct task lighting at prep stations that will be controllable and discrete.

 

5. No Light Control:     

Don't be cheap. You need light level controls on almost all light switches!  Especially bathroom switches and anywhere will you would entertain: dining room, media room, kitchen, living room, etc. This saves money to not run the lights at full wattage, and adds atmosphere to the space to be able to dim the lights. 

 

6. Cheap Light Fixtures:  

Cheap light fixtures look cheap and sometimes very flimsy. Quality lighting fixtures add visual interest to the home and makes everything else look more high end. But you could spend a sizeable investment on a kitchen and if you put in cheap lighting, it will ruin the entire intent. Spend a decent amount of the budget on a solid plan & fixtures . Instead of shopping at the local home depot, explore your local designer showrooms with a designer or try searching the web or your local lighting store to look at catalogs. Often what is on the floor is about 1/4th of what is available to consumers.

 

7.  Too Many Cheap Euro Style Fixtures:   

While these are appropriate in some houses, consider the architecture of your home before purchasing something that may be inappropriate to the overall look and feel of your home. I find people can totally go overboard with these european styled lights and then their lighting ends up looking trendy and doesn't function very well. Also having too many in one room that conflict with each other OR they look cool but are not lighting what they are intended to light adequetely.

 

8.  Always Consider What You are Trying to Light & How Much Light You Need:  

This is question number one in lighting design. Don't fall head over heels with fixtures until you have an appropriate use for them. If you have a dining room table and need to see what you are eating at the table, don't put in some light that will only give off a small amount of wattage and you will feel you need candles to see your family across the table! 

 

9. Floor Outlets Placement:

If you are going to have lamps in your finished basement, living room, or large rooms where you know the furnishings will be away from the perimeter, you need to have the space plan in advance that is approved, that is dimensioned to show your electrician exactly where where your end tables are and approximately where your lamps will need a floor outlet. Don't put two in the floor and then have to run some ugly entension cord to who knows where?  You need your outlets where they will be utilized in the most discrete manner. 

 

10.  Skimping On A Sophisticated Lighting Budget:   

Good lighting consists of 3 different types of lighting: Task (desk lighting, under cabinet lighting), Accent (sconces & lamps) and General (cans and center lights) . Having great lighting means having enough of a balance of these three in the home. Lighting is the most important detail to showing off all the hard work you put into the building and designing your home.  Good lighting can make the cheapest goods look fantastic...and the most expensive goods look uninteresting if not lit correctly.

Why do you think furniture retailers invest so heavily in this costly investment?  Think about where you most like to spend your time vacationing, dining, relaxing and notice next time when you are there the nice lighting. In building and custom design, lighting is the most under budgeted item. Plan on spending about 20 - 30% more than a general builders lighting. It will pay off on the future enjoyment of your home because lighting affects you mood and the appearance of your home. 

Recently while working on a soundproofing dilemma, I started researchingcarpet padding....and afterfinding the carpetguru.com website, I found the Mercedes of carpet padding by Healthier Choice.

To my suprise and delight,its not only the best product out there when itcomes to soundimpact absorption, but itsalso a GREEN product with the lowest VOC's of all carpet paddings. VOC's affect people with allergies and asthma. However, this healthier choice padding only emits about 70 micrograms of VOC's per hour making it the lowest emitting product on the market. That is a huge plusfor me because I have been learning about GREEN design, andam trying to make decisions that improve my air quality in my home and are kind to the environment.

I tried it and was hooked. It did not collapse and it felt like a memory foam beneath my feet. Its a great product......the best by far that is out there. The 7/16th thickness is the way to go. Its definitely more expensive but peace and quiet isworth the extra minor cost. Its about 1.00-2.00 more than other padding. Priced at about $8.00 a square yard.

Also if you live in a single family home or a 6 flat without concrete between each floor and you're hearing your children upstairs playing and it sounds like they are about to come through the ceiling, perhaps its time to upgrade to a much better padding which will absorb some of the impact.Peace and quiet in your home is important to having a stress free environment.

Here is the link to the company website. They will gladly send out samples so please try it out! 

BEFORE Townhouse Family Room

 

BEFORE WEST WALL

West Wall is fireplace on a hallway which was a very odd configuration. We moved fireplace to north wall and opened up the room. Closed up previous fireplace, closed up wall to mimic rest of the paneling.

  

BEFORE STAIRS: Did not work with paneling that client had previously had installed. Not the right scale. We thought since they split up the family room from the dining room that they needed an update since they split up the dining room from the family room and were the focal point when walking into the front door.

AFTER STAIRS: More to scale with existing paneling. Treads match floors.

 

You really do get what you pay for when it comes to hiring quality labor. Quality workmanship absolutely shows in a home. We encourage clients to hire quality contractors and subs. They don't always listen to our recommendations and are usually sorry as a result of trying to save money.  

Often when you are working on a clients home, old problems from previous builders or contractors reveal themselves. Cheap paint jobs, improper installation of numerous objects from windows, wood floors, tile or trimwork or stairs.  Other common problems are drafty windows, faulty old wiring, a fireplace that has a crack in the masonry, poor flashing to no flashing at all. These are often problems that need to be corrected before the real design work can commence. Because they effect the end result of the space and use of the home for the client.

 

 

 

DURING CONSTRUCTION PHASE WITH CONTRACTOR

 

 

AFTER WEST WALL

 

AFTER NORTH WALL

 

Subtle stria finish to cabinetry