More Free Downloadable Artwork

via Pulp Design Studios

I've been seeing a lot of symmetrical geometric prints framed and hung in groups.  People are especially loving this set of 6 from Crate & Barrel:

Others find that $ 369 is just too much to spend right now, and have been going about getting a similar look in more creative ways, such as framing 60-cent pieces of colored craft paper in Ikea frames:

via Young House Love

But I just discovered Sprik Space, where the wonderful Aimee offers free downloads of geometric patterns in several different colors.  

The patterns she offers include Circles, Leaves, Grid, Chevron, Diamonds, Houndstooth, and more.

She then recommends getting them printed on 12"x12" size from Costco for $ 2.99 each, and framing them in Ikea Ribba square frames at $ 17.99 each.   If you follow these instructions, a set of 6 costs only $ 125.88!

She also offers other great downloads in various color options, great for nurseries, gallery walls, craft rooms, etc.  Just a few examples below:

See more at Sprik Space, under the Freebies tab!

See an earlier post for more downloadable artwork from Feed Your Soul.

Bathroom DIY Cosmetic Makeover Advice

My sister and brother-in-law recently bought a house and are planning on how to makeover the bathroom on a very tight budget.  With some creative thinking and a bit of physical labor, I know they can do it.  I thought I might share the advice I gave her, as it could be useful to others out there as well.

Based on the photo above, here is what I recommended:

• The most obvious:  Remove the wallpaper borders, and paint EVERYTHING!  Paint the walls, trim, cabinets, and interior doors.  This will take the most time, but will make the biggest difference, and it won't cost much at all.
• The countertop and sink are pretty neutral so those can stay without turning into an eyesore.
• Remove the posts sitting on the knee wall between the vanity & toilet.
• Get rid of the curtains!
• Instead of boring blinds, make a fun DIY roller shade like this one by Emily A. Clark.   It would look great to have a fun fabric there since that window is such a focal point.  You can find great fabric prices online.  I've recently discovered Tonic Living for great modern fabrics at amazing prices.

via Emily A. Clark

Wouldn't this damask fabric look great?  AND it's on sale for only $ 8.95/yard!

Tonic Living Madison

• Replace the carpeting.  I suggest a simple inexpensive tile.  This will involve the most physical labor but will be the most durable in the end.  If you don't want to mess with tile and grout, a shorter-term solution is a vinyl peel & stick floor, which will probably still be more durable than carpeting.
• Since you'll want to pull the base trim up to redo the floor, I'd suggest looking into a taller base trim made from paint-grade MDF, which is a great price point and will work well in a high-moisture area.
• Add flair with a fun framed mirror.  Take a look at places like Big Lots, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, etc. for mirrors.  You can find some great deals there.  Or even local thrift shops.  Keep in mind - if the frame is ugly you can always spray paint it a really cool color.

via re-nest

• Replace the cabinet hardware.   New knobs will add a little punch to the final project.  You can find simple pieces for just a couple dollars.   Or you can splurge and get something unique for just a little more cost.   I've been drooling over this toggle pull from Paris Apartment for a while now:

Obviously these are only cosmetic changes, but considering nothing is broken and nothing is leaking, a makeover is all this bathroom really needs.  All of this won't cost a fortune, but it will make a HUGE difference.

More Photos: White Kitchen Remodel

Last week I showed you all some before & after photos of a recent project I designed.  Now that you've all got a sense of the significant layout changes involved in this design, I thought I'd post more of the after photos and details.

the Lemans corner system (see it in action here).  I love this thing!

pull-out spice rack

roll-out pantry shelves

faucet operated by foot-pedals (my client is a surgeon and wants to keep everything sanitary!)

Sometimes you need to custom-design an entire cabinet for very specific pieces.  Everything needs to have its place, right?

Before & After: White Kitchen Remodel

I'm really proud of the outcome of this kitchen remodel.  It's beautiful and bright and just plain happy.  But you don't get the full sense of this space until you see before photos and realize the major layout changes that made this kitchen what it is.

The large opening shown above used to be this brick wall:

The powder room (the closed white door to the left) used to be straight off the kitchen, directly across from the refrigerator: 

Now the powder room (still in the same location) is in a corridor just off the kitchen:

The doorway location from the dining room (to the right in the photo) prevented any deep base cabinets, and therefore the space by the window wasn't very functional: 

Now the doorway has been relocated to the right side of that wall, allowing for a working kitchen uninterrupted by traffic flow:

Quite a difference, huh?  Not to mention the layout aspects you can't see - how we made sure each cabinet was as functional as possible, so everything had it's place.  More after photos to come in another post...

Architect:  Tom Buese

Contractor:  Sam Sampinos 

A Familiar Light Fixture

On March 10, Design Sponge featured a book called "Undecorate: The No-rules Approach to Interior Design" by Christine Lemieux (founder of Dwell Studio).  Yes, it started a little rant in my head about the difference between interior design and interior decorating and how I really wish the titles were not used interchangeably, as decorating is only one of the many aspects of interior design, and though I'm all about breaking the rules of interior DECORATING, there are rules in interior DESIGN that are detrimental to the health, safety, and well-being of people and therefore should NOT be broken.  Okay, I'm stepping off my soapbox now...

The reason I'm posting this is because the floor lamp in this photo from the book caught my attention:

Does it look familiar?  Have you seen it before, maybe in my home?  Hanging from the ceiling (on a still-frayed cord) in my kitchen?

Yes, it appears to be a floor-lamp version of the exact same fixture!  How cool is that!  I wish I knew who designed it...

The Biggest Single Line Item of Any Project...

I just read an interview with Mick De Giulio in an old issue of "Renovation Style" magazine (Summer 2010).  If you read my blog regularly, you know I pretty much idolize this guy.  In fact, let me post one my favorite kitchens ever here (yes, I know, I've posted it before, but it's just SO beautiful!):

Anyway, I fell in love with his response to the question, "What's worth the splurge?"

"It's worth the splurge to do what you want.  The biggest single line item of any project can be regret.  You regret that you didn't the get cabinet you loved or the range that you loved.  When you're done, the kitchen is an expensive room at any level.  If you are not entirely happy with it, then that's expensive."

How true!  I understand that budget is important, and you can't have EVERYTHING you want, but when you find that ONE item that you absolutely fall in love with, whether it's a piece of furniture, or an appliance, or a countertop, or a cabinet style, figure out how you can make it happen because the worst possible outcome is that you go through the entire design & construction process, just to step back and say "Hmmm... it's okay, but it really would have looked great with that Calcutta Gold countertop".  As a designer, if my clients have these types of regrets at the end of a project, then I haven't done my job properly.  Part of my job as a designer is to help clients figure out what the key elements are, and what we have to do to make them attainable.

(All kitchens shown here by Mick De Giulio)

An Interesting (and Inexpensive) Vanity Sink

I get many emails from cb2 about new products or sales, and I always open them because I love their stuff.  I was a little surprised today when I saw this photo showing off their new shower curtain.  Though the shower curtain is the main act here, I couldn't help but notice the sink.  It appears that they have simply used their go-cart desk (only $149) with a couple galvanized buckets.  (We have this desk in orange and love it!)

I can't say much about how it will hold up though.  I might put a glass piece over the desk to protect the surface from rust?  As for the buckets... I guess if they don't hold up you can easily replace them and retire the old ones out to the back patio as planters or something.  

Note:  If ever doing something like this that will expose the plumbing beneath the sink, please pay a little more for the special finishes rather than using the plastic PVC.  It's worth it!