Colorado Springs Residence

One of the projects I am working on, is this wonderful 6,000 + sqf home in Colorado Springs. It was part of 2010 Parade of Homes, but has since gone through some "rough times" and is in need of all the new surfaces and materials and finishes as well as some new furnishings. New owners also have modern taste, so many of the previous designers selections won't work for them.

The client wants to move in by the end of July so I have to do the design in stages in order to get things moving faster.
Here are some very early stage concept renderings I did for the client for the Great room and kitchen, plus the before pictures (click on the images to enlarge them). Keep in mind that we are just finalizing some of the material choices, so everything you see in the renderings (including furniture) is generic.


In Great room I am changing the color palette to a more sophisticated and modern one. Cool grays in different tones. I am also extending the fireplace wall all the way up the wall, adding 6 feet long linear fireplace with stainless steel trim, lowering TV for a more comfortable viewing level and hiding it behind a panel matching the fireplace material. The wall is over 27" thick so we have some room for display shelving and above it to display some of the great art pieces of the new owner. Furniture displayed in rendering is generic, but we are definitely considering the Nelson pendant arrangement above the seating area.

BEFORE

CONCEPT

In Kitchen... well....everything must go. I'm selecting new finishes, designing a new island and seating area around it. Since there is already a separate dining room and a bar area in the kitchen , kitchen nook becomes unnecessary. I am adding more surface and cabinetry space there. Previous designer had the refrigerator in an angle, which makes sense regarding the better angle for opening the doors, but at the same time it breaks the perfect horizontal line of the surfaces and cabinetry. I am moving the fridge to another location (seen in the rendering), while still keeping it in the "triangle". The double oven is now where the refrigerator was, and since I have added more surface space at the nook, we can now replace the surface ,that was too far to be functional, with a missing pantry.. The existing coffee maker is too high and will be moved inside the butlers pantry between kitchen and dining room/

BEFORE

CONCEPT

I am currently working on some modifications. For instance I will move the dining height eating area in front of the island to secure better circulation around the island, This way I can also make the Island longer, which add room for the food preparation.

Stay tuned for more progress images.

Home of Two Creative Minds

Have you ever wondered what does British designer Jimmie Martins home look like?
Wonder no more.

Jimmie and his photographer partner Rick Schultz live in this magnificent 670-sq. ft. apartment in a Georgian building in Bayswater, London.
I love the dark-gray walls which provide the perfect background for the color explosions of the furniture, objects and art around the house. I love the mix of Ikea, Dwell and unique antique pieces.

Vita pendant by designer Brian Rasmussen

This modern wire pendant lamp by Lucente has a scale that matches its style! The oversized Vita pendant by designer Brian Rasmussen commands attention in any space, with its whimsical, wrapped-wire design described by its creator as “the source of light at the center of the lamp is the hub from which everything radiates and takes life ... the decor is designed for geometric and ordered to appear from certain points of view and random other.” This striking pendant would be fabulous in the two-story Great Room.

IKEA Hackers

Don't we all just love IKEA, which is btw finally coming to Colorado!!

Just found this fun website.
They hack, personalize and repurpose IKEA products

Some of my favorite revamped stuff:

Ikea Vikare bed become a Jeep

Dog butt coat rack

Dress Boys

Inspired by a design from Laphoeff, two second-hand Ikea Bertil chairs and made them into dress boys.

Mini Bench Coffee Table from Frosta Stool

The Playground - Fashionable Kitchen Designs by Elmar

Combining work and play in an artful way The Playground kitchen designs include a number of different modular components with plenty of storage space, which can be arranged to suit your space and your style. This kitchen comes in a wide variety of colors and finishes, so you can truly customize it to give it your own personal flair. Elmar says it best: it’s a kitchen where “you invent the rules.” For more information on these fashionable kitchens, visit Elmar.