KICIMAN BATH Q: I am planning my master bathroom remodel.  I have a layout, but I don’t know where to start with color.  How do I attempt to select finishes?

A: Here is my secret recipe for guiding clients through color selections – - -

1) Think about how you want to feel in the space.  Various colors evoke various emotions.  Color changes and forms the way we feel in a space.

Awake/Refreshed = yellow/orange palettes.
Relaxed/Calm = blues/greens palettes.

Magazine Ad

Bath with Color Palette from Ad

2) Find an image from a fashion magazine (yes, a fashion magazine!) that depicts your personal style and includes the emotion/color combination preference mentioned above.  What are the main colors in the image?  This would be your main bathroom color (paint or wall tile).  What are the supporting or secondary colors in the image?  This would be your supporting color in the bathroom (cabinet color or floor tile).  In general take note of the proportions of colors used in the fashion image and directly link them to materials that have the same visual proportions in your bathroom.

3) Don’t forget that this image from the fashion magazine will have accents of vibrant colors.  You will need to have accents of strong colors with your accessories.  For example, if the fashion image has a bright orange scarf on the model, maybe you have a vase of orange flowers on the countertop. Sometimes the best spaces have subtle overall colors, and strong accents of color.

Magazine Ad

Bath with Ad Color Palette

Send us your questions for August’s question of the month emily@inspiredinterior.com

Sleek Standout – A clean, contemporary design fits state-of-the-art equipment into a long and narrow space                                                                                   

Designer Emily Mackie Norris of Inspired Interiors received an unusual challenge fro clients in suburban Virginia. They hired her to remodel the kitchen of their traditional house into a contemporary space, but asked her to do so by working from photographs and three dimensional models. The couple flew in twice to Chicago to see her plans progress. “It was extremely interesting from a design challenge and not problem not being there,” she says.

The greater challenge was figuring out how to incorporate the multiple work stations the owners sought into the room’s long, narrow shape (15’x 5’6”) as well as how to allow traffic to flow easily around the zones. But Norris did that, too. Near the main sink, a triple bowl, she incorporated a flat screen TV. By the range of the long island, which Norris made the room “110-percent efficient,” she included a second sink for prepping and a landing space close to the wall ovens. There’s also a large baking center nearby with a pop-up mixer; that zone is far enough away from the cooking equipment to keep multiple cooks out of the way of one another. The island also features casual seating and an upper tier for resting food items. A warming drawer was placed near the door to the dining room so that plates and dishes would remain hot. The main eating area for six, another request, has its own windowed corner with storage underneath the banquette.

The room’s clean modern lines feature two different cabinet materials, one in a creamy gloss laminate and the other in a light-colored wood that mimics quarter sawn cherry but is really reconstituted veneer. Both are environmentally sensitive and constructed from recycled content. Color comes from the limestone rectangles on the floor, laid in brick pattern; the Red Dragon granite on countertops and along the backsplashes; and the stainless steel hood with clear glass canopy. A pass-through links the main sink and dining room; pendants lights at various levels dangle above the dining table.

Dining Room Before

PARK RIDGE, IL – Almost four years after moving into her home Mrs. Jones* had not gotten around to updating the dining room. Despite the change in furniture, the room still reflected of the style of previous homeowner, not this busy working mom. With an upcoming family celebration on the calendar, something needed to be done!

It all began one Saturday simply with help on color selection but what resulted later was a beautiful room transformation.  Despite an overall vague idea of her stylistic desires, one thing Mrs. Jones did know was that she was tired of the cranberry red color and wanted anything other than red.  She really wanted a color that was interesting and different from what everyone else was choosing.  Inspired Interiors delivered by using Benjamin Moore’s “Mink Violet” on the walls.

Dining Room After

While the room was receiving a paint makeover, Inspired Interior designers came up with a window treatment sketch, which was sent to Mrs. Jones for approval.  Inspired Interiors found the perfect neutral fabric and coordinating trim –both sent off to the workroom for completion- in addition to emailing Mrs. Jones a variety of wall sconce selections.

Once the painting was complete Inspired Interiors returned to finish and style the room.  They requested Mrs. Jones to leave out any artwork they could use, also asking for permission to “borrow” accessories from other rooms in the home.   Finally, after exhausting the resources at their disposal, they asked the client for an accessory budget and the shopping began!  While her room was being completed, Mrs. Jones was able to keep her normal Saturday routine of shopping and shuttling kids to their sports activities.

To stay within budget, but also keep the project moving along, the team provided the homeowner with fabric samples & re-upholstery quotes for the chairs.  Chandelier suggestions and quotes were also given in case the client wanted to replace the chandelier at a later date.

Dining Room After

In the end, an uninteresting everyday room transformed into a stunning, elegant dining room that was calling for a celebration!  Wedding crystal was brought out of hiding and shone brilliantly against the new ”Mink Violet” walls.  Tall vases with foliage were added to give some interest to the space but would required little homeowner maintenance.   Inspired Interiors even drew from the colors in the homeowner’s china, incorporating them in the room’s accessories. An adorable crystal cupcake holder, used to hold votives and surrounded with a seasonal wreath, provided a stylish and maintenance free centerpiece on the table.  Inspired Interiors even found coordinating table linens to help preserve the table’s beauty.  In addition, the team created a gallery wall to highlight the family’s photos through the generations – perfect for a room that will be used to gather family together for birthdays, graduations and holiday celebrations.

What was once an unused  ‘pass through’ room is now an elegant gathering space admired by all.  It is a room that Mrs. Jones plans plans to use not only for parties, but also as a quiet and beautiful setting in which her children can do homework during the week.  Mrs. Jones loves her new dining room – especially the color.   “It’s something I would have never thought of.  It’s gorgeous! …To have someone come in, use things that have meaning to my family and add some fresh accents all while being mindful of my taste & style was definitely worth it!”

Dining Room After

*Name changed to maintain client privacy

Free Faucet!

Receive a free kitchen sink faucet (valued up to $600) when you purchase a full kitchen through Inspired Interiors.*

3 Free Hours!

As the recent hot days have shown us, summer is officially here and while you’re outside barbecuing, why not give yourself a new kitchen.   Call us today to schedule your complimentary in home consultation.  If you choose to proceed with Inspired Interiors for your kitchen remodeling project, we will credit you up to three design hours (valued up to $375.00).*  Save money planning your space with a professional.  Get your project done the right way… the first time!

*Some conditions apply.  Please contact Inspired Interiors for further details.

Q: I am in the process of remodeling my bathroom – can you give me any ‘exclusive designer tips’ to cut my costs?

A: Absolutely!  Here are three of my favorite tips for savings money on bathroom remodels without compromising style:

1) VINTAGE VANITY FIND: Stop by a second hand furniture shop or low-end antique shop.  Find a table that has a shape & style that you find appealing.  You can find one that is small and fits the space exactly, or one that is larger and use half of the table (see image on lower left).  Re-paint or re-stain the table to suit the chosen color palette of the bathroom.  You can also find some pieces that can be retro-fitted and used as a vanity – these make great conversation topics (see image on lower right).  Get creative and you will have a vanity that looks unique while saving you a fortune.

vintage vanity - 1/2 table used

antique shop find for vanity use

2) REMNANT COUNTERTOP: Most stone fabricators have a large selection of ‘remnant’ pieces of marble, granite, quartz, and more.  These pieces are left overs from large scale projects.  Bring the measurements of your vanity, pick a ‘remnant’ piece that suits your bathroom’s color palette and ask the fabricator to price the stone top.  You are will likely save more than 50% of the cost you anticipated for your countertops.

3) CRAIGSLIST: Peruse the many items available on Craigslist.  You would believe the things you can find: overstock on faucets, rain shower heads, vintage claw foot tubs, overage of tile, and MORE!  Don’t be too proud to hunt do your bathroom goodies!  Be smart and spend wisely for you space.  Craigslist even has an app for your iphone – LOVE it – use it!

Happy Hunting & Happy Savings!!! Don’t forget to send us your questions for our next newsletter!!!

Sincerely,
Emily Mackie Norris, ASID