As You Like It Designs LLC

New Year Resolution: decorate my home

2012-01-30T11:08:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone. With the various conversations I've had with clients regarding their New Year resolutions, this is starting off to be a fun year. It seems like many of you are on the road to simplicity and to making your homes more comfortable. Conversations such as this are always fun and upbeat. The funny thing is that several of my clients have the same top New Year resolution and that is: "decorate my home." I was asked for a few suggestions that may help them keep things organize so below are a few task that will help manage your remodeling endeavour:

1) Make a list and prioritize the items. I'm sure you are tired of hearing this but it's surprising how many people don't put their thoughts down on paper first. This task will insure that you tackle the most critical items first. If you are thinking of updating multiple areas like your kitchen, bathrooms and the master suite than you need to zero in on what area will impact your life the most when you remodel it. You only have so much money for the remodel so if the furniture in the bedroom will make you feel better than the new double oven, or the more spacious shower, then do the bedroom first. But if you really can't live with those old oak cabinets anymore then do the kitchen first.

2) Come up with a comfortable and feasible budget. This may require some research. The more projects you want to do this calendar year, the harder the task.

3) De-clutter, if necessary. This will become an issue if you want to update your space but you don't have any space for the new items. The good thing about de-cluttering is that it will not effect the budget but de-cluttering is often essential for re-decorating. As crazy as it seems, if you want to change your life, a good way to start is by cleaning out the closet. Getting rid of clutter will re-energize a space. This is a hard task. You should never part with items that you love, but if you haven't used something in the last year then it may be time to toss it.

4) Be patient. Don’t try to do it all at once. Consider how much you really want something before moving ahead. On items that you really want do not settle for less. I have found when people settle for less they often regret it. My advise is that if you want an island in the kitchen but you don’t want the expense of knocking out that wall right now in order to have one then don't do the kitchen this year. If, on the other hand, you decide that you will probably never want that type of remodel expense then do the kitchen so that you can enjoy the upgraded features that can make working in the kitchen easier and more enjoyable. Again, consider the impact and what will add the most to your lifestyle.

5) Congratulate yourself on making good decisions as you go through the process. As a designer I can tell you that whether you are designing a kitchen or decorating your living area, it is a process and it all takes time.

6) Last, but not least, call me if you need help.

Part Three - The Roman Tub Remodel - The Rest of the Story

2011-08-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

The process of designing a bathroom can take weeks or months depending on the complexity of the remodel. It’s a very interactive process where the homeowner is required to make decisions regarding tile, cabinets, countertop and hardware selections as well as all the plumbing fixtures selection. It can be overwhelming for many clients and my task is to keep everything on track, make it as stress free as possible and keep everyone focused on the end result.

Before I begin the rest of the story lets recap the concerns expressed by the homeowner in this project. In the shower/tub area: remove the tile lip around the rim of the tub, replace the shower curtain with glass but still protects privacy, need a place for shampoo, need to upgrade the shower equipment. In the sink vanity area: need an updated look and need more storage. In Part 1 there are pictures of the old Roman tub layout if you need to see what it looked like before the remodel.

The major concern in this shower/tub combination area was the lip that outlined the rim of the tub thereby creating a safety issue for the homeowner. The picture on the left shows how we eliminated that risk by simply making the tile flush with the steps leading down into the new shower/tub area.

The shower curtain and white rod also just had to go. Shower glass was used to replace the old shower curtain. Privacy is often a request when it comes to the glass in the shower area and an easy way to address that concern is with a frosted glass or with etched glass. In this case the glass is frosted up to the 78” and then clear to allow for light to enter the area. . As you can also see in this photo we tiled up to the ceiling within the shower area. If you have an 8' ceiling it is often best to tile to the top so you don’t have that tile line to clean.

A tile design can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. I work with the homeowner to pick out the best tile for their space because the options are endless. If you decide to go with natural stone rather than a slab that adheres to the wall then you need to pick out a stone that comes with a variety of shapes and compatible colors. On the floor of this shower are the 2x2 tiles that have the same color combination that we have on the walls and the 18” tiles for the flooring. These same 2” tiles are also used to add drama to the 12” wall tiles throughout the enclosure. This is a simple yet very effective way to dress up your shower. The old design did not include a space for things like hair shampoo, so in the redesign we placed the shampoo nook into the outside wall of the enclosed shower. A nook is normally about 3 ½” deep and can be as high as you need it to be although I have not designed anything greater than 36” tall which gives you three shelves. All design is based on the needs of the client so if you need more than one shelf we can incorporate that in the design process.

With a small bathroom maximizing space is also a critical endeavor. In this remodel there were several aspects that we could improve upon to do just that. Here are the details:

1. Fulloverlay Door - a frameless door style which allows you a bit more room within the cabinet because there isn't a faceframe. This is the Pacific Crest Crystal Arch door in a Brandy finish.
2. Mirrors were built on-site by the installer using trim pieces that I ordered from Pacific Crest to match the cabinetry. This gives a more furniture look to the space.

3. The center cabinet goes from countertop to ceiling and is actually recessed 3" into the wall. This provides the much needed space for storage and still allows adequate space on the countertop. Because it is recessed and because it is mostly glass it is less intrusive in the space and more appealing to the eye.

4. Vessel sinks provide greater access to the storage area within the cabinet below.

I just love it when the design that is on paper becomes reality. It's so much fun to see that look in the homeowner's eye - the look that said's "Yes, this is it. This is what I wanted."

This concludes the saga of the roman bath remodel. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope that you got a few tips that will prove helpful to you in the future. If I can help you with your kitchen or bath remodel just email me via my contact page.

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KBIS - Premier Show for Kitchen and Bath Designers

2011-07-07T12:28:00.000-07:00

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is the world’s largest international trade event . It's a trade show that targets the knowledge needs of the various professions within the kitchen and bath industry - kitchen and bath designers, architects, remodelers, wholesalers and custom builders and the kitchen and bath showroom dealers. This is the place to go for the latest products, designs, trends and education that the industry has to offer. This year it was held in Las Vegas and, as a true addict for trade shows and designer showhouses, I attended. Here are just a few of the many interesting products presented at the show.

One of the highlights of the trip for me was to attend a design session given by Mick deGiulio, author of Kitchen Centric. I have the book and enjoyed hearing his explanations of some of the kitchen layouts. While he is known as a kitchen designer in the Chicago area, it is not well known that he has designed a series of sinks that are just beautiful. Pictured on the right is his 45" Multiere brushed 16-gauge stainless steel single basin sink. Notice

the drain in the top corner of the sink. That is strategically placed to maximize the interior of the usable space for dishes, pots etc. and also to maximize the storage space within the cabinet. This sink also comes with a teak cutting board which glides along the top rim of the basin. For your comfort and convenience there is also a guiding rim below the top one. Other task-oriented accessories such as a colander, a knife holder and a flatware tray are also available. There were several of his sinks presented but this one is exceptional.

The Grothouse Lumber Company also had an extraordinary sink in their area. Wooden sinks are still a novelty but are becoming more acceptable as more people are interested in having wood as their countertop material. The real show stoppers presented by Grothouse Lumber were the wood countertops. If you would like to know more about the beautiful craftmanship and the finishes for their wood products please treat yourself to a visit of their website:

http://www.glumber.com/. Below is an example of the beauty in their countertops.

I intend to visit this showroom on my next trip to Pennsylvania, so you will be hearing more about this company from me in the future.

Design by Artisan Kitchen and Bath; provided by Grothouse Lumber Company.

Rather enticing as well was the Soapstone sink display. There are two types of soapstone - Artistic and Architectural. The Artistic one has a high talc content making it very soft and not suitable for the kitchen environment. The Architectural Soapstone has a lower amount of talc making it appropriate for sinks, countertops, and other architectural applications. As for color, there's basically only one - gray. You can get some veining disbursed through it as well as some flicks of other colors, but it is basically a charcoal gray which will darken over time. If you want more information on the Soapstone sink please just checkout the Green Mountain Soapstone website: http://www.greenmountainsoapstone.com/.

As a bath designer I am constantly checking out new products for showers and bathroom materials. I have designed several snail showers so that while they don't need doors on the shower they still like a sense of privacy. There could be two issues here, one is privacy and often the other issue is light. In this case it is advisable to devise the shower glass so that most of it is etched or frosted and then clear at the top so that light can enter the space. Take a look at this picture and you will see what I mean:

One other aspect of shower design is often the drain. If you are going through all the trouble and expense to update your bathroom than you need to consider the drain. A nice drain gives the shower the finishing touch that it deserves. In the TileRedi booth they showed an interesting way to dress the drain and insure that things other than water do not go down the drain. In these two photos you can see the center square has a space around it when it is in place in the shower.

My next what's-new-in-design endeavor will be touring the Hampton Designer Showhouse in Bridgehampton, NY. Undoubtedly it'll be a very exciting display of talent and artistic design that will be well worth a few post in this blog. After that is the Las Vegas Market which is 4 buildings of design products and countless educational opportunies for us in the field so that we can better serve our clients.

Next year KBIS will be in Chicago. I will be there as well.

Part Two - The Roman Tub Bathroom Remodel- Repairing the wall

2011-07-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

A good designer is a good problem solver. I love the challenges often presented by my work. At the onset of every project I try to anticipate all the known challenges but sometime you run into unknown ones and they are usually lurking within the walls.

An unexpected challenge to this project was the wood rot found in the outer wall of the shower once the old tile was removed. Clearly we needed to repair this wall before we could go on with the project.

How did the tile guys repair it? First, of course, they had to remove the entire existing framework because of the water damage. Then they had to pour a new concrete stem wall and frame up a new wall along the exterior block of the house for the shower. Once that was completed they installed denshield which is a ½” moisture and mold resistant tile board. . Denshield Tile Backer is listed by the Greenguard Environmental Institute as a microbial-resistant product and has the highest level of mold resistance under the ASTM nationally recognized test method. .

In order to level and square off the new wall, the next step was a mud float. I wish I would have taken a picture of this but I just didn’t think of it at the time. A mud float consists of chicken wire stapled to the walls to which they adhere a mortar mix called wall mud to float the walls. To float the wall means to take out any imperfections and make it smooth for the next step. Then you have to wait for this to dry. You can’t rush it and it must dry.

After the walls were completed, the tile guys then set the new roman tub drain and floated the floor to the required pitch for proper drainage. Once after everything has dried then they could start the waterproofing process. The material used for this was hydroguard 2000.

As a kitchen and bath independent designer one of the most important elements in my business is the strong team relationship that I have built with trade professionals over the years. The knowledge and creativity that I bring to the table needs the support of a variety of skilled professionals like my tile guys to give my clients the very best service they deserve.

Now that the new wall is in place and the waterproofing material has dried we are back on track.

Part One - The Roman Tub Bathroom Remodel

2011-04-04T21:03:00.000-07:00

Bathroom remodels, once secondary to the kitchen remodels, have been in the forefront of design makeovers for the last few years. Homeowners are staying in their houses longer and want to remodel one space at a time and if deciding between the kitchen or bath they will go with the bath remodel. It’s been my experience that many homeowners believe that since the bathroom is one of the smallest rooms in the house it will be inexpensive and less complicated to remodel. Well, nothing can be further from reality. While the space may not be the size of your living room, it is a network of plumbing and electrical lines all pulling their weight to insure that all the fixtures in the bathroom are working as intended. What makes bathroom designing different from other rooms is the water element. For this reason every aspect of bathroom design needs to take water exposure into consideration. If during the remodel you discover damage within those walls that is from poor waterproofing then the cost of the project will increase. The unfortunate aspect of this is that you just never know what’s in the wall until you start to tear it down. My advice to homeowners is to hope for the best, but plan for the worst - just in case.

One of the latest projects that I’ve had the privilege of redesigning was the master bath of a 70’s style ranch home. Like many bathrooms of this time frame the toilet and shower are enclosed and apart from the sink lavatory areas. The pictures below show the bathroom before the shower and the lavatory area were remodeled. Let’s go over some of the concerns that the homeowner expressed during the interview process.

On the left is the shower/tub combination that has a rod with a white shower curtain attached. The homeowners main concern with this area was the lip around the rim of the tub before you stepped down into the roman tub. It was a safety hazard because you could easily trip. The next area of concern dealt with the tub and shower fixtures. The showerhead was too low, it sat above the wall tile and they needed additional fixtures such as a hand held showerhead. The third issue they wanted to change was the shower curtain. They wanted to replace it with some type of glass but didn’t want clear glass. The fourth concern was the lack of a place for things such as shampoo and soap.

On the right is the lavatory area with room for 2 sinks. Before this picture was taken there was a mirror that went from right to left along the back wall and as you can see there were 2 lights above the mirror. The homeowners main concerns in this area were to update the look of the bathroom and to increase storage capacity. Within the scope of the project we were also going to replace all the floor tile with the larger size tiles.

Before installation I sit down with my clients and prepare a schedule of events relating to what task will be done on what days. The object is to make sure the homeowners know who and when installers will be in their home. I verify the dates with them first to minimize the inconvenience in their lives. I let them know that I’ll be at the job site everyday to check on things so I’ll know in advance if any issues come up that will affect the schedule. In this project it happened when we removed the drywall in the roman tub area.

The roman tub area is along the outside block wall and when the original installers (20 years ago) built the tub area they did not waterproof the block wall sufficiently. The wall showed extensive damage and had to be rebuilt with new insulation installed and that meant additional cost to the project as well as 3 or 4 additional days added to the project. It’s one of those times when you shake your head and say, “It is what it is.” And go forward from there. No one was happy about this wall.

See Part 2 - Repairing the Wall
See Part 3 for The Rest of the Story

The Artists' Cafe

2011-01-26T16:00:00.000-08:00

This child’s table is one of the most fun furniture pieces that I have ever designed. It measures 30”w x 24”d x 19”h and has a poured resin top coat that you normally find on tables in restaurants. So it has a clear, hard and protective finish suitable for eating as well as for play activities. Whether designing furniture or rooms such as kitchens and baths, safety always needs to be the first concern.

The concept behind this design is to encourage a young child to explore the world of her own mind, the world of her own abilities and to have fun doing it. The tabletop is purple with the primary colors of red, blue and yellow as different parts of the table. I resisted the urge to create an elaborate, vibrant scene on the table because so often too much detail just gets in the way of creating something new. Drawing is like writing in the sense that it is better to start with a blank page. Since it's a table for coloring and drawing I included a color wheel in the shape of a house in the center with a small room as an insert. The insert is removable so that as she grows up the contents can be replaced with things that she makes or with something that is more engaging for her age group. On the left side of the table is a roll of paper so she can start with that blank page.

The design world is a world where possibilities come to life. It’s a very rich world, not in terms of dollars and cents, but in terms of color and creativity and it all starts with a concept. This child’s art and craft’s table is a good example of the process a design takes before it becomes reality.

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Casual Elegance, Your Story, Your Space, Your Home

2011-01-04T15:13:00.000-08:00

With every New Year there is always such a sense of hope in the air. Several clients who put their projects on hold last year have already called to set up appointments. This will be the year that we reap the benefits from all the research and lengthy discussions that we engaged in as preparation of the day when we could move forward. That time was well spent as the decisions made were necessary for the project anyhow. Some valuable lessons were learned and so many clients had expressed similar desires that I'd like to share them with all of you.

Here's what they had in common:

They want the space to be warm and inviting but not trendy
They want the space to work for family game night as well as for formal dinners
They want to keep the most important furniture pieces/accessories and buy others over time.
They want to add drama to the space by colors, window treatments or textured wall treatments
They want an uncluttered space with seating for everyone

Without realizing it, my clients have tapped into an interior design style that has been in existence for decades. This style is Casual Elegance - a sophisficated style that blends two different and distinct styles: casual and elegant. A designer can help the homeowner achieve this look with a balanced approach that mingles your treasured furnishings and accessories with a sophistocated pallete of color, lustrious fabrics for upholstery and stylized window treatments which all combined will create a classy, elegant yet relaxed living space. This is an intiutive style that works better if each room has accessories that aren't an exact match but rather add to the overall ambiance of the room. It's not about following specific design rules, it's about creating a home fashioned to meet your needs and your lifestyle. So, you can walk into the space and not just say, "I'm home", but feel that you're home.

Casual elegance is a decor style for a variety of lifestyles.

Add Richness to Your Dining Experience.

2010-09-12T18:02:00.000-07:00

Walnut is one of the finest woods in the world. We are fortunate in this country to have a few varieties of this wood species. Its warm brown wood finishes luxuriously and it is easy for woodworkers to work with and it is a hardwood and very durable. This is a wood that is so beautiful with just a simple topcoat that you rarely need to put an actual stain on it.

This table takes center stage in a house and is used routinely for dinner as well as for poker nights. It has a circular Lazy Susan in the center that can be used for passing dishes. It is in a room that houses Arts and Crafts furniture so inlaids were used around the Lazy Susan area and small inlaid squares were placed on the trim around the table. It is stunning.

The table is 66" in diameter and will easily sit up to 6 people. On party occasions more people have been known to lounge by the table to enjoy the company of others. Its rich texture is a draw in any room.

This table was designed for the room it is in. If you are interested in having a custom table such as this built please give me a call(480-861-2711) or email me (claremarie@asyoulikeitdz.com) so we can talk about a design that fits your needs and your space.

What can I do to update my kitchen?

2010-06-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

     This is the one question that seems to be popping up with every client visit. Whether they call me over to measure for a bath remodel or for a entertainment center for the living room, on my way out this question will pop up. It starts with, "And oh, by the way..."
     There are a few things you can do to update your kitchen that will change the look and the feel without much expense.  But before you embark on any change consider what is it about your kitchen that you don't like or that really needs improvement. If it only needs a fresh look than maybe just a dramatic paint will do the job. That's the easiest and less costly of all the options.
     If your cabinets are in good shape and you like them but not the countertop then you can think of replacing the countertop. But please don't replace the countertop if you have any issues with your cabinets. Putting a granite or an engineered stone such as Caesarstone on cabinets that you don't like will only make them look worse.  Once you put that type of countertop on the cabinets it is very unlikely that you will be replacing it, so make sure you like your cabinets and that they are in good condition.
     Another possible update is the backsplash area. If you have a painted area on the wall behnd the countertop then replacing it with a tiled backsplash can work wonders in a kitchen.  It can be costly depending on the stone and the design, but it will definitely lift up the kitchen, and a backsplash is allot of fun to design. There are so many options in stone now, so plan on taking some time to pick out the materials. I can help save you time and money on this endeavor.
     You can also replace the hardware (knobs or handles) on your cabinets. Hardware on your cabinets is like jewelry and can definitely dress up a kitchen. Make sure the new hardware will line up with the holes in the cabinets where the old hardware is if you are not replacing the cabinets.
     Lighting can make a big difference in a kitchen as well. Every kitchen should have task lighting which is also known as under cabinet lighting. You can also hang more whimsical or decorative lights over your island or peninsula to spruce up the kitchen. I've designed uplighting above cabinets in some of my kitchens and I've also put lighing under the cabinets so that it is easier to walk into the kitchen at night.
     If storage is your main concern than you may want to consider replacing your shelves in some cabinets with roll-outs. And a garage for small appliances may also be an option.
    If you would like help in figuring out what will work best for your kitchen just email me for an appointment: claremarie@asyoulikeitdz.com. I'll be glad to help you out.

A small change that made a big difference

2010-02-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

Many of my clients are getting tired of putting their remodel plans on hold, but in this ecomony it is the safest path to take. My advice to them is to look at the rooms in their homes and update the ones that they feel need it the most. A case in point would be this bathroom shower remodel. It's a small thing to do but it certainly added to the quality of my clients life when it was completed.

The Challenge: This is the original shower with the glass block being an outside wall. There was a leakage problem which created a crack in the cultured marble as well as a level issue on the floor and an airflow problem which created a musty smell.

When tearing out walls you never know what to expect. In this case there was a healthy vine on the outside that extended its roots into a crack in the shower wall to benefit from the water in the shower area. The roots were thick and only added to the separation between the wall and the shower floor. Once the wall was removed the floor was also leveled, new walls put up and the vine was pulled up.

One other thing about removing old walls that I always tell my clients is that there are often times roaches and other bugs that have been living in the wall and will come out to find a new home, so they need to have roach spray on hand. As you can see from the photo on the right this was a small shower that had many problems and really needed to be remodeled.

The End Result:

Porcelain tile now surrounds the shower area and four windows that can open bring in the air and the skyscape that surrounds the back of their home. Small glass tiles were used to decorate the stone and 2" tiles were placed on the floor with a decorative floor drain. I designed this curved shower using small floor tiles to cut down on cutting tiles which made for a faster and easier install. It also provides a great look and the additional grout in the small tiles is further assurance against slipping on the wet surface.

My clients are enjoying their shower everyday now and are so glad they made the decision to have this remodel done. It's a small change that made a big difference.

If you are considering a bathroom remodel and would like assistance in making some of your choices just email me to set up an appointment: claremarie@asyoulikeitdz.com..

Ventilation Information

2010-01-12T21:38:00.000-08:00

In the course of my career I have designed and recommended a wide variety of ventilation systems depending on the needs of the client and the design of the kitchen. A beautiful hood whether it's a built-in custom design or a island hood can be a focal point for any kitchen.

In the January edition of Kitchen and Bath Ideas I explain the choices you have when choosing a ventilation system. If you are thinking of remodeling your kitchen please spend some time understanding the necessity for a hood and if you need any help just email me for an appointment: claremarie@asyoulikeitdz.com..

"Tis An Irish Story

2009-12-12T09:05:00.000-08:00

From the start of cold winds to the end of March, it's Irish coffee season at our house. Friends and neighbors will stop by the house on any given night to enjoy this heart warming, famous Irish brew.

Irish Coffee was invented in Ireland's Shannon Airport in the 1940s. Joe Sheridan, bartender at one of the teminal restaurants, created the drink to warm passengers who had just weathered a cold trip across the Atlantic in the days of propellered planes. One of the customers asked, "Is this Brazilian coffee?" , and Joe said, "No, it's Irish Coffee" and the invention quickly spread across the Atlantic and around the world. When you fly into Shannon International Airport there's a plaque honoring the event. I still have my coaster from Sheridan's bar in the terminal.

Born and raised on the East Coast where the Irish are plentiful to be sure, it's amazing to me that I had the best Irish Coffee ever in the US when I happened to walk into the Buena Vista Cafe in the San Francisco area decades ago. Without a second thought we adopted their way of making it, but without the Shamrock on top. I have yet to master the technique of creating that Shamrock. Apparently, Stanton Delaplane, a Chronicle travel writer, discovered it while at that airport and convinced Jack Koeppler, owner of the Buena Vista, to bring it to the United States. Wow! lucky for us. If you ever visit the place make sure to have one. The place is crowded though no matter when you go and the Irish Coffees are made in the back area so sit back there and watch. It's fun.

And the recipe we use for this heart-warming Irish brew:

First things to do:

1. Beat the whipping cream until it's thick but not stiff. You have to pour it onto the coffee, preferable over the back of a spoon.
2. Pour boiled water into the cups to keep cups hot while you make the coffee .

Filling the cup:
2 cubes of sugar
Irish whiskey(Jameson) -one shot - I usually just pour, but I think it is probably one shot
strong coffee

mix a little to dissolve sugar

pour in the whipped topping

Important: Do Not stir.

Slainte - "Cheers"

Ask the Expert: Kitchen and Bath Ideas magazine reader ask about storage in corner cabinets- double click on article to read

2009-12-04T18:17:00.000-08:00

The Fabulous Shaw Fireclay Sink - Undermount installation

2009-12-04T18:07:00.000-08:00

Several of my clients recently have preferred single bowl sinks to the double bowl ones, but this is the first time I have designed using a fireclay Shaw Apron sink installed as a totally undermounted sink. Some precautions had to be taken since this is a handmade sink with rounded edges and can have a variance of 2” in width. The sink weighs about 150 lbs and requires a support system underneath in the cabinet. The sink when filled with water can weigh up to 400 lbs so the support has to be able to accommodate this weight. I ordered a Rohl RC3618 apron sink and installed it in a 39" sink base cabinet. If it is possible in the kitchen design to use an increased depth base to 27” then that would make the installation of the plumbing fixtures easier, but I didn't have the space to do that in this installation. The regular 24” base depth made the faucet installation take longer.

The sink is just gorgeous in place and my clients are extremely happy with the product.

GE Monogram Professional Range

2009-10-22T21:37:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a professional range, don't overlook the new GE Monogram one. The GE Monogram is a real beauty with it's stainless steel finish, the heavy dials and it's blue interior and it has a 5.7 cubic foot capacity in the large oven which is more interior space than the Viking or the Wolf. Accessories such as the cutting board, griddle covers are included and do not have to be ordered separately. In the pictured provided you can see that the griddle covers have handles which is a very convenient and functional feature. A few other nices touches: all the dials have indicator lights and full extention racks are standard items making it easier to get things out of the oven.

The unit has 4 wheels and should be moved into place and then leveled. It is shipped with a toe kick(as seen in the picture above), power cord and a gas conversion kit is included.

Confessions of a Showhouse Addict

2009-09-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

With the economy the way it is, one of the most delightful things I've had time to do this year is to attend two Designer Showhouses. Every year my daughter Katie McHugh, a residential designer with Ethan Allen in Princeton, NJ, and I try to attend the KipsBay Designer Showhouse in NYC. This year we decided to take the boys to Long Island and while there we went to see The Hampton Designer Showhouse. Wow! What an inspiration. And lots of ideas to share with my clients.

The creative energy and sense of wonder and sense of play that you experience as you go from room to room is just a fabulous way to spend a day. I have my share of "Ooh' and "Ah" and try to take in all the minute details and often I am able to talk to the room designers. It is not permissible to take pictures at these events, but I have been known to sneak in a few.

At 12,000 sf, this designer showhouse was easily a half-day event. At your leisure, you could tour the first floor, a lower level, a pool house and an antique barn. While a big house with a grandiose entry way, it still had a very comfy feel in it's living areas. Each room was unique and creatively designed around a certain look that they wanted in the room. As an example I'll use the media room which was probably my favorite room.

A media room is a very high-tech room. In many homes it means big leather chairs with drink holders on the armrests, but just look at this room. S.E.A.L. Solutions with Joe Ginsberg Inc created this warm, organic and inviting room. The photo above is a lighted entryway into the room. The rock area is on one level and a riser with a imbedded light creates a step where the Tibetan silk rug is resting. One step up takes you into a space engulfed in floor-to-ceiling canvas drapery that both softens and enhances the ultra-widescreen images and the surround sound auditory system built into the room. The softness of this room offsets the edges of the high-tech world. Just a fabulous room.

My other favorite was the dining room by Marshall Watts Interiors, but I don't have any pictures of this. My daughter did take pictures so you can view them on her blog: http://renewdesigns.blogspot.com/. The bee-hive chandelier along with the burlap border on the carpet give an organic feel to this room. However, Judy Mulligan's stenciled and English oiled walls were the topper for me. The color and design was just incredible and the most gorgeous artistic wall creation that I have ever seen.

I just can't wait to go next year.

Reinventing, redecorating means decluttering

2009-09-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

The hardest part about reinventing your life or redecorating your space is the letting go process. It terms of reinventing your life it is often a habit or negative feelings that you need to get rid of before you can move on; it terms of redecorating, it is a matter of decluttering, so that you can reclaim the space for your new vision of yourself. It's fun, but it's not always easy.

One of the items that no longer fit my lifestyle is a big Victorian House that I put together years ago. Some of the furniture is missing and the house needed some minor repairs before I could sell it to anyone. I needed to glue back on some trim and door handles. I had plants on the balcony but only 3 remain, my cat Kenya ate the others. So, when I sell the house in my garage sale there go all the memories with it. I have pictures though.

Another item is the Black Cat poster that I bought from the Z Gallerie in downtown Tempe when my daughter worked there. The picture reminds me of Kenya, my black cat that lived with me for 17 years. It's still a good art deco picture and will make someone else happy for several more years to come.

I've asked my neighbors if they wanted to go together on a neighborhood garage sale as soon as the weather gets a little cooler here. If you have things in your house that no longer meet your needs then recycling them throug a garage sale, or donating them to Goodwill, or in case of books please donate them to The Friends of your local library. You can also take them to used clothing stores like My Sister's Attic or one of the local charities looking for donations. Finding a place to give your items to is not difficult, but getting to that point can be a struggle. I have helped several of my clients declutter and the end result is always rewarding.

Zen Appeal

2009-07-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

It's a lot of fun and very rewarding to help empty-nesters figure out what to do with their space, now that the kids are gone. This is an area where you really need to spend time knowing and understanding the person's needs. The goal is to create a new space that meets their new lifestyle. In this situation the process started with converting the kid's bedrooms into more usable spaces for the homeowners. One bedroom was converted into an home office and the other one was converted into a quiet space away from the nightly TV shows. It seems that invariably one spouse will love watching TV while the other one can barely stand it. Funny how that happens that way. The one element that both of these room conversions had in common was that they needed to be used for guest sleeping areas.
When designing multi-purpose rooms, it is a great idea to put a Murphy Bed in the space if possible. For this homeowners quiet space we converted a yellow, over-stuffed girls room into a Zen space with very little furniture and room for reading or meditation. I love doing original designs for spaces and then seeing the piece come together in the shop. This wall bed I designed has a wider base on the bottom than the top giving it a trapezoidal structure. The Chinese coin motifs ( that look white in this wall bed picture) I found on a wrought iron display at Stein Mart and then had them cut out to use on the bed. The chest of drawers is alder wood painted black and bamboo rods tht I purchased at Pier One are used horizontally and vertically to adorn the front.
To complete the room I added a dragonfly window curtain using a bamboo rod as the curtain rod. The dragonfly fabric was also used on the cushion of her reading chair. The walls are painted with a gold metallic paint from Ralph Lauren except for the wall covered with tufted pale yellow fabric. The crown molding was painted the same color as the wall to give the room more height. The room was so much fun to design and it conveys just the right environment that was needed for the space.