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Inspiration

Wednesday, 18 May 2011 15:35 | Written by Serena Spell |

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I am often asked what inspires me or how do find inspiration for the designs and rooms that I create. That is a tough question to answer because for me inspiration is literally everywhere! Today I thought I’d use some visual examples of things that get my imagination going and make me want to create.

Here are some photos from a client whose unique collection of artifacts and artwork I found both a challenge and a joy to work with. The feeling of being challenged actually helped inspire me when working on this home!

A wall of windows ALWAYS inspires me! Once I get to know the client and the style they are seeking, I am always struck with design ideas and general look of the fabric I want to use.

I love shapes…especially shapes that I think are sexy.

Tile. Tile always inspires me because you can create pretty much whatever you want with it! Look at this beautiful example in a shower…the rocks look like a waterfall.

Patterns, textures, colors, and nature are more things that I often get inspiration from. It is hard to explain how it happens…I can just be looking at something, anything and suddenly an idea or a design will pop into my mind! This is why I do what I do, it is natural for me and I love it so much! I enjoy being creative and thinking of things in new ways and it thrills me to be able to help clients achieve just the right style for them. There is nothing so satisfying as a happy client!

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Let's Create A Little More Space, Shall We?

Wednesday, 11 May 2011 12:39 | Written by Serena Spell |

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We are always accumulating stuff. It starts at a very young age and from what I can determine, it never stops! We get older and get married and now we suddenly have twice the stuff we had before. Then we have kids and goodness do they ever come with lots of stuff all their own!

In the past we have dealt with this snowball effect by moving into a bigger home, but this is no longer a viable option for most. What to do, what to do? Well, how about we CREATE more usable space in the homes we already have?! Brilliant….but how?

We can store things we use everyday in less space by using those baskets we see everywhere. When used with the entertainment center they can hold movies, remotes, etc.

When used at the entrance by which the family comes and goes they can hold keys, phones, note pads or whatever you grab on your way out of the house.

When used with shelves they can neatly store magazines and books. The pieces shown are from Kraftmaid and where on display a few weeks ago at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas.

We can also create more space by purchasing furniture pieces that work with the angles and oddly shaped places in our homes, such as this handy shelving unit from Kraftmaid that is perfectly suited for under the stairs.

Other built in pieces, such as these gorgeous built in laundry cabinets fron Kraftmaid, and kitchen islands are great for offering more storage. Style and function…two keys in design!

So while we may never stop collecting stuff, we can become more effective in giving ourselves functional and stylish places to store all of that stuff. And in the process we will discover that maybe it's not so much about getting a bigger place as it is about utilizing the space we already have more effectively. Although this is an issue important to today's homeowners, good design will always, regardless of trends, provide both style and function and of course will be specific to suit your family's needs.

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Get Floored

Wednesday, 02 March 2011 10:50 | Written by Serena Spell |

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So, hate your carpet? You say your hardwood floors need refinishing and maybe you even want to extend them? Thinking about a new tile floor?

There is a lot to consider when the time comes to update your floors and it is wise to take your time, hire a professional, and have it done correctly. A poorly installed floor or a poorly chosen flooring material will end up costing you big bucks down the road.

Today I would like to briefly run through a hardwood extension and refinishing project and what it realistically looks like from the client’s point of view.

Here we go: you have several areas of hardwood in your home; you have decided the time has come to both refinish the existing floors and add on to them! YAY! You are so excited because you know you are going to have beautiful new hardwood floors!

By now you have hired an Interior Designer (that would be me!) to get the wood and find a professional installer (most have installers that they have worked with for years) because you know the importance of working with professionals who know what it takes to provide your home with a lasting and beautiful floor.

Now we have the wood delivered to your home and it will sit inside your home for approximately 2 weeks in order to acclimate. This helps prevent/control the amount of expansion and contraction your floor will experience once the wood it is installed…in layman’s terms we are trying to reduce the incidents of gaps in your planks. This scenario, of course, applies to site finished wood rather than prefinished wood.

wood has to acclimate to your homes' climate

Next, comes the tear out of the areas we are expanding into and installation.

Then the refinishing of the original hardwood.

And, finally staining the entire floor…old wood and new to create a seamless flow. Can you tell where the old wood ends and the new begins?

seam of new and old wood

The entire installation process for this particular home took about two weeks because we basically did every floor in the home, including the upstairs. Of course, this meant that my clients were pretty much dislocated for a bit. And remember when you replace floors every stick of furniture must be moved! Whew! An inconvenience to be sure, but the end result is gorgeous and makes it all worthwhile!