A few years back I spent some time painting children's rooms. It started with a few projects for friends and ended with all the moms in the neighborhood clamoring for Diane Luna murals!! I love kids, working with them was a joy. I still paint here and there, but mostly for my interior design clients. I plan to retire as an oil-painter... so I guess it is "to be continued". Enjoy these photos...
Dave was the epitome of what a radio producer client ought to be: classy, hip, creative... and talented in so many ways. He was interested in every design detail down to the buttons on the pillows. This is why he makes great music, he's a detail guy! Dave, his wife Carolyn, and I worked together to create a home that would portray the "vibe" they were looking for: Dave's creativity, style and music influence; Carolyn's class and elegance; kid-friendly and casual enough to put visitors at ease. The result: a colorful and vibrant place for the family to live, hang out and entertain. And Dave, in true hit-making fashion, wanted a red wall before red walls became a hit. In the photo below you can see we displayed part of Dave's art collection over three whimsical bronze musician sculptures forever jamming' on a custom wine cabinet we had made in Mexico. We hadn't filled it with wine yet when this photo was taken. You can see the drapery fabric to the right. The panels were done in a woven textured ethnic print which really pulled the theme together. Long and narrow, the living area had to be photographed in separate sides. Below is the left side, showing our beautiful rounded Kreiss sofa in beige mohair. The pillows I custom designed. Dave and Carolyn found the art in a specialty shop in Del Mar, CA. The wall mask is part of their collection from traveling abroad, as are the unique items in the curio cabinet.
Here is a sneak peek at a few of the furnishings we've selected. Everything was custom ordered weeks ago and has arrived in the San Diego carrier's warehouse ready for the final permit and furniture delivery day! The furniture is elegant with a rustic flair, upscale and casual at the same time. The wood finishes are so beautiful; some stains, some crackles, some painted and scrubbed...
As the build portion of the Ramona project nears completion, I can't help but wonder what emotions the two homeowners must be feeling. Their home... THIS home... burned to the ground over a year ago. It must be a mix of ups and downs, walking through the rooms. A little deja vu, a little bit unfamiliar, and a little bit like home. I guess I'll never truly relate unless I go thru the same experience. But I will say it has been a remarkable year assisting with the colors and design selections on not just a new build, but a new-life-build! Enjoy these recent photos taken over the last couple weeks. It's a bit more completed now than represented here, but you get the idea. The big news of this week: the homeowners have submitted for their final permit. To translate, getting a final permit = all done! Move in! We're all waiting expectantly for the permit. Things are getting exciting...
I think this was the most dramatic change for me. When I showed up at the jobsite and saw the beautiful dusky golden stucco exterior, I almost did a little dance. It is so gorgeous! Major kudos to Carole Wylie, our architect, for the color selection. She is a great designer. And kudos to Tammy at Light Gallery in Escondido for finding our exterior lights even after they were discontinued. I can't imagine any other light fitting the bill as well as those have.
It's really starting to feel like home at the jobsite. The cabinets arrived, plus some doors and beams, and everything is so beautiful. Not long after, Mike came through with his team to paint walls and apply the cabinetry stain. He does such beautiful work!
Speaking of paint, I heard this project has become a legend among the Ramona painter scene. Our paint palette totals at eleven colors, and we win the prize for the most colors used on one job! The painters were grumbling a bit at first, but by the end they were taking pictures left and right. Sure is beautiful, all those shades... It was such a great feeling to drive up and see the house really looking like a house! The landscaped walls are taking shape, the windows look beautiful, the roof is almost done, and those tiles at the front entry are SO GORGEOUS! I can picture it...
Well here we are at the framing stage - amazing to see things take shape!
I entered the project here: a beautiful view and a new beginning. This is the spot where a brand new home will emerge in the same place the original once stood, before the fire. It's incredible to look at this pile of dirt and know that very soon new memories will be made. I am honored to be a part of this family's rebuilding process, and the design plans are underway. We're rebuilding a house, yes, but it's much more than that... we're rebuilding life, home and family. I want to recognize Carole Wylie, the wonderful architect who designed the Ramona Fire-Rebuild home featured on this site. Carole is professional, sweet, honest... and fabulously talented. Choosing and/or hiring an architect is at times overwhelming to homeowners, much the same as finding an interior designer can be a daunting task. I'd have to say that the minute you meet Carole, any apprehension you might have would fly right out the door. She is totally down to earth, complete with So-Cal shorts and tanks, yet you can tell immediately that she knows her stuff. It's been great to work with her on this project, and a joy to add finishes and furnishings to such a beautiful structure.
Take a minute to get to know Carole at her website: www.wyliearchitecture.com I met Ken and his wife while designing the interior of their neighbor's home. Although I had primarily been doing residential design, when Ken and Tanya approached me to do a facelift for Ken's office I heartily accepted. Doing a commercial project was a nice change complete with a whole bunch of new rules. Did you know you can't use residential base boards in a commercial office? Neither did I. It was a blast working with Ken and his partner Jeff, and I left with a new respect for the sedation dentistry practice. These guys are in the business of changing lives for the better. Who doesn't love a beautiful smile?
|
Project Stories
All
|