Bathroom Renovation Tips

Jun

Bathroom, Just Ask — by Cathy Wolfram

One of the first questions everyone asks me when they are planning to renovate their bathroom is; where do I begin? Defining the process, developing a plan of action and making selections will help get you on your way and relieve some of the stress.

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Defining the Process- What will your renovation include? A full blown demolition of the existing bathroom, turning off and capping the plumbing, removal of faucets, fixtures, tiles, flooring, sheet-rock and vanities or a partial renovation where some of the existing features will stay in place or be re-used. Will you hire a general contractor or manage the project on your own? If you choose to manage the project you will need to hire a demo company, plumber, electrician, tiler and carpenter. Designer tip- interview and select all of these contractors prior to starting the job. You may also be skilled to take on some of the tasks of the renovation saving valuable labor costs, even if you hire a GC define what areas you are responsible for and what his responsibilities will be.

Design the Floorplan- Decide where each item in the bathroom will be located, think out of the box here you do not have to follow the old plan for the room.

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Developing a Plan of Action- Also referred to as a project timeline. This will list the steps needed to complete the renovation and the approximate date that each of the steps will be finished. If you hire a GC I recommend requesting a timeline to keep the project on track and help meet everyone’s expectations. I also include what dates design decisions and selections will need to be made so I am not holding up the process. If you are managing the process on your own you absolutely need a “plan of action” because now you are managing several contractors that impact each-other and they all have different schedules.

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Making Selections- Start looking for inspiration pictures of bathrooms you love and find the design aesthetic you are looking to create. I like to begin by selecting the tile, flooring and wall selections. Then I select and purchase the fixtures; tub, faucets, valves, sinks, accessories (toilet paper holder etc.) lighting and vanity. Decide if the shower will have a pan at the base or will it be tile (I prefer tile). Ask each vendor if the items are in stock and what the lead time will be so you can inform the GC or your contractors directly.

Once all of these steps are complete the renovation can be scheduled. A typical bathroom renovation will take two to three weeks but I have seen it take as little as a week and on the flip side up to six weeks. If you are renovating your bathroom and have design questions I would love to help and do not charge for my time in Just Ask, ask away friends.

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Wedding Design: Outdoor Ceremony

Jun

Weddings — by Cathy Wolfram

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The summer wedding I am helping design for a client is approaching quickly. As I mentioned before there is an official wedding planner (thank the Lord), I am in charge of the design details and decor. One of the last details I have to select is where the couple will officially get married, no pressure LOL. As I began the search I quickly learned that this was not as easy as I thought it would be. My client is having an outdoor wedding so I knew the feeling had to be simple and organic but I also knew they wanted to see several options.

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Branches and twigs adorned with fresh flowers and greens create an arch that is the perfect complement to this outdoor venue. I especially like the dramatic height on this one above and how it relates to the beautiful trees behind it. On a smaller scale below, the same concept with the addition of sheer side panels tied back adding a touch of elegance and softness to the rustic wildflowers and branches.

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In an outdoor setting why not consider using the nearest structure to create an area for your ceremony, your home for example. Simple greens and gilded chairs create the perfect area for the wedding ceremony to take place and how sentimental.

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A lovely entryway can be transformed into the perfect venue for the ceremony, below twigs and fresh flowers are all that was needed to enhance this setting. The ideas I presented to my client reflect her style and vision for her wedding ceremony and I hope they inspire you to consider an outdoor wedding. If someone presented these options to me twenty years ago when I got married I would have considered an outdoor venue without a doubt.

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Lake House Lovin: Lake Muskoka

Jun

House Tour — by Cathy Wolfram

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Lake living is such a peaceful existence, this year our family vacation will be on a lake in Maine and I find it is truly a time to connect with my family and nature. The crisp morning air, warm sunny days kayaking and beautiful surroundings set the scene for the perfect vacation. Today I am sharing some lake house love from the fabulous Muskoka Living, a design center dedicated to help you live a passionate lifestyle Muskoka style. In a region known for its exquisite natural beauty this lake house is a real gem.

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Lilyvale is the name of this lake-house nestled on Muskoka Lake in Muskoka, Canada. From the moment you step into this home you can just feel the attention to detail, the predominately white palette allows the exquisite mill-work and moldings to really pop. A field stone fireplace is the focal point of the living room and boasts a cleverly designed hidden flat-screen above, reclaimed lumber floors are used throughout the home for a consistent flow and bold iron lighting creates a real wow factor.

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In this large scale kitchen there is a feeling of a cozy lakeside cottage achieved by combining classic design features with rustic lake house style. This kitchen may look simple but just look at the variation and details of the cabinet doors and drawers. I love the idea of two fixtures above the dining table and the rustic lantern style adds to the charm.

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The bathrooms and bedrooms continue the pattern of classic design choices and natural materials used throughout the home. When the mill-work, moldings and architectural details are this stunning, classic furnishings with clean lines are the perfect complement.

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Nautical touches and pops of color add to the character of the crisp white rooms. Oil rubbed bronze and natural iron were chosen for the door handles and lighting to add bold contrast and rustic charm combined with the warm wood finishes and floors.

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I hope this fabulous lake house tour inspires you to incorporate some of this rustic charm into your design or better yet that you are inspired to take a lake vacation.

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How to Paint Furniture like a Pro

Jun

DIY — by Cathy Wolfram

I just love when I find old pieces of furniture at an estate sale or one that is handed down to me that I can breath new life into. When I am working on client projects and I access their existing furniture I often recommend painting pieces or even kitchen cabinets. Think outside of the box when evaluating old furniture for possible re-use; below an old dresser gets an easy makeover by removing the bottom drawer, a coat of paint and adding a basket. Over the years I have tried re-finishing, distressing and painting furniture and I have learned what my limitations are. By far, I have had the best results with painting and wanted to share the steps I use when transforming a piece.

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1. Access your Piece- Look at the piece thoroughly for cracks, imperfections and existing finish. You may need to repair or replace parts prior to painting. Not all pieces have to be primed, some can be de-glossed using a liquid you manually apply to strip the finish and then sand. I have learned that preparation is one of the most significant steps for a successful paint makeover ensuring the paint adheres to the surface.

2. Get Prepared- Remove the hardware (handles, hinges and knobs) and label, you may want to replace it or paint it. Then remove the drawers and doors if there are any. Decide what color your piece will be and purchase your paint and supplies. I really like Benjamin Moore’s waterborne Satin Impervo, it is a latex enamel and can be cleaned.

3 . Clean Thoroughly – Clean the piece thoroughly inspecting corners and crevices for dust and grit, I like to use a basic soap and water combination.

4. Sand the Piece – Start with 220 and then use a 320 grit sandpaper, until you are satisfied with the finish. Another option is a small iron-shaped hand sander that helps get into corners.

5. Apply Primer – If you do need to prime, I like to spray the primer on to get an even finish, you can also use a roller and brush.

6. Sand the Primer – For an extra polished finish, sand lightly with 320 grit sandpaper after spraying or manually applying the primer. Once sanded repeat cleaning.

7. Start Painting– Brush, roll, or spray the surface with paint, allow a minimum of 24 hours in between coats. Repeat with a second and sometimes third coat.

8. “Finish” Your Work- After your piece is thoroughly dried I recommend applying a polyurethane finish, choose a flat and gloss finish depending on your design aesthetic.

These steps can be applied to painting kitchen cabinets as well. The difference being I always spray the doors for a factory finish look. I recently found this amazing tutorial from Evolution of Style on the process of painting kitchen cabinets just in case you are up for a bigger challenge. Happy painting!

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