On The Market!

The property at Rancho La Cima that I designed is officially on the market!

The listing (and more photos) can be found here and there is an open house this afternoon if you are looking for a little California abode:

Virtual Tour Link: http://tours.previewfirst.com/virtual_tours/11425/mls/motion_picture

*Fireplace stone was on back order so it will be finished as soon as stock comes in.

Home staging was provided by a local staging company.
This has been a great project. I'll have to post some before and after sequences soon so you can get a better idea of what we started with.

Have a great weekend!

Virtual vs. Reality

Did I mention that I designed a hotel in Minneapolis?
Maybe once or twice.

Well, part of the design & approval process is usually a rendering of the space.
One of my favorite things to do once a project is installed is to go back and compare the renderings to the real life outcome so today I thought I'd share the lobby of the Commons Hotel in Minneapolis in a Virtual and After kind of format.

Virtual (Rendering):

Actual Installation:

Obviously the rendering is a different angle and pulled much further back, but it's amazing to me how cold the rendering feels compared to the real thing.
This is always an issue with renderings, they appear so real at first it's hard to explain that the space will actually be so much more dynamic and warm in person.
That being said, it is also amazing how much detail the rendering is really able to show.

Here are a few more shots of the actual lobby, in real life.

"Library" Fireplace @ Entry

Lobby Lounge @ Front Windows

Front Desk

Lobby Lounge

On a side note, the light fixtures here are actually vintage chemistry beakers.
The fabric on the banquette is a custom fabric. The words are local street names and the chairs are vintage pieces the owners picked out (with a little guidance) at Seattle thrift stores. This might be my favorite spot in the hotel.

All designs for this property were completed while Design Director at Rossi Architecture, Inc.

Commons Hotel Guest Rooms

I previously posted a quick before and after on the Minneapolis hotel project I designed.

This week I have a few more guest room images to share.
These images are marketing images that the hotel owner was kind enough to send me.
I am hoping to visit the property this spring (when the weather warms up a bit!) to check out the finished project and, of course, to take more photos. 

Junior Suite:
This shot does a nice job of illustrating the way that the warm camel tones work with the cooler grays and blues. I love the tailored fabric on the sofa against the cable of the bed throw. It reminds me of a men's suit paired with a scarf. 

Junior Suite

Double Queen Room:
Notice the light fixture over the desk? I posted about it here.
Again, I am particularly pleased with the way that the colors and patterns work together.
The key to mixing patterns in a space like this is to be especially mindful of the scale of each pattern and how they relate to each other. 

Double Queen Room

Presidential Suite:

This is a partial shot of the presidential suite's living room. 

I wish you could see the way the sofa & art on the wall opposite the occasional chairs balances out the space.  I particularly like the vintage feeling of the swag cord on the light fixture in the ceiling and the pop of shine you get in the brass lamp. 

The bar in the back is a fun addition that also breaks up an otherwise awkwardly long space. Cheers!

Presidential Suite

This will be my last post on the guest rooms, I promise!

Next up...lobby and restaurant. 

All designs for this property were completed while Design Director at Rossi Architecture, Inc.

Hotel Guest Room Bathroom Before and After

Last week I posted a quick before and after on the Minneapolis hotel guest rooms I designed.
Today I have a quick before and after of the typical guest room bathroom.

I think the photos speak for themselves!

Before:

After:

 

Amazing what a little paint, tile and glass can do isn't it? 

Before: 

After:

 

Unfortunately the layout of the before and after vanity photos isn't exactly the same, but you get the idea. 

I should also mention that this particular renovation was done on a very tight budget. That being said, I'd say we got a pretty high return on the dollars invested. 

And if you are in a suite: 

 

I'll share more photos of the property soon!

All designs for this property were completed while Design Director at Rossi Architecture, Inc.

Rancho La Cima--First Look

Today I am thrilled to post a first look at a particularly exciting project I started working on this past summer. Blue Sky Capital is a real estate investment firm that purchases homes below market value, brings them up to their full potential and resells when the time is right.
At almost 9,000 square feet the estate at Rancho La Cima is the largest single investment for Blue Sky to date. Given the size and the overly dated state of decor, Blue Sky decided to hire an interior designer to provide them with a new vision for the property.

After an initial meeting with the owners I pulled together a direction and presented to their entire executive team. Thankfully the team loved the presentation and today we find ourselves at the tail end of a renovation project that has turned out beautifully.

A few days ago I stopped by the property to do a final walk and to snap a few photos.
The evening light was low so apologies for the grainy photos. The best shots I got were of the kitchen so I'll share those today. Not to worry, there will be plenty more photos to come in the next few weeks.

 There is a sky light over the kitchen island which made adding pendant lights particularly challenging. 

The custom stainless steel frame is the solution I came up with. I'll share more details on how this was successfully completed later.

 

The house will be presented on the market in about a week. 

I'll be back with many, many more details and photos soon!

 

Guest Room Before & After

About a year ago I started working on a hotel renovation project in Minneapolis. At first the scope was minimal but after various discussions and projections it was determined that the entire property would be renovated and (the best part!) I would lead the design.

Construction on this property is wrapping up and I am excited to share a quick before and after on the typical guest room portion of the design.

I will share more details and photos for this project very soon!

All designs for this property were completed while Design Director at Rossi Architecture, Inc.

Happy New Year!

Cheers to a fabulous, creative and productive 2013!!

Just a peak of things to come around here...

I

Happy Holidays!

Making a rare appearance to wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday season!

I pinned this image a while back, love just about everything about it but wouldn't you know the link didn't work. A few days ago I spotted this very image on a 6th Street Design School Etsy roundup. Ha! It's a little late now but maybe for next year...

...and speaking of next year, I've got some really great projects that are finally wrapping up; can't wait to share!

HOF Article

Wow!
A lot has changed in the last few months.
I'll have to post an update on quite a few things very soon.

For now, I wanted to share that I was lucky enough to contribute to the latest edition of House of Fifty.

To check out the piece, which I should mention is not about design, click here.

It was fun (and a little self-indulgent) to write about being a mom and my little boy so I hope you'll check it out.

click here

@ the office: custom lighting

Oh my, it's been a long time since I blogged but I promised I'd pop in every once in a while, so here I am.
Things are still busy at the office but are coming along nicely.

A while back I headed out to Vegas for the annual HD trade show put on by Hospitality Design Magazine and something kind of exciting came up that I've been meaning to share.

In preparation for the show Hospitality Design magazine publishes their annual "the hd expo issue".
Each year I love to see what will be up and coming and who will be exibiting at the show.

This year the vendor who is manufacturing a custom light fixture that I designed for my hotel renovation project at the office featured my light fixture as their ad for the show. I couldn't believe it when I was flipping through the pages and there it was, a full page ad on my custom fixture.

How cool is that?
This light will be used in some of the guest rooms in my current renovation project.