One More Bathroom Remodel

I have one more master bath remodel to share. This bath went from the builder standard to a simple, clean-lined retreat. The squared off shape of the plumbing fixtures, hardware, and linen weave patterned porcelain tile provide a bit of a modern touch. We enlarged the shower back into the closet and cleaned up the details.

Shower before was a tiny box.

 Builder "details" like the sheetrock shelves or indentations at the ceiling were cleaned up. These were about 12" high and served no purpose. Here's a hint....the more you chop up a space visually, the smaller it looks!


 

 Dated lighting and mirror went out.  We kept the cabinets and tub only.

Another hint....everything painted the same color makes a space seem bigger!  You don't see the ends of the planes.  The whole space just visually opens up.  It also hides details you want to minimize like the traditional paneled doors and medicine cabinet.  The color we chose for the tile and paint worked well with the rest of the house.

Such meticulous tile work.  When you have a modern look and the detailing is very clean, the craftsmanship has to be the BEST.  Look at that bullnosing and how everything lines up perfectly with such small grout joints.  :)



When I was a little girl, I never dreamed a perfect tile job would make me so happy, but it does!

I love the texture in the woven shade that was repeated on the cabinet.  The rain shower is such a nice luxury.  Simple, modern, spa-like.

"After" photos by Miro Dvorscak

Contact Aston Design Studio for a beautiful, spa-like look for your bathroom remodel!

Before and After Master Bath

I can't resist the appeal of before and afters.  Sometimes you just can't appreciate the after photo as much without that before shot right next to it. 

See what I mean? :)

This master bath went from a typical builder bathroom to a custom elegant retreat.  A free standing tub, new window, beautiful chandelier, and all new finishes and fixtures update the look dramatically.  We kept the bathroom cabinets and mirror frames. They weren't bad, just needed some fresh paint and new panels on the ends of the cabinets where the tub deck was removed.

So glad the glass block is gone.  The creamy stained glass design kept things simple and softer.

I love wallpaper, but not this. 

We wanted a soft, uncluttered look where the stone was the star.

Beautiful, vein-cut travertine on the floors and all the way up the shower walls.

I do love a before and after!

All "After" photos by Miro Dvorscak.

If you would love a new "after" for your bathroom, contact Aston Design Studio to get your project started!

Wallpaper - Yes, It's In Style!

One of the comments I heard most in my room at the ASID Showhouse this last month was "So, is wallpaper back in style?".  I was very surprised.  I guess most people don't read blogs and magazines like I do, so they've missed the memo on that.  Yes, it is in style, not only that.....it never went out of style!  Designers have been using wallpaper forEVER.  It is a wonderful tool for bringing pattern and interest to a space and a quick way to personalize your home. 

My Showhouse bathroom, above, for a teenaged girl.  The wallpaper was the star.  It was so fun to see visitor's expressions on their faces when they turned to look into the bathroom and saw all that color and pattern. Photos by Miro Dvorscak. 

Okay, enough about my Showhouse room, I know I'm beating an old horse to death here.  Let's move on to see who else has been using wallpaper in fresh new ways in the past few years!

Melanie Coddington, her work just featured on Decorati's website.

Todd Klein, featured in House Beautiful

Amanda Nesbit, House Beautiful

 Meg Braff, House Beautiful

 Tobi Fairley, her own entry hall, featured in Traditional Home

 Another room by Tobi Fairley, featured in AY magazine

 Tom Scheerer, House Beautiful

 Suzanne Kasler

Windsor Smith

Michael Smith, House Beautiful

Schumacher just had a competition for the best use of their wallpaper by designers, Show Off Your Schumacher.  Designers from all over the world were invited to enter.  Here are the winners.



Kippie Leland, Leland Interiors, Inc. - Nashville, Tennesee

Christopher Kennedy, Christopher Kennedy, Inc – Palm Springs, California

Renée LeJeune Hallberg, RLH Studio – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Top Winner - Bronwyn Poole, Touch Interiors – Mosman, Australia

Need I say more?????

If you would like to incorporate wallpaper into the design of your home, contact Aston Design Studio for a consultation!

Mixing Old and New Furnishings - at the Showhouse

I love eclectic mixes of furnishings. After all, we don't always acquire every bit of new furniture at one time in our lives. Tastes, budgets, and needs change over the years and making the old work with the new can be a challenge. Eclectic doesn't mean jumbled or crazy or anything goes. There has to be purpose to the mix in order for it all to come together. It's really kind of an art.

In my upcoming Showhouse bedroom for an older teen girl, I've used some vintage pieces and some new ones to create a unique space that speaks to the unique personality of my imaginary client. Just like most of us, "Phoebe" likes lots of different styles and finds the art of the mix fun and expressive.

I found this old chair frame in Bryan, TX in a dusty antique shop. I loved the simple lines of the legs, arms, and wings.

I put a Thom Felicia fabric on it and painted the legs in a vibrant turquoise. I love the way the stripes sort of exaggerate the wings. It's a bit whimsical, don't you think?




Here's my grandmother's old 1950's dresser I found in my mother's garage. It was sanded and refinished.

Love the lucite knobs and serpentine base. It has such a nice retro vibe.

I found these old French fashion magazine ads from the 50's in a local antique mall. Great drawings with a hint of color. I framed them in some Target do-it-yourself metallic frames and some new dark turquoise mats to give them a stronger presence on the white walls.

A consignment store find. Doesn't this scream "grandmother" to you? Doilies? Really? It had such curvy, graceful legs though and a simple design. I thought it would make a great base for my jewelry tree. Phoebe could store bowls of her jewelry around the base.

At the finishing shop. It was mahogany with lots of red in the finish and a little veneer damage. I wanted to take the red out and make it more brown colored. My refinisher had to stain it with a green tinted stain to get about 90% of the red out.

Doesn't it look totally different in a more modern space?

This nightstand had some nice detail, but that red!!!

Painted white to match the walls it takes on a more modern look. Love the brass hardware.

I was looking for a really tall 60's look vintage lamp for the dresser. Perfect!

Primed, painted, rewired, and a new shade later......

Love the color.

Now for some of my new pieces.

Love these mirrors in patterns that repeat my pillow fabric patterns. They will be hung over the head of the bed to reflect the light from the balcony doors. I think they add some glamour to the space.

My ghost chair. It goes anywhere!

The custom queen daybed I had made looks great in the space. I wanted to give my client more floor space for a lounge area in the room and a clear path to the balcony, so I pushed the bed up in the corner of the room. The white vinyl has no grain, it's not pretending to be leather. The bed is designed to be sold as a queen bed with headboard. The side headboard is actually king size and can be removed and used separately. This makes such a great backdrop for my beautiful, graphic pillows.

Just a few of my many pillows that will be tossed on the bed.

I love the new 8' round wool flokati I found online. With my gray sisal on the floor, the white flokati provides a wonderful textural contrast and brings the white color down to the floor.

My new bulletin board I had made to hang over the dresser. White linen with some great tape trim. The pattern repeats the pattern in one of the pillow fabrics.

New ottoman that will sit on the flokati. The Brentano velvet is so rich and plush.

If you are in the Houston area, drop in to the Showhouse in Sienna Plantation! It opens next weekend and runs until April 17th. Open Tuesday through Sunday. Come see the mix!

If you like an eclectic mix of furnishings but are unsure of how to put it all together, contact Aston Design Studio for a consultation to begin the design of your creative, eclectic interior.