Carrying Wall Finishes Up on the Ceiling

Windsor Smith - House Beautiful

Carrying a wall finish up on to the ceiling is a wonderful trick used to expand a space and make the planes of the walls and ceilings disappear.  It's very effectively used with low ceilings, oddly angled ceilings, and in spaces where the intent is to wrap the room in an envelope of sameness so that objects and furnishings stand out.  I love how Windsor Smith, above, used the patterned wallpaper to visually raise that ceiling.

Leslie Klotz - House Beautiful

Imagine how low this ceiling would have felt if there had been contrast between the upper wall and the ceiling. What a great use of this little trick.

Barbara Westbrook - House Beautiful

See that little odd angle in the left corner above?  It would have been accentuated if there had been a difference between the wall and ceiling.  As it is your eye goes straight to the artwork, then the marble below.  That funny angle is hardly noticeable.

Amanda Kyser - House Beautiful

Imagine the low angles painted in a different color as the "ceiling". It would've sliced into that space and drawn your attention away from the vibrant rug and interesting wall of books.

M. Elle Design - Elle Decor

This space soars all cloaked in the same color wood.

Leslie Klotz - House Beautiful

Skye Kirby - Traditional Home

Tom Scheerer -  House Beautiful

Keith McNally  - Elle Decor

Healing Barsanti - House Beautiful

How effective was it to paper the soffit running around the room?  It visually raised the ceiling another foot. 

Another fabulous design tool that makes a big impact!

Please excuse my absence this past week.  Many projects are on the boards and under construction!  I'm looking forward to sharing lots in the fall!

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!

Showhouse Bathroom

"Phoebe".....my imaginary client. (photo ripped from the Urban Outfitters catalog)

I'm very excited to be working on a bedroom and bath for the upcoming ASID Showhouse in Sienna Plantation. I have an imaginary client, an older teenaged girl, "Phoebe" I'm calling her, recent grad of the local high school, attending college now and just coming home for holidays and summer. She is a free spirit, loves music, theater, photography......definitely artistic. She's smart and knows her own mind. She and her mother butt heads from time to time, both are headstrong and like to get their own way. You know, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! She's very opinionated about her style which is eclectic and bohemian...she likes what she likes and is a bit unpredictable when it comes to clothing, hair, make-up, and her room. She mixes it up and likes adventurous combinations.

I'm still tweaking the bedroom, the "she-cave", but the bathroom is under construction so all design is finished in there. It went a bit more on the feminine side than her bedroom, after all "Mom" had something to say about this and still envisions her sweet little Phoebe washing her face in that bathroom at night, ready to be tucked into bed.

I received the wallpaper last week. It's beautiful, feminine, and graphic...bright apple green background with silver and white, in this enlarged pattern. I wanted something bold that Phoebe would have fallen in love with and had to have in her bathroom. All other finishes and fixtures are nice, but play a supporting role in this space. It's all about the wallpaper.

Seabrook wallpaper, with silver metallic highlights, through Wallcoverings, Int'l.

Elevation of the vanity area.





Floor tile is a Daltile product, Fabrique, 12" x 24", laid in a brick pattern. It's a rather modern look porcelain, made a bit more traditional with the pattern. The grayish color works well with the silver metallic in the wallpaper.




White Daltile Rittenhouse subway tile for the shower/tub area, repeating the brick pattern and not calling much attention to itself. Clean, functional, supporting role, classic look.

A little sparkle....the Visual Comfort ceiling mount fixture from Circa Lighting.

Beautiful, sophisticated wall sconces... silk shades, modern lines, softness at the mirror. Visual Comfort through Circa Lighting.

Modern mirror with a little more metallic. I love that the pattern of ovals is the same as the brick pattern on the floor and wall tile. Custom made through Unique Arts of Houston. Countertop material shown above is a Silestone product, Blanco Maple, white with some gray flecks.

Kohler Margaux faucet and plumbing fixtures in polished nickel. I love the squared off shape, a little different, just like Phoebe. It contrasts with the fluidity of the wallpaper.

Cabinet color - Sherwin Williams, Sassy Green - perfect name.

Cabinet door hardware, modern, lucite...definitely Phoebe's choice.

My concept board presented back in December.

I think this will make her happy to get up in the morning. It's fresh and not too young. Mother and Daughter will love it. Finally, agreement on something!

If you would like help creating a bathroom tailor made for you, contact Aston Design Studio today!