guest bloggers!

strap in folks, because you’re about to go on the guest blogger ride of your lives! i'm heading down to the outer banks for a week of fun in the sun and while i'm gone raenovate will be posting before and afters from some of the internet's greatest bloggers. pop by every day next week to learn about each of these fine gal's transformation experiences.

monday: valerie wills interiors
tuesday: not your average ordinary
wednesday: the pink orange
thursday: slipcover your life
friday: molly mcginness interior design

i'd especially like to thank val, brandi, rebecca, erin, and molly for contributing! having you all in my life makes me a happier, more inspired little lady!

knight moves covered patio

y’all may remember kyle knight, author of knight moves and decorating rock-star. in march i featured the fantastic changes she and her husband had made to the interior of their dallas home, but today we’re going outside to check out their recently refurbished covered patio. when kyle and her husband bought the home last summer the covered patio (which the previous homeowners referred to as the ‘twilight lounge’) featured a homemade border of laminated and glued bar coasters. after painstakingly removing each and every coaster, kyle went to work creating her version of a modern moroccan outdoor paradise. featuring ikea’s foto pendant and ballard designs’ cushions, the knights’ covered patio complements and reflects the interior of their gorgeous dallas home.

i would once again like to thank the lovely kyle knight for granting me permission to publish her flickr photos!

land down under

in honor of today’s villa + villa redesign i’d like to change the lyrics of men at work’s song land down under to, “do you come from a land down under? where interiors glow and make me wonder”. the australian firm best known for their progressive flair have redesigned what was originally an ordinary lackluster apartment into a luxurious north shore flat. their knack for specifying furniture, lighting, and accessories is uncanny. i mean how amazing is the tufted bed in the master? villa + villa’s interior design is glowing and making me wonder how it’s possible that a firm has so much talent!

i would especially like to thank maria villa of villa + villa for submitting their awe-inspiring north shore renovation. the after photos were shot by the accomplished photographer, maria colombi.

west portal home

i’m quickly becoming a san francisco neighborhood aficionado. many of the talented designers and architects i feature recreate interiors all over the city by the bay. i’m thinking that i would really enjoy the west portal area. known for its village-like atmosphere and mom and pop shops, the tight-knit neighborhood oozes with retro charm, just like today’s redesign. recreated by raenovate all-star jennifer jones of niche interiors, the west portal dining room and living room received a head to toe face-lift for its first time homeowners. the architectural details of the house are honored with a design that allows the client's dynamic personalities to shine. new dark wood tables, patterned fabrics, and mid-century materials contribute to the eclectic feel of the home and neighborhood.

i'd once again like to thank jennifer jones for sending me before and after photos courtesy of niche interiors!

laurel heights home

san francisco’s laurel heights neighborhood can be described as an area that maintains a conservative elegance; which is funny because amoroso design’s recent laurel heights renovation can be expressed the same exact way! shelly amoroso and her talented team transformed a family of five’s unfinished basement into an all-in-one den/office/laundry room/bathroom/garage. by utilizing every spare inch of space the area looks larger than it really is and the travertine floors are both child friendly and easy on the eye. conservative elegance all the way!

i'd once again like to credit the photographers at reflex imaging and thank abby stopper for sending me before and after photos courtesy of amoroso design!

lakeside master suite

diane gordy, principal and design director of the bethesda maryland firm, diane gordy interiors, has designed the ideal master suite. located on a lake in reston virgina, the home's large suite was crying for an update. not only was the space reminiscent of its 1970s conception, it was lacking lake views and light...until gordy worked her magic. crema marfil natural stone floors, ebony stained maple cabinetry, and several glass finishes contribute to the updated contemporary aesthetic. making this master suite the jazziest lakeside retreat reston virgina has ever seen.

i'd like to thank the lovely judith turner-yamamoto of pickworth bell communications for providing the goods for today's diane gordy interiors makeover. the after photos were shot by the accomplished photographer, angie seckinger.

a-MAYO-zing

tyler and i had been on the lookout for the perfect coffee table for months. we searched high and low but nothing fit the bill until i struck gold at the coxsackie antique center on the fourth of july weekend. there tucked away in a crowded stall was the midcentury lane coffee table we’d been looking for. i loaded her up in my subaru and proudly drove her home to new jersey. everything about the table was perfect, its height, width, color, and condition. that is until yesterday…
after returning home from work i threw my lunch bag with my to-go coffee mug on our table, and hours later while tidying up i realized that my mug had been leaking coffee remnants on our beloved table top all night! i quickly dried the area and hoped that the mark would dissipate overnight. boy was i was wrong! this morning when i entered the living room it looked as if a massacre had occurred; the stain was considerably worse. in a fit i ran to google and read that mayonnaise can remove water stains. well, thank you google! i lathered up a paper towel with a generous amount of mayo (way more than i’d put on a turkey sandwich) and lightly pressed it face down onto the stain. after working its magic for approximately 30 minutes i removed the mayo towel and voila the stain was GONE! our adored coffee table is back in action and now smells of chicken salad. it’s a win, win!

the above photo of our beloved baby comes from reform objects, an amazing source for mid-century furniture.

medina renovation

i’m totally digging coop15 this month. their modern redesigns add a refreshing change of pace to the before and after world. i’m especially fond of their recent renovation of a one-story house in medina, washington. originally built in the 1960’s, the home was craving a modern modern japanese influenced transformation. by reconfiguring the entryway and driveway, the coop15 team created a new dramatic spot for greeting guests, which was especially important for the work-from-home owners! their 2,300 square foot home/office is now a sprawling modern dream.

i would once again like to thank trevor dykstra of coop15 for submitting their awe-inspiring renovations. the after photos were shot by the talented, david papazian photography.

cobble hill home

hot damn, i’m pumped about today’s renovation! jeremy pickett, owner and designer of pickett furniture, and his lovely wife newly rehabbed their two bedroom cobble hill, brooklyn loft. back in the day the building was a thriving new york factory however it was recently converted into condos.
their space was a total gut job and with the help of interior designer heather tilev they were able to make the house a home. in the kitchen, the walls were demolished and the ceiling raised, thus opening up the cookery into the living space and showing off the original wood beam detailing. the solid cherry cabinetry is uber-special because all the wood was milled from the same tree, allowing for a consistency in grain and color (this is rarely found solid wood cabinetry). other featured items in their kick ass kitchen include a bendheim glass backsplash, steel tiles, dornbracht fixtures, and viking appliances.
in the master bathroom jeremy constructed the vanity and closet from solid teak. he also specified limestone tiles, poured concrete surfaces, a walk-in shower, and heated floors and towel bar. throughout the condo the pickett family referenced its industrial roots. all of the interior doors were made from locally reclaimed yellow pine architectural beams and jeremy’s talented wife hand-painted all of the murals. the pickett family and their home are seriously rock and roll!

i would especially like to thank jeremy pickett of pickett furniture for sending me his condo redesign. the other design professionals involved in this transformation include heather tilev interior design and after photographer john muggenborg.