grim's seattle

i've been waiting by my inbox with baited breath. my favorite seattle architect, chris pardo of pb elemental, emailed me at the beginning of the month with news of another restaurant renovation (he designed po dog) and described the new eatery as, "pretty cool, very steampunk". i just received the before and after photos and it was well worth the wait!
located in capitol hill, grim's is seattle's newest 'it' watering hole, recycled, reclaimed, salvaged and re-purposed for your pleasure. dim lighting, communal tables, and a wall made entirely of old keyholes combine to create the vintage beer hall.

i would especially like to thank chris pardo at pb elemental for submitting this delicious renovation.

southern california master bathroom

never in my life did i think i would ask for a toilet for christmas, but when you buy a house at the beginning of december and rip out your existing bathroom before the holidays, you ask santa claus for a shiny new porcelain throne.

speaking of fresh sparkling lavatories, i’m in love with velvet hammerschmidt design’s recent southern california bathroom redo. gray and green glass tiles combine with tumbled travertine and donghia’s leaf-patterned vinyl wallcovering, to create this warm and unique transitional master bathroom. high contrast ebonized rift oak cabinets, white marble countertops, and chrome fixtures also make the distinctive finish palette pop. like the old russian proverb says, jealousy and love are sisters.

i would once again like to thank aviva fersht of velvet hammerschmidt design for submitting their classy california renovations.

judith balis aka santa claus

thanks to the classic christmas flick, 'miracle on the 34^th street', the holiday season is a time of year when miracles seem extra astonishing; and today’s renovated kitchen takes that concept to a whole new level. originally boxed off by cumbersome walls, my favorite idaho designer, judith balis of nest interiors, opened up the cookery and let the light shine in. by removing the walls that separated the kitchen from the living room AND the dining room an open floor plan was born. new windows and a skylight were also added allowing the area to be flooded with natural light. plyboo cabinetry, a mosaic backsplash and jazzy barstools also contribute to this miraculous renovation. we might as well rename judith, santa claus.

i would once again like to thank judith balis of nest interiors for granting me the permission to borrow photos from her facebook page.

moorestown bathroom

you know those pageant moms who dress up their babies and show them off like supermodels? well i sort of feel like one today; my future husband tyler is the jazzy baby of the situation and i’m pompously showing of a beautiful bathroom he recently remodeled. located in the quaint town of moorestown new jersey, the home’s only lavatory was not only dated but entirely SALMON! seeking a contemporary look and modern amenities, the homeowner commissioned tyler and i to bring their bathroom into the twenty-first century. with a tight budget and timeline, i specified everything from home depot and tyler worked like a dog to install it all before the holidays. grecian white marble hex tiles grace the floor, while the newly sheetrocked walls are painted in behr’s 100 acre raindrops. the modern vanity, freshly re-glazed tub, chrome fixtures, and custom radiator cover (made exclusively by my man) are the icing on this lavatory cake. i cannot wait to marry trg home concepts and remodel bathrooms until death do us part!

i would especially like to thank tyler grace for bringing my designs to life and capturing these before and after photos courtesy of trg home concepts.

i love rick campos

i have a design crush on rick campos. i thought the orange county principal of christopher tracy interiors played games with my heart when i featured his bath design in late november, but today’s bedroom and den renovations makes my heart go pitter patter. his subdued color palette choices pair perfectly with the transitional lines of each room’s furnishings. as an IDI alum, rick’s uncomplicated design approach and knack for blending design styles places him among an innovative new generation of interior designers.

i would once again like to thank rick campos of christopher tracy interiors for submitting transformations from his newport beach, california firm.

sayonara blue bath, hello new bath

tyler and i purchased our very first home last week, a darling 1920s bungalow in the tiny town of haddon heights, nj. she's a fixer upper but as an interior designer/residential remodeler couple we hope to go dream team on her. our very first stop is the bathroom. although we don't dislike the color blue, we aren't really fans of blue toilets, vanities, tubs, or floors so we're saying sayonara blue bath, hello new bath. demo starts this week so here's a round of before photos to get you as excited as we are for a lavatory ala 2011. let the games begin!

tlc design & decor

as a world traveler and canadian interior design, tania lacaria has the pleasure of combining both of her life's passions on a daily basis. her interiors reflect the wonderful trips she has taken, while her excursion destinations are chosen for their inspirational goodness. both her interiors and blog, passport to design, are rich in international eclecticism. lacaria's recent head to toe restoration of a client's residence beautifully exemplifies her funky global lifestyle!

here's a huge thank you to tania lacaria of passport to design for submitting before and after photos from her firm, tlc design & decor.