By Lisa June 10th, 2013
We all know there are a plethora (I love that word!) of countertop materials out there. Granite, quartz, butcher-block, laminate, glass and recycled glass, concrete and even recycled papers have become materials we’re used to hearing about. But I came across three more than seem intuitively obvious but were new to me. First up, bamboo. […]
By Lisa June 3rd, 2013
Last summer, my husband and I were eating ice cream cones from Grand Ole Creamery and walking down the neighborhood streets. We walked past what looked like a large mailbox that was full of books – a neighborhood library it seemed. I was enchanted. This winter, Sparrow & Stoll was working on a project in […]
By Lisa May 27th, 2013
People that know me know that I admire anyone who can grow anything. But even I am inspired by these innovative ways to bring herbs and leafy greens into a kitchen. This hanging herb planter by Plow and Hearth is great looking and more importantly self-watering! It can be used indoors as shown or outdoors. […]
By Lisa May 20th, 2013
When do you need an Interior Designer? How about a Project Manager? A General Contractor? Making improvements to your home can raise all kinds of questions about what kind of help you may want to seek out. And help can really make the process go more smoothly and guarantee that the end results be exactly […]
By Nancy April 24th, 2013
Normal color vision Red-green color deficiency/dichromate Did you know that around 8% of men but only 1/2% of women are color blind? I am not color blind, which is of course very helpful in my profession, but sometimes we work with clients who are. It’s helpful to know what a color blind person sees, or doesn’t […]
By Nancy April 17th, 2013
There are several types of color schemes: complementary, monochromatic, split complementary, achromatic, analogous… definitions that you probably don’t think about when thinking about designing a space. But we do. Following are definitions of common color schemes and some examples that we found on the internet. Monochromatic: Using any shade, tint, or tone of one color. […]
By Nancy April 11th, 2013
This unique 1948 Edina rambler was built with a modern influence, but a 1970’s update left it with shaggy yellow carpet and wild wallpaper reminiscent of brightly dyed easter eggs. The new owners were looking to update the finishes and change the layout to work for their family. Originally built with many small rooms, the […]
By Nancy April 10th, 2013
Another color trend for 2013 is one that Sherwin-Williams calls “Honed Vitality”. We’ve already looked at two other trend palettes this year, “Midnight Mystery” and “High Voltage“, and this one is a complete opposite. Think beach, weathered wood, soft hues, matte finishes, restful, organic, and homemade. We love all of the forecasted color trends for this […]
By Nancy April 3rd, 2013
We think of cabinet hardware as the “jewelry” of the kitchen or bath. I just ran across this relatively new line from Notting Hill; it’s beautiful and it serves more of a purpose than opening doors and drawers. From Notting Hill:HOPE BLOSSOM knobs and pulls are elegantly designed and hand-cast of solid fine pewter and […]