A Simple Facelift

Let me just say, I love this condo! 

But I didn't love this condo when I first met it .. don't get me wrong , it did have loads of potential and I'm super proud of my cousin for seeing that and grabbing it up right away. Not many people can see a finished product that is merely existing in their imagination, not to mention the imagination of a designer. 

<< Here is the small inspiration board we made >> 

As I walked through the 1980's condo, with its yellowed with age white walls and its stained carpet, I could see the potential she saw. 

But first .. it was time for demo. We ripped everything out of this place, the flooring, the base boards, door trim, slab doors, tub, vanities, toilets and let's not forget the popcorn ceilings. They were scraped and retextured with a fresh smooth coat. 

I wish I had some before photos of the bathrooms, but included one from a neighboring condo that hasn't been updated.. at least you'll get the idea. 

So, we tore out the carpet and replaced it with an economical laminate. It has such a beautiful warm look to it and is durable enough to withstand heavy foot traffic .. which is an especially good idea in an area where student housing is it's main attraction.  All of the products we used in this space were from Home Depot. They really have a good selection and are very good to their pro's. 

Here is a look at what we did to the main living, dining and kitchen areas:

Great Room > After

Dining Area > After

Kitchen > After

We painted the walls a minted variation of white. It wasn't a huge boost of color but it really gave a fresh look and feel to the space. The base boards were replaced with a 3 inch base that has small beveled detail, I call this "the cute base".. it's just simple .. but not standard.  We picture framed each window and door in the condo, giving each opening as much character as possible. In the kitchen, we covered the countertops with a marble tile (a simple granite slab would have been great too), this tile was also used in the bathrooms, on the floor and tub/shower surrounds. The over head lighting was probably the biggest change in the kitchen, we removed the paneled lighting, picture framed the opening and added a pretty light fixture recessed in the space. All of the appliances were replaced, but these finds were the most economical and on budget.. in my opinion, they bring the kitchen together. 

Here is an after shot of the ceilings, they now have a fresh smooth coat texture on them and painted with Behr Swiss Coffee Flat, it really lifts the ceilings, even in a tall space. Notice the fan has been removed and the nasty rough sawn beam has been wrapped and painted. Ahhh, much better.  

I could go on and on.. but you get the picture!

<< Here's a look at the rest of the space >>

Master Bedroom 

Guest Bedroom >  Looking in.

Guest Bedroom > Looking out to the great room.

Hall Bath

New Master Side Bath

Hall Bath

What I wouldn't do to furnish this place.. if I could, I'd bring in my partner in crime Tina Tuttle of Wall Flower Diaries and we'd have a ball! 

Check out our interior design site to see more of our collaborations >> Blueprints & Damask <<

A Penzance Adventure

Hi everybody! 

I am so excited to share with you a project that my friend Tina and I have been working on in our off time, for fun. See as professionals we hardly have the opportunity to do exactly what  WE  want to do with a space. I'm sure one day that will change but as of now we really work with what we are given and what our clients are looking for. 

Well, not with this project. Tina found a home that was on the market in Penzance, Cornwall UK and decided we should have our way with it... and that we did. 

Swing on by our joint design blog to see what we've done.. 

R E A D  M O R E >> Blueprints & Damask 

Blueprints & Damask

Hi everybody!

I want to take the opportunity to introduce a collaboration that I'm involved in called Blueprints & Damask. My friend and partner Tina Tuttle, author of Wallflower Diaries, and I put B&D together on the inspiration of helping people design their spaces. 

There are lots of designers out there, lots of spaces, ideas and so very many possibilities. 

< Here's an insert from our Blueprints & Damask site >

We both have a passion for design, Tina as an interior designer and Gina as a builder, we've each found a way to bring our passion into our day to day lives. 

Some days are full of creativity and vigor.. other days are completely blank. Blank days are okay, these colorfully right sided brains of ours need a bit of quite time now and then to really put ideas into motion. Don't worry, the quiet times aren't too long and they are pretty few and far between.. but they do come.

One day the two of us came together in the simplest of ways, Tina asked Gina to be a guest blogger on her design blog Wallflower Diaries and the idea blossomed from there.  >> R E A D  M O R E << 

Look for our first "for fun" project on our joint blog, our virtual renovation in Penzance, Cornwall UK. Here are a few "before" photos of the house (currently listed For Sale) that we will be transforming, virtually. Because we love to do it! 

We're excited to share it with you!

Lofty Ideas

For as long as I can remember Dad and I would drive from job to job planning and dreaming what we would do when we could fund our own projects. We've always gone back and forth, bringing each other back to earth.. but only a little bit. What's the point of having a passion for something if you can't dream up the biggest and the best use of your ability? Nothing is out of reach if you're willing to work your tail off to get it, and have that much faith that there is a bigger picture that you were meant to add your stamp to.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

For the past few years we've had project after project of remodeling here in the Southwest, and let me tell you, I'm ever so thankful for the work and the income they have provided.. but putting things back together is always a bit more tiresome than building it from scratch. Although, they both have their upsides and making things shine like new again has it's rich rewards.

>> I would just love to get my hands on an old building either on the east coast, or the west.. either coast will do for my taste.. and completely renovate it into loft spaces for sale or rent. My brain and hands are just itching to tackle one or ten. With Dad and Tina – Wallflower Diaries – as my partners (we each add a different perspective to a project) these spaces would just be spectacular. <<

Hey, I will do them one day and plenty of them. It's my dream. Of course I'd like to fund them myself and pocket the profit from sales and rents.. but it sure would be fun to get paid to tackle one as a paid project! Just putting it out there world. Just putting it out there. But seriously, call me.

Here is my favorite loft space, it has always inspired my imagination!

Gerard Bulter's New York Loft >> Architectural Digest

View More >> Architectural Digest

View More >> Architectural Digest

View More >> Architectural Digest

View More >> Architectural Digest

We'll get into my obsession with the coast in the next post.. maybe..