Posted
February 12, 2010 by
deb under
One Fresh Nest One Fresh Nest is a feature that we have on the site where we highlight a home that is beautiful and inspiring.
Today’s One Fresh Nest is cjane’s Retro House. I’m sure you have all heard of cjane {aka Courtney} and read her blog every.single.day. Cause that’s what I do. I love cjane. She has such a talent for writing, singing and cooking. And motherhood too. She is such a delight and I can’t tell you how many of my days she has brightened. And her home does that too. Look at her incredible home! It’s vibrant, lovely and oh so inspiring.
When you were designing this space, where did you get your inspiration from?
The inspiration for this room came from my beloved Nana, Aurora who was at the apex of her motherhood at the same time my house was being built. She channeled simple, colorful designs with classical touches. And she had gold walls. Beloved shiny gold walls. So I had to have them too.
Where did you find this white wall art? It’s amazing and impactful!
I had a really hard time decorating the wood paneled wall. Finally one night I drew a crude star {some call it a snowflake} on a ripped piece of paper and showed my husband. He bought a large sheet of insulation and skillfully cut it out using a vice grip and razor blade. We’ve thought about wrapping it in colorful tape, vinyl or even trying to spray paint, but I sorta like how the material is part of the artwork.
What is your favorite piece in this room and why?
I am really fond of my bust. I mean busts. I mean, both. I found all three of them online {Diana, David and Charles Dickens} from an inexpensive plaster gallery in Queens, New York. If we want to get really romantic, I have always thought my husband’s long, muscular legs were the same shape as David’s, so David has come to remind me of my spouse. Then there is Diana–goddess of the hunt–who reminds me of myself, as I had to track, trap and hunt my husband down until he finally submitted to my ways (and if I am getting my mythology right, it was said she also aided in childbirth). As for Charles on top of the piano, he just reminds me to keep a sense of humor. I laugh every time I look at him. And if I play the piano with passion, he sorta bobs back and forth.
I love the end tables. Are those ornaments I see?
My mom suggested the ornaments in the end table. She definitely inherited her mother’s impeccable taste. Something I hope to do in my own time.
I really love the ornaments. It’s like Christmas all year round. And to me, that’s just like cjane’s style.
Want to hear more about cjane’s makeover? Click here.
Thank you Courtney for sharing your home with us! I declare your home Fresh Nest approved!
Tags: beautiful, cjane, gold, ornaments, retro house, vibrant
Posted
February 4, 2010 by
deb under
One Fresh Nest One Fresh Nest is a feature that we have on the site where we highlight a home that is beautiful and inspiring.
Today’s Fresh Nest is John and Valerie Telford’s home. They collaborated together on the renovation and design of their home and John did most of the work himself over 9 months. John is a Visual Arts Professor at Brigham Young University and you can see his talent in his photographs here. I have a special place for them in my heart as they are my husband’s aunt and uncle. And the fact that they have style and an eye for design makes me love them that much more!
John was kind enough to let me interview them about the transformation of their home.
What is your favorite room in the your home & why?
To select a favorite room is hard. I love several rooms because of the unique challenges that were solved in each area. The family room is very comfortable and when we installed the metal hearth and wall behind the wood burning stove that covers out dated used bricks, I was amazed at the transformation and contemporary feel it gave the room. I am also particularly proud of the way we solved the problem of dealing with three pieces of metal – one forming the hearth and two standing behind the wood burning stove. There was no way of doing the wall with one piece because it goes floor to ceiling and had to slide over a vent behind the stove. We simply decided to add a metal mantle, deciding on the desired height, and then had the metal cut to fit that height and hid the seam with the mantle. We also decided to leave the natural patina on the metal rather than grind or alter it in any way. I think its very unique and beautiful.
The kitchen was also an interesting challenge. The old kitchen had a drop ceiling with a big florescent light fixture in it. Classic 70’s style. Everything was old and out of date, plus the sink and dishwasher leaked creating a moldy warped floor. It had a pantry in the wrong place which limited the cabinet and counter space and a large space for a kitchen table which seemed un-needed with a dining room in the next room and a bar type counter. Solution – gut the whole kitchen and start over. We ripped out the drop ceiling, all of the cabinets, the built-in pantry, ripped up the floor and in doing so had to replace most of the sheet rock. The arch-way leading into the family room was moved over two feet to make room for more kitchen cabinets and counter tops. I had to replace the floor including sub-floor, and prepare it for tile. Then rebuild the whole room including moving light switches and installing recessed lighting in the ceiling. We installed the new tile floor, painted everything and then had all the new cabinets and granite counter tops installed. The cabinet style, color, and layout was all selected by Valerie. Finally we were able to have a meal cooked on the stove rather than in the microwave, and do the dishes in the dishwasher rather than in the downstairs bathtub.
Probably the biggest amount of work was done in the two main floor bathrooms and laundry room. Rather than going into all the reasons why, we gutted both bathrooms and modified the laundry room, removed a small tub from one bathroom and replaced it with a large soaking tub in the master bathroom. We adjusted the size of each bathroom, making one smaller and one larger. I had to move three doors in order to accomplish that. That means redoing the stud frames and headers, the sheetrock work, door jams and molding. I rebuilt the shower in the master bath and made a new shower in what we refer to now as the guest bath. I installed new tile in both bathrooms. The end result is a much more pleasing arrangement for an empty-nester couple.
Finally, the Living/Dining room. The original room had a sunken living room. The dining area was separated by a small oak railing fence, dividing the space and making both seem small. Out dated oak railing and a parquet floor was also found in the entry way. The main project here was to raise the sunken floor and make it even with the dining room area and entry way and then install hard wood flooring throughout. Thank goodness my son Brett is a framer and could help me with the new floor, floor joists and subfloor. By the way he helped with all of the framing that had to be done throughout the house. I had to raise all of the electrical outlets in the living room area to match the height in the dining area. I also installed recess exhibit type lighting to illuminate the photographs. We had a custom made metal railing/banister installed over the stairs. I also cut large openings in one wall and installed large sheets of patterned glass to give a more open feel. That wall was painted with an accent burgundy color using suede textured paint.
I’ll leave changes in the basement, including redoing the brick fireplace with slate, installing new cabinets, redoing the bathroom and making a playroom for the grandkids with a full wall black-board for another issue. I also won’t go into all of the landscaping that we had to re-do. With all that we did, it may seem like it would have been easier to just start from scratch on a vacant lot. We bought a brand new house before we bought this one. While everything was new and nice and expensive, it just never felt like ours. It was built by someone else from their plan. This now feels like our home, our design and especially our work. I do not regret in any way all the work and fun we had making it so.
When you are designing and decorating your house, where do you get your inspiration from?
Our inspiration has come from a variety of sources. We watch HGTV a lot and enjoy the unique solutions that several of the programs have for re-designing rooms. When I saw a particularly interesting idea, I would try to think of a space where I could use it. We also look at a lot of interior Design and Architecture magazines. We collected brochures from paint and tile stores for ideas, as well as color choices. Last but certainly not least, I would simply sit in a space for a long time or visualize it in my mind and come up with ideas of how to make it be ours. As a fine art photographer, one of the main concerns is exhibiting my work. Hence the lighting is very important to me – not just the lighting in the room but the lighting on the walls. As a result I had to install recessed exhibit type lighting in the major rooms along with installing interesting contemporary track lighting in the entry way and in the halls where photographs are exhibited. We get a lot of comments on our lighting, more so than on the photographs themselves.
Thank you, John and Valerie for sharing your home with us! It was great to learn about the process behind your huge transformation. It’s beautiful and we declare your home ‘One Fresh Nest’!
Tags: telford
Posted
January 13, 2010 by
deb under
One Fresh Nest,
Uncategorized One Fresh Nest is a feature that we have on the site where we highlight a home that is beautiful and inspiring.
Today’s Fresh Nest is Sixx Design’s home. Husband and wife design team, Cortney and Robert Novogratz, have seven children. And somehow they find the time to make their homes lovely and beautiful. And inspirational. They are a-m-a-z-i-n-g! They buy run down properties and turn them around into stunning properties. They are sharing pictures of their current home and we are lucky enough to have them answer a few questions today.
What is your favorite home you’ve renovated & why?
We love all of our homes, including our newest one, which is at 400 West Street in Manhattan. It is certainly our biggest and most ambitious. But we all have a soft spot for our house in Soho on Center Market Place. We just love the vibe of the neighborhood and so proud because we helped turn the block into something special. Before we built four houses on the block, it was dark and dingy, and now full of life and really cool, with shops and restaurants and all the neighbors know each other.
When you are designing your space, where do you get your inspiration from?
We get our inspiration from everywhere. What we see when we walk around New York everyday, travel, nature, books, the web. Inspiration is everywhere. Sometimes it is just a bit of a color or the shape of something that makes you start to think.
What is your favorite piece in your home?
We love our art collection. The outside of our current home has turned into a public art installation because of the Richard Wood treatment on the facade. It is a great way to express yourself, and with every new artist we discover, whether they are new or just new to us, it is exciting.
How did you decide on a color palette for your home?
We always like to use a neutral color palette for the background, like white, and then use pops of bright colors for accessories or to really make a room special.
Share your favorite DIY project in your home. Tell us a little bit about it.
We have had so many. But I think organizing the closets was the best for everybody. We used really basic shelving for all the kid’s closets, put everything away in the closets, and got rid of an enormous amount of clutter. When you have seven kids, this is all-important in a DIY project. The day we painted our shutters bright yellow at our country house was also really fun. Some of the neighbors thought it was a bit loud, but it got a discussion going and that was cool.
Thanks to Sixx Design for sharing their home and inspiration with us. To view more stunning pictures of their homes, take a look on their website. They also have a wonderful book, Downtown Chic that is simply amazing. How many times have I said amazing in this article? Well, this deserves at least a couple more. Keep an eye out for their show debuting on Bravo in April. It’s called 9 X Design. And there’s no doubt it will be amazing.
All photography by Matthew Williams.
Tags: sixx design
Posted
September 10, 2009 by
deb under
One Fresh Nest One Fresh Nest is a new feature that we’re doing on the site where we highlight a home that is beautiful and inspiring.
Today’s Fresh Nest is Liz’s 800 sq. ft. apartment. Liz is the mother of cute baby Hank and recently from a five bedroom beautiful victorian home in Salt Lake City to a 2 bedroom 800 square foot apartment in San Francisco. She blogs over at Say Yes to Hoboken and has an incredibly cute etsy shop, Baby Hank Vintage. She has a great eye and is a natural at creating a beautiful home on a budget.
photo by Jon Canlas
What is your favorite room in your home & why?
My favorite room changes as things in my life change. When my son was first born, his nursery was my favorite space. It was calm and magical being in there with him as a new mom. Often it’s the bedroom, a comfortable place to relax (and I’m loving how much white is in ours now). Its very bright and lovely. Right now my favorite room is the living room, it’s a gathering place for eating, working, relaxing and playing. It’s versatile and easy to pick up (toys are thrown into baskets under the bench).
When you are designing your space, where do you get your inspiration from?
The internet is an amazing resource of course. Magazines and stores as well. I tend to be pretty thrifty, so often I’ll find a look I like in, say, an old issue of Domino (R.I.P.), and try to create it using cheaper/second hand items I find or possibly something I make.
What is your favorite piece in your home?
It’s usually something I’ve just made. It may not be the prettiest or the nicest, but it makes me feel proud. Right now it’s just a simple pennant banner I made in like 15 minutes just last week for my son’s room.
How did you decide on a color palette for your home (or this specific room)?
My bedroom I really wanted bright and calming, so it’s mostly white with a couple accents and I really love it. I try to be really simple. Pick a piece of color I love and work around it. I’m really into teals and turquoises (always have been) but I have to be careful about too much color/pattern. When we bought that white and black zig zag rug just a month or so ago, I almost had to redesign my color scheme to avoid too much noise.
Share your favorite DIY project in your home. Tell us a little bit about it.
The magnetic chalkboard is still my favorite. For the price and work I did it turned our really nicely and accents really well with the modern furniture in the same room. I found an old vintage mirror (it was like $7), painted the frame white, and painted the mirror with magnetic and then chalkboard paint. Check out the step by step here.
Thanks Liz for sharing your home with us. We love the pennant banner in Hank’s room and are amazed at how beautifully you’ve downsized your living space. Consider your house Fresh Nest approved!
Tags: apartment, pennant, say yes to hoboken
Posted
August 18, 2009 by
deb under
One Fresh Nest One Fresh Nest is a new feature that we’re doing on the site where we highlight a home that is beautiful and inspiring.
Our first Fresh Nest is Danyelle’s home. Danyelle is a mother of five, is a genius creative and kind. She blogs over at Dandee Designs and My Favorite Things. She lives in what she calls the cozy brick house and she makes it just that.
What is your favorite room in the cozy brick house & why?
I really love our master bedroom. It’s actually funny to call it that. Our home was built in the fifties and at that time most houses didn’t have what we now consider a master. Our bedroom doesn’t have it’s own bath or even a walk-in closet, but it gets great afternoon light. It has enough space for the furniture we need and the squeaky wood floors are a reminder of simpler times.
When you are designing and decorating your house, where do you get your inspiration from?
I find inspiration everywhere! The conventional places like magazines, design blogs, home stores. And some unconventional places as well. I love wandering around office supply stores, the ribbon section at a local craft store, or an antique shop.
What is your favorite piece in the cozy brick house?
I created a wreath out of book pages a couple of years ago. It adds a bit of whimsy to a more traditional space in our home. It’s also sculptural and I really love it.
How did you decide on a color palette for your home?
I naturally lean towards colors that are found in nature. Browns, greens, oranges…sometimes a little too much. Recently, after having my fifth child I was sitting in the living room nursing and began to feel suffocated by all of the brown. I hadn’t really ever taken the time to sit and notice how much color was missing from that space. Currently I am in the process of adding more color through paint and textiles. Spicing it up a bit.
What color of paint is in your master bedroom & dining room?
“Pecan” Valspar paint from Lowes. Valspar is the best coverage paint we have used, and we’ve tried them all! This is the same color as the dining room.
Where did you find the chair in your daughter’s room?
I found the chair at goodwill before my oldest daughter was born. I painted and distressed it, then had it re-upholstered just in time for her birth almost 8 years ago. It’s still in great shape and is the best place in the entire cozy brick house to rock one of my babes.
Share your favorite DIY project in your home. Tell us a little bit about it.
My current fave DIY was one that I just completed. You can learn more about it here.
Since it’s Back to School week here on Fresh Nest, would you mind sharing some pointers?
- Start implementing your school bedtime NOW! We started a week ago. We still have two weeks before school starts here, but I wanted the children used to our old schedule BEFORE the big day. No more of this 10:30 business!
- Menu planning. Summer has wreaked havoc on my dinner schedule. With BBQ’s and vacations I’m dying to get back to a regular weekly menu. This is a great tool.
- Inventory. We are headed out on our final vacation this week. We’re going to the ocean on the Oregon Coast and doing the bulk of our back to school shopping while we’re visiting that lovely sales tax free state. To prepare, I’ve been taking inventory of my children’s wardrobes. What they need, what from last year will still work, etc. I’m also using this opportunity to get rid of ill fitting, stained or un-usable items.
Thanks Danyelle for sharing your cozy brick house with us and for the bonus back to school pointers! I am amazed at all you are able to do. It truly inspires me. Consider your house Fresh Nest approved!
Tags: Back to School, children, cozy, home, kids, yellow
