What Really Counts and What Really Makes Cents.

 

Week two of our bathroom remodel brings us one of my favorite parts....the guts! I love opening up walls to find out what's inside. It speaks so much about the care that was, hopefully, taken and what needs to be done if it hasn't been done already.



Something I love to see here is that even though most of these walls are interior, you will notice that there is still insulation.

 

Insulation isn't just for temperature control, it also acts as a sound barrier, which can be a really important feature in a bath reno.



Whenever you open walls, take the opportunity to examine your insulations. Is it adequate for your interior and exterior walls? If not, now is the perfect time to beef it up! If you don't have extra room, consider spraying in some extra and don't forget to spray around those medicine cabinets.

 

If you live in an older home and open up a wall and find that the studs run all the way up the walls (balloon framing), by code, you must put horizontal blocking in to prevent the quick spread of fire. The devastating fire in Boston and the recent church in Newfields might have been aided by this life saving structural change.

Also make sure you have horizontal blocking for anything you are handing up such as towel racks, toilet paper holders, medicine cabinets and showerheads. So much nicer than trying to find those "never placed in the right place" studs later on. Also, I love to see a clean, safe place.

Make sure your contractor takes proper precautions to insure your safety and a healthy living environment. Completely covering the flooring and installing plastic zip walls cuts down on the wear and tear to walls and floors.

Another wonderful feature is the particulate removal machine that helps pull out the dust and allergens, ensuring healthier breathing.

 

So let's talk a moment about BUDGET. My husband once warned me never to tell them the budget because they will always find a way to spend it. A good contractor or designer will use your budget to help realize your dreams and your realities, and there are always realities...!

Building a bathroom or kitchen is like making a small house. You have to tap into all the systems, i.e.; electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and finishes, to make it work. Sit down with your designer and talk about the non-negotiables, the nice to haves and the reaches. Kind of like applying for colleges. You also don't want to be looking at stuff that you know you simply cannot have. Take into consideration ROI. According to the +National Association of Home Builders, a new bath can increase the value of a home by 20%. On a renovation, one can expect to recoup about 60% of costs. Go to www.remodeling.hw.net to plug in your area and get resale values for the most common improvements such as kitchens, baths, even generators!

There are items to purchase at every price point. Some are fine to negotiate on such as lighting. Can we find something that looks that opulent, but for less?

Either of these stunning options gives us the look we want, but at a fraction of the cost of our original design.

 

Some things should not be compromised, such as plumbing fixtures. Look alikes from box stores can have the same name but use all plastic parts inside, hence keeping the cost down, but compromising the integrity and lifespan of the product.

 

Budgets always need to be fluid. Count on the 20/20 rule. Twenty percent more for mid-stream changes and/or things that may be encountered along the way. Also plan for it to take 20% longer. That way you can be pleasantly surprised when you are on time and on budget (and have the satisfaction of knowing you would be the first project to accomplish that!).

 

On our own project we sheetrock this week and start the pretty stuff...tiling. We will post some more pics next week on our progress. So far, so good!

 

Best,

 

Renee!

 

Add some splash to your bath!

We've all heard the advice by now, updated kitchens and baths are a great investment for your home. And it's true! No one wants a dated kitchen and you certainly don't want to start your day in an ugly bathroom!

 

I love to recreate bathrooms because you can really have some fun in this (usually) smaller space. I'm not afraid to mix old and new, or to utilize some spunky colors. Take this 1850's Farmhouse bathroom I designed. The last update this bathroom had seen was in the 50's. We pulled the old Formica counter and base and replaced it with one of the homeowners cabinets. We topped it with a remnant piece of black honed granite and then placed a wonderfully hefty marble vessel sink atop. The real splurge was a  chrome faucet from +Brizo Faucet to help bring a bit of contemporary to the space.

 

 

Photos by Jared Saulnier

The walls were in bad enough shape that it gave us license to throw a splash of wallpaper up to liven up the space. Classic dot tile round out the room and keep it feeling period.

 

 

Here again I mixed the old with the new in another bathroom in this family's farmhouse. It's likely that this bathroom started out as a large closet or perhaps a birthing room. We had several hutches that seemed the perfect solution for vanities. We plated the back of the upper hutch with mirror and replaced the old wood top with a honed absolute black granite remnant.

 

The splurge was on the +Brizo Faucet fixtures and was worth every penny. Combining modern with old, two mini pendants drop from the ceiling to add extra light. Classic subway tile fit perfectly with the river rock floor and zebra stripe accent. A wall niche offers extra storage place and keeps things tidy.

 

Photos by Jared Saulnier

For anyone looking to update their bath, the possibilities are endless. Consider the style of your house and the feeling you want to evoke as you start and end your day.

It doesn't have to be boring. Go ahead, make a splash!

Renee

What inspired me, may inspire you too

www.mandevillecanyondesigs.com

This week I get to pop down to NYC for the The Architectural Digest Home Show. 

I love this show because it combines trade with consumer and is chock full of interactive lectures that both inspire and inform participants from around the world. The Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids (DIFFA) Dining by Design showcases some of the top designers in the country and is truly a feast for the eyes.

I am especially excited this year because one of the panelists, Sarah Susanka, will be speaking on Standing Out in the One of a Kind Marketplace.  Sarah was instrumental to my entrance into this profession over a decade ago.

Sarah is a world-renowned architect, lecturer and author of the very popular series, The Not So Big House
 

 

From the beginning of my career I was inspired by Sarah’s philosophy of less can truly be so much more. “Comfort has almost nothing to do with how big a space is,” she had said.

She had asked us to be aware of not only how we live in our homes, but also how we live our days, our authenticity, and how we honor our planet.

I loved the concept of leaving our budget intact, but reducing our footprint by say, a third, and using those funds to create smart, functional design that was high on quality and respect for natural resources. In a time when bigger must mean better and bigger meant more successful, she pioneered a concept that flew in the face of cavernous, impersonal spaces and requested us to seek our comforts in a more meaningful way.  

When I started the small home projects I kept an eye on Sarah’s teachings.

How could we give a family everything they need, but nothing they don’t need?

 

 

Functional space, lightness, and a reflection of nature.  Comfort without compromise.
 
One of my favorite books by Sarah goes beyond the dwelling and looks at how we create comfort in the life we live…The Not So Big Life.  The book talks about “Being the change you wish to see in the world”, one of Gandhi’s most famous quotes.

Sarah reminds us that when the world’s problems, of which there are many, seem so large, we must look at pursuing our life’s passion, our real work, and allow that to be in our present every day life. Not tomorrow, or next year, but right in this moment.

It is then that we will see the change and be able to offer that to others.

She shares the story of how Gandhi came to this now famous quote~

A mother brought her son to Gandhi and pleaded with him to ask her son to stop eating sweets and candy.

Gandhi politely asked the woman to come back with her son in two weeks.

She did as she was told and returned to him two weeks later.

“You must stop eating sweets my son”, said Gandhi.

The mother asked why he could simply not tell the boy two weeks ago.

“My dear madam, before I could ask your son to give up sweets, I had to, in fact, make sure that I could do it myself”

 

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Click here to check out my "not so big" design projects at Mandeville Canyon Designs

For more Sarah Susanka inspiration, watch this wonderful YouTube video Possibilities - Life's invisible feast

In good health and present life,

Renee
 

 

What does your favorite color say about you?

www.mandevillecanyondesigns.com

How many times have you been asked, "What's your favorite color?" My guess is that it's probably been quite a few times! And through the years your favorite color may have changed. As a child you may have loved the color pink or blue, but as you got older it changed to something else, like yellow or red. Why is that you wonder? Have you ever thought about what your favorite color says about you? It's really quite interesting and quite fun if you think about it!

Take a look in your closet. What color(s) do you see most repeated throughout your wardrobe? Does one certain color rise to the top of the heap? Are you colorful or very muted?

If you ask me what my favorite color is, I'd quickly respond with "red, of course!" It's the color I wear on the inside. I don't tend to decorate with it much, but it is my motivator! When it comes to decorating I lean more towards red's more playful and gregarious sister, orange!

So what does this say about me?

To find out what your favorite color says about you click here and you'll be taken to the I love color! Board on Pinterest.

When it comes to decorating are you a little bit more "color-phobic"? Or do you find yourself infusing you home with your favorite color too! Just for fun click here and take Better Homes and Garden's color personality quiz. You just might surprise yourself and learn that your favorite color to decorate with is quite different than what you'd answer the question, "What's your favorite color?" with. 

So often I hear people say that they are tired of decorating with the same old beige or off-white, but are too nervous or don't know how to add some "pops" of color without "overdoing" it, or without making an expensive mistake.

Fear no more! I am a certified Dewey Color System Design Consultant. Working together we can identify what colors are you "comfort colors". These are the hues that sooth and inspire you. From there we can mindfully select a paint, fabric and accessory color palette.

California Paints has an excellent section on their website about color theory and how colors make you feel. Take a look and see if the color of the room you are sitting in sets the mood you wanted to achieve. California Paints Color Theory.

Before I select a color for a client, I ask many questions so that I can understand how they want to feel in the room we are working on, serene in a bedroom, lively in a playroom, creative in the kitchen.

Don't be afraid of taking a walk on the wild side, or at least crossing the street to a new color scheme. And if you need someone to hold your hand and guide you through it, I'm here for you!

Colorfully yours,
Renee

How to prepare for your first meeting with an interior designer.

 

Hiring an interior designer is a big decision for most people. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration before you sign a contract and begin work. Recently I wrote about some questions YOU may want to ask your designer, but equally important are the questions your DESIGNER may ask you! If you have never used the services of an interior designer, you maybe a little intimidated at your first meeting. Keep reading for some helpful tips to prepare you and enable to feel comfortable and prepared for your meeting.

1. What's the overall look you want to give your home?

There are many ways to answer this question....are you looking for a casual look or more formal? Is your style Contemporary, Traditional or somewhere in between? Are you looking to create a coastal look or a vintage or cottage look? Do you like soft, muted colors or are you more bold? These are all things you need to consider and communicate to your interior designer.

If you have trouble putting into words what you are trying to create (as many of us do!) start by creating a notebook full of magazine pages you have ripped out that you like. Go to the paint store and grab some paint chips that you like.

If you are more computer savvy, check out Houzz.com and Pinterest and start putting together "Idea Books" with pictures that you like. Take a look at my Houzz profile Mandeville Canyon Designs on Houzz

2. How will the space be used? 

This is where I encourage you to do some deep thinking. There are certain ways we many want our space to be used or how we may want it to look, but the reality is we are all busy and have families. So, what we may picture in our mind may not actually be realistic.

Give this some deep thought. Does an office need to couple as a guest room from time to time? Do you entertain a lot? Do you need your dining room to also function as a homework station for the kids?

These are very important things to think about and discuss with your designer so that the end result is not only beautiful, but it's functional too!


3. What is your budget?  This may be the hardest question to answer, as you really may have no idea. My husband once warned me to never give them a budget because they will always spend it! The truth is, a good designer will use this as a valuable tool in determining your overall design. Even a ballpark figure allows for everyone to stay on the same track as far as materials and labor, and helps to prioritize. Thus allowing you to get the most bang for your buck!

 

 

Working with a designer is sort of like courting someone. Being honest and upfront about what you want and what you are trying to create will ensure a healthy relationship. Sometimes you yourself don't even know the answers to the questions a designer may ask until you really spend the time thinking about it!

Tuesday Tips: What to ask your interior designer.

What should you ask your designer?

Welcome to "Tuesday Tips"! Look for a new post from Mandeville Canyon Designs on Tuesdays! It will be chock full of useful decorating tips and information. This week I thought it would be helpful to provide a  few tips to prepare you for your first meeting with your interior designer. Redesigning a room can feel like a daunting task. Hiring a professional is a smart way to avoid mistakes and to be sure you love your end product. However, there are a few things you should consider before hiring an interior designer. Ask to see a portfolio: My portfolio is sort of like my resume, but with pictures. Take a look at other projects your designer has done. See if you like my style and the work I've done for others. Find me online! Check out my portfolio on my website, find me on Facebook or Pinterest. Read my blog. There are all sorts of ways for you to check out my work. Find me on Facebook Check out my portfolio on my website I'm on Pinterest too! My work is featured on Houzz.com too!  Make sure you understand rates & billing: The worst thing that can happen is to get a bill that you weren't expecting. Be sure you understand how you will be billed and how often. What additional charges may occur, etc.?  Discuss your budget so that you can avoid surprises down the road. Ask for references: Any good professional will be happy to provide you with references. Ask your designer if they can connect you with someone they have done a similar project for. References are a great way to learn about your designers work ethic, personality and style. You want to make sure this will be a successful relationship! Understand timeframes: In our modern world, we have been conditioned to think that everything can get done immediately. And we can easily become frustrated when that isn't the case. Be sure to find out how long your decorating project will take. Some items can take several weeks to arrive once ordered. Also, ask your designer how busy they are and if they are working on any other projects that may impost on your schedule. Hiring a designer is a big decision. You want to make sure you are working with someone whom you think understands what you are looking to accomplish. It's a very personal, yet fulfilling relationship. Be sure it will work for you! Happy Tuesday!