Pretty in Pink

Ideas can come from many different places. Take a look at one of my favorite things...gingham!

The simplicity of the design is easy to translate into a tile pattern. This was perfect for a little girls bathroom that I was designing. Hope you like the results.

Spruce up a Small Bath!

Tired of your tiny bathroom feeling smaller everyday? Try these tips to help make it appear larger... (I swear by the last one!)
Lighten Up! Dark sinks, toilets, and tubs can make a great statement in a large bath, but induce claustrophobia in a small one. Go with classic white and add touches of style and sensibility with fixtures.
Make a Change…Trade a standard door for a sliding pocket door. Bi-fold doors (doors that fold up like a screen) can also save space and add interest.
Go Brighter…Small baths call for ample lighting to make the space feel larger. (It's also helpful when shaving and applying make-up.) So don't skimp on lighting! Instead, use both wall-mounted sconces and ceiling-hung fixtures. Lastly, windows provide natural light, which is a "green", easy and inexpensive to open things up.
Stand Alone…A pedestal sink is a great way to open up a small bath because it eliminates the space-hogging vanity.
Glass is Great!Glass shelves increase the room's sense of space because they can sometimes appear invisible. Items on them seem to hover, and this feels much lighter than heavy cabinetry.
Last but not least… In a small bath, get rid of the clutter!! On the counter-top or shelving, store things you use every day, and put everything else out of sight in bins or baskets.

It Is So Nice To Fall In Love

For years I have been reluctanat to use marble or granite for the kitchen counter---it felt like it was everywhere, in fact it was. Every kitchen advertisement and every HGTV show. I really like the idea that as soon as "everybody" is doing it, it is time for me to stop. There are so many wonderful options and I they are all worth exploring.

Recently, we were working on a home for a client to live in while we raze his current place and rebuild. The home needed a lot of work but since our client did not want to invest a lot, we put in a kitchen from Ikea. They really represent great value, for people on a budget, and they have enough styles to suit almost any taste. In order to jazz it up we installed Verde Fire Granite--the sample was so small but it looked really lovely. In application it looks Amazing, Astounding, Brilliant, Beautiful, Comely, Capricious---I could go through the alphabet with compliments! What I discovered is that really I hated the generic marble & granite which was so readily available but completely overused. A bit of exploration at your local stone yard will yield many wonderful options. It required that you be inventive and imaginative but trust me, it is definitely worth it. Here in LA, Marbles Unlimited and Walker Zanger are well stocked suppliers.

Inspiration - Execution

Although California, and Los Angeles, in particular has a relatively short history, there are some great shining moments. One of those was the growth spurt that happened in the 1920's and 30's. There was a real interest in design at that time here and you saw the rise of some really terrific Mediteranean inspired architecture. To help feed that need a pottery opened in Malibu that created some of the most beautiful tile designs, most of which based on Spanish and Moorish inspiration. The top picture is an image from the Kitchen at the Adamson House. It was the house built by the owners of Malibu Potteries to showcase their work. It stands today as a great place to visit and an endless source of ideas.

The second picture is a small bathroom I was asked to design in a Spanish Revival home. So I used the Adamson House as my inspiration and used a bright color scheme and lots of patterned tile. I hope you like the outcome.

Inspiration for Tile Designs

I am always a fan of the slightly out of the norm, and unexpected. That's why, when I design bathrooms, I am always looking for something a bit out of the ordinary. One place I look for inspiration is fabric designs. The way fabric is made (with weft and warp) makes it a great resource for creating patterns for tile.

In the children's bathroom above, I used Gingham fabric as my source, when you study the design it is actually pretty easy to recreate in tile. A bit more complicated, but just as interesting would be a plaid design, or if you are a bit less, ambitious, a stripe would be great too.

I think it would be cool to use the real fabric as the shower curtain, and then recreate the same design in tile....now that will impress your friends!

Monday is Answer Day: Economical Tile Solutions

Today's question comes from a reader who is about to embark on a bathroom remodel, and has become a little confused by all the tile options that are available. The other concern is cost. She doesn't have a big budget so is looking for ways to create the most impression for a modest outlay. Well I have a few ideas that you may want to try, that I think are both beautiful and economical solutions to the home remodel drama.

• 
  
  First thing to keep in mind is, if you are trying to operate on a tight budget, do not go for big splash, it will end up looking like you are over reaching. There is a lot that you can do with not a lot of money, but trying to look expensive is not one of them. So keep your color palette simple, and your design straight forward, you will come up with a much better end product.


• 
  
  Having said all that, e creative. In the bathroom I show above, budget was a big issue, so I found some of the least expensive colored tile that I could, then laid it out in the faux gingham design that you see. The unusual layout creates the interest that I wanted, without blowing the bank.


• 
  
  Another approach is to find a tile that you really like and use nothing else. It will keep the design simple and elegant, so don't be afraid of a monochromatic scheme, if you choose the correct tile it can be beautiful.


• 
  
  Try to go for a quiet, classic approach, avoid if possible strong colors, as they will date your room quickly, and you will grow tired of it.


• 
  
  If you are going to splurge anywhere in the Bathroom, spend the money on the faucets. The things that you touch every day will ultimately create a more pleasing effect, over time, the backgrounds will disappear to your eye, but every time you turn the faucet it will remind you of your great choice. I have written about one of my favorite companies on Resource Day a few weeks ago (http://markcutlerdesign.blogspot.com/2007/07/thursday-is-resource-day-california.html), you may want to check that out.

There is also another post I did on freshening up your Bathroom, that may be of help (http://markcutlerdesign.blogspot.com/2007/06/bathrooms-some-fresh-ideas.html).

Bathrooms, Some Fresh Ideas

Kitchens and Bathrooms can be some of the most challenging and expensive rooms in a house to design. Because of this, I try to make my designs as timeless as possible, but at the same time, try and inject some fresh ideas, so that they don't look boring and uninteresting. The bathroom pictured above, is in an old 1920's style home that I recently worked on, I think that we were pretty successful in staying true to the period, but here are some ways that we tried to make it feel fresh and and a bit out of the ordinary.

• 
  
  One of the first things you might notice is that the floors are wood, normally a big no no. If you look in the image, you will notice a stone slab, right outside of the shower, this is the wettest part of the bathroom, and it serves to protect the floor from water damage. Its a great feeling to walk on bare wood in a bathroom, it is so much warmer than tile or stone. On another Bathroom I did recently I also used wood, but used a marine varnish on it (normally used on boats) that will also protect the floor, and with some care you could even eliminate the stone slab.


• 
  
  I wanted an open, airy feeling, so instead of creating a wall to provide privacy to the commode, I used a wooden folding screen, it takes a lot less space and doesn't intrude on the architecture of the room, and can even be a cool place to hang paintings over the tub.


• 
  
  Instead of using art to decorate the walls, I found these great stained glass windows, and incorporated them into the design. Sourcing out great salvage places in your city, can really help you get some unusual at a very affordable price.


• 
  
  Look into using free standing towel and toilet paper holders, once again it is those small details that will provide you with interest in a timeless sort of way.


• 
  
  I really like freestanding tubs as well. This particular tub is by Ultrabath and also is jetted so you can still get the therapeutic benefits of that while maintaining a classic, old world look.

The key to success is to keep your design simple and be clear about your concept, it will make decision making easier and the end result better.

Keeping Design Simple, Creates Beautiful Rooms

I had the pleasure this weekend of visiting a Designer Showcase House. For those of you not familiar with the idea, a group, usually a local charity will get their hands on a house and then invite members of the local design community in to decorate, then open it to the public for tours. Typically a different designer will do each room. I am a tremendous fan of the concept as you get to see Designers whose work you may be familiar with, work unfettered by client desires. This is a place to go for great ideas and new concepts. Quite frankly I came away a little disappointed. Most of the rooms seemed heavy and overdone (there were some notable exceptions). Where was the light hand? Most seemed unable to edit, so it inspired me to write this piece about simplicity of design (LOL I will try and keep it brief).

• 
  
  When designing your room, plan. Lack of planning leads to an inability to stop, the old saying is true, if you don't know where you are going, how do you know when you get there.


• 
  
  Don't be afraid of open space. An undecorated wall, in the right color can be beautiful, or the simplicity of using only one fabric throughout a room, can be liberating.


• 
  
  Give your favorite pieces room to breathe, there is no need to keep piling things on, pay attention to scale, and one piece could be perfect.


• 
  
  Use the architecture of the space as your starting point, whether you are designing within the style or creating a counterpoint to it, reference the room, it will make your statement clearer.


• 
  
  Finally, when you are done, take one thing away.

Thursday is Resource Day

I was out shopping for a client the other day and I went to one of my favorite stores and was reminded again what I liked so much about it. Often, people equate cost to quality or taste, I beg to differ. Today's resource could not be more the opposite of that idea. It is Cost Plus World Market. I love these stores, they are a treasure trove of well priced ideas. I have included a few images of some of the things I especially liked.

The first one is this great dinner set. It is sold by the piece, and while I am not convinced that a whole set is for me, I am using one or two pieces as bathroom accessories for a major celebrity client right now. I think that the pattern has such great coloration that it goes so well in a bathroom, and is a welcome relief from crystal or plain ceramic, that you see so much of. They would also make a great addition to a desk as well. The key is to find what you like, then ask the question "what else could this be?".



The next thing is this stunning folding screen. It has a woven rope pattern attached to the face, that gives it a cool hip look, but I think that for someone on a budget it would make a terrific headboard. If you want something with a bit more drama, take it all the way across the bed wall, and place your bedside tables in front. It will give your room a very chic, modern primitive feel.



Lastly, I am thrilled to announce the death of the Tiki Torch as the default backyard light. These fabulous little string lights are festive without making your garden look like a year round Cinco de Mayo party. String a bunch together and loop them back and forth over the area you want to light and sit back, and listen to the praise of your friends.



So I hope you enjoy this resource, remember the question to keep asking yourself is "what else can I use this for"?

Painted Floors: Stone

Last month I did a post on Painted Floors, which concentrated exclusively on painted wood floors. These are pretty common, and while they leave a lot of room for the imagination, today I wanted to post about something that most people don't even consider and that is painted Stone Floors. Several years ago I was face with a design conundrum, I was working on a new house and I designed this beautiful bathroom that was like a quiet oasis. It had very little pattern anywhere, but I felt like I needed a soft pattern on the floor. Mt immediate thought was to go with a mosaic, but after selecting a pattern and some stones, the price turned out to be a lot more than we could afford. As they say necessity is the mother of invention, I suggested a painted floor and here is the result, a soft palette that feels like an old fresco, even prettier than the mosaic would have been. Here are some thoughts about doing one of your own:

• Start with a very porous stone, usually a soft limestone, and be sure it hasn't been sealed
• We painted this floor with a variety of wood stains, but you could use almost an permanent stain.
• We did this in a studio, but you could do it in place after the floor had been laid, but that would make me very nervous, in case you make a mistake (we made several).
• Pick a pattern from almost anywhere, this pattern came from an old book on Turkish mosaics, but I have recreated patterns by William Morris, or in one case recreated a wall paper on the floor that I used on the wall of the same room.
• You can use a projector on a wall to blow up the pattern, or some patience and a photocopier can do the same trick.
• Trace on the pattern, and then just paint away, this time it really is important to stay within the lines!
• After you are done and the painting is dry, be sure to use several coats of a clear penetrating, stone sealer, and voila, your creation is there for posterity!
• I think repeating patterns are probably better, since it ties into the modular nature of the stone tile.
• Using patterns that don't require shading is also better, since it can be tricky trying to control how much stain goes where, its like painting on chalk, so take it slow, and practice on a spare piece first.

Good Luck and Happy Painting!