Denver

Dining Room Project | Repurposed Table

May 16, 2013  |  by beautifulhabitat  |  in Antiques, Beautiful Habitat, Before and After, contemporary, creative, Custom, Denver, Designer's Home, Entertaining, Flooring, furniture, recycle, sustainable, table, Upcycle, upholsteryNo Comments

A little over a year ago, I gave our dining room an update. I cannot believe that I have not yet shared the results with you! Life, it seems, has been far too hectic. But I’m here now to share the process, inspiration and results of this make-over. I hope you enjoy!

Flooring Repurposed as Table

In 2008, we replaced a wood floor with tile in the kitchen. This flooring change was done to expand the kitchen nook by several square feet and because the flooring and cabinets were too similar in color and we desired a bit more contrast.

Interior Designer Colorado

I kept the wood for 4 years, waiting for inspiration to strike. I knew I would dream up a clever way to reuse this wood…someday.

Custom Furniture Design

Eventually Inspiration struck in the from of a repurposed table top. I found this image on Pinterest and the idea took off from there.

Repuposed wood table

To bring this vision to life, I contacted  my favorite custom furniture Designer and Builder in Colorado: Ryan Schlaefer Fine Furniture. Ryan went to work on the details of the design.

The completed table is lightly distressed and has a grayed, slightly weathered finish. The herringbone pattern is beautiful! I could not have been happier with the result. Thanks, Ryan!

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Giving New Life to Vintage Chairs

As the Dining Room started with upcycling, I thought I’d continue with an environmentally conscious room. Instead of buying new chairs, I found a unique set of metal neoclassical revival chairs on 1st Dibs. The chairs are circa 1950′s and are cast metal, allowing the lines of the chairs to curve and taper in a way that carved wood could not, yet has details to mimic carved wood.

Repurpose Vintage Funiture

I immediately loved the lines of the chairs. The pea green paint and silk fabric were a bit “easter egg” for my taste. Instead, I opted for black paint with silver highlights and a combination of fabrics from Kravet and Osbourne & Little.

Creative Interior Design Solutions

The new Dining Room!

I love the final results and look forward to seeing these beautiful pieces in the dining room of the new house soon.

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Do you have a story about creatively repurposing or upcyling products in your home? Share with us here or on Facebook.

Carpet Trends in 2013 | Ask the Designer

May 9, 2013  |  by beautifulhabitat  |  in Ask the Designer, color, Colorado, Denver, Flooring, Tips1 Comments

I was recently asked to advise on carpet decisions and I am simultaneously selecting carpet for my own house. I thought I’d share these tips and trends with everyone.

New wall to wall carpet is a big ticket item and a decision that most of us do not take lightly. The lifespan of your carpet may likely be longer then most of your furniture. There are also so many styles, colors and brands. Here are a few tips and trends to keep in mind if you’re in the market for new carpeting.

Carpet Trends as I see them (at least in the Denver market) in 2013:

Dark and Bold

Carpet colors have gone considerably darker than over the  previous decade and more. In the late 1990′s and through the early 2000′s light carpets ranging from ivory to beige to tan were hot. The lighter colors helped to keep a space more open and bright, while simultaneously shrinking into the background. On the down side, those lighter colors are harder to keep clean. There has been a shift to darker carpet tones, whether a chocolate brown or a charcoal gray. And bold carpet colors are appearing too.

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Bold Interior Design

Gray

Gray is hot everywhere – furniture, fabrics, flooring, books. It’s quickly replacing beige, tans, and browns as the hot neutral. Don’t panic if you’re surrounded by browns. They are neutrals, and a good neutral will always hold their own.

Texture

Texture and patterns are making a comeback in carpeting. This is usually created with a combination of looped and cut pile stands, creating a design and texture although the material and color are the same. And I say making a comeback, because I distinctly remember the patterned carpet of my youth. The looped valley’s and higher cut pile made interesting obstacles for my toys circa 1983.  Textured and patterned carpet creates a great look and adds interest to an often overlooked surface. It can actually become a focal point in the design, rather than a bland surface on which to place furniture.

Interior Decorating Tips

Bold Inteiror Design Choices

Plush never Fails

If you are afraid to commit to a texture or worry that this trend may not have the lifespan that you want, plush carpet is always a good bet.

Interior Decorator Tips

 

Do you have a design or decorating question? I’d be happy to feature your question and provide guidance. Ask here or on the Beautiful Habitat Facebook Page.

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Things You Should Know About Commissioning Custom Furniture

April 6, 2012  |  by beautifulhabitat  |  in Boulder, Custom, Denver, Dining, Dramatic, furniture, local, recycle, Salvaged, sustainable, tableNo Comments

I am currently working on a very fun and interesting project that involves both Architectural Salvage and Commissioning Custom Furniture. Before embarking on both aspect sof this project, I came across two wonderful articles from Colorado Homes and Lifestyles Magazines.I don’t know about you, but I’ve always dreamed of commissioning custom furniture. Much like building a custom home, or certain remodeling projects, it’s an opportunity to create exactly what you want.

Here are 10 Things You Should Know About Commissioning Custom Furniture, as printed in CH&L.

Furniture Design in ColoradoCustom Table via Ryan Schlaefer Fine Furniture

10 Things You Should Know About Commissioning Custom Furniture

  1. First ask yourself: Do I really need a custom piece? Both David Larabee, co-owner of Denver-based modern furniture line DoubleButter, and Andrea Schumacher of Denver’s O Interior Design agree: The best reason to purchase custom furniture is if your space has strange or uncommon dimensions. Otherwise, try to find a piece that already exists—it will be better for your wallet and your timeline.
  2. Determine the use of the piece. Think through all the specifics. What space will it occupy? What do you need it to hold? How many people does it need to fit? Also, says Schumacher, be aware of your personal dimensions and proportions—if you’re taller, you might want a larger chair or sofa. “If you get this bit right,” says Larabee, “you’re on your way to lasting happiness.”
  3. Don’t ask the designer to make a knock-off. If you just love the Seven table by B&B Italia (known for its three-sided, rounded-off top that accommodates seven) but don’t want to pay B&B Italia prices, don’t ask someone to copy the table for cheap, says Larabee. “You’ll end up owning a cheap knock-off of a piece you love—and you’ll know it.”
  4. Consider your budget and timeline. “Custom furniture is going to cost a little more and is going to take a little longer,” says Larabee. “Good design takes time to do right, and that time costs money.”
  5. Choose your materials palette before you choose the craftsperson to execute the piece. You’ll want to be sure the furniture designer can work skillfully with the materials you like. Also, says Schumacher, if you don’t specify what you want, you might end up with a piece made of cheaper materials, like pine, which won’t hold up in the long run.
  6. Know your artisans. Get references, visit the shop, see—or sit on—examples of their work. You want to find someone who can design furniture in the style you like. Also, says Larabee, pick a designer you feel comfortable with. “Creative collaborations work better when the collaborators are comfortable telling each other how bad some of their ideas are,” he says.
  7. Get multiple bids. Be a smart shopper. Compare price and quality among a number of artisans.
  8. Focus on the finishes. It’s the little details that will make your piece look better—and last longer. Some of Schumacher’s hottest tips: Get a stain sample on approval before you move forward. Pay more for high-end drawers and hinges, which last longer. And, if your budget allows, splurge on wood (rather than melamine) for the insides of the piece, to make it look and feel more substantial.
  9. Don’t change the design mid-project. Pick a course and stick to it or you’ll destroy your budget and timeline, and drive everyone involved with the project crazy.
  10. Go for it.When you buy locally made furniture, you are supporting the people who live and work around you. Plus, says Larabee, “Life is richer when we’ve got a deeper connection to the things that fill up our lives.” You might be handing down that table to your children someday—how special to be able to share the story of where it came from.

I’ll be honest – I did not do #’s 1 or 7. Regarding #1: I had a vision in mind for this particular table. The room itself didn’t call for a unique piece. Instead, the homeowners did. They are adventurers that really want a statement piece for their dining room. They called for something bold, unique, and using reclaimed materials. Regarding #7:  I just went straight to a furniture builder that I know and trust. The new table (to be revealed in a few weeks) is currently being built by Ryan Schlaefer Fine Furniture in Loveland, Colorado.

Custom Table via Ryan Schlaefer Fine Furniture

For the full post and access to other “10 Things You Should Know…” at Colorado Homes and Lifestyles.

Have you commissioned or built anything custom? Share your experience with us here, or on Facebook!

 

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Things You Should Know About Architectural Salvage

April 3, 2012  |  by beautifulhabitat  |  in Accessories, art, Beautiful Habitat, Boulder, creative, Denver, DIY, Doors, Dramatic, furniture, lighting, local, recycle, Salvaged, sustainable, Uncategorized, VintageNo Comments

I am currently working on a very fun and interesting project that involves both Architectural Salvage and Commissioning Custom Furniture. Before embarking on both aspects of this project, I came across two wonderful articles from Colorado Homes and Lifestyles Magazine. Here are 10 Things You Should Know About Architectural Salvage, as printed in Colorado Homes & Lifestyles.

Architectural Salvage Treasures10 Things you Should Know About Architectural Salvage: (via Colorado Homes & Lifestyles, with a few additional notes and photos from Beautiful Habitat)

  1. It’s a fun way to go green. When you buy salvaged building materials you’re not only scoring conversation-worthy accents for your home; you’re also diverting materials from the landfill and minimizing the use of raw materials.
  2. Don’t expect perfection. “The reason these pieces are charming and interesting is that they’re obviously recycled—meaning they’re not perfect,” says Eron Johnson, owner of Denver’s Eron Johnson Antiques. Tip: Have a furniture restorer coat any pieces of peeling paint with clear paste wax, which maintains the antiquity of the piece but gives it a smooth finish, Johnson says.
  3. Beware of “too good to be true.” There are a lot of architectural salvage knockoffs out there, warns Johnson—particularly when it comes to marble fireplaces, stained glass and iron work. If the price is too good to be true (as in, considerably less than every other piece you find), it probably isn’t the real thing.
  4. Know what you need. If you’re shopping for pieces that need to serve a function (doors that operate, etc.), bring along a notepad filled with the measurements and quantities you need and pictures of items you want to match, says Tom Sundheim, owner of Queen City Architectural Salvage in Denver.
  5. Find new uses for old items. “The beauty of architectural salvage is it frees an antique from its former use,” says Johnson. Iron garden gates can become decorative headboards; wooden window frames act as room dividers; and an old weathervane emerges as the perfect accent for your mantel. (or lamp bases as seen below, BH)Interior Decorator Boulder Colorado
  6. Be open to doors. Shopping for antique doors means having an eye for “quality beneath the paint,” says Sundheim. “Know which woods are heaviest. A pine door will weigh far less than a comparable oak door.” If you need the door to function, pony up for a heavier door. Also, for newer homes, understand that you may have to reframe openings to accommodate taller antique doors, Johnson says.
  7. Hit up the hardware section. You might have a hard time finding enough matching knobs and drawer pulls to outfit, say, a whole kitchen. But unearth a few antique pulls (they can even be mismatched) for the right dresser or accent table, and you’ve got a statement piece.Custom Interiors Denver Colorado
  8. Let there be light. If you live in a historic home, says interior designer Beth Armijo of Armijo Design Group, one of the best ways to honor the architecture is to install period-appropriate light fixtures. But, adds Johnson, remember two important safety tips: have an electrician update the wiring and, for pendants, reinforce the ceiling box. (Most antique fixtures are solid brass and heavier than modern fixtures.)
  9. Dig around for your garden. A trip to the salvage yard can yield curios perfect for your outdoor living spaces, too. Look for stone statues or pillars, cast-iron park benches, weathered farm tables, or even vintage bathtubs (great for birdbaths).
  10. Try DIY salvage. Someone just might love that pale-pink tub you’re tearing out of your master bathroom. Before you haul it off to the landfill, consider selling your relics online, or, even better, donating them to ReSource Yard (resourceyard.org), a nonprofit with salvage yards in Boulder and Fort Collins. Sale proceeds benefit waste-reduction programs and donations are tax deductible.Reuse, Recycle in Colorado Design

My adventures in Architectural Salvage took me to the ReSource Yard in Boulder and Queen City Salvage in Denver. I also perused the Eron Johnson website (which is a great site and user-friendly). Ultimately, I am repurposing some wood that used to be a kitchen floor and I  purchased dining chairs on 1stDibs. My adventures continue as I am planning another visit to Queen City for a new art idea I have. Stay tuned for more stories on this interior design project, coming soon.

For additional inspiration in salvage and recycling, check out the post on 23rd Ave Sculpture in Denver. This is scrapyard meets art studio, where old metal is turned into art, furniture and more for your home and garden.

To read the full post, or other “10 Things You Should Know… articles, visit Colorado Homes & Lifestyles.

Do you have treasures that you’ve salvaged or recycled? Share with us here or on Facebook.

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Love it or Leave it | Painted Wood Floors

March 27, 2012  |  by beautifulhabitat  |  in Boulder, Denver, Love it or Leave It, paint, tile2 Comments

I often see photos of painted floors in blogs, magazines and on Pinterest. However, this is not something that I see often in person and as an Interior Designer. That has a lot to do with the Denver & Boulder Colorado markets in which I work. Many of my clients live in newer homes with new or nearly new wood floors. Painting them seems like blasphemy. Another group of clients lives in older pockets of Denver, with wonderful homes including bungalows, 1930′s Tudors, and Mid-Century Modern. In these homes we are working to strike a balance between preserving original detail and modernizing the homes for life in this century. Often the floors are original to the home and again off limits to paint. But I am curious about your thoughts on painting wood floors: do you love it or would you leave it?

Restaturant DesignCecconi’s in London via Studioilse.

Interior Decorator Boulder ColoradoA simple, solid painted floor, via Bradbourne Farm.

Bathroom Designer Denver ColoradoA faux mosaic tile design painted on to a floor, via Henry Donovan Motif.

Interior Design and DecoratingThis paint pattern looks like a rug in this hallway. Via Curbly.

Interior Designer Denver ColoradoA stencil design over a distressed floor makes a dramatic statement. Via Designspiration.

Interior Decorator Boulder ColoradoA classic tile pattern painted onto a kitchen floor. Via Hello Tiger.

I want to know what you think. Would you paint your wood floors? Do you love it or would you leave it? Have you painted wood floors before? Please share your photos with us here or on Facebook.

And please chime in on our other Love it or Leave it discussions:

Or, check out the opposite of this post with Painted Ceilings.

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Modern Take on the Barn Door Look

January 31, 2012  |  by beautifulhabitat  |  in Beautiful Habitat, Boulder, creative, Denver, Designers, DIY, Doors, Dramatic, modern, Tips, window2 Comments

Interior Designer Denver ColoradoI recently completed this project and am so pleased with the results. It’s unlike most Beautiful Habitat projects that I feature here in that it is a design for my own home. This makes it part Beautiful Habitat “work” and part DIY project. To be fair, The design was all me, the build was all my husband. I’m so happy that he’s handy!

First, let’s define the goals of the project.

  1. We are incredibly blessed to live with dedicated open space behind our home. Privacy is not an issue, and we also have great views. Therefore, we want something that can provide some privacy, light and heat control, but still provide some visibility.
  2. We have a more modern or urban aesthetic, yet lifestyle of the suburbs. We enjoy creating ways to urbanize our suburban home.
  3. Both as an Interior Designer, but also as an individual, I am drawn to unique things and I especially wanted an original and creative way to treat the standard sliding glass door.

The Project:
The first and most important step is always a good design plan. This included a number of sketches to work out the design and the measurements. The door had to be large enough to completely cover the sliding door and window above, 6′ W x 8′ H.

One of the longest parts of the process was staining the boards, particularly because a bitter cold front moved through Colorado, forcing me to move the staining into the basement… We also went with a 2 step staining to get the warmth and aged-look we wanted.

Custom Finishes Boulder Colorado

Next came the layout and actual build.

Custom Interior Designs Denver Colorado

Interior Decorator Denver Colorado

Interior Design Broomfield ColoradoThe door is done! Now time to get it hung…

Hardware

We chose hardware from a company called Real Sliding Door Hardware.

We made the door handle from pieces of plumbing pipe found at any hardware store.

  1. It followed the urban and industrial aesthetic that we wanted
  2. Because the door is 6′x8′, the handle needed to be substantial to feel balanced with the door size. Finding a substantial handle is difficult. Finding one that doesn’t cost a fortune is nearly impossible.

Interior Designer Broomfield Colorado

On to hanging… This was the most stressful part of the project!

Interior Decorator Boulder ColoradoCustom Interior Design ColoradoOnce the hardware was up, it was time to stain again. Why didn’t I stain this with the other boards? The cold Colorado weather prevented me from staining in the garage. The 12′ L of this board prevented it from going down to the basement. Therefore, staining in place was the best option.

Modern Barn Door Is Complete and hung!!

Modern Interior Design Denver ColoradoAbove, the door is closed.

Urban Design Boulder ColoradoAnd a view with the door open.

Urban Decor Denver ColoradoAnd partially open. Maximum functionality here!

Modern Decor Boulder Colorado

I hope you’ve been inspired to think out of the box in your home! What project would you like to try?

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2012 | I Choose Happiness

January 5, 2012  |  by beautifulhabitat  |  in Denver, Designers, holidayNo Comments

Happy New Year!

Interior Design Boulder ColoradoI have honestly never been a fan of New Year’s Resolutions. I prefer to think that if you want to make changes in your life, don’t wait for a specific date on the calendar. However, this year I have taken some time to reflect on the year that has passed and what lies ahead. This reflection has raised a desire in me to strengthen a belief that I already have: to always choose happiness.

Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. ~ Guillaume Apollinaire

Many people tell me that I am a positive and happy person – and I am glad and grateful to hear that message. However, in our culture it is so easy to get sucked into the negativity that permeates modern life. Like anyone else, I can often feel the pull towards negativity, doubt, blame, judgement and ultimately unhappiness. But I have seen time and time again that feeling this negativity, and expressing it outwardly toward others, does nothing more than make me feel bad. So I always try to remember that in any moment of my life I have a choice and I’d like to Choose Happiness…every time.

Happy Decoration Denver Colorado

In 2012, I’ve like to continue to strengthen this belief – and the frequency that I am able to choose happiness in my life. I’d like to cultivate happiness wherever I go, because it is a constant within me.  In 2012, I Choose Happiness. I hope you will, too.

What are your goals for 2012?

A little video on Choosing Happiness: Choose Happiness

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Denver Arts Week

November 4, 2011  |  by beautifulhabitat  |  in art, Denver, Favorite Things, glass, localNo Comments

Hello my Colorado readers. Do you know about Denver Arts Week? Denver Arts Week celebrates the Mile High City’s vibrant arts and culture scene….Visual arts, theater, music, film, museums, dance, opera, comedy, history and heritage! Even better, it starts today.

Art in Denver ColoradoToday’s kick off coincides with the First Friday Art Walks. Do you know about First Friday’s? On the first Friday of each month, the galleries in several of Denver’s art districts open their doors for a fun open house. Whether on Santa Fe, Tennyson, or elsewhere, you can spend the evening snacking, sipping, and perusing several galleries throughout the districts.

Denver Arts week runs November 4 – 12 and features special events, concerts, art shows, theatre, dance, special deals and discounts. There is something for everyone in every category of art. Try something new and explore more than a dozen museums, 40 performing arts groups, eight neighborhood arts districts and 100 art galleries.

For more on Denver Arts Week and to search for events and specials: www.denver.org/DenverArtsWeek/

For more on First Friday Art Walks with a link to each participating art district:  www.denver.org/denverartsweek/firstfriday

www.denver.org/what-to-do/museum-art/first-friday-art-walks

So get out there and experience some of the best of this beautiful city. If you fall in love with a piece, an artist, a group or gallery, please share the details with us here!

 

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Trends: Dark Blue Walls

September 16, 2011  |  by beautifulhabitat  |  in Beautiful Habitat, bedroom, color, contemporary, Denver, Designers, Dramatic, fireplace, furniture, Home Office, paint, turquoise, walls1 Comments

A trend that I am currently loving is that of dramatic dark blue walls, typically paired with white furniture. Sometimes a splash of the light green or yellow is included for a fresh color palette. The blues range from navy, to deep turquoise to dusty denim. The result is always dramatic, yet the rooms can feel crisp and fun or elegant at the same time.

Dramatic Interiors in Denver ColoradoHouse Beautiful

Interior Decorating in Denver ColoradoThe Marion House

Interior Design in Boulder ColoradoLonny Magazine

Interior Designer in Denver Coloradotumblr

Luxury Interior Design in Boulder ColoradoLonny Magazine

I admit I am a little biased when it comes to loving this trend because I did it for a client last year. This is the home office/guest room of a beautiful 1930′s Bungalow in the Sloane’s Lake area west of Denver, Colorado.

Interior Design in Denver, ColoradoIntior Decorator in Denver, ColoradoBeautiful Habitat: Interior Design and Decoration

What do you think of this trend? Would you do dark walls in your home?

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Nail Head Project Wrap up

May 13, 2011  |  by Beautiful Habitat  |  in Beautiful Habitat, bedroom, Before and After, creative, Denver, Designers, DIY, fabric, furniture, Nail Head, pets, seating, Tips1 Comments

Nearly a year ago, I began an Obsession with Nail Head Trim. That turned into a project to reupholster a bench, adding a custom flair with a unique nail head design. I’m not usually a DIY’er so this project was both very challenging and rewarding for me. The bench has been completed for over a month now and I finally have the photos to share with you.

For a refresher on where we started, see the post: Nail Head Project Revealed.

The Process

First, the bench was reupholstered in a cool textual, pearly vinyl. Vinyl is virtually indestructible, and repels hair, fur, dirt, dust, spills and stains. It is also available in wonderful patterns, textures and colors from faux leather to bold creations.

My dining table created the perfect work station height.

custom upholstery

The next step was measuring and taping to ensure the pattern was straight and even. I sampled the design on a piece of cardboard before starting on the bench.

Interior Designer in Denver

I used a nail head template to mark out the pattern. The template ensures even spacing of the nails. The blue tape ensures that I keep the design level. I used a dry erase marker, which wipes right off of vinyl.

Interior Decorator in DenverMy German Shepherd liked all the interesting things going on in the dining room and though surely it meant this project was her play time.  And you were wondering what took so long to complete this project, but how can you say no to a face like that?

Interior Design with Pets in MindThen the nailing began…

Interior Designer in BoulderSeveral hundred nail heads later, a fully customized and original bench emerged. It was worth the effort to have an original piece.

The Reveal

Interior Decorator in Boulder, Colorado

Suessa is back to take credit for her contributions

Designing for Pets in Colorado

Customized Interior Design & Decor, Colorado

I hope I’ve inspired you to try something new in your home. Don’t be afraid to take your DIY projects to the next level. Just reupholstering the bench would have been boring. However, taking the time to create a unique design and add nail heads makes this piece much more interesting.

What projects are you working on in your home? How will you take it to the next level?

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