Contemporary Interior Design | Beautiful Habitat Design & Decoration

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!

Custom Furniture Design

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.

Interior Designer Denver CO

Interior Designer Boulder

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

Double Duty Desk & Nightstand | Bedroom Design

March 21, 2013 | by beautifulhabitat | in bedroom, contemporary, creative, furniture, Master Suite, modern, Small Spaces, Traditional, Work SpaceNo Comments

Using a small desk in place of a nightstand is chic and convenient use of space in the bedroom. In small spaces, it is always wise to have furniture serve multiple functions. Even in larger bedrooms, a desk in place of a nightstand adds function and interest. In the Master Suite it can serve as a quite spot to journal or write to friends. In a guest room it provides a small, private work space for visitors. The idea works well in both modern and traditional spaces. Look at these stylish bedroom desks:

Interior Decorator in Denver

via Bryn Alexandria

Master Suite Design in Westminster, CO

via Beautiful Habitat

Custom Interior Design via Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper

Interior Designer in Boulder

via Ashton Sebastian

Master Suite Design

via DecorPad

Interior Decor in Denver

via Bryn Alexandria

Creative Interior Design Bedroom

via Willow Be Inspired

Modern Interior Design Boulder

via Lonny

Interior Design for Small Spaces

via Real Simple

Two-Toned Kitchens | Love it or Leave it?

March 12, 2013 | by beautifulhabitat | in Beautiful Habitat, Entertaining, kitchen, Love it or Leave It, paint2 Comments

Whether it be different colors for Base cabinets and Wall cabinets or switching up the color for the island, kitchens with multiple colors of cabinetry are all around. Do you love it, or would you leave it?

Custom Kitchen Design

via Better Homes & Gardens

Kitchen Design in Denver CO

via Beautiful Habitat

Interior Design & Decoration

via Pinterest

Kitchen Designer Boulder CO

via Home Bunch

Full Service Interior Design Colorado

via Pinterest

Custom Kitchens and Design

via Southern Living

Contemporary Interior Designer

via The Marion House Book

How do you “Spa”?

January 23, 2013 | by beautifulhabitat | in bath, Bathroom, Beautiful Habitat, Coastal, Spa1 Comments

I am in the early phases of a bathroom redesign with a long-time client. She has a hard time defining what she likes. Thankfully we’ve worked together before, so I have a good feel for her style already. This time we are working on the master bathroom.

In our first meeting, she said she wants a “Spa-like Bathroom”. Designers will tell you that is the most common request in all of design. The problem is, when we all say “spa-like bathroom”, we each have a different image of that meaning in our head. So now I have assigned homework to my client: define your spa. What does a “Spa” mean to you? And I thought, I’d love to know how my readers define their dream spa. So how do you spa?

Nature

For many people, “spa” inspires images of nature. Seems simple, enough. However, images of nature vary so much by your locale, your idea of comfort. Does it mean ocean, does it mean texture? Is that texture wood, stone? Here are nature inspired bathrooms. Do they say “spa” to you?

via Rumah Tropika

via Houzz

Ocean, Beach, Coastal

For others, “spa” is a very coastal feeling. For years, my bestie and I would frequent a spa in Boulder Colorado that had a very beachy, Nantucket feel. For a long time, my “spa” meant beach feel, with a blue and sand color palette, weathered wood and marine-inspired light fixtures. I even designed a beach bath in my own home. I’ll share soon (can’t believe I’ve never shared it before!)

Images via Apartment Therapy

Simplicity, Calm, Zen

And still for others, “spa” means a calm and serenity. It’s about simplicity in lines and colors. This is more where my “spa” leans today, although I do still have a soft spot for the beach while we are land-locked in Colorado.

via Canadian House & Home

via Elle Decor

Meditative

And for others, “spa” takes on a spiritual element and may include a meditation space.

Images via Pinterest

How do you “spa”? What elements define a “Spa-like Bathroom” for you?

Want to create a Spa feel, without a complete overhaul of your bathroom? Here are some quick tips to add a Spa atmosphere to your bathroom.

7 Ways to Modernize Your Home’s Entryway | Guest Post

October 18, 2012 | by beautifulhabitat | in color, Foyer & Entry, Guest Post, lighting, mirrors, pink, TipsNo Comments

Many of us use our homes as blank canvases to express ourselves through art, furniture, and home décor. Some people like to renovate their entire homes all at once, while others prefer to go one room at a time. Where we choose to spend all of renovation efforts is a reflection of where we enjoy spending time. Some people like to spend hours pampering in the bathroom. Other folks want to build fully equipped home entertainment centers. Still others pour their hearts, souls, and dollars into conjuring up the bedroom of their dreams. And you can’t forget the homeowners that spend as much time on their own abodes as they do for their pets – doghouses get renovations too!

But no matter which room you decide you want to invest the most time and money in, you should be careful not to forget about your home’s entryway. After all, the entryway is the first thing your guests see when they walk through your front door. The good news is that updating your entryway is fun, easy, and often inexpensive. Here are seven different ways you can modernize your home’s entryway.

1. Create an interesting focal point – Sometimes an entryway can be entirely transformed with just the hanging of one great piece of art or a stunning, large mirror. TJ Maxx always has some unique pieces at fair prices. A small investment can make a big difference, entirely changing the area from ho-hum to modern and new.

Interior Design Tips Source: www.simpledesignideas.com

2. Paint the entryway a new color - When you first moved in, you probably focused your painting efforts on the rooms in your house, possibly forgetting the hallways and entryway. Spruce the area up with a new coat of paint in an unexpected hue. Just be sure you coordinate the new paint job with any existing furniture and décor you are keeping.

Interior Decorator Tips Source: www.housebeautiful.com

3. Update your doormat - Some people love doormats, other people loathe them but if you use one, it needs to be replaced every now and again. Use a doormat as an opportunity to breathe fresh air into your entry area. Try something unexpected like bamboo or even plastic. Doormats are often inexpensive so consider getting a few different ones and changing them according to your mood.

Foyer Design Source: www.houzz.com

4. Switch up the lighting – Light fixtures are easy to replace and can make a big impact on the look of the room or area. Find a light fixture that inspires you and see what happens! You might find yourself spending time in the foyer from now on instead of the living room! And light fixtures also tend to last for years and years, so they are a good place to invest.