Evan’s incredible loft….and a dilemma

Posted on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 by KiM

Evan emailed us looking for some help. Knowing our readers, I’m sure there will be lots of great advise provided that he can run with – just wait till you see what he’s working with!

Evan just moved to downtown Los Angeles and he’s facing his usual dilemma – he starts off strong and then doesn’t know how to finish. “As usual I rushed into buying things that I wish I could replace but that will have to wait. My problem is I always end up at this point and don’t know how to finish or were to go from here. I know something HUGE over the sofa will help and the building offers to paint two walls…should I take them up on their offer and most important – which two walls and what color? FYI: It’s only been two months and I’m already looking to replace the dining table, cocktail table and entry hall table. I am notorious for rushing into things especially when I’m on a budget.”

I was rendered speechless when I saw Evan’s photos. The space ROCKS, and I love just about every piece of his furniture. So how about I show you all the photos, then I’ll give my 2 cents and I’d love it if you guys could pipe in with ideas for Evan as well.

First thing is I would definitively paint 2 walls out, especially if the building is offering. I would paint the wall your sofa is on, and the long wall opposite up to the bathroom. (I’m guessing that area is the bedroom?) I do agree that something really large over your sofa would be great to really showcase the height and size of the space. If you want the sofa wall to be a bit of a bold accent colour then perhaps you should chose some artwork and then choose a wall colour that will highlight the art. The loft seems to get so much light from those windows, so you might even be able to get away with a dark colour, like a chocolate brown for drama. Or even black!! That being the case I’d chose artwork on the lighter side. The other wall I would do a concrete grey because I am a huge fan of grey as a neutral. It will go with everything. As for the furniture I agree about losing the dining table…and chairs. They look way too small and insignificant. I like the rest of the furniture ALOT, but the console table with the mirror above – I’d paint that out black. It looks too traditional with the rest of your furniture. While you’re at it paint out the mirror too. 🙂 A huge rug in the living room and another under your dining table and you’ll be good to go!

I think I’ll stop there and turn it over to everyone else. (Thanks for sharing your home with us Evan! Hope we can help!)

Barbara Frua De Angeli

Posted on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 by KiM

It’s settled – I’m going to sell my home in lovely Ottawa and buy a little rustic Italian villa. OK, maybe not, but in the meantime I am happy to settle for the portfolio of Italian design diva Barbara Frua De Angeli. So simple yet so effective.

Kim’s long weekend

Posted on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 by KiM

This is the last day of my Easter weekend (5 days!) and it was fix-up-my-bedroom weekend. Plaster, sand, wait for it to dry, plaster, sand, wait for it to dry…..still waiting…..to hell with it, paint, paint, paint. This went on for 3.5 straight days. I was too impatient to do a great job but it was good enough. You can hardly tell there used to be a closet in my bedroom. Mission accomplished.

Here’s a quick glimpse (as I showed you all the other day) of the former room, looking at the mess that used to be the closet (and what a b*tch that was to patch):

I went with a very pale pink on the walls, which turns out to be hard to photograph accurately. I chose BM’s Elephant Pink at 25% strength, and BM’s Snowfall White for the trim and the floors. I need to give the floor a few days to cure so in the meantime I am sleeping on my DIY couch. Turns out painting laminate floors works quite well. (I plan on replacing all that cheap laminate with hardwood eventually). This morning I put out a few items I hope to use in the new bedroom, to give you an idea of where I’m going with this project. Vintage boho I’ll call it – which means I get to reuse alot of junk I already have as I am still trying to pay off my kitchen and funds are reeeeeally low.

Hopefully next weekend I’ll be able to move some furniture in there and get out to Ikea to get the rest of what I need (new headboard-less/footboard-less bed frame and bookcases). More photos to come after that happens.

Amanda Martocchio

Posted on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 by KiM

Amanda Martocchio Architecture and Design is a firm based in New Canaan, CT that embraces sustainable design and new technologies. Amanda’s designs are classic and very much timeless, with modern touches to keep the spaces current. Perfection I’d call it….in particular some of the bathrooms featured below. (I’ve already saved them to my inspiration file for my future bathroom renos).

Hand

Posted on Wed, 8 Apr 2009 by KiM

Pierre Emmanuel Martin and Stéphane Garotin are the names behind Hand, an interior design firm from France. They have some home furnishing stores as well that are designed so beautifully you could simply walk in and think you were “home”. Their work is contemporary but filled with warm neutral colours and plush, simple furnishings – the kind you can put your feet up on. They also mix in mid-century modern furniture pieces that add a bit of funkiness. I’m taking many notes, because these spaces are totally my style.