Home remodeling is a test...

A Home remodel is a test...

A test? Yes, between 2 people who have been married for 27 years last Friday. It definitely tests our patience…with each other! My husband is of the accountant sort that watches every purchase(not that I don’t disagree with it) and I am of the designer sort that knows what looks good and doesn’t always want to wait until we can fit it in the budget! We can wait for certain things if it means

I get just the perfect fireplace or the perfect glass backsplash…

after 27 years(30 if we count dating) we have also learned to

compromise. (He is not much on visualizing without pictures so

I have to provide pictures if I really want something…not a

problem!)
Whew! These past 2 weeks have been busy…we have so far torn

down the 32 foot wall that ran down the center of our main floor,

pulled trim off of windows, hired a contractor, and ordered doors,

raised the sunken living room floor to match the rest of the floor,

and moved the back door. Amazingly, the building permit only

took 8 days to be approved- I was pretty excited as I was told it could take up to a month to get back. Therefore, we are legal

and everything!
I have included pictures of the “expert laborers” (our wonderful

friend Mark and my wonderful brother-in-law Bob- actually I

should be thanking their wives for letting them come play!) These

2 have been invaluable with information, suggestions and tools…

boy, do they have tools! It is unbelievable to me after looking at

their “stashes”, that they still have tools on their wish lists!
I wanted to talk about hiring a contractor a little bit. Some things

to keep in mind: Are they licensed and insured? Have you seen any

of their previous work? What is the main focus of their work- are

they finish carpenters and going to sub out most of the work or are they pretty well rounded with work experience? Are they comfortable

answering your questions? Do they get back to you right away or is it

excuse after excuse? Most of all, are you comfortable with them?

They are going to be in your living space and around your family,

so be careful whom you choose.



Design Quote of the Week: “If you make a compromise- selecting something cheaper than what you really like- it compromises you, because you are never really happy with the result.” Rose Cumming

TOP 2 PHOTOS: 32' wall is out/looking to kitchen & back door

THIRD PHOTO: Looking to living room from end of kitchen

4th Photo: Looking to front door/living room

RIGHT: Sunken living room floor

raised

RIGHT: Back door BEFORE

and AFTER(the hole in the far right photo is the space the door formerly occupied.)

I hope you enjoy the journey with us- next weeks photos should be of the new hallway wall (It will meet up with the new back door placement) and entry to the half bath. Other plans are to add surround sound, a gas fireplace, a music system with different zones(because god forbid we actually have to listen to the same music as the other occupants), and new kitchen.

It all started with a new roof/sounds logical...

It all started with a new roof…
Our home remodel started with the need for a new roof…sort of like the snowball picking up speed as it rolls downhill…(I know you were thinking of another analogy-no R-rated info here!)
· If we replaced the 25 year old roof, we decided to change the front entry as long we were at it. (Should an interior designer live in a “1983-looking” house with vinyl siding? Oh, I think not!)
· If they were putting on new roof, we decided to put in a gas fireplace because it had to be vented through a brand new roof. (And yes, all of these years I have had a fake one in the living room.) I fooled a whole lot of people with the fake one by putting a custom mantle, made by my husband, and painting it. It truly looked like it should have worked.
· If we needed to vent the fireplace, we needed to decide where to put it. Why not take out the 32’ wall that runs down the center of the main floor? It separates the formal dining and living from the kitchen, laundry and ½ bath. Why not???
· If the wall comes down, we now have a “great room”…so, why not move the back door into the laundry room to allow more space for the “great room”…that means the laundry room gets smaller, along with the ½ bath.
· Where do all of the light switches, cold air returns move to?
· Now, we need more lighting in the “great room”. Because in 1983 they only put a fixture above where they thought the dining table would be. Definitely not enough for about 500 square feet of space.
· As long as we are in the attic with new lighting, why not look at putting in Smart home technology for sound or whatever else you desire…intercom, temperature, security, music…it “sounds” like this is the wave of the future!
· To better utilize the space, the kitchen should be remodeled. (We also need to make up for the fact that we are losing some storage space in the laundry room. It is very livable the way it is, but before we put in new flooring for the entire main floor we need the island in its new place.)

It all sounds very logical doesn't it? I will include the before and after floor plans as they are finalized. Wish us luck to be finished in a reasonable amount of time as it will be moving on to the master suite after this!!!!
It all started with a new roof….

DESIGN QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Nothing is in good taste unless it suits the way you live. What’s practical is beautiful…and suitability always overrules fashion.” Billy Baldwin

Remodel...Again Appliances...

I did some “local” research on appliances since I last wrote: induction cook tops come in several shapes and sizes. You really want to look at the watts on them as that will affect how quickly your water will boil! Several choices now: anything from portable, plug-in models to countertop models. They are the wave of the future-so watch for more models, for safeties sake if nothing else as I said last week that the burner must be covered 2/3 of the way before it will heat up. (A child throws a toy onto the burner and as long as it doesn’t cover the burner more than the 2/3, you will be good!)
We, my husband and I, are in the planning process for a big remodel at our house. He is an accountant and does not have much time until after April 15th to help with decisions, so it has fallen to me. Of course, I love it-the whole design process-but now have a budget to deal with. My spouse doesn’t get too deep into the design phase, so when he does voice his opinion I try to listen and incorporate it into the design. I am including some pictures of the “before”. The 32’ wall that runs down the center of the main floor will be removed, a couple of 4’ walls will be removed, an new shed roof over the entry will be added to the front, along with 2 columns. We also will add a gas fireplace, new kitchen, level out the sunken living room floor and move the back door over 3’ into the mud room. All of this will create a great “great room”! I will keep you updated…I am considering concrete, granite, copper, and/or paper countertops. The floors will be tile in the laundry & ½ bath for now, & laminate in the whole main great room with a couple of area rugs for “warmth”. (We have 2 boxers who are tough on floors.)
If you are considering a remodel, I recommend that you get more than 1 bid just to see if you’re in the ballpark. I would also look at some of each of the contractor’s past work, and make sure that all of the bids are comparing apples to apples. Just on a front entry door, my bids were $800 apart. Remember that the bidding will take a while; you are at the mercy of the contractors depending on the time of year. The other obstacle can be the permit process. In Great Falls it can take 2 to 3 weeks to get your permit.
Okay, here are a few BEFORE pics: I will keep you "posted" on the progress!

DESIGN QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Neither good taste or wealth…can transform a house into a home, for a home does not consist in the quality of its architecture or décor, but in the quality of the lives that it expresses.” Philippa Tristam, Living Space

Appliances are exciting?!?!

Just back from a NKBA Advanced Appliances Class-exciting you say??? Maybe that doesn’t sound exciting to you- but it was great! Appliance tidbits 4 thought: 1st dishwasher was invented in 1893, frozen food wasn’t available until the 1930’s, and halogen lights being used to cook food. Kitchen suite trends? Induction or magnetic cooking has actually been around for 15 years, and is the wave of the future! Why you ask, because it takes up to 50% less time to boil a large pot of water, a child would not be burned if they touched the surface right after a pot was pulled off the burner. Small metal objects will not heat. Two thirds of the cooking area must be covered to begin heating. Pretty cool for parents. LOL-get it???
How about the fact that most chefs want gas fuel for their cook tops, but gas is the least efficient way to cook. Smooth top and induction cook tops are better, with induction being 90% effective.
History is being made today with microwaves, steam ovens, and halogen lights. We feed our families, have fun, and save energy all at the same time! Washers and dryers with colors like evergreen and crimson are driving the trend toward color on other appliances. Case in point: Jenn-Air and KitchenAid are producing oiled bronze kitchen appliances, Amana allows its’ customers to choose color and a design for their refrigerator, Décor has color infused glass panels with black, anthracite gray, sterling silver, titanium silver, blue water, and slate green being choices. Www.vikingrange.com has a color tool with 24 options in their Custom Professional Series.
The class brought up the question: “Why do experts in the kitchen field not recommend blue for kitchen appliances?” Because, and it is a big because, blue does not reflect well on food. It is the color of mold and that can bring up negative connotations. So, why have they just started manufacturing blue interiors on ovens??? The old grey was just fine! Now, I bet you think about that little tidbit when buying your next oven!!!
Why don’t people vent their stovetops? In the old days, it may have been because vents sounded like a jet engine taking off! Besides the reduction in the noise level, good reasons to vent include: remove smoke, grease, moisture, heat, Nitrogen Oxide and Carbon Monoxide to create healthy indoor air environment. NKBA recommends a minimum of 150 CFM (cubic feet per minute), but the manufacturers recommendations always trump this for warranty reasons. (Be sure to turn your vent on 20 minutes before starting to cook so air begins to circulate.)
There is a whole lot more exciting appliance information to cover, but not enough time! Let me know if you have questions.
Before I sign off this week, I wanted to be clear that I am very pro “buy in your own town”. Last week I talked about a wonderful store in Spokane named The Tin Roof where I found a great dining set, perfect for my dining room remodel. I am checking in Great Falls stores to see if it can be purchased thru a local store first.
DESIGN QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "Great design isn't just about aesthetically pleasing rooms," he says. "The whole point of interior design is about creating environments where people can really live their lives and where you can connect with your friends and family." VERN YIP at www.remodelingcenter.com

Color of the year is...

Color Trends for this year? According to Traditional Home magazine, consider blue, 70 years of blue that is! I have subscribed to this publication for 8 years and am always inspired by the content. According to Pantone the color of the year is “#15-5519 Turquoise; combining serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green.” If you are wondering who or what Pantone is-they are the “color people” who started a standardized color system in 1963. It allows different manufacturers in different locations to reference the same color using Pantone’s numbers. [FYI- past colors of the year are as follows: 2009 was Mimosa (kind of a wheat yellow), 2008 was Blue Iris, and 2007 was Chili Pepper.]
I used to think I did not like blue much, and then I consider the sky and water all around us and how beautiful it is to just be surrounded by it. Turquoise itself makes me think of tropical settings where we usually are on vacation (especially if you are from Montana) and trying to re-invigorate our bodies “batteries”. Even if you are not on vacation, the color represents an escape or fantasy. (Maybe that’s why it was chosen as the color of the year- so we can escape the recession our country is currently trying to pull itself out of?!?! Hmmm…) In other cultures, it is believed that Turquoise can protect us from evil spirits and represents faith and truth. Whether it has warm or cool undertones, it is a universally flattering color to both men and women and can be paired with any color on the spectrum. Yummy with neutrals or browns, delicious with reds or pinks, maritime with deep blues, livens up greens and trend –setting with yellow-greens. I like it because it can be very soothing or bold depending on what you want to accomplish.
Interior trends are leaning toward the relaxing soothing shades- bringing the outdoors in. Whether it is the greens, browns, tans or black white and grays, these all represent different natural elements and our need to feel “green”. Light, pale pink and yellow are also showing up. I am seeing washed woods that can have pink tone. And remember, you don’t have to paint the entire room in 1 of these bold colors, maybe an accent wall, then use your accessories to reinforce the scheme.
I hope that all of you will become environmentally conscious and will learn about how paint affects our environment. Oil based paint versus latex based, low-VOC or no-VOC (volatile organic compound), primer included in the paint, etc.
There is a lot of information on color- warm versus cool, dark colors receding, shades, & tints are just a small part of color. I actually spent an entire college semester learning about color and could have used more. In other parts of the US people will specialize in “color”, much like a accountant who only works on estates.
Don’t be afraid to buy a sample size amount of your paint and check it out on your walls. It is cheaper than buying a whole room of paint and then realizing it doesn’t look perfect. It is also cheaper than buying a couch in the wrong color and then being stuck with it. Remember that lighting affects how a color will look. For example, fluorescent lighting is generally what is used in paint stores, but your home may use a warmer incandescent or halogen bulb so the color is going to appear different in each circumstance. I have painted 4 different colors at the same time and ended up choosing a custom color that was ½ way between 2 colors next to each other on the paint chips. It was so worth it- the color is just right!
I hope I have inspired you to look at color slightly differently- maybe update your home in a small way or just gave you information for down the road. If you have more questions, please email me at v.v.design@msn.com.
DESIGN QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Vern loves to decorate his own space with items gathered on his adventures around the world. Even if you're not a globe-trotter, you can still achieve a similar look. "Don't buy the magnets and T-shirts," Vern says. "When you go on vacation, buy one thing for your house. Surrounding yourself with things from your adventure is a great way to mark time."
Said by VERN YIP on http://www.remodelingcenter.com/

I know, I know, Seattle and Spokane since last blog

Hi everyone! I know, I know I promised posts by Sunday nights…my excuse? I have been traveling…first to Port Orchard, Washington- home a few days- then to Spokane, WA.
My trip to Seattle involved delivering 12 windows worth of coverings: 8 roman shades and 4 drapes with large grommets for the living room, kitchen, spare bedroom, dining room, and hallway of my daughter McCall & son-in-law Zach’s new home. I really feel that window dressings are part of the jewelry of the room…they can either be the showpiece or just blend in and allow other pieces to be the focal point. In McCall and Zach’s case, we had a little of both: the aqua damask is definitely the focal point of the living room!(Photo on left.) The Cheltenham fabric in the spiced curry painted kitchen (http://www.calicocorners.com/) is perfect for their updated traditional style and pulls all of the colors they like together.(Photo on right.)



I considered the 2nd trip (and the reason I missed the self-imposed Sunday deadline) a research trip! My friend Annette needed to pick up a dining set, look at granite, faucets, & lighting for a kitchen remodel. Research you ask? When else would I get to visit a larger city (Spokane) to view the whole line of Kohler products, lots of different granite, upscale faucets, lighting brands I had never heard of, and visit another cabinet showroom and factory (Huntwood)??? AND, I found another great furniture store called The Tin Roof. http://www.tinrooffurniture.com/ The owners’ daughter is a published interior designer from the area & does a fantastic job with displays. Yes, you can get the furniture here in Great Falls at Rachel’s, Ferrin’s Furniture or Motifs for the Home. (Anybody want some lighted flowers or pussy willow branches???)
If any of you are fans of Amy Butler style fabric, check out http://www.buttercuppity.com/ website. They are located downtown Spokane and carry a large selection of bright fabrics perfect for children’s clothes, aprons, computer covers, pillows, computer bags, or diaper bags.
We also fit Big Sky Tournament Women’s Basketball games into the schedule as Annette’s niece Rachel plays for MSU. They made it all the way to the championship game, but lost by 4 points!
Things I learned on these 2 trips:
-The song “Fall” by Jasmine Ash is perfect for a wedding DVD.
-Wear good shoes as walking a lot while kitchen shopping is unavoidable.
-Leaving Spokane at 5:30 pm gets me home to Great Falls about 1:45 am. (Even with snow on Rogers Pass near Lincoln, MT)
-So, you really do need to handpick your granite as there is no such thing as a single piece of soapstone or Black Pearl granite looking the same…it all depends on where it came out of the quarry.
-Sean Kelly’s Bar & Grill in Missoula, MT is completely full on a Wednesday night with college age bingo players! Good food, good times!
-The Mo Club is a great place to spot Great Falls UM students celebrating Kelly Waumbacher’s 23rd birthday.


-Annette and I did not run out of things to discuss- we were able to solve the world’s problems between Great Falls & Spokane!
-Annette’s friends are my friends- our wonderful hosts, Dana & Dave, had never met me before Thursday night but treated me as if I had known them forever! Thanks D & D English!

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

DESIGN QUOTE OF THE WEEK: [on marketing using interior design] You don't sell a commodity, you sell joy, gaiety, excitement. You aim at people's hearts, not their minds.
Dorothy Draper, Detroit News

Where to start...

My family would attest to the fact that I have always loved interior design- I would constantly be changing things around or decorating on a budget. I was never afraid to build my own tufted ottomans, sew my own drapes, reupholster furniture, or paint at the drop of a hat! At 18 years old, when choosing a major in college it was the farthest thing from my mind. Instead, I chose a double major of Business Administration with an emphasis in Management, and Home Economics with an emphasis in Clothing Textiles thinking I would like retail work. (Home economics because it was easy for me; I had sewn since I was 10 years old, learning through 4-H.) After college, I married the love of my life, we moved to Havre, MT and I worked in retail until I realized that the hours did not match with his. Then we had 2 beautiful children and I chose my jobs based on their schedules. I worked as a hearing reporter for Social Security Hearings, I taught classes in basket weaving, sewing, quilting, machine beading, and various other crafts. I also started a federally subsidized lunch program at a parochial school, and substitute taught middle and high school students. Through those years I had requests from friends or family to help them decorate their spaces and I knew I needed more information, so at 47 years of age, I decided to go back to school for Interior Design, as I knew that that was what I really wanted to do until I retired. Little did I know how much of a difference there is between interior design and interior decorating! To clarify, interior decorating is just that: choosing colors, fabrics, etc, interior design involves lighting requirements, drawing floor plans/mechanical plans/furniture schedules, space planning requirements, codes, kitchen and bath planning for both residential and commercial applications. Many homework hours later, and a lot less sleep…
I graduated in May 2009, started my own consulting business, v.v. Design, passed the first level of the kitchen and bath design test, hence the AKBD(Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer) behind my name and have been helping clients ever since.
Each week I will cover a different topic, as well as post an interior design quote of some sort. I will update by Sunday night so that followers will have all week to read and be updated. Please email me if you have questions you would want answered.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
The essence of interior design will always be about people and how they live. It is about the realities of what makes for an attractive, civilized, meaningful environment, not about fashion or what's in or out." Albert Hadley