Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Bathroom

The Bathroom is done! Well almost...

We are pretty particular with all the small details so we are working on getting it perfect, but it's exciting to walk into a beautiful new space every morning.

I only wish our bathroom was bigger so you could get a better sense of the space from the photographs.

Loving the new comfort height toilet from Kohler, however I'm considering replacing the flush handle with a more traditional fixture that correlates with the other finishes. You can buy replacement flush handles at big box stores like Home Depot or Lowes.


Our Vanity Top came out beautifully. As I mentioned in a previous posting, we decided to use the same color marble on the floor and the counter. I hand picked the slab of marble and showed them exactly where to cut to be certain there weren't any imperfections. In fact they actually brought a counter that wasn't cut according to my specifications and there was a large imperfection (think a gigantic birthmark) on the stone. I felt badly, but I told them I couldn't accept this counter and requested a new piece. Thankfully they had another slab at their warehouse and I was able to get a new counter.

I am obsessed with the Container Store - it is seriously my happy place! Thanks to an $85 trip to the container store, our medicine cabinet now looks organized and pretty.


We decided to put a small niche in the shower wall. These are easy to build in between the studs. The only real cost is the extra work for the tiler. Ours cost an extra $75 worth of labor, but I think it's worth it.

I will post in a few days explaining where we purchased everything. You can also look forward to a post on how to choose a general contractor and how to survive a remodel!

Friday, June 25, 2010

Staging!

Before starting Paper Possibilities, I worked for my Dad's Real Estate Development company- Focus Development. I still have a passion for real estate and occasionally he allows me to furnish and decorate one of his models. Most recently he gave me the opportunity to work on a fabulous unit at his development Courthouse Square.

Courthouse Square is a condominium development located in Wheaton, IL. The development includes new construction condominiums and rowhomes, however the centerpiece is the Historic DuPage County Courthouse which was restored and renovated into 6 luxurious condominiums. The building was built in 1896 when the county seat moved from Naperville to Wheaton. In the 1960's, the county built a Jail/Annex addition to accommodate their growing needs. In the 90's the county moved all of their offices to a complex on the other side of town, and the building was used by National Louis as it's Wheaton campus. My Dad and his partners purchased the property as part of a redevelopment agreement with the city of Wheaton in 2003. They demolished the eyesore of an addition, built the new condominiums, and began restoring the Courthouse. It was a painstaking process to restore the building, however I am so PROUD of the end result. The Courthouse looks beautiful now and is truly a reflection of the city of Wheaton and its history!

After the Addition was removed, before the restoration

After

I worked with my Dad to design the "Courtroom Residence". This condominium is located where the original Courtroom used to be. It features 22' vaulted ceilings, 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, and 3600 square feet. I chose all of the finishes (i.e. cabinets, counters, backsplash, flooring, etc.) and decorated it with furnishings from Toms-Price. Sidenote - Toms-Price is now having a Floor sample sale and there are some amazing deals to be had!


Living Room

Dining Room

Master Bathroom

I'll be honest the kitchen I designed for this unit is very similar to what I hope my kitchen will eventually look like. I am still loving the look of painted white cabinets and I'm hoping they will never go out of style!

Hope this gives you a lot of inspiration!