Friday, December 6, 2013

Before & After Interior Design Photos : 2 Bathrooms in The Glebe Ottawa

1]
Ensuite Bathroom.
At first, I'm thinking : well that's not too bad....it's white...it's roomy...there is a window...


Then I notice the details such as the hideous fluorescent light [and the hospital-like blue-hued light it emits], cookie cutter bathtub with the toidy right beside it [yuk], cheap vanity with strange shaped counter top.....

Voila!

The toilet was moved to the far left side of the room, out of the way. A custom vanity and matching linen tallboy [across from toilet; not in photo] add tons of storage including deep drawers with built-in plugs for hair dryer and curling iron! The shower is up a step and is enclosed by a tub on one side and glass on the other.....very spa like. Of course the floors are heated. I want one !

2]
Main Bathroom.
Even more amazing is this transformation for a main bathroom in the Glebe neighborhood :

Again with the strange shaped counter top and cool *bare* fluorescent-tube fixture - there must have been a sale at Home Depot !



Look how much the walnut cabinet warms the room up. The brown tones in the floor tile, tie in with the dark tones of the adjacent hardwood. Simple and elegant.


Here is a better viewing angle :



And for the grand finale :

Warm, clean, contemporary.  Notice the floor slopes down from the doorway into the shower drain. A display and product storage feature was built into the wall, between the studs, designed so the tiles fit perfectly with minimal grout lines. The wall tile on the left and right side is the white version of the dark brown tile.  It *sparkles* in real life.  What more can one ask for?

Next time on Before & After Interior Design Photos : Burrito Gringo Restaurant on Bronson

Blogatchalater!
Y

Friday, November 8, 2013

Why We Love Before & After Photos : Week 1 Black Cat Bistro

Why do we love them so much - because they are awesome! They show how fabulous a transformation... a renovation can make you feel....not to mention increase the quality of life exponentially.  The uplifting lightness you feel once finished is like getting a new haircut x1000.  Over the years I have been asked to show some of my before and after photos, which I was reluctant to share for fear I would hurt someone's feelings. But I think I'm overly sensitive and have changed my mind.  So here is the first installment : Black Cat Bistro




















Next week's B & A : Second Avenue Bathroom

Ciao!

Monday, October 7, 2013

Rooms with Focal Points We Love

Hello, everyone! It’s Mari here. I'm so happy to be with you today to share a guest post from Arcadian Home blog. It's a fantastic place to find interior design inspiration including great decorating ideas for everything from beautiful folding screens to warm rugs for the floor. Today’s topic is all about focal points we love. I’ve brought along images of eight rooms with some of my favorite beautiful, interesting and sometimes unexpected visual points of interest. Please enjoy! Thanks to Yvonne for letting me visit for a bit. ~ Mari Focal Points Perhaps the focal point of a room design is in the eye of the beholder. One might say the fireplace and contemporary artwork above it combine to create a focal point or the lovely ceiling perhaps, but for me the fascinating couture art piece is what I’m drawn to in this gorgeous space. What catches your eye and holds your attention here? Focal Points We don’t often think of buffet lamps, even colorful ones, as focal points. But this chartreuse glass lamp is most certainly the most eye-catching element in this high-rise apartment vignette. I love the brilliant color and curvy shape. Focal Points An intriguing oval desk takes center stage in this beautiful home office. A soft slightly feminine Hermes botanical wallpaper provides a lovely backdrop for this unique desk created from a steel oil drum—a study in contrast. Focal Points Even with a beautiful color-drenched painting on the teal wall behind it, a long red Chesterfield sofa is definitely the focal point in this sophisticated living room. Focal Points The appealing texture of leather becomes the point of interest in this contemporary living room. Strips of leather have been used to create an eye-catching rug that defines the conversation area. Focal Points How about double doors with a beautiful metallic finish for a fascinating focal point in an entryway? It looks stunning with the delicate gold chair. Focal Points I love surprising focal points like decorative trays as art in the bathroom. This stylish bath with large glass enclosed shower and pretty glass tile wall below the wainscoting goes for the unexpected with a not so serious take on a gallery wall. Focal Points In the midst of an amazing city view, a black and white rug from Diane Von Furstenberg is still the focal point of this open-air dining room. It provides an anchor and beautifully defines the dining area. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 What do you think of these interiors? Leave us your thoughts below and come by our blog for more home decor, foyer lighting, and interior inspirations. Blogatchalater ~Yvonne and Mari

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Design Adventures in China : Photo Journal of My Working Holiday

Designing for an English speaking client is tricky enough - what is their vision? what goals do they have? how are they expecting the end result to enrich their life? Now add to that, that none of the suppliers, contractors or users speak English !! The cultural difference is another story....luckily for me, it was the "American" design culture they were looking to emulate and capitalize on. These were some of the challenges I faced while on contract to design a trade show booth, company branding and of course...furniture for furniture manufacturer EDIMASS in Guangzhou, China from 2005-07.

Below is a photo journal of my experience, enjoy !

Land in Hong Kong and marvel at the architecture :



and the commerce, the Hong Kong port stretched for miles as we whizzed past :



Enter into "The Mainland" and fear for my life !! :



many, many modes of transportation and means of survival :



And some shocking roadside poverty :







A nice spot of tea with Horace, EDIMASS factory owner, before starting our 12 hour day :




EDIMASS' beautiful factory including inner courtyard [turns into basketball court after hours] :



One of a hundred or so modern factory showrooms we went to. Such a contrast of old and new !:



Here we are at a lumber yard - notice the background of the sign indicating the product they sell :



Lunch time with Lorna [factory co-owner and  my personal translator / assistant]  and Horace
- notice the Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe reproductions that they produce :



Working on new designs. Prototypes would literally appear overnight, as opposed to 2-3 weeks later when working with North American furniture makers. The Chinese work very fast therefore a lot was accomplished in 2-3 weeks :


Working on some branding for my designs; a super cool technique used to etch logos onto knives. This solution was suggested by Nicola working for Driade [Italian furniture company] :



And marketing materials for EDIMASS including the logo; chosing a Pantone color was tricky as they had no idea what I was talking about.... :



Finally, a day off with a friend [a concierge at my hotel who spoke some English] to see some gorgeous parks :
Michael Yu

Me


White Cloud Park, Guangzhou, China

Building the EDIMASS tradeshow booth I designed, for the CIFF in Guangzhou, China :



Show time ! Outside of the super modern trade show complex :



and inside :










Coffee break at the show - typically hilarious translations of American marketing mumbo jumbo :



More of my furniture designs at the show :


Speaker Wire Weave - Detail

 Having a quality control meeting with the factory workers in the tradeshow booth !! :



And now the night life when the real business happens !  :

Eugene, Ian, Lina, our driver


Karaoke Chinese style after dinner - this club probably holds 1,000+ people :


... these photos don't portray how extremely hot and extremely crowded it was....

A fond farewell to my Mainland friends, and back to Hong Kong and it's amazing lights, fashion and interior design. Here I had dinner with my great friend Phillip Van Leeuwen whom I am forever thankful to for encouraging me to go. :



I am also eternally thankful for my loving, caring husband Richard, who encouraged me to go and supported me every step of the way, never complaining once....even after missing 2 wedding anniversaries.
Will I ever go back? You bet ! It has been an amazing experience I never thought I would ever have.....
Blogatachalater,
Y