Retro Remodeling

This website is a wonderful resource for those planning a "Mad Man Era" kitchen remodeling.

With no idea how to go about decorating the pink bathroom in the midcentury home she and her husband had bought in Lexington, Ky., Judi Forston typed “1959 Ranch” into Google. “I thought I’d find something architectural and scholarly about houses built in that era,” Ms. Forston said. Instead, she found retrorenovation.com.

Since Ms. Kueber started her Web site in 2007, it has become the epicenter of a small but devoted group of mid-century design enthusiasts, a go-to destination for homeowners who spurn the latest décor trends in favor of re-tiling their bathrooms in turquoise mosaics from the Eisenhower years or installing Dishmaster kitchen faucets whose bulky forms recall those of a late-model Studebaker. (read more)

Restoring the Retro House by Steven Kurutz

What is good design? Experts weigh in

I am honored to have been asked to contribute to a Houston Chronicle article on interior design:

Modernism shook the world with its radical departure from classic and traditional styles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The modernists brought their attention to craft and "less is more" and "form and function" mantras to the masses, along with the concept that through an improved built environment, we could improve our lives. Out of that philosophy has grown today's sustainability movement, which focuses on conservation, reuse, adaptibility and our relationship to the natural environment.

The next movement has yet to present itself, so meanwhile, we asked a few Texas designers and architects, "What is good design?"

Julie Schaff Risman, furniture and interior designer, owner of the Inside Story Design, San Antonio; www.insidestorydesign.com:

Some of my guiding principles: Follow the rules of scale and proportion. Don't use small furniture in a large room with high ceilings. Better a few larger items than many small ones. Expensive purchases (furniture and rugs, for example) should be classic and enduring; other, less-expensive items can be more trendy — think pillows and accessories.

Mix materials and style to create interest - wood, glass, stone, metal and fabric. Mixing antiques with modern pieces makes a room interesting and not predictable. All of one material or style creates what I call the furniture showroom effect.

Your home should tell your story. Art and artifacts from your travels, collections and artful photos turn a house into a home and prevent the model-home look. Always add an organic element to a space: plants, fresh flowers, seagrass, shells and salvaged items breathe life and warmth into a space. Edit - if in doubt, leave it out.

( read more )

By Melanie Warner Spencer Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle

Decorating a Luxury Bathroom

Luxurious bathroom remodeling is one of the things that I most love to do for my clients here in San Antonio.

Luxury bathrooms have become one of the hottest trends in home décor in the last few years. Now more than ever bathrooms are becoming spa-like retreats where people go to unwind and relax after a hard day. To make your bathroom a luxurious retreat that will make you feel like royalty, check out some of these tips and ideas.

Lighting

Task lighting is important in any bathroom, but for a luxury bathroom it's also important to include ambient lighting. To create a romantic, rich look consider including a chandelier and possibly sconces. Look for materials like gilt and crystal to amp up the rich look. And most importantly, don't forget to include dimmer switches on all the lights.

Vanity

If you're starting from scratch and you need to put in a new vanity consider purchasing an antique marble-top chest of drawers and putting a sink in it. You'll lose some of the storage because the plumbing will need to be accommodated but depending on the chest you should still be able to get a drawer or two (this also works with old cabinets and buffets). This idea isn't for the faint of heart because once you've altered the piece you can't go back, but the results can be well worth it. [ read more ]

Decorating a Luxury Bathroom by Lauren Flanagan

Tips for Selecting Two-Toned Wall Colors

Two-toned wall color schemes add contrast and sophistication to your interior decorating efforts.

While some do-it-yourselfers cautiously pair Soft Beige with Linen White, professional colorists favor bolder combinations. Rooms with chair rail offer a perfect opportunity to create less-expected pairings. “Use lighter shades above the rail to pull the eye up and darker ones below to ground the room,” says Susan English, a color consultant in Cold Spring, New York. “One reliable strategy is to pick two shades from the same color family or even from the same paint strip.” [ read more ]

Four Paint Schemes for Two-Toned Rooms by Deborah Baldwin, This Old House Magazine