Finito

One of the best parts of my job - working with fabulous families to bring a home dream from drafting board to beautiful living space. What a joy - here's a peek below!


My husband and I work together on this project - he the builder -drafting architect and me the designer. I jump in to advise on room flow, space planning and the finishes. Once moved in, the fun really begins, as I work to complete the spaces with all the furnishings.

This family wanted to infuse urban elegance from their pre-kids days living in downtown Chicago, yet honor today with plenty of function for kids, friends and family. We agreed on a soft contemporary concept using fabulous finds from local retail haunts, blended with custom bench made pieces and family antiques. For more - check out http://www.heartwoodhomes.com/

Open Concept

Family Room

Custom Furinshings

Slate Fireplace Wall


Casual Dining




Kitchen With Bold Curved Hood

Heartwood Design

The Wait Is Over

http://www.lonnymag.com/

If you still mourn the loss of Domino in the mailbox- help has arrived with the launch on Lonny. This online design magazine if a home run. It is a page turner full of tips and inspiration from today's most talented! Love the online format making everything handy - archived - not to mention the green effect and the promise to uncluter my bookshelves.

Enjoy !

Everything Home Loves Bella Chic Interiors

Bella Chic Interiors

Just had to give a shout out for one of my favorite haunts in Carmel - Bella Chic Interiors - locating in the Carmel Arts and Design district-http://www.bellachicinteriors.com/. Owner Julie, has a great concept- Extreme Makeover for furniture- refurbishing old furniture into today's one of a kind statement pieces. Not to mention her terrific prices - helping us all to add some spice to our space without blowing the budget.

The shot above it typical- the before reno furniture unloaded off the truck and ready for the face lift. You buy the pieces early - as they don't last long - often there are more sold tags then available.

I bought the dining table in the fore ground with the companion benches. The table is perfect dimension to be used as a sofa table- under a plasma TV or as a long console- the it transforms with a butterfly leaf to a standard dining table- I figure the benches work with the table or alone at the foot of a bed .... - All for $499!!! Dreaming of the paint finish to use - something fun - Can't wait to share the makeover pictures!!!

Fantastic Kitchens by Heartwood Custom Homes

Heartwood Custom Homes Flagship Model Home

Receives National Recognition

Heartwood Custom Homes

Just had to share my first centerfold- HA- HA !! Fantastic Kitchens April 2009 , is featuring our kitchen and bar this month. This magazine is sponsored by Subzero/ Wolfe appliances and features designers from around the country and their work. They selected the Heartwood Custom Home's Kitchen and Bar - Recently winner of Best of Show in the 2008 Luxury Homearama Home Tour in Zionsville, Indiana.

I am blessed with a fantastic work group at Heartwood- Jeff Langston , my wonderful husband and business partner, Julie Baker , our team leader of design development & drafting and fantastic vendors who make this work both fun and inspirational- CONGRATULATIONS!!

HIGHLIGHTS

This kitchen has one of my favorite things - a large-over sized 1 level island with room for plenty of seating. In this case, I chose an acid washed Italian cream marble with a special laminated edge fabricated by Marble Uniques - Paula Ryden http://www.marbleuniques.com/ to be the perfect compliment to the Alder stained island cabinets.

Heartwood Custom Homes

Accent with plenty of light and reflective surfaces - crystal hurricane lanterns, glass front cabinets with interior lighting standard or to the ceiling , and plenty of tile splashes. If your dishware is shy - select glass to hide- seeded- ribbed - frosted or many of the thousands of patterns. Mathew Barker at Westfield Lighting and Amanda Smith at ICC Flooring are the BEST! http://www.wesfieldlighting/ and http://www.iccfloors.com/

Heartwood Custom Homes

Heartwood Custom Homes

Consider paneling your appliances for a built in look. Panels can be made for nearly every brand - dishwasher, refrig, refrig drawers- They allow the eye to travel the room and create a seamless and expansive effect.

Heartwood Custom Homes

Small appliances need a home and you can work to create zones within the kitchen - this one for beverages hot and cold - features the brew express coffee center - one of my favorites- http://www.brewexpress.com%20/ and refrig drawers for bottled water, chilling wine, or soft drinks.

Ready to Call this one home??

It's a beauty sitting on 1. 5 acre estate with 9,800 sq feet inside and unbelievable outdoor living areas. The home is available - drop me a line or link to my site - http://www.heartwoodhomes.com/. Locals can tour Tues - Sunday 12 - 5 or by appointment.

Special thanks to Clark's Appliances and David Smith - http://www.clarkappliance.com/ , Julie Braunecker of Shamrock Cabinets and the innovative product development team at Subzero /Wolfe whose products inspire http://www.subzero.com/

Staged to Sell - Master Bath Before and After

As promised - Just finished up staging the Master Bath - and under our $250 budget!!!! Thanks to all who commented earlier this week at the challenge. You'll see your ideas incorporated in the after shots. Couldn't have done it without you and the fabulous team at Heartwood Custom Homes . Thanks to all ! Enjoy !!!

Before

Heartwood Custom Homes

After

Heartwood Custom Homes

Heartwood Custom Homes

The Approach

The original bath had great bones- tons of natural light - ample size - and a monochromatic palette of creams - tile, paint, Italian marble counters and soft spa green glass mosaic tiles. The challenge was to create drama and overcome prospect buyers concerns for how to pull it all together and not get lost in the champagne haze.

Given the budget of $250 - the bones stayed and we layered for drama and cohesion.

This new bolder - more contrasted color way creates more visual interest and drama-The chocolate towels - dark bronze mirrors- espresso bench - pop in comparison to before.

Textures are contrasted - layers of crusty old dark pieces- shinier antique mirrored pieces - washed beach glass- pebbles- metal hurricanes sconce candles-

Finally the green was blended with the use of multi color green grasses, beach glass, patterned towels.

Heartwood Custom Homes

Sources

Hobby Lobby - my all time favorite for mirrors - wall hangings - catch the 50 % off sale week and you are golden. New vanity mirrors were listed $90 - got for $45. Amazing!!! Just shop the flyer - to get posted on their weekly sales http://www.hobbylobby.com/

Target / Kohls/Steinmart- The Triplets- A stop to any and you re sure to find a lamp, window treatments, accessories and bath towels, bedding. You just can't beat Kohls BOGO- Buy one get one sale-!!!! Not to mention the blessing of strip malls - each within a stones throw from my home.

Enjoy For more on this home go to

Built In Coffee Maker Ideas

Love the smell of coffee to wake you from dream land- Thought you never could afford a built in coffee maker - Look no further - check out http://www.brewexpress.com/. Under $400!!! I love them and have been designing them into clients homes over the last 2 years. Great for masters - kitchen - bars- wherever. They work just like your current machine- only built into the wall- so they are off the counter and out of the way. They are easy to use and retro into existing wall studs for remodeling projects or new construction.

Photos shows you one I installed in a recent projects- Master bath -

Just remember to have a trash near by for grinds - and if the use is away from the kitchen you may also consider a space for coffee accessories ( sugar- cups- spoons ) .

Cheers !

Jumping In

I am jumping in. Leaving the comfort of anonymity to have a chat with the universe- Everything home is my passion. Fell in love with it and my husband years ago and he miraculously steered our ship toward a new home design and build business in Carmel , Indiana. East Coast friends and fam had trouble swallowing it all - leaving behind my successful marketing / sales career at Roche Pharma , the Baltimore Fells Point restaurants, uprooting the kiddos and everything familiar for an uncertain future- getting the picture.


Well 10 years have passed- and I have loved every minute - the good , the bad and the ugly. I am now the proud designer of the "Best In Show" Luxury 2008 Homearama Home. Go Figure - Its a 10,000 sq ft beauty capturing the essence of my New England roots - available for purchase and remains open daily 12-5 except Tuesdays. Check out www.heartwoodhomes.com for more info.

I'm hoping blog readers will find this a friendly place to land for news on home design and building trends , tips for decorating and staging, seen thru the eyes of busy mom who earns her living - takes the risks- in the world of design.