Rooms with a view...

We may live in a small Midwest town, but it has several great qualities...one of which is the hills that provide gorgeous views...

[caption id="attachment_660" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Overview of our community...hills all around...[/caption]

 

As our town continues to grow, the hills are being dotted with homes, retail centers and roadways...and although it is changing the "look" of Manhattan...the various elevations make for some amazing building spots...

[caption id="attachment_663" align="aligncenter" width="300"] New Spec home in the Lee Mill Heights development[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_662" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Who wouldn't want to cook in a kitchen with that view...[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_661" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A view like this??? Amazing!![/caption]

 

Here are just a few pics of our inspiration for this home!!!

[caption id="attachment_669" align="aligncenter" width="300"] With unique ceiling features and rich cabinetry this home will be stunning!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_667" align="aligncenter" width="245"] Stone fireplace, gorgeous creamy white trim....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_668" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Custom millwork, gorgeous tile and a dramatic corner tub will make the master bath a private retreat![/caption]

Keep posted for progress pics!!  And get ready for a tour this June during the Parade of Homes!!

 

Finished product

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing months and months of work and creativity come together!  When you step back and admire the finished project, the feeling is like none other!!

What the “after” pictures don’t tell you is how long it takes to get to this point. We began working with the client and builder over a year ago, and construction started in March.

During the many months of  planning, all aspects of the interior design concept from the furniture, lighting, rugs and custom art had to be considered in order to end up with a product that both the client and designer was proud of!!

This process  is an interior designer’s dream.  We designers love nothing more than to see our vision for a space come to fruition.  To plan, re-concept and be intimately acquainted with every detail of a project takes patience and imagination but it is immensely satisfying.

And here is is....



 

As soon as you step into the reception area, you are met with a comfortable blend of updated mission features and finishes with a strong connection to the gorgeous Flint Hills!!

 



 

The trim work and transoms throughout were a splurge item that set the stage for the entire building!!

 

Even the restroom got special attention to details...LOVE this sconce!!

 



 

One of the doctor's offices...custom fabric selections pull together the browns and blacks seen throughout the space!

 

Two niche's provide comfortable seating as well as the perfect backdrop for a unique block print...another reference to the Flint Hills.

The light in the staff lounge makes coming to work a real pleasure!!

A spec sneak...

This summer has been a whirlwind of activity around here!!  We have had multiple large projects in production…which simply means a lot of details to keep up with and lots of car time…driving from project to project to check in on progress, double check stain colors and answer questions from contractors!!  It is a little similar to a pregnancy…waiting, anticipating, preparing, waiting, wondering, excited, and finally, with little say on the timing...(haha...the nature of constructions!!) the thrilling reveal!!!

Not unlike a pregnancy, there is a lot happening before any noticeable changes take place…take our current spec home, for instance…the contractor hired us to bring a fresh look to his project…our challenge was to bring some updated finishes to a home that needed to appeal to the majority of buyers, since this was not a custom build.

So we started here…way back at the beginning...

Original floorplan

with a floorplan…reviewing the layout, the traffic flow, the storage options…we tweaked it…(no mudroom?? must have!!)…and then we moved on to visualizing and presenting a design concept…

"...inspired by a modern mountain retreat. A comfortable mix of traditional designs with contemporary clean lines and updated finishes, along with a fresh color palette that is inviting and compatible with any design style, truly sets this home apart." -listing details per AHD

...and then added the details that would take our inspiration and make it the home of someone's dreams!!!!

And here is a sneak at the spec house progress….

We are thrilled with the outcome!!  It looks awesome!!!

And the builder is pleased to say this one is now sold!!

Final pictures to come!!

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Form or Function?? Yes!!

Over the last few months, Amanda and I have been slowly but surely pulling our own design space together.  We approached our office in the same way we do any client's space…we have just been implementing our plan VERY. SLOWLY. 

Honestly, we didn’t actually set out to “do” the AsterHouse office…we had literally dumped all of our paraphenalia into the raw space and thought we would tackle it when we had the time and budget to do it "right"!!  But because we both operate best when we are inspired by our environment,  it didn't take long to see the need to get the office done…or least started...

As much as we desired the space to provide the inspiration for great design ideas…we knew it would never be right unless it functioned well…and that, we knew, was the first place to start.  AsterHouse loves to create gorgeous spaces, but if that space does not function well it is a huge FAIL in our minds…so, that is where we always begin…whether for a client or our own office!

For our home away from home, the wish list was kinda long…we have a nice size space…about 20’x18’, but it needed to house two desks, an "island-ish" place to lay out projects or splay our huge drawings.  We needed a “lounge area” to host clients as well as attractive storage space to hold our growing collection of fabric samples, vendor catalogs and our office stash of Twizzlers!!  (Must have creative fuel!!) 

When thinking through the function, elements of form always enter the mind and often inform the layout…for instance, we like to work facing each other…it makes bouncing ideas off so much more fun when you can see each other face to face…so, instead of two separate desks we found this fabulous “dining table” at West Elm...

...and it was our jumping off point for the whole work station!  We sent a friend on a wild goose chase through IKEA (a whole other post!!) to pick up some fabulous storage pieces for the walls and we had a local contractor build us a custom wall unit!!  (the top will eventually be covered in stainless!!) 

With the white laquered furniture, storage pieces and white trim, we chose a pale gray for the walls...I will admit that it took two tries to get it right...but we love it!!  Perfect backdrop to all the gorgeous colors that roll around our creative space!!

SW7671 On The Rocks

So here is what we have so far!!  I don't really have any good "before's" and it is not even close to complete so it cannot be referred to as an "after"...so here is a "now"!!

(I will save the lounge area for another post....the furniture is in place but everything is still in "before" condition!!)

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Design Realities

We have all seen the shows...dreadful room...designer breezes in, shares a plan, the crew shows up and within 30min to an hour...VIOLA!!  Gorgeous room!!  We all love these shows...we (heart) any and all "before and after" magic...maybe because we all have a "before" room...ok, maybe rooms...really??...house??? that we just know, with the perfect designer, a little bunch of money and some amazing carpentry skills, could be just that magazine ready "after"!!

So where is the reality??  Well, let me break it to you slowly...30 minutes isn't going to cut it...in fact, not even an hour will do the trick!!  We all know that in our heads, but really??  Our expectations have been seriously messed up!!

What does it take to go from this....

to, say, this.....

These homeowners would be the first to say that the months of planning that led up to the months of construction were well worth the kitchen that is now their favorite room is the house...but those months of planning are why this kitchen functions for them, their family and their needs.  Because during those many planning sessions, the family routines and habits were discussed, described, deliberately thought through, so that what was not working in the "before" would flow beautifully in the "after"...this reno might not work in your space...but for this family, it made them feel right at home!!  It reflects their unique way of doing life...and that is reality!!

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It's all about relationships...

Who hires us?? That is such a great question...and the answer is one of the reasons we really enjoy what we do!! We love meeting new people and consider it a joy that our business is so highly relational. We are always thrilled when a client tells a friend and then a friend tells their contractor and the contractor calls us...as my Dad always told me, "Life is all about relationships!!" And we are so fortunate to have fabulous realtionships...with clients, with contractors, with realtors and with tradesmen all over our wonderful town!

Last fall, we received a call from one of our favorite general contractors in town, Capstone 3D. They had a delightful couple who had taken on an extensive remodel of their classic colonial home in a fabulous historic neighborhood close to campus.

As the remodel was progressing they had come to the final choices for the finishes and were wanting some input...they knew the feel they wanted in their minds...but needed help "fleshing" it out!!

We began in the kitchen...helping them narrow down wood species and stain for the cabinetry...once we jumped that hurdle we were off and running!! We were working with beautiful wood flooring and bringing the new into the original...that can be a challenge...we wanted the new to look original!!

By taking the darker tone from the beautiful variations in the floor and pulling it up onto the

cabinetry we added the richness and warmth without making it look like we were trying to match the flooring...and didn't!

From there, we headed upstairs to the brand new master bathroom...again, our first thought was to choose finishes that keep visitors guessing...is this original?? Is this new?? We carried the same wood finish throughout the space...

In an effort to make the best use of every square inch of space, a set of drawers were set into a niche that adds character as well as extra storage...can't get enough of that in a bathroom!

And what master would be complete without the oversize dual shower??!! The one advantage to a renovation...adding the "new" to the old!!

We were called in by the contractor, and left with some new friends!! Thanks, Sue and Dennis for trusting us in your most personal space!!

(All construction done by Capstone 3D)

Fresh from the Market...

Oh, my goodness...we are so excited!! The last few days were a blur...

We have been up and down and all around the Dallas Total Home Market and Lighting Show...

And we have found some great stuff!!

Our original goal was to discover the vendors who would help us provide unique, beautiful and budget sensitive pieces to our clients! That goal was met...and then some! We are thrilled to have found several lines that we will begin offering to our design clients!!

Market is a fantastic way to explore the current trends in home design/decor...this trip, it was impossible to miss the trend of all things

vintage, shabby french, grey, rustic, bucolic (anything rural, pastoral)

...these looks (and a combination of all!!) were EVERYWHERE!!

Coming soon...Eryn and Amanda's market favorites!! And a special surprise for you...stay tuned!!