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!!

 

The "Konza Cape"

Amanda and I are always saying how blessed we both feel to be able to pursue our dream of creating gorgeous interior spaces!!  And we can also honestly say we have met the most wonderful people through this business...we have had the privilege of working with amazing clients and crazy-cool projects!

Each project begins a little differently.  We are brought in at various stages of each one...sometimes the client hires us before any contractor has been hired...or sometimes the contractor calls us toward the end of a project when the finishing touches are needed...and anywhere in between.  And we love them all!  However, we both will admit, one of our favorite scenarios is when we can be a part of the team from the infancy of a project.  We both love space planning and "visioning" a home/space before it is even begun...there is so much room to be creative when nothing is "set in stone" yet!!

This was the case with a recently completed project out on the Konza Prairie...

 

 

The exterior design of the home speaks to the feel of a traditional "Cape Cod"...and its location on the rolling Flint Hills makes it a "Konza Cape"

[caption id="attachment_648" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Love these lights!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_647" align="aligncenter" width="225"] From the exterior colors to the trellis and trim design, the home stays true to the original inspiration.[/caption]

When we were first contacted by the builder, the homeowner and his architect had just finalized the floorplan...so there was just enough time to collaborate on a few design features.  The biggest change came with the decision to  expand the small second floor dormers and create two "shed-dormers".  Not only did this allow for larger windows, capturing more of the amazing view...but it created two niche's that we were able to turn into dramatic focal points in the master suite...

[caption id="attachment_643" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Niche' 1: Cozy reading nook overlooking the hills[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_649" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Niche' 2: Dramatic "free-standing" tub....bubble bath with a view!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_651" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Master Bath[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_650" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Master Shower[/caption]

Originally the master bedroom was to be on the main floor, however, when the homeowner saw the views from the enlarged upstairs windows, he changed his plans and claimed this space instead!!

The master suite upstairs is a continuation of the main floor style...

[caption id="attachment_640" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Collected elegance in the living room[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_639" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Gorgeous painted cabinetry, true to a "Cape" aesthetic...with a few masculine touches thrown in for good balance.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_641" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Main Floor guest room...[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_642" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Guest bath[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_638" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Powder room...grass cloth wallcovering adds texture and keeps the fixtures from feeling too "sweet"[/caption]

 

The homeowner specifically wanted a space for his young boys to feel at home when they stayed, so we went to work creating a room they felt right at home in!!

[caption id="attachment_645" align="aligncenter" width="225"] We took advantage of the unused space under the eaves, carving extra square footage for the beds and allowing for custom built-in space.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_636" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Gorgeous windows line the walls in every room...in the boys room, we created a study niche'...partner desk, fun seating and display walls for each boy.[/caption]

 

The overall look and feel of this home is so inviting...and although it is brand new, it has a feel that says...collected, comfortable and lovely!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am a "Messy"...

 

I'm not going to lie...I am a messy painter...A VERY MESSY PAINTER.  No matter how careful I try to be, I get paint EVERYWHERE...on my hands, on my clothes, in my hair...on the floor, down the side of the paint can...did I mention EVERYWHERE??!!  So, when I can I pay someone to paint for me...and when I don't have the budget or the patience to wait on a painter's schedule, I do have one tip that has been amazing for this certified "Messy"...



 

Take a nail (or in this case a long screw...it was close by!!) and insert it in the groove on the top of the paint can...

 

 

 

 

 



 

Use a hammer (apparently named "China") and pop holes in two or three spots around the can lip.  Then after you have poured paint into your pan, any paint left in the groove will flow back into the can (instead of dripping all over your hands!!)  I wish I could take credit for this fabulous tip...however, I read this tip forever ago...and have no recollection of where...or I would give full credit!! Happy painting!!

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!!

Cattle-Man Cave

One of the reasons AsterHouse Design doesn't work within only one specific style is because of projects like this one...we recently finished an executive office for a bonafide cattleman.  This gentleman asked us to take a look at the large empty shell and create a vision for a very rich, warm, masculine space that is part office, part gallery and frequent entertaining area.

A blank slate...

And now...the work zone...

The lounge area...

(the wallcovering in this area is authentic cowhide)

The entertaining zone...slate, copper, wood grain tile in a chevron pattern, rich dark walnut cabintry...

One of two gallery areas...

Light colored wool carpeting underfoot and the ceiling painted in a warm tan balance the deep, dark tones of the wallcoverings and stained millwork.

Our client had two of these bronze longhorn pieces commissioned for this office and we felt they were the perfect scale for this wall of shelving behind his desk.

The wallcovering we selected is a rich "raw silk" look that adds dimension and texture to the walls...the details in this space fit the client perfectly...

This project was truly unique...and we love that!!  It is what keeps this job so fresh for us...and allows us to work in aesthetics that may be out of our norm...and that is always refreshing!!

(Side note...by the end of this project, Amanda and I had both incorporated cow hides in our own homes!!  Watch for future blogs on this AHD trend!!)

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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