Barbara Barry Chair

While browing the internet recently looking for dining chairs for a client I came across this chair designed by Barbara Barry. It was love at first site. Every now and then a piece of furniture catchs my eye and I can't get the image out of my mind. That's what happened with this chair. It has classic lines, but, Barbara Barry has refined it to give it an updated modern look without sacrificing the traditional feel of the chair. The soft blue grey color works well with the soft lines of the chair. The tufting and the way the fabric wraps around the top of the legs gives the chair a feminine look. It would look great paired with a lady's writing desk.
I'm keeping this picture on file and hope that one day soon I'll find a place to use it in my home.

Chandeliers in the Bathroom

Browsing through magazines recently I've noticed a lot of photos of bathrooms with chandeliers. The bathrooms showcased are usually opulent and large in size. I started to think about the bathrooms in my friends and clients homes and the lighting fixtures they have used. The majority of the bathrooms have the standard lighting that is specified by a contractor or what is shown under bath lighting in catalogs.

I'd like for homeowners to start thinking outside the box and be a little creative. Adding a chandelier to your bathroom or dressing room is an easy way to add some elegance to an otherwise generic space. There are many beautiful mini chandeliers that measure under 20" long. Mounted close to the ceiling they are perfect for a standard 8' ceiling and can be placed over a tub or in the center of the room.

I love the idea of starting or ending my day with a sparkling chandelier overhead.


These gorgeous bathrooms are to die for, but, a simple chandelier in a small bathrooms would be so pretty.
The bathroom on the right was designed by Nate Berkus. The other two photos are from Developing Design blog.

Bathroom Update, end of week 4

We've reached the end of week four and the end is in sight. All of the tile has been installed and grouted. The vanities are set and the counter tops will be installed next week. The week didn't go by without a glitch or two, but, everything worked out. At least we didn't lose a cat.
What does a cat have to do with remodeling, you ask. The contractor told me today that he had been working on another bathroom while the owner was away. He tore up the floor, replaced pipes, etc., and replaced the floor. When the homeowner returned from vacation he asked if the contractor had seen the cat, the answer was no. To make a long story short the contractor left the door to the bathroom open when he left the home and before he closed up the floor. The cat entered the bathroom and crawled under the floor. So when the flooring was put back into place the cat was trapped in the walls. He was so quiet they had no idea where he was so they just punched a big hole in the ceiling below and eventually the cat got out.
Moral of this story....when you're remodeling keep an eye on your cat.




This is the dressing room/closet area that will have a closet system installed.



Vanity is set in place and the shower stall is ready for the glass enclosure.



Wall tile finished.




Floor done and grouted.

Bathroom Update

It's the end of week two of the bathroom remodel and it hasn't been as smooth as week one. One day the contractor put a nail through a water pipe. The fortunate part is that the water rain down through a framed doorway so there wasn't any wall damage and it was a relatively small amount of water that was left in a pipe. Also, the leak was easily accessible so it could be fixed without disturbing anything else.

A few days later one of his helpers drilled through a water pipe and released a gush of water that soaked through a small section of the ceiling of the family room below, ran down the wall and soaked a section of carpet and padding! This leak was not accessible and a section of the living room wall had to be removed to get to the pipe.

Yes, these things happen and are the downside of any remodeling. I think that's why some people don't like to do home improvements because no matter how much planning go into it there are always the unknowns and the unexpected. That's why it's so important to work with a reliable contractor and one who communicates well and takes responsibility for his mistakes.

The drywall guys are working this weekend so things are progressing. Hopefully, next week will go smoother.