I met with a client a few months ago that has a beautiful growing family. They had an existing dining room that was tiny! They needed a bigger one but didn't know how to make that happen.
Read moreGrapevine, TX Master Bathroom Remodel
Wow, we finished another master bathroom. What a transformation this one is.
The requests from the client were:
More storage space to hide the clutter, updated shower with niches and a bench, new floor tile, new countertops, new lighting, blue paint, updated bathtub and a vanity to do makeup.
BEFORE
As you can see it was in desperate need of a makeover. I suggested that we open up the closed "cave like" shower to make the bathroom feel more open. They didn't need the toilet to be separate because it was functional to them without the swing doors and they don't have anyone else that lives in the home with them.
AFTER
We took the bathroom down to the studs and started over!!!
You can see in the above photo that the shower is now opened up and now we get to admire the gorgeous tile work too. Nobody wants to shower in a cave. Why did they make showers like that before? Just look at it now! So much better don't you think? We also brought the tile up the walls and behind the toilet because that keeps things cleaner and fresher. We added the same glass accent tile as we have in the shower above it.
BEFORE
AFTER
We added new cabinets with quartz countertops.
The hardware is the jewelry!
We weren't able to center the sink under the mirror due to opening up the shower, storage needs as well as needing the vanity but the client had no problem with that. Priorities, priorities.
The client really wanted a vanity so she could sit and do her makeup. I was so proud of her, she spray painted her existing vanity stool and did a weekend upholstery job. I gave her a thumbs up because you know I love to repurpose if I think it works and helps us stay on budget.
BEFORE
AFTER
Singing the Hallelujah chorus!
We had space next to the tub so we decided to add the 4 drawers for extra storage space. It would have been wasted space otherwise. Can you believe how gorgeous the accent tile is? The Arabesque pattern is just amazing made out of pearl. I suggested we put it around the windows to balance the bathtub side with the tower cabinets on the other side of the room. It is stunning and was quite a challenge to install!
Can we also take a moment of silence and stare at the chandelier! It's on a dimmer for soaking moments.
Every "spa like" bathroom needs a tower of rocks.
and a colorful rug! Rugs bring everything together. I like to use rugs that aren't the typical rugs you would use in a bathroom. It just makes the room more spectacular and bumps it up to the next level.
The client had the large blue pottery made by a local artist and I found the baby pottery to go with it. Perfect for fresh flowers when you are feeling like treating yourself.
BEFORE
Oh my! Can you believe this?
AFTER
We opened up the entire bathroom by taking out the wall to wall cabinets. Instead we did tower cabinets and put pull out drawers in each one so things could be hidden away. We took out the fur downs and that opened things up a ton too. Made the entire bathroom feel taller and more spacious.
As you can see, this bathroom coordinates beautifully with the bedroom we transformed for them.
See the before and after photo's from a previous post
https://www.ruthiestaalsen.com/grapevine-master-bedroom-makeover-2/
We are busy working on some design plans and I also have some very exciting news to share with you!
Stay close! Happy Sunday!
Need pet and family Friendly? Try Crypton Home Fabrics
My home is always full of family and friends. I really LOVE to entertain and find that to be the joy of my life. However, there are those times when my guests leave and I have a heart attack because I notice a wine or food stain on my furniture that cannot be removed. As I scrub, it becomes worse and worse. I actually have a chair in my garage at the moment for that very reason.
I don't know about you but I want my furniture to be durable, stain resistant and pet resistant so it lasts as long as possible.
I was recently at Highpoint Market and participated in the Design Bloggers Tour, sponsored by Esteem media.com
Crypton was the sponsor for several of the showrooms that we visited. Their fabrics were scattered throughout each showroom on our tour, including Joybird, Huntington House and the M/T Company.
I wanted to share what I learned about Crypton's amazing, stain resistant fabrics while visiting these fabulous showrooms.
Crypton Home fabric is designed to handle anything your family can dish out, literally.
Performance technology is engineered into every fiber, so spills bead up, stains clean easily, and odors don’t cling. They literally poured a bottle of wine on a sofa at the Joybird showroom to show us the durability of the fabrics that have Crypton in them. The wine literally rolled off the sofa!
Crypton Home fabrics are beautiful and functional. They are suitable for heavy-duty indoor use. With that in mind, I was shocked to see how soft the fabrics feel. You would think that the fabrics would be rough and stiff but you would never know they have this fabulous product weaved in.
Stain repellency and soil release are built in, so you can clean it easily with soap and water. Crypton fabrics resist odors and are perfect for households with pets.
Our pup, AVA looks so sweet and innocent but she has done some serious damage to one of my chairs recently! I'm investing in some Crypton Fabrics for sure!
With Crypton, the barrier is permanently integrated into each fiber strand, so you don't need to worry about it ever separating or failing to protect because of extended or heavy use or cleaning.
See for yourself how this fabric works.
INCREDIBLE RIGHT?
Ask your local designer about these fabrics!
Crypton is available in some retail stores like Joanne's fabrics and Calico Corner, See for yourself and become a fan like me!
Interior Design Society Designer of the Year Awards 2016
What an amazing time we had at the National Interior Design Society Conference this year.
The conference was held at the Scott Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona.
We were joined by ARTS - Accessories Resource Team this year and it was a huge success.
These were some of the topics:
5 things your business must have to succeed
Naked Negotiating
Will the real economy please stand up
Simple Social Systems for Designers
The Jugglers Mindset
Your comfort zone is your kill zone
Color and Trend Reportage
Building a Sales Culture
Building a Thriving Life
It was a two day conference filled with great topics and amazing networking. As a Designer, I am always wanting to keep my business fresh and want to keep learning so I can be the best I can be for my clients.
Being a part of The Interior Design Society is one of the ways I do that. Monthly meetings, training throughout the year and then the yearly conference is something that is worth being involved in.
It is also a great way to get to know other designers. The time we spent talking after sessions, discussing thoughts of dinner, etc. was some of the most valuable time for my business EVER!
Happy Veteran!
On the second day of the conference we did a charity event for the local veterans. We were on the news that night so you can see that below. It was an exhausting day but so incredibly awesome to give back to the community. Seeing celebrity designers like Kellie Ellis and Suzanne Kasler and Donna Moss join in with us was the highlight of our time as well.
We had 140 designer volunteers, 1000 donated items and 132 rooms were transformed.
The charity project we did this week in Phoenix with the Interior Design Society was on Fox 10 news! Look closely, you may see me sweating in the background lol. It was worth every bit of sweat and hard work for these guys! You can read the story by clicking here.
On the last night, we had the National Interior Design Awards Ceremony. This photo includes some of the Dallas team. (from left; Stacy Steidly, Nicole Arnold, Linda Baker, Ruthie Staalsen, Ginger Curtis and Michael Bauer - Dallas Market Center, VP of marketing, home and design.
I received an award for Designer of the Year 2016 for Kitchens $50,000 and under.
Lots of awards from our Dallas team! So proud of each and every one of them!
This is the kitchen that helped me win!!!!
BEFORE PHOTO
AFTER
AFTER
(Photography by T. Lamar Photography)
Thank you Interior Design Society for an amazing weekend of learning, recognition, collaborations and friendships.
Can you guess which shoes are mine? #branding
I hope you have something in your life or business that inspires you. If not, step out and join something that keeps you motivated and connected to others that are doing something amazing for their business and/or their life.
High Point Market Design Bloggers Spring Tour 2017
I just returned home from sunny Los Angeles! I attended the Design Bloggers Conference! It is my favorite conference because I get to spend time with my designer friends and get to meet new designers and bloggers as well.
When you own your own business, it is really hard to make time to get away for conferences like this. What I have learned is that it is crucial that you take time away from your every day work life so you can be inspired, encouraged, and filled up. This conference is that for me.
Dwell by Cheryl and Artful Interiors are two of those great friends that I have made through this conference.
I also got to spend an evening with a few Dallas Designers, which was a treat.
Brooke Giannetti with Velvet and Linen was one of the speakers, and she was so fantastic. Brooke was one of the first blogs that I started following when blogs were just beginning. I latched on to every word she said when I first started blogging and learned so much from her.
She was a true example of a great designer with a casual spirit that connected with her audience. If you haven't had a chance to read her story, do it! Her husband is an architect and they are so lovely together and so incredibly gifted. They are extra special because they too have chickens, just like us!
Another of my favorite speakers was Lord Spencer, Lady Diana's brother. He spoke about his 13 Acre estate in England and it was fascinating to hear his stories!
I got to eat on the patio at the Beverly Hills Hotel and we got a glimpse of Kim Kardashian. Of course, we only got a quick glimpse of her but it was still a fun movie star sighting. Can you believe these gorgeous flowers in their lobby?
One of the awesome things that was announced while I was at the conference was that I was selected to be on the High Point Market Design Bloggers Spring Tour along with these wonderful designers!
Visit High Point Market Design Bloggers Spring Tour 2017 to see each participant.
I am so excited about this because it is yet another opportunity for me to connect with new designers. I also look forward to being introduced to new vendors and contacts during market.
These are the wonderful bloggers I will be on the tour with:
Courtney Allison, www.frenchcountrycottage.net
Margot Austin, www.thedesigneditblog.com
Elle Cole, www.ellecoleblog.com
Nina Magon, www.livestylishdaily.com
Lisa Mende, www.lisamendedesign.blogspot.com
Michiel Perry, www.blacksouthernbelle.com
Me, Jana Platina Phipps, www.trimqueen.com
Ruthie Staalsen, www.ruthiestaalsen.com
Laura Umansky, www.laurauinteriordesign.com
Rhoda Vickers, www.southernhospitalityblog.com
Our sponsors for the tour?
Meet the sponsoring companies and showrooms we will be touring. Thank you sponsors for this opportunity! See you there!
