Built-in Blue Apartment
Today we will be touring this 2 bedroom, 2 bath, one car garage, 2 story apartment with a back deck and an open floor plan in just over 1500sqft.
When we walk in, we are in the entry hall. The light blue walls, dark blue ceilings, warm maple floors, and romantic white molding are continued throughout. The stairwell is on our right but if we continue down the hall, we come to a closet on the right, the laundry/mud room which leads to the garage on the left and the master suite straight ahead.
When we first enter the master suite, there is a closet to our right and the bathroom to our left. Ahead is the bed. The headboard is a painted brick wall with built-in cabinets on either side and a nautical painting above the blue bed.
Opposite the bed is a built in wall with a TV nook and a window bench. There is an armchair for reading in the corner. To the right is the sliding glass door out to the deck.
On the second floor, the open kitchen with an apron sink and a wood island is separated from the living room by a wall and a column. The living room has a built-in media center and a couch with a blue chair. The dining room is on the other side of the kitchen. On the opposite wall is a built-in office space and pantry.
Through a hallway off the dining room is the bathroom, another closet, and the second bedroom. This bedroom has the bed to the right and walk in closet with window to the left. There are built-ins surrounding the closet door. A bay window is straight ahead.
This is the layout for the first floor. It has the entry hall, laundry room, one car garage, master suite, and deck. It is 660sqft of living space.
This is the layout for the second floor. It has the open living room, kitchen, dining room, built-in office, bathroom, and second bedroom with walk in closet and bay window. It is 893sqft of living space.
If walls could dream… they’d dream of built-in blue apartments.
Remodel Kitchen
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Obviously, the kitchen originally was very dark because of the wood cabinets and old green tile flooring. I freshened it up with a neutral color scheme. First, we ripped up the ancient green tile and installed gorgeous honey hardwood. Next, the appliances, countertops, and most of the cabinets were taken out to make room for stainless steel appliances, dramatic black granite countertops, and crisp white cabinetry. The base cabinetry stayed the same, but the wall cabinetry got updated with more storage in high glass-fronted cabinets above the original cabinets. Last, I accessorized with red backsplash, teapot, and foot mat.
If walls could dream… they’d dream of a neutral and bright kitchen removation.
Remodel Entry Hallway
BEFORE:
AFTER:
For this remodeled entry hallway, first I took out two of the walls closing in the staircase, which really opened the space up. Next, I installed slightly darker floors, which creates contrast with the lighter wall coloring. Then, I replaced the front door, at the far back towards the middle of this photo. Lastly, I furnished the space. I put a funky green coat rack next to the door. I put a book shelf with lots of fun accessories in the hallway, at the far right in this photo. I put an armchair with side table and reading lamp in back corner of the hallway, at the front right in this photo. I put a couch with painting above in the living room, at the left of this photo.
If walls could dream… they’d dream of warm, open, modern entry hallway remodels.
Modern Feminine Apartment
This drawing is part of the Pink Apartment Project
This is another drawing I started in the empty minutes between classes. My original theme was the geometric shape of a small rectangle with a larger one underneath it, as seen in the window frames, recliner and kitchen cabinets. But I didn’t use that theme enough so it sorta disappeared. Looking back I see many places I could have used it; in the backsplash tile, in the chandelier, in the breakfast bar chairs, in the bed blanket, or in the painting. My second theme was color: pink, red, and purple to be exact. My favorite part of this theme is the ceiling, because pink is my favorite color. My third theme was fun accessories. See below for where to buy some of the items for your own home. My fourth theme was my genius idea to cut out the windows and put a city photo behind them. I experimented with a few photos I found online but decided to chose a photo I took. This photo is of San Fransisco in 2008.
At the left is the kitchen with the range on the wall and the vegetable sink in the island. Between the wall cabinets and the windows are three wicker decorative vases. This is a great example of what to do with an awkward nook; place large accessories like floor vases, decorative floor lamps, plants, or sculptures.
Atop the recycled glass countertops of the island are a bowl of salad, a vase, and two place settings that match the two pink bar stools. Above the island is a rectangular light. Although I did not draw this light using an inspiration lamp, this lamp is similar:
In the front right is the Murphy bed. You can see the corner of the bright pink sheets peeking out from under the dull purple comforter near the edge of the drawing. Also near the edge notice a small cubby in the shelf serving as a nightstand. Above the nightstand is a letter “d”, the first of five spelling “dream”. The shelves that the bed fold up into have some storage doors to the left and above the bed with a cork strip for photos or notes near the nightstand secret cubby and a shelf for books just under the top door. If you look really closely you might even be able to see the names of the books. These shelves extend above the living room and are filled with some fun little knick knacks. In the top shelf nearest the window is an antique pot. In the top middle shelf are CB2 nesting dolls. In the top closest shelf are a frame and a gumball machine. In the bottom farthest shelf are block letters spelling “LOVE.” In the bottom middle shelf are some colorful boxes. In the bottom closest shelf are an hour glass and this:
In the back right corner of the apartment is the living area. Hanging from the shelves are three old jars filled with a little sand and a tea light candle. Under that is a painting of the city sunset in Paris. To offset the dark recycled countertops I chose a dark recycled barn wood for this wall. The couch is a Stressless Arion low back. And beside it is a cork table and an IKEA Antifoni desk lamp. The recliner is a Stressless Orion. I placed two of my favorite new design elements in the living room. They are called poufs and are simply a round ottoman in a chunky knit cover.
If walls could dream… they’d dream of many themes in a modern, feminine apartment.
Merry Christmas!
I blogged this Christmas living room yesterday, before it was colored.
I decided to color it Italian / Mediterranean. With a color pallet of green, brown, yellow, purple, and a little red. It didn’t come out as colorful as I had hoped, but this design has some of my all- time favorite details.
Look for the calendar by the table. What date does it say? December 25!
Look at the food on the table. What is this family going to eat for Christmas breakfast? Holiday O’s, Orange Juice, bananas, cinnamon rolls, and fruit salad!
Look for the presents scattered around the room. How many can you count? At least eight!
Look at the tree. How many ornaments can you spot? Thirty!
Look at the book next to the couch. What’s it titled? Santa Claus II!
What other details can you spot?
I started this drawing inspired by a fireplace with glass shelves around the chimney and it grew into a whole living room. Then, I decided to add some Christmas details with the presents and decorations, but I was sad I didn’t have room for a tree. So, I did the only logical thing. Expanded it into a second drawing! And painstakingly drew the wonderful Christmas tree. Yep, I drew every branch on that thing!
Next, I colored the room. And as you can tell, comparing the original sketch to the colored sketch, I added beams on the ceiling. Inspired by warm Italian colors, I chose a color pallet of green with brown, yellow, and purple. The walls are green, like the walls of a forest. And the ceiling is yellow, like the sunshine. And the biggest accents; the cabinets, furniture, and floor, are brown. The accents are either red (fireplace, tree ribbon, mirror frame…) or purple (rug, pillows, heart painting…) And the room has lots of light from a wall and a half of windows. To color the Christmas tree; I first lightly colored the background colors, then the brown of the trunk. Next, I just used dots of green to make the needles. Lastly, I colored the ribbon, ornaments, presents, and star.
If walls could dream… they’d be tucked in their beds: waiting for Santa to come.
Happy Holidays!
I hope your holidays are as wonderful as mine are and that this living room will brighten your spirit. It is decorated like Christmas morning: with breakfast on the table and presents laying everywhere. Check back soon to see it colored!
A Year of Blogging
December 15th
It has been exactly a year sence my first blog post. Lets look back at a wonderful year of blogging by going through the “If walls could dream…” statments I put at the end of every blog post.
(I highlighted a few of my favorites)
If walls could dream…
…they’d dream of apples
…they’d dream of purple
…they’d occasionally have nightmares of being called “wall 1”
…they’d dream of RED (RED standing for Rich, Elegant, and Divine)
…they’d dream of loft living, high above the city
…they’d dream of blue, blue, and more blue, but then they’d get sick of blue and wake up. 🙂
…they’d dream of red hot furnature
…they’d occasinally have nightmares about design flaws and occasionally have peaceful dreams about the genious ways to fix them!
…they’d dream of the ocean
…they’d dream of offset windows, dramatic reds, and everything else in this stunning great room.
…they’d dream of design inspired by design
…then maybe shelving units could too!
…sadly, they’d dream of mustard and grapes.
…they’d dream of the beach
…they’d dream of 170sqft decks
…they’d dream of Wassily Kandinsky
…they’d dream in black and white
…they’d dream of floral detail
… they’d dream of blue and brown
…they’d dream of camping
…they’d dream of grannie houses
…they’d dream of how to draw vases in perspective
…they’d dream of rooms that work with any style
…they’d dream of kitchens in boxes
…they’d dream of bedrooms inspired by nature
…they’d dream of wall letters
…they’d dream of windows
…they’d dream of bright blue chairs
…they’d dream of vessel sinks
…they’d dream of rooms with many purposes
…they’d dream of windows
…they’d dream of bright blue chairs
…they’d dream of built-ins that circle the room
…they’d dream of vessel sinks
…they’d dream of industrial yet cozy great rooms
…they’d dream of beautiful and eco-friendly building materials
…they’d dream of neutral stripes.
…they’d dream of modern dollhouses.
…they’d dream of nurseries.
…they’d dream of the eiffel tower.
…they’d dream of 5 story houses.
…they’d dream of artwork headboards.
…they’d dream of strange rooflines.
…they’d dream of skyscrapers.
…they’d dream of beach-front property.
…they’d dream of the best teacher ever and her amazing craft room.
…they’d dream of San Fransisco.
…they’d dream of hotel rooms high in the sky of San Fran.
…they’d dream of the golden gate bridge.
…they’d dream of bridgeport.
…they’d dream of dramatic lofts.
…they’d dream of inventive ways to add a car port.
…they’d dream of flawless color schemes.
…they’d dream of visiting Florence.
…they’d dream of Easter.
…they’d dream of industrial yet cozy great rooms.
…they’d dream of small, 3D paper houses.
…they’d dream of nautical, seaside master bedrooms in forrest green houses!
…they’d dream of 330 sqft apartments.
…they’d dream of peanut butter cup offices.
…they’d dream of unique vanities.
…they’d dream of a Reese’s that touches the sky!
…they’d dream of chill’in in a giant piece of candy.
…they’d dream of houses where every room has a different color theme.
…they’d dream of country cutlery.
…they’d dream of watching the President arrive home.
…they’d dream of lime green and traditional under the same roof.
…they’d dream of a government inteligents agent’s magnificent kitchen.
…they’d dream of simple kitchen style.
…they’d want to sleep on this bed.
…I probably put them to sleep with all my boring “architecture history” talk. Sorry!
…they’d be trying not to catch my cold! haha
…they’d dream of what the interior of this mysterious house looks like!!!
…they’d dream in watercolor of my crazy friend. hahaha
…they’d have nightmares of blending into a brown mush of boringness.
…they’d dream of a neon green couch.
Modern Green Living Room
I had a wonderful time stuffing myself with delicious food and laughing at my crazy family. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving too! Now Christmas is quickly approaching, and the weather is getting colder and wetter every day. I’m definetly hoping for a very white Christmas. Very inspired by a trip to IKEA, I colored this room that I drew a week ago.
The gorgeous green couch is modeled after the IKEA “Ektorp” couch.
To each side of the couch is a sidetable with a drawer and two shelves. Above the couch are three empty frames. Why empty? Honestly, I couldn’t decide what to put in them. But I’ll say that I didn’t want them to draw from the focus, the lime green couch. Above each sidetable is a lamp that a friend requested I put in one of my drawings. At the right of the couch is a gigantic window with tons of accessories: a shade, AND sheers, AND a green curtain. In front of the window is another table. Decorating the floor is a dramatic grey rug over light hardwood floors.
If walls could dream… they’d dream of a neon green couch!
Nautical Seaside Master Bedroom – Colored
Look familiar? Last month I posted this, but it wasn’t colored. Although this isn’t my ideal paint job, I’m satisfied enough with it. I colored this with my watercolors. Next time, I’ll paint the walls a different color, perhaps a light blue or yellow or even just leave them white! The brown walls and brown furniture and brown floors really make the blue pop, but at the same time they blend into a brown mush of boringness. (Yes, spellcheck, that’s how you spell boringness) And while I love this drawing because of its detail, next time I’m gonna plan my accents so they spread the color around the whole room. In this design, the cabinet wall at the far left has absolutely no accent color. And the gorgeous headboard blends right into the wall! One of my favorite things about this doodle is the artwork above the bed. It took about 3 seconds to color yet looks like a real painting! I’m also drooling over the pairing of dark hardwood floors and the bright blue/turquoise rug.
If walls could dream… they’d have nightmares of blending into a brown mush of boringness.
Blue and Brown Entry Hall
I was doodling during science class (sorry, Mr. Noble) but didn’t like where the living room was going, so I flipped the page over and started this entry hall.
It was originally midcentury/modern, but the way I colored it, it seems just modern.
…
My crazy friend is trying to text me while I’m writing this post so she decided to just send me 8 messages in a row saying “blah” to annoy me. Thanks.
…
Anyways, at the left is a shelving unit, the in the middle is a bench with a mirror and hooks above it. At the right is more shelves and some drawers for shoes. I colored this design with watercolors! I love watercolors because you can…
Hold on, my crazy friend again.
…
Um, I love watercolors because you can make any color you want. And they are way faster than pencils!
If walls could dream… they’d dream in watercolor of my crazy friend. hahaha.