From Plain to Fabulous A great thing about building a new home is that you are starting fresh. Being a Florida decorator, many of our clients are moving from the Northern or Mid-West states. We advise them to leave their often dark, large pieces of traditional furniture behind and just bring pieces that have value to them whether sentimental or monetary. This dining room was a pleasure because it was a clean slate with large windows letting in the morning sun. The floors are hand-scraped engineered wood in Brazilian walnut which give the entire home a warm feel to counteract the stark white walls. The home owners have a large art collection and specifically chose the white paint so that the paintings can be seen at their best and moved around the home easily. The owners host many dinner parties throughout the year and wanted a table that was virtually indestructible, and that visitors didn’t have to be careful with. This long Mango wood trestle table comfortably seats between eight and ten and has an antique grey, distressed look that is similar to driftwood. We alternated turquoise and light blue dining chairs for some contrast. An outstanding centerpiece for the room is a dazzling grey chandelier with an outstanding display of brilliant graphite crystals. Hundreds of faceted crystals are suspended from ten fluted glass arms. Wall sconces in chrome with grey linen shades were added and all the lighting is on dimmers for a choice of bright or mood lighting depending on the required ambience. To control the harsh Florida sunlight that can leech color out of furnishings within weeks, we installed light grey Silhouette window shades which keep approximately 97% of harmful UV rays out but still let in light even when fully closed. Traversing draperies were installed floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall providing a spectacular color wall of cream, green, purple and turquoise. The hardware is hidden behind the crown moulding for a clean, modern look. The best part of this design story lies in the large-scale artwork. The home owner had been given the painting years ago when she lived in Philadelphia but the colors didn’t suit her Northern palette. The painting was hidden in the attic but during the move was crated and sent to Florida. After not seeing it for sixteen years she had forgotten what it looked like and when she saw the crate about to be off-loaded asked the removal crew to take it away. At the last minute she decided to look in the crate and was surprised and delighted to find the perfect artwork for her dining room! Lastly, hand-torn wallpaper was installed in a custom color in the tray ceiling. As this room is used for dinner parties, games and even casual dining we decided not to install a rug for ease of use and movement around the table. Photographer: Rolando Diaz

Lucy Call
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Gold leaf and mirror consoles below elongated decorative crystal wall sconce. Photo Credit: Phillip Ennis
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The grand entry way with curved staircase creates the timeless and classic look that the client wanted. The gray walls are timeless and will last a long time without getting old. Custom-dyed stair carpeting blends in with the walls. Crystal chandelier and sconces add elegant ambiance to the space.

Dainolite Crystal 20"W 3 Light Wall Sconce in Polished Chrome with Clear Crystal
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Josh Thornton
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This master bathroom was a such a pleasure to design. The split level marble vanity adds depth and character to the space. Polished nickel hardware keeps the space feeling classic along with the polished nickel drawer handles. Crystal knobs add a splash of elegance alone with the beaded oval nickel bathroom mirrors. The polished nickel wall sconces feel like they where original to the house. Subway tile was used in the shower and the face of the bathtub to keep with historical design elements of this 1906 beauty.

Ann Lowengart Interiors took a dated Lafayette Tuscan-inspired villa and transformed it into a timeless Californian ranch. The 5,045 Sq. Ft gated estate sited on 2.8-acres boasts panoramic views of Mt. Diablo, Briones Regional Park, and surrounding hills. Ann Lowengart dressed the modern interiors in a cool color palette punctuated by moody blues and Hermès orange that are casually elegant for a family with tween children and several animals. Unique to the residence is an indigo-walled library complete with a hidden bar for the adults to imbibe in.