I have been working as a kitchen and bath designer in the Pacific Northwest for 13 years. I love engaging with new clients, ascertaining their needs through various interviews and meetings and then collaborating as we build their finished concept together. The variety of design styles, room layouts and function changes so much between one person and the next that no two finished products are remotely the same. This fluidity allows for endless possibilities for exploration in my field. It keeps the job interesting and has always given me a particular sense of reward and accomplishment as we near completion. The greatest personal recompense in this chosen profession is being able to walk with a client through this process and come out the other side with that client feeling elated with the end result.

Donna Boxx
Large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in St Louis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Amy Birrer I have been working as a kitchen and bath designer in the Pacific Northwest for 13 years. I love engaging with new clients, ascertaining their needs through various interviews and meetings and then collaborating as we build their finished concept together. The variety of design styles, room layouts and function changes so much between one person and the next that no two finished products are remotely the same. This fluidity allows for endless possibilities for exploration in my field. It keeps the job interesting and has always given me a particular sense of reward and accomplishment as we near completion. The greatest personal recompense in this chosen profession is being able to walk with a client through this process and come out the other side with that client feeling elated with the end result.

This Cobble Hill Brownstone for a family of five is a fun and captivating design, the perfect blend of the wife’s love of English country style and the husband’s preference for modern. The young power couple, her the co-founder of Maisonette and him an investor, have three children and a dog, requiring that all the surfaces, finishes and, materials used throughout the home are both beautiful and durable to make every room a carefree space the whole family can enjoy. The primary design challenge for this project was creating both distinct places for the family to live their day to day lives and also a whole floor dedicated to formal entertainment. The clients entertain large dinners on a monthly basis as part of their profession. We solved this by adding an extension on the Garden and Parlor levels. This allowed the Garden level to function as the daily family operations center and the Parlor level to be party central. The kitchen on the garden level is large enough to dine in and accommodate a large catering crew. On the parlor level, we created a large double parlor in the front of the house; this space is dedicated to cocktail hour and after-dinner drinks. The rear of the parlor is a spacious formal dining room that can seat up to 14 guests. The middle "library" space contains a bar and facilitates access to both the front and rear rooms; in this way, it can double as a staging area for the parties. The remaining three floors are sleeping quarters for the family and frequent out of town guests. Designing a row house for private and public functions programmatically returns the building to a configuration in line with its original design. This project was published in Architectural Digest. Photography by Sam Frost

This project created a singular modern home for clients with two distinct professions; she is an artist; he is a musician. Their directive to Battle Associates was to “design the home of their dreams,” and “make it cool.” As the design evolved, three volumes emerged each with its own individual character. Shapes, materials, and colors reinforced the concept. The “Red Barn” houses a music studio, garage, guest, and children’s bedrooms. The “Industrial” volume is the Art Studio. The “Middle” volume is where the clients live. Each structure has its own set of exterior details, materials, and colors. The three buildings are oriented to maximize views around a man-made pond and a conserved hefty locus tree. Clean, contemporary lines set the tone for the details throughout the project, creating an appropriate environment for displaying artwork. Maple, bamboo, and painted finishes were the predominant palette, complemented with steel and glass for the stairs. Kitchen details favored cut-away pulls instead of hardware. The shell of the entire home was detailed and constructed with a high degree of energy efficiency in mind. Ultra-insulation was the standard with foam panels, triple glazing, and near passive house standards for construction.

John Bedell Photography
Mid-sized trendy open concept living room photo in San Francisco with white walls and no tv

This Cobble Hill Brownstone for a family of five is a fun and captivating design, the perfect blend of the wife’s love of English country style and the husband’s preference for modern. The young power couple, her the co-founder of Maisonette and him an investor, have three children and a dog, requiring that all the surfaces, finishes and, materials used throughout the home are both beautiful and durable to make every room a carefree space the whole family can enjoy. The primary design challenge for this project was creating both distinct places for the family to live their day to day lives and also a whole floor dedicated to formal entertainment. The clients entertain large dinners on a monthly basis as part of their profession. We solved this by adding an extension on the Garden and Parlor levels. This allowed the Garden level to function as the daily family operations center and the Parlor level to be party central. The kitchen on the garden level is large enough to dine in and accommodate a large catering crew. On the parlor level, we created a large double parlor in the front of the house; this space is dedicated to cocktail hour and after-dinner drinks. The rear of the parlor is a spacious formal dining room that can seat up to 14 guests. The middle "library" space contains a bar and facilitates access to both the front and rear rooms; in this way, it can double as a staging area for the parties. The remaining three floors are sleeping quarters for the family and frequent out of town guests. Designing a row house for private and public functions programmatically returns the building to a configuration in line with its original design. This project was published in Architectural Digest. Photography by Sam Frost

This project created a singular modern home for clients with two distinct professions; she is an artist; he is a musician. Their directive to Battle Associates was to “design the home of their dreams,” and “make it cool.” As the design evolved, three volumes emerged each with its own individual character. Shapes, materials, and colors reinforced the concept. The “Red Barn” houses a music studio, garage, guest, and children’s bedrooms. The “Industrial” volume is the Art Studio. The “Middle” volume is where the clients live. Each structure has its own set of exterior details, materials, and colors. The three buildings are oriented to maximize views around a man-made pond and a conserved hefty locus tree. Clean, contemporary lines set the tone for the details throughout the project, creating an appropriate environment for displaying artwork. Maple, bamboo, and painted finishes were the predominant palette, complemented with steel and glass for the stairs. Kitchen details favored cut-away pulls instead of hardware. The shell of the entire home was detailed and constructed with a high degree of energy efficiency in mind. Ultra-insulation was the standard with foam panels, triple glazing, and near passive house standards for construction.

This project created a singular modern home for clients with two distinct professions; she is an artist; he is a musician. Their directive to Battle Associates was to “design the home of their dreams,” and “make it cool.” As the design evolved, three volumes emerged each with its own individual character. Shapes, materials, and colors reinforced the concept. The “Red Barn” houses a music studio, garage, guest, and children’s bedrooms. The “Industrial” volume is the Art Studio. The “Middle” volume is where the clients live. Each structure has its own set of exterior details, materials, and colors. The three buildings are oriented to maximize views around a man-made pond and a conserved hefty locus tree. Clean, contemporary lines set the tone for the details throughout the project, creating an appropriate environment for displaying artwork. Maple, bamboo, and painted finishes were the predominant palette, complemented with steel and glass for the stairs. Kitchen details favored cut-away pulls instead of hardware. The shell of the entire home was detailed and constructed with a high degree of energy efficiency in mind. Ultra-insulation was the standard with foam panels, triple glazing, and near passive house standards for construction.

This project created a singular modern home for clients with two distinct professions; she is an artist; he is a musician. Their directive to Battle Associates was to “design the home of their dreams,” and “make it cool.” As the design evolved, three volumes emerged each with its own individual character. Shapes, materials, and colors reinforced the concept. The “Red Barn” houses a music studio, garage, guest, and children’s bedrooms. The “Industrial” volume is the Art Studio. The “Middle” volume is where the clients live. Each structure has its own set of exterior details, materials, and colors. The three buildings are oriented to maximize views around a man-made pond and a conserved hefty locus tree. Clean, contemporary lines set the tone for the details throughout the project, creating an appropriate environment for displaying artwork. Maple, bamboo, and painted finishes were the predominant palette, complemented with steel and glass for the stairs. Kitchen details favored cut-away pulls instead of hardware. The shell of the entire home was detailed and constructed with a high degree of energy efficiency in mind. Ultra-insulation was the standard with foam panels, triple glazing, and near passive house standards for construction.

Photo: Kimberley Bryan © 2016 Houzz
Example of a mid-sized country medium tone wood floor enclosed dining room design in Seattle with beige walls

Before and after photos of projects by Astrid Newton Rush Interior Designs. FCD: What makes you different from a designer you can find at a Home Depot or Lowes? Astrid: I can't attest to the education, experience or qualifications required to work as a designer at those stores. However, I can tell you something about myself. I am a Florida registered interior designer with over 30 years of experience in my field. I am not simply an interior decorator. I am an interior designer with professional credentials. I am NCIDQ certified. This means I have attained the highest level of profession certification in my field through my education, work experience and a lengthy examination process. Also, my skill set is not limited to one area, such as a kitchen or window treatment design. I am well versed in all areas of interior design. In addition, in order to keep my license/registration active, I must take continuing education classes every two years that cover building codes and HSW certification which pertains to issues related to health, safety and welfare.

This project created a singular modern home for clients with two distinct professions; she is an artist; he is a musician. Their directive to Battle Associates was to “design the home of their dreams,” and “make it cool.” As the design evolved, three volumes emerged each with its own individual character. Shapes, materials, and colors reinforced the concept. The “Red Barn” houses a music studio, garage, guest, and children’s bedrooms. The “Industrial” volume is the Art Studio. The “Middle” volume is where the clients live. Each structure has its own set of exterior details, materials, and colors. The three buildings are oriented to maximize views around a man-made pond and a conserved hefty locus tree. Clean, contemporary lines set the tone for the details throughout the project, creating an appropriate environment for displaying artwork. Maple, bamboo, and painted finishes were the predominant palette, complemented with steel and glass for the stairs. Kitchen details favored cut-away pulls instead of hardware. The shell of the entire home was detailed and constructed with a high degree of energy efficiency in mind. Ultra-insulation was the standard with foam panels, triple glazing, and near passive house standards for construction.

This project created a singular modern home for clients with two distinct professions; she is an artist; he is a musician. Their directive to Battle Associates was to “design the home of their dreams,” and “make it cool.” As the design evolved, three volumes emerged each with its own individual character. Shapes, materials, and colors reinforced the concept. The “Red Barn” houses a music studio, garage, guest, and children’s bedrooms. The “Industrial” volume is the Art Studio. The “Middle” volume is where the clients live. Each structure has its own set of exterior details, materials, and colors. The three buildings are oriented to maximize views around a man-made pond and a conserved hefty locus tree. Clean, contemporary lines set the tone for the details throughout the project, creating an appropriate environment for displaying artwork. Maple, bamboo, and painted finishes were the predominant palette, complemented with steel and glass for the stairs. Kitchen details favored cut-away pulls instead of hardware. The shell of the entire home was detailed and constructed with a high degree of energy efficiency in mind. Ultra-insulation was the standard with foam panels, triple glazing, and near passive house standards for construction.

This project created a singular modern home for clients with two distinct professions; she is an artist; he is a musician. Their directive to Battle Associates was to “design the home of their dreams,” and “make it cool.” As the design evolved, three volumes emerged each with its own individual character. Shapes, materials, and colors reinforced the concept. The “Red Barn” houses a music studio, garage, guest, and children’s bedrooms. The “Industrial” volume is the Art Studio. The “Middle” volume is where the clients live. Each structure has its own set of exterior details, materials, and colors. The three buildings are oriented to maximize views around a man-made pond and a conserved hefty locus tree. Clean, contemporary lines set the tone for the details throughout the project, creating an appropriate environment for displaying artwork. Maple, bamboo, and painted finishes were the predominant palette, complemented with steel and glass for the stairs. Kitchen details favored cut-away pulls instead of hardware. The shell of the entire home was detailed and constructed with a high degree of energy efficiency in mind. Ultra-insulation was the standard with foam panels, triple glazing, and near passive house standards for construction.

This project created a singular modern home for clients with two distinct professions; she is an artist; he is a musician. Their directive to Battle Associates was to “design the home of their dreams,” and “make it cool.” As the design evolved, three volumes emerged each with its own individual character. Shapes, materials, and colors reinforced the concept. The “Red Barn” houses a music studio, garage, guest, and children’s bedrooms. The “Industrial” volume is the Art Studio. The “Middle” volume is where the clients live. Each structure has its own set of exterior details, materials, and colors. The three buildings are oriented to maximize views around a man-made pond and a conserved hefty locus tree. Clean, contemporary lines set the tone for the details throughout the project, creating an appropriate environment for displaying artwork. Maple, bamboo, and painted finishes were the predominant palette, complemented with steel and glass for the stairs. Kitchen details favored cut-away pulls instead of hardware. The shell of the entire home was detailed and constructed with a high degree of energy efficiency in mind. Ultra-insulation was the standard with foam panels, triple glazing, and near passive house standards for construction.

We updated the home by applying a grey wash to the Oak floors to soften them. We faux finished the newel post and handrail in a taupe color with a rubbed through look at wear points. The baby Grand is nestled in the space under the stairs with a round ottoman that just fits in its beautiful curve. The color chosen for the stairway wall was a perfect choice and makes one feel as if they are climbing the stairs into the clouds. Steve Buchanan Photography

This project created a singular modern home for clients with two distinct professions; she is an artist; he is a musician. Their directive to Battle Associates was to “design the home of their dreams,” and “make it cool.” As the design evolved, three volumes emerged each with its own individual character. Shapes, materials, and colors reinforced the concept. The “Red Barn” houses a music studio, garage, guest, and children’s bedrooms. The “Industrial” volume is the Art Studio. The “Middle” volume is where the clients live. Each structure has its own set of exterior details, materials, and colors. The three buildings are oriented to maximize views around a man-made pond and a conserved hefty locus tree. Clean, contemporary lines set the tone for the details throughout the project, creating an appropriate environment for displaying artwork. Maple, bamboo, and painted finishes were the predominant palette, complemented with steel and glass for the stairs. Kitchen details favored cut-away pulls instead of hardware. The shell of the entire home was detailed and constructed with a high degree of energy efficiency in mind. Ultra-insulation was the standard with foam panels, triple glazing, and near passive house standards for construction.

This Cobble Hill Brownstone for a family of five is a fun and captivating design, the perfect blend of the wife’s love of English country style and the husband’s preference for modern. The young power couple, her the co-founder of Maisonette and him an investor, have three children and a dog, requiring that all the surfaces, finishes and, materials used throughout the home are both beautiful and durable to make every room a carefree space the whole family can enjoy. The primary design challenge for this project was creating both distinct places for the family to live their day to day lives and also a whole floor dedicated to formal entertainment. The clients entertain large dinners on a monthly basis as part of their profession. We solved this by adding an extension on the Garden and Parlor levels. This allowed the Garden level to function as the daily family operations center and the Parlor level to be party central. The kitchen on the garden level is large enough to dine in and accommodate a large catering crew. On the parlor level, we created a large double parlor in the front of the house; this space is dedicated to cocktail hour and after-dinner drinks. The rear of the parlor is a spacious formal dining room that can seat up to 14 guests. The middle "library" space contains a bar and facilitates access to both the front and rear rooms; in this way, it can double as a staging area for the parties. The remaining three floors are sleeping quarters for the family and frequent out of town guests. Designing a row house for private and public functions programmatically returns the building to a configuration in line with its original design. This project was published in Architectural Digest. Photography by Sam Frost