Children’s waiting room interior design project at Princeton University. I was beyond thrilled when contacted by a team of scientists ( psychologists and neurologists ) at Princeton University. This group of professors and graduate students from the Turk-Brown Laboratory are conducting research on the infant’s brain by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (or fMRI), to see how they learn, remember and think. My job was to turn a tiny 7’x10′ windowless study room into an inviting but not too “clinical” waiting room for the mothers or fathers and siblings of the babies being studied. We needed to ensure a comfortable place for parents to rock and feed their babies while waiting their turn to go back to the laboratory, as well as a place to change the babies if needed. We wanted to stock some shelves with good books and while the room looks complete, we’re still sourcing something interactive to mount to the wall to help entertain toddlers who want something more active than reading or building blocks. Since there are no windows, I wanted to bring the outdoors inside. Princeton University‘s colors are orange, gray and black and the history behind those colors is very interesting. It seems there are a lot of squirrels on campus and these colors were selected for the three colors of squirrels often seem scampering around the university grounds. The orange squirrels are now extinct, but the gray and black squirrels are abundant, as I found when touring the campus with my son on installation day. Therefore we wanted to reflect this history in the room and decided to paint silhouettes of squirrels in these three colors throughout the room. While the ceilings are 10′ high in this tiny room, they’re very drab and boring. Given that it’s a drop ceiling, we can’t paint it a fun color as I typically do in my nurseries and kids’ rooms. To distract from the ugly ceiling, I contacted My Custom Creation through their Etsy shop and commissioned them to create a custom butterfly mobile to suspend from the ceiling to create a swath of butterflies moving across the room. Their customer service was impeccable and the end product was exactly what we wanted! The flooring in the space was simply coated concrete so I decided to use Flor carpet tiles to give it warmth and a grass-like appeal. These tiles are super easy to install and can easily be removed without any residual on the floor. I’ll be using them more often for sure! See more photos of our commercial interior design job below and contact us if you need a unique space designed for children. We don’t just design nurseries and bedrooms! We’re game for anything!

Slab style doors in shades of gray lend drama to this landscape architecture professor/artist’s kitchen. Special heights and depths culminate in a top alignment that defines a visual upper plane extending from the kitchen to the great room (at the tops of the windows and doors) creating a unified interior horizon. On a more prosaic front, the upper cabinets were held somewhat low to be easier to reach for a shortish cook. Differing cabinet depths allow for a structural post to be integrated through the island cabinetry; the oven cabinet is held forward to align with a full depth refrigerator; and depth was added at the washer/dryer surround for needed ventilation. Also, the base cabinets were pulled forward for deeper counters to accommodate several small appliances and still allow for work area. In addition, the client wanted a built-in shelf unit to blend with existing rough hewn paneling in which to display objets d’art. An organically shaped island breaks with tradition and softens the otherwise linear nature of the room. A unique sweeping curve expands and defines the bar seating -- the wall beneath is lined with an accent stripe of cork (same materials as in the flooring) to act as a shoe-scuff deterrent for the wall. A small but significant detail - the upper doors and side of the tall microwave cabinet had to be finished Silvermist (light) while the interior, edge banding and bottom drawerhead needed to be finished in the darker Slate to continue the color theme of the kitchen. Integrated lighting was also a mandatory component of this kitchen - indirect top, bottom, picture and toe lights can all be adjusted myriad ways; and we can’t forget the very unique undulating pendant lighting at the island.

Inspiration for a timeless home design remodel in St Louis

Photo: Caela McKeever © 2017 Houzz
Eclectic living room photo in Seattle

For today's Friday Feature we wanted to show off a really cool living room remodel that we did. The homeowners are both professors and avid bookworms. They wanted room to store shelves and shelves of books while creating a livable space. These Custom Wood Products (CWP) natural oak cabinets provide a ton of storage space... even behind the TV!

Tasoulla Hadjiyanni
Small elegant powder room photo in Minneapolis with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, soapstone countertops, a one-piece toilet and green walls

This was a unique remodel, we completely transformed an old abandon building into upscale housing for visiting professors to the area.
Example of a white tile single-sink tub/shower combo design in Columbus with blue cabinets, white walls and white countertops

This 3 bedroom condo was staged by Showhomes and went under contract within 1 week. We staged with transitional/traditional style furnishings and accessories to appeal to buyers for this particular building and location. This location serves professors and professionals needing to be closely located to the University of Colorado or downtown Denver.

This was a unique remodel, we completely transformed an old abandon building into upscale housing for visiting professors to the area.
Example of a kitchen design in Columbus with blue cabinets

A retired university professor and his wife wanted to modernize their kitchen's style and add storage to reduce clutter. Working with a local interior designer, San Luis Kitchen provided a stunning new kitchen in a sleek contemporary style -- Brookhaven's Bridgeport. We preserved the existing wood floor; added lots of storage including two appliance garages, a spice column, double trash cabinet and lazy susan; and, most importantly, gave the homeowners wall cabinets for that much needed storage. Simple cherry cabinets in a dark finish, black counters, and semi-translucent glass contribute to the modern aesthetic. Cabinet design/cabinetry: San Luis Kitchen Interior Design: Gail Congdon

Home office for a busy professor
Inspiration for a small 1960s freestanding desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor home office remodel in Philadelphia

This was a unique remodel, we completely transformed an old abandon building into upscale housing for visiting professors to the area.

The site is a single-story mid-century residence that fronts Urbana's historic Carle Park. The owners are an academic couple with a young family who originally wanted to replace their dilapidated garage with one that would also contain a family gym. After discussing their priorities, we decided to eliminate the garage altogether, and replace it with a two-story tower. On the ground floor is a fully equipped gym, with a power rack, Peloton bike, treadmill, and bike storage. Above the gym is an office for Professor Clancy. The raised office has a striking view of the park, as well as the surrounding landscape. Proximity to their university jobs allowed the family to reduce their vehicles to a single electric crossover. The tower includes an EV charger adjacent to the driveway

This was a unique remodel, we completely transformed an old abandon building into upscale housing for visiting professors to the area.
Kitchen - kitchen idea in Columbus with blue cabinets

The site is a single-story mid-century residence that fronts Urbana's historic Carle Park. The owners are an academic couple with a young family who originally wanted to replace their dilapidated garage with one that would also contain a family gym. After discussing their priorities, we decided to eliminate the garage altogether, and replace it with a two-story tower. On the ground floor is a fully equipped gym, with a power rack, Peloton bike, treadmill, and bike storage. Above the gym is an office for Professor Clancy. The raised office has a striking view of the park, as well as the surrounding landscape. Proximity to their university jobs allowed the family to reduce their vehicles to a single electric crossover. The tower includes an EV charger adjacent to the driveway

This modern structure is a new primary residence for a soon-to-be-retired professor of mathematics. The three-bedroom, 2-1/2 bath custom home is primarily on two floors but features a third-story look-out containing a study and presenting panoramic views of the gorge. Large picture windows on the main living floor open the interior to notable views on two distinct axes: the westerly view presents a view of the Columbia River as it winds its way toward Portland, the northerly view frames the majestic Mt. St. Helens. The bottom-most level is a two-bedroom accessory dwelling area for extended family to be used during extended visits. A three-car garage makes space for snow removal equipment, two vehicles and a limited shop. The home features a rooftop photovoltaic array providing enough electric power to sell back to the utility district during much of the year, and a geothermal loop for heating and cooling. Corrugated metal siding and standing seam roofing meets the safety requirements of the area that is prone to forest fires.

Trendy kitchen photo in Melbourne

What was originally supposed to be an addition, turned into a teardown with a completely new, contemporary home as the final product. Now filled with large windows, vibrant colours and well-traveled, unique décor, this space blew away the client's original expectations. With both owners working as professors, the home needed to spark inspiration and exude a peaceful ambiance, despite being set in the busy downtown of Waterloo. The well-planned floor plan design featured everything they needed: kitchen and living spaces, a main floor study, a second floor office, a guest bedroom and master bedroom and ensuite. The contemporary kitchen features flat panel doors and modern pull handles and is designed to focus on the view of the backyard. A mix of neutral brown tones and a crisp white palette can be seen throughout the house and the customers' personal touches are found in the selection of interior furnishings and exterior, lime green door. The main concept of the house's architecture grasps black forms and flat lines, while surrounded by greenery.