Split level home kitchen update with white shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, marble back splash and dark hardwood floors
Example of a trendy l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Boston with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, multicolored backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

split level update with new windows, doors, siding, roofing and stonework
Inspiration for a contemporary gray two-story vinyl exterior home remodel in Boston

This week’s post of the Updated Spec Home features the Guest Bedroom. A Guest Bedroom is a space where you can feel free to experiment with color and pattern. Check out this room that embraces both! For our Updated Spec Home, we reused furniture from a previous home which included a twin daybed, a vanity and stool, and my Nana’s wedding chest. However, we updated it by popping a blue accent color in the artwork, fabrics and accessories. Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom - Robin's Nest Interiors This oversized landscape artwork was the inspiration for our new accent color. We used that blue to selected fabric for the daybed pillows, cushions for the chest and panels for the palladium window. We added blue ceramic flowers as additional wall decor. The wool rug has various shades of blues in it as well. Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom - Robin's Nest Interiors The focal point for the Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom is the oversized palladium window. The perfect application for this style of window is panels installed on medallions which highlight the curve. My sister was skeptical of the design because she was concerned the panel would look sloppy. Our workroom did a fabulous job of finishing the top for a very tailored look. I do so hate to tell my sister “I told you so.” This is a beautiful room that homeowner or guest would love to stay in. Enjoy!

Designed, updated split entry and dark stained hardwood floor.
Inspiration for a contemporary formal and open concept dark wood floor living room remodel in Boston with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

We completely updated this home from the outside to the inside. Every room was touched because the owner wanted to make it very sell-able. Our job was to lighten, brighten and do as many updates as we could on a shoe string budget. We started with the outside and we cleared the lakefront so that the lakefront view was open to the house. We also trimmed the large trees in the front and really opened the house up, before we painted the home and freshen up the landscaping. Inside we painted the house in a white duck color and updated the existing wood trim to a modern white color. We also installed shiplap on the TV wall and white washed the existing Fireplace brick. We installed lighting over the kitchen soffit as well as updated the can lighting. We then updated all 3 bathrooms. We finished it off with custom barn doors in the newly created office as well as the master bedroom. We completed the look with custom furniture!

Split level home kitchen update with white shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, marble back splash and dark hardwood floors
Trendy l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Boston with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, multicolored backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This week’s post of the Updated Spec Home features the Guest Bedroom. A Guest Bedroom is a space where you can feel free to experiment with color and pattern. Check out this room that embraces both! For our Updated Spec Home, we reused furniture from a previous home which included a twin daybed, a vanity and stool, and my Nana’s wedding chest. However, we updated it by popping a blue accent color in the artwork, fabrics and accessories. Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom - Robin's Nest Interiors This oversized landscape artwork was the inspiration for our new accent color. We used that blue to selected fabric for the daybed pillows, cushions for the chest and panels for the palladium window. We added blue ceramic flowers as additional wall decor. The wool rug has various shades of blues in it as well. Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom - Robin's Nest Interiors The focal point for the Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom is the oversized palladium window. The perfect application for this style of window is panels installed on medallions which highlight the curve. My sister was skeptical of the design because she was concerned the panel would look sloppy. Our workroom did a fabulous job of finishing the top for a very tailored look. I do so hate to tell my sister “I told you so.” This is a beautiful room that homeowner or guest would love to stay in. Enjoy! Photo by Tim Furlong Jr.

We completely updated this home from the outside to the inside. Every room was touched because the owner wanted to make it very sell-able. Our job was to lighten, brighten and do as many updates as we could on a shoe string budget. We started with the outside and we cleared the lakefront so that the lakefront view was open to the house. We also trimmed the large trees in the front and really opened the house up, before we painted the home and freshen up the landscaping. Inside we painted the house in a white duck color and updated the existing wood trim to a modern white color. We also installed shiplap on the TV wall and white washed the existing Fireplace brick. We installed lighting over the kitchen soffit as well as updated the can lighting. We then updated all 3 bathrooms. We finished it off with custom barn doors in the newly created office as well as the master bedroom. We completed the look with custom furniture!

Ceramic tile floor and bath tub surround with glass tile niche in updated family bathroom.
Doorless shower - small contemporary master gray tile and stone tile marble floor doorless shower idea in Boston with white cabinets, a two-piece toilet, blue walls and a pedestal sink

Ceramic tile floor and bath tub surround with glass tile niche in updated family bathroom.
Example of a mid-sized trendy kids' gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile bathroom design in Boston with furniture-like cabinets, brown cabinets, a one-piece toilet, green walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops

This week’s post of the Updated Spec Home features the Guest Bedroom. A Guest Bedroom is a space where you can feel free to experiment with color and pattern. Check out this room that embraces both! For our Updated Spec Home, we reused furniture from a previous home which included a twin daybed, a vanity and stool, and my Nana’s wedding chest. However, we updated it by popping a blue accent color in the artwork, fabrics and accessories. Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom - Robin's Nest Interiors This oversized landscape artwork was the inspiration for our new accent color. We used that blue to selected fabric for the daybed pillows, cushions for the chest and panels for the palladium window. We added blue ceramic flowers as additional wall decor. The wool rug has various shades of blues in it as well. Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom - Robin's Nest Interiors The focal point for the Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom is the oversized palladium window. The perfect application for this style of window is panels installed on medallions which highlight the curve. My sister was skeptical of the design because she was concerned the panel would look sloppy. Our workroom did a fabulous job of finishing the top for a very tailored look. I do so hate to tell my sister “I told you so.” This is a beautiful room that homeowner or guest would love to stay in. Enjoy!

Ceramic tile floor and bath tub surround with glass tile niche in updated family bathroom.
Example of a mid-sized trendy kids' gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile bathroom design in Boston with furniture-like cabinets, brown cabinets, a one-piece toilet, green walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops

This week’s post of the Updated Spec Home features the Guest Bedroom. A Guest Bedroom is a space where you can feel free to experiment with color and pattern. Check out this room that embraces both! For our Updated Spec Home, we reused furniture from a previous home which included a twin daybed, a vanity and stool, and my Nana’s wedding chest. However, we updated it by popping a blue accent color in the artwork, fabrics and accessories. Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom - Robin's Nest Interiors This oversized landscape artwork was the inspiration for our new accent color. We used that blue to selected fabric for the daybed pillows, cushions for the chest and panels for the palladium window. We added blue ceramic flowers as additional wall decor. The wool rug has various shades of blues in it as well. Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom - Robin's Nest Interiors The focal point for the Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom is the oversized palladium window. The perfect application for this style of window is panels installed on medallions which highlight the curve. My sister was skeptical of the design because she was concerned the panel would look sloppy. Our workroom did a fabulous job of finishing the top for a very tailored look. I do so hate to tell my sister “I told you so.” This is a beautiful room that homeowner or guest would love to stay in. Enjoy!

This week’s post of the Updated Spec Home features the Guest Bedroom. A Guest Bedroom is a space where you can feel free to experiment with color and pattern. Check out this room that embraces both! For our Updated Spec Home, we reused furniture from a previous home which included a twin daybed, a vanity and stool, and my Nana’s wedding chest. However, we updated it by popping a blue accent color in the artwork, fabrics and accessories. Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom - Robin's Nest Interiors This oversized landscape artwork was the inspiration for our new accent color. We used that blue to selected fabric for the daybed pillows, cushions for the chest and panels for the palladium window. We added blue ceramic flowers as additional wall decor. The wool rug has various shades of blues in it as well. Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom - Robin's Nest Interiors The focal point for the Updated Spec Home Guest Bedroom is the oversized palladium window. The perfect application for this style of window is panels installed on medallions which highlight the curve. My sister was skeptical of the design because she was concerned the panel would look sloppy. Our workroom did a fabulous job of finishing the top for a very tailored look. I do so hate to tell my sister “I told you so.” This is a beautiful room that homeowner or guest would love to stay in. Enjoy!

Summary of Scope: gut renovation/reconfiguration of kitchen, coffee bar, mudroom, powder room, 2 kids baths, guest bath, master bath and dressing room, kids study and playroom, study/office, laundry room, restoration of windows, adding wallpapers and window treatments Background/description: The house was built in 1908, my clients are only the 3rd owners of the house. The prior owner lived there from 1940s until she died at age of 98! The old home had loads of character and charm but was in pretty bad condition and desperately needed updates. The clients purchased the home a few years ago and did some work before they moved in (roof, HVAC, electrical) but decided to live in the house for a 6 months or so before embarking on the next renovation phase. I had worked with the clients previously on the wife's office space and a few projects in a previous home including the nursery design for their first child so they reached out when they were ready to start thinking about the interior renovations. The goal was to respect and enhance the historic architecture of the home but make the spaces more functional for this couple with two small kids. Clients were open to color and some more bold/unexpected design choices. The design style is updated traditional with some eclectic elements. An early design decision was to incorporate a dark colored french range which would be the focal point of the kitchen and to do dark high gloss lacquered cabinets in the adjacent coffee bar, and we ultimately went with dark green.

Inspiration for a french country bathroom remodel in Orange County

Julie Soefer
Living room - contemporary living room idea in Houston

The goal of this project was to update the outdated master bathroom to better meet the homeowners design tastes and the style of the rest of this foothills home, as well as update all the doors on the first floor, and create a contemporary mud room and staircase to the basement. The homeowners wanted a master suite that had a masculine feel, incorporated elements of black steel, wood, and contrast with clean white tiles and counter-tops and helped their long and skinny layout feel larger/ make better use of the space they have. They also wanted a more spacious and luxurious shower with water temperature control. A large window that existed above the original soaking tub offered spectacular views down into Boulder valley and it was important to keep this element in the updated design. However, privacy was also very important. Therefore, a custom-built powder coated steel shelf, was created to provide privacy blocking, add storage, and add a contrasting design element to the white wall tiles. Black honeycomb floor tiles, new black walnut cabinetry, contemporary wall paper, a floor to ceiling glass shower wall, and updated fixtures elevated the space and gave the clients exactly the look and feel that they wanted. Unique custom metal design elements can be found throughout the new spaces (shower, mud room bench and shelving, and staircase railings and guardrails), and give this home the contemporary feel that the homeowners desired.

KITCHEN RENOVATION  CURRENT CRAFTSMAN This client started off just being curious about our services - what we could do, and if we could even help her update her kitchen. She and her husband with their two teenage kids have lived in their home for several years without updating anything since the house was originally built. They didn’t quite have a budget in mind yet. They didn’t know their style, or even if they had one. Their timeline was simple, “as fast as you can so we’re not without a kitchen for very long” (usually what we hear for kitchen updates). After a very productive consultation: determining the scope of work and zeroing in on a budget, I was very excited to update this underwhelming space to something that is modern but timeless, something that is theirs. And, it was easy to see what type of design style they gravitated toward looking at the pieces they already own: Craftsman/Prairie Style. I left the meeting so excited to weave in yet another genre of design to my CDG portfolio! We circled in our contractor to discuss the changes they were looking to make and the scope of work that would be theirs. Then I was off to get designing: // Because the kitchen’s footprint and the defined breakfast space delineated by the bay, we kept the perimeter cabinetry as it was originally laid out. We updated these cabinets to a beautiful soft Alabaster White with a Barn Wood Glaze to highlight the simplicity of the shaker style doors. We added transom cabinets above the uppers, with only the back wall having seeded glass inserts to highlight some of their collectables. // The original shaped island was counter-productive (See what I did there?) in functionality and design. We squared this off to reduce some of the angles and gain more storage. We highlighted the new island with a contrasting oak cabinet in a dark finish, to pay our respects to the craftsman style, and topped with a concrete-like countertop as a nod to the Prairie Style, allowing the homeowners to gain two extra seats and a massive -uninterrupted- work surface. // The small section of cabinetry between the garage entry and fridge now is the perfect dump-station for mail, electronics, whatever is in their hands when they come into the house; and completely hidden by the refrigerator. // The disconnected cabinetry in the breakfast area makes for a great place to have a working office. Accessible from the kitchen or the adjacent great room, this is the perfect place for the kids to do their homework while mom and dad are putting together dinner. The base cabinets are built out for office-type storage: paper and pencil drawers, filing systems, and cord management. Additionally, the long counter provides a ton of worksurface to spread out. // The largest transformation was the pantry. We raised the height of the doorway and added huge custom designed bypass sliding barndoors. Finished with a dark stain to compliment the island and cut to inset 4 stained glass windows, typical of this style of design, and driving home the concept for the whole space. // They were desperate to replace their flooring with something extremely durable to flow throughout the kitchen and the whole main level. This beautiful new flooring is actually a textured LVT(!) Which allowed them to save on overall cost and extend the life of their new flooring purchase. // They loved their copper table, so we kept it and added new simple, mid-century modern chairs around it and a shiny new craftsman-style chandelier above. We added bright barstools in a burnt orange-red accent, and a bright woven rug to tie it all together. // Because the kitchen renovation was shaping up to be pretty spectacular, they decided they needed to now replace their ‘now-these-look-a-little-too-old’ upholstered seating in the neighboring great room with 2 new sofas. We found the perfect sage-y-grey fabric which we covered on sofa frames that have and exposed oak-wood base, which we finished in a warm weathered grey. // As every designer knows, a room isn’t finished until there’s something on the windows. Now that the new flooring was installed and every other room on the main level ‘seemed’ to be updated, we needed to update the window treatments in the dining, and great rooms to reflect their new design concept. I hope you find the ‘after’ photos refreshing (as refreshing as it was for me to work on something that’s not a “Farm House” style that’s saturating the industry right now!) This was such a fun project and a great collaboration with our contractor.