It's the Most Crazy Time of the Year

This time of year is over the top for a designer. We want to get our clients' projects and homes ready for their guests and get togethers. In my own case, I even do holiday decorating for a few select clients. We love being able to weave our design aesthetic into interiors we have completed, always trying to keep things new and fresh. Here is one of the several trees we did this season. We wanted a bit of "Winter Wonderland" kind of feel, so we added blue and aqua and flocked greenery to the tree. It turned out very nicely.

This is one of two 12 foot trees we do each year as well. 

While all this holiday cheer was happening, we also have a nice master bath redesign/remodel project happening. We are taking it from brown and drab to clean and classic. 

This is a peek at the shower niches in herringbone marble set into white subway tile. It's a look that I love!

We are also adding paneled moldings on the walls and curved pediments at the sink and shower areas. We are also adding feet to the cabinets. We are doing this work in-house, which is a special thing that sets us apart. 

And excited is not the word about the Brizo polished nickel faucets and fixtures going in here. 

May I just say, I love this finish ridiculously much!

Meanwhile, with all this happening design-wise, I must admit I am a little challenged with my own holiday decorating at home. 

A look at one of my own trees, standing lit but bare of ornaments. As they say, the shoemaker's children have no shoes!

Oh well, I'll get it all done. I always do. 

House Jewelry: Polished Nickel Faucets

If there is anywhere in a house that I believe you should invest in quality, it is in hardware:  hinges, doorknobs, cabinet hardware, and faucets.  I call these things house jewelry.  Like the jewelry we wear, hardware in a home makes a very definite style statement.  Unfortunately, I think we often do not budget enough when building and remodeling for this very important aspect of home design.  How much can a measly little faucet cost, right?  For a good quality one, more than we sometimes think.

A while back Joni at Cote de Texas walked us through her kitchen remodel and I remember her sink and marble counter being my favorite part of the room, but at the time I didn't pay close attention to the brand name she listed for her kitchen faucet.  Since then, I have taken a whole-house remodel and re-decorate project and have been out shopping (a lot!).  So faucets are at the forefront of my mind right now.  When she posted a picture of her kitchen again for her New Year post, it jogged my memory.  Here is a picture of her beautiful kitchen sink and faucet.

Joni's Perrin and Rowe kitchen faucet

The last few years a number of finishes were big on the market.  Oil-rubbed bronze, satin nickel and stainless, to name a few.  These are still being shown in a big way in the showrooms and big box satores in my city.  But the finish that I have fallen in love with is polished nickel.  I'm not sure the love affair will ever end either!  The best thing about polished nickel is its undertone, which is warmer than the blue undertone of polished chrome.  It is classic and less trendy-looking than some finishes.  It works so much better with the palettes I like to work with, which almost always have a warm undertone.

The Bistro Collection from Restoration Hardware

This photo shows that wonderful silver/gold finish that I love about polished nickel.  It just can't be duplicated, in my opinion.

Jado Colonial Collection

Polished nickel heaven!   Faucet and hammered nickel sink.  Just fabulous.

Restoration Hardware Vintage Collection

Polished nickel with crystal on handles

Vintage bath enhanced by polished nickel

I think you can see that this finish really is almost jewelry-like in appearance.  Shiny, yet warm and appraochable at the same time.  Forgive me if I gush.  But a newfound crush can do that to you!