hellobeautifulcreatures

Design May 31, 2017   Share To create a winning master bath with limited square footage , assess the space, identify the client’s functional, aesthetic and stylistic preferences, and focus on incorporating unique and spectacular design details . authors Ellen Cheever   All too often, designers across the country tell me that, when offered a master bathroom project , the clients’ dream of an adult oasis is limited by the existing bathroom space and their unrealistic budget. While this may be the reality we all face with our “post Great Recession” clientele, let me suggest you not spend your energy complaining…but be energized by the challenge presented to you. Several strategies can help you create an exciting solution for a master bath space that must be completed within the confines of the available square footage . And, while they may not all fit within the client’s budget, these strategies will at least help you justify a recommendation to increase the initial budget! While the...

Of all the gleaming high- rise residences anchoring the Streeterville neighborhood, perhaps the new Optima Signature is one of the most artistic. You can't help but notice the striking red glass panels that wrap the lower seven floors of the modern apartment tower or the bright yellow free -form sculpture that stands in the plaza in front of the building. The color bursts are a signature of renowned architect and developer David Hovey of Glencoe. The 57- story Optima Signature at 220 E. Illinois St. is a joint venture between Hovey's firm, Optima Inc., and DeBartolo Development. The two also partnered in 2013 on the sister building next door, Optima Chicago Center . The base of that apartment tower is similarly clad in black glass. "Our focus is on architecture and contributing to the built environment but doing it in a way that resonates with the broader community and our residents," Optima Senior Vice President Mark Segal said. "We didn't design in ...

How do I prevent mold and mildew from accumulating in my bathroom? Mold and mildew can be located anywhere in our homes, but is most likely to grow in areas that are wet, humid and damp.  It is most commonly found in bathrooms, basements and attics, when a combination of water and insufficient ventilation are combined. One of the most noticeable areas you will find mold and mildew is in your bathroom because of the high levels of humidity confined in this small space.  Most commonly, mold and mildew are found in the corners and bases of your shower, under your sink, and along the walls near your shower.  Bathroom mold occurs because it loves damp, isolated and non-ventilated spaces. Leaky toilets, sinks and plumbing pipes also increase the likelihood that mold will accumulate in your bathroom.  Add water saturated wood , wallpaper, grout, drywall and fabric, and your mold will have all the surface area it needs to take over your bathroom. How do you know you have a mold problem? If yo...

Deerbrook Farm is a love story, straight out of the True Romance series . It’s about a young girl named Betsy Skillin , born in New York City and raised in Europe, who met Tom O’Connell, an American soldier, on a train traveling from Frankfurt to Paris. She was 14, and he was 20. Their chance meeting led to several years of friendly correspondence. Somewhere along the way, Tom met another woman and married. Betsy married Nolan Welmaker . Tom developed a successful career in advertising sales, and Betsy became known in San Antonio as a successful mother, community volunteer and entrepreneur, opening Violet Talk Gifts in Alamo Heights. I ran into Tom at a business function after he was married and had a daughter,” Betsy says. “I wrote my phone number on the back of his business card and gave it to him.” She invited him to visit San Antonio and then went on with her life. “In 1980, my phone rang,” Betsy continues. “A deep voice said, ‘This is a voice from your past,’ and it turned out...

Danny Lipford: This week is the second and final show on the renovation of Today’s Bath. Announcer: Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford , the voice of home improvement , with projects, tips and ideas to help you improve your home. Danny Lipford: We’re right in the middle of a two part renovation called Today ’s Bath, it involves the renovation and updating of two different bathrooms, one being a very small master bathroom that was in this area and then on the other side of the wall even a smaller bathroom that was kind of the guest bathroom and we’re making them a lot larger by encroaching into this area which was once the master bedroom . Now, by taking up this space we were able to create this very nice custom walk -in shower than a very long vanity, two different sinks, and this cozy little niche for the whirlpool tub. Also the existing guest bathroom ’s a lot larger, a lot more functional and we had enough space left over by encroaching into this bedroom to create a very nice...