Design Portfolio
The goal of this master bedroom was to create an intimate, elegant, relaxing room with a
bit of drama.
To achieve this, first we eliminated the mirror on the dresser and placed it in front of the window,
then simply moved the armoire to the foot of the bed which allowed us to create an elegant
sitting nook. Silk fabrics, a mirrored side table, silver painted mirror and a crystal chandelier
in the master bath gives the room a romantic glam feel.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to place furniture in front of the windows.
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What a dramatic change! This bathroom went from ‘DRAB’ to ‘FAB’.
It was taken from a dated kid’s bathroom to a fabulous upscale bath. By installing
dramatic wallpaper and balancing it with a white diamond stitched pearl embellished shower
curtain and simple white tile with black accents it created a bold, but elegant statement.
We chose punches of bright pink accessories to suit the clients personality, but you could tone
it down by accenting with gray or a muted color that fits your personality.
Tip: Don’t be afraid of bold prints in a small room. It creates drama!
From ‘pre-teen polka dots’ to ‘pretty in pink’.
This girl needed a grown up room that was still ‘all girl’. A mini chandelier, glass floor
lamp and updated crystal knobs on the armoire add the glitz and a great tin wall medallion
makes a fabulous statement as a headboard. This is a room to grow with. Tired of pink
or it’s not your color, paint it a sophisticated gray or a rich muted color, i.e. eggplant, and
achieve a whole new look.
Tip: Think outside the box and use unusual items as headboards.
The ‘girl cave’. When stepping into this room, you forget you’re in a basement.
This room
was designed for the woman of the house to relax. We gave it a much airier feeling by
replacing the large sectional with a smaller, cozy velvet sofa, fun pillows and an inviting chaise.
(What girl doesn’t love a chaise!). We surrounded her with treasured artwork, mementos
and achievements that take her down memory lane and make her feel good.
Tip: Accessorizing does not have to wreck havoc on your budget. Utilize cherished items that will evoke a feeling of well-being.
This is the other end of the ‘girl cave’ - A place for treasured memories and creations.
The artwork used in this space was created by her children. We installed great looking
bookcases and a closet to hold all the crafting supplies and scrapbooks. You’ll also love the floor.
A beautiful porcelain floor that looks like wood planks was installed to give a warm
(non-basement) feel.
Tip: When using an abundance of artwork and accessories, keep your walls neutral to allow them to stand out.
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Now they can find what they need. How many of our basements end up being a ‘catch-all’
and become extremely disorganized. Great shelving, totes and organizing your stuff into
categories will save you time and make your life a lot less frustrating.
Tip: Make sure you maximize the space on your shelving units by selecting appropriate sized totes.
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Easy Kitchen Upgrade!
Cabinet re-facing, Granite Transformation counters, updated lighting, faucets, back splash
and new stainless appliances all in one week. A dramatic change without the demo. Now it’s
a kitchen the homeowner loves. We warmed up the walls to contrast the new white cabinets
and chose a dark counter and window treatments for drama. The new chairs and bar stools
are wicker which adds another layer of texture to the room.
Tip: White cabinetry gives a kitchen a ‘crisp’ look.
This client needed extra storage but didn’t have anywhere in the kitchen to expand.
We chose to utilize the laundry room connected to the kitchen. By adding a stackable washer
and dryer it allowed for the installation of a tall cabinet with pull out drawers and shelves adding
a lot of extra storage. A slate floor was the perfect choice for coming in from the garage.
Tip: Need more space? Think vertical!
Small spaces can make big impacts – physically and emotionally..
Have an extra bedroom? Why not transform into a peaceful meditation / reading room. A cozy chair accented with a torchiere lamp provides up lighting for relaxation and a down light for reading.
Tip: When converting a room, have a clear vision of its purpose and stay on track.
Don't ignore your vertical space.
We gave the entry shelf a new look by replacing the tree with a repurposed wood screen from the bedroom, a new topiary and accents.
Tip: You must address awkward spaces and ledges. Make them pleasing to the eye.
Show off the fireplace!
By moving the chair from the corner and placing it by the entertainment center it allowed us to reposition the sofa which opened up the room and made the fireplace a focal point. By doing
this, it created a less cramped and cluttered feeling. The room is more inviting now. We also
created a more interesting mantle by combining and layering several different items.
Tip: Floating your furniture does not mean you have to give up an open feel.
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Next, we enhanced the windows by adding long, rich colored and patterned panels on decorative
wood poles with acorn finials hung well above the windows and added a relaxed roman shade
in a coordinating fabric. Doing this added a feel of warmth and luxury to the room.
Tip: The fabric choice will determine the 'feel' of the room.
Less is more when looking at the entertainment center. By paring down the décor on top of
the center and creating two reading spots, it’s a more relaxing area.
Tip: Don’t neglect lighting. It’s essential for tasks and ambiance.
Bay windows can be beautiful!
A window seat is perfect for a bay window. Fill it with a beautiful cushion
and pillows and who wouldn’t be drawn to it.
Tip: Either have a flip up seat or drawers put it when being built for extra storage.
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Wow! What a difference extra cabinetry makes!
Remove those soffits (if they’re cosmetic) and add glass front cabinets. Lots
of extra space and the glass keeps it feeling more airy than solid wood.
Tip: Sheers are a great option for glass front cabinets to hide what’s inside. If you have beautiful pieces to display, add lighting to the inside of your cabinets.
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Small laundry rooms can still be great!
We removed one of the cabinets and installed a clothes hanging bar, then
added a great little compact shelf over the washer and dryer. The white
cabinets and woodwork give it a crisp clean look and feel contrasting
against the green walls.
Tip: It’s always nice to have a little artwork in a room that you have to do unpleasant tasks.
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Look what paint can do!
A rich, warm atmosphere was created by painting the walls a rich, muted cranberry and the furniture black. Framed artwork and fringed shade on the lamp gave the room a more elegant look.
Tip: Paint is a big bang for your buck!
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By placing the dresser and chest next to each other and placing the bed in the corner it screams
‘this room is really small’ to the buyer. We turned the bed, flanking it with side tables
(plenty of room to walk around the bed) and removed the chest. This created a more open feeling.
Two mistakes were made in this room when wanting to show how much room you have.
Tip: Absolute MUST when staging to sell. Streamline furniture to showcase square footage.
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Brenda Abram Interiors
Brenda Abram
(614) 580-3889
bainteriors@hotmail.com
