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DESIGN INSPIRATION
- April 2010 -
From your friends
at
All in the Details Interior Design
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Hello and Happy Spring....
Spring Makeover Time!!!
A Rite of Spring.... My mother would always throw open the windows on the first nice day of Spring and clean the house from top to bottom; take down draperies, wash woodwork and windows, polish the furniture and clean all of the hardwood floors.
The result?.... everything was crisp and clean.
Me?... Well, I open the windows...
All in the Details Rite of Spring is to present a crisp and clean new version of our newsletter. Basically the same ideas as Mom's sprucing up; cleaner lines and a more polished look. Hope you enjoy the fruits of our labor!
We are also celebrating our first year anniversary in our New Hampton, NH studio (522 Route 104, in the same building with Pinnacle Kitchens). For our friends south of us, be assured we still have our office in Bow, but our studio allows our clients to view window treatment and blind vignettes, tile and granite, kitchen and bath displays and a varied selection of cabinet hardware. If you haven't seen the studio, be sure to drop in and say "hi" if you're in the Lakes area. We love to show people around!
We'll be sending out a separate e-mail announcing our anniversary "special" for the month of May... it's our anniversary, but you receive the gifts!
And finally, join us for a Spring Makeover of a different kind. On April 15 we will be hosting a fun event at the Concord Woman's Club in Concord, NH. Read all about it in our "Feature Article"... and we'd love it if you can join us.
Warm Regards, Ann Marie and Patti
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What is "Flexible Living Space" Anyway?!?
The "new-again" notion of multi-purpose rooms has led us to a
concept in interior design that adapts to your changing home life situations and
is referred to as "flexible design." When space is at a premium, flexible design
can be invaluable in helping to anticipate and plan for the homeowner's future
needs in a new home. Paying close attention to
floor plans helps the homeowner envision how her rooms will be used now ... and
can help her think about the design and how the home may be used in the future. A builder, architect or designer can point out
on a set of floor plans how the homeowner can anticipate whole- room changes but
keep the same footprint within the home. By
removing a wall or changing a doorway, it's possible to envision the "flex room"
changing from a playroom to a home office and finally to an in-law apartment to meet
future family demands.
How do you find flexible space in an existing home? You get creative in your thinking!
Ø Tweens want a retreat away from
adults. An unused space in an upstairs
hallway can be transformed with a window seat/reading nook,
over-sized floor pillows and a gametable.
Ø
A formal dining room may not be what you need
with young children. Put French doors
(safety glass, please) on the dining room, and transform the space into a safe
playroom. The day will come far
too
quickly when you'll be able to entertain with the "good" china and
crystal again.
Ø
If you are home schooling your children, a
"classroom-like" space is necessary. But
do you set aside a separate room for school?
One possibility is to combine the classroom with a craft room or
gardening room. Art and botany can be
incorporated into class lessons.
Ø
Have a large walk-in closet, but what you could really
use is another guest room? Children will
love this fun and functional solution. Install
built-in bunks aloft on the closet wall complete with a climbing ladder... and the closet floor is still available for storage trunks.
Q A room can function as an office during the day and transform into a guestroom at night with multi-purpose furniture. Murphy beds, desks, shelving file drawers and wardrobe storage can be incorporated and purchased in one piece.
Ø
Lastly, Fido needs a home of his own. Adapting storage space at the end of the
kitchen island allows for a comfortable cubby that keeps him near the action,
but keeps floor space available and uncluttered of your furry friend.
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Focusing on the Kitchen...
The room that the family gathers in, relaxes in, dines in,
and creates in -- the kitchen-- has
become the hub of the family's universe.
To ensure that the "universe" functions optimally, a great deal of
planning is required.
Whether you eat to live, or live to eat, it is important to
have a "working" space to prepare the
food. The work triangle (area between sink and refrigerator and stove) is not
as important as it was once considered, but the concepts of traffic flow
and safety still remain paramount.
Ample counter space has always been a "must have" in any
kitchen renovation, but consider varying the levels of the counter to
accommodate different needs. The "needs"
may mean a lower space to roll out pastry dough or may be the perfect level for
the child in the home to work on art projects.
It may assist the person who could sit while peeling potatoes or
could provide wheelchair access to the microwave or sink.
Although counter space is imperative to a kitchen, the
workhorse of the kitchen -- the island -- is solving many counter-top, cook-top
and storage dilemmas and is fast becoming the essential item for the "needs
list." But it has morphed and taken on
various persona.  In a compact kitchen,
it can be the area that serves as butcher block, snack table and storage
area. Or, it can become a roll-out
version that sits under the counter and appears to be part of the kitchen
cabinetry until it is needed. Or, in its
more traditional role, it can be used to house cook tops and sinks, provide
additional counter-top space and storage, and serve as a breakfast or
entertainment bar.
With the interest in energy efficiency and Energy Star
ratings, most appliances are incorporating innovative "smart"
technologies. With such a variety of
features, it is important to analyze your needs when planning a kitchen and
prior to shopping for appliances.
Consider induction cook tops, bottom-freezer refrigerators and two-tier
dishwashers for energy savings and ease of use.
According to home designer, Susan Maney Lovett, "When you shop,
always remember: the equipment you own should not determine what's for
dinner. Rather, whoever does the cooking
should decide what equipment he or she requires." Sound advice, with appliances lasting 15 to
20 years... that's a long time to regret a decision.
Storage in the
kitchen once meant only cabinets and drawers, but with the creativity of
kitchen designers, storage possibilities are found throughout the kitchen. Roll-out shelving, vertical tray dividers and
pull-out mini-pantries provide easy access to prepared or packaged foods. The toe-kick beneath the cabinets is being
used as drawers for additional storage of flat items.  The appliance garage no longer only stores
small appliances, but is now outfitted with electrical outlets, serving as
additional counter space when needed.
The pantry is another popular necessity being re-invented. Historically it's been used as a separation
between food stuff and large appliances.
Now, the pantry is being built in the garage at the point where the wall
abuts the kitchen. A door opens to the
storage area. Come home after grocery
shopping and never have to enter the house with canned or dry goods. Instead, place
them in the pantry and when you need them, just open the pantry door on the kitchen
side!
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Don't Forget the Mudroom ....AKA "Communication Central" Previously, the mudroom was the
area where everything was dropped as
you entered the home. Women have spoken...
and in order for them to have a sense of calm upon entering their own homes
they are having an organized mudroom as an "essential" on their needs
list whether it's for a new home or a remodel. With careful planning the mudroom
can be "communication central"; providing space for mail, keys, a
message-board, docking station for cell phones, Blackberries, I-phones, I-pads
and laptops.  For children this area can
have cubbies or lockers to store coats, boots, shoes and athletic equipment. A calendar can keep the entire family aware
of each others activities, doctors' appointments, etc. Also, designated trays can provide a spot
where all school paperwork that needs to be seen and signed for return the next
day. This area provides one less stress
for everyone as they try to get out of the door in the morning. It can all be hidden behind cabinetry that
appears as another piece of beautiful furniture...and most importantly the
kitchen area remains the calm haven it was planned
to be.
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Patti Phelps Ann Marie Finn
ALL IN THE DETAILS INTERIOR DESIGN
Mailing Address: 18 Stoney Brook Road, Bow, NH 03304
Studio: 522 Route 104, New Hampton, NH
603-224-8033
www.allinthedetailsdesign.com info@allinthedetailsdesign.com
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FEATURE ARTICLE :
The Rape and Domestic Violence Crisis Center living room project was completed... but we weren't ready to leave such loving and dedicated people! So we took a look around and found that the dining room and kitchen could use a little "buffing up." We are now trying to raise money to begin the much needed renovations. Our first fundraiser on April 15 (5:30-7:30pm) is going to be a fun evening at the Concord Woman's Club at 44 Pleasant St., Concord, New Hampshire. Our New Hampshire "celebrity" make-up artist Kriss Soterion of Kriss Cosmetics ( remember Hillary Clinton's great looks at all of those presidential debates?... Kriss was the person that made her look fabulous!) and Sherry Spurr of Fabulous Looks Boutique showcasing clothing, jewelry and handbags.The following is a picture of the living room prior to the make-over... but come on the 15th and see all of the "before" ... and "after" photos. 
"A
Spring Makeover!"
Learn
how to update your look for spring
and help us raise
money to continue our update of the
Rape
& Domestic Violence
Crisis Center's safe house
April 15, 2010 - 5:30-7:30 p.m.
at the Concord Women's Club, 44
Pleasant Street, Concord
- Light refreshments will be
served -
Kriss Soterion
of Kriss Cosmetics
(CNN's Chief of Makeup for
Special Events and the makeup artist behind Hillary Clinton's much-acclaimed
makeover during the presidential debates) will do a makeover demonstration,
provide makeup tips, and showcase her own line of cosmetics and skin care products
-- and --
Sherry Spurr of
The Fabulous Looks Boutique
will showcase her new spring
clothing lines, jewelry, handbags and
scarves
Raffle prizes
include a private makeup lesson with Kriss (a $75 value)
and a Miche
handbag with choice of liner (a $75 value)
A
portion of the proceeds from all sales will be donated to help raise money to
continue our redecorating project for the Rape &
Domestic Violence Crisis Center's Concord
safe house.
See
"before and after" photos of the living room which has now been
completed!
Funds
raised will help us update and redecorate the dining room and kitchen.
If you cannot
attend and would like to contribute directly to the RDVCC Project, checks can
be made payable to The Women's Club of Concord and
mailed to 44 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301.
Please put
"RDVCC Project" on the memo portion of the check. Thank you!
For
questions, please contact Patti Phelps or Ann Marie Finn
of
All in the Details Interior Design - 224-8033 or info@allinthedetailsdesign.com
or
Donna d'Hemecourt of Cottage Designs at 225-7699 or adhemecour@aol.com
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