Kitchen Makeovers- Before & After

I am in the kitchen and bath business so I love a good kitchen over-haul! I love to see what a dated, unmanageable space can become with a little reconfiguring and some good ole destruction and reconstruction. I really like to look at pictures in magazines, and online to get inspiration and ideas for a new space. Remodeling or just refreshing can add value and improve the atmosphere of your interior and make it a focal point and gathering place of the home.

Here a few that I found on the DIY page. Some are quite a transformation!

1. Before- Stuck in the 80's

1. After- Sleek & Modern

2. Small Galley

2. After- Open Wide

3. Before- Décor Yikes!

3. After- Everybody Likes!

4. Before- Dark & Dated

4. After- Bright and Refaced

5. Before- Too Much Clutter

5. After- Clean & Airy

6. Before- Tile Takeover

6. After- Tile Makeover

7. Before- Oak Galore

7. After- I Adore

8. Before- Cheap & Out of Style

8. After- Upscale & High Style

Support Local Art

 

Supporting Local Arts

Worldly Views

Davenport IA

 

I visited the Bucktown Center for the Arts in Davenport, IA. The center is an artist’s gallery as well as a store front to sell their work as well as display it. There are several rooms within the 2 floors that I toured. There were several different mediums of art displayed throughout the center. By far my favorite gallery/store was called Worldly Views on the 2^nd floor in suite 203, and is run by photographer and artist by the name of Jack Wilhoit.

Upon entering the space I was overwhelmed, in a good way, by all that there was to look at in the relatively small space. There was a mix of photography and sculpture. He began taking pictures in 1995, when he traveled working for the Army. He was lucky enough to have visited all 50 states and 49 different countries, all of which, he took pictures from. He is known locally as the “Door Guy”, because the majority of his work is of doors he photographed throughout the world. Also he has old vintage doors with pictures of doors in them, which is kind of genius to display a door within a door, and makes for a pretty unexpected and very creative way to display them. Also he used old windows as frames and shadow boxes, which were very cool. He also took to recycling bottles and used them to make interesting chandeliers and light fixtures. Another element that he uses a lot is bicycles; he has pictures, 3D sculptures and very cool dioramas of scenes recreated from a picture, uses parts of bike frames as picture frames, all relating to bicycles.

All along the walls there are tables with every print he has ever developed, grouped and labeled where each was taken. There are pictures from several different countries including China, Italy, Scotland, Greece, Spain and several others. His scope of work is amazing, and to see all of them at once is exiting.

Jack is a really cool guy who is happy to tell the story of all of the pieces he has displayed and how he came about the scenes in his work.

 

 

Star Designer of the 60's- David Hicks

 

David Hicks was a British decorator and designer in the 60’s. He is known as one of the most famous decorators of his time. His designs featured bold, vibrant color and geometric designs. He used a mix of antiques and modern furniture set off by abstract paintings. He was known for his hatred of chintz and floral patterns. He was also known to have many high profile and aristocratic clientele. In England he designed carpets for the Windsor Palace, and designed the Prince of Whales’ first apartment in Buckingham Palace. He did many interiors for Dukes and Duchesses in England. Then in 1967, Hicks started working in the US, designing apartments in Manhattan, NY for international clientele. At the same time he started to design patterned carpets and fabrics when he couldn’t find any on the market he could use, and promoted his own collections of fabric and carpet. His style gracefully blended English traditions with 20^th century technology. The rich yet simple approach was like the noted inspiration of the great Billy Baldwin, and other notable designers as well. His list of accomplishments is a long one. Aside from his royal clientele in England, he was employed by the King of Saudi Arabia to design a yacht. He designed sets for producer Richard Lester’s 1968 movie ‘Petulia’, and designed guestroom in Tokyo at the Okura Hotel. He had collections in fashion, including his scarlet heeled men’s evening shoes and jewelry collections as well. He even designed the interior of a BMW. In the 1970’s and 80’s Hicks opened up several shops in fifteen countries around the world. He was also a talented photographer, painter and sculptor.  Later in life Hicks lived in his country home, in Oxfordshire, England. There he designed one of the most exquisite gardens in England. He even designed his own coffin with instructions to be laid on the ground floor of his gothic garden pavilion. He was married to Lady Pamela Hicks and had three children, one of whom, Ashley Louis David Hicks, their only son, is an author and interior and furniture designer today. David Nightingale Hicks died of lung cancer at the age of 69 and was laid to rest on April 4^th, 1998.

Here are just a few of his designs:

IKEA Hackers: Broder Shelf - Modern Steel Wall in 30 minutes!

IKEA Hackers: Broder Shelf - Modern Steel Wall in 30 minutes!: Materials: Broder galvanized steel shelf X 10, drywall inserts, floral wire, drywall screws, screw hooks, measuring tape, level. Descri...

Top 5 Favorite Interior Design Blogs

I’ve looked at several design blogs, and there are so many that have an abundance of information and ideas posted. These are just some of my favorites that I wanted to share.

Check them out:

1. IKEA Hackers- http://www.ikeahackers.net

I love this blog because they get others involved in ‘hacking” as they call it, or changing the look or purpose of items from IKEA to better meet their needs. One of my favorite hacks is steel mesh shelves bought on clearance were used as a decorative metal wall treatment, very innovative. There are so many posts of people’s project that are such good ideas and save money too!


2. Decor8- http://decor8blog.com

Holly, who started the blog, shares unique ideas and projects that she finds. I like how easy most of the ideas are to do. She likes to post fresh ideas that are uncommon, not what most people would think to do with materials and items.


3. Freshhome- http://freshome.com/bedroom

This blog has tons of pictures and great ideas for improving small impractical spaces turning them into practical usable spaces. All of the furniture pieces shown are unique and unpredictable designs. Also there is a section full of pictures and articles in reference to bedrooms, living rooms, architecture, furniture and more. There’s a lot of useful interesting information. There’s even a section on hotels and resorts.

4. Coochicoos- http://www.coochicoos.com

This is a really cute blog for parents who are looking for good style when it comes to their kids, which isn’t a bad idea. Although I don’t have kids yet, I was interested in all of the cute ideas for moms from adorable birth announcements to room decorating ideas and new products including toys and clothing. The ‘Nursery Gallery’ tab has a lot of really cute design ideas.


5. Apartment Therapy- http://www.apartmenttherapy.com

I had to add this one to the list because I love all of the DIY projects they post. I love being able to see something that someone else came up with and being able to replicate it myself. I love finding cool, cute, unique ideas that are easy and save money and look great too!