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THE COMPLETE RESOURCE MAGAZINE FOR YOUR HOME
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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 0T H E C O M P L E T E R E S O U R C E M A G A Z I N E F O R Y O U R H O M E O C T O B E R 2 0 1 0T H E C O M P L E T E R E S O U R C E M A G A Z I N E F O R Y O U R H O M E
D A L L A S / F O R T W O R T HD A L L A S / F O R T W O R T H
French ModernFrench ModernBLENDING MODERN DESIGN WITHTRADITIONAL ACCESSORIESBLENDING MODERN DESIGN WITHTRADITIONAL ACCESSORIES
3 ROOM REDO
HOW TO SPRUCE UP YOURDRIVEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS
WHITE ROCK CONTEMPORARY
3 ROOM REDO
HOW TO SPRUCE UP YOURDRIVEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS
WHITE ROCK CONTEMPORARY
house& home | October 2010 | house and home on l ine . com4
French ModernAuthor/Designer blends modern style with tradi-tional fabrics, antiques and timeless accessories.
Move to ModernA White Rock Lake couple incorporates contemporary flair into their home.
3 Room RedoInterior Designer adds style and flair to a young family’s home.
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features
D A L L A S / F O R T W O R T H
October 2010 | Vo l . 9 Issue 10contents
on the coverA scene from the book, Carolyn Westbrook: The French-Inspired Home. CICO Books, $29.95, 2010; www.cicobooks.comPhotography by Keith Scott Morton.
PUBLISHER . . . . . . . .Nitzan MendelbaumART DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . .Robert CoplinCONTRIBUTING WRITERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leigh Bell, Debi Bryant, Amanda Flatten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carolyn Westbrook
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Terri Glanger, Janet Lenzen, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Keith Scott Morton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tammi GreenePRINTING . . . . . . . . . DROR International
PUBLISHED BY MBH PUBLISHING, LLC
MBH Inc., dba Dallas/Fort Worth House &Home ("DFWH&H"), is a news magazine withemphasis on interior design and remodeling.House & Home does not knowingly acceptfalse or misleading advertising or editorialcontent, nor does H&H or its staff assumeresponsibility should such advertising or edi-torial content appear in any publication.
House & Home has not independently test-ed any services or products advertised hereinand has not verified claims made by its adver-tisers regarding those services or products.House & Home makes no warranties or repre-sentations and assumes no liability for anyclaims regarding those services or products orclaims made by advertisers. Readers areadvised to consult with the advertiser and/orother home repair and renovation profession-als regarding the suitability of an advertiser'sproducts.
No reproduction is permitted without thewritten consent of the Publisher. Copyright2010, all rights reserved. Subscriptions avail-able for home delivery at a cost of $25 peryear.
P.O. Box 2396Fredericksburg, TX 78624
214.532.3290
In This IssueA preview of our September 2010 edition.
Remodeling Solutions:Team ExpansionRemodeling a cook’s kitchen for a growing family.
Handbook: On the SurfacePunch up sidewalks and driveways toimprove the look of your property.
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around town October 2010
The Greater Dallas Chapter of The National Association of The RemodelingIndustry (NARI) will hold its FOURTH ANNUAL REMODELED HOMES TOUR onOctober 23 and October 24, 2010, benefiting the North Texas Food Bank.This year there will be nine homes on the tour at locations throughout themetroplex. These private residences will be open between 11 a.m. and 5p.m. and visitors to each home will have the opportunity to see firsthand theoutstanding skills and craftsmanship of NARI Professional Contractors. TheRemodeled Homes Tour showcases whole house renovations and additions,as well as specific areas such as gourmet kitchens, luxurious bathrooms andeven a “mother-in-law” apartment. Industry specialists and participating NARIRemodelers will be available to answer questions at each home. If you’relooking to remodel your home or just looking for ideas, don’t miss this tour.Ticket costs are $12 per person. Children under 12 are FREE. Visit www.nari-dallas.org for more information or to purchase advance tickets.
Sunday, Oct 10, 2010, Dallas celebrates the 200th anniversary of LatinAmerica's independence with the 4TH ANNUAL FIESTA LATINOAMERICANA!Enjoy music, dance, workshops, food, and family fun from 15 nations.11 am to 7 pm, FREE2301 Flora St, Dallas, TX 75201in the Dallas Arts District from the Guadalupe Cathedral and the Meyerson to the AT&T Plazawww.dfwinternational.org/FiestaLatinoamericana
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A monthly circulation of50,000 copies is distributedthroughout the Dallas/ Fort Worth area:
HIGH-TRAFFIC LOCATIONS such as selectCalloway’s Nursery, Tom Thumb, Central Market,New Flower Market, Market Street, Borders and Sam’s Club
MORE THAN 1,000 OTHER LOCATIONS includingrestaurants, book stores and hardware stores
VIRTUAL MAGAZINE e-mailed to members of professional organizations such as ASID, NARI and Custom Home Builders and virtual magazine subscribers.
House & Home Delivers
To learm more about how to reach our targeted audience,
call 214.532.3290
house& home | October 2010 | house and home on l ine . com6
Ah, October, that month when the mornings whisper “fall” while
the afternoons are still talkingsummer. With the milder weather sneakingin, it’s no surprise that the October calen-dar is jam-packed with festivals and events.
Our cover is graced by the work of design-er and author Carolyn Westbrook. Hernew book, Carolyn Westbrook: The FrenchInspired Home, features stunnning interiorand exterior photography. We excerpt ourmain feature story this month from thebook’s French Modern section. Turn topage 11, and you’ll quickly fall forCarolyn’s French-inspired designs.
In “Move to Modern” on Page 22, discoverhow a White Rock Lake couple gave their1960s home a modern makeover, insideand out. Over a period of 13 years, Jeffand Susan Good made changes to theirhome to suit their modern style. Theystarted by redefining the kitchen space andopening up the dining and living areas.The biggest transformation took placewhen the couple expanded their masterbedroom, which now features a stone fire-place, a bed alcove with floating steelnightstands and a wall of windows with aview of the pool. The modern style is car-ried outdoors with a sleek pool featuring astone wall and sheer descent fountain.
On page 30, you’ll discover how dressingup your sidewalks and driveways offerssome stunning results for those standardsurfaces we often take for granted.
Then, Interior Designer Elaine Williamsonreveals her tips and tricks that helped totranform a young family’s home. See ourstory,“3 Room Redo,” on page 32.
Enjoy the issue!
House & Home
in this issue:
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house& home | October 2010 | house and home on l ine . com10
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AUTHOR/DESIGNER BLENDS MODERN STYLE WITH TRADITIONALFABRICS, ANTIQUES AND TIMELESS ACCESSORIES
FRENCH MODERNEDITOR'S NOTE:This month's cover story is an excerptfrom author Carolyn Westbrook's latestbook, The French-Inspired Home. We arehighlighting the French Modern chapter,which Westbrook describes as Frenchurban living. “This concept,” sheexplains, is all about a more contempo-rary, clean style, but not void of interest-ing objects or the softness that I consid-er necessary for this look."
Carolyn has spent years combingthrough French flea markets for specialcollections to create beautiful Frenchinteriors. All of the homes featured inThe French-Inspired Home have theirown distinctive style but are "French" intheir inspiration. By dividing the bookinto different themed sections,Westbrook presents various design pos-sibilities that are classic and timeless,but never stuffy.
Carolyn Westbrook is a prominentlifestyle designer, known for her brandThe Carolyn Westbrook Home. Her lovefor French style finds its way into herhome décor line which includes beddingpillows, slipcovers, lamps and otheraccessories. Her previously publisheddesign books include The CarolynWestbrook Home and Where WomenCreate. She has been featured inCountry Living, Mary Engelbreit's HomeCompanion, Better Homes and Gardensand Somerset Life. Carolyn was mostrecently featured in the book VintageVavoom, released by the editors ofRomantic Homes magazine.
Carolyn Westbrook: The French-InspiredHome. CICO Books, $29.95, 2010;www.cicobooks.comISBN: 9781907030697Photography by Keith Scott Morton
Reprinted with permission.
house& home | October 2010 | house and home on l ine . com12
What I would call French urban living is all
about a more contemporary, clean style, but
not void of interesting objects or the softness
that I consider necessary for this look. I grew up with mod-
ern. My mother was a genius at being able to mix it with
just the right things to make it warm and comfortable, not
cold and austere. We would have a mirrored cube as a coffee
table layered with glass prisms and acrylic candleholders,
but this would be sitting atop a white fur rug, which
seemed to soften the cold, hard edges. Lots of texture in
low-slung velvet couches and miles of fabric in luxurious
drapes helped balance the room. Similarly, these French
modern interiors are lush with mohair couches and Venetian
mirrors, which come across as chic and urban. Stairs appear
to float on air, while banks of windows seem as if you are in
the out-of-doors and really make for a breathtaking home.
Even though the look is modern, it is still very comfortable
and also beautiful.
RELAXING RETREAT
Being in this room makes you feel as if you are almost in
the garden. The magnificent bank of floor-to-ceiling
windows allows an unobstructed view of the backyard, with
its amazing landscape just beyond the door. The garden is
absolutely breathtaking, and you would think that it is set
in the middle of a clearing in the woods. In fact, it is off
a side street in a busy city, and you would never know. This
contemporary look is not short on style, and the neutral
palette, along with the soothing sights from outside, make
this place an inspiring sanctuary.
RIGHT: A large expanse of windows allowsnature from outdoors to become par t of thebeauty of the décor.
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TRADITIONAL TWIST
In this home, one room flows seamlessly into the next, so
that you can see into any room from almost anywhere. The
magnificent daybed was custom-designed and looks wonder-
ful below the Venetian mirror. The gold tones in the mirror
are picked up in the throw tossed about on the daybed, and
also hinted at in the rug. They’re also found in the antique
French, leather-bound books displayed next to the antique
shell art boxes.
The wall colors seem to flow from beige to golden tones
to aqua—all very neutral and natural. The front room is
bathed in a gentle aqua shade. This makes a great contrast
with the dark casings around the doors and windows, which
allow magnificent views onto the pool and surrounding
woods. The non-descript fireplace seems to fade quietly into
the background until it is needed on cold nights. The
lamps, works of art in themselves, are fashioned from old
architectural fragments. With no handrail or balusters, the
remarkable staircase looks as if it is floating on air. In this
space, just off the kitchen, is a little sitting area. Another
custom-made lamp is found here. I love the chair, with its
tufts and marvelously modern shape—surprisingly, very
comfy. The modern couch, covered in a more traditional
print, with a linen pillow to soften the whole thing up, fits
so well here. Although the look is one of casual, urban ele-
gance, where everything seems to flow effortlessly, it was
made possible only with thoughtful planning.
RIGHT: An antique Scotch dispenser, a cr ystalrose bowl, and a contemporar y chair andcouch, covered with a more traditional fabric,give this room a modern look with atraditional twist.
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ABOVE: The French shell boxes bring out thegold tones in the antique leather-bound books.
OPPOSITE: The den opens up to overlook theliving area, so that the home seems to go onforever. The Venetian mirror is a fine backdropfor the daybed.
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FARMHOUSE CHIC
In this urban French farmhouse, the focal point is the grace-
ful, winding, galvanized staircase, which leads to the galva-
nized bridge railing up above. This fabulous piece of design
allows you to walk on the bridge from one side of the house
to the other and look down at all of the goings-on below.
An antique zebra rug layering the floor and French antique
upholstered chairs create an intimate sitting area. The mer-
cury glass compotes, which make for beautiful planters, and
the white French sofas bring a delicate balance to other
more masculine elements in the space.
A wine room is conveniently located just off this room,
making it easy for guests to replenish their glasses without
losing sight of the view.
ABOVE: A wine room, with purpose-built stor-age including display shelves and shutteredcabinets, makes a beautiful addition to thishome
OPPOSITE: The all-white interior is accentuat-ed by the sunny natural landscape beyond themassive doors and windows.
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Team Expansion
BEFORE
THE PROBLEM
When Kitchen Design Concepts asked these Far North Dallas homeowners what they wanted their newkitchen to accommodate, they answered: “a basketball team.” The recently married couple has plans to haveat least a starting line-up’s worth of children, and they knew their existing kitchen would not meet theneeds of their future family – or their design aesthetic. The duo also lives a healthy vegan lifestyle thatemphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables and wanted a kitchen that worked with their style of cooking.
THE SOLUTION
The first thing to go from the old kitchen was a wall separating the room from the living spaces. Immediatelythis let more light into the room from the home’s wooded backyard and created more space for the kitchen’snew centerpiece: an enormous island. Today the island accommodates the two of them, but someday they lookforward to using it as a place where they can gather with a growing family.
The island also takes center stage during food prep. After a trip to the market, the homeowners bring homefresh produce to create their favorite vegan dishes, wash them all at once and lay them out to dry on the spa-cious island, saving them extra work later in the week. Another element added out of respect for the environ-ment was an in-kitchen compost bin where peelings and cuttings could be stored until time to take them out-doors to a larger composting station.
Lighting was tricky in this kitchen, which is shaded by the backyard’s many trees. The vaulted ceiling could notaccommodate wiring, plus was too far away to adequately light the countertops, so Kitchen Design Conceptsdesigned a custom light track system. The result is a contemporary look that not only provides task lighting,but also enhances the kitchen’s overall design.
KEY MATERIALS:
• CAESARSTONE COUNTER-TOPS in Absolute Noir quartz andKey West Gold granite
• VISION CABINETRY BYULTRACRAFT in Honey Maple
• SLATE STACKSTONE BACK-SPLASH BY ARIZONA TILE
• BOSCH APPLIANCES, includingan induction cooktop and microwavedrawer
• FRANKEY COMPOST BIN
DESIGN AND INSTALLATION BY:
KITCHEN DESIGN CONCEPTSwww.kitchendesignconcepts.com214.390.8300
remodeling solutions
Remodeling a cook’s kitchen for a growing family
BEFORE
BEFORE
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house& home | October 2010 | house and home on l ine . com22
A W H I T E R O C K L A K E C O U P L E I N C O R P O R A T E S C O N T E M P O R A R Y F L A I R I N T O T H E I R H O M E
A VISION FOR
TRANSFORMATION
Before purchasing the home,the Goods lived in a nearbyneighborhood for eightyears. “We were attracted tothis east Dallas location nearWhite Rock Lake and thegreenbelts that many of thehouses front onto,” says Jeff,an architect and principal ofGood Fulton & Farrelllocated in Uptown. “We likethe large trees and park-like setting.”
The family drove by the home almost every day on the way to theirtwo sons’ elementary school. “We liked and admired the house just fromdriving past it,” Jeff says. “We saw the for-sale sign the first day it went upand called immediately. We were ready for a bigger house for our family.”
The couple realized the home, which sits on a corner lot and has a largelive oak tree in the courtyard, had great potential to incorporate the mid-
century modern style theyboth like. “Even though theinterior of the house wasn’t acontemporary design because[previous owners] hadchanged it dramatically, wecould tell the bones of thehouse were such that it couldbe transformed,” Susan says.
The couple wanted towork within the basic struc-ture of the house but changeit to embrace a much more
contemporary feel. “Our vision for the house was to try to reinvent it toreally mimic more of the true modernist homes, having a lot of glass andopenness,” Susan says.
Capturing that contemporary feel meant creating open spaces withrooms that flowed together. “We also wanted to change and improve thetype of finishes throughout the house — the type of cabinetry, countertopsand flooring,” Jeff says.
Clean lines, uncluttered interiors and a connection to the outdoors
— these are the mid-century modern attributes Jeff and Susan
Good wanted to incorporate into their 1960s three-bedroom, 2,400-
square-foot home. The recent empty nesters have owned their
home near White Rock Lake since 1993, and they have slowly made changes,
including redesigning the kitchen, rearranging the living and dining spaces
and creating an open floor plan. The most dramatic changes took place with-
in the past three years, with the expansion and redesign of the master suite.
B Y A M A N D A F L A T T E N • P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M A T T C A L L A H A NF L O W E R S B Y H O L L Y W O O D F L O R A L
Move to ModernThis modern living room reflects the homeowners’ love of mid-century modern design. The Ligne Roset “Annaba” sofa and “Barcelona” chairs by Knoll Studio
provide seating with an outdoor view of the pool, while the bookshelves with accent lighting house treasured contemporary art pieces.
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The sleek formal dining room is a showplace, from the Louis Poulsen PH Artichoke pendant light (1958) and the Michael Lerouxpainting, to the custom-designed wine rack by Craig Beneke.
Below: The high-performance, standing seam metal roof with a 20-year paint finish can withstand hail storms and volatile weather, and also provides the modern look the Goods wanted for their 1960s home.
house& home | October 2010 | house and home on l ine . com24
MASTER CHANGES
The transformation of the home didn’t take place overnight. In fact, the biggestchanges to the couple’s home took place just a few years ago after their sons left home.“We are recent empty nesters, so it gave us a chance to reinvent how we live in thehouse,” Jeff says. “We decided we liked the neighborhood, and the size of the housewas suited to us. We didn’t need more room, so we decided to stay and invest moremoney into the house.”
Major changes began with a plan to reorganize and expand the master bed-room. Jeff drew up the architectural plans for the space. The couple interviewedthree contractors and then chose Russell Labhart of Labhart & Company to buildtheir dream space. “Russell was extremely organized,” Susan says. “He was knowl-edgeable and personable, and we threw a lot of challenges at him. He was graciousabout it all.”
Labhart, who has been in business for 23 years, appreciated that Jeff and Susanhad a definite idea of what they wanted their master suite to look like. “They want-ed their master bedroom and bath to be what they had always dreamed of,” he says.
The biggest challenge of the master suite renovation was the lack of room toexpand. They were able to add five feet onto the side of the home, adding about250 square feet to the room. The new master suite features an alcove for the bedwith a figured maple headboard and two floating steel nightstands. The wood-burn-ing fireplace made of Tennessee Crab Orchard Ledge stone adds a natural touch. Asloped ceiling was added to create a spacious feeling.
Perhaps the most dramatic element is the floor-to-ceiling windows with amaz-ing views of the pool and outdoor areas. “We realized with that much glass, it wouldbe difficult to sleep with the amount of light coming in, and it would be a hassle todeal with manual blinds,” Jeff says. The solution was motorized shades with remote-control access from the bed. “That was a real swanky decision on our part,”
Just off the kitchen, which features figured maple cabinets and granite countertops, the breakfast room offers a view of a large live oak tree in the courtyard as well as creative furnish-ings, including a custom table by Craig Beneke, a painting by homeowner Jeff Good and a Louis Poulsen PH 5 light fixture (1958).
A stone wall and a sheer descent water feature create a dramatic focalpoint for the pool. Materials used on the stone wall mimic materials
used on the indoor fireplaces.
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This custom room divider made of Makore veneer was created by Furniture Crafters owner Stephen Jenkins. One side offers media storage, and the other provides a floating black granite buffet for the dining room.
A showplace at night, the pool casts a beautiful glow that can be enjoyed inside or outdoors. Photo by Tom Jenkins.
house& home | October 2010 | house and home on l ine . com26
Susan says. “When you wake up, you can press a button to open theblinds as much as you want. The blinds are pretty much blackoutshades, so you feel like you are in a cocoon.”
The master bathroom, which opens to the bedroom but is definedby high walls, also has that sleek, contemporary essence. Two floatingvanities, with color concrete vessel sinks and wall-mounted faucets,stand out against smooth, white tile made in Holland. Ann Sacks mar-ble tile on the counter surfaces makes the most dramatic statement,whereas the steam shower offers the most relaxation. “We stayed in aplace in New Mexico years prior that had a residential steam shower,and we decided we needed one of those one day,” Jeff says.
CHANGES OVER TIME
When the Goods moved into their home almost 14 years ago, theystarted making changes immediately. “The first room we attacked wasthe kitchen,” Susan says. They changed the layout, increased theamount of counter space and upgraded the cabinets to figured maple.They also added a tile backsplash, granite countertops and replaced thecanned and track lighting with recessed lights and new fixtures.
At the time of purchase, the home had formal living and diningrooms. The Goods didn’t have a need for the formal rooms, but theydid want to create large, open rooms. What is now the couple’s diningroom formerly was the living room. Walls separating the living room,dining room and foyer were removed. A custom room divider withMakore veneer created by Furniture Crafters owner Stephen Jenkinsseparates the media room and dining room. The media room sideincorporates an entertainment center, and the dining room side has afloating granite buffet. In the living room, the couple transformed thestatic bookshelves by creating art niches with accent lighting.
The pool also received a sleek, modern makeover. The diving board
was removed and replaced with a stone wall with a sheer descent foun-tain, which creates a dramatic focal point in the back yard. A deck thatextends about a foot over the side of the pool was added to create roomfor lounge chairs. The couple also added plants in front of their bed-room windows. In the courtyard, deck material that surrounded thelarge live oak tree was replaced with flagstone.
The metal roof on the exterior of the home has received a lot of neighborhood attention. “People havestopped and knocked on our door to ask about it,” Jeff says. When thecouple purchased the home, it had a standard composition shingle roof,but it wasn’t performing well due to the low slope line. Replacing it with astanding seam metal roof was the answer, and it also created the moderncurb appeal the couple desired.
CONTINUITY
The use of similar materials can be found repeatedly throughout thehome. “We have a lot of continuity of materials,” Susan says.
For example, solid hardwood oak floors with a Sedona red stain runthroughout the home. “Previously, the home had four different floormaterials,” Jeff says. “It really makes a difference that the flooring mate-rial runs from one room to the next, uninterrupted.”
Steel shelves are seen in the living room and the entryway. Steel alsowas used on the nightstands and fireplace hearth in the master suite.Stone is used on the column in the entryway, the fireplace in the livingroom and the bedroom, as well as the stone wall facing the pool, whichfurther ties together the indoor and outdoor spaces.
The couple now is putting to good use the modern space theyalways envisioned. “We use almost every room every day,” Jeff says.
The most spectacular view in the house is from the master bedroom. Floor-to-ceiling Pella architect series windows tie the room tothe outdoors. Remote-controlled motorized shades keep the early morning sunlight at bay.
FALL AND WINTER SPECIAL:Weekend rates are $15.00 off per night when you mention this ad. Good through February, 2011.
house& home | October 2010 | house and home on l ine . com30
PUNCH UP SIDEWALKS AND DRIVEWAYS TO IMPROVE THE LOOK OF YOUR PROPERTYBy DEB I BRYANT
On the Surface
MATERIAL MATTERS
Your choice of surface material is one way to add panache. “The hottestthing in sidewalks and driveways are pavers,” says Joe Rodriguez, owner ofBackyards Plus Lawn Care and Landscaping. Pavers are concrete blocksmade into interesting shapes and colors that create a sophisticated look.
Rodriguez points out that the cost for pavers has steadily decreased dur-ing the past five years. He estimates that you can have them installed forabout $10-$20 per square foot, which compares to plain concrete that runsabout $4.50-$7 per square foot or decorative concrete that comes in atabout $8-$12 per square foot.
Pavers have an additional advantage over the long term, according toRodriguez. Tree roots or ground shifting cause concrete to buckle and crack.“Pavers make it easy to maintain because, in these situations, all you have todo is pull up the pavers in the affected area and reset them,” he says.
As another material choice, Rodriguez likes flagstone, which workswell in walkways and patios. “They come in a variety of natural colors,shapes and sizes,” he says. “Their cost runs about $15-$22 per squarefoot.”
At Innovative Surfaces of Texas, partner Robert Barajas suggestsdressing up your driveways and sidewalks with decorative concrete.Suitable for new or old concrete, the overlay he uses is made ofPortland cement mixed with a powder epoxy and bonding agent thateasily takes textures and patterns. “It’s a way to make concrete beauti-ful,” he says.
His four-step process takes about four days to complete, dependingon weather. Barajas highly recommends that the sealant, the last stepin the initial installation, be re-applied every three years or so.Otherwise, the color tends to fade.
Patterned concrete can dramatically enhance a large driveway. Photo by Advanced Concrete Designs.
handbook
As humans we habituate, that is we become accustomed to things after prolonged expo-sure. We become indifferent to our surroundings, even places we love, such as our homes.This trait is particularly true for the inanimate objects in our landscape, such as sidewalksand driveways. We get used to the purpose they serve, overlooking the opportunity theyprovide to use them as design elements in the home’s exterior.
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NEW AND IMPROVED
Sidewalks and driveways are often a blank canvas—but that means you can really get creative! RicardoEscobar, president of Escobar Company, recently cus-tomized a client’s hardscape by pressing leaves, takenfrom trees on the property, into the concrete while itwas still wet. After the patterns were firmly imprinted,he removed the leaves and finished the concrete bystaining it to highlight the design.
He also has used a special salt in the finishinglayer. Initially the concrete looks like pea gravel, butthe salt eventually pops, achieving a Swiss cheeseeffect. “It changes the man-made concrete to a softer,more natural look,” he says.
Escobar has also applied his ingenuity to helpclients who own older homes. The sidewalks for newerhomes tend to be 4-feet wide whereas with olderhomes they run about 3-feet wide. By adding a borderon either side of the sidewalk, using media such aspavers or flagstone, he updates the width and thelook.
ADD-ONS ADD STYLE
Another way to break the habit of plain concrete is tolayer on additional design elements. Rodriguez likeswater features on expansive hardscape areas, especiallyin front yards where the water movement really catch-es the eye. Moving water also adds an auditory ele-ment to your overall landscape scheme.
If your budget allows for a real knock-out punch,consider Escobar’s water feature with a bridge. For onebackyard project, he created a small stream—whosewater is pushed along and circulated by a smallmotor—to run beside a pathway. The water crossesbeneath a bridge that is lit from below.
LEFT: Pavers in various shades can add rich color for a durable,decorative hardscape. Photo by Windswept Landscape Studio.
Light It UpAdorning sidewalks and driveways with landscape lighting can turn your yard intoa 24/7 pleasure. At night, the lights accentuate the lines created by your hard-scapes, plus they make an attractive safety feature.
“You can get intricate with the designs, which cost more, but it doesn’t have tobe expensive,” says Ricardo Escobar with Escobar Company. His suggestions: • For a less expensive idea, install accent lights made of solar panels along awalkway that leads to the front door, around the back patio, or to line the path toa pond or prayer garden. • A more expensive project is when he replaces a series of pavers with lightboxes, which are the same size as the pavers. The light boxes can be arranged ina variety of patterns, such as staggered or in straight lines.
Easy Does ItDon’t neglect simpler solutions for sidewalks
and driveways. For instance, power washing your
hardscapes adds vibrancy to the landscape
design. “A high pressure washer does wonders,”
says Vincent Montalbano, salesman with
Montalbano Lumber. He recommends Jomax, a
bleach activator and non-sudsy soap, made to
clean concrete, brick and patio pavers. Speaking
from experience, Montalbano advises the DIY
crowd to star t away from expansion joints until
you get the hang of it since the pressure washer
can damage the mor tar and joints.
32 house& home | October 2010 | house and home on l ine . com
A GIRL’S DREAM ROOM REALIZED
Eight-year old Rachel Nguyen didn’t know exactly what she want-ed her new room to look like, but she did know how she wantedit to feel…..grown up yet girly mixed with a little sass! Thedesigner for the Nguyen family, Elaine Williamson of ElaineWilliamson Designs (www.ElaineWilliamsonDesigns.com), madeit her mission to create a room that would exactly match Rachel’spersonality and vision for the space!
First in line were practical matters. Because Rachel suffersfrom severe allergies, the carpeting was removed and replaced withwhite oak hardwood floors stained a deep espresso color. Tobrighten the room, Elaine next chose a soft lavender color for thewalls. The wall behind the cream colored tufted headboard wasalso accented by a deeper lavender damask stencil that addeddepth and visual interest. In a framed out area placed behind theheadboard, a harlequin pattern was formed with cream coloredcording set off at each intersection with square crystals. Aroundan antique crystal chandelier, striking patterns of the deeper col-ored damask were applied once again.
Now the stage was set for the furnishings. To keep theroom from getting too serious, light green paint was chosen tooverhaul the existing bedside tables that, before, were a lightpickled wood finish. A “washed out” shabby chic style beddingwas added along with white sheers adorned with bright greenand zebra ribbons as tiebacks. Bringing all of these great colorelements together and adding a “tweenager” feel to the roomwas a boldly patterned 8x10 rug.
Always thrilled by surprises, Rachel did not want to seethe room until it was complete, but did have one request…shewanted the design board created to strategize her new roomstyling to be placed somewhere in the room as art – a requestdesigner Elaine Williamson was thrilled to accommodate forthe whimsical appeal it would add to the space. The mom alsohad only one request, but of Rachel: to keep the room clean!To this day, Rachel is said to have so much pride in her newspace that she hasn’t had to be asked once to clean her room.Success!
3 Room Re-Do STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BYELAINE WILLIAMSON DESIGNS
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A FIT-TING SPACE
At the same time ElaineWilliamson’s design teamwas working on Rachel’sdream room, they alsoworked on a dream spacefor mom and dad - ahome gym. Their oldestdaughter had just lefthome for college andthey wanted a roomwhere they could workout and stay fit. Again,the carpet was removedand replaced with gymstyle flooring that wouldwithstand the poundingof each machine to beused in the space. Abuilt-in desk wasremoved and replacedwith a custom cabinetwhich now houses a plas-ma television, built-iniPod, slanted shelves fordumbbell storage, yogamat storage and undercabinet refrigerator forhydration after a solidworkout. A vintage greenwall color was chosenaccented by a burnt redstrip starting at the base-board and running acrossthe ceiling. This featureadds an instant height tothe room and increasedthe overall gym-like feel.
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LAVISH LIVING ROOM
The next room tackled by the design team was the formal livingroom. Although the clients are not formal in their everydaylifestyle, the husband tasked Elaine and her group with establishinga design that would suit the style of the home, which had previous-ly been appointed with luxurious and intricate mouldings through-out. Elaine’s inspiration piece for the room was the elegant secretaryshe had purchased and eventually placed front and center on themain wall. The design flowed from there. A flared arm sofa wasselected and covered in a golden-neutral textured fabric. Custom
vintage red velvet pillows were added for additional depth of color.The coffee table is appointed with a leather stamped top for dura-bility, as this would be the tabletop the family puzzles would bework on. European chairs were purchased for their grand designand reupholstered in vintage red velvet and textured raised silk. Therug, a hand cut scroll design, added the finishing touch to the over-all design. The Ngyuens never thought they could feel at home insuch a formal room, but have discovered a new place to read, visitwith friends, puzzle and indeed live together as a family.
