WHEN TILE STEALS THE SHOW

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Artfully selected tile, turns this property into a showstopper!

There are so many elements that go into designing a beautifully curated custom interior. So many get overwhelmed, rightfully so! This is why it is so good when clients know their strengths and weaknesses and when it is time to hire a professional.

What’s even better? When clients allow their designer to push the ordinary boundaries and really allow them put on their creative thinking hats, this project is the perfect reflection of that…

Condos tend to be pretty basic white boxes, you are often limited due to building construction constraints. Sometimes the location of an electrical box in the ceiling isn’t ideal, but it’s not easy to move it due to the building shell. Or maybe it’s not the ideal situation with the floor to ceiling windows to hang drapery, because the ceiling construction just won’t allow you to mount them up there…. the list goes on.

So we have to get creative on ways to bring in the style. With this project, one big way was through tile. With the custom kitchen, we opted for a soft pretty washed white palette, it almost has a nice champagne tone to it, the island a darker gray hue, our all over flooring was a faux porcelain marble. We decided to let the backsplash be the main character of this space:

Lisa Gilmore Design | Custom Kitchen: DHM Construction | Seamus Payne Photography

One thing I can count on almost always saying is “In design, it is important to let it flow, not all the pieces can be a showstopper. It’s like a movie - we need a main character, then we need some pretty important supporting roles to make it all work.”

With this kitchen, I did not waver from that philosophy at all. The beautiful backsplash is so perfectly complimented with the custom hood, the large hardware gracefully dances amongst the cabinets, the counter top is just as beautiful as the backsplash, but a calmer art piece to not compete.

Lisa Gilmore Design | Custom Kitchen: DHM Construction | Seamus Payne Photography

I loved designing this backsplash so much, playing with the beautiful shades of marble to create the shapes. The design flows so seamlessly from the walk up bar to the rest of the kitchen where the range and hood rest. While this is a very busy and bold choice, due to all the other elements, I personally find it quite calming with the rhythm it creates.

To compliment the kitchen, we paired beautiful custom barstools that nestle perfectly within the waterfall edges of the island. Brass details and leather sing with the space and provide a little warmth.

Lisa Gilmore Design | Custom Kitchen: DHM Construction | Seamus Payne Photography

This kitchen is truly a piece of art, a place to entertain friends and family or equally calming to have a nice Sunday brunch at home!

However, the tile eye candy didn’t stop at the kitchen…

I absolutely love having fun with powder bathrooms and turning them into “little jewel boxes” and this powder bath became a jewel box indeed. We installed a beautiful eggplant moiré wallcovering, providing so much saturated color and depth. A custom vanity complete with custom design and fabricated hardware stood proudly in front of this gorgeous marble tile that we lined the wall with from floor to ceiling.

Lisa Gilmore Design | Custom Vanity: DHM Construction | Seamus Payne Photography

We inlayed a mirror on the vanity wall to seamlessly blend with the tile, mounting a sconce directly on the mirror. The space was topped off with a Chihuly style chandelier crown…

Lisa Gilmore Design | Custom Vanity: DHM Construction | Seamus Payne Photography

Isn’t tile with serious style pretty amazing?! I love how you can transform a space from average and expected to an extraordinary showpiece!


4 FAVORITE WAYS WE LOVE TO MAKE A ROOM COZY

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When we initially meet with clients about their future projects, often words out of their mouths are: “I love ‘x’ style, but I really want it to be cozy and approachable.” This is exactly how I came up with our mission Liveable Glamour.

So, I wanted to chat about a few things that I feel make a space cozy for all different types of style!

1. ANTIQUE OR VINTAGE AREA RUGS

LISA GILMORE DESIGN, SEAMUS PAYNE PHOTOGRAPHY

Hands down, no question about it. An antique, vintage (or really good replica) is my favorite way to create coziness in a space! The patterns and handcrafted quality are something you really cannot compare. I also adore the array of rich color palettes you can find. When I say that I do not mean just deep colors, even lighter colorways can have a very rich quality and depth to them.

2. DECORATIVE MILLWORK

LISA GILMORE DESIGN, SEAMUS PAYNE PHOTOGRAPHY

Let’s face it. Drywall can be boring. One way to cozy up a space without adding a dramatic color (or wallpaper) is through millwork. It adds such a great dimension without being overwhelming!

3. WALLPAPER

LISA GILMORE DESIGN, SEAMUS PAYNE PHOTOGRAPHY

Come on! Did you really think there would be a blog post without some mention of wallpaper? We all know my love for wallpaper… patterned, textured, bold, simple, all of it - I just love it all! A lot of people have a fear of using wallpaper, just because they cringe thinking of the stuff that was used decades ago. However, technology really has changed when it comes to wallpaper, so rest assured, you can wallpaper to your hearts content!

I really love how wallpaper can transform a room, instant wow factor - and you guessed it: cozy factor.

4. RICH COLOR PALETTE

LISA GILMORE DESIGN, SEAMUS PAYNE PHOTOGRAPHY

I realize that this approach is not for everyone. It’s a very bold move! However, if you can handle it, push yourself out of your comfort zone and go really rich and bold with your color palette. I promise, the way the color wraps around you, creates the most cozy environment you could ever dream!

There are a multitude of ways to make a space feel more cozy, this is just scraping the surface! What approach calls to out to you?

5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD PAINT YOUR WALLS BLACK

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Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

In an era of bright and white instagramable spaces (yes, we swoon over those too!) - we are think you should paint your walls black. It’s no surprise that I am a fan of dark moody spaces. I try to slide in some saturated color into a project every. single chance I get. So here are our top reasons why you should say yes to that darkest color swatch on the paint color fan deck.

1. MAKE IT COZY

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

A dark room (especially black) has the ability to wrap you in color and create a cozy inviting space that light colors simply can’t achieve. It’s almost like the room is opening its arms to you and pulling you in for a big bear hug.

2. BENEFIT FROM CONTRASTS

Lisa Gilmore Design | Native House Photography

Other colors will contrast and bounce off like you would’t believe, so the end result is actually bringing more life to the space.

3. BLACK IS SEXY

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

Everyone looks sexy in a black room. A black interior is flatering. Your skin tone will thank you.

4. YOUR ART WILL LOOK PHENOMENAL

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

Your art will look PHENOMENAL. It doesn’t matter if you are an avid fine art collector, pick up art from the thrift store, have only a few key pieces and a massive collection. Your art will sing on the dark moody backdrop.

5. NO NEED TO FEAR

Lisa Gilmore Design | Seamus Payne Photography

It will not feel small, we promise. Okay - so a few factors do come into play with this promise. One, your ceilings really can’t be lower than 8 ft, and if they are, make sure you balance that dark wall with some of the following: light or bright area rugs and drapery OR light and bright furniture, also varying wood tones add interest to a dark space. (really, any space.) Additionally, if you don’t have a lot of natural light in the space, be sure to add ambient lighting through chandeliers, floor lamps, table lamps and/or wall sconces

Lisa Gilmore | Roohi Photography

 

GO AHEAD, PULL THE TRIGGER ON THE BLACK PAINT.

There you have it, I rest my case. Hopefully you are now dreaming up which room (or maybe you should just go for it and paint your whole place black!) that you will tackle with this amazing color. And if you get a little scared, don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

With love & design-y dreams,

Lisa Gilmore