STEP BY STEP: Talking about style
Step by Step documents the projects that I’m juggling alongside setting up my interior design business, Kate Kerin Interiors. My clients Joanna and Pam have kindly agreed to being the subject of this blog, and I thank them for sharing their projects with our readers.
Petersham Project – bathroom reno
The next step in Joanna’s interior design journey involves looking at loads of beautiful bathrooms to determine her style. She is keen on a sea-green colour, but as her bathroom has no natural light we must be careful to ensure it doesn’t feel too cave-like. After providing Joanna with several mood boards and access to my Pinterest files, we agree to a green feature wall with the other walls and floor in a light colour. We start talking about Joanna’s preferences for tapware (modern, brushed nickel), lighting (simple and functional), vanity (still to be decided) and storage (under-bench only, with no desire for a shaving cabinet). Joanna thinks she might like to have some wallpaper in the room and has nominated a local designer called Publisher Textiles and Papers. We agree to set up a date for a window-shopping trip, where we can look at a wide range of fittings, fixtures, tiles and wallpaper together. Based in Sydney’s Inner West, Joanna is spoiled for choice when it comes to retail outlets featuring beautiful bathroom fixtures.
I am keen to utilise my 2D and 3D spatial planning skills, so I recreate Joanna’s bathroom in SketchUp. This wonderful tool allows us to view floorplans of the bathroom as it currently stands, and as we envisage it will be. The “fly through” mechanism allows Joanna to view the room in 3D, looking into every nook and cranny. For me, the process provides confidence that the items I am specifying will fit well, and that everything will work cohesively. The proposed floorplan will also become the basis for our shortlisted trades to provide their quotes, and will be used to clearly demonstrate our intention to the building’s Body Corporate, which must approve the renovation.
Next we start talking about trades – I will coordinate the team for Joanna, and will be on hand to work with them once construction begins. But she will need to sign the contract, and they will be in her home. She therefore must be very confident and happy with the selected team. I suggest two builders who are able to put together a team comprising carpenter/builders, plumbers, tilers, electricians and joiners. Although I haven’t worked with either of these men, they both have been recommended to me and my initial conversations are promising. We set up appointments for each to visit the site, meet Joanna (and me) and provide a quote.
What happens next? Read my next blog post to find out!
Greenwich project – Seniors’ Resort refresh
Over in Pam’s apartment in Greenwich, on Sydney’s North Shore, things are jumping. She has hired a wonderful painter, Marc Boros (contact me for details if you are interested) and he is already hard at work. Pam has decided to stay in the apartment during the job, as she has several bedrooms and bathrooms and can easily move from area to area as required. I have guided Pam in the selection of colours for her apartment – we’ve settled on a light, neutral wall colour for most of the rooms – Dulux Grand Piano in quarter strength. We have decided to keep the skirting boards, architraves and woodwork in the same colour but in a semi-gloss finish. The ceilings in the apartment are not particularly high, so it makes sense not to cut the walls off by top and tailing them with a different colour – also the skirts and cornices are not architecturally interesting enough to draw attention to them.
Pam is particularly excited about revamping her glassed-in veranda, a narrow space at the front of her apartment that has been only rarely used. The colour of this room is dated, and it is not welcoming despite the sun that pours in each morning. After trying out several options with large test patches on the walls, we agree on a light grey colour, Dulux Terrace White, to enhance a Hamptons feel that Pam is keen to try out. Nothing structural is required, but we will completely refurnish the room with a comfortable chair, good reading lamp, lots of greenery and a couple of small area rugs to add pattern and warmth. But first, we clean out all of the old furniture and computer equipment from the room, and arrange for it to be donated to a local women’s refuge. The quality of the furniture is good and Pam feels great about her things having a new life somewhere else.
Move onto the next post to find out more about Pam’s design journey.
Kate Kerin Interiors specialises in working with residential clients in Sydney, particularly older people who are downsizing or live independently in lifestyle resorts. Contact Kate for an initial consultation to talk about your project.
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