My Return & Barn Wood Fireplace Surrounds

 Time has raced by and I'm happy to be back to blogging!  We finished renovating the beach house and spent the summer enjoying the ocean and the beauty of Cape Ann.  

I will post photos of the transformation in the coming weeks. But until then, above is a photo of the Annisquam Lighthouse at sunset that we took on our last night at the beach.  Wasn't the sky amazing? 

Here is a photo of the house with the new roof and all the new windows installed. The roof lines are all rounded and curved, which is difficult to do.  I am so glad we found a master roofer to take that challenge on.  We have done so much to update it - I will give you a tour when I get back up there and take some proper photos.  For now I wanted to share with you a new project I am working on.

I am designing a new fireplace surround for a ski house in Colorado. It is a renovation project of 1970's townhouse with very boxy rooms and almost no architectural detail. The furniture is going to be modern, but I want introduce some rustic design elements. The current fireplace is gas and we will be replacing it with a new gas model. We love the look of the fireplace above. I have been searching for old barn board and corbels. We love the whitewash of the wood. The hearth looks to be stone or copper and is rounded. We decided to start with this as our inspiration.

Here is another shot of the same fireplace surround.  This photo is from the Serena and Lily catalogue.  In fact, their current holiday catalog also has another wonderful shot of this fireplace.  Here you can see a closer view of the hearth.  I love the roughness of the wood and the texture it adds to an otherwise plain room.

I found this fireplace on Pinterest. Sorry for the photo quality, but I included it because the surround has a very similar feeling.

Another example from Pinterest, but this fireplace doesn't have the heavy corbels on either side.  I think it may be better scaled for my project.  I do like the natural, aged color of the barn wood.  Again, you can see how much architectural interest it brings to the room.  Also from a cost perspective, I am able to find relatively inexpensive wood in the barns of New England.  My finish carpenter is so talented and has assured me it can easily be recreated. 

Unfortunately we haven't addressed the placement of the TV.  My plan is to somehow incorporate doors to hide the TV.  Here is an example, but I still haven't quite figured out how to work it into the design.  

When searching for wood for the project I hope to find some interesting doors.  I like these above -  but they are not exactly right. I may have to design them myself out of the barn wood scraps.  Either way, it's an exciting project and I am thrilled to begin the process.

It's wonderful to be back blogging.  I have missed hearing from you all and I do hope you stop by and let me know how you have been.  I've been keeping up with my favorite blogs, and of course, like everyone else, spending too many late nights on Pinterest.  Please feel free to follow me there, I have so many fabulous inspiration folders. You'll also be able to view some of the projects I worked on while I was gone!  

Hope you are enjoying the fall!!
xoxo Gina

(all photos property of Willow Decor, unless specified, and are not to be copied or used without permission - all other photos from Pinterest)

Architectural Digest Home Design Show & My Beach House Update

Been so busy these last few months but so excited to get back to blogging and let you know all about some new trends that I have been tracking.  Just back from the Architectural Digest Home Design Show in New York on Thursday – what a great show!  It’s fantastic to see AD showcase new, small boutique companies and emerging artists!

We saw some really awesome products. One thing we saw a lot of was wood, wood and more wood.  Wood used as wall applications, beautiful floors designs, cabinets, etc. We saw a lot of barn wood and repurposed old wood, both stained, painted and distressed.  This was very interesting to me as I have just used 100 year old barn wood in my son’s room at the beach house (see below). One of my favorite new products that caught my eye is from a company called Moonish. 

These are marine grade plywood 6x6 tiles that are sold by the square foot. They have four magnetic backing tabs. You apply a receiving magnet to the wall and just stick the tiles on! They are held magnetically. Get tired of them or need a change? Simply lift off and voilà no more tiles. These are great for apartment dwellers, as well as those of you who move around and may want to take these lovely beauties with you.  For the DIY crowd I thought we could do so much with them – back an old cabinet, make a pretty mirror – check out Moonish tiles HERE

We saw lots of Mid Century furniture styles and lines; and some great new artists creating lovely contemporary pieces. I adored the lines and the finishes from WUD Furniture Design.  Here are some of their custom built ins as seen above and below. 

Their tables were beautiful but so hard to photograph, best to go to their website to see them. But what was most impressive was their furniture tops.

They use copper, zinc and rolled steel. They encase it in a hard resin, so it is impervious to scratching and stains. And if you think the resin makes it plastic looking, think again. These tops have an incredible true patina which I had difficulty photographing. Check out WUD Furniture HERE.

Also saw many companies trying to bring the luxury of the indoors – outside.  The West Coast is famously successful at creating gorgeous outdoor living spaces, but here on the East Coast our climate is not as forgiving. I just loved this well constructed, bamboo and cedar pre fab outdoor shower.  Made by a small Massachusetts company called OboRain, it will withstand the New England winters.  It comes shipped flat packed and is easily assembled. The design was minimalist and beautiful. You can see many other styles at OboRain HERE.

Also discovered a “new to me” hardware manufacturer, Sun Valley Bronze.  Similar to Rocky Mountain Hardware, but with exquisite patinas and styles both for the “mountain” and the “city”.

This is an example of their beautiful finishes, but do check out their website to see some extraordinary products – Sun Valley Bronze HERE

Now on to the Beach House… It has been a busy few months. We have been re- plastering almost every wall and adding tons of period style trim work and beadboard through out the entire house.  We also replaced several windows, which helped expand the ocean views. We also changed out a slider to windows, which helped enhance and correct the flow of the interior.

 

Here is a Before photo of the five unit contemporary window that was installed in the front of the house several years ago. I felt it distracted from the period style of the house.

And here is the After – still waiting to finish the outside trim work (will it ever stop snowing here?!)  Notice the new windows are 6 over 1 (mullions) and more appropriate in keeping with the 1920’s shingle style.

Another peek - Here is the upstairs hallway before we added all new trim work and detailing. The plaster, though not really visible in this photo was in need of repair. Notice the bead molding that runs along entire ceiling length on the right.

Here is the After - New plaster was applied to repair and highlight the beautiful crisp angles of the space.   Beadboard and trim were added to accentuate the great architecture and visually bring your eye up to create the illusion of a higher ceiling.  The Farrow and Ball paints are stunning and reflect the light beautifully.  The trim is Pointing and the walls and ceiling are Borrowed Light.  Floors still need to be refinished and new lighting fixtures need to be installed, but we are getting close.

Finally here is a peek at the new wall treatment in my son’s room, above is the Before photo.

  100 year old barn board from Vermont was added to two walls and the other two walls will be painted a driftwood gray. The wood adds the most awesome back drop!   Keep tuned in because I will be enhancing the wall with a “really cool” (according to my son)  treatment.  It’s going to be great! I will post about it very soon.

I am just excited to be back to blogging.  Been missing you all and now that things are slowing down to a more manageable pace we can all reconnect!! Hope you have been doing well and I would love to hear from you!  Have a great weekend!!! 

xoxo Gina

(all content and photos property of Willow Décor and not to be used with out permission)

Where I’ve Been and Where I’m Going!!!

It’s been so long since I’ve posted. Thank you to everyone who has emailed me enquiring if I am okay and well. Yes, I am fine, just been busy with my family, my design clients and …….a new beach house!

Summer was outstanding! Africa was beyond amazing! Dave had a fabulous birthday trip and checked one off his Bucket List! Here is a photo of us in Cape Town!

And here is the dining room of the gorgeous Cape Grace Hotel. I hope to do another specific post in the future of all the amazing things we saw and encountered, but suffice to say it really was a trip of lifetime.

Zambia was also incredible – each day was an adventure in every sense of the word.

The Singita Ebony Lodge in Sabi Sands was like a dream. I have never in my life encountered a more spectacular place.

The people, the landscape, the animals, the places we stayed were incredible.

I have been touched by Africa

and we all agreed that we returned home changed by our experiences. Memories to last a lifetime.

When we got back I fulfilled something on my own Bucket List – I was in the Annisquam summer musical –The Wizard of Oz.  I was the Wicked Witch of the West!  Ha, ha – so funny, right?! 

I shared the stage with my son, niece and nephew and my sweet sister, who was backstage supporting me and the rest of the cast.  What fun we all had! More memories to last a lifetime!

At the end of the summer we sold our lovely, beach house and bought another house three doors away; closer to the ocean and the lighthouse.  It’s a 1920’s shingle style and over the next six months we will be renovating it and making it ours.  Meanwhile, I have been busy with my design clients, my family and the children’s school.  I admire the Bloggers who masterfully balance it all (but I just keep falling over)!!

(sunset on the Zambezi River, Zambia)

For the next few months, I will not be posting often. Please forgive the blogging break and my inevitable, erratic future posts, but things have gotten so busy and I can’t commit the hours to the computer that I used to.  If you want to follow my crazy schedule it would be best to subscribe to Willow Décor via email. My posts will go directly to your email, so you won’t miss anything. Also, to all my dear readers, please let me know how YOU are doing! I so enjoy your emails and comments – I read and try to reply to every one!! (Thank you menopause, for keeping me awake from 2 am at 4 am, I get all my emails done!)

 

(Victoria Falls – Zambia)

So until I can keep all the balls in the air at the same time, I will try to keep dodging the ones falling on my head.  Know I will be back, and until then I am wishing you lots of happiness and beautiful spaces.

xox- Gina

 

(all photos and content property of Willow Decor and not to be copied with out permission)

Cape Ann Beach Cottage Before and After

I love renovation –moving walls and raising ceilings! Perhaps that is why I am so drawn to architects and spatial design versus fabrics and rugs. Most of my friends and colleagues think I am crazy, but nothing is more enjoyable to me than tearing out old walls and transforming rooms into a new and wonderful spaces. So when the the right architect/build firm comes along the results can be magic! Here is a wonderful before and after by Howell Custom Building Group who also did the architectural plan. The gorgeous After pictures were shot by the famous interior photographer, Eric Roth.

The 800 square foot cottage was part of an Inn, which consisted of the main house and cottages. When the Inn closed the homeowner purchased the cottage as a weekend retreat because of its spectacular location and views. The goal of the project was to increase the living area with out changing the footprint due to zoning restrictions. Above is the Living area/Kitchen Before.

Here is another Before from the opposite angle.The homeowner also wanted to add more windows to capture more of the spectacular ocean views.

Howell Custom Building Group provided a fabulous solution. They opened the ceiling with steel cable trusses to create cathedral ceilings and sleeping/play loft.

Here is the dramatic After. You can see that Howell Custom Building Group is outstanding at transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary!

Also notice their amazing attention to detail. I love the curved loft design which echoes a ship bow, as well as the ships ladder and hatch, that leads up to the play loft! So creative!!

The kitchen was cramped and cabinet space needed to be increased.

Curved mahogany kitchen counters were added and sealed with marine varnish. The design was inspired by the homeowner’s love of the famous Boston’s Union Oyster House Bar.

The bedroom before did not provide very good views

A glass slider was added and now the homeowners wake up views of the sparkling sea.

Usually in renovation the first thought is tear out the old stone and start again, but this stone fireplace was given new life.

They flanked the fireplace on either side with bookcases to add much needed storage and display space.

They also added a window seat for additional seating and a wall of sliders out to a new deck. The new sliders create an impactful and dramatic view of the ocean beyond. For more amazing photos of this cottage transformation to and to see more stunning properties by Howell Custom Building Group click HERE. To see more of interior photographer Eric Roth’s gorgeous work click HERE.

(All content property of Willow Décor, All Photos property of Howell Custom Building Group and Eric Roth)