Pretty Maps

Trying to find just the right artwork for your home can be downright frustrating. Artwork can be terribly expensive or just not quite hit the mark. You need to find pieces that fit your personality and don't overshadow your living environment.

I came across this website the other day while looking up interesting holiday gift ideas. I was instantly attracted to the "Pretty Maps" by the artist Aaron Straup Cope and thought how fun these would be in a grouping...and talk about personalization. Maybe your favorite city or hometown is here. The prices are great and you can even order these framed.

My personal favorite....Chicago of course!

*images from http://www.20x200.com/

We're Getting Closer...

Just wanted to post some more updates I got from Rick Schwenn, the contractor on the two condo projects in Milwaukee. He owns Just-In-Time construction and I must say, these projects have been so enjoyable and that says a lot for the general contractor. His team does fantastic work and he always knows what will look right. He is a contractor who "get's it". He takes great pride in his work, and the results show...he's the one who did that entire media center covered in Modular Arts I posted this past summer.

Here's some updates he sent me this weekend of the guest shower and the kitchen area.
Moving right along!

Updates in Milwaukee

Last week I had the chance to get back to Milwaukee to check in on the 20th floor build out. We're currently in the finish stages, so things are moving along at a much faster pace. Like I've said before, this is a really fun time for the client because every time they drop in on the site, it looks completely different.
We're still aiming to have the client popping bubbly on new years eve-of this year! We should have him in with only a few things left to wrap up.

The day I took photos was rather gloomy (I believe there was a snowstorm back in Indiana and we were getting the wind storm in Milwaukee pushing the system across the lake).

For all of the bathrooms, we used a mix of Hampton and Devonshire Carrara Marble with Black Galaxy clips on the floor and Lucciare with Snow mosaics all from the Tile Shop. Again, we used TME for the labor. They're professionalism and eye for detail is unparalleled.

Below are all master shower shots. This will be a really cool shower-it's HUGE! Once finished, this shower will be equipped with three adjustable body sprays, a rain shower, adjustable lighting, state of the art sound system, a hand held shower, and a Kohler steam unit. The very last photo is the client's own touch. He added a frosted glass window into the master bedroom...

The following photos are of the living space. We originally didn't think we'd be able to reveal any of the brick, but things worked out, and with a patient contractor, we ended up with this really nice detail around most of the room. There will be up lighting on the brick in the moulding cove. The two angled walls by the balcony door will have electronic LED fireplaces to give the space warmth.

This is an image of the kitchen ceiling before the wood was installed. We decided to create more definition of the kitchen space to lower the kitchen ceiling to match the entry ceiling and wood beams. To further distinguish it from the rest of the living space and add even more warmth, we clad the ceiling in the same bamboo on the beams. This bamboo will flow into the entry and the hallways to the bedrooms.

And with the bamboo....

This last photo is more just for fun. The client turned what would have been a third bedroom into a gym. This is a shot of where this punching bag will hang!

More updates to come as we get closer and closer to the finish line!

Kellie

Drywall Changes Everything

Drywall went up last week at the second condo in Milwaukee. It's always interesting to see a client's reaction when their space starts to really change. Drywall is the first major change once framing has gone up. The space always seems to look smaller simply because it's more closed in. Acoustics are also dramatically affected. As an Architect, it's fun to get to see the progression of the spaces you design and to see how dramatic each and every step is. As a client, it's sometimes scary as you're probably not around this transformation every day. Suddenly, you walk in and your space doesn't feel like it has for the last month or two.

Change is good and it keeps out eye on the end result. That's what all of this was worth going through anyway!

You suddenly go from this...

To this...

We also had doors delivered this week. Looking forward to the next month and everything coming together.

Still looking at the finish line!!!

Can't wait to get more pictures soon...especially when the fun finish work begins. Going to do final selection of granite on Monday.

Until next time...

Kellie

Some Milwaukee Penthouse Photos

The Milwaukee Penthouse project is just about ready for it's final photographs. The client is in the process of finding the right furniture for his space.
In the meantime, I will try to get a few new pictures up when I get chances to get photos.

These are some I took of the powder room and guest bathrooms and the kitchen faucet. The guest bathroom really came out great and very modern. A slight contrast from the more traditional look of the other bathrooms.

The kitchen faucet was the from the Delta Touch 20 series. Very cool for a Water Efficient Product. Check it out here.

Lake House

A young couple came to me last winter needing to renovate their small 850 square foot home to accommodate their growing family. Their current home is rather small and the two of them and their baby are quickly growing out of the space. For this growing family, we are nearly doubling the square feet of their existing home and doing a complete renovation of the existing. It will basically be a brand new house in three months.
We worked closely on this project with the family all summer and are happy to say the contractor has been selected and the family is in the final process of closing on their construction loan. This is a picture of what the home looks like now...stick around for construction photos once this project officially kicks off!

Not only will this family enjoy more space in a newly renovated home, but they will also have a home with a much higher value.

-Kellie

Georgia on My Mind...

I am pleased to announce I am now licensed to practice Architecture in the state of Georgia, the empire state of the south! Contact me if you have a project or question in this jurisdiction-I'm always happy to help.

-Kellie

Up Next

Work has been underway on the next project...one floor below the penthouse project of the last post. Thus far, we have the framing wrapping up, all disciplines are finishing up their rough-ins, and we've been talking finishes. My goal is that the client is ringing in the new year (2012, let's get that straight) in his new home. I think we're gonna be close!

Here's a sneak at the master bathroom. He has a 5' X 36" wide whirlpool tub that will be surrounded with a polished white marble with mosaic accents.

The bathroom will also include dual vanities, a separate toilet room, and a steam shower with rain head and body sprays.

Below are some pictures of the different elements and inspiration for this design.

I'm really anxious to see how the powder room turns out. I found a wonderful photo on decorpad.com showing a dark wood powder room with light floors and a chrome washstand. We're doing our own version with the white marble floor with black granite accents, alligator (yes, it's faux) wall covering, and a Restoration Hardware Chrome washstand. This should be very interesting! My client has so much character, I thought the alligator wall covering was his perfect match.

Enjoy!
KM

Almost Ready for the Close Up

At this point, all that's left on the Milwaukee Penthouse Project are some very small touch ups. Client has been in residence for almost two months and could not be more pleased. Most recent additions to complete the home we mechanical black out shades for the master bedroom and 3% opacity shades for the rest of the unit to diffuse the intense sunshine that comes through the 4' wide by almost 8' tall windows. With the addition of the shades, client has been able to cut his cooling bills tremendously.

Also finished, the Modular Arts installation. We used the Dune pattern for this install and wrapped it completely around the media center closet. It is basically a giant four sided sculpture that also serves to create a formal entryway and privacy to the master bedroom. Paired with the cultured stone columns from Dutch Quality Stone, these elements create texture and warmth in the space and give it a tactile quality. Everyone wants to touch the modular arts walls and stone columns!

KM

Project Progress - Powder Room, Guest Bath, Master Bath