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By admin, February 21, 2012 11:05 am

And now we’ve reached the After phase of my interior design for the Victorian guest bedroom suite in this ASID Showcase House Historic Renovation.

The completed space shows off its soothing seafoam green and gold color palette and elegant formal furnishings. Makes you want to step into the past and stay awhile.

I fell in love with the  home owner’s antique brass bed. It’s so perfect for the room all dressed up in its custom silk  bed coverings. The delicate little chandelier adds just the right amount of sparkle. Dramatic swagged valances and tie back curtains in striped silk are perfect examples of  Victorian interior design. 

The cozy corner between the two windows is completed by the gold velvet slipper chair. And the restored antique Eastlake dresser feels right at home. Details like the silk and wool area rug, ribbon hung pictures and  antique books add important design  elements.

The elegant custom vanity is the focal point of this small bathroom. Set against the authentic subway wall tiles and William Morris wallpaper it ”says” Victorian. The shower on the right has a full glass door to keep the bathroom “open” yet functional.

The corner toilet was the only solution for this bathroom. Its a  great little space  that fully coordinates with the bedroom.

This  design project won an ASID Honorable Mention Award for Showcase Home Room. I sponsored 3 students from Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount , MN to work on the project with me.

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. for more info visit www.letitialittle.com.

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By admin, February 14, 2012 2:21 pm

Before and After-Part 2 of this Late Victorian Historic Renovation project is about the design process. My goal for the interior design of one of the bedrooms and its bath was to restore the feeling of the original period. I accomplished that by using the  colors, types of fabrics, antique furniture, wallpaper and  tile of the era. Combined with the conveniences of the 21st century this suite will be livable as well as authentic.

You can see by the floor plan that this is a small bedroom chopped up by doorways and the angled fireplace wall. The new bath room was carved out of what used to be a closet so there is limited space to work with. The layout must be functional so every inch counts.

I selected silks and velvet in seafoam green and gold, a popular color scheme of the period to bring the room to life. Authentic William Morris wallpaper  will be used in the bathroom above the tile wainscoting, and a swag wallpaper border will be  used in the bedroom to keep the room from feeling too closed in. Late Victorian antique furniture  completes the look.

Design for the custom made vanity in the bathroom incorporates design elements seen in the house.

The actual custom vanity has a bowed front, large lozenge on the top panel and beading.  The delicate spoon feet keep it from looking too heavy.

This antique  Late Victorian “hanky” dresser in the Charles Eastlake style is perfect for the bedroom. All it needed was a bit of clean up and polish to restore it to its natural beauty. Its attached mirror, marble top and tear drop dresser pulls  represent the era to a tea.

Follow my next post to see how the  rooms came together in the “After” phase

Letitia Little is a licensed, award wining interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. For more info visit www.letitialittle.com.

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By admin, February 7, 2012 5:18 pm

This Late Victorian house was built in 1893 by Cass Gilbert who also designed the Minnesota State Capitol building in St. Paul. It is on the National Registry for Historic Landmarks.I had the oportunity to create the interior design  for one of the guest bedroom suites in this ASID Showcase Home. I wanted to restore it to its original style using colors,  fabrics and furniture of the period. In this post I will show a few of the before shots. Following posts will show work in progress and the final bedroom and bath.  

This small bedroom is short on square footage and is pretty chopped up with doors, windows and angles. But there are lots of possibilities. I love the little fireplace with its original dentil moulding, columns and green glazed tiles. The 2nd and 3rd floors in the Late Victorian style had painted woodwork and walls in pastel colors; a departure from the first floor which had heavy woodwork and mouldings in dark wood stain.

This is a view into what will be a closet.

Pictured here is the build out of what will be the small adjoining bath.

This little antique chandelier was found in another part of the house. I decided to reuse it for this bedroom. It just needed a bit of cleaning up so it could sparkle and shine. Its just the right size as you will see. 

Watch for my next posts on the design process.

Letitia Little is a licensed, award wining interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. For more info go to www.letitialittle.com.

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By admin, January 31, 2012 12:51 pm

One of my favorite furniture categories is upholstered beds. They just say Luxury and Comfort. The bed is the focal point of the bedroom and an upholstered one is an opportunity to create a custom design statement. If you have a smaller bedroom you can use just the headboard and not compromise the interior design of the room.  Here are just a few examples that caught my eye.

 The “Chamber” bed by Hickory Chair has handsome contemporary senseabilities and makes a real design statement in this master bedroom.

Both the tufted headboard and footboard  curve inward slightly on this bed to create a cozy nest. The wood trim gives it a distinctive transitional feel. Talk about feeling pampered! by Century

This tailored bed is unusual with its softly rolled armchair headboard.  Heavenly! Great place to read your favorite novel on Sunday morning. by Hickory Chair. 

This magnificant bed with curvilinear upholstered headboard is the height of elegance and tradition. Now this bed feels like royalty.

“Candler” upholstered bed can be trimmed in grosgrain ribbon for an interesting twist to traditional styling. by Hickory Chair

  This wing back styled bed is handsomely tailored in Ultrasuede for a sleek, classic, contemporary look. By Kravet

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. For more info visit www.letitialittle.com.

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By admin, January 24, 2012 10:23 am

Trends in interior design are always fun for me to follow because they keep me on my toes. Fresh new looks  inspire creativity. One of the strongest  trends in furniture for 2012 is natural, light woods. Oak is back but in bleached, white washed or grayed tones. Think driftwood. These natural tones are an exciting casual look and provide a neutral background for any color scheme. Silver leaf finishes are the new metallic. Their soft sheen is upscale and elegant.  You will see them on tables, chests, mirrors, lamps etc.  Another new trend is lacquered tables, consoles and cabinets. Done in white or lipstick red, the look is very hip. Each one of the following examples can be the inspiration for a whole new room or the perfect finishing touch to an existing room design.

“Bees Knees” chair and occasional table by Caracole

 Pine chandelier from Century. The smooth white shades contrast perfectly with the rough wood for fabulous texture. 

 I love the silver leaf sheen with the black painted legs of these nest of tables from Caracole.

 Red lacquer cocktail table from Somerset Bay in a Greek key design. Fun!

This great little chest is called “Bedrock” from Caracole. Perfect for bedroom or casual living room.

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. visit www.letitialittle.com for more info.

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By admin, January 19, 2012 8:12 am

Choosing a paint color is not an easy task. It really takes some thought and time. The right color paint in a room can make it. The wrong one can break it. Here are a few pointers on choosing the right color for you.

1. Consider the type of light that comes into your room. Is it cool or warm?  If a room faces north for instance, you might want to use warm colors like tan, beige, warm whites, reds, rust, instead of grays and blues.
2. Start with a color source like a painting or printed fabric and pull colors from that. Don’t just pick any color and put it on your wall. There needs to be a reason for it.
3. When you’ve selected the color you think you will like, choose a couple colors near it in the paint deck that are lighter. Purchase all 3 colors in small amounts and paint swatches on your wall. Then live with them for a few days and decide which one you like. This way you won’t paint an entire room and then decide you don’t like it.
4. If you want to use a deep color like red or indigo decide if you will be comfortable with it on all four walls. These colors will make a room feel smaller. You can paint just one wall in a strong color and it will still make an impact.
5.  Make sure the color is one that makes you feel happy. If it’s a popular color but you aren’t drawn to it, don’t use it. Your home should be a comforting, happy place.
6. Paint Shown is Benjamin Moore, an eco friendly company with low VOC’s. Want to know the numbers of the swatches shown? Just e-mail me at letitialittle@letitialittle.com.

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. visit www.letitialittle.com for more info.

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By admin, January 17, 2012 7:38 am

I am always inspired by Barclay Butera fabrics and these richly layered reds are no exception. From Kravet.

The red family from deep merlot and rose red to azalea and raspberry, is representaed here in these exciting new fabrics fromKravet.

Bold red is dynamic shown here  on the walls and in this tufted leather chair from Century.

Modern console in white lacquer is the newest trend in furniture. Loft Collection from Somerset Bay.

This fabulous bouquet of roses represents the full range of reds and pinks for 2012.  Inspirational!

The soft sheen of the silver leaf finish gives this three drawer chest  from Emerson et Cie  a real updated look.

For more on Color watch for my next Post on “How to Choose a Paint Color.”

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.letitialittle.com for more info.

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By admin, January 10, 2012 11:58 am

COLOR, COLOR, COLOR! We are drawn to it and intriqued by it. It is the strongest element of interior design. Color can change your mood or change your perception of the size of an object or room. Color can soothe or excite. It’s POWERFUL. The newest colors for 2012 are pure hues with lots of depth. Blue, always a favorite is now in saturated tones like midnight, indigo and navy. Turquoise is full of life, definately not pastel. Green makes a real statement in shamrock, bottle, lime or chartreuse. These colors are covered in this post. Watch for reds in Part II.

The vibrant blues and greens in these fabrics by Diamond & Baratta from Lee Jofa  are refreshing examples of the newest colors.   The white lacquer cocktail table is an exciting new direction in furniture.

We always love blues and greens because they are nature’s colors. These fabulous fabrics in indigo, turquoise and lime have so much energy. Shown in rich velvet, shiny satin, nubby chenille and crisp cotton, their possibilities are endless. From Kravet

This Chinese inspired credenza from Oscar de la Renta, by Century looks so now in lime green. The metal accents add real interest.

The new blue and mocha color scheme looks great on this updated wing chair. Long  tapered legs with casters give it a contemporary twist. From Century

 Love the lime green in this traditional setting. Its so fresh and unexpected with the dark tables and camel back setee. Very NOW. From Century.

Turquoise, one of my favorites, looks great paired with polished chrome on this Modern ottoman from Kravet.

Watch for my next post COLOR FORECAST PART II on Reds.

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.letitialittle.com for more info.

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By admin, January 2, 2012 3:14 pm

Texture and color inspire me when I design interiors for clients. The creative possibilities are endless. Here are a few examples.

Wool rugs from Lee Jofa are colorful and loaded with  texture. Can be used  to complement interiors in dining rooms, living rooms, hallways and bedrooms.

 The graceful, hammered iron legs contrast beautifully with the glass top in this cocktail table by Kolkka. 

The imaginative play of textures creates loads of drama for this interior.  The smooth wood of this contemporary console contrasts nicely with the fuzzy pillows on the linen sofa and the rock wall. By Harden

The pattern created by the iron “screens” in this Shoji chandelier is very tactile and evokes the Japenese aethetic. By Corbett.

Porcelain floor tiles have the rich, textural look and feel of natural stone. The square tiles are enhanced by the mosaic border, which adds another dimension of interest. By Pietre Travertine

If you have a topic you would like me to discuss in a blog please send me an e-mail at letitialittle@letitialittle.com.

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.letitialittle.com for more info

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By admin, December 20, 2011 3:13 pm

Give any one  of these dreamy design elements to your home for the  holidays and it will love you forever.

Bubble tiles from Ceramiche Keope.

Elegant Queen Anne arm chair in red velvet from Artistic Frame.

Garnet channel velvet and silk circles from Kravet. Gray cotton  paisley from Pindler and Pindler. Woven metalic from Kravet.

Wilshire wing chair from Schumacher in white leather with silver nail head trim. Voila!

Warm and fuzzy wool rugs in reds and garnet from Lee Jofa. Your toes will love these.

The grand finale! Show stopping elegance in hand- cut crystals and warm silver frames.  “Cascades” chandelier from Fine Art Lamps. Happy Holidays from Letitia Little Interior Design!

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.letitialittle.com for more info.