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Environmental concerns are part of most kitchen designs. Energy Star appliances, WaterSense faucets and LED lighting are big considerations. Sustainable counter tops like Cambria and sustainable flooring like cork, wood and bamboo are also good eco friendly choices.

This eco friendly counter top by Cambria  in Darlington, is an excellent example of a sustainability.  It is manufactured right here in Minnesota in environmentally conscious ways.

Kalista kitchen faucet by Kohler

Sustainable flooring is prominent in kitchen design. Cork is being considered more and more as is the new linoleum. Porcelain tiles are a favorite choice in kitchens because they look like stone but are less expensive and easier to clean. Wood is still a favorite. “Nature” porcelain floor tile by Greenway.

                                             DESIGN MEETS MODERN FUNCTION IN THE BATHROOM

 Bathrooms  have become real style setters for home interiors. Vanities are like fine furniture pieces and plumbing fixtures are like jewelry made in rich materials, with  intricate detailing. Tubs and toilets are sculptural in design.  The bath is now a personal retreat that provides comfort and up to date efficiency.   These new  products  from Kohler, Kallista typify the new lifestyle direction. They are true inspirations for any descerning bath designer.

 Tub from the Country Collection, 18th Century style in cherry cabinet. The height of luxury and beauty!

Inigo Collection  vanity with Lever Handles in Nickel Silver.  Marble top. Sleek, elegant styling fits perfectly in a traditional or contemporary bath.

 Baccarat Cross Handles in Cobalt Blue Crystal. Like jewelry for the bath.

Counterpoint Collection by Barbara Barry with Brushed Nickel faucets. Very Upscale in dark ebony and off white marble.

Barbara Barry high performance toilet in white with Ebony seat. Its simple elegant lines are sculptural.

Country Collection faucets, shower head and wall scone.

Iron Works Historic enameled cast iron bath for the Vintage Look.  Free standing Tresham faucet in Nickel.

These Artist Addition Decorative Lavatories in glass, stone and bronze  are unique works of art. What a focal point!

Hope these products have inspired you like they have me.  They are just a taste of what’s available. For more info on Bathroom Design visit my website @ www.letitialittle.com

                         1980′s KITCHEN REMODEL/SMALL HOUSE TRANSFORMED

This not –so –big house was built in the 1980’s and the interiors needed some updating. The kitchen was small, cramped and lacked importance. The living room furniture layout was awkward and the space was not being utilized to its full potential. The client did not want to add on to the house, so we remodeled using the existing footprint. This interior design project is a good example of what can be done within existing  space to make it more comfortable, functional, and stylish.

 The living room at this point is awkward, but there is lots of potential. The fireplace can be refaced to update it, and a gas insert installed. Let’s add some bookshelves for storage and interest. I really like the leather chairs and sofa in this deep rich color: a good starting point. New carpet in a tan color would add warmth.

To open up this dated kitchen we’ll get rid of the hanging cabinets over the pennisula and remove the soffits.  New, taller cabinets will go to  the  ceiling. New counter tops,  appliances  and tile backsplash will be a big improvement.

We can get more out of this dining area: bigger table and more storage.

New custom cabinets in a rich cherry are installed. Upper cabinets go to the ceiling with a handsome crown molding added.

Dark Cambria counter tops add contrast and richness while the cream colored porcelain floor tiles and the travertine tile backsplash add brightness. Energy saver appliances, Cambria counter tops, porcelain tiles, and low VOC paint are all sustainable, eco-friendly elements of this interior deisgn.

The fireplace has been refaced in natural slate tiles and complemented by the new sleek gas insert. Custom bookshelves and cabinets are done in the same cherry as the kitchen. Now the fireplace wall is the focal point of the living room and provides a much needed anchor to the space. 

The new kitchen is open to the dining room and feels much more spacious.  The dining table seats 6-8 and the buffet provides storage and balance to the space. The black and cherry color scheme is coordinated with kitchen ( and living room) and provides a real sense of flow….great entertaining space.

The completed kitchen feels twice as big.  The different  materials create contrasts in texture and color. The updated pendant lights add the finishing touch to this handsome new kitchen.

These classic subway tiles are travertine.  Their nubby surface contrasts beautifully with the glass and stone mosaic  border tiles and the black and brown colors pull the whole kitchen together. Its a new look in tiles.

The completed living room repeats the traditional interior design style established in the kitchen and dining room. Great for entertaining yet comfortable for evening T.V. watching.  This design project is a good example of the importance of a well thought out design plan. The entire remodel and redesign are one Master Plan. Because no kitchen should be an island, it and the surrounding spaces should be designed all at once in order for the finished interior to be harmonious.

Black and cherry color scheme defined. For more info on kitchen and bath design, or remodeling visit www.letitialittle.com.

Letitia Little is a licensed, award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN.

                                   ECO-FRIENDLY NEW HOME /KITCHEN & BATH

Here’s more on my recently completed client project. See previous post on ”Casually Elegant New Home is Eco-Friendly”. Shown here are the Master Bath and Guest Bath which were part of my Complete Master Plan design for the entire house.

The tan and green color scheme from the Great Room is carried into the Master Bath.  Paint is low VOC Benjamin Moore. Three different sizes of  the same floor tiles are used for variety.

 The porcelain floor tiles are used again in the shower stall and the “invisible” glass enclosure allows the mosaic border to flow from  tub to shower. Water conscious plumbing fixtures

Mosaic stone border by Alyse Edwards, porcelain “stone” floor tiles. Porcelain is a good eco-friendly choice because the manufacturing process uses recycled water among other enviornmentaly conscience practices.

Verde Jade Granite counter top

Casual Guest Bath in tan, rust and slate tones. Floor  and wall tiles are porcelain, which looks like stone at a fraction of the cost, is easy to clean and is sustainable.

Counter top in Tan Brown Chestnut granite

Floor tile is porcelain with tumbled slate border.

For more info on my Design Process and Kitchen and Bath Design go to my website at www.letitialittle.com.      Page Photography.

                                                          CASUALLY ELEGANT NEW HOME IS ECO-FRIENDLY

 I recently completed an interior design project for a client’s newly constructed home. I started working with my client at the blueprint stage of the building process, creating a Complete Master Plan for the entire home. Selecting furniture, fabrics, window coverings, floor coverings, tile, counter tops, finishes, paint, plumbing and lighting fixtures etc. They wanted a casual traditional style that was relaxed and welcoming, with a  bit of cottage flavor. Eco-friendly, sustainable products were selected throughout the home.

 Large open great room and kitchen in tans and pale greens, has a great view of the woods and lake.  The sustainable furniture is made in the U.S. Carpet is by Shaw which is a company devoted to eco-friendly manufacturing practices and the pad is made from recycled materials. The wood flooring came from maple trees on the property that had to be cut down for construction. The wood was then milled here in Minnesota. New maple trees were planted to renew the wooded lot. Great sustainable story for this elegant yet casual home.

Fireplace wall with accessories and custom framed artwork. I always think  the right accessories are essential to any interior..they are the frosting on the cake.

Dining room with custom area rug and sheer linen window coverings. All interior paint in the home is low VOC by Benjamin Moore.

Linen white cabinets with large crown moldings, and sage green center island for contrast. Cottage style pendants and granite counter tops.

Appliances are energy efficient.

These small scale subway tiles in stone caught my eye and I paired them with the mosaic border for a newer look.

Powder room with “slate” porcelain floor tiles and dark faux finished walls creates a romantic feel.

Watch for the next post on bathrooms in this house.    For more info on  my Design Process visit www.letitialittle.com                 Page Photography

                                                      EUROPEAN KITCHEN AND GREAT ROOM REMODEL IS ECO-FRIENDLY

The spacious great room in this 30 year old Tudor style home, is open to the remodeled kitchen (see previous blog). Like the kitchen it was dark and felt awkward, with outdated furnishings. 

 I created a Comprehensive Master Plan interior design for the two spaces with updated traditional styling in calming tans and soft greens.

 The new furniture layout is more functional, welcoming and conducive to conversation.

I started the  interior design process with the tan/green paisley fabric as the color source.

New tan carpet on the floors opens up the room and the pale “pistachio” walls provide a soothing contrast. New furniture pieces have a gracious, traditional feel. And floor to ceiling silk curtains frame the gorgeous windows and fabulous lake view.

Furniture is made in the United States from wood grown in  managed forests. Carpet is from Shaw which practices eco-friendly manufacturing. The wall paint is low VOC.

Tables and chairs by Century, Cocktail table by Kolkka, Sconce by Dana Creath

Kitchen remodeling is exciting and important. But the kitchen is not the whole house, so when remodeling the kitchen, the adjoining spaces must also be considered. It helps to have a Comprehensive  Master Plan in place so the interior design of all  spaces is cohesive and budgets are considered. The end result, no matter how long it takes, should be harmonious.

For information on Master Plan Design and Project Management go to www.letitialittle.com or click on Main Website above. 

                                                                  EUROPEAN KITCHEN REMODEL IS ECO-FRIENDLY

  This kitchen is a good example of a remodel that successfully kept cost and waste down while improving function and updating the look in true eco-friendly fashion. The house is a 30 year old Tudor style.  The kitchen was dated and not as functional as the clients would like. Yet they did not want the expense of ripping everything out and starting all over again.

I designed the kitchen to coordinate with and be part of the adjoining great room which I redesigned at the same time.  The “bones” of the kitchen are classic with the cherry cabinets and raised panel doors but it needed to be opened up and redefined. It felt dark and dated. We wanted a new kitchen with European styling which would stay true to the home’s design. It is always my goal to design interiors that fit the architectural style of the home.

The cherry cabinets were in good shape but all were stained in the dark finish and the floor and counter tops were small ceramic tiles. We decided to remove the center island but keep the periphery cabinets. The island was Z shaped and awkward to use so I redesigned it in an L shape with the sink at one end and a 2 sided breakfast counter (with storage underneath) at the other. This allowed for better traffic flow and function. Details like pilasters, corbels and raised panels were included. The island was glazed in soft off white to contrast with the cherry finish on periphery cabinets. This opens up the whole kitchen.  All counter tops were replaced with Cambria in “Nottingham”, a wonderful brown/black.

A new cook top hood was designed with same detailing as the island but stained to match existing cabinets and new wall tiles were added. A new larger crown molding was added to all the cabinets to improve their status. And under cabinet lighting was installed.

The original mirrors and bi-fold doors in the coffee bar were removed and replaced with  stone wall tiles.

Old wallpaper was stripped and the walls painted. New window coverings were added in the breakfast nook. The French Country dining table and chairs were kept as part of the overall re-design and European style. The chairs were recovered with fabric that coordinates with the great room furnishings. New 18″ porcelain floor tiles were laid on point in the kitchen and cut into a herringbone pattern in the breakfast nook to give the effect of an area rug. The porcelain tiles look like stone at a fraction of the cost and are easy to maintain.

This kitchen remodel is a good eco-friendly example of less waste: the center island cabinets were given away and the floor tile was covered up with the new tile eliminating tear out. Cambria counter tops are a sustainable product made in La Seur Minnesota. Some of  the existing appliances were kept since they were only 5 years old and in good condition. A new dishwasher uses less water. And the periphery cabinets and coffee bar cabinets were kept in place and embelished while the  new island was designed to fit in. 

The end result is a beautiful new kitchen done in a traditional European style that is functional and more elegant than before and still fits the architectural style of the home.

Watch for my next blog which will discuss the adjoining redesigned Great Room. For more info on Master Plan Design and Project Management visit my website at www.letitialittle.com or go to Main Website at upper right of this blog.

Letitia Little is a licensed,award winning interior designer in Minneapolis, MN