Comments (0)

By admin, 3:36 pm

                                                                          THE DESIGN PROCESS

We are moving along in the design process for the dining room in the ASID Showcase House for  May 2012. Sheree Vincent and I have been busy making selections for this traditonal  room and are pleased with our choices.

The green and gray linen print is the color source for the room and will cover 2 lounge chairs.  Gray silk curtains will grace the windows along with the creamy sheers. The green “lattice” fabric reinforces our garden theme & will cover the 2 host chairs at the dining table. All fabrics from Kravet Inc.

The designers hard at work.  Sheree and I have found the perfect chairs for the linen print.

And here it is.  I love the elegant, updated take on a wing chair.

This fabulous glass fronted buffet looks handpainted, but that is actually fabric behind the glass. What a find this is and it will be stunning in the dining room. A real conversation piece. By Marge Carson

Here is the floor plan for the dining room showing furniture  and lighting placement.

The focal point of the room is this custom designed dining table. It is 54″ wide and will seat 20 people with all three leaves in place. This was a specific request of the clients as they will really use the dining room for entertainment, large parties, family gatherings and board meetings. It had to be elegant yet durable for lots of use, so we added a “bar top” finish and light distressing. The result is a gorgeous “antique” style table. Table by Sterling

For more on the Design Process see my next post.

For days and times and to purchase tickets go to www.mspmag.com/hometour.

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

Comments (2)

By admin, 8:52 am

 COZY,INTERIOR DESIGN MAKEOVER FOR A LITTLE USED ROOM

I designed a Gentleman’s Study for this ASID Showcase  House that was built in the early 1900′s. The room  was originally a nanny’s room that adjoined a childrens’ bedroom.  It was pretty chopped up with 2 doors, 2 large windows and a closet. Square footage was at a premium so every inch counted in this redesign. I wanted the interior design for this room to feel like of a turn- of -the- century study to fit the style of this traditional English home. It had loads of charm to start with, being tucked up under the eaves, and had a great view of the front gardens.

 I removed the shelves above the windows and the roman shades to help open up the room.

The door to adjoining room, on the right, was no longer necessary so it was closed off.

Keep the white trim and give the walls a fresh coat of Shelburne Buff from Benjamin Moore. 

My inspiration for the colors came from this homey cotton rug in deep red and tan stripes. The balloon shades in vertical cotton ticking stripes have a “club” feeling without being heavy. And they “raise” the ceiling.  The 2 comfortable arm chairs, one in cordovan leather and one in warm red and tan tapestry are perfect for conversation or quiet reading.

The room is more spacious without the extra door and now the fireplace feels more important.

The leather topped desk provides writing surface without taking up alot of space visually and can accomodate a laptop. Botanical prints and the oil painting add old English flavor. Accessories are an important  aspect  to the overall design of the room because they complete the look and provide personal touches. 

The vertical landscape painting with its large scale helps to visually enlarge the room and the beautiful wood frame adds texture. Vintage phone and letter holder add a touch of whimsy.

This project was so much fun to do. Even though its a small room it makes a real design statement. It has been reborn into a quiet retreat with English flair to fit the architecture.

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

Comments (3)

By admin, 4:08 pm

                         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.

Comments (0)

By admin, 11:40 am

                                                      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. 

Comments (0)

By admin, 9:16 am

                                                                  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