Upper East Side Kitchen Renovation

A happy client is the best reward.

I recently received these snapshots of a project I completed in Manhattan.

The renovation was extensive and walls came down and rooms had to be re invented. What you are seeing is the result of a long process including the expansion of the kitchen, restructuring of the existing fireplace, new ceilings, complete new lighting layouts, restoring the wood floors, the whole nine yards!

The result, a spacious calm and bright custom designed eat-in kitchen, planned with meticulous detail.

The client kindly sent a letter which was so nice that I 'Happy Danced' all around my living room :) I have included excerpts below, I just couldn't help myself!!

Directional lighting over the new fireplace and charcoal grey feature wall. Glass china cabinets are flanked by solid door dressers for additional storage and as a visual separation from the working kitchen area. Marble back splash and walnut counter top creates a warmer feel for dining.

Choice of uplighting  and under counter lights means the kitchen lights can be turned off whilst dining.

Plenty of space for preparing meals.

Fantastic Sub Zero combination which includes tons of refrigeration, wine fridge and freezer drawers. An easy access lower drawer is dedicated to childrens juices, yogurts and snacks.

Walnut contrasts and marble complements the gorgeous hand painted cabinets.

Stainless Steel dishwasher and appliance garage is flanked by a full height pull out pantry.

Discreet custom colored glass back splash was manufactured in one single piece. Space is allocated to cooking books and trays. Full size pull out trash bin is concealed behind a custom door.

There is a place for everything in this kitchen: Pot and pans, spices, cutlery and utensils are put away out of sight. Small appliances, cleaning products and recycling also have a spot in order to keep the counters clear and tidy.

I am so thankful to work for such nice and generous clients, their kindness knows no bounds. This client went a step further and took the time out of her busy day to write a letter that makes all the hard work worth while. I would like to share some of it with you.

"Dionne Trifiro was our kitchen designer and I am writing to tell you how much I enjoyed working with her. 

I had been attempting to redo my kitchen for about a year. My satisfaction level with other kitchen designers was quite low and I was beginning to reconsider going forward with the project.  I visited the showroom one afternoon and was introduced to Dionne.  Prior to creating any designs, Dionne met with me a number of times to understand our space, our needs, and our style.  


When she presented the first design sketches, I was amazed at how she had incorporated everything we wanted into three beautiful alternatives.  I have worked with other designers who have taken 5, 10, 20 times to get the design right.  Dionne got it on the first try. 
As we moved through the process Dionne showed immense patience with me, answered all of my questions, provided a number of alternatives and gave her opinion when I needed it.  She made herself available to me at all hours.  

During the construction process, I would write emails to the team and Dionne would always be the first one to answer me back.  At one particularly frustrating point in the construction process, my husband and I were having a hard time choosing our floor stain color.  Dionne answered my call while she was on vacation, suggested a few color alternatives, asked me to send her pictures of each stain sample after they had dried on the floor, and then guided us toward the color we ultimately picked. 

Throughout the process, I felt that I was dealing with a friend that I could trust instead of with just another vendor.  

In my humble opinion, Dionne is remarkably talented, has an amazing eye for color and design, and is fun and easy to work with.  We love our kitchen and it wouldn’t have been this way without Dionne's help.   

Jackie"

Wouldn't this be enough to brighten your day? For me, I've learned an important lesson and I will definitely be remembering to write my thank you notes.

Bathroom Renovations ~ Don't be daring get a designer!

Photo via OnHomeDesign

A bathroom renovation is one of the most complex renovations a home owner can undertake.

It may seem straightforward and in some occasions it can be, however I would never recommend endeavoring a bathroom renovation without a professional in tow, this especially in an apartment  building where there is any possibility of water damage to the apartment below! 

We all dream of a Spa like experience, we have 'pinned' images and saved magazine cut outs, we know what we want!  But how do we turn this dream bathroom into a reality.

It is normal to feel overwhelmed and to have many questions. Where do we start? How much will it cost? How LONG will it take? These are a few of the questions that we need to know the answers to. 

An experienced designer will have the answers to these questions and more.

I always start the process with a comprehensive survey of the existing bathroom/space,  preferably together with a trusted contractor. Plans of existing space will then be drawn up. Note that even if blue prints are available, without a survey there is no telling if over the years these original plans have been altered.
The contractor is there to make initial investigations together with the designer. Looking for items such as the positioning of the supply and drainage of water, existing sub floors and positioning of beams within the floor. Actual ceiling height, insulation, ducting, vents etc..

After taking all these findings into consideration, the designer will have a meeting with the client to discuss the design, timeline and budget. With all that information in hand  the designer works on several layouts making sure that what is offered is feasible.

A comprehensive lighting plan is key, working in task lighting for makeup and shaving and ambient lighting for relaxation. Careful selection of light fixtures will also enhance the design aesthetic. 

The chandelier creates elegance & atmosphere. Source Clive Christian

The materials selection may be the fun part, but it is a crucial part.

Floors need to be durable but at the same time soft on the eye and warm on the feet. Tile or stone floors are a great choice for high traffic bathrooms, consider under floor heating for comfort. Love wood? Go for engineered wood with underfloor heating, stable and durable, looks warm and works both in contemporary and traditional settings alike. Some other options are vinyl, cork or bamboo.
{Sub floors, drop ceilings and walls need to be clad in moisture resistant ply or gypsum boards, with insulation installed in between as a sound and temperature barrier}. And adequate venting provided to avoid moisture which can lead to mold.

There are many choices for walls applications, in certain areas a waterproof surface is required, in a shower stall or behind a sink or bath. However in other areas of the room paint, wallpaper, mirror or natural materials such as wood is a great opportunity to bring in color and texture.

Product source Filmore Clark

For a comfortable shower, a minimum width of 800mm is advised, for me ideally 1200mm. Many more clients are requesting showers for two people, walk through showers with various shower heads and sprays, colored led lighting and showers with built in seating.

Tip~Include a source of music for an invigorating start to the day.

Source K&B Faucets

Image via Freshome  

The bath can be the main focal point of a bathroom. As seen in the first image above, this circular Jacuzzi tub has great wow factor and Spa feeling. Did you notice the walk through shower behind the timber wall?
Stand alone contemporary baths are very popular and for the more traditional design enthusiast claw feet tubs are a great feature.

Tip~ Opt for a heated towel rail.

When it comes to water closets I would rather take the discreet approach, a good option would be to have separate room. If this not possible, clever positioning and use of partitions  can offer some privacy. My choice of WC would be a simple wall hung type with an external tank, this choice makes it easy to clean under and around and takes up little space.

Designed by Thomas O'Brian

The vanity needs to meet high expectations, it needs to have a wow factor, irregardless of style or size. This beautifully crafted tradional one with white marble counter tops, under mounted sink and nickle faucets has been and continues to be very popular. In smaller bathrooms or powder rooms wall hung or pedestal sinks are a great option.

Tip: TV's hidden behind vanity mirrors are great for morning news and long baths.

It is impossible to cover every single step or item involved in renovating a bathroom on a blog post. There are entire books dedicated to the design and installation of bathrooms and I hope to have provided at least some insight!

Renovating your bathroom or any room is a great chance to be GREEN . Ask your designer how and where you can incorporate sustainable products, whether it is installing extra insulation or using wood from renewable sources.

Have a great weekend!
~D~


For further information or to hire Dionne Designs for your bathroom renovation email dionnetrifirodesignllc@gmail.com

Email me!