Week Who Knows…
It has been a very very slow process but the house has really started to take form of a finished home, well at least the background. When I stopped by recently there was a lot of work being done, the kitchen was being installed, bedrooms were being painted, the master bath was being grouted, the pool had been installed and the guest house exterior had been finished. It was all starting to take shape.
One of my tricks for low ceilings in homes/apts is to paint the ceilings with semi-gloss paint, this is not the final coat you see in image but you can see how it increases space.
It has been about a year and a half of construction with delays and now they want to be in the house in 2 weeks! This puts a gun to our heads, but I do understand since it is summer and they would like to enjoy their summerhouse. It’s questionable when the house will be finished as decisions are not being made and delays are continuing (not due to us).
Unfortunately the client had a tree cut down in the front yard that I had fought to save because without it the house is very exposed, hopefully landscaping will help it. They also installed a driveway without my knowledge and now there is more driveway than there is yard, you could park 10 cars on it! A parking lot comes to mind…
Kitchen
Kitchen
Front Room
Looking out to backyard
Pool & Guest House
Stairs waiting for railing
Master Bathroom
Bathtub waiting to be installed
Kid's rooms
Boy's Bathroom
Driveway
Tree removed, driveway doubled…it is so frustrating when clients don’t follow completely the designer’s plan. You are an authority and yet… that consoles me thinking of how difficult it is to complete “my vision” in a project. Nevertheless with your talent I am sure these problems will be solved brilliantly. All the best for the continuation of this project. Smooth sailing from now on I hope!
The kind of clients who go off and do stuff like this are exactly the type who are not 100% happy when it’s all done but will never take credit for spoiling the vision. Good luck fixing things, you have my sympathies.
I have been anxious to see the progress! Thanks for the update. I love your kitchen cabinet design, the wide frame around the entire set of drawers, great detail! I like the “trick” with the low ceilings, I may just have to borrow that idea.
So sorry about the tree and driveway but clients just seem to have to “mess” with things. Set them straight and get their landscapers phone #.
Can’t wait to see the final product!!
I used that trick with the gloss paint in my former house in upstate NY that had 7’4″ ceilings! It is amazing what a difference it makes. I sympathize with your sudden short deadline. How often does this happen? The client holds up the process for a number of reasons and then expects the designer to meet the deadline anyway. It is stressful, but I am sure they will be thrilled with the outcome. It looks wonderful so far.
Thank you for that tip about the ceilings..also wallpaper works wonders. The house looks divine + love your blog.
It all looks great…
I see that type of driveway back east all the time lined with belgium bricks… In Connecticut it seems to be done exactly like this photo…
Should also spend some money with a landscaper whom has vision… It’s strange not to get every one on board at the on set??
I think the outside of a house and what is planted is a major part of doing a house??? Do we not live outside for most of the summer??? Should not there be harmony with all of it???
The house looks wonderful so far and I hope in the end there is some satisfaction with it for you and them..
xxoo
melissa
I really like gloss paint, especially in a kitchen. It takes me weeks to do a single room, though, because of the sanding and re-coating. The imperfections make me OCD crazy. The doors opening to the outside– I wonder how they will be screened? Maybe Long Island has controlled the mosquito population since the last time I was there!
Two weeks!!! OMG. Sad about the tree and monster drive, there are so many beautiful houses in London being ruined by the same attitude. They inevitibly all look like car showrooms.
House looks amazing, can’t wait to see the finish. Love the ceilings.
Lxx
The house looks great. Sorry that the driveway overpowers the house and is distracting. Miss the tree, it looks naked. Looking forward to your interior furnishings. Best of luck going forward.
I love the kitchen cabinets and the kids bathroom sink is perfect. Hoping everything moves along now-this is the really exciting time-to see everything come together. My painters always spit fire at me, but I will always put a glossy paint on the ceilings. I am always amazed how many people notice and comment on it. I have never even thought to use “ceiling” paint!!!!
Cheers
The driveway makes sense to me and at least it’s curved and leaves that nice rounded area w/ tree for a showpiece of landscaping if they want that. It will probably be a social house and will need the driveway. As it’s a vacation home lots of landscaping may not work for them.