Dare To Dream?

Posted on Categories Architectural Interior Design
Brown Residence, Week 2 Liz and Mark Brown have gained great insights (over the last eight years) into how their home has worked for them in the past – and more importantly – what obstacles they face now. Identifying their home’s past successes, living with its present restrictions, and imagining the dream home of their future, provided the Brown’s with a comprehensive “wish list” Dare to Dream Image 2-2which helped define their goals for their home renovation and addition project. At the onset of every design project, I encourage my clients to do some homework and create a wish list.  This is the stage where you dream big and the sky’s the limit.  Dream about absolutely everything you envision your home could be! It’s a great exercise and a little indulgent, but if you close your eyes and imagine – every specific detail you’d like to see in your newly renovated dream home – your spacious new master suite, that fabulous kitchen addition with state of the art appliances, or the master bath spa retreat – you may be surprised at what you’re actually able to achieve with the help of a design professional. Liz was a step ahead and within our second meeting she presented me with a wish list two pages long. She’s extremely well organized, capable and well versed in design and construction – and provided me with a comprehensive set of notes itemizing the challenges that her family currently faced. It was an extensive list documenting what they now wanted to achieve with this home renovation project – and more importantly how it should reflect their family’s lifestyle. If you Dream It! You can Live It! I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “How to Avoid the 15 Most Common Decorating Mistakes” Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2009 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc

5 Quick Tips To Transform Your Dining Room This Thanksgiving

Posted on Categories Architectural Interior Design
It’s hard to believe that it’s this time of year again and that Thanksgiving is here! Some of us are traveling and others are hosting – so for those of us who are acting as chef, host and sommelier this weekend – these tips are for you!
  1. Eliminate The Clutter. Whether it’s your dining room, living room, family room or outdoor patio that you plan to use for your Thanksgiving feast – the first order of business is to clean up and re-organize that space from top to bottom. Use the time as an excuse to purge and get rid of any unnecessary possessions you’ve been holding on to for years, pack away everything that isn’t needed for the weekend, and scrub your furniture down so it sparkles!
  2. Design Inspiration. When it comes to dressing a Thanksgiving table, undoubtedly the greatest source of inspiration is right before your eyes. Walk out your front door and take your kids on a walk through your neighborhood. Collect all the leaves, twigs, branches and pinecones that you can find and create napkin rings, centerpieces or simply scatter them on top of your holiday table with baby pumpkins and gourds. The colors will be spectacular! Don’t forget to spray them with insect repellent when you get home!
  3. Layer With Fabrics and Textures. To create a divine table setting, layer several different fabrics over top your wood table. Place mats, linen napkins and table runners in varying textures and tones will set the stage, and create an eye popping and magnificent first impression. If you’re short on runners or cloths, just head over to your discount fabric store, find some complimentary fabrics for next to nothing and finish them with some hemming tape.
  4. Place Settings. Have some fun with your table settings. If you have enough for everyone, use your best china, crystal, and silverware to create an effervescent table full of shimmer and sparkle. Add the napkin rings, napkins, and centerpiece and you’ve created a magnificent tablescape. Or for a more casual theme, introduce some plates and dishes and bowls with an eclectic mix of colors, patterns and textures. Regardless of the style – the more layers to your place settings– the more bountiful the room will appear.
  5. The Details. It really is all in the details. Hollow out some small baby pumpkins, gourds and acorn squash running them along the entire width of your table – and use them as candleholders. They create a warm luminous glow, enhance the mood and everyone looks beautiful. You can’t beat that! Slipcovers are a great way to dress up your chairs – or just tie some raffia onto the seat backs. Write a special heart felt thanks on each individual place card – share how thankful you are for having them in your life. Finally, sit back and enjoy this special time with your family and friends.
Happy Thanksgiving! I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “How to Avoid the 15 Most Common Decorating Mistakes” Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2009 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc

Creating Your Ideal Design Profile

Posted on Categories Renovations
Brown Residence, Week 2 When programming, developing and planning an extensive home renovation project, it’s important to gather as much of the client’s background information as possible, as it helps create a comprehensive design profile. Let me give you a brief overview of Liz and Mark’s history – where they began and where they are now – eight years later. Flash Back to 2001. What Worked.
  • Purchased the 4 bedroom, 4 bath, 3500 sq. ft. home built in 1949.
  • Adored the site, location and property.
  • A beautiful expansive back yard for a young family, and perfect for entertaining.
  • Moved in as a family of three with another child on the way.
  • Immediately remodeled and added on an office, enlarged the kitchen, integrated the detached garage and landscaped the rear yard.
  • The large family room was open to outdoor living spaces.
  • Generously sized master bedroom and bath.
Fast Forward to 2009. What No Longer Works.
  • Growing family’s needs to accommodate a family of six. (A new child is expected in a few months).
  • The two young boys currently share a bedroom.
  • Short two bedrooms – one for the new baby – one for another child.
  • Three children share one small bathroom.
  • Unable to have family dinners in the kitchen.
  • Need a laundry room – currently appliances are recessed into a closet just off the kitchen.
  • Poor traffic flow from the foyer throughout the house.
  • Dark and dingy entrance/foyer.
  • Have outgrown the space, yet love their location.

Here’s a blueprint of the current floor plan.

before floor plan Sept 14_09

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2009 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc

The Key To A Successful Home Renovation Project

Posted on Categories Renovations
Brown Residence, Week1 When it comes to renovating an entire home, you’ll see that if you follow a systemized plan of action, you can achieve a relatively stress free and highly successful home renovation project.  At this early stage, you may not have a firm grip on the overall direction of your project – but most likely you have a basic notion of which home improvements projects will enhance your family’s quality of life. Within the first couple of meetings with the Browns, I could see that they had done a great deal of homework in analyzing their growing family’s needs.  Having lived in this home for the past eight years they began to realize its shortcomings.  Walking through each room and determining what worked – and more importantly what didn’t work, provided Liz and Mark with valuable information that helped them assess their needs – which ultimately led them toward establishing their goal. Pre-planning and pre-programming is the key to a successful project! This assessment exercise applies to any home renovation project.  If you’re in the pre-planning stages of a home remodel, addition or renovation, it will benefit you – the homeowner – in the long run to be as methodical and truthful with yourself as possible.  It will undoubtedly save you valuable time and money. Here are just some of the questions the Browns asked themselves:
  • How often do we use the room?
  • What activities take place in this space?  Is it multi-functional?
  • What could be improved upon?
  • Is the space too dark, too cramped?
  • Which spaces do we enjoy the most?
  • Which rooms do we use the least?
  • Where do we need extra space?
  • Are the ceilings too low?
  • Do we have ample storage?
  • Does the traffic flow well for large scale entertaining?

The list goes on and on, but taking a good look at their needs, Liz and Mark could begin to see the scope of their home renovation project emerging. I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “How to Avoid the 15 Most Common Decorating Mistakes” Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2009 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc

Should You Move or Improve?

Posted on Categories Remodeling
Brown Residence, Week 1 I have to say that of all the homes and projects I’ve designed over the years, I’m most excited about this one.  I truly believe the transformation of this home will prove to be a phenomenal experience for all involved. The scope of this renovation project is so vast, that it could almost be considered a new build, so we need to approach this project with precision planning and meticulous detail.  Creating a successful renovation experience and a fabulous end product for these clients require painstaking preparation and a focused mind-set on everyone’s part. But I now need to share something with you.  There’s a potential glitch looming.  You see, while I’m in the throes of re-planning and re-designing this spectacular home –my clients Liz and Mark Brown are expecting their fourth child (in just a few months)—and while everyone’s aware that there’s no possible way this project will even break ground before summer – Liz is now shopping for homes!  She’s feeling a little anxious, slightly overwhelmed and they’re definitely short a bedroom or two.  So needless to say moving into the perfect house is very appealing to her right now.

contemporary exterior

Will they find that perfect house?

Or will we create their dream home?

Hard hat

I encourage you leave questions or comments below post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “How to Avoid the 15 Most Common Decorating Mistakes” Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2009 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc

The Real World of Architectural Interior Design

Posted on Categories Architectural Interior Design
Hi there!  I’m Lori Gilder CEO and Founder of Interior Makeovers Inc. and a passionate Architectural Interior Designer. I’ve had the most incredible opportunities over the last two decades designing hundreds of residences throughout Canada, the U.S and Mexico.   Most of these renovations and remodels were dream projects with dream clients – and thankfully – only a few nightmares in between. Yet at the end of the day, each home renovation project and interior makeover provided me with tremendous insights into the real world of residential renovation and construction. I love what I do and I thought it was finally time to share my knowledge and experience with you design savvy homeowners on a broader level.

I’d like to take you with me on a very unique and exciting home renovation journey over the next year or two, where you’ll witness the good, the bad and the ugly sides of the home renovation process.  This amazing renovation project will prove to be incredibly exciting—constantly evolving—and never failing to inspire.  So for you renovation junkies out there, this just may be the fix you need.

My goal with “Diary of a Renovation” is to document the transformation of a 3600 sq. ft. home from the ordinary to the extraordinary – and share the daily events that occur while dreaming – planning – designing –building and living through a very special home renovation project in Los Angeles California.

I invite you to share YOUR renovation stories, design challenges and any helpful insights into the home remodeling world. Stay Inspired! I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “How to Avoid the 15 Most Common Decorating Mistakes” Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2009 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc