Archive for the ‘Design Schemes’ Category

Crushing on Cactus

July 28th, 2016

So I’ve been obsessed with a watercolor cactus wallpaper for months. Its been sitting on my console for months, I mean HELLO we’re in New England, I don’t see a client deciding to put cactus wallpaper on their wall. A girl can dream. I am seeing it everywhere though – it makes me so happy. Below is the paper I am crushing on.

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These are some of my other favorites, also in a watercolor type effect!

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I’ve been thinking about sneaking cactus in in the form of art …  that’s not a commitment, right?

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Or if your really crazy how about a massive salvaged cactus sign? That would be SO cool in the corner of a living room for a neat glow each night! I need it!

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Ok, maybe I’m getting a little out of control. Lets dial it back – how about a small cactus sign. Not too much?

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Sharing my cactus sources: 1st cactus wallpaper – Pierre Frey: Culiko, 2nd cactus wallpaper - Etsy: Watercolor Cactus Wallpaper, Cactus Art: ‘Cactus Fields’ original oil painting of cactus garden by Kate Jarman, “Hello” Cactus print: Sweet Rose Studio, Cactus print watercolor by Helen Dealtry, Cactus Lamps: Mojave Moon Design and Wayfair.

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One of my favorite projects right now is a basement built out for a kids play zone. We’re getting to be creative and a little bit playful, which is making our team pretty happy. We’re creating a bathroom space, a TV zone (with barn doors and a recess for the TV), a billiard/games zone and a snack bar adjacent to it all.

Designing a space for a pack of boys is certainly fun! We started with bare concrete floors which are being painted and adding a few areas of barn board accents for texture and liberal use of industrial and outdoor lighting to give the space character. All while trying to be reasonable with the budget. (don’t roll your eyes here, we didn’t say cheap, we said reasonable!)

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I’d like to bring in some pipe fittings to add to the industrial accent concept. We’re thinking perhaps the barn door pulls and shelf brackets could be made of pipe fittings. We found a vendor on etsy that makes them cheaper than us buying the parts and having the contractor tinker with them. LOVE etsy!

Kristina Crestin Design_Basement Bar_Paint Color Selection

Below is my concept sketch showing cabinetry with a custom shiplap door that runs horizontally. The builder/cabinet maker Premier Builders also made a thick 2″ shelf for me that spanned the space as we were avoiding too much cabinetry. This is the area that we decided to go with some barn board, using it judiciously as to not eat up the budget.

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More progress pics to come!

Sourcing: Porcelain light socket from Commune. Vintage Kitchen Pendant in black from Potterybarn, Solna single handle faucet from Brizo,  Avalon Indoor/Outdoor Sconce from Potterybarn, Streamline Hook from Anthropologie.

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As part of the move as I mentioned recently I am sorting through projects, filing them away and generally trying to stay really organized. I am putting this design scheme to bed, sadly as I am bummed that we didn’t pursue it further! The palette all started with the photo below of the Clarins & Courtin girls, we loved the mix of earthy tones and bold pops of rich blues. Then I stumbled upon this amazing painting by Ayessha Quraishi  that could have been the key to pulling the whole room together.

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We also saw this massive cobalt blue glass lamp that was just so rich in color that it glowed, 2 of them anchoring a long console would just have been dreamy! I know all designs develop and change but I really loved this one!

Kristina Crestin Design_Blue camel living room BSourcing: Our inspiration image of the Clarins & Courtin girls was from Elle Decor, painting by Ayessha Quraishi , Cobalt blue glass lamp from Anthropologie, ottoman and light fixture from Jayson Home & Garden. Fabulous blue fabric in the materials shot is Designers Guild.

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It’s amazing all the fun goodies you find when you unpack …. alongside all the things that you wonder why you had the first place! As we’re unpacking and putting things away in the new office I found all sorts of bags of design schemes from various projects – mostly schemes that never came to fruition as projects continue to develop. I’ve held onto many that I liked in hopes that the design work could be used in the future. This one grew out of a magazine tear of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton – we loved the background and it was our color inspiration for a great accent wall. That combined with the yummy glazed tiles – such good building blocks to begin a palette!

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Kristina Crestin Design_navy mint kitchen C colorSourcing:  Glazed tiles from Discover Tile, Kilim striped rug from Steven King, Jerry Pair navy leather from Studio 534, dining table from Noir, Wood floor is antique reclaimed European oak from Paris Ceramics. Chair Fernando chair from Jayson Home  (love the cross stitch detail on the leather). Lantern from Urban Electric Co – their Chisholm Hall Lantern.

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Project in Progress: Her Study

November 21st, 2013

We’re developing a scheme for cozy destination for a client that is all about unwinding – and being surrounded by things that relax and inspire at the same time. Yummy materials – think silk velvet and worn leather.  Adding in a little vintage like these fabulous savaged  door knobs that came out of the Park Plaza Hotel balanced by interesting lighting with a little glam. Feeling good to me so far!

Kristina Crestin Design_Blog Post_Ladies Study design schemeSourcing & Photo Credit from top: Materials study taken in our studio, fashion inspiration shot from The Chic Bostonian, Arteriors Winston Chandelier, Jayson Home & Garden Abbot sofa, vintage door knob from Olde Good Things,  Arteriors Zelda Lamp and finally the Estate lounge chair from Ceccotti Collezioni via the Daily Icon.

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It’s music to our ears when I client uses words like ‘risk’ and ‘color’, even more fun when they combine the two! I’ve had this image of pink, orange and yellow glass lighting for awhile, but not having a project to pitch it to. We’re working through mixing materials and elements for a kitchen eating space, not so large but has an opportunity to have a punch – whether it be the lighting or the art. We’re loving this image we’ve had pinned forever ago of Erin Ashley‘s art, it’s been the inspiration for the space!

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Dining Table is the Duette by Altura Furniture. Lamps are a pair of Mid Century Orange Glass by Blenko found on 1stdibs.com . Chairs are Kartel Louis Ghost Chairs. Console Oly Jean Buffet. Art from Erin Ashley.

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Yet another Christina Baker painting that we love. We’re working on pulling together some colors for a kitchen palette, focusing on finding colorful chairs that don’t go so country looking. I didn’t realize wishbone chairs came in these fun colors! Even better we already liked a painting that goes with them. We’re going for a fresh retro feel … we’ll see where this goes. I’d take it!Kristina Crestin Design_lime blues wishbone kitchen JPG

Bubble Glass Knobs from Anthropologie, Wishbone chairs from DWR, Painting by Christina Baker,

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Morning! Working on the last pieces of a couple kitchen designs this morning and pretty excited. This past spring Better Homes & Gardens reached out asking if I would do ’1 kitchen, 2 budgets’, for their winter Kitchen & Bath Special Issue.  It’s basically an exercise of designing 2 kitchens in totality and submitting it to them with drawings, pricing, specifications and samples. No client! We just needed a before space and photos to work with. I chose my own kitchen, not that it’s outdated and horrible, but it’s pretty builder basic. It’s been a blessing and a curse to work through the design ideas. Now I am dying for a new kitchen! Stay tuned as shortly we’ll be sharing some product research and images.

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Studio Shot above

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Nothing like a leisurely Sunday morning out with family and friends. Yesterday I joined my mom and a friend to wander Smolak Farms in Andover for their Antique & Classic Car Show. Lovely morning in the sunshine – and so much inspiration! This stunning 67′ Camaro RS caught my eye because of the killer kelly green color (which is officially ‘rally green’). The couple who owned it restored it, the before pictures were pretty amazing the amount of work it took to get it to where it is now!  Anyhow, since I can never shut work off it helped a boys bath design fall into place. Thinking black penny round tile floor with chrome pendant lights with black shades. Oh ya, and of course a kelly green Tolix stool – Yes!

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Camaro photos I took yesterday at Smolak Farms Antique & Classic Car Show in Andover, Tolix stool from Industry, hanging pedants from Rejuvenations, Faucet Kohler Bancroft Collection.

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Hm, amazing how easy it is to take cues from words and images, starting with the 73′ Jag below. Rather than just layering vintage furniture we’re looking at layering in some textures like the sparkly (oh dear, probably not the best descriptive work to use when talking about manly space!) stacked split face stone tile for around a focal point fireplace wall paired with the existing walnut floor. Loving the idea of a white leather Eames chair too – super comfy and masculine. Other ideas rattling around that we’re developing … we’ll see where it goes!

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Photo sourcing: Vintage car image from Airows which took it from a Bonhams Auction site, Materials shot from our studio, Sconce from Urban Electric Co, Eames chair with black leather and walnut, Stacked split face stone from the Tile Source.

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