Project Sneak Peek

I'll be back soon with this cute little bathroom remodel...

 

We are recovering from a week full of sickness over here :-( and now I'm playing catch up.

 

I hope you're getting a great start to the week!

A Sofa Before & After

This is an antique sofa, that recently got a makeover, for a wonderful project that I've been working on.  I began working with my clients while the home was being built, and previously gave a sneak peek of the interior finish out here.  We are now almost done with the interiors and I'm loving the eclectic vibe our design has taken on. 

Below, you can see the sofa after our reupholstery work.  I love how it turned out! 
btw...this room is mid-installation, hence the disorganization around it.
We upholstered the sofa body in a small scale taupe and cream, linen/cotton blend herringbone.  I had the oversize down pillow custom made at my workroom. 
I adore the tension that is created between the modern fabric and pillow style on such a traditional antique frame.  It just works!

More on this project coming soon...

Over the weekend, the weather in San Antonio took a turn towards the delightful. My favorite times of the year are the changing of the seasons, particularly fall. The "cooler" temps were a much needed respite for us down here and I find that I'm more energized when we don't have the oppression of the heat. Know what I'm sayin'?

I hope you're getting a great start to the week this Monday morning.

1920's Renovation | The Solarium

Ah, the solarium, one of my favorite spaces in the 1920's restoration project that I've been working on and blogging about recently. Over half of this space is floor-to-ceiling windows and so it was dubbed the solarium. The natural light in this space is amazing! 
In the 'before' photo below, you can see how the space previously looked.  Due to my new design, the room basically had to be taken down to the studs, salvaging only the floor and stone wall.  There was a short period where this room had no walls or ceiling and was completely exposed to the elements.  It was pretty crazy to stand in here and look up at the sky! 

And the 'After'...

So here is what we did...
We installed a new ceiling, incorporating a lighting plan designed by yours truly (I have no idea what was going on with the previous "lighting plan") which included recessed can task lighting, pendants and hard-wiring some awesome picture lights to the bookshelves, installed stunning new floor-to-ceiling factory style windows (which were actually my beginning vision for this space), new doors, ceiling beams, a mortar slurry treatment for the stone wall, we cased the pass-through openings, new fabric and spear awnings on the exterior perimeter and new paint, of course.

The expanse of the space called for definitions by furniture arrangement.  The homeowners entertain frequently, and wanted a space with multiple settings for conversation and such.  I defined the space into three areas which include a traditional conversational furniture arrangement, a chaise lounge and a club chair circle perfect for cocktails.  In the 'before' image above, you can get a closer look at all of our changes.  This area was designated for our traditional seating arrangement as seen in the 'after' image below.

Since the furniture is 'floating' in the room, I wanted it to be interesting from all sides.  Notice the neat detail on the back of the club chair. Love.

The floor is fantastic!  I wanted that to stay from day one!

Notice the cool picture lights by Visual Comfort on the bookshelves.  Such a small detail that adds so much character!
I love the tufted bench flanking the sofa.  This provides seating but doesn't visually block off the space from the rest of the room.  Notice the brass buttons inside the tufts.  Love.

The sofa has a gorgeous scalloped back adorned with nailheads.  Once again, I wanted this to be interesting since you can walk around and behind the sofa.
Some more little details around this side of the space...

In the 'before' image below, you can see the other side of the space, looking back from the seating area.  Yipes, this area needed help!

And the 'after'...

This home has three floors.  This room is technically on the second floor (when entered from the backyard) but you enter as the first floor from the front door.  This sloping lot and split design makes for a pretty view, overlooking the pool, from one floor up.  This proximity to the pool is also why you will notice a slight blue-green reflection on the ceiling in some of my photos.

In the image above, you can see the three defined seating areas.

Below is another 'before' image where you can see the split design.  You can also see the terrible and very unsafe (non-tempered, single pane) sheets-of-glass windows and the awful metal awnings we took down.

We replaced the metal awnings with these gorgeous taupe Sunbrella fabric awnings with spear supports.  So classic!

Below you can see the chaise lounge area.  This provides a linear break between the other two seating arrangements.

Standing at the chaise, looking back at the seating area and then towards the club chair circle.

We wanted this space to be conversational and perfect to kick back, have a cocktail and chat.  Notice the iron martini tables for each chair...the perfect cocktail perch. 

Sidenote: Just through the cased opening on the left is the dining room.

No cocktail area would be complete without a vintage bar cart right?  I love the one that I found for this space! It is vintage brass and the glass shelves have a smokey mirror frame detail.

The bluish-green faux croc ottoman for kicking up your tootsies.

There is a small terrace off of the solarium, with a staircase that leads down to the cabana and pool, and it got a makeover as well.  Check out the 'before' above. 

The 'after' is seen below through the new doors.  Notice the paredon pattern tumbled natural stone floor and the new railing, of which I previously talked about here.

This space is comfortable, fresh and fun. 

I would like to give a big thank you to the O'Donnells for trusting my vision for your home.  You guys are truly dream clients! 

I would also like to thank Shelly Home Company for executing our vision seamlessly!  You guys rock!

Thanks for visiting to check out another peek into this fabulous restoration project by M. E. Beck Design, Inc.!

I hope that you are getting a great start to the week!  Is it just me or is the summer just flying by?!

*Due to client contracts, I am unable to share specific sources*

Personal Project Sneak Peek

 

Here is a sneak peek of a little personal project at my casa. I've redone our banquette nook that I've previously posted about. The tone on tone stripes had run their course and so I gave it a whole new look. I'll show you the whole thing when I have time to take more than just a phone pic :-)...oh and hang that piece of art that is leaning against the wall in the background :-/
I frequently get requests to see more of my own home, which is flattering and nerve racking! I think that most designers never feel like their own homes are "done" and so it's hard to just put it out there. I'll post some more pics of my own home soon...
I hope you're having a great week!
 

1920's Renovation | The Master Suite

So, if you've been following my little ol' blog, you'll likely remember this gorgeous home from the 1920's that I've been working on for quite a while.  I've talked about the dining room, the staircase, the bar, Samantha's bedroom and given some other various glimpses here and there.  The project is coming to a close and it is bittersweet, (sweet for the clients I'm sure ;-P) but bittersweet for me.  I always feel this way when a project is complete.  I take my work very personally, developing relationships that often turn into friendships, with my clients, that it is kind of sad when our work is done. Well, I've definitely grown very attached to this home and the wonderful people that own it! 
Because the restoration was so extensive, I really had to get to know this beauty up close and personal.  All of her little quirks...the good, the bad and yes, the ugly that needed to go.
The master suite is truly a 'suite'.  We knocked down walls and turned a hallway, extra bedroom, a small bathroom, another bedroom and a small sunroom into a to-die-for-suite!  The new space is now composed of the master bedroom, an incredible-decked-to-the-nines bathroom, a dreamy walk-in closet and a small study that leads out to a gorgeous new terrace!  Yeah, you could basically shut the bedroom doors and live in this part of the house!  It's pretty amazing :-)
Below you can see what the space looked like before.  Notice the great coved, full plaster ceilings and walls...and the original Maria Theresa chandelier.

So, here is what we did in this part... 

We ripped out the dated carpet, replaced the windows (notice the horizontal muntins. love.), added recessed cans (I know many designers have negative feelings toward can lighting, but I don't have a problem with it and I appreciate it's functionality), sent the chandy off to be professionaly restored and we updated the paint. 
Then came all of the beautiful furniture and soft goods!

Our master bedding concept sketch before ordering fabrics and sending off to the workroom.

Fun detail on the inside of the lampshade of the mercury glass bedside lamps (which are now hardwired to wall switches just an arms reach away from the pillow).

Below you can view the floorplan.  This should help you view our changes in this section of the home.

In this before image above, you can see the old hallway and landing.  The hallway entrance was sealed up and the new entrance to the master is on the wall to the left where the console is sitting.

The double doors are now where the black console was sitting in the before picture above.  The black and white photo gallery wall is where the old hallway was.

The niche that is now the new entrance to the suite was once the old master closet, as seen in the before image below.

In the 'before' image below you can see the other side of the space where most of our construction took place.

This is the 'After' from the same angle.

The opening that you see on the left is a good visual reference since that did not change.  We removed the large oak closet system and donated it to Habitat for Humanity.  The wall that it was on was moved forward into the room to create the entrance to the new bathroom and closet.

Peek in there and check out that gorgeous new bathroom. 
I can't wait to show you that!

More on the master suite to come...
I hope you're having a great week!
*Due to client contracts I am unable to share sources*