If it's done well, designing for TV viewing can be seamless and beautiful.  Of the many details to work out, and we find cable management to be the most challenging.  In this design, all of the cables run behind the wood cabinet in a series of chases.  What if you change components?  No problem...each component has a lead wire so you can can pull cables in either direction to switch out equipment.  We used a dark finish on the lower cabinet so that the power outlets fade into shadow.  We think the success of this design is a partnership between designer and cabinetmaker.  Our pals at Stroba ( www.stroba.com )  helped us pull this one off. 

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With the fall comes family gatherings and savory feasts... October's Room of the Month features a Dining Room that's sure to make you want to linger around the table for hours.  Stylish, warm, comfortable, and available for purchase at our Shop page.  

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Sometimes the simplest solution comes from balancing scale and proportion.  In this suburban Detroit home, it was hard not to be daunted by the soaring fireplace wall.  While the grandness of the space is wonderful, the fireplace was lost in a sea of drywall and there was no visual focus. Without a reference to human scale, this wall was adrift!  We designed a fireplace surround and mantel, which introduced a strong horizontal line and...voila! ..the scale of the wall is broken down and your eye has a comfortable place to rest.  But why stop there?  With the remaining wall above the fireplace, we punched the center back to create a niche for artwork and added wall sconces flanking the newly created niche.  So, by adding several very simple horizontal and vertical lines, the proportions and scale are adjusted.  Add the interest of new materials, textures, and lighting and this wall now anchors the room. 

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Alexandria_Gazette_Packet_Article.pdf Download this file

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Sometimes the best furniture solution is a custom design.  For example, this china cabinet needed to be a specific width and height, solve both storage and display needs, and live happily with several other very different pieces of furniture.  A perfect opportunity for a custom design!   In the slideshow you can see the entire design and fabrication process, from conceptual sketch to the finished product. 

This piece was created in collaboration with Stroba, Inc.  These guys are truly modern day artisans!

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September's Room of the Month is all about creating a place at home for all your fall projects.  Buckle down at either of two complimentary Arts & Crafts style desks or curl up and read a book in our comfortable lounge chair and ottoman.  This room is as functional as it is fun.  With one desk providing ample storage for a computer, printer, and files, and the other providing an open worksurface, you can tackle any sort of project, whether it be for work, school, or play.  Click here to purchase any of the items shown.

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We asked Jon Haberman www.jonhaberman.com to tell us about the free edge cabinetry that was recently installed at one of our projects...

In the first design discussion for the cabinetry in the DC apartment that was recently featured in the SPI Blog, Sarah Pak suggested that we consider using a free edge in the wood for the countertops.  I jumped at the idea.  A free edge results when a board is cut from the log in such a way that the outside edge of the tree is left intact.  Boards are not usually cut in this way and can be difficult to find.  I found them for this job at Hearne Hardwoods in Lancaster, PA.

Furniture and cabinetry that utilize a free edge have become increasingly popular.  It can be an acquired taste.  Free edge boards typically have variations in color and figure and knots or blemishes that production furniture makers would reject.  I have become more and more interested in the beauty revealed in these imperfections.  It is great to find clients and collaborators who share this interest.

The first photo is one of the boards that we used for the DC cabinets as it looked when first brought to the shop.  At this stage it has been sawn at the mill into a board of a certain thickness.  Ours were just under two inches thick.  These boards are called "in the rough." Once we have decided which boards will be used where, they are "cross cut" (cut perpendicular to the length of the board). Next they are "dressed" to their final thickness.  In pre-industrial times this was done with hand planes.  We use machines.  Every piece then moves through multiple sanding steps, using finer and finer grit paper.  After a final sanding, the finish is applied, in the case an acrylic lacquer.  This a rewarding part of the process.  The finish brings out the color in the wood and reveals the particulars in the grain.

To start with rough boards and bring them to a state of polish is very satisfying.  There is always something new to be found in the different woods that come in and go out of our shop.

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One of our favorite, most versatile pieces of furniture is the accent table.  With a small investment, you can add interest and functionality to a space.  Also, we like to pair furniture pieces made of different materials (i.e. stone/wood/metal) to add depth to a room, and accent tables are an easy way to introduce contrasting materials or pops of color.  With so many choices on the market, you are sure to find accents that fit your budget and design aesthetic.  Here are some of our favorites:

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To purchase any of the tables shown here, please visit our Shop page.

Stay tuned for future products! 

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One frequently encountered design dilemma (found especially in older homes throughout the area) is the small, cramped bathroom.  While not every budget or situation can allow for expanding the footprint, there are several things that can be done to pack a lot of punch in a small space. Here are four ideas from a recent bathrooom renovation:

1. You can really spread out by extending the vanity top over the toilet.
2. By incorporating a stripe into the floor pattern, you can balance out the proportions of the space by emphasizing the width or depth of a room.
3. By raising the ceiling and adding a clerestory window, you get both height and light.
4. Eliminating the tub and adding a shower gives you more elbow room for bathing.  The floor tile runs up the wall to the bench and ledge, which makes the shower feel even larger.    

And to think it all started here...

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Sometimes when you have a combination of free thinking clients and talented craftsmen, you can use fun materials and methods to solve straightforward design problems.  Take for instance this newly completed project in Washington, DC.  We needed lots of storage space but wanted something other than traditional bookcases and storage cabinets.  We worked with Washington cabinetmaker Jon Haberman www.jonhaberman.com  to create these beautiful cherry cabinets. As you can see, we were able to make use of the "free edge" of the cherry board, adding interest and an organic beauty to this cabinet.  Instead of doors on the cabinets below, we used sliding panels with raffia in the center panels.

And yes, this is definately a cinderella story for the cherry boards when you consider how they arrived at the workshop, bark and all.

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We asked Laura Campbell, AIA, LEED AP Home, from Peabody Architects, to write a guest post on the different kinds of insulation used in our home.  Here are her words…

If you want a house that is comfortable, and inexpensive to heat and cool, then you need good thermal resistance and air sealing.  In layman’s terms, that’s insulation and caulk.  Not very sexy, but dollar for dollar, those are the most effective things you can do to make your home more energy efficient.

In this house, where budget played as much of a role as energy efficiency, we used three different kinds of insulation: expanding spray foams, fiberglass batts, and rigid boards. 

The gold plated version of this house would have used spray foam everywhere.  Open celled spray foams (like Icynene or Demilec) are sprayed in as liquid, and then expand into foam.  They serve to insulate AND air seal, which is why we like them.  They are also the most expensive kind of insulation.  In this house, where we were keeping an eye on energy efficiency and budget, we used them only in the roof, at the connections between floors, and at hard-to-reach places.

Why is the roof so important?  In the winter all the heated air in a house wants to rise and leak out through the top of your house.  No matter how carefully you caulk, it is hard to stop this pressure drive.  The spray foam really pays for itself at a roof.  We also used it at the rim boards between floors, at windows, and at electrical outlets. 

We used standard fiberglass batts at the walls, with caulk to Energy Star standards.  Fiberglass batts provide good thermal resistance provided they are installed correctly (fully filling each cavity).  The caulk provides the air sealing.

At the basement, we used rigid board insulation at the walls.  While costing a bit more than fiberglass batts, it provides good moisture resistance, and adds a few inches of extra space.  We also used it under the concrete slab, which will make this basement toasty and warm in the winter!

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August's Room of the Month offers a cool respite from this summer's searing temperatures.  Relax and restore with the soothing tones of this custom bedroom design, which features a calming array of natural hues paired with pops of white.  The lightly scaled casegoods work especially well in small spaces and, when paired with the upholstered headboard and lounge chair, make even the smallest bedroom feel grand. 

The paints we used to create this look are C2: 457 Bramble, and Benjamin Moore: I-74 China White.  

You can purchase any of the bedroom pieces here.  And remember, a portion of the sales goes to our scholarship fund.   

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The picture above shows the housing for the trim kit discussed in my last post.  A recessed light fixture consists of two parts, the housing, and the trim kit.  The housing is the unsung hero of the light fixture.  It does much of the work, but gets very little glory, and never gets the "oohs & ahhs" that the trim kit gets!  It's always hidden above the drywall, holds the trim kit in the exact location that you went to painstaking effort to locate, and most importantly, brings power to the fixture.  The housing kit is ingeniously designed to fit between floor joists, and some are designed for insulated ceilings.  The trim kit is small, the housing is much larger and needs to fit up there with all the plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and structure.  That makes your electrician an unsung hero too!  Like the trim kit, this housing is made by Contrast Lighting.  http://www.contrastlighting.com/en/pdf/NW3000LT.pdf

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The next time your electrician says that there's either a floor joist, plumbing, or mechanical in the exact location that you want to install a light fixture, here's why.  The picture above is new construction, but it shows the inner workings of all our modern conveniences that lurk above your pristine white ceiling.  If you're doing a renovation,  it's always a good idea to have a back-up plan if you're planning to add light fixtures.  And, the good news is that you can pretty much always come up with another solution.  For instance, if you wanted a recessed fixture centered on artwork over a fireplace, but find a floor joist in the exact spot that you want the light fixture, you can always use two fixtures, equally spaced off the centerline, angled toward the center.  R & M Electric RnMElectc@aol.com likes this low voltage adjustable fixture from Contrast http://www.contrastlighting.com/en/prodlowT3450D.htm  for either application.  So do we.  It has many finish options, uses a 50W/MR-16 bulb, and is easy on your budget.

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In the week since we posted our room-of-the-month blog, we've received overwhelmingly positive feedback and some great ideas, too.  For instance, some of you are giving us suggestions for rooms to design...brilliant!  Sitting room, home office/studio, outdoor space....why not?  Here's our offer...send us your suggestions and we'll design the most popular request. 

We are enjoying the fact that this blog is work in progress.  We've presented the concept and you all are helping to make it better!  Our goal is to provide design services and products that are accessible to everyone, which means designing what you need, too.  So, please keep those comments coming.  And, don't forget to subscribe to our blog!

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Want good design but don't know if you can afford it?  At SPI Design, we are always on the look out for reasonably priced and versatile products.  Every month we will feature a budget-conscious room design showcasing items available only to designers, which can be purchased through our office.  By utilizing a wide array of manufacturers and product, we will have a unique theme and style every month.  Please be sure to subscribe to our blog or check back to see if this month's design suits your personality and space.  This room could be yours!

Click here to Learn More.

This month's featured room is fun, fresh, and evokes the early morning glow of a sunrise.  The warm tones and comfortable pieces create a casual atmosphere that is sure to make anyone feel at home.  Best of all, the design work is done for you, and you can get all nine items for $8,500.  See something you like?  Contact us at info@spidesign.net.

1.  Handtufted, 100% Wool rug. 6'-7" x 9'-2".
2.  Sofa with loose-back cushions, track arms, and block legs. Fabric shown is cotton/rayon blend.   84"W x 36"D x 34"H. 
3.  Drink table. Shown in Tricon Black finish with natural rattan top.  16"W x 16"L x 20"H.
4.  Mirror.  Metal Frame with Antique glass.  Leather back panel.  28"W x1-1/4"D x 37"H.
5.  Floor lamp. Hand-turned wood finished in chocolate brown with light brown accents.  Includes faux ostrich embossed vinyl shade.  13"D x 68"H.
6.  Lounge chair with flaired back and block legs. Fabric shown is heavy duy polypropelene blend. 31"W x 34"D x 33"H. 
7.  Side table.  Plantation hardwood base with veneer marquetry top.  26" Dia. x 24-3/4"H.
8.  Coffee table.  Hardwood frame carved to resemble bamboo.  Inset cane matting on top.  44"L x 26-3/4"W x 22-1/4"H.
9.  Table lamp.  Ceramic base with linen drum shade.  Shown in Lobster finish with Dark Walnut turned stand.  15"W x 22-1/2"H.

Paint colors by Benjamin Moore.  Wall Color: 207 Vellum, Trim Color: OC-130 Cloud White, Accent Color: 1622 Mineral Alloy.

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Would you believe that a fire can change the way you view your business?  And, how you do business?  It happened to me!  When my house burned last year, my family lost everything except the contents of a fireproof safe and an Emile Henry gratin dish.  No kidding.

So, all of the sudden, I was replacing things …hundreds of things!   And I was also building a house.  Overnight, I became my own client, and it gave me a fresh perspective…how the heck do people do this without a designer?  At the same time, I knew the cost of design services and custom products.  I wanted to find a way to provide interior design services and make products affordable and accessible to anyone .  For those of you who are nodding your heads – we’re trying to reach you!

Starting this month, in addition to our traditional design services, we will be offering affordable custom design solutions on our blog every month.  Our goal is to offer innovative, fun, and affordable designs, available to anyone visiting our website.   The design work has been done, the products are unique, and the price is right.   Check us out, and let us know what you think.

Another great thing about our blog designs is that a portion of the proceeds will go to our visual arts scholarship fund, which is awarded each year to a graduating high school senior.  So, you get a great design while helping a student with college tuition.

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