Design Adaptations

This happens all the time in home remodels/new construction; items get placed on back order, get lost or even worse - discontinued or arrive damaged.  In Lunada's most recent project, a bath tub of ours was delivered 3 weeks late and with so much damage to the exterior enamel that we had to reject it at delivery!  This was an especially sad realization because this tub is what sparked an entire bathroom remodel for our client.  The tub I am speaking of is the Kohler Highbridge, a beautiful fixture.  It has a finished apron recessed about 6" improving the accessibility of the tub by allowing the user to step closer to the basin or the space can be used for custom cabinetry, which is what Lunada decided to do. Lunada planned to highlight the tub's finished apron (let's get the most bang for the buck since the tub is pricier than a regular drop-in) by building an open shelf where the client could place decorative soaps, towels, what have you.

 

 This design was so thought out and happily embraced by our client, it was heartbreaking to think that we would have to reselect another tub that really wasn't comparable to the Highbridge. (You might be thinking to yourself, "Why not just order another one?" Well, lead time on a new Highbridge was 28 days, and we certainly couldn't allow our client to wait that long after the original 3 week delay.  This project should have been finishing up by now!!) Eventually the damaged tub was installed and the design was changed eliminating the open shelf and adding cabinets all the way across similar to this image:

Another option: tiling the front of the tub takes advantage of the 6" under the ledge increasing accessibility to the tub.

My point is, that even when there are setbacks within of home remodels and design, it isn't the end of the world. Good designers are all about adapting to situations that are out of their control and still producing beautiful design that their clients will love.  It's also about having good plumbing reps who will take care of you in times of minor crises like this. Check our website www.lunadaconsulting.com for progress pictures!

Lunada Kitchen Storage Solutions

Recently, I was reading an article on Better Homes and Garden's website that gave a lot of great ideas for storing your small kitchen appliances.  Not unlike our Laundry room blog (seen below), your kitchen can be easily customized to fit the way you live without a demolition crew.  Don't get me wrong, custom kitchens, especially Luanda's, are amazing and beautiful, but the practical issue is a full blown kitchen remodel is not always in the budget and sometimes new appliances aren't either. Looking to streamline your kitchen? Need more counter space?  Are you embarrassed by your old or dingy appliances when company comes over? There are quick and easy solutions to your problem, my friends.  Well, first of all, we are going to need space and there is no time like the present to clean out those cupboards and make room for those eyesores.  Tuck away those microwaves into the pantry after you add a sliding shelf.  If you are feeling spontaneous, they now have microwave drawers that come in standard sizes so it is easy to replace an existing drawer in your lower cabinets.  Better Homes and Garden also had some great ideas about creating a snack bar or baking station.  You can group  all of your dry ingredients with your stand mixer that is now on a shelf that can be easily tucked inside a cabinet.  Or, you can group your toaster and coffee maker in a cabinet where you can easily grab a quick bite to eat in the morning.  You can find images of these great solutions below and hopefully they will get your wheels spinning.  Almost all of the hardware you need to convert your cupboards or drawers can be found at your local hardware store, or if you are dreaming a little bigger, Lunada is always here to help.

For more ideas on ways to adapt your kitchen, schedule a consultation with Lunada!

Lunada Laundry Rooms

Imagine your laundry room clean, organized and well thought out.  You have a space for everything, and extra space for things you never thought of to keep in your laundry room.  Imagine your laundry room being so beautiful, you didn't have to shut the door when company comes over. This fantasy can come true, it can come true and under budget!!  Here are some great tips to improve your scary laundry room and turn it into a showstopper.

1. Use Pre-fab cabinets.

--You can pick these up at superstores like Home Depot and Lowes, they are inexpensive and although you are limited by size and finish, they can still be very attractive.  No space for lower cabinets?  Add uppers, remember the saying "Out of sight, out of mind".

2. Explore & Take Advantage of Cabinet Organization Solutions!

--When you are considering cabinets, mentally go through your laundry routine.  Think about everything you use in order, everything you touch, and everything that gets in your way.  Now imagine that annoying laundry basket in a pull out drawer, imagine your sink right next to the washer to avoid dripping across the room, imagine a built in pole to hang dry your items out of the way, a ironing board that you don't have to fight, a pull out surface for folding, a window so you don't feel like you work in a closet, a.k.a. Laundry Heaven! These are all things that can be added so easily!

3. Add a Countertop

--No room for cabinets?  Install a countertop above your washer and dryer, this will give you great surface space to fold clothes and prevent your socks from falling in between the machines

4.  Think Built-In

--Built ins always look so custom, but this look can be achieved with pre-fab.  If you are in the market for new laundry appliances, look for cabinet depth appliances, these will fit next to standard cabinets, OR you could pull the cabinets out and just get a deeper countertop to accommodate regular sized appliances. Taking this into consideration, you can get cabinet doors that can be closed over the washer/dryer.  I'll say it again, "Out of sight, out of mind"!

5. Functional Space Planning

--Organize your laundry into 2 categories: wet and dry. Wet locations should have the washer, clothesline and sink, dry locations should have the dryer, folding station, and ironing station.  This will keep you efficient and organized.

6. Don't forget about aesthetic.

--Laundry rooms don't have to be completely utilitarian.  White cabinets seem to be the default when it comes to laundry rooms, why not spice it up with a darker finish or custom treatment?  Farm sinks are great alternatives to the regular utility sinks, they are very large and deep, perfect for soaking and come in a variety of finishes.  Accessorize the space: hang art, use baskets for those items you just can't find a place for, have pretty containers for things like laundry soap, clothes pins, dryer sheets, and hangers, add a rug.  Don't forget to paint the space!! Nothing is more boring than white walls.  Add a backsplash if you have a countertop; introduce color and texture through tile, it will also save your walls from water damage!

Lunada believes in the power of beautiful laundry rooms. If you are interesting in re-vamping your laundry room, visit our website to schedule a consultation: www.lunadaconsulting.com

South Bay Interior Design meets the Mid-West.

One of the things that I think is truly unique to Lunada is our enthusiastic approach to BASEMENTS!  Lunada's founder is actually from the mid-west and she has always said how weird it was that no one out here has basements.  Basements are totally functional by offering additional storage easily accessed as opposed to crawling up into the attic. Basements also allows you to actually store your cars in your garage rather than all your junk!

One of the greatest benefits to moving all of your storage downstairs is the simple fact that once you get rid of your attic, you can now have higher ceilings! One of the most dramatic changes anyone can make in their home is the addition of natural light.  By removing that huge roadblock, you can now add skylights, vaulted ceilings, suspended lighting and ceiling fans that don't make you feel like your head is about to be chopped off it is so low.

Basements are great locations for wine cellars, which are always at the top of homeowner's lists when doing a remodels, which benefit from the cooler and more consistent temperatures.  They are also great locations for home offices -- you can have all the space you need and at the end of the day, closing that door allows you to 100% clock out.  Laundry rooms are also great down there to save on space, noise and mess.  Have a big family or shop at Costco?   Basements are great locations to store your 48 count toilet paper, 100 bottles of Coca-Cola, and bulk root vegetables.

Now, you may be thinking, "Can a basement be added to an existing house?  Or do I have to scrape my lot and start from scratch?"  The answer is both and luckily, Lunada has done both!  Now this storage solution can't be applied to just any home.  Of course you lucky beachcombers with the sand 20 ft. from your door can't due to the high water table and sandy soil, but those of you living in Palos Verdes, Rolling, Hills, San Pedro area.....definitely a realistic possibility.  Throw out your misconceptions of basements and realize that they can be totally functional for California living, they can be beautiful, and they can dramatically change your home.


Think all basements are dark and scary?  Think again.

Want to know if you can add a basement to your home?  Schedule a consultation with Lunada by visiting www.lunadaconsulting.com or calling 310.544.1895.