Chantaeux's Profile

Tile is slowly going out of style, backsplashes made from a variety of different materials are being used more and more. Materials such as glass, stainless steel and pressed aluminium often mean far less joins for a more seamless look. Few joins also mean less grime to build up, and no grout to keep white.

Glass is great for a modern sleek look. The glass is painted in virtully any cover, and it's this side that is attached to the wall.

Stainless steel pairs great with an industrial or ahigh-end commercial look. Pressed aluminium makes a great contrast to a modern kitchen, or a new addition a traditional kitchen

I'm really liking the first pic. Nice mix of textures and the colors work really well.

Agree on the sink xand83. My small kitchen also has a single sink. Double sinks just waste precious bench space in small kitchens, especially when you can utilize dishwashers!

@cyberval

The boards your friend was presented by her designer was the first step for the designer to begin creating the final room. Putting together 3 different ideas in a visual medium is a lot faster than putting together a total cost. It is used to try to limit the use of billable hours for the designer and the client. By broadly determining the clients likes and dislikes, the designer can then start to find the objects/ finishes/remodels that will be required for the final design. I believe a really solid brief will help the designer give a quote that realistically equates to budget.

In regards to how a designer/decorator is paid, I agree that the terms of how the designer/decorator charges is made transparent with their client. That way, both parties can be in agreement with how time is spent. Flexibility by the client and the designer/decorator should ideally go both ways.

I recently blogged about my problem with owning too many design magazines. I am actually really happy that with the internet, various blogs and internet magazines, it's much easier for me to look for inspiration digitally. I think now, I probably have way more access to up to date trends that buying 7-10 magazines each month. Storage is also becoming a problem, so at least digitally, I can keep more images, and for longer.

www.chantaeuxcarter.com

I'll have to download it, as I believe it's not available in my country.

I agree with most comments about big budgets makes the process a little boring. It will be interesting to see how these designers interact with their clients.

When I was doing my design studies, I was always under the impression that our role was not to fullfill our "art", but to try and make the spaces a home for the client, using our skills to inject the clients personality and dreams into the mix. I am intrigued to see how this pans out when using big personality designers with huuuuuuuuuuuuge budgets.

www.chantaeuxcarter.blogspot.com

Beautiful job! Love the colour of the walls.

www.chantaeuxcarter.blogspot.com

I've lived in my street for 5 years now. I don't know everyone by name, but enough to have a little chat if we see each other outside. Everyone looks out for everyone though. So much so, that most of the time I do not even lock my front door.

My immediate neighbours on either side I know by name and have been to their parties.

My bathroom renovation was done for AUD $10,000. A total gut job, the space is 2.3m by 2.4m.

I kept the fixtures in their original position and bought a new soaker bath, glass screen, taps etc, full back to wall toilet made from Vitreous china and a wallhung vanity unit with a acrylic top, one shallow basin. Two walls were tiled to 2100mm (joinery height) with skirting tiles on the remaining walls. Mosaic tiles were used on the bath surround. We installed 2 new windows and repositioned the door into the centre of the wall, used a sliding door.

Working in the industry, I was able to purchase high quality brands at a discount, the fixtures and fittings came to $5000, and using contractors for installation, waterproofing, tiling and plumbing cost $5000. They did it in 2 days. Overall, a great price considering the quality of the finish.

Instead of snarking of the use of Ikea, why not look at how the use of the furniture is appropiate to it's application. And isn't that what good design is all about? I was always under the impression that that's what we love about our favourite Mid-Century designers.

Ikea is inexpensive, but well designed furniture. All their pieces work not only well in their original use, the pieces are also highly adaptable to new uses. It makes good design accessable to everyone. The fact that so many people use it, is testament that Ikea is very successful in it's goals.

The owner wanted to create a well designed space suitable to her needs, that also suited her modest budget. I think she has done very well.