Ultimate Bachelor Pad

I've been working with Donna Russell of Provisions Interiors (here) on a great project lately- a bachelor pad in a converted warehouse. I've shared the progress through the bedroom (here), office/guestroom (here), and a faux paint treatment to hide an unfortunate sheetrocked beam (here). Well, here's the almost final product:

Before, an empty living room:

I'll start by apologizing for the photos: it was overcast and drizzling, and I had to return the better camera I was using. But I was so excited about the project, I could wait and snapped a few pics.

Entering the front door of the condo, the open kitchen is to the left underneath an original beam from 1895. We added the dramatic dark grey paint, pendant lights, and the fabulous tile that runs up the entire cabinet wall. The granite and cabinets were already in place.

There's a small dining area adjacent to the kitchen, and we continued the grey onto that wall to unify the space. The grey also acts a great complement to the exposed brick. Taupe linen grommet draperies soften the windows and blend into the brick, allowing it to take center stage. A new oversized dropped drum shade lights the dining area. The fabulous twig mirror provides interest, but again defers to the great textures of the brick and beams.

The custom floating buffet provides storage and serving area while maintaing a slim profile. The faux bois paint treatment ties it to the existing beams.

A view of the dining area from the staircase.

The sleek sofa is a Candice Olsen design covered in a durable outdoor fabric that resembles a man's herringbone suiting fabric. The zebra throw adds a graphic accent.

A leather chair and ottoman provide a comfortable reading spot. We added the fake beam and custom entertainment center under the wall mounted tv to provide storage for the electronics and a display area. The paint treatment makes it blend with the original column seen in the left of the photo.

The leaning mirror is a custom piece with a waxed natural finish.

The unit includes a private terrace through glass doors.

The metal console is a custom piece. The ikat pillows are made from Robert Allen outdoor fabrics.

Underneath the staircase was a large walk-in closet that we turned into a wine cellar.

Wall hung racks provide storage for wine. The homeowner's monkey makes a great butler.

I painted a custom art piece for the client.

Underneath the counter is a built in wine fridge. Unfortunately, because the room is so small, I couldn't get far enough away to take a pic of it.

Well, this is what I've been working on for the last month or so. Hope you enjoyed the tour.

Crunch Time

Sorry for the lack of posts, but I'm working on a deadline trying to pull together the bachelor pad (here) before his weekend guests arrive--no matter how much planning, prep work is done, etc., there always seems to be so much to do at the last minute, especially if contractors are involved. Anyway, by Sat., I should have some great new pics of the bachelor pad living area.

Bachelor Bedroom

I've been working with a colleague on a bachelor pad in a converted warehouse. One of the finished rooms is the master bedroom. We loved the existing mushroom walls, and decided to use the homeowner's collection of photos from an African safari as a guide for adding other colors and accents. We reframed the photos in plain black frames with crisp white mats and hung them in column.

For interest, texture, and drama, we installed a wall of louvered doors painted with a hammered copper finish. The finish gave warmth to the room, and pulled in warm tones used in other areas of the condo, including the terracota stain on the concrete in the hall floor and downstairs.

We used the existing bed and nightstand, adding a round table on the otherside (the room is smallish and has strange angles, so a round table just fit better, as well as adding interest. Creamy white sheets and new lumbar pillows in a paisley print complement the existing bedding and new color additions.

We included a small chair for putting on socks and shoes. We did ultimately decide this chair was just a little femine and changed it out for another one, but no new pic yet.

This job is mainly a cosmetic one, meaning no major renovations. So, in the master bath, we decided to use a striped wall treatment to disguise the visually too-short granite slabs of the shower--now they become part of the look. We took down bulky shelves and replaced them with the chrome luggage rack. New, long stainless pulls and a coat of expresso paint transform the vanity.

Finally, nothing says luxury like a well-stocked and organized linen closet. I hope my mother, who never thought I would ever manage to pick a towel up off the floor is impressed.

Office Space: A bachelor's office/guest room

If you have to work at home, why not make it a pleasant experience? The best location for the desk in the small, oddly shaped room (it may not be obvious from the photos, but the room is not rectangular--it's almost pie shaped with no true right angles) was angled in the far corner, where the wired management could be hidden by the daybed, and the extra deep window ledge and the built in ledge that runs the side wall (it hides ductwork) serve as extra work surfaces. Filing cabinet and supplies are stored nearby in the room's generous closet, which was already fitted with shelves.

I've spent the past weekend working on a cool project: the bachelor pad of a medical executive. The condo is in a converted warehouse, and the downstairs living area has some incredible features: stained concrete floors, huge wooden beams, and exposed brick walls. Upstairs--not so exciting. The two bedrooms are sheetrocked boxes with carpeted floors and the weird angles that result from warehouse conversions. One room functions as an office and occasional (very occasional) guest room.

The room is mainly used at night, so to give it drama and ease some of the award angles, including a ledge that hides duct work, we painted it in a sexy, dark browish gray, Sherwin William's Manor house. A zebra stenciled cowhide rug hides the boring carpet and ties to the safari photos shot by the homeowner and displayed on a built in ledge. We leaned the photos for a more relaxed, casual, and unexpected feel. A Room and Board daybed provides guest accommodations.

Continuing the same paint into the tiny attached bath creates a seamless flow between rooms. I chose to use a shower curtain in a similiar tone to the paint to prevent it from overwhelming the small space. Another of the homeowner's photos provides interest. I mean, who doesn't love waking up to zebra butts?