Time for an update! Back in November of 2008 Ashley started this olde farmhouse project. The overall concept was to use all the existing material from the original house which dates back to the 1800’s. There are only two new additions to the house; the hardwood floors in the master bedroom and the two exterior dutch doors that were built by the contractor.

The front door view above shows a large stone step which was part of the original foundation of the house. We still are missing shutters, a swing, a few good rocking chairs, and the screens for the back porch. I can totally see myself moving in tomorrow!

Exterior hardware is also not shown yet.

The interior kitchen area is still under construction, we are missing the doors to the cabinets. The overall aesthetic feel of the farmhouse style is best shown through the Rohl faucet, Rohls cast iron farmhouse sink, Venetian Calcutta marble from Rockin’teriors, and the Walker Zanger hand-glazed tiles.

 The master bath, will take on an old rustic feel with the original fireplace, mirror, and walls.

Above are some of the details of this olde farmhouse; the latch on the dutch doors, horizontal wood panels in the master bedroom, and the ceiling detail in the living room. This reclaimed farmhouse has come a long way and has a little bit longer to go. But look for more the 1st week of September after our furniture install, completion of cabinets and final touches are complete. To see previous updates from the project click on the dates, July 9th 2009 and August 20, 2009.

We are thrilled to announce the completion of phase one to renovate the N.C. State University Club in collaboration with Winstead Wilkinson Architects!

To give some background to the project, the University Club is a members-only amenity club founded in 1965 for N.C. State contributors including faculty, staff, and alumni. In 2004, their Long Range Planning Committee envisioned additions to the existing club space and a much needed face lift. Winstead Wilkinson Architects was hired for the project and in turn asked our own Molly Simmons to come on-board. Since 2007, we have worked closely to implement a sustainable renovation that would better serve both the membership and public while adhering to budget constraints.

We worked closely with the House Committe and talked with many members during the planning stages of this process.  Our role included selection of interior materials and finishes such as fabrics, carpet, lighitng, paint color and countertop and tile finishes. We also produced computer-aided (CAD) drawings for the lighting plan and the design of window treatments.  The architects managed strategic and master planning, extensive building code research, and physical design of the renovation, additions, and site plan.

I think the before and after images speak for themselves – the space has truly been transformed!  Above, the lobby had a large planter box and dark furniture originally.  Now, it is bright and airy, with red upholstery, elegant patterns, a new reception desk, and fresh carpet and lighting.

The ballroom is updated with simple window treatments, a neutral color scheme, coffered ceiling, and new chandeliers.   What a great space for meetings, banquets, and receptions!

The folding screen that once separated the Ballroom from the Dining Room is now a series of french doors that can be opened for large events.  More of the dining room is shown below.

On both sides of the collaboration, there is a personal connection with the University Club. Molly Simmons, Carl Winstead, and Erich Wilkinson are all members of the club which allowed the team to be personally invest in the project’s success. The space serves as a center for the Wolfpack family to engage in hospitality, recreation, and social functions. ” I personally would like to see the University Club become a place that its members are proud to belong to and support the events that make a successful family club,” said Molly. “it is great to be a part of the wonderful changes.”

Each niche recieved the same pendant fixture throughout the building for consistency both inside and out.  In the meeting rooms, they also recieved upholstered benches like the one shown above.  The dining room is shown to the right.

The bathrooms got a major facelift.  The family bath and pool bath that lead to the recreational areas show off bold red. 

To see previous posts on this project, additional before & after photos were featured on May 14th 2010, groundbreaking photos on May 21st, 2009,and project boards & concepts on Feburary 26, 2009.

I came into this project when the clients were about halfway through the construction process on their new home by Morning Star Homes.  If you’ve built a home or experienced remodeling, you know how many decisions must be made and how overwhelming they can sometimes be.  They wanted our help with the finishing touches – paint colors, tile selection, finishes, window treatments, space planning, and furniture.  The style of the house is Arts & Crafts, but we wanted to be sure the home still felt perfect for them, so there are a few places where we varied the look. 

Beautiful matte glass tiles in earth tones create a stunning backsplash.  They really pulls out the color tones in the Ubba Tuba granite countertops.  The thin subway style tiles are transitional and blend nicely with the shaker cabinets.  (Kitchen built by 1st Choice Cabinets.)

We inserted a beaded copper tile to bring in the warm tones found in the cabinets and floors. 

While selecting tile for the fireplace surround, I was drawn to a new line by Architerra at Best Tile.  The handpainted tiles have a natural feel, with organic details that blend wonderfully with the Arts & Crafts style.  We were able to select the perfect tones to blend with the paint color – Sherwin Williams’ Grassland.

Here’s the final result.  Detailed leaf motifs blend into simple scalloped shaped tiles along the top.

And here’s a close up.

Here’s another unique detail we incorporated – geometric inlaid wood borders for all the rooms on the first floor. 

I hope you enjoy seeing this project.  I’ve really enjoyed working with the architecture of their home and helping the details to mesh beautifully!

Lauren

Judy’s recommendations on defining your own style! Enjoy.

I am thrilled to bring to you an interview with Chuck from RTown Living. Chuck is on the pulse of everything from living, playing, eating, and working in Downtown Raleigh. Thanks Chuck for your insight and knowledge; I am proud to call Raleigh home. Now…let me turn it over to Chuck.

DLL: Describe the Raleigh Lifestyle.

RTown Living: The Raleigh Lifestyle, to me, is an interesting mix of cultures. With so many different people moving here every day from other areas it’s created an awesome mixture of a little bit of this and a little bit of that. The biggest contradiction is the struggle between the “old South” and the “big city North” which leads to some pretty great aspects of small town America as well as the luxuries of larger metropolitan areas. The Raleigh lifestyle caters to everybody. It’s calm, it’s polite, it’s Southern! But it’s exciting, changing every day, and a wealth of opportunity. We have the beach a few hours East and the mountains a few hours West. We have a climate that gives us the best of both worlds. Hot summers at the beach, warm falls perfect for college football tailgating, a snow flurry here and there in the winter….and perfect springs. The lifestyle of downtown is amazing and has something for everybody.

Here is the ice skating rink down at City Plaza.

DLL: What sort of transformations have you seen Raleigh go through in the past 15 years?

RTown Living:How about 15 months….or weeks. Raleigh is changing almost every day. And it has to. I’ve heard estimates of over 100 families moving here every day and reports that our population is expected to double in the next 15 years making us one of the fastest growing cities in America. With all that, change has to come. We’ve seen the city government take a proactive role in creating a safer and more desirable downtown area complete with shopping, culture, history, parks, museums and much, much more. We’ve seen a shift to a more eco-friendly city with the addition of the RLine, green restaurants like Spize Cafe, the Raleigh Rickshaws and soon to come bicycle kiosks.

There is now free Wi-Fi downtown and a City Plaza complete with an ice skating rink in the winter. We’ve seen an exciting change in that recent grads from our top universities in the area are now calling Raleigh and the triangle home instead of moving to bigger cities. Our work force is stronger and now smarter. A smarter workforce leads to a more educated community and therefore a more progressive and educated consumer. And possibly the biggest or at least the tallest transformation is that downtown Raleigh now has an abundance of condo and high rise living. I can’t think of a better view than the one from the roof top pool and BBQ area of the RBC Plaza. It’s amazing.

DLL: Why is downtown Raleigh the place to live instead of a community like Cary or Apex or for that matter another big city like Charlotte, Philadelphia or Baltimore?

RTown Living:Well, it may not be the place to live for everybody but I find it very desirable and exciting. And I moved here from Baltimore! I guess others are thinking the same thing as recently we are seeing a bit of a shift in where people want to live. Many young people seem to be waiting longer to “settle down” and want to be near the excitement that a downtown area brings. Many “older” people, empty nesters or retirees are downsizing to smaller, more convenient homes and neighborhoods like downtown Raleigh as well. The 90’s and 2000’s were all about MORE, MORE, MORE, and recently we’re seeing those same people give that up for smaller, urban communities. As our property values and appreciation rates in Raleigh stay conservative and consistent, we will continue to see people relocating from the larger, overgrown, possibly less stable cities like Charlotte, Philadelphia and Baltimore. I think there will always be a market for areas like Cary and Apex. People can move there from other areas and get so much more for their money, however, the shift we are seeing not only in Raleigh but on a national level, is a shift back to urban areas. As Raleigh’s ITB and downtown area continue to develop, there will be more and more of the consumer who wants to be near the action moving in. 

DLL: For new home owners looking to find a place of their own, what are three factors you suggest they keep in mind when looking, if they want to consider the downtown area as their new backyard?

RTown Living:I can only pick 3? Wow. There is A LOT that goes into home-ownership and I always recommend taking it slow and working with somebody that you trust…especially if it’s your first time. I guess that’s #1.  I’ve come across many people, my younger self included, that after reading a book or two felt they knew everything about buying real estate and we didn’t. So take it slow and talk with somebody in the business that’s educated and professional and above all…you like and trust. Buying a home is often the biggest financial asset a person takes on and you need to work with somebody that is looking out for your best interests. 

Number 2…focus on your lifestyle. You want to live near certain things that fit into your lifestyle. Whether it be nightlife, restaurants, walking trails, shopping, dog parks, and a million more. Also, and maybe more importantly, the spending habits of your lifestyle is something people don’t pay enough attention to. If you absolutely do not cook and you eat out 21 times a week…you don’t want to start looking at homes a little out of your comfort level price range and say “umm…if I stop eating out and learn to cook then I can afford this house.” NO! You won’t. Don’t do it you’ll only be miserable and you find yourself in financial trouble soon.

And number 3…know why you are buying the home and what your plans for the future are. That seems a little weird and maybe simple but it’s so true. People buy homes for many different reasons ranging from buying your dream home, to finding your starter home to buying an investment. Even first timers need to think about this. That will help you narrow down what neighborhood you will want to be in and there are many different areas of downtown all with different “feels” and appreciation potential. Each neighborhood is it’s own community with different amenities, different appreciation rates and different styles of homes.

DLL: Your thoughts and 2010 projections on the real estate market in Raleigh.

RTown Living:My thoughts and projections are positive for our market. I can’t help but be excited about the direction we are headed. The first time home-buyer tax credit was huge and helped a lot of people get into their first home. We’ll see a little bit of a slow down now from the mad dash to get under contract on a home before April 30 but it will pick up again. We are so lucky to live in an area like Raleigh and The Triangle and to have not been so badly affected by the housing market downturn as many areas in the country. With our conservative average appreciation here we’ve avoided, for the most part, the huge crash. We’ve seen days on market increase but sales prices remain fairly consistent through much of the recession. Of course, if you bought a home in the last two or three years you may be in a different situation as you most likely bought at the top of the market. But moving forward, our showings are up, our year over year sales are up and we’re leading the way out of the recession. It’s a great time to be in Raleigh and it’s a great time to buy a home.

images. 1. Unkown, 2. Raleigh Connoisseur, 3.-5. Raleigh Convention Center, 6. Forbes

At this morning’s staff meeting, Laurie was presented the Living the Mission award for her commitment to our clients and her support to our team.  Her extra effort to find new sources for our out of town projects and to expedite our processes is really appreciated. 

So far our team has recognized Lauren, Hilaire, Ashley, & Brittany. You may read more about the award here.

One of the exciting projects we’ve been working on this year is the chancellor’s residence at North Carolina State Univerity, my alma mater.  Judy and I can’t wait to see the end result, and we’re excited to share updates along the way!  Working with Weinstein-Friedlein Architects, Marvin Malecha who is the Dean of NC State’s College of Design, Rufty Homes, and an entire team of people at NC State has been a unique and enjoyable process.  Construction on ‘The Point’ began a few months ago on Centennial Campus.  The house is tucked in the woods, with Lake Raleigh in its back yard. 

 This water color rendering shows the view as you approach the residence from the main drive.  The architectural style is inspired the work of Hugh Newell Jacobsen who drew from the vernacular architecture of the American homestead.  The design is modern, but it is executed with traditional materials for a humble and inviting balance.  And being on NC State’s campus, it was destined for a brick exterior.

 This architectural model sits in the Park Alumni Center on Centennial Campus. 

Here is a view of the garage side of the house, where the chancellor will pull in everyday.  The detail shown on such a small scale is amazing.  A laser cutter burned the window and roof details into the wood.

The back of the house, with the land slanting down toward Lake Raleigh.  The outdoor living spaces will be just as amazing as the interior!  Wonderful porches and decks on the front and back of the house offer a great place for entertaining with our mild North Carolina climate.  The 8,500 square feet features private living space upstairs, with open spaces for university guests, dinner parties, banquets, and fundraisers.  It is as much a chancellor’s residence as it is the university’s residence. 

Check back later in the week for construction pictures .  Click here for more information about the project, including a photo of the current chancellor’s residence.

Lauren

Paige Crawford, one of the hosts from the local hit television show, My Carolina Today was in the studio last week filming two segments. Caught in action Judy (above- left) talks to Paige (above-right) about finding the right picture frame and her recommendations on how to make a room come alive with frames.

The other segment will focus on the Design Lines Remodeling Checklist. If you are thinking about remodeling you must watch this segment. According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry the top priority right now in homes is functionality. We will give you our Top 5 Remodeling Tips which include, decide on whether you will live in the space while the renovation is going on or do you need to set up temporary food prep.

Stay tuned to our blog as we will let you know when these segments will air on NBC 17 so you can catch all the details!

I’m excited to share photos of a kitchen remodel that Judy and I completed recently.  Take a look below!

Our clients wanted to take advantage of as much storage space as possible.  Analyzing their previous laylout, we looked at how they utilized every inch to determine the most efficient changes.  We worked with Eddie Casanave at Distinctive Remodeling and Horizon Cabinetry who did a wonderful job - the end result is stunning!  The granite countertops were fabricated by Rock’interiors, and we selected the tile backsplash at Triangle Tile & Stone.

This was the kitchen before, with the original builder cabinets, white appliances, and Corian countertops.  It was time for an update!  We removed the cook top from the island and installed a range along the back wall.

The left side of the kitchen previously felt a bit crowded and bulky.  We simplified the design and opened up additional counter space.  Diamond shaped leaded glass doors hang above an additional sink.  A convection microwave and warming drawer replaced the built in oven.  Because they don’t have a pantry closet, these tall cabinets house their dry food storage. 

Making the island all one level really opened up the space!

Design details include a lift for their Kitchen Aid mixer that hides behind one of the doors in the island.  The drawers near the sink and dishwasher feature dowels that hold plates and bowls in place. 

The panels in the hood aren’t just a decorative detail; we used push-latch doors to provide access to storage.  Spice pull-outs flank the Wolf range. 

Isn’t the stone backsplash gorgeous? 

We’re currently finishing up some of the other spaces in the home including the breakfast area, dining room, living room, family room, and powder room.  Look for those to be featured on the blog soon!

Lauren

What is your background and degree in from school? Which school?

I graduated with a degree in Corporate Communications from Elon University right outside of Burlington, North Carolina.

 How do you take your field and incorporate into Design Lines everyday work environment?

 I facilitate the business to business partnerships, networking, internal strategic planning, manage our social media channels, media relations, our special events, community outreach and support the designers whenever needed.

What is your work philosophy?

 Whatever it takes, I am there to get the project done and done right.

What is the one design element that you have learned is a must from being around the other designers?

 Small details add up and do make a difference in the design of a room.

 What are your three must haves?

A boat so I can wake-board, my iphone and a good purse

What’s on your DVR or what is the one show you can’t miss?

 I am not really a big fan of TV but right now I enjoy watching Cake Boss on TLC or the Bachelorette on ABC.

Out of all your travels what is your favorite place and why?

It’s a tie. I love love London and Italy. I studied and lived in London for a month and Italy for about 4 months while in college.

What color scheme would you do right now for your master bedroom based on color schemes you have seen around the office?

 A work up Molly did of a yellow, black & white bedroom.

If you could say that you have a design style, what would it be?

 Comfortability all the way. I am attracted to the the farmhouse, rustic look.

 What is your favorite paint color?

 Benjamin Moore “Grassy Meadows-571″

What is the most enjoyable experience(s) you have had while working with Design Lines, maybe an installation, maybe a rep meeting?

In 2008 when I was working part-time, Design Lines had a huge three day install up at Lake Gaston. I remember Brittany and I stuffing the company van will all the window treatments, bedding, pillows and accessories. Little did we know that when we arrived at the house, we were greeted with a Nor’eastern wind storm. Needless to say we had a very memorable experience and enjoyed every minute of the installation.

Another memory was being present at the 30th anniversary party for the firm. This was a very special night and I couldn’t be more proud of team’s accomplishments. That night was a culmination of 30 years of hard work, sweat, laughter and many memories. It was wonderful to see clients, family, friends and partners who have helped make Design Lines a success. I cannot wait to see where the next 30 years will take us!

What is your favorite blog to follow?

 Gosh, this is such a hard question. I enjoy reading so many design blogs.

If you could go anywhere in the world and showcase your talent, where would it be?

London