Posts Tagged: window treatments
lmk interiors, ltd. – refresh
It has been slightly over a year since I last posted a blog. A lot of changes both professionally and personally have occurred since June 2012. I thought I would make this initial blog posting for 2013 one of reflection and catching up. I suppose the best way is to jump right in sharing images and updates.
lmk interiors, ltd.
• Launched refreshed website on 1 June 2013 www.lmkinteriorsltd.com – so happy to have had family and friends contribute their talents and time to make this refreshing change to my site. More images to be uploaded in the coming weeks of completed projects.
• I will be participating in Art Grows Here with a pouring paint installation July 12- 21, 2013 at 77 Main Street Wenham
• volunteered with Habitat for Humanity – NorthShore’s Women Build event building a duplex home in Danvers, MA.
• working on many projects with Cummings Architects and Open Meadow Construction designing kitchens throughout the NorthShore.
• took on a seasonal part time position at the newly opened The Container Store in Peabody late November (decided to stay on since it is such a fun place to work).
•lmk interiors, ltd. took over entire space at 77 Main Street in October when Matt Ulrich and Rebecca Bachand moved their offices to Beverly. I have installed a beautiful kitchen vignette to showcase the cabinetry line I am representing. Please stop in to see the changes to the space – I love pop in visits!
• completed several kitchen and master bathroom renovations, living room furniture installations along with many window treatment installations. (check out the website for more images)
• attending many networking groups – meeting great contacts for passing and receiving referrals.
• participated in the Wenham Museum’s Annual Heart of the Home Kitchen tour event with one of my client’s beautiful kitchens that I had the privilege of designing.
Lisa Kawski
• my son graduated from RIT May 2012 and is currently working at Spine Frontier in Beverly, MA as an industrial designer.
• traveled to Playa del Carmen, Mexico with my family (highlights included zip lining and snorkeling with sea turtles)
• to celebrate turning 50, I traveled to: NYC to celebrate with grade school girlfriends, to the Berkshires with my sisters and recently to Amherst with husband and college friends. (the year is not up yet, still some traveling to do)
• attended several car shows – featuring beautiful antique classics.
• discovered the joy in the music of Sugarman (Jesus Rodriguez) and the movie Searching for Sugarman.
• been doing standing Pilates, Nia dance and several yoga classes and continuing to eat the Paleo way as best as possible – no gluten, lean proteins, lots of veggies & fruit (have not cut out the dark chocolate)
• got my motorcycle license (no, I do not have a bike – yet!)
(a girl can dream)
Here’s to a great summer filled with wonderful projects and new adventures! Please check out the website and stop in for a visit if you see my car out front!
Sometimes, all it takes is a photo: Before & After Images
A great way to share the wealth of services I can provide to a client is usually accomplished by showing my visual portfolio of completed projects. Sometimes, they have been to a home where I have worked my magic. They then have seen “in person” how a room can be transformed either in it’s entirety or with the addition or elimination of a few items. Often, seeing that visual image reassures them that they too will be able to make changes within their own home; with the assistance of lmk interiors, ltd.
I thought it would be useful to share some before and after images of some of the work from lmk interiors, ltd. I am not showing entire rooms; more specifically items within the rooms that have been reused, reworked or refinished. To see more room views that have been transformed, go to my website at: www.lmkinteriorsltd.com.
Reworked Window Treatments
We reworked these existing window treatments in a Master Bedroom. The sheers in the left photo were suspended from a wooden rod by wooden rings. They appeared outdated and saggy (about one foot of extra fabric pooled on the floor). The fabric was salvageable, so we redesigned the new treatments with that in mind. We used a traversing metal rod that was mounted into each corner, this created a “wall” of fabric when they are closed. Adding a bronze banding fabric to the top and bottom finished it off with a clean, sophisticated appearance. No more droopy fabric puddling on the floor nor off the mounting rod.
Detail of top design and banding.
Replacing Window Treatments
As in the example above, we had something to work with in order to ruse it in the redesign. In this case, the wooden blinds in the photo on the left had been damaged by too much use and could not be repaired. They also did not provide enough warmth when the family sat down in the wintertime to eat at the table. We removed the existing window treatments and designed new thermal panels that not only provided room darkening capabilities, but also provided a blanket of protection against the elements. They are on a vertical channel system mounted on the sides of the window frames that allow the treatments to be in either an “up” position or “down” position (as shown in these photographs). A coordinating striped fabric window seat cushion was made to provide comfort for seating on the bench as well.
Sometimes There Is Nothing There
This kitchen showroom space at NorthShore Kitchens Plus was not only transformed by the addition of the window treatments, but also the faux wall finish and glass tile backsplash. For the showroom space below, playing with contrasting colors for the window treatments and wall finish made for an interesting transition from a contemporary kitchen vignette to a more traditional one within a shared space.
Reusing Family Heirloom Furnishings
One of my clients redesigned her kitchen/dining room and family room area. I was engaged to transform her heirloom dining set to fit with the new environment. We reupholstered the side chairs along with the arm chairs. We also created a decorative valance for the window treatments above the sliding glass doors; coordinating all of the fabrics as well as adding a coordinating area rug.
The images below showcase a guest bedroom redesign. It began with reupholstering a family arm chair. Bedding, window treatments, faux painting on the walls and a whole bunch of decorative pillows followed!
Do We Buy a New Sofa or Reupholster Our Comfy Favorite One?
Honestly, depending on the fabric selected, a new sofa can cost the same or less than reupholstering your existing one. It is a matter of personal choice. If it has served you well and is showing wear that is beyond repair, it may be time to purchase a new one. But if it is a matter of adding some new padding to your seat cushions and covering it with some fresh fabric, than that is the way to go.
My Amazing Team
After beginning my residential interior design business eight years ago, I was quite lucky to find amazing resources early on to assist with the execution of my designs. I have been working with this team for 6-8 years now and value the incredible quality of their work as well as the integrity they demonstrate in their businesses. I look forward to many more years of using their services to provide quality, and unique designs for my clients.
Upholstering: Julio Cruz of J.C. Upholstering www.jcupholstering.net
Window Treatments: Cathy Crist of Refinements, Inc.
Faux Painting: Julie King of Samarra Faux Painting www.samarrafaux.com
As always, please feel free to contact me regarding any of your interior design needs or questions at lmk interiors, ltd. (978)335-1140 or design@lmkinteriorsltd.com.