Industrial Farmhouse Chic Kitchen

What a fun few weeks we have had here at DecRenew Interiors by Ruthie Staalsen!

We finished up about 4 big remodels about a month ago so have been doing  some photo shoots!  Photo shoot days always involve a lot of packing, lugging, wrapping and sweating but it is always worth it!

I thought I'd post this Industrial Farmhouse kitchen first since I just love it!  We only have a few before pictures of this kitchen which makes me sad.  I met with the client for a walk thru consultation to discuss what they wanted done and how we were going to proceed.  It was a fantastic consultation with loads of brainstorming and thinking on our feet with my team.  Before I left their house they said they would let me know when they were ready to proceed with the demo.

  The next day I got a call from them saying that they were leaving on vacation that week and decided they wanted the demo to go ahead and start while they were gone.  Ok then, I love decision makers!  So refreshing!

My team got busy but we forgot to take before pictures, urggg! We did get these few!

The kitchen was incredibly un-functional and was closed off to the rest of the house.  I suggested we open it all up and create two islands.  One in center of the kitchen for their prep work, etc. and the other one where we opened up the space into the family room.

They had a formal living room that they hardly ever used so opening up the space into that room made sense.

They had a round dining table in the kitchen area that they used daily. We made the bar area nice and big so the family can sit and do their homework while mom or dad cooks.

The family room had beams but they were off scale. We widened them and added new beams to the area where we tore down walls.

There are barstools on each side of the island as well because we all know the kitchen is where everybody hangs!

The kitchen was totally gutted and we started from scratch.

The wood floors were the last thing to go in and once they were down it all came together beautifully, just like I saw it in my head during our walk thru consultation :)

I just love the handmade subway tile and the lighting we chose, it really gave the kitchen that industrial farmhouse feel. I think Jo Jo would approve, don't you?

Stay tuned for more before and after from some of our other remodels!

Asian Inspired Office with a Texas Twist

I always love decorating office spaces.  The accessorizing is what makes an office feel inviting! There is no reason an office needs to feel stuffy and stale.  Your spaces create a mood and can instantly make a client feel at ease which equals profits for you in the long run.

BEFORE

My client had all the furniture pieces but needed me to add the detail.  They wanted an Asian influence with a Texas flair.  The main problem here is the scale of the couch.  It seems small for the room.  I knew we could make it work with whatever we put above the couch.

AFTER

My inspiration for the entire room was this vintage oriental rug that I found.  If you follow me regularly, you will see that I like to add an international flair to my designs. This project was perfect for me because of that.

Ruthie Tip:  Never under estimate the power of pillows.

The large antique blue and white ginger jars added such charm to the room.  I wanted the flannel plaid on the leather couch to create a masculine feel.

The white cow rug is the twist of Texas!

The floor lamp is really nice in an office for evening working. Also, creates height in the space and makes everything come together nicely.

Pops of green on the coffee table as well as the fig tree makes the space feel alive.

I always love how fig trees look. They are so lush and green. I put this one in a basket which is a bit of a Texas flair and adds interest and texture vs. a typical planter.

Two gold bamboo pagoda lamps really added a fun flair to the console table.

Yellow florals pop against the black console table and definitely add an Asian flair.

The reception area is very welcoming now with the blue and white pottery and the striking florals.

 The artwork was custom made by "Divine Inspirations" and I love it!  So colorful and striking when you walk in.

I'm busy working on some design plans and will be posting pictures as soon as those jobs are finished.  We finished up 3 kitchens this week so photo shoots will be happening sometime soon too.

Modern Style Spanish Home

We recently completed decorating a home for a client that built their home several years ago.  They were tired of living in the space without the details. We came in and added accessories, lighting, rugs and some furniture to complete the home.

We had the dining room chairs upholstered in this colorful pattern outlined in the blue velvet that matches the couch.

The client had a couch that they LOVED because of comfort and quality but the style was outdated.  We had the entire couch redone and reshaped into something much more stylish with modern lines.

Custom swivel chairs with a geometric pattern, paired with a vintage style rug and round ottoman.  As you can see, the fireplace with the Spanish tile was definitely our inspiration for the colors in the room.  Don't you just love the gold ship that my client already had in their closet.

Grandma's old stool looks great with an antique embroidered pillow and newly made round ottoman.

This drum was in their entryway but I thought it looked better as a side table.  I found the pottery scattered on bookshelves and picked a few that I thought looked nice paired together.

Pillows really made the couch pop!

She still needs a grouping of artwork above the TV but she is waiting for something that really captivates her.

This home sits on a beautiful treed lot and is so peaceful and quiet. Their pool is absolutely stunning and can be seen from most of the rooms.

I'll be posting another job we finished this week soon.

Blessings to you! XOXO

Ruthie Staalsen Published in Elite Monde Magazine

A few months ago I had a magazine editor from "Elite Monde Magazine" contact me.  They are a lifestyle and fashion magazine in Dubai. They interviewed me and the article was recently published. See my name on the front cover above :)

The article is in Arabic and I'm getting it translated as we speak.

Thanks for cheering me on and thanks to my wonderful clients who gave me the honor of decorating their homes.

Houzz 5 Year Anniversary and DecRenew Interiors Award

"Rave Reviews" Award

Feeling very honored today after receiving an award last night at the 5 year anniversary party for Houzz.  It was a great event at Pirch in Dallas.

If you haven't heard of Houzz, you definitely must know about it!  They are a platform for home remodeling and design, bringing homeowners and home professionals together in a uniquely visual community.

 

I have been a part of Houzz since 2010 and have built my design profile which has 37 of my projects and 57 reviews. Besides my website, Houzz is where most people land when searching for an Interior Designer in their area. It is also where my clients go to review me after we have completed their job.

Houzz is a platform that I use every day.  It has been an incredibly useful tool for me as a designer. My clients are able to save photos to idea books that we can then discuss in detail during their consultation.  They can write notes with each photo to help them remember why they saved that particular photo. I find that having photos that the client can show me that they like or dislike helps me define their design style more efficiently.

Link to my profile: DecRenew Interiors on Houzz

The Houzz Story

"Houzz started with a house. When founders Adi and Alon remodeled their home, they started the way these projects often do: with a tall stack of magazines and referrals for home professionals from people they knew. But after those piles of torn out pages failed to make their dream a reality, they felt stuck. There had to be a better way.

So they built Houzz. A place to browse and save beautiful home photos. A place to find the right design and construction professionals. A place to connect with others who have been there too. Houzz started as a side project but has become a community of more than 35 million homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals—across the country and around the world.

Whether you are starting a complete kitchen remodel or just looking for the perfect bedside table, the Houzz community of homeowners and professionals is here to help. And when you are ready to start your project, Houzz is the best way to get inspired, discover products and to find and collaborate with the perfect architect, designer or contractor."

Everyone wants to read reviews right? I read reviews before I purchase just about anything. I just met with a client yesterday that told me she could tell what kind of person I was by the reviews she read. I LOVED that because the relationships I have with my clients are extremely important to me.

Thank you HOUZZ for this "Rave Reviews" award! Also, to all my clients out there that have cheered me on and written such great reviews, I thank you!