I am not asking simply “What makes a great designer?” but what trait is essential?

 The trait that resonates louder and more often with the design folks I admire and want to emulate is:

  The constant quest to learn. 

***Learning about the newest products in our field

*** Figuring out the best ways to execute a design element

***Discovering the multitude of ways products can be used…in a creative and innovative fashion

***Challenging the status quo to solve a problem by “seeing” it as no one else has done 

***Desiring to learn more about associated disciplines

Mix all of this with a healthy dose of passion for creating, an eye for detail, and a head for learning and you have a great designer.

“Creativity is to see what everybody else has seen and to think what nobody else has thought.” ~Albert Szent-Goyorgy

   What about learning from mistakes?  We call it doing a “post mortem” on a job.What worked well?  What could we have done better? How could we handle situation A or B differently? What did we learn from this job?

I think the learning curve in the design field is never completed. Sure you know more each day and I know most in my field pay a hefty tuition at the University of Hard Knocks.

But the real difference between someone who is passionate about their work and someone who is just putting in the time is the quest to build ( or in our case, design) a better mouse trap. A better one with more creativity and style. One that has not been designed before…or with function not seen in the past or a panache that is unequaled.

And this takes a constant quest to learn more and challenge more often.

   The status quo is for sissies.

 Where do you find inspiration to learn?

Some of my favorite places, websites, and books will be featured in coming posts. 

Ask me what is this bathroom tile/stone/porcelain materials cost TOTAL. ..or better yet, how does the overall budget work with this pricing? People get way too wrapped around the grout bag about costs per square foot. Does it matter if it costs 50 dollars per foot if we are only using 2 square feet of it? Probably not in the overall scheme of a bath redo or new construction. Builders and architects are fond of “allowing” a square foot price for many materials, tile being one of them. I hate this. I understand it. But still hate it. It reduces the material costs to individual items rather than looking at it a “whole”. I am designing a “whole” bathroom! I do not want an item ruled out if it is key to the design. We will adjust the budget in another area!

Oceanside glass tile outlines a small powder bath adding a nice visual interest for little money. Also allowed us to center the two 18x18 stones on the floor with no cuts! Design by In Detail Interiors

I prefer working with an overall budget. One that has a range of from this to no more than that. This is best way to get the most out of your design team or professional. They need to know parameters but it hampers the outcome to focus narrowly on “how much is that per square foot” when discussing tile specifically.  Some clients will refuse to even consider a higher end material no matter how much I may say we need very little for visual impact! Right away it is tossed out as “too expensive”.

HOGWASH.

I always prefer to have a budget guideline but when someone does not give me one, I think is best to look at the design elements as a whole not a sum of it’s parts. After all, I do not want a person to exclaim “oh what a gorgeous towel bar” but rather, “Oh what a gorgeous bathroom”. So thus, is best to look at total costs also rather than fretting over how you get to that number. Yes is essential to have line item information so that it is easy to trim the fat when needed. But I do not want to focus on the individual costs BEFORE we get to the end results of the design process.

Pricey stained glass accent tile from Mixed up Mosaics adds an important colorful look to this shower. But we only used 3 square feet in this long niche. Mixed Up Mosaics in niche and Porcelanosa large format tile.

The best approach is to have an idea of a budget range and then set those parameters with the design team so you do not waste time having grand plans designed that exceed your comfort zone on costs.

IF you hire a good designer (look for the DGD affiliation) then you should trust that person with putting together the plan and the costs based on your budget allocation and the parameters given. Let their experience guide you in the places to invest wisely for best results and maximum style points.

Stay tuned for the next few days while i go into greater detail about pricing and budgets.

What are your thoughts on overall budgets vs individual itemization if end result costs are the same?

I think for us, this emanates from the wasted space of a large tub surround and the beauty a free standing tub can bring to a bathroom. Sometimes a tub mounted in the deck is important for other reasons or the configuration may not be conducive to a free standing tub design.  As with many design elements, there are pros and cons:

Pros:

• A free standing tub can fit better in many smaller spaces. Note the one below we did in a remodel. Picture it with a large tub deck. Would not fit nor look as beautiful!

• As also show in the picture below, you can “hide” the plumbing in a decorative half wall. This is a brilliant way to add lots of style and make life easier on the plumber. We project manage most of our own jobs that do not have a general contractor and this trick has saved us much aggravation and cost to move pipes.

• A free standing tub allows more “visual” space around the tub and gives it center stage design wow! Note the use of an art light over the tub to highlight an art piece or a tile “picture” behind the tub in the second photo. You may recall from previous post on baths HERE , I eschew windows over tubs if possible. This is another way of giving a focal point like a window provides.

• You can get tubs in acrylic, cast iron, many unique metal options, stone, and my favorite, volcanic limestone from Victoria and Albert.

Victoria and Albert Ravello tub tub: Kohler spout. By In Detail Interiors

Another project where we used the Ravello from Victoria and Albert. Is a stunner! Design by In Detail Interiors

Another Victoria and Albert tub ( we LOVE them). This remodeled bath was dictated by the placement of existing art glass windows. Here you see a whimsical table near the tub to allow toiletries to be close by. By In Detail Interiors

A beautiful job! If room and a chair can be used....awesome! Design bySarah Richardson Design and photo from Coreea Sotropa Design

Cons:  

• If someone has limited mobility, a free standing tub may not be a good choice. You would need grab bars and other  considerations for an ADA design.
• If you are like one of our former clients:) and like sitting on the edge of the tub to shave your legs…weeeeell, a deck mounted tub is probably better!
• The cost can be more than a drop in tub in a deck HOWEVER, you also do not have to tie around it. If you are using a cultured marble tub and deck all in one then this does not apply. We do not use these often in our designs. ( ok, we never use them and ABHOR cultured marble…have ripped out a lot though)

As I said, I love Victoria and Albert but am not thrilled with this Japanese style design. I think can be useful in some situations but tough to design a bathroom around it.

BUT WHY?

*****Why is it that so many  residential designers and architects insist on putting a tub larger than a Lincoln Continental in every bathroom IN FRONT OF A LARGE WINDOW?

Do we really want to view nosy neighbor Betty Jean puttering around in her garden while bathing? How many times do I have to struggle with how to dress this window? IT IS TIME for folks to get a bit more creative and challenge the status quo!

Put the window near the vanities so you can have natural light! People need to see what they are doing…not have a ringside seat to the neighbors yard. Forget all of this if you happen to live on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Ok so this is seemingly a nice bath. If you like bath vanities jammed up against the tile that is...not on my jobs but that is a different post altogether. This window is even tougher as is a curved detail. Wish you folks had saved the money and put it into nice cabinetry. Do you think anyone even bathes here?

*****Steps are a hazard to getting into a soaking tub. Unless you have a palatial bath with stairs that run the length of the room, the tub sits on a dais and you are the Queen….do not add a step to your bath. Picture yourself fully upright ( and NEKKID) and walking into the bath. How will you step INTO the tub once you are standing on stair two? HMMMMM. What is up with this design? And why does the NKBA foofy do certified folks keep voting winning baths with steps? I do not get this at all. Major safety hazard. And for me, a nighty night tripping hazard as I blindly find my way into the bathroom for middle of the night use!

No need for this bathtub to have this step. It needs a wider ledge to sit your bottom and swing your legs around. Is simple.

******Why must we put the shower valves on same side of wall as toilet??? It emanates from the old school “wet wall” concept but these days it is not necessary to do this. The shower head can go on same wall if you like but the valves  that turn it on are much more accessible on the opposite end. No leaning over the toilet to turn on the water. This is simple fix on the plans. Not simple later. Caveat here: try and not put the valve on an exterior wall especially in climates that freeze. We are in the south so does not happen often. You also want access to that valve in case of a problem and you can often access it through the wall on other side and not disturb tile

Is a tight configuration. Usually unnecessary. Just ask WHY?

.

How do you want to challenge the status quo? Have a question about bath design? Bring it on!

As a designer, my job is to make sure room layouts are maximized, traffic flows in a space, colors work ,harmony is achieved in the overall design aesthetics….and….arranging “stuff”. We all like stuff and buying stuff feeds the consumerism of our country. I enjoy it too. I freely admit this but I have a rule; if stuff comes into my modest home, then stuff goes out. Whether knick knacks or clothing, everything is replaced not added ….and then I donate what I do not want to charities that can make it available to be reused by someone else. This is my easy way of recycling.

I have a beef with the crap peddled at market that is mass produced, overseas products that is simply junk to occupy space. Yep, that is how I feel. I have a ton of the catalogs on my desk at this very moment and I may discover one or two cool “finds” but most is just junk to add to your clutter and detract from good design. And good design, despite what some people may think does not mean overly styled rooms with enough cheap accessories to start a thrift store with!

MY GAWD! DID SHE REALLY JUST SAY THAT?

I have likened the Atlanta Merchandise Mart to one big Kirklands…stacked on top of each other over and over. PLEASE folks, do not buy the crap at Kirklands. (For those of you who do not know Kirklands, it is a shop full of useless knick knacks made in China)  Maybe a thingy or two might be “ok” but do not outfit your home in Kirklands..it will sure as heck look like it and there is nothing worse.

Just say NO to Kirklands!

SAVE the accessory budget and use it purchase art that is useful or decorative. Go to local or regional fairs where artists will sell beautiful pottery or vases made by their own hands.  Often these unknown artists can have affordable and stunning artwork. Trust me, your space will telegraph the artistry and the handmade persona will resonate throughout your house.

Put your kid’s art in a gorgeous frame, matte it well and hang it on the wall. This is art. Not the 29.99 paintings they sell at Kirklands…or wose those awful Holiday Inn sales.  (My sister in law went with me to market and saw a beautiful painting she coveted…but decided she could achieve the same look….herself. I only saw the painting half done but so far, it is as gorgeous as it’s inspiration.)

Take your own photos and enlarge them and hang them on the wall…even if they are not ideal,they are better than mass produced poo foo. And, they can be  art “place holders” until you can afford something you like better that you will live with for a long time. And remember  good art can be affordable too. Try a superb site called UGallery for up and coming artists displaying their work for sale. (This gallery was started by 3 guys who attended a great school, the University of Arizona which happens to be my alma mater as well! )The site is rich with awesome pieces. And affordable as well.

You can try local vendors and art fairs too and online sites like Etsy for some unique finds that are handmade or just repurposed vintage.  Visit garage sales one Saturday morning and look for an unloved piece you can bring to life…furniture can be painted and reupholstered. Small knick knacks can be spray painted with some cool color and used in a different manner than originally intended. Like, hung on the wall or grouped with similiar objects to form a unique tableau.

The ideas are endless. Don’t get me wrong. Like I said, I like “stuff” as much as the next person but I am picky about the quality and the quanity of my “stuff” and I like pieces to have a provenance…even it is a made up one I just bestowed upon it:)

Do you have a favorite piece you have rescued or repurposed? Share it with me and I will post the ideas!