Designer of the Week - Daniel Romualdez

Daniel Romualdez describes himself as a problem solver.

"My job is to be a problem solver. As in, 'I need one more bedroom than the apartment has,' or 'I have a collection of X, how do we display it?' If I don't solve the problems first, no matter how pretty the fabrics are, the job isn't a success." The good news, he says, is that "solving the functional things informs the design. Otherwise, decorating can be very arbitrary. You come into it saying, 'Oh, let's use that color here.' It's far better to ground it in the requirements of the family." (WSJ)

Romualdez' California Home
via

Romualdez's design has a wide appeal. His clients range from Mick Jagger to Tory Burch, all praising him over his attention to detail.

Romualdez' Connecticut Home
via

Deeda Blair says "Daniel just gets things. He has a thoughtfulness beyond measure." (WSJ) "Tory Burch's apartment doesn't scream Daniel Romualdez," says Blair. "It screams a most attractive house for young boys and a young family." (WSJ)

Tory Burch's Hampton Estate Solarium

Romualdez is not, however, someone with a signature look. He recently completed a residence in Aspen, Colorado, for Aerin Lauder that is at once modern and woodsy, while his latest store for Tory Burch, on Madison Avenue, feels like a high-gloss private townhouse. What his projects do have in common are a strong concern for context and a compelling design narrative that steers clear of cliché. (AD)

Romualdez' Connecticut Home
via

Romualdez  four personal homes are his design labs where he experiments and takes risks. 

Romualdez' black lacquered library in his Manhattan apartment
via

Daniel Romualdez is truly an inspiration. To read more on this amazing architect and designer, read the articles linked to in the images above.

xo, 

Laurel 

Buying an Island

Yes it's true...

We are looking into purchasing an island, but we are having debates about which side of the Atlantic would suit us best. I say west, but the hubs says east... dilemmas.

Just kidding, but we are going to buy a kitchen island.  We are saving our pennies so we can have one that I designed for our space custom built. One day I will do a kitchen before and after post, but as I said before our goal was to update the kitchen for less than $1,000 - including buying a dishwasher.  Now, this island is not included in that price, but the island will be the only piece that stays when we completely redo the kitchen in a couple of years. 

I knew the look that I wanted was more of a furniture piece than an island -

 I mean look at these pretties...

find source via

find source via

find source via

find source via

find source via

find source via

So, here is what I came up with...

For now, the island will have a wood top, but once more pennies are saved - a carrera marble top will be added. The island will be 7' long and 3' wide. I debated forever about the island being at table height or counter top height, but in the end I decided to go with counter top height. I also debated about having a shelf or two below, but with babies crawling around - that would be one more spot calling their name to destroy (and climb). Some of the drawers will include silverware dividers, and there will be a hidden outlet on the more private side of the island.

If you would like me to design a custom island or kitchen for your home contact me at LaurelHPowell@gmail.com.

Have a great day!

xo,

Laurel

12 Days of Christmas: Gold & Glam Gift Guide

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 . 11 . 12

Santa, you know where to find me.

xo,

Laurel

Merry Merry Friday!

found via

I'll keep this as my motto this weekend! I'm headed to Nashville to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of a good friend!

xo,

Laurel

Announcing the Official Launch of...

Laurel Powell Designs is a full service residential 

architectural and interior design firm.

More information to come, 

but in the mean time give me a call or shoot me an email.

LaurelHPowell@gmail.com

423.902.3636

xo,

Laurel

Powder Room Plans

Happy Wednesday!
Piggybacking on yesterday's post, today I'll share my powder room inspiration board. The powder room is slightly larger than the size of a sardine can... 4' x 6'3". I wanted to use existing walls to save money, and this size would just barely meet code - so I went with it. We did have to swing the door out to make it work, but you gotta do what you can with whatcha got, right?

My goal for the bathroom was to give personality to a small space. Through a mix of materials and shapes I wanted to create a fairly masculine space with feminine touches.

The main materials in the room are wood, mirror, metal, and porcelain. It's a bathroom folks, so let's be realistic, especially in a powder room - you can't hide the proportions of the white porcelain (the toilet). So, I knew I wanted a vanity with a white porcelain sink as well.  I chose this metal sink base because of the juxtaposed feminine detailing with the industrial chic lines. And as the hubs would point out - it is functional too - the shelf is perfect to stack guest towels and the cabinet can hide extra toilet paper. Behind the vanity I am planning on creating an antique mirror wall in a grid pattern with antique brass rosetts. Though the aged mirror is definitely a feminine touch, the orderly grid gives it masculine structure, which once again, will be intersected with the feminine shape of the antique brass sconces. These sconces are made by Shades of Light and are to die for.

Now is the part where I talk about fantasy verse reality. I would love for the other three walls to be Scalamandre's zebra wallpaper in the safari brown colorway, but unless Santa's Elves are knocking off design houses, its not in the budget right now, so I'll stick with the greige BM paint color shown above. On the floor, I'll have a small overdyed rug to warm things up a bit, something like the one pictured above, which is Stark's overdyed Ikat Rug. And lastly, a small gallery wall of some of Mirko Hanak's illustrations.

Here are some larger images of Hanak's work.

via

via

via

I will do a post on the finished product at some point! Wish I could twitch my nose like I Dream of Jeannie and it all be finished! Ha, don't we all...

xo, 

Laurel

Powder Room

The original layout of our house had a full bath / hallway right in the smack center of our house. That's right... bath (slash) hallway...  It just did not work for me or the house. SO, that was one of the first things to go. We didn't need a bath tub in the main living area. Instead, I opted for a small powder room, backed up to a butlers pantry. 

sketch by Laurel Powell Designs

History lesson.. what is a powder room?

In the 17th century a powder room was a small closet where men and women would go to have their wigs repowdered. The expression carried through to the Victorian era.  Any reference of bodily functions was considered rude, so women adapted the phrase and would excuse themselves to go "powder their noses".

via                                            via

Just  a little Audrey and Grace... why not?

Now, a powder room refers to a small bathroom that contains only a sink and a toilet, usually located on the first floor.  I encourage my clients to have a powder room, because it allows guests to use facilities separate from the homeowners' private spaces.  Also, it is a little easier to keep clean and free of little boy overspray. ; )  *cue the shuddering Victorians, ha!

Now, the pretties... some powder room inspiration:

via Massucco Warner Miller

I love that wallpaper, those sconces, the mirror, the console... 

Basically, I LOVE it all! 

source unknown, found via 

The mood of this bathroom is so intriguing to me, dark and relaxing.

And the charcoal, brass, and carrera ... swoon!

found on pinterest

This bathroom is so preppy and fun. 

Just look at all those details - lacquered mirror, painted ceiling, upholstery details on the walls.

Stay tuned for a post on my powder room design plans!

xo,

Laurel