Leased in 48 Hours

My customer had to relocate due to a job transfer recently and was so pleased her condo rented out right away. Her agent told me how Kimberly's place stood out from the rest, because it was warm and inviting.

Remodeling her home ended up being a terrific investment also,  and allowed her to move on with an exiting job without extra worries.  

Earlier post below: 

   No matter what kind of home improvement project, a professional interior design expert can help you get the best results. We have sources and knowledge for products most consumers would have a tough time finding. 

It is necessary to see in person the place, as with my recent project at Kimberly Grear’s home in a downtown Chicago high-rise.  I felt her condo needed warmth, the spectacular city view is the highlight, but it seem a little harsh and cold. Western exposure can also create a lot of clare and be uncomfortable specially in the summer months.  New textured wall covering, rearranging artwork and the solar shades made such a huge difference,  my client has now changed her thoughts about moving to another place. 

Kimberly Grear: Essentially, I approached Katarina on a small but important project -- to update my condo cosmetically with new textured wallpaper and paint and cool solar blinds in my dining and living room.  Her consultation provided me with amazing choices, and I wasn't overwhelmed. The gorgeous wallpaper products and choices Katarina presented me with far exceeded my expectations. I literally had a small creative budget. The final product delivered rich, stunning yet casual earth tones for my home. (Jeff Lewis from "Flipping Out" on Bravo would have been beaming proud.) I am SO THRILLED!!!   I feel like I have a new home for a small investment.  And, that's not an easy thing to pull off. 

Katarina is seriously superb at what she does and seriously talented on so many levels.  She is a true professional and easy to work with. I also think Katarina should have her on TV show. (No kidding....)   

The gift of working with Katarina is that she provides you with top shelf choices on your budget and five star service.

I can't say enough wonderful things about working with Katarina. She's the real (and rare) deal!!!

A fun place for kids and guest

Cozy new play area

It’s been said “necessity” is the mother of invention. Well, in a recent project I worked on, the basement of an Oak Park four-square, it was “necessary” to make the playroom/guestroom more visually and acoustically appealing.  Let me explain. Despite the many lovely details of the rest of the prairie style house, which dates back to  1923, the basement was dominated by a noisy, unsightly, old heating system. The exposed pipes, which were often mistaken by their 2 and 4 year-old as monkey bars, made play dates hazardous. And the loud humming which started and stopped at intervals could turn any overnight guest into an insomniac.

Solution? Kill 2 birds with one stone—or in this case—a few modular acoustical fabric-backed bookcases. As you can see by the photos, the bookcases not only block the heating system, they warm up the space and provide an extra storage space for toys. We also added an art center, a place to play dress up and fun, movable seating for all ages. Even the drapery we used to hide an unsightly storage area doubles as a place for kids to play hide and seek.

Proof that the space works? On a recent visit, Bianca, the 4 year-old said, “Take your shoes off and get real comfortable.” Oh, and out-of-town visitors are no longer going the hotel route.  

Before the remodel

                                           

 Why has gold come back in style again?  Because it is the only thing that has kept its value.  After seeing silver tones for so many years, gold is refreshing again. Recently my customer called me and asked if I could come up with some solution for their dark Northern exposure bedroom. The perfect cure come from a gold foil wall covering, new silk draperies and a halogen floor lamp.  After we got done, I got a hug and a kiss from the husband.  He said: Marilyn spends so much time now in their beautiful bedroom.

This exquisite wallpaper is made by a small company in California.  Proof that there are still quality manufactures right here in the USA.

 Our customer contacted us to help with his very cramped and cluttered kitchen. There was not enough storage and the L-shape work area was awkward, cutting the space needlessly.We kept the existing cabinets, just repositioned some of them and added a much needed glass door pantry. Large recessed can ceiling fixtures were retrofitted with more modern and efficient fixtures. Because we saved the original cabinets and flooring the budget allow us to install stylish granite counters with stainless tile back-splashes, new sink and faucet.

Before

After

Katarina Andersson

Lee Industries, made in the USA furniture is a good investment, and they really care about the environment.

They believe : “ If it’s worth spending time and energy, it’s worth doing right”.

http://www.leeindustries.com/