ONE ROOM CHALLENGE started and all the featured designers and guest participants began their projects last week! I would like to thank all of you who subscribed on my blog to follow this new challenge!
I love this challenge more and more! It gives me the opportunity to show you all of my creativity when clients ask me to decorate a space in their home! There is nothing more exciting for me than the challenge of bringing life into an empty room and making my clients' home the best version of themselves! So thank you Linda Weinstein and your fantastic team who make this challenge possible every year! When I see how many designers participate, I know that I'm not the only one enjoying this event! We inspire each other and we stimulate our creativity by sharing. The beauty of this "challenge" is more of a trend incubator than a competition!
"First time on my blog? Welcome and thanks for coming by! My name is Samia Verbist, I am a French Interior Designer based in Huntington Beach, California. I obtained my Bachelor Degree in Interior Architecture in Paris, France and created my own interior design company in California 5 years ago. I love to create interesting designs for my clients and suggest interiors that goes over and above what they would have thought of. I love wallpaper, gold and turquoise color! I have a passion for Mid Century home and Hollywood Regency style. And my favorite place on earth is Palm Springs! "
This week was a big first step! We changed the window for beautiful French doors with a sidelite from Milgard. Okay, I'm French but that is not why I choose French doors. Here are the three main reasons:
It lets in plenty of natural light
It gives the possibility of accessing directly to the terrace without walking around the house! Right now, the terrace extension is not done but will be soon (stay tuned!)...This project will be amazing too, trust me!
Because we love to always have the fresh ocean breeze in the house, we keep our windows open all day. That is one of the good things when you live close to the ocean in California, weather is so perfect! Rarely under 70 even during the winter! So, that is why I designed the French doors with a sidelite on one side with a screen. Like this, we can have it open all day without worrying about insects or animals.
I don't know for you but I'm curious to know why those doors are named French doors in English...So, in France, we call it "porte-fenêtre" - literally window-door - and yes, it is originally from France, during the Renaissance (17th century) when art and architecture changed a lot. Originally, the doors were crafted with wrought iron and wood, but over time with the addition of glass and other materials, they became more elaborate. Their popularity grew in other countries and over time, these large opening windows simply became known as French doors. Et voilà!
So, let's come back to our project. These French doors are pretty large 78 inches rough opening and will completely change all the spirit of the bedroom!
Here are some pictures as a reminder of the window. No acces to the backyard. An A/C unit on the wall. Not much natural light.
My contractor, Armando, and his team started to disassemble all the wood panels, the structure of the wall and A/C unit.
What a beautiful view, isn't it?...Palm trees!
Wall is open now and you can see the huge difference between a standard window opening and a large door one!
The room will feel bigger for sure!
Because the opening is larger than previously, a new beam to support the ceiling has to be installed. Now it is time to install the French doors!
Work is not done yet! Contractor still needs to redo the exterior and interior walls. On the exterior, they applied a new stucco and inside they reinstalled the wood panels but before that added thermal insulation.
Now French doors are installed. New wood panel wall needs to be primed/painted and the rest of the room too! I choose a white color I love for my place from Berh Marquee. It is a custom made white, no yellowish or grayish tone, just a bright, warm and lovely white.
This week was intense, especially for my contractor! Everything went well and we can move on to the next step...
Let's have a look at the To Do List:
- Change the window for French doors for more natural light
- Remove the plantation shutter blinds
- Add a chandelier for more artificial light
- Remove the A/C unit
- Renovate the wood panels' wall
- Remove the old closet
- Install a new large and functional closet
- Install new doors for the closet
- Change the two interior doors (bedroom and bathroom)
- Prime and paint all the walls
- Install wallpaper
- Figure out what to do with the actual floor (carpet)
- Source new furniture (bed, nightstand, table lamps, chandelier, bench or ottoman, accent chair)
- Source curtains (blackout curtains and sheers)
- Source new bedding and plenty of pillows
- Source new decors and wall art
Next week I will have the wallpaper installed and I may show you a visual of the room....
Have a nice week!
Your Dedicated French Interior Designer
Samia
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