DESIGN OF THE MONTH > DEC 2011 > WINNER: Ellen Gundersen!

Congrats to Ellen Gundersen!  She is the winner of the Design of the Month – December, 2011.  Ellen transformed an outdated basement bar into a breathtaking Before & After!  This beautiful bar features sleek High Gloss cabinets, chrome accessories, Ecoresin details, and a granite countertop.  It was installed by Rachel Precourt.

Before: The existing bar counters were basic off-white laminate.  There was a lack of storage due to the small area behind the bar counter there were no back cabinets – just a blank wall.

After: From drab to dramatic!  The bar is now a beautiful focal point. In the designer’s words “It looks fresh and the Hollywood Silver eco resin creates visual excitement. She got lots of extra storage in the back cabinets and the pull-out wine racks. She added new bar stools, and a new juke box to finish off the design. It’s very cool!!”

Ellen used California Closets 3D CAD Software to create the design.  It looks just like the finished product!

The design called for more storage, so Ellen added 2 beautiful Chrome Stemware Racks (holds up to 12 glasses each).  She also added Chrome Pull-Out Wine Racks, making wine storage a breeze!

In the designers words:  ”I designed panels of high-gloss black and framed high-gloss with Ecoresin inserts to be installed on the front faces of the existing bar cabinets. These panels looked great because they visually tied the existing front bar cabinet to the new back cabinets.”

Meet the Designer

Contact Ellen by email: egundersen@calclosets.com
See more of Ellen’s work

800.225.6901 | californiaclosets.com
California Closets services CT, MA, ME, NH and RI.

DESIGN OF THE MONTH > OCT 2011 > WINNER: Betty Byrne

Congrats to Betty Byrne!  She is the winner of the Design of the Month – October, 2011. The Client’s reaction: “They are, in her words “Princess closets”, and she thinks they are more beautiful than those in the movie “Princess Diaries.” That’s quite a compliment.”

Betty is one of our top designers — she really outdid herself with this project! The design was a stunning Armoire and Shoe Closet.  It was installed by Rachel Precourt.

The Project: Create much needed storage space in the client’s bedroom to organize her collection of clothing, fashion and shoes. The timeline was tight and the customer was in her own words, “sophisticated and exacting”.

The New England home was 200 years old and had VERY small closets. The storage that Betty designed was customized to match the existing woodwork throughout the home. The Armoire featured 5 part shaker-style Door/Drawer fronts in solid Maple, Swarovski Crystal Hardware, “Hollywood Silver” EcoResin, and an Acrylic Jewelry drawer. Custom painted in Benjamin Moore “Dove White” High Gloss.

♥

The Client was thrilled with the final result, “I am writing to express my family’s delight…Betty may well be the single best [vendor] I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.”

The Client, on Customer Service:

“Betty was the key. She is so professional and knowledgeable that she makes the details smooth and bearable even for a time-pressed client like myself. She came and measured, came and marked walls, came and consulted on the hardware, came and dropped off resin samples. She kept me to a schedule that worked out well in the end”

Betty Byrne, California Closets

Betty Byrne Online Portfolio

“[The Client] shared with me that working with California Closets was the best experience she has ever had. We made it easy, and seamless” – Betty Byrne

Contact Betty by email: bbyrne@calclosets.com

800.225.6901 | californiaclosets.com
California Closets services CT, MA, ME, NH and RI.

“Design of the Month” Winner – September, 2011

California Closets has selected the “Design of the Month” Winner for September, 2011 – a contemporary, open-concept Pantry designed by Stephanie Scharr Bonini!

Stephanie designed the pantry to perfectly accommodate the homeowners needs, considering space planning, design, function and overall aesthetic. The Before & After pics are a must-see!

Talk about Amazing Transformations!  Stephanie worked with the homeowner, Bob, to transform the original white-on-white panty into an amazing, open-concept contemporary pantry. Below is the design in the 3D CAD program.

Before: Not enough cabinet storage, difficult to prepare & cook
After: A truly customized pantry designed to fit Bob’s exact needs.  Open concept shelving allows easy access to pans, small appliances, serving pieces and cookbooks. The varying depths of the system helped accommodate different items without crowding the room, and gave the space some visual interest.

“Our Venetian Wenge finish coordinated with the flooring really well, and would give the space a warm and rich look. As you can see from the photos, it also makes for a beautiful backdrop for Bob’s cookware, cookbook collection, and regular pantry staples like pasta and oils.” – Stephanie Scharr Bonini, Design Consultant

“Bob wanted a really open concept and simple design. We agreed a couple of sections with doors would be good to hide bulk items, and that slide out shelves would make it easier to reach items in the lower sections. Trim molding is installed to make sure that there is a seamless finish to the floor” - Stephanie Scharr Bonini, Design Consultant

This pantry was expertly installed by Steve Rainville and Joe Melanson in 2 days.  They did an excellent job on the wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling details and trim.

“Bob, Angela, and their children are really enjoying the new space and the huge improvement to family meal time now that it is so easy to prepare for meals. Next on the list? Bob’s closet!” – Stephanie Scharr Bonini, Design Consultant

View Stephanie’s Portfolio

Stephanie Scharr Bonini, Design Consultant, California Closets

IN HER OWN WORDS…

“Each client has their own challenge and I love providing each client with a solution that resonates with their values, style, and needs.  When you choose to work with California Closets and myself as a designer, you can have peace of mind in knowing that it is my pleasure as well as my passion to help you find simplicity through a custom design solution.”

Follow Stephanie on Twitter: @StephanieBonini
Stephanie’s Design Blog: http://sbcalclosets.wordpress.com/ 

800.225.6901 | californiaclosets.com
California Closets services CT, MA, ME, NH and RI.

“Design of the Month” Winner – June, 2011

California Closets has selected the “Design of the Month” Winner for June, 2011 – a fabulous Master Suite Walk In Closet designed by Stephanie Scharr Bonini!  Stephanie designed a beautiful Virtuoso Closet!  Her customer, Tracy, was absolutely thrilled with both the design and functionality of the space.

“If you’re searching for modern clean line design in your closet, look no further than California Closets Virtuoso.  Let California Closets’ Virtuoso be the centerpiece of your master suite.” - Tracy, Homeowner

“I have been looking sharper these days thanks to the California Closets Virtuoso design… I’m better able to view all of my wardrobe at once.” - Tracy, Homeowner

Designing the Master Suite Walk In Closet was a true collaboration between Stephanie Scharr Bonini and her client Tracy.  Stephanie recalls, “Tracy and I collaborated so well together, and spent a lot of time discussing ideas, spatial planning, and her inventory during our first meeting. We utilized my iPad to look at photos and clarify the look she really wanted to attain.” 

“On our second meeting, I presented Tracy and her husband Paul with two designs- one in our Virtuoso line and another in Suite. Tracy and Paul loved the smooth, modern look of Virtuoso and it was full steam ahead from there.”

Rachel, our expert Installer, was a great help in getting accurate measurements (the room was very un-level) to make sure the top lighting treatments matched to give a seamless look. Installation took approximately a week due to the L-shape of the design, as well as the variance in the level of the floor and wall.

“Having lived out of 3 separate closets, we can attest to the fact that our new closet has actually saved us money as we were buying more clothes because we couldn’t see everything we owned.  I now love the useful space I have with my new closet California Closets design.” –  Tracy, Homeowner

View Stephanie’s Portfolio

Stephanie Scharr Bonini, Design Consultant, California Closets

ABOUT STEPHANIE

Stephanie is one of our best Design Consultants and it is truly a pleasure to work with her at California Closets.

In her own words: “Each client has their own challenge and I love providing each client with a solution that resonates with their values, style, and needs.  When you choose to work with California Closets and myself as a designer, you can have peace of mind in knowing that it is my pleasure as well as my passion to help you find simplicity through a custom design solution.”

Follow Stephanie on Twitter: @StephanieBonini
Stephanie’s Design Blog: http://sbcalclosets.wordpress.com/ 

800.225.6901 | californiaclosets.com
California Closets services CT, MA, ME, NH and RI.

“Design of the Month” Winner – March, 2011

The “Design of the Month” Winner for March 2011 – is Erica Heath of California Closets, CT.  She designed a closet fit for a celebrity!  Erica’s work with Interior Design Kellie Burke was featured in Hartford Magazine, Feb 2011.  Way to go Erica!

This month’s “Design of the Month” comes from designer Erica Heath in Hartford Connecticut. Teaming up with interior designer Kellie Burke, Erica crafted unique and useful storage solutions that Kellie transformed into this beautiful custom closet and dressing room. Building off of Erica’s design, interior designer Kellie Burke was able to add her own flourishes to an outstandingly designed closet system.

Erica Heath worked collaboratively with Kellie Burke to achieve a space where you can “be inspired by your wardrobe while shopping at home”.

In her own words:

“To match Kellie’s design sense and storage needs, I designed a master closet suite containing ample hanging and shelving units of differing sizes. Working around windows, curved walls, baseboard, and a heating system, several obstructions were taken into consideration when customizing a beautifully transformed space.   Accommodating her various dresses and coats, I designed wardrobe units flanking the entryway in which she embellished with French doors. To attain the retail store feel she was looking for, we installed numerous valet rods and guided poles.  Accomplishing the “monochromatic” look Kellie desired, we used paintable MDF, in which she then had her painter spray white lacquer upon.  Striving to achieve a space where you can “be inspired by your wardrobe while shopping at home”, we worked collaboratively to accomplish these special touches.” - Erica Heath, Design Consultant at California Closets

Contact Erica Heath by email eheath@calclosets.com,
or visit her website to see more of her work.

800.225.6901 | californiaclosets.com
California Closets services CT, MA, ME, NH and RI