Making an Impact: From Conception to Completion

In the past, we've shared many a mantle and fireplace makeovers with you but nothing quite like this! Take a look at this fireplace facelift, then call us to find out what we can do for your fireplace . . . go ahead, we're up to the challenge!

Making an Impact: From Conception to Completion   Before The challenge for this fireplace to create a warm, updated and interesting focal point with impact yet in a way that would add warmth and make the room feel cozy.    Initial Concept Drawing A computer illustrated rendering is a great visual tool which aids in communicating design concepts to clients before any work begins. Details and Revisions    Architectural Working      Drawings Architectural Drawing Revised The detail molding of the mantel was repeated twice above to create a pleasing frame to compliment and highlight the client's favorite artwork and again at the ceiling for a crowning finish. At each level the pilasters add stature, depth and dimension.   Design is all about the details and the corbels and applique selected for this fireplace facade added the final and most convincing details of an old world antique.  Now the Real Work Begins! Prepping the brick Positioning the top portion The men began the installation by removing the old supports for the previous mantel. The facade was fabricated off sight then brought in section by section. As you can see, this is more than a two man job. My husband even got in on this project (that's Mike adding support with a very large piece of wood). Securing it in place    Getting closer . . .  Waiting for the marble for the hearth and surround   Voila! C'est Tres Magnifique! Warm, beautiful, elegant . . . WOW! It looks like it's always been there. Now take a closer peek . . . Are you ready for winter? Cultivating Individuality in your Unique Home! Celeste Jackson

Lighten Up!

With the approach of Labor Day, I'm reminded that though the days are still warm, summer is coming to an end. Soon, the days will be shorter and I'll be able to see my breath in the crisp fall air. With this in mind, in this month's blog post I wanted to talk about the need for good lighting in our homes as well as thoughts and ideas on making the most of the lighting in your home.   I hope you are staying cool and enjoying every last bit of summer!

Lighten Up! Because of human nature, we are inclined to take light for granted; particularly during the long days of summer. Light is all around us, shaping our lives and enabling us to see.    When we learn of advancement in technology, it is frequently associated with computers or entertainment. Who hasn't heard of the iPhone or Blue-ray DVD's or the Apple watch? Remember when only the Jetsons could carry technology on their wrists?  With advancements in lighting being made continually, why do so many homes still use lighting from 20, 30 or even 40 years ago? All too often poor lighting is addressed by using a higher watt bulb. While this solution may work for a small area such as a desk top, the solution for an entire room or home requires more thought and planning.   Every lighting plan begins with these questions:  What type of space is being lit?   How it is the light we use in a room being distributed?  Will it be critical to how we feel in a space, how our eyes see the colors of our fabrics and furniture or how well we are able do the things we want to in a given space?  Lighting needs also change with age and need to be updated accordingly. Today's lighting solutions go far beyond the incandescent vs. florescent light bulbs of the past. They require a careful assessment of the occupants' needs to identify the best quantity, placement and lighting source combination. Also, the selection of the correct light bulb with the correct light fixture can be very confusing since they are not as  interchangeable as they first appear and the results can be most unappealing. Complex lighting solutions are often best left to experts: a professional interior designer or a lighting specialist. As we are better able to control light, we are also better able to control our environments by the way light is distributed through our homes and the feeling it creates.   Cultivating Individuality in Your Unique Home Celeste Jackson

So Nice, You'll Have to Look Twice

So Nice, You'll Have to Look Twice!

Project by Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd.

Tableaux Faux Iron is a remarkable product. It possesses the beauty of decorative iron but is light weight making it easy to hang indoors or out. Because it is constructed from environmentally friendly composite materials, it is only 10% of the weight of iron. It's design and dimensions can be customized to fit any window, architectural element or personal style and is available in 17 decorative finishes.

Project by Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd.

The decorative pieces used in the niche above this fireplace were custom sized to fit the space. These pieces provide texture, dimension and added interest to this large expansive wall space.

  Used as a window treatment, these decorative pieces add beauty and architectural interest to windows, skylights, sidelights, transoms and archways. They can also be designed to simulate window mullions.

Project by Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd.

Project by Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd.

Installed over the draperies, the Faux Iron cornice related to the pieces installed on the double doors.

Look Up! Ceilings!              All too often an afterthought, ceilings offer a large uninterrupted plane that's begging to be adorned.            The Tableaux EX material used for exterior application is a water, rot, and termite resistant wood composite material. Use it for your homes corner brackets or arches or in the garden on your patio, gazebo, terrace or trellis.    For even more great ideas, go to:    http://tableaux.com/     . . . then call Celeste to learn what will work for you!

To unleash your home's true potential, call  Celeste Jackson Interiors today! To view more inspiring homes, visit Celeste's website at: CelesteJacksonInteriors.com Cultivating Individuality in Your Unique Home Celeste Jackson

First Impressions

First Impressions

Curb appeal is a term often used by realtors when selling a home but in reality it applies to all homes. This term, curb appeal, simply describes how visually attractive a home is when viewed from the street. There are a number of details that contribute to creating great curb appeal. A well maintained home with attractive landscaping, containers of flowers on the porch and a pretty wreath on the door all add color and say "Welcome" but since it can be seen from a distance, it's your home's paint color that gets noticed first. Have you ever driven past a home and wondered if the color it was painted was truly the home owner's desired end result? Maybe they wanted a warm sunny yellow but got safety vest reflective yellow instead. Choosing paint colors can be challenging.  Trying to visualize a one inch square paint chip spread over the expanse of an entire house can make it seem virtually impossible. As demonstrated in previous newsletters, Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd. has a unique computer program that illustrates how your home will look before any work begins. This same program can be applied to the outside of your home. Look below at what Celeste Jackson Interiors, Ltd. has done for others just like you, then, give us a call so you can see what we can do for you! 

Lighting the Way One of the more recent home trends is to bring the inside out, including full outdoor kitchens in many new home designs. An outdoor space can provide a tranquil place for intimate conversation and sipping wine or host a celebration for friends and family. Whatever the occasion, lighting should enhance the beauty and enjoyment of your outdoor spaces. Just as it is indoors, your outdoor lighting should be layered coming from multiple sources so it illuminates without glare. Discreetly lighting your trees and plants can create a dramatic sculptured effect. Small lanterns along walks and stairs provide soft subtle light as well as safety. A ceiling fan on your covered porch or gazebo will provide a breeze on warm summer nights and help keep flying, buzzing things at bay. Light fixtures for outdoors are stylish with a myriad of design and finish options and are given the same attention to detail that was once reserved solely for interior lighting.

 

 Cultivating Individuality

Celeste Jackson IDS

So What's So Great About Shutters?

On days when it's not raining and the summer sun beats in my windows, I am reminded again of just how much power and heat the sun has. Left unguarded, the sun will bleach the color from the fabrics on my window treatments and furniture and cause my air conditioning to run continuously. As you know, when I have a beautiful quality product which offers a great solution to a problem, I like to share it and I have something great in Norman Shutters. Please read on to find out more!

So What's So Great About Shutters?

Louvered shutters are not a new concept in home decor. In fact, they are thought to have originated in ancient Greece where their primary function was to allow air ventilation while minimizing heat from the sun.  It is for this same reason we still use them today. The adjustable slats retain privacy yet allow light and air to continue to penetrate into the room. 

 

When fully opened, shutters create a spaciousness to the room and enhance its view of the out doors. Like rich furniture, they add warmth and beauty. Many people prefer wood shutters not only because they are easy to maintain, durable and hold up well when handled, but also they possess a  timeless beauty that will enhance any decor. Whether your home's style is very traditional, very contemporary or somewhere in between, Norman Shutters has a design to compliment your home's style.

Norman Shutters also makes equally beautiful quality blinds. Whatever your window treatment needs, they have a solution for you.

 

  

Norman SHUTTERS Norman SHUTTERS By  Geengyee Chong, Norman Shutters  About Us Backed by more than 30 years of manufacturing experience, plus a proud reputation for having superior customer service and industry-leading products, Norman Window Fashions is the total solution for window coverings. We offer a complete line-up of premium window coverings. Product offerings include the Norman shutter line, a collection of faux wood, basswood and eco-friendly Phoenix wood blinds, and honeycomb shades. Sussex® Born of the finest basswoods, crafted by hand and finished with a rich palette of paints and stains, Sussex® are truly fine furniture for your windows. The refined elegance of the Sussex® line is created by artisans who craft each custom shutter using mortise and tenon joinery, arguably the strongest joint in woodworking.   mortise and tenon joinery   The assembled shutters then undergo a meticulous process that includes multiple hand sandings and application of coats of your ideal paint or stain. The result - an heirloom with a soft, lustrous surface more akin to silk than the rough-hewn shutters you see from other manufacturers. Normandy® Made from the wood of rapid-growth eco-friendly Paulownia trees, Normandy® not only adds a warm contemporary accent to your home décor, but also make your decorating decision much more rewarding. The distinctive wood grain enhances color, depth and character of your shutters through the inherent texture of the timber.   Woodlore® Woodlore® shutters are constructed with a solid medium density fiberboard (MDF) - real wood in an advanced state - for incredible density and strength. Woodlore® patented protective coating is extremely durable and robust, resistant to cracking or chipping over time. In addition, it meets the most stringent environmental standards and has been verified to be environmentally safe, releasing no volatile organic compounds into the air. Designed to offer the highest performance at a great value, Woodlore provides an enduring, distinguishing accent to any window. Cultivating Individuality in Your Unique Home! Celeste Jackson

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

As an interior designer, it's my job to help my clients create a home that's an expression of their tastes and personal style which will be conducive to their lifestyle. So, when I meet with a client for the first time, I ask them to describe how they would like their home to look, their style and what "feeling" they'd like their home to have. While all my clients can clearly articulate what they don't like, some will struggle to describe what they do like and want.

In the days before the internet, I would encourage my clients to "read and rip" through magazines, collecting images to help them identify and communicate the design elements they liked best. Today, we have Houzz, Pinterest and countless websites with seemingly endless design ideas but inspiration can come from many places.

  

When you're looking for what to do next in your home, look on the internet and home magazines for room views of finishes, furnishings and accessories but then look in some less likely places too. Nature, food, art are all wonderful places to begin. They can present amazing color combinations and provide wonderful insight to personal preferences.       Think of the colors of the four seasons; the soft, fresh pastels of spring, the bold, bright summer hues, the deep, rich jewel colors of harvest and the cool neutrals of winter.   Food may sound like an odd place to look for home design inspiration but food is a great way to articulate the shade of your favorite colors.   Chocolate Brown Lemon Yellow Cherry Red         Vacations can be a great source of ideas.  You may be looking to bring home the feel of a luxurious hotel, the warm glow of the lighting in your favorite restaurant or the cozy feel of a bed and breakfast.

Art can be the launching point for design style and color palettes for one room or the entire house. It says a lot about your personal taste and makes you feel good about your room each time you enter. Goethe wrote, " A person should hear a little music, read a little poetry and see a fine picture every day in order that the worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful God has implanted in the human soul." Aside from a house of worship, there's rarely a more perfect place to restore oneself that at home. So, whether your artwork evokes a memory, a day dream or just makes you smile, don't under estimate its the role it plays in creating the end result of your home.      Cultivating Individuality in Your Unique Home! Celeste Jackson