It is a proud day for us at Design Connection! Arlene Ladegaard has been honored by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), winning 4 Gold and 2 Silver awards for her interior designs! These Before & After pictures of her award-winning transformations are a must-see!

Last Friday, I was honored to have my work as an interior designer acknowledged at The 2017 ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) Awards.

The ASID awards are quite the honor to receive; winners are chosen by our industry peers and are judged by another chapter in different state. I can’t believe I took home four gold and two silver awards! Special thanks are due to my talented team for all of your hard work and dedication!

To see the Before & After pics and to read the unique design stories for each of these rooms, click on the pics for more details. Here is a look at our 2015 ASID award winning projects:

GOLD: Specialty Entertaining

Adding a wine cellar was a long-time desire of my clients. During their years of research on the many different design styles and wine cellar features available, they had acquired a collection of over 1200 bottles of wine! The moveable rack system allows them to easily accommodate their variety of different sized bottles.

Because the new wine cellar was set to share a wall with the entertainment area, we added extra insulation between the walls to prevent the 80 inch television and sound system from vibrating the wine bottles. After much consideration, a large mirror was added which brightens the space and adds visual interest by reflecting the light and highlights their show-stopping wine collection.

I selected a weathered oak gray finish and carried this look through the wine cellar and tasting area, using the same coloration on the floors, and cement gray paint on the walls and ceiling. A Cambria Quartz countertop with a chipped edge and a customized cabinet houses the various sizes of glasses used for different wines.  Track LED lighting was installed, setting the perfect mood for this unique wine cellar.

GOLD: Living Area

This floor plan was created and all of the furnishings were selected with the homeowners’ ideals in mind. Comfortable seating that focused on the fireplace and television were skillfully positioned. We installed the television above the mantle, ensuring easy viewing from every angle in the room. Upholstered pieces with well-wearing fabrics were wisely chosen to marry the older traditional pieces with the new end tables and contemporary lighting.

When our clients receive a drastic design change complete with new furnishings, many times there is an accessory or painting or a special piece of furniture that they would love to see incorporated into their new design. These treasured pieces tend to serve as a jumping point in our designs; colors are pulled from a painting and used to tie a color scheme together, or, as in this case, their mid-century wood pieces anchors the new furniture selections and balances the re-design of this newly remodeled transitional great room.

The new area rug grounds the room and the gold and warm gray tones add richness and comfort to the new color scheme. Hunter Douglas wood blinds finished in white compliment the new trim color and complete the look of this beautiful and updated transitional space.

The bar area in the great room was also re-vamped. The awkward and chunky honey-oak double door cabinet was replaced with a separate lower cabinet and a lighted glass paneled upper cabinet. The Cambria quartz counter top adds class  and clean lines to this new great room showpiece.

The kitchen, powder room, and dining room in this home was also updated. See the entire project here:

SILVER: Kitchen

The layout of the original kitchen worked well, but the design style my clients desired required a complete gut and update. The original sink was positioned in the center of kitchen, creating the perfect focal point. Unfortunately, the emphasis was placed on a simple sink, a blank backsplash, and a standard faucet. Keeping the sink in the same location, the focal point of this kitchen is now a beauty to behold.

The crisp and classic white herringbone Jeffery Court tiles pair perfectly with the new white inset cabinets and really makes a statement against the Newport Brass antique bronze faucet and accessories. Chosen for their durability and exquisite beauty, the new quartzite countertops add a stunning element to this newly renovated kitchen.

Glass front cabinets that flank the sink and add visual interest while the adjoining lowered cabinets add dimension and depth to the space. My clients loved the idea of blending traditional and modern components in their new kitchen; the X design featured in the glass cabinet fronts was a great way to tie in these transitional elements while keeping the design current yet classic.

Designing a kitchen that has the perfect look and feel aren’t the only elements required in creating the kitchen of your dreams; well-thought-out custom storage is essential to attaining a high-functioning kitchen design. Even with a large pantry, having your most used items close-at-hand is a gold star design element. My clients now enjoy easy access to their favorite spices, oils, and condiments with their custom 8-inch spice rack.

The needs of every family member are carefully considered when redesigning any space, including my clients’ furry children. This custom pull-out cabinet features dry dog food storage below and easy access to the family’s favorite cereals, crackers, and daily go-to snacks above.

Making clever use of space is one of my favorite challenges when designing kitchen remodels. For this reason, I use corner cabinet pull-outs in many of my kitchen designs, like the Hafele peanut swing corner pull-out used in this project.

The built-in storage area was also on the list to update. What was once a built-in bookshelf and catch-all is now a beautiful and functional extension of the kitchen.

Like the kitchen, the new bar area was designed specifically for my clients’ needs. Features like soft-close drawers with full extension allow for easy access to their sterling silver ware, table linens and accessories.

The quartzite countertops and backsplash maintain a continuous flow from the kitchen throughout this space. While the dark coffee bean cabinets blend beautifully with the flooring, the contrast against the white kitchen cabinetry makes this new bar area stand out in the most elegant way.

SILVER: Specialty Entertaining

The original fireplace was too heavy for the space and did not correspond to the transitional look of the rest of the house. The fireplace was simplified with emphasis on textures rather than heavily detailed trim work. The fireplace received black and pewter glass mosaic tiles with a metallic finish, as well as red rosettes for additional texture and color. Instead of a heavily carved ornate panel above the mantel, large sconces with crystal droplets flanking the custom-framed black and white family photo make a statement in the room.

The newly designed music room also had to flow seamlessly to the entry which it opens up to, and also to the rest of the house. A coordinating wall color was selected, as well as the rich black metallic finish of the sconces that matched the finish and the style of the entry chandelier unified the two spaces together. To match the visual proportion of the room to the two-story entry, tailored custom window treatments with black metal rods and crystal finials were installed well above the window trims. Installing the window treatments with a clean silhouette closer to the ceiling helped to increase the visual height of the room.

GOLD: Kitchen

My clients wanted to update their family room. After carefully assessing the first floor of the home, we agreed that their needs went beyond new furniture in the family room. The kitchen did not lack in size; it did, however, lack in storage, flow, and function. The original peninsula in the kitchen restricted access to the dining area, which required my clients to limit the furniture in the hearth room in order move about from kitchen, through the hearth room, and into the dining area.

The hearth room had the great built-ins and the original brick fireplace was in good shape, but the layout didn’t allow for functional furniture and their single sofa was usually only enjoyed by the family pup.

By eliminating the bulky peninsula that cut the kitchen off from the rest of the space, we were able to install a new island that holds a Wolf cooktop, and a deep 28” drawer for convenient storage and easy access to pots and pans.

A larger T-shaped island was installed in order to provide seating for eight and eliminates the need for a large dining table. In the middle of the island, 12” deep cabinets on either side provide extra storage for occasionally used cookware.

Creating additional counter and storage space was a must, especially since the original kitchen lacked a designated pantry space. By relocating the refrigerator beside the new double wall ovens, we were able to install two space-saving pull-out pantry cabinets. By removing the soff it and installing taller cabinets, the visual height AND the available storage was increased in this kitchen.

The original built-in desk area in the corner generally went unused and had turned into a catch-all for miscellaneous items. The desk area was replaced by a tall pantry cabinet that included a 42” tall drawer stack with custom dividers and a generous storage space above with doors.

A gray-wash with a brown undertone was selected for new custom cabinets, pairing perfectly with the darker gray Silestone Iron Ore quartz countertops. To add visual interest and texture to this space, a glass and stone mosaic was selected for the small backsplash area.

While still two distinct spaces, the hearth room now flows beautify into the kitchen, joined together by the new T-shaped quartz island. Because this new extension eliminated the need for their large dining room table, the old dining space is now occupied by two comfortable leather swivel chairs that double as a conversation space and as a comfortable TV viewing area. In the small corner leading from the kitchen to the formal dining room, we also added new built-in storage and buffet, perfect for serving and storing glassware and serving pieces.

By redesigning this space, we not only changed the flow of the kitchen, we changed the way the kitchen worked. Designing a kitchen that “flows” isn’t just about looks, it is about function! My clients used to navigate through their kitchen; now they are able to flow with their kitchen.

The living room was also completely updated. See more pictures from this home here:

GOLD: Master Bedroom

This entire home underwent a dramatic transformation. See the master bathroom pics this project here:

And check out the kitchen remodel here:

The living room was also completely updated. Read the design story and see more project pics here:

Would you like an award-winning design for your home? We know that figuring out where to start can be the hardest part of a home decor update or remodel. We make your tough design decisions easy–Contact us for a complimentary design consultation. From choosing new furniture to re-facing your fireplace to managing a complete home remodel, we can help you with all of your dream home features, all under our roof. When visiting our extensive in-studio sample library, you can see and touch all of your design selections together. Not only can you make all of your design choices in one place, this convenience makes it easy to envision your new space and be confidant with your decisions. Contact us today!