Happy New Year! Welcome 2020!

Happy New Year to all my followers and regular readers. May 2020 be a healing, peaceful, and prosperous year for the planet.

See you soon for the first post of 2020. Until then, Happy Designing!

Happy Winter Solstice and Happy Holidays 2019!

This year, 2019, the Winter Solstice--the shortest day and longest night of the year--for the northern hemisphere happened this Saturday, December 21st. I am wishing everyone a Happy Winter Solstice and a beautiful and joyous Holiday Season!

Fiorito Interior Design Sneak Peek: A Master Bathroom In Progress

Regular readers will know that I usually only post photos of completed projects, but every now and then I am so excited about a remodel, I need to share a bit of the process and progress before my photographer comes in to document the finished space. A current whole-house remodel I've been working on for over a year is nearly done and has turned out to be lovely, but the pinnacle is the master bathroom.

The original master bath of this 50+ year-old house was much smaller before we added on to the home and rebuilt the master suite. While still compact, we poured a lot of style and unique materials into the new bathroom and I am so thankful that my clients were eager for something special...and not afraid of pattern!

We found a fascinating tile for the floor...a hex pattern where each hex is bordered by a tiny 1/2" x 1/2  and then a 1" x 1" mosaic. It was a bold move to decide to put this tile on the floor and we were all so excited to see the results...

Here are some conceptual renderings of the original idea.

But as I say in my second Design Mantra to the right, design is a process and things always morph and change as the life of a project continues...that is the fun of design. Our color palette shifted from warm to cool and we chose the Carrara and Nero Marquina marble version of the flooring. The field tile on the return walls became bright white, and most excitingly, we discovered a glorious Carrara fish-scale mosaic for the main wall of the shower.

Picking the right grout color allows the tile shapes to be highlighted or hidden. In our case, we ended with a much brighter white than what you see below in order to highlight the texture of the fan-shaped tiles. The flooring grout stayed grey so as to blend in and not interrupt the pattern that drew us to it in the first place. And of course we matched the white tiles on the return walls as there is no need to draw attention to them. They are supporting players, not the star.

A large bench and large, long niche provide flexible function in the shower.

And here is our glorious tile on the floor (a linear drain allowed us to build a zero clearance shower and to run the floor tile right to the back wall!) and the shower walls with the special fan-shaped mosaic...all grouted and awaiting the installation of a glass enclosure.

I'm very excited for the rest of the house to be completed. Stay tuned in 2020 for beauty shots of this bathroom as well as guest bathrooms and a lovely blue and white kitchen!

Happy designing!

Happy Thanksgiving 2019!

I wish all of my readers and followers in the United States a very happy Thanksgiving Day!

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”
― Eckhart Tolle

Happy Thanksgiving!

Famous Homes: The Circular Sun House

It's been 60 years since Frank Lloyd Wright's death, but the architect's legacy still lives on. The Circular Sun House in Phoenix, which is the last residence Wright designed, will be auctioned off on October 16 by Heritage Auctions. The mid-century modern furniture will also be part of the sale.

With breathtaking views of the mountains, the 3,095-square-foot contemporary property, also known as the Norman Lykes House, features three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It was built in 1967 and restored by the late architect's apprentice, John Rattenbury, in 1994. From an eye-catching living room fireplace to built-in storage and a curved kitchen, the property boasts an impressive array of Wright's signature design details.

Happy designing!

Happy Halloween 2019

Halloween is just around the corner and it's not too late to spook the place up a bit!

Use old frames from a thrift store painted black and glue on peat moss and twigs; tie branches and ripped cheesecloth to a chandelier; green light bulbs cast a sickly glow; place a realistic looking skull on a pile of old books; drip red wax on white taper candles to make them "bleed."

Happy designing and Happy Halloween!

"A Walk In The Forest" Bathroom by Fiorito Interior Design

When a husband and wife team of professional botanists wanted to remodel their cramped, 1980s-era bathroom, we naturally looked to the forest for inspiration! With the expert help of Elite Construction Services Inc., we opened up this formerly segmented space (the toilet and washer/dryer were in a separate area from the shower/tub and vanity) to make it feel larger. A controlled, muted color scheme further enlarges the room by connecting all the planes, and serves as a neutral backdrop for a calming spa experience.

All the materials speak to my clients’ love of nature. The custom wood vanity with tower and coordinating mirror frame are made so the grain lays in a refreshing horizontal pattern. The porcelain field tile is made to look like limestone with shadows of sediment and fossils. Other elements add to the feeling of a walk in the woods: long-format porcelain tiles of falling leaves cascade down a wall and blend into a stream of river stones that roll across the width of the space. The open, curbless shower with a hidden linear drain invites users for a cleansing respite. Sleek, modern fixtures and a wall-hung toilet enhance the clean, soothing look of this organic, tranquil bathroom.

All photos by Genia Barnes.

If you'd like to infuse a bit of nature into your bathroom, contact me by clicking on my logo to the right! I'd love to create something with you.

Happy designing!