Monday, March 25, 2024

Know Your Sofas: The Tuxedo Sofa

Originating in the Art Deco1920s and named for Tuxedo Park, a village in New York (where the likes of William Waldorf Astor, J.P. Morgan, and Dorothy Draper, previously here, partied!), the Tuxedo sofa is sharp and tailored; not only is the sofa named for the town but also the formal menswear suiting got its name here as well! A hallmark of the sofa is that the arms are the same height as the back. A true Tuxedo is tufted, as shown below. But what is the difference between a Tuxedo sofa and a Chesterfield sofa, previously covered here in Know Your Sofas? The Tuxedo is sleeker, with track arms whereas the Chesterfield is plumply overstuffed with rolled arms. Overall, the Tuxedo feels more delicate and the Chesterfield feels burly.

The pair of sofas below, the Powell and the Laguna models from Burton James, offer a classic Tuxedo silhouette. The Powell is presented with a bench seat that feels a little mid-century, but the Laguna is shown with two cushions, small nickel nailheads, and acrylic legs lending it a more Deco air.

Powell Tuxedo sofa from Burton James
Bernhardt's Beckett sofa features traditional diamond tufting on the back and arms.

Beckett Tuxedo sofa by Bernhardt
Beckett Tuxedo sofa by Bernhardt

The extra width of the three-cushion Matteo sofa from Century is welcoming...they also make a four-cushion for additional seating!

Matteo Tuxedo sofa from Century
Matteo Tuxedo sofa from Century

Lexington's Camille sofa has a double row of nailheads... ...while the Byatt from Theodore Alexander has a row of nailheads inside the seating area which defines the tufting, making the design even more crisp and tailored.

Byatt Tuxedo sofa from Theodore Alexander

Happy designing!

Monday, March 11, 2024

The Three Mistakes Everyone Makes When Planning Their Own Remodel

In my nearly two decades of being an interior designer, I have heard my share of stories of remodels that went quickly and efficiently, but I have heard many horror stories of remodels that went down in flames. The difference? Before you begin thinking about your remodel, you need to read about these three common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Starting your remodel without a physical plan
Whether you want to remodel your home or a room within it, especially a kitchen or bathroom where every inch of space matters, you need a clear plan of action: what will be remodeled, what will change or be replaced and what will stay (if anything), and where will it all go? Often a bathroom’s footprint cannot change due to plumbing line locations, but you should still review any item you are installing. Will your new vanity fit the old spot? Is it higher? Is it a wall mounted vanity or will it sit on the floor? Do you want a wall mounted or deck mounted faucet? Your contractor will want to know these things so she or he can make sure to include the work in the quote, but also plan for whatever extra work those decisions might entail: for example a floating vanity requires extra wood reinforcements in the wall and a wall mounted faucet requires in-wall plumbing. As you can imagine, a kitchen can be much more complicated simply because it features more cabinetry and appliances. Working without a plan set for your contractor to refer to while installing elements in any space can result in costly errors.

Primary Bathroom design by Fiorito Interior Design
Primary Bathroom design by Fiorito Interior Design
Primary Bathroom design by Fiorito Interior Design
Kitchen design by Fiorito Interior Design
Kitchen design by Fiorito Interior Design
Kitchen design by Fiorito Interior Design
Primary Suite Bathroom/Closet design by Fiorito Interior Design
Primary Suite Bathroom/Closet design by Fiorito Interior Design
Primary Suite Bathroom/Closet design by Fiorito Interior Design

Expecting A Completed Remodel In An Unrealistic Timeframe
Remodels in the real world are not like the remodel shows you see on home and garden television shows. A kitchen or bathroom cannot be ripped down to the studs, installed, and completed in a week or two. Renovation work is a complicated process in which your contractor needs to “stack the subs” or in lay terms, hire the correct professionals for each phase of work when they are needed. Your work will most likely require not only your contractor but also a plumber, an electrician, a tile setter, a sheet rocker, a plasterer, a painter, and in the case of a bathroom, a glazier for the shower enclosure. All these experts are booked in turns as each aspect of the installation comes up. I have often heard potential clients say they need the bathroom done in two or three weeks in time for some special event, a request which is totally unrealistic. Even before the pandemic, it took some time for materials to be ordered, shipped, and delivered. We have still not completely recovered from the pandemic and lead times remain a little long for some materials and furnishings.

Family Room/Kitchen design by Fiorito Interior Design

Underestimating The Cost Of Your Remodel
This one derails homeowners the most. Before the pandemic, a remodel was always a pricey exercise. But since then, the cost of materials has skyrocketed, the cost of transportation and delivery has skyrocketed, and as the cost of living has increased so has the cost of labor. What used to seem like a nice-sized savings to pay for a bathroom, kitchen, or partial or whole house remodel is no longer sufficient. But one thing has not changed and that is that remodels are always more expensive than you think they should or will be.
 
Custom-built condo design by Fiorito Interior Design
Custom-built condo design by Fiorito Interior Design
Custom-built condo design by Fiorito Interior Design
Custom-built condo design by Fiorito Interior Design

The best way to do avoid these three mistakes is, of course, to hire a professional who can guide you through all the steps and even create a paper plan for the contractor and sub-contractors to see and use as a road map for what will be done, and how it will be installed. One of the valuable features of planning ahead is being able to spot problems and issues before they arise and plotting it out on paper is essential, and a good way to spot potential sticking points like, for example, not enough room between a vanity and a door for moulding. A set of renderings that show a plan view and elevations are useful for everyone to visualize what the new space will look like. I work in a 3D program to illustrate the concept of the space and give clients an idea of what the proposed space will feel like.

Kitchen ceiling treatment mirrors the shape of  the island by Fiorito Interior Design

I also have clients approve the final design for the space(s), then have all elements purchased from my network of vendors and, if possible, on site before work begins (this always makes contractors very happy). Design is a process and should be navigated judiciously. Lead times can be complicated and if you have someone looking out for pitfalls, you can rest assured that things will go smoothly. However, there can always be unexpected problems, and this is where my network of vendors comes in handy. Instead of calling some 800 number from a website and getting a frustrating run around causing even more delays, I can have problems solved by a vendor or product rep the same day.

Luxury bathroom design by Fiorito Interior Design

Finally, as a result of price increases, the total cost of a remodel has skyrocketed but once I see a space and can judge how much will be needed given a client’s scope of service, I can give homeowners a much better idea of a final cost. Having said that, it is always wise to keep a reserve for unforeseen issues like dry rot or mold mitigation…you never know what is lurking in the walls until they are opened up and examined.

Exotic home theatre design by Fiorito Interior Design

I act as your advocate and guide, presenting you with products and materials you may not have seen before, and preventing mistakes that can cost time and money. It is worth it to hire an interior designer to preserve your money, time, and sanity.

Primary bathroom design by Fiorito Interior Design
Bathroom design by Fiorito Interior Design
Powder room design by Fiorito Interior Design

Happy designing!