Post pictures of or write about your LEAST favorite room in your home on our Facebook page for a chance to win a room re-do between now and February 20th!  Leave a brief description about what you dislike and why. Encourage friends to “like” your post.  The person with the most “likes” will win. The winner will be announced Monday, February 27th. Details are below!

5 Easy Steps:

1. Log into your Facebook account.

2. Find us on Facebook at:   http://www.facebook.com/ParadigmInteriorDesignInc  

3. Click on “Photo” which is write next to “Post”.

 4. Select Upload a Photo

5. Click “Choose File” to select the image you want to upload

Contest Details:

- Submit photos of one room – post via your computer or phone to Facebook.

- Encourage friends and family to like your post and picture.  The person with the most “likes” will win.

- There are no restrictions on the location of the property.

*Winner will receive a room re-do. We start by rearranging your existing pieces of furniture to make the space more functional and visually appealing.  Next we can help you select paint colors, accessorize, and fall back in the love with your home!

- Winner will be announced February 27th via Facebook and our website/blog.  Pictures of the before and after will be posted on our blog upon completion.

 Before

After

Bored with your home?  Looking for some easy, affordable ways to freshen things up?  Look no further!  Here are some quick fixes to update any room in your home.

Option 1: Paint

Get rid of the boring beige.  Below is a great example of how a little color on the walls can brighten up a space and make it feel larger.

 Work to find the right balance of light and dark.  This will prevent a room with dark walls from feeling small.  The light floors, cabinets, and ceiling are a beautiful contrast to the navy walls.

Don’t be afraid to try a bright color.

That said, neutrals can also make a statement when the right hue is used.  Notice how crisp this color looks with the white trim.

Try a pattern to make a bold statement in a small space.

Consider putting the pattern on the floor.  It is a great way to provide color and visual interest in any space.

Option 2: Revamp or upgrade a light fixture

This is a great example of how an old brass chandelier can have a new life if you have the time for a little DIY project.  Try a spray paint with a gloss finish.

I had to throw this in.  I made a wine glass chandelier to go with my thesis project back in college.  It took 36 wine glasses, fishing line, and a single light bulb.

I love using chandeliers in different spaces such as bedrooms, closets, or bathrooms.  They add a touch of nostalgia and intimacy to a room.

A funky grouping of fixtures can make a dynamic statement.

Option 3: Make your bed the throne of your bedroom

Reinvent your headboard.  Try a found material like the one below made of old plank floor boards.

Consider reupholstering an antique headboard with a bold color or pattern that draws the eye.

If you don’t have room or the budget for a headboard, consider a wall decal.  They are an inexpensive, fun way to give a room character.

Option 4: Reupholster or refinish

Find a piece of furniture that has good bones but is in sad shape.  Give it some TLC and the end product can be stunning.

This console has an old school finish, but a carefully applied coat of paint gives it a lovely new life.

Option 5: Invest

Invest in ONE “statement piece” of furniture per room.  It can be a piece that you lovingly refurbish or one that you choose to splurge on.  Whether a chair, desk, mirror, accent piece, table, or rug, the choice is up to you, but one thing is certain – it must steal the show.  What is your eye drawn to in the images below?

There are two spaces in a home that people want to remodel most: the kitchen and the bathroom.  Unless your home is a new-build, it is highly unlikely that you love every nook and cranny of your bathroom.  For most of us in older homes, condo’s and apartments, there are a number of things in this space we would like to change, but don’t have the budget or ability to follow through on.  Before you decide to blow up your bathroom and start from scratch, take a look at some of the beautiful abodes we found and our tips to take your bathroom from ho-hum to your personal sanctuary.

Warm and cozy, the collection of unique mirrors in this bathroom are tied together through a simple coat of paint.  Try finding a few mirrors that have interesting frames at garage sales or thrift stores, spray paint the frames to match, and voila, your own wall-feature is complete.

Mirrors also help small spaces feel larger and reflect the colors of their surroundings so there is less need for artwork.  The use of reclaimed wood, likely from a wood shop table in this case, offers a touch of nostalgia.

A chandelier can completely change the feel of a space.  I love this wire one, it adds dimension and a touch of the whimsical to the already soft color palette.

Are you a bookworm?  Then bring some of that love for literature into your bathroom.  These backlit shelves give a very simple room color and personality.  Accessorize the shelves with a few objects that pull out the brightest color in the space.

This look is clean and fresh.  The vintage wall-mounted mirror offers some open storage, as the pedestal sink and subway tile create a balance between matte and glossy finishes.

Love the use of an antique armoire and bold colored claw foot tub.  To get a little extra spice, try adding a cool printed paper, wallpaper, or fabric as the insert panel in your storage unit.  The one shown was likely a china cabinet with glass panels.  Try painting the outside of your old claw-foot tub.  Both are easy weekend DIY projects that could transform you bath quickly.

Yay storage!!  To the women reading this, show off your shoes and handbags!  They are works of art in their own right.  This will give you a place to store them and admire them.  I also love how this bathroom makes use of the vertical space, and who doesn’t love a charming ladder.

A very easy way to change the feel of your bathroom is with a fun new shower curtain and a floor length mirror.  The chunky frame on this mirror is the perfect opposition to the ethereal shower curtain and playful tub.

This was too clever not to show.  What a great way to reuse an old bike and give a pedestal sink a little bit of storage for hand towels or other necessities in the bike’s basket. It feels funky and retro.

A great use of color and asymmetry.  This is a great idea for a small space.  You get a full length mirror, sink with vanity mirror, little bit of counter space, and 2 drawers all in one wall-mounted piece (gotta love the one leg!).

 An organic or sleek ledge is a beautiful, easy accent to add to a bathroom.  Put it on the longest wall to help elongate the space.

Storage is key in most bathrooms.  Pick a wall and turn it into a sort of apothecary cabinet.  Keep colors the same and hide unruly items like hair dryers, etc in boxes or baskets.

Ladders can be an great addition to any bath.  Simple and easy management for towels or magazines.

If you have very little space, one of the best things you could do is add a recessed Robern cabinet.  They come in many configurations and depths.  I used to have one with interior electrical outlets in our old home.  This is brilliant because it can hide razors and toothbrushes while charging so they don’t clutter the bathroom counter.  They also have a mirror defogger which is great when you are in a hurry and can’t see your mirror.

Paradigm, in collaboration with Nest Architecture and BOA Construction, won a 2011 CARE award from the HBA of Denver for “Whole House Remodel” in the category of $500,000 – 1 Million.  This is the second award received for our Belcaro residence.  Click here to see more pictures of the winning project.

Special thanks to the homeowners for allowing us to work on their home and a shout out to the great team at Nest and BOA because we all know that a successful project is a team effort.

Drywall has been hung and wow, this residence has taken a night-and-day change for the better.  Below are some pictures. 

Above:  Looking into the den and out to the courtyard.  We opened the door from a small 3′ opening to a 9′ opening.  I knew light would come in but didn’t realize how much.  Light now floods from both sides into the living space. 

Standing in the den looking at the fireplace wall.  The last bit of drywall to be installed.

Looking at the front door.  To the left is the fireplace which has been covered to keep dust off the newly laid rock. 

Master bathroom.  To the left is the new shower footprint.  To the right of the half wall will be the vanities. 

Looking at the master bedroom fireplace wall.  This is same fireplace as the den. 

Looking at the garage entry.  Love having the stairs opened up. 

Standing in the living room alcove looking into the den and the entry wall that will be the cabinetry to include the bar, desk, storage and coat closet.  Note that the stair walls have been removed. 

Living room alcove where the baby grand will reside. 

The doors to the patio. 

Standing in the kitchen looking at the fireplace and den to the right.

Living room view looking into kitchen.  Note the new skylights.  Even more natural light. 

Guest bath shower alcove. 

Guest bedroom.   Door on the left goes into the bathroom; space in middle will become a closet.

From the garage entry looking over the stairs.

The Kent Village project in the process of demolition.  Most walls have been removed but the old electrical and plumbing remain.  The pile carpet has been torn out to reveal old parquet floors. 

Looking from the living room into the guest & master bathrooms. 

Standing in the entry hall (behind the fireplace) looking into baths.

This may be one of my favorite pictures.  I love that the chandelier is still hanging in the guest bath/powder.  You can also see the old plumbing for the shower on the left.  Look how LOW that shower head is. 

Looking down the hall into the master bath and bedroom.

Looking from the fireplace and front door back at the dining room and kitchen. 

And a bit closer…Notice the framed stairwell.  That will be gone soon but it was discovered to be a load bearing wall.  So, for now, it stays until our metal beam is ready.  The wall to the left of the stair will be that great functioning wall of cabinetry.  Next up?  Selecting materials!

We all love before and afters so I wanted to start chronicling my projects.  This first one is a gut renovation of a ranch style home in Denver, Colorado.  The square footage is right around 2,000 on the main floor; basement is not included in the reno.  My client had purchased the house a while back and then rented it until they were ready to fix it up for themselves.  So on May 1st we began demolition by removing most of the walls in the public spaces.  Here are the photos that we took minutes before demo.

Kitchen with door to patio.  The door will eventually become a window.

Eat-in kitchen area.  To the left is an exterior door, stairs and garage access.  This corner will become part of the expanded kitchen.

Dining room from kitchen door way and looking into the living room.  The French doors lead to the patio.  All interior walls will be removed to open up the space.

Living room looking out to the patio.  Fireplace and the “wing walls” on both sides will be removed and the fireplace updated to a modern design.  No more brass here!

Guest bath/powder from doorway.  The shower is to the left through the dark doorway.  Layout will remain fairly similar; just a dramatic face lift.

Master bath layout will change however the vanities will remain on the same wall.  There is currently a large tub (see below) opposite the vanities.  The tub will be removed and a large walk-in shower will be on the far left of the vanities.  The toilet will be enclosed in it’s own room in the current tub location.

The den, which is off the living room, will remain the same foot print.  The bar and wood paneling will be removed and the entry way will expand from 3 feet to 9 feet so access can be gained through the living room not just the hallway.

The entry hall by the kitchen.  The left wall will be removed to expose the stairwell going to the basement.  The right wall will be pushed out into the garage and house a wall of cabinetry to include a desk area, coat closet, pantry and a bar.  Goodbye long, dark hallway.

Because we are now in June, I will post some of the construction photos next week untill we get up to speed.  Till then…happy remodeling!

I attended ICFF on May 17th.  As usual there were so many talented vendors and beautiful products that I hope to incorporate into my designs.  Here are a few of my favorites.

 Rocking Lamp by MineHeart.  I think this would be so cute in a kids room.

A great rolling credenza by AKMD – love the wheels!  Please come home with me…

A simple, rustic mirror from Grain.  Great for a powder room or a Nantucket cabin.

This piece was a favorite!  Great design and details for a bar cabinet.  Great job Urbancase!

Finally, a great functional bedside lamp.  Thank you Cerno!

Probably the most interesting product find this year…cork countertops.  You can cut on them, fabricate them like a chopping block for the kitchen or use on a vanity.  I know what you are thinking, because I was too, bacteria city!  Not so…I learned that cork is anti-microbial, naturally water & heat resistant and self healing (if you cut on it you’ll never see the slice).  They demonstrated a red wine spill and no stain!  Great new kitchen product. 

Fun lights from Iacoli & McAllister.  Available in many happy colors.

We’ve been published in the March/April issue of Denver Life magazine.  Paradigm gives tips for dining room light fixtures and bathroom mirrors.  Also discussed, the tough task of mixing different sized patterns in one room.  Pick up your issue today to see full coverage and all three project photos.

On May 14, 2010 Paradigm Interior Design and Nest Architectural Design were awarded first place for Primary Residence Under 3,500 SF by ASID.

Natural light floods this ranch style home located in Denver’s historic Bonnie Brae neighborhood.  The soft, neutral palette provide the perfect backdrop to the client’s extensive art collection while providing a relaxing atmosphere.

Paradigm assisted the client with paint selection, granite and tile selection, draperies, art and furniture placement and decorative lighting fixtures throughout the home. 

All pictures will be posted to the Paradigm’s ”Work” tab soon but here are some of the highlights.