2013 - Becky Broeder Design

details, details, details

November 21, 2013

High-end residential design isn’t about mass, gaudiness, or punch, it’s about details. It’s that feeling you get, ‘wow, they really thought about this’. This project has been so carefully contemplated by my clients, the contractor, myself, and all of the extraordinarily talented craftspeople we’ve put together. It shows. Take a look at what can happen when you approach a house like it’s a canvas, not a hurry-up and build-it-on-the-cheap environment:

Bruce, the Mason, places every single rock with thought and care. I love the custom stone cornice framing the beautifully stunning front door:

The built ins were created off of my basic hand sketch and hand elevations. Shane has added the tricky details that can only be created by a true sculptural artist. The lightness and sophistication of this built-in media and art showplace is exactly what we were after.

I love a good book match!! It makes my heart sing. Not many put this amount of detail into woodwork.

Notice the copper toekick detail we’ve worked in. You’ll see this throughout the home, in unexpected places.

I’m loving how this angled TV housing is not feeling too bulky. Gorgeous, and not an easy task to execute. Thankfully, Shane put the geometry I snoozed through in high school to use.

Jim, the Tile Guru, put the seals on the stone work today. Wow, does it pop.

Meticulously polishing the travertine hallway wall. Perfection. I’m proud to be part of a team that puts so much care, thought, and talent into what they produce. More to come!

project progress

November 19, 2013

Today was a busy one on site. Cabinets are being set and countertops were being templated today. Fine finish work is being installed by Shane around the fireplace, which will have a stone face similar to the travertine accent wall in the kitchen, but a bit ligher in tone.

This has been such a fun and remarkable project. The finished home will be so lovely and inviting. The homeowners allowed my input on everything from driveway design and exterior paint colors to all the stone and wood interior finishes. Dave Schmid is the contractor and has been so accomodating and talented throughout my experience working with him. It’s really been a fun process for all.

12 reasons why you should hire an educated, professional interior designer

October 30, 2013

I spend a lot of time and energy demystifying the profession of interior design because there are many misconceptions about us:

1. “Interior designers are only for wealthy people.”

2. “What skills do they have that I don’t have or can find from various retail sales staff?”

3. “I’m afraid they’re going to make my home in their taste / vision, not mine.”

4. “I’m afraid they won’t listen to my needs and won’t adhere to my budget.”

5. “I think I can find all the items I want and can do it all myself.”

NO!… Interior design doesn’t have to be mysterious, expensive, or intimidating. Interior designers are curators who deliver an experience and an outcome that can only be offered to you and your project because of our education and expertise.

Here’s what we really do:

1. Save your hard-earned money.

Selecting the wrong product for your interior renovation or remodel can cost you money and unnecessary anxiety.
Some fabrics and products are much more durable than others. Selecting the best ones for your needs will save you money in the long run.
Some finishes, treatments, and design elements are more energy efficient, causing a huge potential for cost savings in your energy bill.
We’ve done heaps of research on products and sources and know where to look for more information. We know and stay up to date on the products on the market. Save your time by using our knowledge. Your time is money.
Many subcontractors cut corners and this can cost you. I only work with reputable subcontractors I trust and know. And if you’ve already hired a contractor I’m not familiar with, I will discuss with them their approach and techniques. Having decades of experience in construction, I know talent and expertise in the field.

2. Save your valuable time.

Coordinating and managing the logistics of multiple products and installations require a considerable amount of skill and patience, a process that can be a frustrating experience for people.
As a value added service, designers recommend contractors and vendors that come highly recommend and with which we’ve nurtured relationships with.
Often in new construction and remodeling projects, one encounters unanticipated or unrecognized problems. We broker solutions to those issues, making sure the project is done correctly and you’re always in the communication loop regarding the problem solving process, possible solutions and their costs.
Together, we will save you time and eliminate any mental anguish for you.

3. Some are members of professional organizations: I’m a member of ASID and LEED.

Organizations such as AIA, ASID, NKBA, and LEED require standards that are stringent for continued membership. Continuing education requirements must be acheived and reported every two years, keeping designers up to date on the latest trends, products, and techniques.
LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) accreditation requires a substantial amount of specific training and education, as well as having to pass a LEED AP (Accredited Professional) exam. LEED offers various specialties, mine being in Building Design and Construction (BD+C).

4. Recommend only trusted professionals.

Countless unscrupulous contractors and installers go in and out of business every year, changing business names, and delivering a warranty that may only be as long as your driveway. By selecting professional design services, you will not have to wonder if you’re giving your hard-earned money to a dishonest contractor.

5. Provide professional design expertise through a Comprehensive Needs Assessment Analysis.

We begin every project by asking lots of questions and listening closely to your answers, revealing your design wishes, likes, dislikes, uncovering and defining your individual design goals.
Careful analysis provides a better understanding of the needs and wants of the project by taking the entire family’s view of the project into consideration.

6. Trade-Only Access.

Hiring a professional designer allows you access to countless showrooms available only to design professionals.
Retail ‘free design services’ aren’t free. They are sales people trying to sell you their product, even if it’s not the product or vendor that’s right for you and your needs.
Professional designers receive discounts on the whole gamut of vendors and I pass discounts on to you.

7. BUDGET!

Budgeting is always a major challenge in home building and renovation. Projects can far exceed budget if not properly managed. Design professionals manage scope creep, and eliminates or minimize the unknown costs.

As a professional interior designers, it’s our goal to provide you with a thoroughly satisfying experience through our design and project management skills, and the contractors and installers we recommend. If you have a project you’re considering, it’s never too soon to bring an interior designer into the project. As a critical member of the design team, we ensure that consideration is placed on design from the inside out, making a beautiful space that works for you!

another bathroom remodel story

August 9, 2013

A friend and I were talking yesterday about a bathroom remodel I did. She couldn’t remember the ‘before’ look and I knew I had pictures somewhere. This remodel was completed about a year and a half ago, and I’m still proud of the amazing aesthetic transformation and improvement of quality of life for the end users.

When the homeowner bought the 1940s house from its original owner, the bathroom wasn’t even wired, meaning there was not a lot of ‘getting ready’ for dinner after dark! He immediately had lighting put in, but other than that, few changes were made initially. Here are the BEFORE images:

Notice the cabinet and window IN the shower.

The homeowner was undergoing back surgery just after the completion of the remodel, so he wanted to change the single hand-held shower (there wasn’t an overhead shower), to a multi-functional jetted tub / shower for therapy. I omitted the tall linen closet and moved linen storage into an adjacent hall closet, making enough room for a large jetted tub for the tall users’ comfort. Structurally, very little else was changed. All fixtures were upgraded, and new finishes were installed on the floor and walls. I closed up the window, which faced an alley, for privacy and water-tightedness and added a huge skylight. I put a lot of thought into the light plan, adding several layers of artificial and natural light for relaxation or stimulation.

Take a look at the outcome:

The toilet I specified was on backorder, so this isn’t the final toilet. Since all of the plumbing fixtures were upgraded to high-end Kohler pieces, the toilet was upgraded to a comfort height, more aesthetically appropriate fixture. This ‘mediocre but perfectly fine’ toilet was donated to a very grateful person.

Bathroom remodels aren’t cheap, but the changes can be life enhancing and can hugely increase home value.

finished bathroom remodel

July 18, 2013

I embarked on this bathroom remodel earlier this summer in a cute, 1930’s bungalow here in Missoula. The homeowner was new to the process of renovation construction and it was one of those experiences where it seemed the world was against us. The end result is BEAUTIFUL and I was so pleased to deliver the homeowners the bathroom of their dreams. Here are the beginning photos, the beginning square footage was about 40 SqFt:

(Before)

There were several ‘must-haves’ in this project, which originally started as a Universal Design project. I re-worked the space so that we stole the closet from the adjacent bedroom (exterior wall corner behind the shower above), made that space a two-person shower, swiveled the toilet 90 degrees, and moved the sink from the middle of the room to the immediate left of the entrance, on the same wall as the shower. The musts were natural stone, in-floor radiant heat, towel warmers, and a complete aesthetic overhaul.

Here’s a look at my initial brainstorming sketches, working out the space plan. I was so happy to take over that closet. That opened things up immensely and got us to 49 square feet total.

There was no good way to get the drain slope right for a universal, barrier-free shower and line drain. The space was too small and we were faced with cutting 4″ into the floor joists. It was a consideration because a shop teacher built the house and there were huge joists and about five times more of them than needed. However, it wasn’t a sound solution, so we put a low curb at the entrance of the shower with a frameless, Euro door. Take a look at the finished outcome:

No details were overlooked. Careful consideration went into my light plan and all finishes are in oil rubbed bronze. I loved the warmth but crispness of this marble against the rich natural walnut vanity. The homeowners love blue, so I integrated some sparkle into the glass accent tile and blue pearl granite countertop, curb cap, and shelf on the half wall. We had some fun with custom glass on the shower door, vanity light, and we obscured the bottom half of the window for privacy. It all came together for an organic, fresh, luxurious and WARM (literally, via the floor and towel warmers) environment.

A project like this requires precise coordination, especially due to the size of the work space. Construction always has a few hiccups which can be frustrating at the time, but it’s all in the delicate balance of patience and pushing forward. I’m glad to have been able to design, advocate and assist in this spectacular remodel!

reasons to hire an interior designer

July 12, 2013

Busting interior design profession myths for homeowners, Margaret Chambers wrote this article I thought I’d pass along. I agree whole-heartedly.

Is a Designer Worth the Investment?

Year: 2013