Jasmin Reese

Photo Credit: Shin Photography

Jasmin Reese recently discussed her view on how to adequately use color in interior design projects and renovations.

Haute Design: How much does your artistic background influence your interior design?

Jasmin Reese: My artistic background definitely influences my interiors- from paintings, to vintage movies, books and travel. For instance, looking at vintage European train cars is a major inspiration for a custom closet on which we are currently working for a historic residence, and looking at images from the gym on the Titanic for a new gym with a whimsical scene, or looking at a Dutch still-life painting and using it to design an entire kitchen in moody hues but with rich finishes. It all starts with a Style Session where I pull images from a James Bond movie, or views from hotel lobbies that spark a conversation.

It is a genuine emotion/vibe that you can sense that we try to convey.

HD: With the rising trend of neutrals and minimalistic design, how do you show your clients that you can indeed have fun and use colors in your home?

JR: All-inclusive rooms are a lot of fun to incorporate even with a full house that is mainly white. Below, you can see a music room that is right off of the main entrance to the house - it is an encompassed room of green with kaleidoscopic wallpaper on the ceiling and the couple are both surgeons who find this music room calming and artful.

Photo Credit: Michael Alan Kaskel

Photo Credit: Michael Alan Kaskel

Another example is to elevate the mundane with a bold neon color, like this chartreuse laundry room:

Photo Credit: Michael Alan Kaskel

Similarly, you can use color sparingly with just a bold gesture on the ceiling. If you cannot commit to bold moments, you can always accessorize like this styled dining room server:

Photo Credit: Michael Alan Kaskel

HD: Do certain colors play better for different areas of a home? For example, what hues or tones work best in bathrooms or kitchens?

JR: I don’t totally buy into certain colors only for certain rooms. In fact, I came across a blog once with my bedroom in red saying “what NOT to do” because it's “too aggressive of a color for a bedroom” when in reality, the client has house guests that adore this room, it is super cozy, and a lot of people have connected with the space.

I think color affects people differently - I painted my own kitchen cabinets blush, and then I have really modern black lighting, it’s a push-pull of traditional and modern, feminine and masculine that gives the space verve.

Photo Credit: Michael Alan Kaskel

HD: How much artwork is too much artwork inside someone's home?

JR: It really depends on the scale of someone’s home and the quality of the art. If they have high ceilings and beautiful pieces, you can pack them in Salon style, mixed with high quality furniture for a layered look. However, if you take the same space and put in terrible cheap prints it could look like a lifeless commercial space.

HD: Which area of the home have you realized clients are most willing to take a risk and really go for some daring artwork or bold colors?

JR: Interestingly enough, the powder room is the room in the house where your guests are completely alone. It’s a space they will definitely go and you can use any color, any style, ANYTHING and have it completely unrelated to the rest of the home. The monkey wallpaper below is sophisticated whimsy.

Or you can go a little more edgy. Basements can also be a fun theatrical space like this jungle-inspired basement:

Photo Credit: Michael Alan Kaskel

Furthermore, you can take an old attic like this picture below, and convert it into a screening room:

Photo Credit: Michael Alan Kaskel

Photo Credit: Michael Alan Kaskel

The post Haute Design Expert Jasmin Reese Shows How To Use Color In Interior Design appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Denver-based designer Andrea Schumacher is never one to shy away from neither textures nor colors. This becomes more than evident after a quick scroll through her Instagram page. Andrea knows how to walk a fine line where her projects are fresh, yet timeless and no two are ever alike. With that in mind, one could only imagine the serendipitous joy of Andrea's clients when they connected over Facebook. While the then-engaged, now-married couple loved the structure and exterior of this Cherry Village home, they felt the interior lacked some joy. The clients made it clear to Andrea that they wanted her to have fun with this redesign.

Andrea began with a coat of white paint to lighten up the previously brown and heavy interiors of the home and things took off from there.

Photo Credit: Emily Minton Redfield

The color palette throughout the home was heavily inspired by the Serendip wallpaper by Manuel Canovas, seen in the dining room. Andrea's clients were not afraid of color and it shows. The couple even chose to go with the very same wallpaper as their choice for colors in their dining room canopy chairs. The textures, designs and colors seen in the Cherry Village home are playful and light hearted.

Photo Credit: Emily Minton Redfield

The great room displays Andrea's innovative creativity and resourcefulness. Andrea and her team wrapped the fireplace in grasscloth, which helps hide the TV. This approach is also much more friendly on the budget than using stone. The matching colored sofas provide for a cohesive and uniform design narrative throughout the space. They were upholstered in Kravet's Ypsilon in Vizir.

Andrea keeps the levity and playfulness going in the sitting room, where plenty of natural light flows in to allow for a custom natural sheepskin rug step into center stage.

Photo Credit: Emily Minton Redfield

As a nod to the home owners' affection for dogs, Andrea added a flocked dog wall covering by Osborne and Little in an adjacent mudroom. The black and white from the mudroom connects to the center table and throw pillows within the sitting room .

The evidently entertaining project makes for a uniquely gorgeous home which does not take itself too seriously and has plenty of color and levity.

If you wish to learn more about Andrea Schumacher's work or wish to contact Andrea Schumacher Interiors for an upcoming project, CLICK HERE.

The post Andrea Schumacher Reminds Us That Interior Design Can Be Fun appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Designer Andrea Monath Schumacher creates sumptuous and imaginative interiors for her clients that reflect their aspiration, lifestyle and personalities; no two of her jobs are ever alike. She is known for her fresh, yet timeless interiors that are inviting, intriguing and softly polished, with just the right amount of drama. 

Andrea Schumacher's recent Denver project clearly represents her ability to reflect her clients' lifestyles and aspirations.

Schumacher was called upon by a close friend and neighbor, in order to execute this project which symbolized the turning of a new leaf for the family which would soon make this beautiful house a home.

Photo Credit: Emily Redfield Photography

This lakeside new build is located in a Denver suburb and has absolutely stunning views of the water and the Rocky Mountains. The contemporary home was carefully designed inside and out and completed with the finest finishes.

As a nod to the homeowner's New England roots, the home is designed in a luxurious Cap Cod style, with shingled roof and all. From the exterior gas lanterns, to the floating chimney and chinoiserie wallpaper, this is a one-of-a-kind home, perfectly designed for the family.

The cabinetry for the bar and kitchen was a direct response from Schumacher's cabinetmaker after the designer shared the fireplace wallpaper.

Photo Credit: Emily Redfield Photography

Designer and architect Matt Stais was enlisted by Schumacher to collaborate on the design of the project. The home is filled with modern interior design ideas, color, elegance, feminine touches, as well as the highest quality of workmanship available. For example, Schumacher bumped out the blue drawers in order to resemble bedroom dressers.

Additionally, a jewelry-like brass detail was incorporated on the custom range hood, the barstools, as well as the cabinet hardware.

Photo Credit: Emily Redfield Photography

Throughout the house, you will find antique consoles retrofitted as vanities, custom paint, glass pocket doors that open to create an indoor-outdoor living space and a general chameleon-essence about the home, which will evolve easily throughout the years.

Photo Credit: Emily Redfield Photography

If you wish to learn more about Andrea Schumacher Interiors, CLICK HERE to visit the website.

The post Andrea Schumacher Provides A Taste Of Cape Cod In Denver Suburb appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

The design of your home is essential for improving and maintaining your mental health and productivity. 

With the Coronavirus pandemic affecting people all over the world, quarantine and stay at homes orders were a major concern. The feeling of being outdoors with nature, and having human interaction in larger social settings was truly missed. Quarantine made people realize what interior designers have known to be true for a long time: The importance of being inside an environment that makes you feel good. 

We have all experienced heading home from work after a stressful day and finally getting to the comfort of our living room. Encountering a cluttered kitchen, an office full of files and laptops, or decoration that you cannot stand to look at anymore does not contribute to relaxation. 

The pandemic lifestyle required people to rethink the spaces in their homes, when more than ever a functional space to work or study at was necessary. Organization is often looked over when it comes to interior design. The truth is that the organization of your space is just as important as the looks, and they often come hand in hand. An organized space plays a great role in your mood, productivity, and well-being. Designing a space that allows you to functionally maintain the space organized is essential. 

Lighting and colors can also have an impact on your mental health and productivity. 

The right palette choice is individual to every person’s taste. However, it is important to choose colors that resemble peace and calm, and that you will not get tired of it over time. The psychology of colors is very effective and should be followed for optimal relaxation results. If you want to have a space that transmits a sense of peace and simplicity, then a blue and white color palette is your go-to. 

Having the right amount of windows in a room is also a must. It is proven that sunlight can reduce depression and increase productivity levels. More natural light in a room can boost your mood and happiness, while a dark room can trigger sadness and anxiety. 

It is important to think strategically about how space is used every day and how you want the space to feel. If you have kids and pets, it is worth investing in furniture that can handle frequent wear and tear. If you have a big family, having a big couch and seating spaces for every family member can avoid stressful situations. 

After taking care of organization, the next step is to choose objects and pieces for the design that makes you feel good, and that really connects to you every time you look at it. 

When so much in our life is out of control, our home is a place we have total authority over. Our homes should be our sanctuaries and happy places. Investing in a design that makes you feel good is crucial for your well-being. 

The post How Interior Design Can Improve Your Mental Health And Productivity appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Editor's Note: Hafsa Burt has been practicing architecture for 21 years. Burt has been running her own studio, hb+a Architects since 2009. She also founded a development arm for the firm called Box Lab which is focused on active research and development in product and space design and zero energy/zero carbon buildings. An environmentalist, Burt adopted the 2030 challenge a decade ago and is a huge proponent of high-performance buildings. Her focus includes eliminating toxins with indoor air quality as a specialty. She actively speaks on the topic of indoor air quality as it relates to the practice of architecture and is an industry expert on “Healthy Building Practices”.

Today she is sharing her design process on her project Box Factory.

Photo Credit: Branded Content Media, Doug Birnbaum

The project is a prefabricated, zero energy/zero carbon single-family residence of 1750 sq. ft. The intent was to explore construction efficiencies and produce a project resilient to climate emergencies. I, as the architect, set ambitious goals upfront to achieve a truly off-grid project that relies only on renewable energy for all its functions. The project is a zero energy, zero carbon home with R-50 insulation to further conserve energy. Ahead of electrification mandates in California, the project proves to be a successful, working example of electrification not dependent on fossil fuels.

Photo Credit: Branded Content Media, Doug Birnbaum

The interior explores minimalist architectural form to inspire through light and color, its relationship to the land, and sweeping views. The design focus is on space and resource preservation that grasps a visitor as soon as they enter the home.

Photo Credit: Branded Content Media, Doug Birnbaum

The site’s ecosystem is also preserved and most of the 9 acres remain pervious and welcome to wildlife. The topography was used to the fullest for drainage, views, and orientation. An existing creek on the site has also been left untouched. The project has a patent pending for its unique custom features and has been customized to the site’s unique characteristics for optimum sustainability. An important goal of the project was to make use of prefabricated efficiencies to significantly reduce construction time and waste. The project beat all its goals. Prefabricated elements have been greatly customized for beauty, efficiency, and sustainability.

Photo Credit: Branded Content Media, Doug Birnbaum

hb+a Architects’ motto is “Zero (energy/carbon) is everything” and for the past 20 years, explorations into environmental sustainability, Indoor Air quality, and the health of the planet and its people have been the firm’s prime focus. With sweeping views, the project serves as a retreat for industry peers and climate activists.

The post Haute Designer Hafsa Burt On Her Zero Energy/Zero Carbon Project – Box Factory appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.