One Grafton Project Complete

For todays post I am going to share with you our recently completed project at One Grafton St.  We have been working steadily on this massive renovation project over the past two years.  And I've been working on getting this blogpost ready for 2 weeks.... huge house, huge blog post!

This project is the largest most extensive renovation we've done to date.  The house has 3 floors, 5 suites, an innkeepers suite and every room needed to be either redone or rebuilt or both.

If you've been following Grafton St on my blog you've no doubt been reading my posts during the construction phases.  My involvement has included everything from being the initial on-site liaison with draftman to refering the builder, Tom Gill.  http://www.gillconstructioninc.com/

Tweaking floor plans, selecting paint and colour schemes, supplying custom draperies and window treatments, reupholstery services, new furniture, new lighting, surface finishes, working on room layouts, and just being there throughout the entire renovation process. 

Construction and reconstruction of the interior and exterior began last September on this very large century home.  Turning what was 3 apartments into a spacious luxury boutique style B &B, while maintaining the integrity of this designated heritage home.

One Grafton, as it is now called, is located at the corner of Grafton and West Streets in downtown Charlottetown.  The Innkeepers are Graeme and Judy Sheldon.  They didn't want your average Victorian B & B.  They wanted  modern, fresh and classically designed interior... for them to enjoy, for their guests to enjoy.  

Let's start at the new entry to the home.  I love the Sheldon's collection of Chinoiserie.  It was perfect for setting the tone in the entry.  It's stunning!

The entry was a small dark foyer with a closet and a solid wall on the right.  The antique piece came with the house and after some cleaning up is now repurposed as the serving console in the diningroom

The new entry (same angle as the above image).  The stairs were reversed from the backside of the house to face the front door. 

With the wall to the right removed a new office and reception area was created.

I literally have hundreds of photos I took while working on this project.  Too many to post!  As an example here is the kitchen in it's original state.

Fast forward to this spring and the kitchen was the first area to be completely transformed.  The cabinet maker was Joe Dunphy, who did an amazing job.  http://www.joedunphy.com/

Modern, fresh, clean.  It is the perfect galley style kitchen.

The cabinetry is painted a soft yellow with a black countertop, farm house sink, brushed nickel fixtures, stainless steel appliance and white subway tile backsplash.

Next up a new modern laundry centre.  Running a B & B means lots of bedding to wash!

One of our challenges was incorporating as much of Judy and Graeme's existing furniture thoughout the home.  This image of the diningroom was taken just after their container load arrived from Britain. 

A beautiful new diningroom for the guests to enjoy a sumptious breakfast and Judy's homemade goodies.  Judy is an amazing baker and cook.

I had to post an image of the beautiful diningroom chandelier.  All of the lighting was replaced throughout this entire home.  We used fixtures from The Downtown Collection by Quoitzel on the main floor.

The livingroom or lounge as I now refer to it.  Working with clients who are British has given me new words and lounge is one of them.  So is garden which actually is a yard in Canadian lingo.

A new seating area in the lounge.  The colour scheme in the main floor is muted yellows, soft greeny blues, and creams supplemented with co-ordinating patterned fabrics.  The chairs are from Moving Designz Home & Cottage, the settee was reupholstered with fabric chosen and supplied by us and the lovely pedestal table is an antique from France.

Suite 1

Inspiration colours for Suite 1 came from this fabric, which we used in the custom draperies for the bedroom and custom roman shades in the adjoining bathroom.

Suite 1 was once painted purple with aging saging blinds....

Suite 1 completed. 

We also did a few DIY projects along the way.  I spied these solid wood doors at the hardware store and thought they would be perfect for headboards.  The one on the left for Suite 1 and the one on the right for Suite 4.  They were the perfect size to mount on the wall and use for the king bedrooms.

Testing the stain colours...to get exactly the right shade.

 

After several coats of stain and laquer, which Judy and Graeme did themselves, the headboard is stunning and matches perfectly with the cherry bedside tables from Moving Designz Home & Cottage.

The ensuite bathroom for Suite 1.

We kept things simple and elegant in all of the ensuite bathrooms, using chrome faucets and accessories with more white subway tile to surround the tubs and surfaces of the glass shower enclosures.

Suite 2

Here again we used an MDF 5 panel door to create the headboard.  Suite 2 so far seems to be the favorite room.  It has views over Charlottetown Harbour.

Suite 3

We chose this stunning drapery fabric as the jumping off point for our room scheme.  The room is a lovely mix of fresh greens, blues and creams.

  

Suite 4

Starting off with our inspiration fabric... a gorgeous pale brown leafy fabric with huge aqua blue blossoms.  This is my favorite room which we nicknamed Susie's room throughout the project.

Before I go on I had to show you what suite 4's ensuite originally looked like.  This suite was once a one bedroom apartment and this was the kitchen.

Since the plumbing was already in place this former kitchen was transformed into the master ensuite.

Suite 5

We gave new life to this bench when we had it reupholstered it from a faded out and stained fabric...

... to a rich red perfect for Suite 5's colour choices.

And that brings this project to a happy ending!  The Sheldons have been busy with bookings since they opened in mid June.  The reviews are in...

"My favourite place to stay in PEI. Thank you" - June 2010 - ON, Canada

"Terrific place. Great people. Can't wait to return" - June 2010 - NJ, USA

"Fantastic B&B a real luxury stay and find. Thanks for all your kindness and good luck for the future and continued success" - June 2010 - York, UK

Thanks to Graeme and Judy for choosing me as their designer.  It was a pleasure working with you.  This project captured my heart and allowed me to be creative with what I felt would give this home the upscale yet cozy feel they desired.

If you would like more information on One Grafton, please visit

http://onegrafton.ca/

Thanks for reading.  Have a great week!

Susan

Fresh or Cozy?

For todays post I thought I would share 2 room looks we just finished setting up at Moving Designz Home & Cottage this week.

Room 1 - Cheerful and Bright.  I love the pretty combination of yellow, black, white and turquoise.

The sofa is amazing!  What I really love about it is the tufting and the solid bench style cushion.  The black and white ottoman just arrived, we've been waiting since January for this piece.  The price point is fantastic at only $330.00, it's a bargain!

 

We made the pretty floral accessories with simple glass bowls and forsythia stems.

This table is just off to the side of the sofa.

Room #2 - Rustic "up country".  Combining a clean lined leather sofa with a clean lined slipcovered chair and ultra chic cocktail table.

The colour scheme was inspired by these toss cushions.

Although we are not normally into metal wall hangings we couldn't resist this very fishy wall sculpture.  It was the colourful glass detail that sealed the deal and our buying decision.  

What's your favorite Room #1 FRESH or Room #2 COZY?

Thanks for reading.  Have a great weekend!

Susan

Shopping Etc. Girl

For todays post I have a secret I can share... finally.  I've been bursting at the seams with this news!

In late May I was contacted by Style at Home magazine.  I remember walking into my office after just returning from a job site, possibly the SGG house. I spend alot of time there, I'm almost done.  I miss it already :)

 Anita was in the office and on the phone when I walked in after a site meeting.  She took one look at me, winked and then said to the caller "one moment please".  Then she turned to me and said... "you're just in time, take a deep breath Style at Home is on the phone.  Remember to breathe"

Our conversation led to being asked to contribute to the August 2010 Edition of the Style at Home.  It just hit the shelves today.  For this issue I would be writing and taking photographs for the Shops Etc. column with the focus on PEI.  After I caught my breath and came back to earth I got to work on getting the page ready for production. 

Here's my page.  I am absolutely thrilled... And just to be a little more clear on the subject,  I am actually BEYOND THRILLED...SEVERELY THRILLED and then some :)  Style at Home is my favorite magazine.

This is part (emphasis on part) of my stack of them at home.  These "stacks" are in my upstairs bathroom, for now, I'm having my bookshelf painted.  I've been a subscriber for years and years and add a few more years and we're just about there. I think the "stack' went back to 2003.  I can't seem to part with them.  It's a sickness but in a good way.

Two years ago almost to the day SAH profiled my shop, Moving Designz Home & Cottage as one of the best places to shop in Canada.  I felt very lucky then too!!!  I'm definitely a fan, always have been always will be.  There's the special magic of being included in an issue.  It is all very special to me.  

And these are more of my "stacks".   I keep these ones within easy reach, in my livingroom, tucked under the cocktail table just in case I need a quick design fix or current inspiration.  Which I always do.  Does that make me a hoarder?  Uh huh :)  But wait there's more...

I have another basket in my main bathroom.  And the rest of them have migrated to the shop.  We use them regularly in our displays.

See that magazine on the tray, we had Style at Home on the tray for this bedroom display from last summer.  I actually posted on this some time ago.  We keep the magazine in the store to show ideas, products, and beautiful homes so people can see how to achieve a designer look with our "stuff".  It's great inspiration and it lets our customers know we are on top of the trends. 

Here's a close up of the seaside inspiration page (from above photo) which ironically enough, was a home designed by another creative PEI Islander, David Lopes architect. 

Personally, Style at Home has helped me to communicate my message more effectively on the job, particularly with carpenters.  I saw this perfect built in cabinet on the cover of the magazine several months ago.  I photocopied it and gave it to Mike (my carpenter...who is extraordinaire)  and said this is exactly what I want.   Can you build it for me?  He said no problem and then he did, as he always does.

My useless livingroom closet was about to become a Style at Home inspired built in cabinet. 

Wait a second there's more irony here... just for fun before I show the after picture I have to show you a close up of the magazine that was on my garden stool at the time when I took this photo before the do over.

Style at Home, Of Course!!!  Really folks this was not planned. I am not kidding you.  I posted on this long before the magazine approached me.  I think SAH magazines make great accessories!

The after shot and I got exactly what I wanted.  Thank you Mike :)  Thank you Style at Home.

My shelves are styled differently because the magazine is only inspiration.  You have to make things your personal style and then own it.

We've been serving lemon flavoured water for the last month in our store inspired by our Westin water experience in Toronto this past year.  Voila, this month it was "a do" in the S@H workbook.... How cool is that?  I swear to God we did not plan any of this.  However we did plant the sign after the article:).  Thanks Ashley, she's the sign gal.

Another of Ashley's signs and another huge month for us, finishing One Grafton (which will be featured on my next post), contributing to the SAH page, working to finish two cottages simultaneously, with three more rooms on the go, one cottage and three lofts and finishing up the SGG house.  Whew! 

XOXO  to Mike Robison - Kelly's Flower Shoppe.  I enjoyed this flower arrangement, from photographing it, to having it on my diningroom table for a week.  Loved it!  You did good ... my friend.

 XOXO Peter and Nash - The Dunes Art Gallery and Studio.  You truly have an amazing shop, I want the world to know.  Oh... I so love, love this piece.  It is amazing!

XOXO Pilar Sheppard - Pilar Sheppard Gallery.  This bear has caught my heart, like... forever.

XOXO  Wilfred and Gloria - Riverview Antiques.  True collectors...I always find special things out of the ordinary like these gorgeous colourful glass buoys. 

 

Thank you to the wonderful team at SAH magazine, Amanda, Julia and Margot.  Thank you so much for the opportunity to be in your lovely magazine not once but twice.  See you next month at the SGG house ;)  I hear three times a charm.

And fellow bloggers, friends, readers and clients ... if there's one thing or two or three I've learned from this experience... read on.

Work at what you LOVE.

THINK of the possibilities.

Live your DREAMS and DREAM big.

IMAGINE anything you want.

And LIVE WHAT YOU LOVE

A special hug to Anita, Ashley, Mike and Parker, my shop crew.  You make my job easier.  Love you all!!!


Thank you for reading.  Have a wonderful week!
cheers
Susan