One Grafton St, Site Visit

This has been a very busy few weeks for me and all of us at Moving Designz Home & Cottage.  The shop is filled with fabulous furniture and accessories and all of our design projects are progressing very nicely.  

 We've been working steadily at Number One Grafton getting the B & B ready for guests. Graeme and Judy, the owners and innkeepers, have been working very hard to get their dream business up and running and ready for guests. 

Today I'm going to post on... Suite 2 and Suite 3.  Suites 1, 4 & 5 are 99% complete and almost photo ready. 

This suite is done.  It's a lovely room for guests to relax, unwind and enjoy a good nights rest. 

This is a look at the fabric choices, the basis for the colour scheme of this suite. For the walls we chose BM Flagstaff, a warm grey brown.

I'm going to share more of the construction process with you.  In its original state this was a very good sized bedroom.  Lets do a little before, during and after..

 

The bedroom originally with its beautiful floors and bright yellow walls.

The tools have arrived and with them the process begins.  To the left of the firebox we took out a wall, added a door and through the door a new full ensuite bathroom... hence all those tools and pipes.

In this image the walls have been painted but there's still lots left to do.

Fast forward 3 months and the custom window treatments are installed.  The new light fixture is up and furniture and accessories have arrived and are beginning to be placed.

Now the suite is completely finished (minus one floor lamp) and looking warm and inviting.  All of the window treatments, furnishings, accessories are from Moving Designz Home & Cottage.

A close up of the seating area.  The new floor lamp will be going into the corner and should be here next week!

An alternate view.

Before.

After. 

Now lets have a look at the ensuite bathroom.

This is a totally new room carved out of a former entry to the third floor.  The plumbing has just been roughed in.

And further along the walls are now painted, the new tile floor installed and the electrical is ready.

The ensuite is now completely finished and ready for guests.

Let's have a look next door at Suite 3.

The colour scheme for this sunny suite is greens, creams and blues.  Walls are painted BM Hazy Skies.

This picture was taken at the beginning of the project.  The pink had to go!!!

A further along and the walls have received one coat of paint and the floors are sanded for refinishing.

 The custom drapes are now hung, floors finished, bed is in and we're choosing art pieces to complement this rooms beautiful colours.  Still a few more pieces of furniture to come.

I had to show a close up of this art piece.  It's actually a piece silk kimono my clients picked up Malaysia and had framed.  It's stunning and looks beautiful in this rooms decor.  Also a nice close up of the drapery fabric, which is just beautiful.

This is now a finished room.  One more off the list :)

This suites bathroom was also totally gutted and rebuilt from scratch.  Originally the main door was off the hallway when it was an apartment.  The contractor opened up the wall to the right of the bed to create this ensuite.

 The stand up shower is a beautiful clean glass enclosure with sparkling hardware and crisp white subway tiles.  We also had a custom roman shade sewn with the same fabric in the rooms drapery.  In fact, we did this for all the suites.

Opposite the shower is where the jetted soaking tub was installed.

Fast forward a couple of months ... the walls are now drywalled and the floor tile is installed. 

Completely finished now :)  The exposure was more than a little off in this image... sorry.  I actually forgot my memory card for my SLR Nikon camera and had to take all the pics with my instant Olympus.  I found out you can't have too many cameras yesterday.

A close up of my clients beautiful Chinoiserie canister sets sitting on the tub deck. 

As you can clearly see each suite has it's own individual colour scheme.  However, I believe in keeping things simple, as do my clients, so many of the same finishes and details are carried through to every suite and ensuite.  

I have one last pictue to share.  The main entry is finally finished too.  What a welcoming site!   This project has been 2 years in the making and I am so happy to finally see everything come together. 

For details on staying at this luxury B & B in downtown Charlottetown,

Contact The Sheldons at 877-390-0111.  Website available for online bookings at http://www.onegrafton.ca/ 

Thanks for reading.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Susan

Monday Field Trip to Grafton St

For this weeks post it's time to share progress at Number One Grafton St. 

This historic house has been pretty much completely gutted and rebuilt.  The house will be a 5 star Bed and Breakfast located in downtown Charlottetown and open for stays starting in June.  The renovations have been underway since last fall.  The construction phase is now done.  These past few weeks we've been focusing on putting the house together with the decorating phase and the final details.  This last week I was at the house inspecting the newly installed window treatments and assisting my clients with placing artwork, furniture and accessories.

I'm going to blog more frequently over the next two weeks on this amazing transformation.  It's way too big for one post!  We're still not quite done but within the next 3 weeks everything will be complete.  The final reveal will be amazing but for today I am inspired to show you where we are at now.  Lets look at the progrss in the entry, office and the lounge area. 

This was the original entrance to the house.  A small foyer with a closet front and center.  The staircase to the second floor was on the opposite side of this entrance.  It was decided to flip it to the main entry which opened up the entire space.

Plans were drawn and redrawn with careful calculations so that the staircase could be moved into the entrance.  No small feat to do this but it was achievable.  This image is just after it was framed out last fall.

A little further along and now we have a beautiful large entry. The wall to the right was removed.  I have to tell you there was once a small kitchen on the other side of that.  The kitchen was removed and once this wall came down this area was reconfigured to create a space for the open plan office.

Panel detailing was added to the walls to enhance the staircase.

And this is how it looked last week.  Not quite done but almost... we have a gorgeous mirror to mount above the chest.  When I post the final pictures I will have to be sure to include the entry light fixture.  I'm disappointed that I never got it in this photograph...darn it!  But it's worth waiting for in the final reveal.

I also missed getting a close up of the wall sconces going up the stairs.  This is what they look like.

I had to take a close up the my clients collection of stunning Chinoiserie and this beautiful antique tea chest. 

 Treasures from living on the other side of the world and perfectly suited to this grand home. 

 

This is the office space and one of the last areas to be completed in construction.  It became a kind of catch all space for the longest time.

This is the office now with a great seating area and lovely built in book shelves.  The desk area on the other side still needs some tweaking and wasnt quite ready for its photo debut but this side is looking great.  I'd say done.  Yay...

This is a close up of the fabric we used on the custom window shades.  It's from Kravet, pattern History, colour 16.  A soft pale yellow.  Stunning!

To the left of the entry you enter the lounge area.  This room was pretty great to begin with and there was no need to do any gutting here.  We had the room repainted, added a new light fixture, window treaments and new furnishings.  This photo was at the beginning of the project with the new energy efficient windows sitting in the room waiting to be installed.

The new seating arrangement in front of the bay windows.  The cream and pale yellow striped silk draperies look amazing and the furniture completes the picture.  I like this picture because you can see the original molding detail.  They truly are spectacular and original to this century house.  To the right is the diningroom which I will show you in another post.

Here I'm showing another angle of the same room early on.... with the new windows.

The furniture for all areas of the house has arrived in this shot.  Now we just have decide where everything is going to fit in and look best. 

 

Same angle with everything cleaned up and artwork waiting to be hung.  The lamps and side tables are next on the list.  It is a very lovely and welcoming room.  Perfect for guests.

One last look at the seating area in the lounge.  I think it's beautiful, fresh, airy and bright.  The settee has been freshly upholstered, the chairs are new and the table is a beautiful antique from France.  Stay tuned for more posts.  I can't wait to share the 5 very unique suites.  Here's a look at one of the fabulous drapery fabrics from Suite 4.

I actually had a big weekend which is why I am late posting.

Yeah ...thats me in my best I finally bought a new truck yesterday pose.  I know... I know it's really an SUV but I like saying truck.  It will be perfect for hauling cargo to the job sites.  I'm so excited I had to take it on a long drive today.  In case you're wondering it's a brand new Mitsubishi Endeavor.  And it's cream, I love it :)

Thanks for reading.  Have a great week!

Susan

Design Attic

For this weeks post I want to share the construction progress at "Number One Grafton". 

I posted on the kitchen a few weeks ago from this amazing all encompassing heritage house renovation.

Soon to be luxury 5 Star B and B in downtown Charlottetown. 

The renovations have been ongoing since last September and are almost complete.  My clients, Graeme and Judy Sheldon and myself are getting very excited seeing the project come together.  We're getting to the finishing stages after almost 2 years of planning, dreaming and waiting.

Taking on this project was no small feat.  When they purchased the house it divided into 3 apartments.  After months of planninng the entire house has been nearly gutted, rebuilt, rethought and reconfigured to accomodate 5 luxury suites for their guests.

Today we're going to look at progress in the attic space.  This will be Graeme and Judys private domain "The Innkeepers Suite".  Located on the 3rd floor, this space was unfinished, dark, and filled with old building materials and junk.  The space presented various challenges and unearthed a few treasures too!  Today it has become a light bright spacious living space.  Let's do a before and after run down...

This was the original staircase entry to the third floor attic hatch.

The old stairs were removed, the hatch and ceiling were opened up and the entire area was repositioned to accomodate a lovely new staircase and brand new entry to the suite.

View 1 - This is the original dark attic space with lots of old building supplies and junk piled everywhere...the yellow hole is the old attic hatch and entrance.

View 2 - This is Graeme and Judy and my camera lens covered in drywall dust.  After a walk through and brief sneezing fit we left to let the seamfillers to finish their work...

View 3 - This was Tuesday afternoon, March 09.  As you can see the space has changed considerably.  Drywall, paint, new staircase, new lighting and the gorgeous light birch flooring. 

With one more coat of urethane the flooring will be ready and we can start moving furniture up.  Design dilemna - to paint or not to paint the old brick chimney?  Leave it for charm or paint it the same Cloud White as the walls?  I personally would like to see it painted.  Readers?  I'm welcoming thoughts, opinions and comments?

View 4 - This view is looking in the opposite direction and the doorway to the right of the picture is where the new bathroom is now located.

 

View 5 - A wide angle shot looking in the same direction.

View 6 - The finished seating area with built-in book shelves, a fireplace and on the left of the firebox a niche for the flat screen television.  It will make a perfect relaxing lounge.  (Judy and Graeme have taught me many lovely English words lounge = livingroom)

View 7 - This little annexed space just off the main living area is about to become the master bathroom.

View 8 - Ahhh now we're talking.  A beautiful claw foot tub, pale cream tile flooring and a lovely nook perfect for a soak!

 

View 9- Looking the other way...

View 10 - This wall now houses the shower and a nice little built in storage area under the eave wall.

Since I'm at it I might as well post a couple extra images of other spaces that have and are still undergoing major transformations.

Before Suite 4 - A tiny little sitting area was once part of a one bedroom apartment.

During, we're starting the transformation.

This little space has become a convenient little kitchette area for Suite Four, aka Susan's suite :)

Through the doors of the sitting area there once was a kitchen....

And now it has been transformed into an ensuite bathroom.

I cannot wait to share more of this fantastic project... most especially I am looking forward to sharing the finished rooms complete with furniture, window treatments and accessories  In the meantime here are a few of my most favorite beautiful and inspiring attic spaces...

This image is very similar to the furniture we will be using in the Innkeepers Suite ... Stay tuned.

Before I end this post I must thank Judy and Graeme who have been with me since I started my design business.  First choosing me to work with them on their PEI cottage and then inviting me to work with them on this project.  They are wonderful clients, and friends now.  Always a pleasure  :)  xoxo 

Thanks for reading.  Have a great weekend!

Susan