a j cooper design

Navy & White Kitchen

2013-08-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been a long time since I've posted anything on what I've been working on.
This year has been great so far--busy, productive and full of new ventures.

I have been working in the hospitality design industry in a new role and am really enjoying it. I get to work from home and I've been able to take on a few more projects of my own.
And speaking of home--we have moved around a bit in the last couple of years, trying out some different areas and types of homes.

Long story short--we ultimately decided that our little beach house is best and that no amount of extra square footage can quite compete with it's ideal location and quirky neighborhood. When we decided to make the move back to the beach we also decided that it was time to do a few interior updates. The biggest being a new kitchen!

As I began to plan I knew I wanted to do something different than the all white kitchen we'd had before.

Here is what we started with--it actually doesn't look nearly as bad in the photo as it was in person:

One of the biggest changes (aside from the new cabinets and counter tops) was the removal of the soffit. It allowed for full height upper cabinets and really opens up the kitchen.

And here are a few of the completed kitchen:

Clearly the space is small so I wanted to maximize storage & counter space where ever possible.
I lowered the eat in bar from bar height to counter height and it's made all the difference in the world.
I also added a small full height pantry cabinet to add some much needed storage.

We splurged on a deep single sink and mitered edges for the counter tops--I love the clean lines.

The set of glass cabinets opens up the small space and adds dimension.
I'm still contemplating a patterned paper for the backs of these.
I also varied the hardware on a few key cabinets to help break up all of the vertical lines.

I love how the green bar stools pop against the deep blue of the base cabinets.
The colors in the runner really tie together the blues and greens and pull in the gray tones from the living room.

And one last before and after:

On The Market!

2013-01-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

The property at Rancho La Cima that I designed is officially on the market!

The listing (and more photos) can be found here and there is an open house this afternoon if you are looking for a little California abode:

Virtual Tour Link: http://tours.previewfirst.com/virtual_tours/11425/mls/motion_picture

*Fireplace stone was on back order so it will be finished as soon as stock comes in.

Home staging was provided by a local staging company.
This has been a great project. I'll have to post some before and after sequences soon so you can get a better idea of what we started with.

Have a great weekend!

Virtual vs. Reality

2013-01-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

Did I mention that I designed a hotel in Minneapolis?
Maybe once or twice.

Well, part of the design & approval process is usually a rendering of the space.
One of my favorite things to do once a project is installed is to go back and compare the renderings to the real life outcome so today I thought I'd share the lobby of the Commons Hotel in Minneapolis in a Virtual and After kind of format.

Virtual (Rendering):

Actual Installation:

Obviously the rendering is a different angle and pulled much further back, but it's amazing to me how cold the rendering feels compared to the real thing.
This is always an issue with renderings, they appear so real at first it's hard to explain that the space will actually be so much more dynamic and warm in person.
That being said, it is also amazing how much detail the rendering is really able to show.

Here are a few more shots of the actual lobby, in real life.

"Library" Fireplace @ Entry

Lobby Lounge @ Front Windows


Front Desk

Lobby Lounge

On a side note, the light fixtures here are actually vintage chemistry beakers.
The fabric on the banquette is a custom fabric. The words are local street names and the chairs are vintage pieces the owners picked out (with a little guidance) at Seattle thrift stores. This might be my favorite spot in the hotel.

All designs for this property were completed while Design Director at Rossi Architecture, Inc.

Commons Hotel Guest Rooms

2013-01-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

I previously posted a quick before and after on the Minneapolis hotel project I designed.

This week I have a few more guest room images to share.
These images are marketing images that the hotel owner was kind enough to send me.
I am hoping to visit the property this spring (when the weather warms up a bit!) to check out the finished project and, of course, to take more photos.

Junior Suite:
This shot does a nice job of illustrating the way that the warm camel tones work with the cooler grays and blues. I love the tailored fabric on the sofa against the cable of the bed throw. It reminds me of a men's suit paired with a scarf.

Junior Suite

Double Queen Room:
Notice the light fixture over the desk? I posted about it here.
Again, I am particularly pleased with the way that the colors and patterns work together.
The key to mixing patterns in a space like this is to be especially mindful of the scale of each pattern and how they relate to each other.


Double Queen Room

Presidential Suite:

This is a partial shot of the presidential suite's living room.

I wish you could see the way the sofa & art on the wall opposite the occasional chairs balances out the space. I particularly like the vintage feeling of the swag cord on the light fixture in the ceiling and the pop of shine you get in the brass lamp.

The bar in the back is a fun addition that also breaks up an otherwise awkwardly long space. Cheers!


Presidential Suite

This will be my last post on the guest rooms, I promise!

Next up...lobby and restaurant.

All designs for this property were completed while Design Director at Rossi Architecture, Inc.

Hotel Guest Room Bathroom Before and After

2013-01-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

Last week I posted a quick before and after on the Minneapolis hotel guest rooms I designed.
Today I have a quick before and after of the typical guest room bathroom.

I think the photos speak for themselves!

Before:

After:

Amazing what a little paint, tile and glass can do isn't it?

Before:

After:

Unfortunately the layout of the before and after vanity photos isn't exactly the same, but you get the idea.

I should also mention that this particular renovation was done on a very tight budget. That being said, I'd say we got a pretty high return on the dollars invested.

And if you are in a suite:

I'll share more photos of the property soon!

All designs for this property were completed while Design Director at Rossi Architecture, Inc.

Rancho La Cima--First Look

2013-01-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

Today I am thrilled to post a first look at a particularly exciting project I started working on this past summer. Blue Sky Capital is a real estate investment firm that purchases homes below market value, brings them up to their full potential and resells when the time is right.
At almost 9,000 square feet the estate at Rancho La Cima is the largest single investment for Blue Sky to date. Given the size and the overly dated state of decor, Blue Sky decided to hire an interior designer to provide them with a new vision for the property.

After an initial meeting with the owners I pulled together a direction and presented to their entire executive team. Thankfully the team loved the presentation and today we find ourselves at the tail end of a renovation project that has turned out beautifully.

A few days ago I stopped by the property to do a final walk and to snap a few photos.
The evening light was low so apologies for the grainy photos. The best shots I got were of the kitchen so I'll share those today. Not to worry, there will be plenty more photos to come in the next few weeks.

There is a sky light over the kitchen island which made adding pendant lights particularly challenging.

The custom stainless steel frame is the solution I came up with. I'll share more details on how this was successfully completed later.

The house will be presented on the market in about a week.

I'll be back with many, many more details and photos soon!

Guest Room Before & After

2013-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

About a year ago I started working on a hotel renovation project in Minneapolis. At first the scope was minimal but after various discussions and projections it was determined that the entire property would be renovated and (the best part!) I would lead the design.

Construction on this property is wrapping up and I am excited to share a quick before and after on the typical guest room portion of the design.

I will share more details and photos for this project very soon!

All designs for this property were completed while Design Director at Rossi Architecture, Inc.

Happy New Year!

2013-01-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Cheers to a fabulous, creative and productive 2013!!

Just a peak of things to come around here...

Happy Holidays!

2012-12-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

Making a rare appearance to wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday season!

I pinned this image a while back, love just about everything about it but wouldn't you know the link didn't work. A few days ago I spotted this very image on a 6th Street Design School Etsy roundup. Ha! It's a little late now but maybe for next year...

...and speaking of next year, I've got some really great projects that are finally wrapping up; can't wait to share!

HOF Article

2012-09-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

Wow!
A lot has changed in the last few months.
I'll have to post an update on quite a few things very soon.

For now, I wanted to share that I was lucky enough to contribute to the latest edition of House of Fifty.

To check out the piece, which I should mention is not about design, click here.

It was fun (and a little self-indulgent) to write about being a mom and my little boy so I hope you'll check it out.

click here

@ the office: custom lighting

2012-06-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

Oh my, it's been a long time since I blogged but I promised I'd pop in every once in a while, so here I am.
Things are still busy at the office but are coming along nicely.

A while back I headed out to Vegas for the annual HD trade show put on by Hospitality Design Magazine and something kind of exciting came up that I've been meaning to share.

In preparation for the show Hospitality Design magazine publishes their annual "the hd expo issue".
Each year I love to see what will be up and coming and who will be exibiting at the show.

This year the vendor who is manufacturing a custom light fixture that I designed for my hotel renovation project at the office featured my light fixture as their ad for the show. I couldn't believe it when I was flipping through the pages and there it was, a full page ad on my custom fixture.

How cool is that?
This light will be used in some of the guest rooms in my current renovation project.

hello?

2012-04-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

My poor blog, it's been mis-treated and abandoned.
Left behind due to life's current overwhelming & over-scheduled status.
Although I'm short on sleep and time these days, I am really excited about what I'm working on at the office, it's what my goal has been all this time: an entire hotel renovation under my design direction. I've been directing interiors projects for a while now at my firm but this one, it's the whole deal: lobby, restaurant, ballroom, meeting space, and 304 guest rooms. YIKES!

Even though I've been light on posts lately (or at all) I have to say that jumping into the blog world has pushed me to stay in touch with design in a way that I was lacking before and has provided new sources of inspiration at just the right time.

So, I may not post regularly, but I'll check in from time to time, and someday I'll be able to share photos of my hotel project...stay tuned, completion is scheduled for the end of the year. It's going to be quite the ride until then!

fresh floral art

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

As a hospitality designer I find sourcing art to be, at times, tedious.

I love art and original paintings so the task of finding the perfect piece for a guest room to be used 200 or 300 times over can be a bit daunting.

Yesterday I came across this artist with some fresh and contemporary floral paintings.

There is just something I really like about them, that's what it's all about right? Finding that one that speaks to you.

Here are some of my favorites:

this one is my absolute favorite!

all images via

To see more by Lulie Wallace visit her website: http://luliewallace.bigcartel.com/

tangerine tango

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

You may have already heard the big news:
Pantone's color of the year is Tangerine Tango.

That's right. Get ready for some serious pop in 2012.
Pantone describes the color as "a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward"

Sounds like a nice sentiment, I'm looking forward to seeing it in action.
It never ceases to amaze me how color is infused into so many aspects of life and the ways that popular colors reflect current events.

This year I think I'd like to see tangerine tango with navy:

via

sunshine & nostalgia

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

"you are my sunshine" was my mom's song, she sang it to me all the time when I was little.

I can't believe how popular this sweet ditty has become in print, each time I see one, it makes me smile.

I would love to get one for my son's room but every time I sing the song to him he says: "no, no, no...wash it out!" (that's his name for the "itsy bitsy spider" which, apparently, he much prefers to "you are my sunshine").

Oh well, maybe I'll get a little one just for me, for nostalgia's sake.

Here are my favorites:

1.2.3.4

And since gray and yellow are just a little bit popular right now, especially in nurseries, I can see how these would be a sweet touch.

via

a little crafty: pillows

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

I posted a while back about this fabric:

I liked it so much I ordered some up and made these:

They make a nice pair, I like the scale of the pattern and I'm pretty proud of myself for sewing them all on my own; they turned out well!

I have about a yard left so I'm contemplating what to do with the rest of it...hmm...

a little before and after

2012-01-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

To start 2012 off I thought I'd share a quick peek at a restaurant update I completed a while back at the office.

Before:

and After:

Same furniture, same floor, same bar top.
New back bar, new chandeliers, new paint, whole new feel for a whole new year.

Cheers!

so long merry

2011-12-26T10:07:00.000-08:00

Hope you and yours had a very Merry Christmas!

Our tree and I did not get along this year, in the end the tree won, standing indignatly crooked. After falling over too many times to discuss, I finally left a few of these on it:

We've never been ones to let the holiday decor linger and needless to say this year was no exception. Guess where that tree was on Monday morning? Yup, on the curb. And since it was garbage day in our neighborhood that damn crooked, falling over tree is loooong gone by now.

Will you be leaving up your decorations through the New Year's festivities or taking them down this week?

I love the decorations, but once they are gone the house feels so clean and de-cluttered...that is assuming we can find somewhere to put all the loot Santa brought...

lil' bit crafty

2011-12-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

I'm not the craftiest person, I am actually much better at bigger projects like building things, painting rooms, laying tile, etc. But this year we tried a few little crafts at home.

Coincidentally (or not, since it's my go-to for kids' activities) I found both of our crafts via Modern Parents Messy Kids.

The first one we made I found here.

We used clear glass ornaments, poured in some paint, swirled it around and voila!

A tray full of ornaments!

The second craft we did I found here.

Salt and flour ornaments, fun, easy and instant grandparent gift:

If you follow me on twitter you also know that I've been trying to sew up some gifts this year.

Oh. Dear.

After I give them out to the "lucky" recipients I'll share some pics.
I know you are on pins and needles. I see it in your eyes.

new favorite fabric

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

Dwell has a new collection for Robert Allen and I have a new favorite print:

The background is a lovely gray-blue and the ochre pops just the right amount.
Best part? It comes in a commercial grade so it'll hold up to some wear & tear.

That's all for now...just a quick break from the Holiday madness.

all wrapped up

2011-12-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

I love wrapping gifts, almost as much as I love picking them out.

Lately I haven't had much time to really get into the details like I used to but I'm feeling more inspired:

via

You know I've got one or two paint chips lying around...

via

Stripes!

via

I tend to gravitate towards simple with a dash of unexpected whimsy:

via

You really can't go wrong with brown paper and a pop of lovely:

via

Now that I've gone and shared all these beautiful wrap jobs, don't go and be all disappointed if you get a gift from me and it doesn't measure up.

modern holiday

2011-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

What's your holiday style? Traditional with all the trimmings or perhaps a bit more modern?

Would you? Could you?
Give up the traditional tree for one of these?

via

The possibiliTree caught my eye but I don't know if I could take the plunge and replace our traditional tree.

via

What do you think? There would be no pine needles...but no fresh pine scent either.

thankful

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

I can hardly believe it's already Thanksgiving week.

I love Thanksgiving, such a wonderful opportunity to stop and acknowledge all the blessings in life and to share it with loved ones.

Since we're all addicted to Pinterest by now, I've rounded up some of my favorite Thanksgiving table inspirations to share.

In addition to the table scapes I came across this idea for a "Thankful Tree"

What a wonderful way for kids (and adults) to express and beautifully display all that they hold dear.

All images via Pinterest via 1 . 2. 3. 4 . 5 .6 . 7

May your Turkey Day be full of gratitude and those you hold close to your heart.

Happy Thanksgiving!

mercury rising

2011-11-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

You can't avoid it, already, Christmas is everywhere.

One thing I'm seeing lots of and really enjoying is all kinds of mercury glass.
And a big bonus, it looks great year round so you won't have to pack up all the accessories at the end of the season.

via Wisteria

via West Elm

And these owls are sweet; we have a thing for owls at our house:

via West Elm

I can imagine these would look beautiful at night glowing in tree lights:

via Ballard Designs

And lamps, I've had these floating around in my pinboard for a while:

via Pinterest via

I especially like the patina on mercury glass and the way it works with so many different styles.
What do you think?

tape it up

2011-11-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

I've seen this picture floating around Pinterest over the last few weeks and people seem to be in to the idea:

via Pinterest via

Notice the "rug"?
It is interesting how it does create the visual boundary that a rug would provide and adds a definite element of surprise and interest. Certain to get the conversation going. Wonder what happens when you mop?

After seeing the above image, I came across this story on dorm rooms, talk about taking it to the next level. These college kids have outdone the tape concept.

Images via

For the whole scoop on the room click here.

What do you think? I love the artistry and the tongue-in-cheeky-ness of it all.