Brass Tacks

January 30, 2014

My kitchen is inspired by luxury ocean liners and features custom cherry wood and brass kitchen cabinets with marble counters and walls. I never grow tired of coming home to this! (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

I have been having an unabashed love affair with unlaquered brass finishes for over ten years.  It started when I was doing research on the designs from the 1920's, 30's and 40's for a residential project. I then began collecting wonderful design books from all the great designers of that era:  Jacques Quinet, Andre Arbus and Jean Royere. These designers used unlaquered brass as accents on cabinets, as one of a kind hardware, on screens, you name it. 

Not long afterwards my husband and I purchased a 1930's house and renovated it, and used brass throughout as one of the main materials.  I even went so far as to have chrome bathroom fixtures stripped of their chrome finish as I knew that a beautiful brass finish lay underneath. I love brass' warmth, it's patina and unlike the shiny tacky glossy finish on brass you find from the 80's, this is like an aged wine - timeless and deeply satisfying.

Modern brass lighting and take off on vintage version but not usually seen in brass. (Elle Decor)

Brass railing, light fixture and hardware very sexy with graphic black and white Colour scheme. (Elle Decor)

I played off the contemporary brass tub filler with an Asian inspired mural of cherry blossoms to create a zen peaceful ensuite for a young chic couple. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Donna Griffith)

Custom designed mahogany vanity with stone counter and muted brass taps/hardware/sconces in master ensuite. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Donna Griffith)

AERIN Nesting Sphere Bowls perfect for adding warmth to a still life composition. (Elle Decor)

A clean contemporary makeup area featuring 1930's brass sconces and hardware that leads from the walk-in closet to the master suite's four-poster brass bed. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Donna Griffith)

A clean contemporary makeup area featuring 1930's brass sconces and hardware that leads from the walk-in closet to the master suite's four-poster brass bed. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Donna Griffith)

Marble nesting table by Jim Hannon-Tan. in the Jan 2013 issue of World of Interiors. I love the mix of materials here and the scale: solid, parchment coloured tables with the brass long necked bird. Their inherent qualities are so opposite that their differences makes them look better when seen together. (World of Interiors)

Old World glamour is brought to my bathroom with a black glass and marble tub, vintage brass faucets and cherrywood accents. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

I found these brass vintage grills at a flea market and they were perfect for the built in cabinet surrounding our dining room banquet. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

A master ensuite featuring custom designed onyx floor and walls and vintage brass cabinet for towels. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Guest bathroom in Cameron Diaz's home creates "Old World Hollywood" glamour through the use of brass shower stall, sconces and sink. Please invite me! (Elle Decor) 

Posted
AuthorTheresa Casey
CategoriesColour, Finishes
TagsKitchen, Light Bulb, Brass, Accessories, Finishes, Brass Railing, Foyer, Bathroom, Taps, Handles, Closet, Lighting, Brass Sconces
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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

January 17, 2013

The New York Times Style Magazine featured a Chicago high-rise featuring gilding and mirrors.

One recent installation by Casey Design combined mirror and silver leaf to create a dynamic opening impression in a client’s foyer. The small space needed a boost, and we thought mirrors would be a bold way to add interest as well as to expand the space. We have used mirror extensively before, on feature walls, or by covering a fireplace wall, but never in conjunction with the silver leaf.

A similar Chicago project, featured in a 2011 issue of The New York Times Style Magazine, used gold leaf on the moulding in a combination with mirrors inside the panels. In our case, we wanted a more contemporary style so we chose to silver leaf the moulding of the panelled walls, and installed beveled mirrors onto the entire wall surface surrounding the moulding. 

Gold leafing or gilding has been used historically for surface decoration to give objects the appearance of being solid gold or silver by covering the base with thin layers of foil or 'leaf'. Both silver and gold leaf are finicky materials to work with, and take expertise and patience to apply flawlessly. Thankfully we had our talented artist/designer, Kari Serrao, execute the silver leafing. Here are the steps undertaken for the foyer: a base clay coating was painted on the moulding, then a layer of clear glue was applied, then the leaf was carefully applied, and finally a finish lacquer coat sealed the surface. The next big step was to have our mirror installers do extensive measuring and calculating for the over 100 pieces of mirror. The final result: a transformed entryway and a vastly enhanced spacious foyer, with drama and depth. The clients were thrilled!

A client's mirrored foyer with a custom floating, lacquer table. (Photo by Ted Yarwood)

The floor-to-ceiling mirrored fireplace emphasizes the verticality and expands the space. (Photo by Ted Yarwood)

The client's foyer before the work began.

Designer & artist, Kari Serrao, beginning the silver leaf process.

The foyer once the silver leaf and lacquer was applied.

Mirror pieces were measured, cut and numbered to ensure they were installed correctly.

All of the pieces are starting to come together.

It's almost finished! 

In process - installing the final mirrors. 

This girl's bathroom is completed with mirrored panels that have hidden storage behind. Any girl's dream come true. (Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Posted
AuthorTheresa Casey
CategoriesInterior, The Design Process
TagsMirrors, Foyer, Fireplace, Mirrored Fireplace, Gilding, Silver Leaf, Bathroom
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Chic with (or without) Children

November 26, 2013

A designated Family Room creates the perfect place for the children to play and watch TV. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

It is often thought to be impossible to keep your home neat and tidy and stylish once the children arrive. Images of all the toys and clutter associated with children come to mind. However, if planned correctly, it can be possible to have both a chic, beautiful home and a big family to live in it. You just need to adopt family-friendly design concepts to accommodate your growing family as you create the style of your dreams.

Key points to remember for family-friendly design: You can always create separate spaces for the children and adults to entertain or hangout. A third floor family room gives the children a place to watch TV and listen to music, while a master suite can create a calming space for parents to relax in. Use kid-friendly fabrics and furniture that can be easily cleaned. This does not mean you have to settle for childish patterns. A bold, green, vinyl wallcovering with assorted vintage letters adds interest and warmth to the room for both adults and children. It also creates a modern space you can be proud of. Storage is another important factor as children come with a lot of stuff. You need to find ways to store their toys and books in a manner that adds to the design of the room. Use storage and shelving that makes everything easily accessible, but can hide the more unsightly clutter. A contemporary, white gloss cabinet with a mix of open shelves and closed cupboards does just that, for example. Lastly, you should simultaneously incorporate the personalities of the children and create a room that they can grow with, so you don’t need to re-do the rooms every couple of years. A client’s son had an interest in collecting toy cars, and we found an antique glass cabinet and created custom, steel shelves to display them. These pieces will remain classic bedroom pieces that he can grow with and they add sophistication to the room, while the collection of toys brings the fun of childhood.

This cozy banquette provides additional space for the client's teenagers to hangout. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Master Suite with fireplace, seating area and spa-like washroom for parents of three to retreat to. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Two Storey "Great Room" fit for family as well as catered business functions with its separate pantry. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Kid-Friendly wallpaper with assorted vintage letters that adds interest to the room. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon)

These polkda dot shower curtains enhance the design while adding a fun element to the bathroom. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Contemporary, white gloss cabinet that is perfect for storage. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon)

Side Mud Room with cubby storage for the whole family. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Antique, glass cabinet and steel shelving to  display our client's son's toy car collection. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Bedroom that plays off of our client's daughter's fashion interests. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

A bathroom created for a teenage girl that will grow with her. (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Posted
AuthorTheresa Casey
CategoriesInterior, The Design Process
TagsWallpaper, Bathroom, Bedroom, Master Ensuite, Living Room, Kitchen, Storage
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The New World of Wallpaper

November 19, 2013

Red and Orange Textured, Linen Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Before I started working at Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. as the social media coordinator, I thought of wallpaper as a trend of the past. I recalled my grandmother’s house or my family’s kitchen and the flower bud wallpaper that was such a pain to take down when we decided it had seen its last day. Little did I know that wallpaper had made a huge comeback…

The reinvention of wallpaper has made it a new modernizing tool for interior designers around the world. It can be used to add colour, texture, and depth; effects that no amount of paint can achieve. Here are some inventive examples of how we have used wallpaper for our clients:  A bold, red and orange circled, linen wallpaper is used to make a statement in this entryway. A nature-inspired wallpaper creates a calming atmosphere for a master bedroom.  A Toile wallpaper creates an Old World, French style for a powder room that looks as if it belongs in a chateau.  Theresa and the team at Casey Design Group have never been afraid to use wallpaper creatively, and now neither will I!

Nature-Inspired Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon)

French-Inspired, Toile Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Baroque Flocked, Velvet Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Ted Yarwood)

Kid-Friendly, Vinyl Wallcovering (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon)

Bookcase lined with Delicate Floral Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Donna Griffith)

Dramatic, Raw Linen Wallpaper (Casey Design/Planning Group Inc. - Photo by Michael Graydon)

Posted
AuthorTheresa Casey
CategoriesColour, Design Tool, Interior
TagsWallpaper, Bedroom, Washroom, Texture
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The Five Hats of Theresa Casey: A Day in the Life

November 8, 2013

A day at Casey Design/Planning Group Inc.

A day at Casey Design/Planning Group Inc.

A day in the life of an interior designer is very hectic and crammed with multiple duties and responsibilities. As a designer, Theresa Casey ends up wearing many different hats. That is to say she plays many roles for her clients in her day-to-day working life. She can be a space planner, a floral designer, a photo-shoot stylist, a personal shopper and so much more. She is always moving, always going and always thinking about the clients and their projects. These are just a few of the hats she wears:

Drawings. It should be no surprise that as a designer Theresa has to continuously channel her inner artist and bring her creative ideas and designs to life by putting pen to paper and proofing CAD drawings. However, there are many different purposes to the drawings. She may review and create design concepts for a client’s space. Or she works on drawings for contractors in order to relay the design ideas she and her clients have developed. She also works directly with suppliers to design and produce custom pieces.

Site Visits. Once plans have been drawn and construction begins, Theresa makes a point of frequently stopping by the sites to ensure that everything is going to plan. That means she is checking to ensure that the client’s drawings are being adhered to, as well as answering any questions the general contractors may have. And much like her digital tools, Theresa has a troubleshoot button too. When any issue arises on site, Theresa is there to creatively solve them.

Decal Installs. As you can tell, Theresa is very hands on in everything she does from start to finish, and everything in between. This, for example, might include a decal wall installation. With the help of her intermediate designer, Kari Serrao, Theresa laid out the design of a tree decal for a client’s nursery - a very detail-oriented but ultimately satisfying process.

Model Houses. The ultimate time-consuming process is that of building a new home from scratch, and Theresa works through every phase to see it to completion. Model making usually begins with massing concepts and building forms to conceptualize the structure and begin space planning. Senior designer, James Janz, ably helps her wear this hat.

Sourcing. While shopping sounds like more fun than many of her other duties, it is not a task that Theresa takes lightly. She always diligently searches Designer’s Walk and other design venues for the furniture, lighting, fabric etc. that will suit her clients’ needs. She ensures that anything bought will not only match the client’s styles, but also their budgets and overall design concepts. All the different aspects that go into every purchase make this a challenging task. Last week, for example, Theresa explored the Primavera showroom hunting for the perfect striped fabric for a client’s nursery to match the existing furniture, wall colour and newly installed tree decal.

It is very interesting to watch Theresa work, as she is always taking on something new and exciting. I always wonder what hat she’ll put on next!

Posted
AuthorTheresa Casey
CategoriesTheresa Casey, The Design Process
TagsDecal, Fabric
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