Steel Door

Collaboration is pretty awesome-
1.Homeowner saw an inspiration picture
2.Contractor figured out the 'how-to': did the math , cut and pre-drilled 5 sizes of metal shapes, enough pieces for two sides of  a 5'x9'  door.
3.Expert metal finisher created the multi-layered color , plus an exterior rated lacquer coating on the galvanized steel pieces and also on thousands of screws.
4. Ecstatic designer(me) made a template of how to lay them out
5. Giddy designer (again, me) guided the contractors as they hung the pieces, these guys were great collaborators, willing to give up the creative part of the construction- such professionals.
6. Angels sang.
( ok maybe they were just singing in my head )

5'x9' Pivot Door with Custom Steel Design

halfway thru the first side.

The "Country Living" Magazine subscribers

The low maintenance couple

Maybe they have to rake twice a year.  That's all.--R

The Swedes

Shouldn't they be living in Ballard?--R

The horticulturalists

You can't even see this house from the street. Plants are everywhere.--R

The young marrieds...with kids

 

Just looking at this yard exhausts me.--R

The modern architect's house

Confession--I know the owner, but I would have guessed architect for sure.--R

The Europeans

 

What does your entryway or front yard say about you? Well, the ladies at Well Done Blog think they say a lot about your life, your style, and maybe even your dreams. This week we will feature front yards from around our neighborhood and try to guess who lives there. These folks definitely lived abroad...or want to.--R

Welcome, Welcome.

Years ago my sister and I worked for a developer in Seattle. One day, over lunch, he told us a funny childhood story.  As a kid, he owned a lawn-care service in the tony Detroit suburbs. He and his buddies would drive around the neighborhoods and only leave promotional flyers at the homes with large, matching pots at the front doors.  "I learned that those were the people with the money and they turned out to be my best clients."  Good to know.--R

Passion is the new black.

Lately I have been thinking about fear. Yup it's true, read on to watch me draw a crazy blog-world parallel between a front door color and fear. You know I love color and I still have a crazy fear of screwing up my front door. Guess how whimpy I am? My door is a cream color. I have been dreaming of having the balls to make it fabulous. I also have been dreaming of having the balls to do lots of other crazy things too. I am starting to get the idea that I have heard cliched over the years, you know the one "Life is not a spectator sport" It seems, in my world, there is not a lot of straying from the cozy safe spot in the middle. Well, passion is the new black. Go take what's yours this week.

Here is a link to a list of some great door color choices from House Beautiful, one of my favorite home design magazines(http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/colors/front-door-color) or better yet, ask me and I will give you a front door color, no charge. If you are far away, email your front door picture. Time for a  revolution, one door at a time.

House on 35th Avenue. Wedgwood, Seattle

The owner has created an oasis on one of the
busiest streets in Wedgwood. I'm inspired
by the "floating" concrete pavers and the
entry gate.
Well Done Solitude.

Dream House with Great Landscape. Wallingford. Day One.

The first time I saw this place my heart skipped a beat. Really, it’s fantastic inside and out. Sort of a Dwell Magazine meets The Folk Art Messenger. This week Well Done Blog will be featuring exteriors from this home.

Entry: So simple, and graceful, and easy, and inexpensive. The lavender is drought tolerant and evergreen. It can look good year round with little to no maintenance. The walkway is a combination of gravel and pavers. Both of these items are easy to find and easy to install. The mailbox is recycled and funky. The most expensive item here is the concrete retaining wall--not cheap but clearly essential to the design. -R

Today's Entry

Hi, While we are on the subject of entries, I wanted to share two very different WELL DONE entries; The one on top is a beautiful, large one on Mercer Island that I helped design last year. The second one is in the Bryant neighborhood, we spied it while house hunting with a friend. They both take my breath away. When cream colors and whites are used deliberately on walls with a rich contrasting color like black or blue, the effect is almost always elegant and classic. My favorite whites to use right now are "Icing" by Devine Paint and "Acadia White" by Ben Moore (except if you live near the water in which case use "Sail Cloth " by Ben Moore)

Speaking of entries my own is currently crowded with crap. Deep Breath. Sunday, time to eat pancakes and clean the entry.

Make an Entrance. Maple Leaf

Who wouldn't want to come home to this?

Well Done entry.

Sweet Rock Collection on Porch, Edmonds Washington