Zen Master Bathroom

It all starts with a simple design.

Clean lines are desired for this calm environment. Sausalito recessed door and panel, with concealed hinges and square legs give this vanity the look of fine furniture.

Bamboo impression porcelain tiles lead you into a river stone shower surrounded by large glass watery tiles. The lighting fixture dangles glass strips that resemble the rain.

Results!

 

Siderna by Brizo faucets are the jewels!

Setting the stage a high backspash keeps the look clean avoiding visual breaks.

 

 

Metal, stone and glass merge.

 

 

 

 

Simplicity.

 

 Custom doors and mirrors make for a unique environment.

Design by: Cortizo Interiors and installation by Considine Builders.
If you use images please credit the design.

Architectural Digest Show 2012



The Perfect future featured Piet Hein Eek "Waste Table" made of reclaimed wood.

Artsaics incredible mosaics are SOLID fashion!



Brooklyn based BDDW marries modern and natural elements with their handcrafted pieces.



Aviva stanoff shows off their beautiful textiles and other little secrets...not anymore.



 The New Traditionalist always innovative and creating new trends with classic elements.

Love this buckle detail on the back of one this New Traditionalist chair.



The Ralph Lauren dining room was just one of the many dining scapes at the show.

Clever light fixture!

 

Love this one as well featuring Michael McHale's lighting! Loved it so much installed it in a recent loft project!

Imagination in flight!! Fantastic!

Fantasticamente!!

What a great show and thank you to Modernus for making it extra special!!

Blooms and the Boston Flower and Garden Show 2012

The crocus isn't the only messenger to remind us that spring is on our door step. The New England Horticultural Society's annual Flower and Garden show is a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of spring!

 Bonsai trees in all their miniature splendor.

There was a lovely assortment of stone walkways meandering throughout some of the garden displays.

Gorgeous landscapes filled the show with vibrant colors and varietals.

Watery elements and arbors.

Ladies sporting floral nesting millinery fashions.

Afro chic GaGa wears babies breath.

Sculptural chapeau made of striking yellow orchids.

Maple beauties.

Topiary arrangements.

Tulips and hostas.

Love this tangerine front door and complimentary landscaping.

Orange tulips and grape hyacinth for a burst of color!

The New England Flower and Garden Show was  a delightful way to start my spring!

Bath inspirations

My current master bathroom project is inspired by the outdoors. The dark Nero bamboo impression on the porcelain floor grounds the space. The glazed maple vanity has depth and stature. It is topped with  mottled Quartz...like white sand. Beautiful and translucent, the glass creates a watery spa environment. Required, an element of sparkle, achieved with metal and stone accent tiles &

Brizo Siderna bath fixtures...the rooms jewels!!

More to come.......

A Sunday Stroll & Architecture

This past Sunday I parked my car along the Boston Garden and decided to take a long walk down Commonwealth Ave.. It was a cold wintry day and the sun was shining so brightly I became oblivious to the chilly temps and grew distracted by the beauty of one of Boston's most notable streets.

An Illustration from 1881 features the green way that begins at the western side of the Public Garden.
The greenway is also known as The Commonwealth Mall which displays several statues and was beautifully
designed by Arthur Delevan Gilman and Frederick Law Olmstead.

Every entrance tells it's own architectural story.

Movement in a walkway is always more visually interesting and welcoming.

This corner home and it's Mansard slate roof boast of grand days.
I always wonder what stories it would tell me if it could.

A beautiful side courtyard and it's overgrown view. Look closely and you'll see the copper roof.
What flowers would you place in the pots flanking the entrance? I would love to see them overflowing with hydrengia's and a crown of willow for verticality. Then maybe a soft coat of verbena cascading down the pillars for movement and fragence on those breezy summer days. 

A room with a view and black iron balconies sit above the arched coined windows below.

I love an entrance where the steps become grander as they descend. It is typical in the southern states like Savannah, Georgia where the entrance seems to open up and wrap it's arms around you. A true sign that you are welcome.

Aged and Verde Gris balconies dress the curved windows.

The brick and iron work are lovely, however the birch is the real show stopper. I love the simplicity of dressing the entrance with this organic display that will last all winter long.

It was a lovely Sunday walk

-Michelle

   

Thank you!

I just wanted to write a small note to say thank you to all my clients, vendors/contractors and on line friends for your wonderful support!

This month marks the 12th Anniversary for Cortizo Interiors.

I look forward to 2012 with best wishes for all in mind.

Happy New Year all!

Michelle

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

He who has not Christmas in his heart

will never find it under a tree. ~Roy L. Smith

Create a place for your guest that sparkles!

A handmade  wreath by Karin Lidbeck Brent (@Klidbeck) 
for extra cheer!



*****************************

Sending best wishes to you and yours!

Be safe and be merry!

XOXO

Images via BHG

A Christmas tree pair makes for good space saving!

Every year I try to find new ways to void our small family room of feeling overwhelmed by a Christmas tree. The obvious is a narrow tree but year after year of searching for a slender tree can become daunting. Inevitably it would always appear slightly dinky at best. So this year I opted for TWO dinky trees! There's power in numbers!

The good news is, I actually found two trees that were pretty similar in size and shape. I trimmed heavily from the bottom up and then placed them into two new trash pails surrounded by stones to hold in place and create a well for watering.

By trimming heavily and getting rid of most of the girth, the trees appear to recede back.  Also with the trees set back, we gain additional floor space for gifts. Normally we would be tripping over encroaching presents but now with two placement options, everything fits tightly around each end of the hearth...a win win!

Fabric remnants hide the containers, a few branches from trimmings are placed on top to conceal the well. A few lights and ornaments...done!

I hope all of your Christmas preparations are going well!

XO

On December 15th shortly after this post the pair of trees were selected by @abcddesigns, @JonathanLegate & Kathryn Greeley on Design TV as worthy prize winners!  The prize: A signed copy of interior designer Kathryn Crisp Greeley's "The Collected Tabletop" Inspirations for Creative Entertaining. I'm truly honored!

Click on book to find out more!