A Sparkling Jewelbox Retreat

It has been many years since I attempted to write a blog post and much in my life has changed.  I think it is time for me to get back to doing my research and writing about the two things I love most - interior design and how it has inspired my jewelry designs.  With that being said - here goes!

Our Vision Board - Because My Hubby Cannot Visualize

Back in the summer of 2016, my husband and I embarked on a total renovation of our master bath and freshening up our master bedroom and another bath near my husband’s office.  I had done lots of research on what I felt I could live with, while simultaneously appealing to the local masses in the event we should want to sell our house and skip away to our retirement.  Arizona is a place where the culture is foreign to me - rustic, masculine and repetitive.  They are just beginning to snap out of a sea of brown and beige!  I on the other hand, I have had Calcutta marble and soft grey with pale aqua in the kitchen and family room for over seven years.

Old Bath With Curved Glass Block Shower Wall, Boxed Soaking Tub and Ginormous Soffits!

It was decided that the huge master bath should have the same white/gray Calcutta marble on the floors, shower and countertops.  A boxed in soaking tub would be removed and a free-standing tub would replace it.  The natural stained cabinets with enormous overhead soffits would be replaced with more classic white cabinets that included towers to accentuate the height of the ceiling and add storage.  The curved glass block shower wall would be removed, straightened and replaced with a glass shower door, adding a bench and dual shower heads (one stationary and the other hand-held).  The shower renovation would also remove the step-up/step-down portion of the floor so the generous shower could become wheelchair accessible, if ever needed.

Shower Mayhem With Curved Glass Block Wall Removed

All of this planning was done with the idea that our community seems to have many retired residents with various needs.  As we all know, aging in place has become the preferred option as we get older and studies have confirmed that the elderly do better when they can stay in their homes.  However, the interior designer in me still wanted to have the bathroom look beautiful for the present time, with small alterations that could be easily added, if needed in the future for another resident. 

Our Entire Living Room/Dining Room/Foyer Became A Storage Unit During This Renovation!

Why Did I Think I Could Leave The Crew Unattended For  Few Hours???  Pink"X" Tiles Were Removed

With all that in mind, we embarked on what was supposed to be a 6 week project, which realistically, I never thought would be finished in that time frame!  We encountered many bumps in the road because most trades people  here just really do not understand quality and/or proportions (resulting in a partial rip out of mismatched marble and redo of the upper cabinet towers because they were just too deep). 

Hours Were Spent With The Marble Installers In Order To Attempt To Match Up The Veining

So Much Better Without Those Ginormous Soffits.  Water Lines Were Moved To Add A Tub Filler Under The Window.  NOT A Good Plan For Cold Weather Climates... But We Live In AZ!

These Venetian Glass Mirrors Hung Over Plate Glass Require Detailed Planning.  Many Nerve Wracking Hours Of Repairing These Delicate Mirrors As They Arrived Slightly Damaged 

The Antique Armoire Replaced The Built In Linen Cabinet.  I Filled The Interior With Neatly Folded Linens And A Collection Of Blue Opaline Glass

Hubby Really Put Up A Fuss When I Informed Him I Had Called In Classy Closets.  Now He Thinks It Was A GREAT Idea!

The Glass Closet Doors Were Added To Help Keep Out Dust - My Mortal Enemy Living In Arizona!

All in all, this seven month project with all its delays and blips turned out more or less just as I had envisioned.  It had been about seven years since my last design project (my kitchen/family room) and it made me very happy to be able to get back in the trenches.  The last piece of the puzzle was put into place when the antique armoire was finally delivered (since the photo - painting completed) to replace the built in linen cabinet which was removed to enlarge the adjacent closet.  Would I tackle this project again - you bet?!  I am afraid I have been spoiled by the soft beauty of this bathroom and the enormous size. 

Madonna & Child Necklace

Cateline II Layering Necklace

 

Clementine Bracelet

Bree Aquamarine Necklace

Dara Diamond & Moonstone Earrings

Brooklyn Gray Moonstone Necklace

Through all of this turmoil I was still making jewelry that seemed to repeat the delicate colors of the new bath.  Many of those pieces have since sold, but the newest designs still have the gentle colors, which remain a favorite - white, dove gray, pale aqua blue and gold.
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New March Designs - A Lover’s Eye Necklace, Forget-Me-Not Bracelet & Victorian Style Marcasite Necklace

Isabella Lover's Eye Necklace

On the Back - Two sweet little Toumaline hearts and a butterfly float in a sea of white topaz

A hauntingly beautiful hand-painted watercolor of a Lover’s Eye was recently commissioned to marry the charming folklore of it’s antique counterparts with a gorgeous antique Victorian 9k rose gold Repoussé double glazed locket.  This stunning locket, with deeply chased foliate design, is the perfect frame to showcase the very talented beauty of the eye art.  However, there is a very unique surprise on the other side - a diminutive butterfly in 24k gold vermeil, floating in a sea of 2.5 carats of white topaz and two sweet little pink tourmaline hearts.  From the back side, you can also see the artist’s signature and date.

The necklace is composed of sky blue topaz rondelles interspersed with delicate watermelon tourmaline slices stationed along the chain.  This one of a kind design - perfect for the Spring 2012 pastel revolution - is certain to be a conversation piece.

Leah Necklace

Hand-linked faceted pyrite rondelles are joined together with hand-coiled gold pyrite and laser cut Mother-of-Pearl buttons to compliment an antique style marcasite and Mother-of-Pearl pendant.  The combination of mixed metals in silver tones, blackened silver and gold allows the owner to wear this with any combination of other jewelry.  This layering necklace would also be gorgeous mixed with pearls to draw out the MOP buttons.

Dottie Bracelet

Four strands of hand-linked blue flash moonstone rondelles dotted with  every the popular Sleeping Beauty turquoise faceted oval nuggets are the perfect compliment for this antique Georgian Pinchbeck clasp.  The agate clasp features a lovely little turquoise floral design of a Forget-Me-Not flower.  Please note the exquisite Cannetille design that forms the outer ring of the clasp.

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Lavender Love - The Iliana Necklace

Lavender & Honey Ice Cream

via Flickr

When two things happen simultaneously, you know it has some hidden meaning. Several weeks ago, I was reading about lavender ice cream and thought it sounded very interesting. Lavender happens to be one of my favorite fragrances, so it made sense to me that I should at least give it a try even though I am not much of an ice cream connoisseur.

Southern Accents

House Beautiful - Coleman/Green

1teriordesign.com

As an interior designer, I do find lavender rooms to be very restful and based on the popularity of that color used in bedrooms - it must have some universal appeal.

Veranda - Kay O'Toole

Robin Karp

thedecorologist.com

On the other hand, it fairly rare to see public rooms (living rooms, dining rooms, etc.) with more than a mere whisper of lavender.  

Just after the lavender ice cream idea, I came across a totally new stone (for me) that was called (of all things) - lavender opal. It seems to be available in fairly limited amounts, but its slight opalescent beauty and soft coloring made me even more determined to seek it out. I ordered a very small quantity of stones and was instantly smitten!

The Iliana Necklace - A Truly HUGE Baroque Pearl !

A "Frill" of Lavender Opal, Chalcedony, Moonstone, Pink Amethyst & Tanzanite Create A Stunning Detail.  Notice The Minuscule Hand-Linked Seed Pearls in the Chain.

A Little Surprise Garnish is Placed Asymmetrically on the Seed Pearl Chain

The Iliana Necklace pays homage to that lavender ice cream confection with a generous dollop of a creamy and luxe baroque pearl topped with a medley of lavender opal faceted briolettes, rondelles and adorable little hear shaped briolettes; lavender chalcedony onion briolettes; pink amethyst rondelles; minuscule tanzanite rondelles; sweet little faceted moonstone briolettes; pear shaped moonstones and deliciously delicate little center-drilled keshi pearls. Just like a scrumptious dessert served in your favorite restaurant, the necklace is garnished with sprigs of lavender opal, dainty keshi pearl and light amethyst rondelle on the side. The 30” chain is hand-linked with the most minuscule seed pearls ever - so delicate!

Guess it’s time for me to take a trip to Whole Foods and try out the ice cream now that the necklace is completed! Um, Yummy!

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