There are many things to consider when updating your home. Maintenance is always important in keeping your interiors fresh, but time passes quickly and maintenance issues can be a part of an overall update.

The following is a list of the many items to be considered:
1. Entry:
To evaluate your needs, I suggest you enter your home through the front door. Is your entry clean, with a freshly painted door and shinny hardware? The front door and surrounding space is the first opportunity that you have to greet your guests, to welcome them into your home.
A. Door: Fresh paint or stain with a new color. Refinish your existing hardware or buy new. Perhaps, consider a new door design.
B. Light fixture: Wash and clean the fixture or replace with an updated look. This is the time to consider adding more light if it is needed.
C. Flooring: Clean the finish and seal. Another option is to replace the flooring with a new material for a new look.
D. Plants/Flowers: Add planter(s) or add seasonal plants to existing planter or adjacent flower beds. Fresh mulch always makes existing plants look fresh and manicured. Consider a water feature. Flowers add color, texture and freshness to an entry.
E. Shutters: If you have shutters, they may need cleaning and/or new paint.

2. Walls:
Once inside your home, maintenance and updating is an important element.
A. Consider painting your walls a new shade of the existing color to make it easy. Your hallways, kitchen, and bathrooms usually need to be painted every 1-3 years. Your entire home should be painted at least once every 10 years. For calking, consider using DAP 3.0 Advanced All-Purpose Sealant, which is more expensive than the regular calking but will contract and expand avoiding cracking.
B. Make a change by painting one or more of your rooms a bold color, such as a lime green, citron, eggplant or dark gray. Also, consider your trim. It can be a contrasting color, to add drama. Powder rooms are a great space for that “wow” factor. A change in color can give your home a totally new look.
C. Add wallcovering to existing painted walls. Wallpaper is easier to keep clean and adds a textural effect to your walls. Wallcovering is very “in” for today’s interiors and comes in great colors, patterns, textures and don’t overlook the large pattern scale. Wallcovering can defiantly add interest to an otherwise mundane room. Wallcovering is the perfect addition for a bedroom—it can add a coziness that paint doesn’t add.

3. Ceilings:
A. Paint the ceilings either a shade of white or paint it the same color as the wall color. If you have crown molding, it will show off more if it is painted a contrasting color to the walls and ceiling.
B. Consider having your ceiling stenciled with a medallion pattern centered on a hanging fixture or just centered on the room.
C. Ceilings can be visually made to look higher by adding a deep crown and/or adding a panel trim, starting approximately 6” off of the crown.
D. Consider adding decorative beams to the ceiling. This treatment can add interest and visual height to your room. If your ceilings are low, add shallow beams, such as 3-4” deep. Contrast the color of the beams with the color of the ceiling for more interest.
E. A “dome” can be added to most any ceiling. There are preformed domes that are 10” deep that can be recessed into your existing flat ceiling. Depending on the size you want to use there may need to be some framing required to maintain the integrity of the ceiling structure.

4. Floors:
A. Have your wood floors refinished, your stone floors cleaned and resealed and your carpet replaced.
B. Consider replacing your carpet with wood or stone flooring. More people are using less carpet because hard surfaces are easier to keep clean and provide less opportunity for allergens.
C. White washed wood floors and medium to light colored stains for wood floors are becoming very popular.

5. Windows:
A. Have all windows cleaned.
B. Consider replacing the windows in the bathroom, powder room, and/or kitchen with leaded or stained glass, for an interesting design.
C. If replacing your window, consider a pretty shape, like an arch.

6. Lighting:
A. Decorative lighting fixtures can date your interiors. So, far an updated look, evaluate what you have and consider replacing with new fixtures. You might even add a hanging fixture where you now have recessed fixtures. Lighting, which reflects off of your walls, usually expands your space.
B. Consider adding additional lighting such as under cabinet lighting, art lighting, and accent lighting. The addition of accent lighting can give architectural interest to a room.
C. There are simple lighting systems that you can install to remotely access your lighting and to “clean up” your walls from the clutter of numerous controls. You can do away with the clutter of numerous switches with installing a lighting system that is remotely operated. Also, there are screwless plates that can replace your old plates.

7. Cabinets:
A. Cabinet design is one of the most important design elements in your kitchen, family room, master bathroom, powder—all rooms where there are built-in cabinets need to be evaluated for “tiredness”.
B. Your stained cabinets can be cleaned with a mineral wax product to make it look newer. In addition, look at scratches and nicks, the cabinet may need to be refinished or just touched up.
C. Light colors and finishes are now more popular, so consider a new color on you cabinets.
D. Painted and stained cabinets can be glazed for added richness.
E. Consider having job built doors and drawer fronts replaced with shop built paneled doors and drawer fronts. They are not expensive and can really “upgrade” your cabinets.

8. Furnishings:
A. Furniture styles are becoming simpler than in previous years, with less carving and straight lines. The over stuffed look is out.
B. White, cream and light colored stains are very popular furniture finishes Consider changing the look of your furniture by changing the finish.
C. Colors are cleaner and brighter than in previous years. Lots of blue and white, clear shades of red, green, yellow, purple, and shocking pink are all popular colors seen in fabrics and on walls.
D. Lamp shades and shapes can date your home’s interior. It may be time to change out some of your lamps and/or lamp shades.
E. Decorative accessories also date your interiors, where as classical accessories, such as, crystal bowls, boxes, etc. are never outdate. We are seeing a cleaner look with fewer accessories.

9. Theater:
A. A recent study showed that 70% of all movie watchers prefer to watch movies in their own home. So, think about what space you might have that could become a media room.
B. The design of the theater depends on your seating preference and the number of people you want to accommodate.
C. Also to be considered is the type and size of the screen you prefer. The selection of your screen and speakers should be the first thing you price before you start converting your space.
D. After determining your audio visual preferences and your seating style, the lighting design should be considered. The lighting is one of the most important aspects of the “theater” design.
E. Select a theme for the theater design. This will be important for the selection of the colors you use.

10. Wine Rooms:
A. If you like wine and you buy wine, having a special place for storage is home is beneficial
B. Wine rooms have become very popular, as well as functional, and can add to the value of your home. (I have designed several closets under the stairs for wine storage.)

11. Outdoors:
A. Consider your outdoors as another “room” and plan the space for activities you want to include. (Lay out a plan for the entire space. Many people only plan for the space adjacent to the house and do not give their “activities” adequate space.)
B. Pools are very popular, no matter how big or small. Lap pools are also popular and can be put in narrow spaces. Lighting is very important when designing your pool and you might consider an LED system with colored lights.
C. Water fountains, whether free standing or as part of your pool, can add to the ambiance of your outdoor space.
D. Covered areas are nice, for any weather, and perfect for a cooking area. Options to consider are: eating bar, grill, pizza oven, fireplace, TV, and lounge area. It can be anything you want it to be.

Don’t be afraid to step out of the box and do something out of the ordinary to an ordinary element of space. Fun and innovative ideas are just part of what make Jane Page Design Group and award winning design firm.

This Broadway themed bunkhouse for our clients’ grandchildren is finally beginning to come to life. The main focal point of the space, a custom painted skyline of New York City on the face of the built-in cabinets, is now complete. Flanking this wall mural is a stage with a raised platform and red velvet curtains.

I encourage my staff to give back to the community by being involved with non-profit groups. Presently, everyone on my staff is volunteering with the Covenant House Texas organization where they help with birthday parties and special events such as the Valentine dance for the young Covenant House individuals who would not have a birthday party or even attend a Valentine dance without the efforts of others wanting and willing to help. Laura Timanus and Amanda Crump recently were responsible for the table decorations at the annual Covenant House Gala and have been on this committee for several years. Covenant House Texas offers homeless and/or abused teenagers a safe haven while helping them with their problems.

I have been involved with non-profit groups for most of my life and have enjoyed every minute of it. Helping those who are in need of help is very satisfying. I just joined the Houston Habitat for Humanity board and I am looking forward to giving my time and efforts to their incredible work in Houston.

I am also on the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance Board. This organization promotes the maintenance of Houston’s architectural history, both commercial and residential. If you are ever aware of a historical building that is facing decay or demolition, please contact the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance website at www.ghpa.org.

Whether it’s helping the youth at Covenant House, laying a brick for Habitat for Humanity or contributing to the restoration of a Houston’s architectural and cultural heritage for the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, giving back to Houston ultimately means securing a beautiful future in Houston which is where I proudly call home.

If you have any interest in volunteering at any of the mentioned non-profit groups mentioned 
www.covenanthousetx.org
www.houstonhabitat.org
www.ghpa.org

According to an ASID survey of U.S. homeowners, most Americans (82%) want to remain in their homes as they age, even if they should require assistance and care. What’s more, AARP research shows that more than half (52%) of American homeowners age 45 and older are interested in receiving information about remaining in their homes as they get older.
- http://www.asid.org/designservices/basics/accessible/aging/

“Aging in place” is a term used in the design world to describe making a home easily accessible as people age. In today’s society, there are many housing alternatives to living in your own home such as retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. Recently, however, companies have designed and manufactured new pieces of furniture and household appliances in order to make it easier for the aging society to stay in their current homes as they age. Therefore, there is no need to worry about the design of your home being compromised by the look of hospital-like furniture.

At Jane Page Design Group, whether we are designing a new home or remodeling a space, we make sure to inform our clients of the importance of ADA accessibility. Some clients require their whole house to be wheelchair accessible, where as others prefer to have one room accessible in order to support an aging friend or family member. For example, many of our clients ask to make their bathrooms accessible. When our firm designs a bathroom, there are many aspects we take into consideration. We make sure all of the doors are 36”W with lever handles, which makes the space wheelchair accessible, and makes the doors easy to open in the instance that the client loses the ability to grip with their hands. Instead of having a curb on the shower, we make the floor slope slightly to the drain, in order for the client to access the shower in a wheelchair if needed. Grab bars are usually not needed right away, therefore, we block out the appropriate areas in the walls to allow for the client to add grab bars when necessary.

A “collection” as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “an accumulation of objects gathered for study, comparison, exhibition or as a hobby”.

I remember a journalist once asked me about a design project of mine, and he was concerned about what collection(s) my client had. Once I told him my client was not a shopper and had no collections, he was no longer interested in featuring the home in his magazine. I’m not as concerned with my clients’ collections or lack there of, but I did an inventory of my own collection immediately— would my home’s interiors and my collections be worthy?

Collections should be fun and meaningful. A great collection to start with is one of Santas. Collecting different styles, different sizes, Santas made of unusual materials, Santas from different countries, etc. The collection can be a lifetime journey and can be as simple or elaborate as you want. To make it interesting for others, learn interesting facts regarding each Santa in your collection. What a wonderful addition to your Christmas decorations and a great opportunity for conversation with new guests in your home.

Angels can be another subject for collectors. Again, your collection can become whatever you want it to be. An angel collection can be part of your Christmas decorating, as well as, a collection for display throughout the year. You can limit your collection to all glass, all wood, or handmade, etc. You may want all of your angels to be antiques.

The downfall of collecting is when others who don’t share your taste, insist on adding to your collection. This is when setting perimeters can be important. You are the one to set the perimeters for your collection. And, if you are a perfectionist then you may want to be the only one to select each piece in your collection.

One way of displaying your collection is by grouping. By grouping your collection the display becomes a “single” greater object in itself and makes your collection more important than any single piece in the collection. An important collection depends as much on affection and presentation as on cost or rarity. Using your collections as a centerpiece is also a dramatic way to show your collections.

Suggestions for interesting collections are: blue & white china pieces, boxes, linens, elephants, butterflies, frogs, santas, clocks etc…the possibilities are endless. Collecting gives you a shopping goal when traveling, as well as, a memory of your travels.

I remember once visiting in a house in Oklahoma City, where the lady of the house shared her collection of antique evening bags that had belonged to her grandmother and great grandmother. They were beautifully displayed in shadow boxes and hung on a wall in the master bedroom.

I have a small collection of children’s china. My mother gave me china she had as a child, which is probably only important to me. But, when added to the blue and white Blue Willow china that I received for Christmas (I was six years old) the combination makes for an interesting collection for discussion.

Everyone that knows me knows that I love elephants and have an extensive collection (I do not need anymore!) My husband and I bought a glass elephant on our honeymoon in Venice and, viol ‘a, our collection was started. Whenever we traveled we try to find a unique elephant – sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t. Our collection now consists of all kinds of elephants from all over the world and made of different materials. We have a few expensive elephants and some not so expensive. Several years ago I bought an antique Asian furniture piece and have our collection displayed on this antique, making for an even more interesting collection.

Share your information regarding your collection(s). Tell us how it got started, what your parameters are, and how you display the collection.

Some things never change….

The kitchen is still the hearth and heart of the home. It is the main room in the house in which all members of the household interact on a daily basis. The kitchen is the place guests frequently gather to converse and watch the host(s) prepare food and drinks. This is the room in which parents and children most often interact one to three times a day.

Today the kitchen is an even more important design element in the home then ever before. Therefore, the cabinets have become more sophisticated, the lights more flexible and the finishes more interesting. The appliance options are numerous and perform most any function desired in the kitchen. In construction costs, more money is spent per square foot in the kitchen than in any other spaces in the house. For a 5,000 sq. ft. to 8,000 sq. ft. house an appliance budget of $50,000 is not unreasonable (this includes appliances for bar, summer kitchen, & utility).

With the kitchen open to the great room (family room) we frequently design a secondary kitchen. This can be anything from a sink, refrigerator and oven in the utility area, to a separate kitchen space with all of the major appliances. This secondary kitchen is sometimes called “the dirty kitchen”. This second kitchen is perfect for formal entertaining as well as for catering and for cooking the turkey or standing rib roast for the holidays. Also, when cooking foods that have a strong odor such as shellfish or curries, this dirty kitchen is the perfect solution for keeping these odors out of the rest of the house. To insure venting these odors to the outdoors, I specify motors with 1500 CFM, as well as, I specify that this space have an air supply and return independent of the surrounding areas.

Lighting is one of the most important elements of the kitchen design. In order for today’s kitchen to satisfy all of the functions performed in this space, a layering of light is needed. General and ambient lighting is needed for back dropping the task and accent lighting. A lighting system, which is set at different levels for different occasions, makes lighting infallible for those persons who do not understand the importance of lighting. Task lighting for food preparation needs to be included in the lighting design and for counter top lighting I recommend zenon fixtures. Accent lighting can be used on artwork, and collections, lighting above cabinets adds interest, lights under toe kicks and bar tops can highlight finished materials, and cabinet lighting can be used for displays of pottery, crystal, etc. Lighting can add drama, excitement, and interest to the overall kitchen design.

With the selection of the finishes the personality and design style of the kitchen are developed! I frequently select the countertop first since the color can influence the selection of the cabinet finish, as well as, the natural countertop options are more limited in color. Countertops come in many colors and materials; they can be made of one material or a combination of materials. Some of the granites available today have a lot of color and movement—many look like an artist’s painting. With the selection of the counter top, the color and finish of the cabinets can be selected which will complement the selected countertop material. Next is the design of the backsplash, which can be a combination of the countertop material or a contrast in color, texture, and material to surface. Other finish selections to be made are the glass style for glass cabinet doors, material for facing the island(s), ceiling treatments, hood material, room crown, trim, flooring material and design.

Designing the ultimate kitchen involves developing a functional space plan, selecting the desired appliances and plumbing fixtures, integrating a flexible lighting system and specifying cabinet design and finishes—all of this to reflect the personalities of the owners.

This last year we designed an Egyptian themed theater for a client. We coordinated the theme/design of the theater with the theater bathroom.

The main focus of the theater bathroom was the custom etched and carved shower doors which features both an Egyptian man and woman adorned in the clothing and jewelry of the Pharaohs. The man and woman are based off of the paintings on the walls in the tombs of Ancient Egypt. The etchings have accents of metallic paint which highlights the jewelry on each figure.

In the theater bathroom we simplified the color scheme from the bright blues, reds, greens, and gold seen in the theater by using only black and gold. The bathroom walls are covered with a hand-painted wall covering that has gold papyrus leaves on a black background.

A gold travertine selected for the main floor tile contrasts with the black and gold walls-balancing the combination of the light and dark colors.

The cabinets and trim are painted black and highlighted with a metallic gold paint. The sink vanity has a Black Absolute granite countertop, and its tiered base is faced with the same Black Granite.

The gold mirror frame which we selected has an Egyptian motif-complimenting the vanity’s tiered base. The classic designed two-arm sconces in a black and gold finish flank the mirror and completes the room design.

So, come bathe with the Pharaohs in an atmosphere of Ancient Egypt!

- Christy Davis, Jane Page Design Group

2009 ASID Awards Night Gala was billed as “Stars of Houston Interior Design,” and Jane Page Design Group stole the spotlight, winning eight interior design awards.

The annual competition, sponsored this year by the Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers and Texas Home and Living Magazine. Hotel Za Za was the setting for the festive ceremony September 26.

The overall custom interior design of the Annapolis home, by Jane-Page Crump, ASID, Kristen Carlson, ASID and Christy Davis, ASID, Allied captured the top spot in the prestigious “Over 3,500 square feet- Remodel” category.

Overwhelmed by the awards, Crump said, “I have never been so proud of my staff of terrific designers and happy for our incredible clients. This shows that when you get honest input from the clients and they, in turn, allow the designers to express their creativity, you can have winning design results.”

Jane Page Crump and Miriam Hindmarch received an award for “Residential under 3500 sq ft” category for a casita that consist of a living space, kitchen, casual dining, utility room, bedroom bathroom and covered porch.

Crump and Carlson also received honors for a little girl’s room designed to be pretty in pink and green.

Ashley Tisius, ASID, Allied, teamed with Crump on the design an outdoor living space winning for its attractive poolside area with cooking facility and conversation area. Tisius and Crump also won an award for an elegant dining room.

Crump won two top awards in two separate design categories. One was a residential Home Office that was not only elegant but also efficient. The second was in the single space category winning first place for a Living Room.

Jane-Page Crump won an award in the commercial single space category for a high end salon, Betty’s Mode de France which has a European flair but located in the heart of Houston.

Jane Page Design Group has an award winning experienced design and support staff. Two or more designers are assigned to each project, with Crump as lead designer. The firm’s award-winning work has been published in books, magazines and newspapers. Crump is a past president of ASID Gulf Coast Chapter and the Texas Association of Interior Designers (TAID).

More information on JPDG is available at http://www.janepagedesigngroup.com.

For media only: For more information, contact:
Jane-Page Crump, ASID
Janepage@jpdg.com
Or Amanda Crump
Amanda@jpdg.com
713-803-4999

The ASID Kitchen and Bath tour the weekend of September 12-13th was a huge success. It appeared that the majority of people viewing the homes were in the process of, or considering, building or remodeling. Many people were interested in making their kitchens an attractive part of the living area with furniture quality cabinets and finishes.

Kitchens are so personal and need to be designed specifically for the way the owners cook and the way they live. Many times the family is together only when they are cooking and/or eating. Therefore, there should be a comfortable area designed for the family gathering at those times. If there is enough space, it is nice to give the eating area its own interesting design element, something that complements the overall kitchen design. The interest might be established with an upholstered banquette, an interesting light fixture, a unique table, etc.

If the kitchen is part of a living area, I like to minimize open countertop space so that you don’t feel as if you are always in the kitchen. One of the characteristics of a typical kitchen is a lot of countertop space—cluttered with all kinds of “things”; I prefer to design the countertops with “work areas” that can be closed off when not in use. Once the preparation area and clean-up area are established, the rest of the countertops can be designed for baking, mixing, storage, coffee bar, breakfast bar, all of which can be closed off when not being used.

I always address the importance of the lighting design, the location of equipment that needs docking, speakers, TV’s and computers. The location of these items should definitely be an integrated part of the final kitchen design.

Once the space plan is complete the cabinets can be designed to coordinate with the other cabinets in your living area and can be finished to look like furniture.

Have you ever wanted a bedroom to serve as a beautiful retreat for guests but also felt that you must accommodate the needs of disabled or aging family members?

This was my challenge when designing one of our guest bedrooms. I wanted an elegant bedroom that would be comfortable for my mother who had bad knees at the time. In my “book” an elevator was a must (I explain to my clients, while working on their house plans, that an elevator is a necessity for the resale value of a two story home. With the largest portion of the population being over 50, homeowners are likely to have parents and/or friends that have difficultly climbing stairs. Also, if you have ever lived in a multi story house, the ordeal of taking your luggage up or down is not fun.)

Designing a dramatic bedroom starts with the selection of the bed, making the bed the focal point of the room. Not only should the bed be interesting but the bedding should be inviting and comfortable. The bed covering and decorative pillows can be elaborate or tailored, traditional or contemporary—but whatever the design, it needs to be special for your guests. You should change out your mattress every five years but don’t put your old mattress in the guest bedroom—Would you want to sleep on an old mattress if you were the guest? The same goes for your pillows; make sure your pillows are fresh and have protective zipper covers in addition to the pillow cases.

My guest bedroom suite was designed with a dressing area and bathroom, a closet and an adjoining room. (This adjoining room is currently used as a study, but could be a bedroom for a nurse if necessary. This nurse or nanny would be accessible to an elderly person or for a child). The room features a hand painted Spanish colonial reproduction bed with custom designed silk coverlet, dust ruffle and pillows. Flanking the bed are a draped table and a black Chinoiserie chest. An oversized chair with a gold leaf frame and silk fabric provides a place to read or watch television. Privacy and light control is provided with shutters and a decorative window treatment.

All doorways have 36” clear openings. The double closet doors were selected for their added architectural interest, as well as, giving the guests a more accessible closet.

The elegant sink area features a cabinet with center doors which have an attached toe kick. With an attached toe kick, the doors can be removed to allow for a wheelchair. By covering the walls in an attractive hand painted finish, topping the countertop with granite and finishing with decorative lighting and mirror, the universal design of this bathroom is not evident.

In this suite the shower has double glass doors for easy accessibility. Another feature that replaces a bidet and gives an additional cleansing opportunity is the washlet by Tito. The sink cabinet in this wet area was designed with a slopped front, again to accommodate someone with a wheelchair. Faux art, a solid surface countertop, and interesting accessories make this a sophisticated design which is also accessible.

Tranquility prevails in this guest bedroom suite; with neutral walls and carpeting, peacefulness backdrops the elegant furnishings.

General Comments:

With every new construction client, my firm addresses the value of having a bedroom which meets the requirements for universal design. If there is not a bedroom on the first floor, I feel strongly that including an elevator is important to the resale value of your home. With an aging population, someone in your family may have health issues or, if you plan to stay in your home, designing smart is important.

I am seeing fewer bathtubs and more showers in new homes and for remodeling. Showers are easily accessible by more people. To make the shower more accessible, it needs to be designed with no curb or a collapsible curb, and a bench (optional) where someone can transfer to and from a wheelchair. It should also include a hand held spray located next to the bench.