project profile: mount royal, part 4

i have to confess, mount royal holds a special place in my heart!  truly <3

so it seems somewhat surprising it's taken me so long to share these photos...?! it appears i fell victim to my own limitations as a photographer (of which i am not!) - and was feeling underwhelmed with the lighting and overall composition of these shots when i took them last fall :/

then before i knew it - it was winter?! and by december we were away as a family on an externded holiday, to travel around down under...! by then all things australia and new zealand consumed my thoughts?! a fantastic adventure it was (more on that to follow!) - but for now... back to these pictures!!! many months later and a fresh set of eyes have helped me compile this gallery of finished photos - and made me realize i was a a bit of a fool to wait so long to share!? turns out they weren't all bad ;)   

i will keep this intro short and sweet - and endeavor to let these images speak for themselves (there are enough of them!). if you'd like to see more of our journey over at mount royal, you can view the story behind this magnificent home's transformation here.

and now, finally, here is mount royal :)

project profile: mount royal, part 2

soooo, where to begin...!?

my last post -  the first and only to date - was a mere introduction to this incredible home, where my enthusiasm was evident and character was a plenty ;)

that was back in january of this year, where we were preparing to start this many layered and infinitely detailed project. flash forward a year and it's now december (seriously, almost christmas?! :/), complete with four seasons and a heap of work behind us!

to catch you up! as we sprung into spring demolition unveiled our task ahead and the history behind it all;  summer brought with it new foundations and a glimpse of the home we envisioned?! (so exciting!); through the fall it's been about finishing! finishing to get the walls and roof up on the addition before the weather turned?! and on the flip side, finishing some of the other areas of the home with some pretty fabulous finishes and fixtures within...  

and now, here we are... winter! where we are coasting into the final phase of this project and aiming for an anticipated completion date of early 2017. with that in mind, i thought i had better get you all acquainted on what the heck we've been up to this year!

no small undertaking, this home has undergone a top to bottom transformation - playing off it's beautiful history and cherished craftsmanship throughout. we've managed to celebrate the old all the while giving a respectable nod to the now... clean, classic, and just a little bit contemporary, this home will no doubt continue to leave a lasting impression in the years ahead...   

tackled in essentially two phases - the first involved the front half of the house, where we made mainly cosmetic changes to the existing upper bedrooms and bathrooms, main floor foyer, living rooms, powder room and den. this gave us a decent head start on things while pursuing the required permits for phase two, where we had the much more involved task of building a major addition to the back of the house (c/w all around exterior face lift) - that is now well near complete as i type!

i confess, it's been a race to make the most of the seasons - to both begin when we broke ground this spring - to the fall, where we were under mother natures good graces while we finished framing to lock up. from there (just like the turning season!) we could take a shift back inside (stay warm!) and begin the rest of  the interior finishing; bringing to life the new kitchen, mudroom, and connecting breezeway to the brand new attached garage (and all around man cave) that is to come...

so! without further ado, here is the first in a series of photos i'll be posting on mount royal through the remainder of december. in the collection below, we skip back to where we left off and hi-light some of the cherished details, history, and underpinnings revealed as we began stripping things back during the demolition phase; exquisite woodwork and detailing, fixtures and fittings with a time worn patina, and a sense of history that was impressive & comfortable all at once....  

welcome back to mount royal! 

inspired by: lacanche

when we began designing the interior for kelvin grove, one of the first things we began designing around was an appliance long admired by the homeowner - a lacanche range. 

admittedly a first for this designer, the lacanche offered just the right amount of french flavor to get us started... a statement piece with instant appeal! and while it is available in a wide array of colors and finishes - it was classic black and brass for us (no surprise there!). thinking back, i don't know what we would have done without it's s grace, weight, detail and character to build upon, all of which have become the heart of this bon maison. 

after enjoying their new home for not near a month, the homeowners graciously welcomed us back over the holidays to take part in a photo shoot for the french barn,  the local supplier (and specialists!) of lacanche here in calgary.  my full gallery for kelvin grove will be up this spring - but 'til then, i wanted to share a few snaps... both a sneak peek of the completed project, and a behind the scenes look of the shoot in action ;) 

it's often remarked that a kitchen is the heart of the home, and i think it's fair to say this beauty of a range has found a perfect home at the heart of kelvin grove. j'adore!


snapshots: marine building, vancouver

happy monday...! it's a fresh new week, and we're  fresh home from an amazing trip to vancouver... ! & i thought these snaps were a perfect way to get the week started :) 

reisinger design traveled west to attend the EXELerate 2015 conference (a first class, phenomenal event btw, more on that to come) where we were also fortunate to be staying near the bee-u-tiful marine building - which, i'm not going to lie, was kinda awesome. this historic landmark, without a doubt, it is one of my favorites in the city - an obvious holdover from design school, where we took a field trip here, tasked with sketching the sublime and beautifully crafted details that adorn the facade. being a fan of almost anything old, this building had it all for me; weathered brass accents crafted to reflect the stylin' art deco period, carved stone designs showing the city's status as an international port, and most importantly; character - that intangible something that just draws you in with it's story... 

no surprise, i was hooked.

back again after so many years, i was looking forward to getting reacquainted...! and thought this was a perfect excuse to grab my ubiquitous 'bucks, go stroll the streets, and take a few photos to cap off my stay. done, done and done!

welcome to the marine building; rich with history, and displaying craftsmanship & character from a bygone era... this art deco gem doesn't disappoint... and now for you , a virtual sneak peek - hope you enjoy! ;)

 

project profile: kelvin grove, part 2

just a quick note to say: windows are in!

always an exciting milestone - along with the fully finished roof lines and interior framing things are really beginning to feel like a home over here...!  we've just finalized our finishing selections - and they won't disappoint.  with a french "flavor" in mind (hint: it's all about the la canche cooker!), we sought to make selections that will be classic and comfortable...and of course durable for this growing family of 6. oiled oak floors, burnished brash, and sublime taj mahal set the foundation for this beautiful package - and i get excited just typing about it! eek!

can not wait to watch it all come together in the months ahead... and i'll be sure to keep you posted along the way ;) 

for now, here are a few shots of the progress to date...giving just a glimpse of what's to come over at kelvin grove!

project profile: mount pleasant, part 4

well it's been a seriously long overdue update for mount pleasant...! we last checked in on this little gem  last spring, where the homeowners set to work on a few lingering household projects. not one's to disappoint, they've since created a much needed kitchen pantry, added new drapery, lighting & decorative bits throughout the living areas, and thoughtfully amassed a small gallery of mementos & memories to display with pride. i say, nice work boys!

i finally reconnected with the clients last fall, and was pleased to see all the wonderful additions...! the bold new stripes in the living room add a dramatic hit of pattern that defines the small dining area - and the new lamps in the bedroom are perfect - satisfying my insatiable love for mid century styling and anything brass right now ;)

but not surprisingly, it was the personal items that had been collected & curated over the course of the year that were my favorite change! maps & medals from wars past were hung neatly in the den; while plates & pottery passed down from family were incorporated into the bright & cheery kitchen... add a good dose of well worn books throughout and you've got a winning mix of personality and presentation! my combination for a pleasing vignette to be certain :)

thanks for stopping in, and welcome back to mount pleasant...!

project profile: mount pleasant, part 3

summer is generally a time to kick back, enjoy the warmer temps - and head outdoors for some fun in the sun!  amiright? 

so on my recent visit back to mount pleasant, i was somewhat prepared to see the renovation momentum...stalled out!? in addition to our expected wait for the furniture - the clients were hit with a renovation "surprise!" when an electrician discovered knob and tube wiring throughout - covered up with a cheap disguise of about 5" of new wiring at the source...! not cool. the entire electrical system needed to be replaced - and our beloved hicks pendant lay waiting in darkness for the foreseeable future  :(

upon returning from our travels last month i made a date to stop by - as i knew the furniture had arrived...and reports were circulating that the nathan anthony polo sofa we ordered was a stunner ;) 

it was a "pleasant" surprise to see just how busy my clients had been these last couple of months..! much of the furniture had arrived (the sofa didn't disappoint!), pictures had been hung (including several family heirlooms and a beautiful pair of rocky mountain prints they had plucked from a nearby thrift shop for $25 - score!)... and most impressive!? the lighting was all hanging in place and looking fabulous!

i was pretty pumped.

the momentum not only kept going...but had completely exceeded my expectations...good job guys! ;)

we are still working on some finishing touches throughout - drapery, lamps and general accessories that will pull everything together...so i am saving the BIG reveal for then! but i hope you find the latest gallery a sweet hint as what's to come over at mount pleasant...

enjoy :) 

project profile: mount pleasant, part 2

things are just starting to take shape over at mount pleasant so i thought it was time to post an update - first and foremost giving props to these two clients for all of the serious sweat equity going into their new home! over the past 6 weeks they have carefully restored all of the beautiful brass hardware; refurbished the existing hardwood floors throughout; and completely repainted their home (which is no small feat when covering purple crown mouldings & hot pink doors!). if that weren't enough? the original kitchen cabinets have all been painted over (inside & out) - and are now awaiting new counters, backsplash and hardware. good work i say!

we are now almost ready for the furniture & fixtures to arrive. one of the pieces we'll be seeing soon is the beautifully tailored (and thankfully slender!) nathan anthony sofa - which will anchor the seating area in the living room. chosen for it's perfect proportions - it allows us to maximize seating in this tight space while still being relatively compact in design. plus it's one sexy sofa. how could we resist? ;)

for the "jewellery" - the hicks pendant. which i am absolutely obsessed with right now! it's vintage flavour and clean lines are a perfect fit for this makeover -  and i cannot wait to see it hanging in the new kitchen! 

be sure to take a peek through the new gallery and let me know what you think... :) 

project profile: mount pleasant

sometimes a project comes along and you know it will be a gem!

for this mount pleasant home, the ingredients are all there: great clients, a small & challenging space, and it happens to be a 1912 bungalow that is full of character...just waiting to be painted & polished to a rediscovered glory! 

and what makes a "great" client? the answer could actually constitute a whole new conversation (perhaps a future post?), but in this case both homeowners have an eye for style, an appreciation of the old & new, and are keen to restore their home with a little time, a little more elbow grease, and an always appreciated sense of humor ;) 

the project is just getting underway, and we have decided to run a series of posts on the transformation. to get us started, here are a collection of  'before' pictures - revealing just a few of the details that are going to make this small home big on style!

stay tuned for more - updates will be tracked and shared as we dive into things over in mount pleasant...!