Paula Ables Interiors was featured in the ASID Design Guide as winners of the 27th Annual Design Excellence Award for Residential: Contemporary Large >5000 sf and Residential: Remodel Small <3500 sf! Click on the thumbnails below to see the articles.

Paula Ables Interiors work on the Spanish Oaks house was featured in the Winter 2012 issue of Austin Home! Click on the thumbnail to see the article.

Houzz featured a patio designed by Paula Ables Interiors in a recent blog titled “Great Cover Ups”.

The patio:

The full blog entry with slideshow:

The 2012 Legacy of Design awards is a state-wide design competition sponsored by Design Guide and American Society of Interior Designers.

Paula Ables Interiors placed:

2nd Place-  Residential Contemporary (Large)

Legacy of Design Award

2012 Legacy of Design Awards

2012 ASID Design Excellence Awards

1st Place Contemporary Residence  Large-over 3500 sq ft

1st place Remodel Small-under 3500 sq ft

Come check out the list of winners for the 2012 Design Excellence awards…Who are those cool cats in the second photo??!!

http://www.dgpublications.com/blog/2012/11/20/winners-asid-austins-27th-annual-design-excellence-awards-ceremony

On many occasions I have walked into a bedroom with a new lamp in hand only to find the outlet is directly in the center of the wall behind the headboard. How are you supposed to plug things into this outlet? It isn’t an issue if you are Elastigirl and can stretch your arm into that awkward position to get under and over the headboard rail or you can stretch from the side to reach it. If the outlet is centered behind a king-size bed, good luck plugging something in without moving the bed.

I often think that the people designing and building houses are only taking into consideration the building code requirements and costs per outlet but not how people actually live in and use the space they are creating. Wouldn’t it be nice if outlets were conveniently placed in the spaces you want to access them? In most cases, this is a simple and inexpensive project that could help improve your quality of life in the spaces you are in the most.

When deciding the locations of your outlets here are a few suggestions:

1. For outlets by your bed (whether a twin or a king), decide where the bed will be placed in the room. Will it have nightstands? What size will they be? Place the outlets behind the nightstand about 2/3 of the nightstand width from the bed edge for easy access to plug in lamps, clocks and whatever else you need to plug in.
2. For outlets at your media center, there are several things you should ask yourself:
   • Is the TV sitting on a shelf or the top of the media center? If yes, then you should place an outlet to the outside edge of both sides of the media center so it will be easy for you to plug and unplug all of the equipment pieces that often go with a TV without having to move the media cabinet. If you have the luxury to do so, pre-plan the placement of all of the equipment first and place the outlets according to your needs. You can never have too many plugs in this area. As a general rule, figure out how many outlets you need, then add a couple more for future equipment. It is always better to have 10 wall outlets than to have two outlets and multiple power strips.
   • Is the TV hanging on the wall? If yes, then you should place the outlet high on the wall behind the TV’s location but slightly off center so it doesn’t interfere with the mounting bracket. You should also plan for a hole/channel in your wall to run other wires from the TV to the media cabinet below. It is rarely acceptable to have an exposed cord going to your TV .
3. For living space outlets  in new construction, pre-plan your furniture arrangement to the best of your ability and place floor outlets at hidden, but easily accessible locations. You will not want the recessed floor outlet for your side table lamp to show a lump in your rug and give away its location. Cut a hole in your rug if necessary to give it a direct and hidden path to the outlet. Afraid to do this yourself? There are carpet repair places that would be happy to come out and help you with this sometimes difficult task.
4. For floor outlets in an existing living space, putting an outlet in the slab is not so easy. Just as with new construction, you need a plan for your furniture placement, then place the outlets to each side of the sofa for easy access to lamps on end tables. If your furniture is in the middle of the room, use wire/cable cover that runs along the baseboard until you can turn a 90 degree angle and head under a rug. Tape the wire down to the floor to keep it in place and find a floor wire cover that is close to the color of your tile/hardwood so it will virtually disappear.
5. Another space that can never have too many outlets is the workbench in your Garage. (Notice a trend with the typical man areas?) Know your equipment – does it require a 110 or 220 volt outlet? What are you planning to do in each area and space? Also, don’t forget your car washing areas. Have an outlet near the garage door so your vacuum will be able to reach without any issue.

You don’t have to live with the meager selection of outlets that came with your house. They’re inexpensive and easy to install, even in a home that’s already built. Stop dealing with the hard-to-reach plugs and the tangle of wires and power strips – make your outlets work for you.

Grandma's Kitchen Remodel

Existing Floor Plan

Grandma's Kitchen Remodel

New floor plan

Grandma's Kitchen Remodel

We kept the same location of the sink and window, yet managed to gain additional counter and storage space.

Grandma's Kitchen Remodel-Before

The original Kitchen layout

Grandma's Kitchen Remodel

We tore out the wall dividing the Kitchen from the Living Room to give the floor plan a more open feel.

Grandma's Kitchen Remodel-Before

This wall was removed to put the bar in it's place

Grandma's Kitchen Remodel

The touch-latch door into the hidden walk-in Pantry

Grandma's Kitchen Remodel-Before

This was an opening to the Powder bath that was later enclosed for the Pantry

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A 100 year old Sears and Roebuck house in Cisco, Texas was in need of a small Kitchen upgrade.  After measuring out the space and talking with the home owners, we came up with a new modern kitchen that better fit this young families active lifestyle.

We redirected access to the Powder Bath through another room and made the opening a hidden walk-in Pantry with a touch-latch door.  We didn’t want to venture too far away from the original style of the house, so the client elected to install tin ceiling tiles and straw glass for the upper display areas.

The final result was a modern Kitchen with a hint of country charm.

Need an attitude adjustment? Change the color of your room!

Rumor has it, color change causes mood change.  How can this be you might ask?  Here are a few examples:

1. Some fast food restaurants choose the color orange for an accent or prominent color because it makes you think “Inexpensive” and gets you in and out of the restaurant quickly.
2. Hospitals use soothing tones of blue and green to help promote relaxation by making you think of nature and being outside.
3. Many bars and nightclubs will combine yellows and reds to make you feel happy and full of energy.

Yes, these are all examples in Commercial spaces.  This same line of thinking can be applied when selecting a color for your home as well.

We all know whites are crisp and clean and if you are not careful can go institutional in the

blink of an eye. Neutrals such as taupe and tan are great for staple colors in hallways and secondary rooms.  They help to tie your rooms together as a cohesive unit.  But how many times have you walked into a home that felt like it was a “Tribute to Tan”?  Let’s add some color to your room to see if we can liven things up.

 

We will start with primary colors:

Blue:  Light blues are relaxing, calming and soothing.  The color makes you think of water and a beautiful clear sky. In your home it is a great color to use in bedrooms and bathrooms. Yellow: The color of sunshine.  Whether you are using a soft subtle or a bright in your face tone, yellow makes you happy. In your home it is a great color to use in breakfast rooms and play rooms.  It wakes you up and gets you ready for the day.

Red:  Want to feel excited and energized?  Red is your color!  Red is great for Game rooms and playrooms where high energy games and brain stimulating activities are a guarantee.  Other great areas to use red for a pop of color are Foyer’s, Living and Dining rooms. Whether used as a whole room or an accent wall red will stimulate your heart. (Best to avoid bedrooms and bathrooms as some tones do cause agitation and could undermine the serenity you often seek in these rooms.)

 

Next we will talk about the secondary colors:

Purple:  What a history this color has…purple has always been associated with royalty and luxury.  It is wonderful when used as an accent in paint or fabric.  When using the lighter tones, purple can give the same feelings of relaxation and serenity as a light blue.  As the darker tones have more of a flair for the dramatic, when I think purple, I think VELVET; Soft, luxurious and a wow factor in any room.

Orange:  I mentioned above that orange in a restaurant setting is supposed to make you think inexpensive.  It also has other great emotional effects.  Like red, various tones of Orange are energizing and exciting.  It is great when used in an exercise room and breakfast room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green:  When I think of Zen and peace, I think of green.  It is a wonderful mix of the serenity of blue and the cheerfulness of yellow.  What more could you ask for in this world?  Green is great in any room of the house.  It provides interest and energy, yet comfort and relaxation.  Rumor has it that green also helps with fertility…an interesting thought. (I would have said red)

 

 

Now, go forth and paint or accessorize accordingly!  Love the spaces you are in.  The cheapest change you can make in your home is painting an accent wall.  I promise once it is done you will wonder why you waited so long to do it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Bedroom Contemporary Model

This one bedroom contemporary condo was designed with the architecture of the building in mind. Borrowing furniture styles designed by Le Corbusier, this condo has that edgy yet homey look that any young professional would be proud to call home.

One Bedroom Contemporary Model

This one bedroom contemporary condo was designed to attract the young and edgy professional. The soft grey was used to give it a masculine feel and bamboo was added to help bring the feel of nature into the condo

Two Bedroom Transitional Model

This condo was designed with a transitional feel to attract the newly wed couple and professional client with its vibrant colors. This isn't your mom's traditional home anymore. It has its own edgy feel without going over the top.

Three BedroomTraditional Model

This condo is a clean lined Traditional home made to attract the empty nester and young family.

Three Bedroom Traditional Model

Paula Ables Interiors custom designed the inset fish tank and television wall for this three bedroom condo to compliment the contemporary feel of this condo.

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Barton Place Condos requested that each condo we designed be a different style in order to attract the different clientele that would be interested in purchasing them.  We did a 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom model to start with.

The one bedroom was designed with the young professional in mind.  Get rid of that college furniture and show the world that you have style!

The two bedroom was designed for the newly wed couple and single professional clientele.  The transitional style gives the condo enough of an edge to show you enjoy comfort and style.  The furniture was selected to compliment the potential lifestyle of the owner as well as to blend seamlessly with the architectural surroundings.

The three bedroom was designed with the young family and empty nester in mind.  Soft traditional style furniture was selected, but with clean lines and no overstuffed arms.  The expansive dining space will fit the whole family or a small party of friends in this open floor plan.  Paula Ables Interiors custom designed the Fish Tank/Television wall with the architecture of the building in mind.  It helps to bring the soft comforting sounds of water while not highlighting the television as an art piece.

Country Club Dining at it's best

The new bar with custom made concrete counter tops and bar tables.

Country Club Dining-Before

This was the bar...a wooden rolling cart.

Country Club Dining at it's best

The new dining space with a beautiful view of the golf course

Country Club Dining-Before

Country Club Dining at it's best

The wave was designed by the architect to serve as a future television screen for the big games and movie nights held by the club

Country Club Dining-Before

Country Club Dining at it's best

Glass and metal railing give the space a more modern feel than the former wrought iron posts.

Country Club Dining-Before

Country Club Dining at it's best

The bar was laid out with specialty bar equipment in mind to make it both beautiful and functional.

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The 1970′s called and wanted their restaurant back. In its place is a bar and restaurant worthy of a country club.

The clients needed to upgrade a dated dining room to make it a place it’s members would want to come, eat dinner, have drinks and enjoy the game and the company.

With custom made concrete counter tops and bar table tops and swivel bar stools on a stained concrete floor, we gave it more of a “Sport Bar” type feel on the upper deck.  All details were considered right down to the hooks below the bar for your purse to hang.  The wave above the bar is an oversize TV screen for a future projector to show the game of the night or a late movie.

All light fixtures were repainted from green to black to blend better with the new decor and existing dining chairs were recovered with a more modern pattern.

The lower deck of the space serves as the more formal dining space frequently used by families and large groups of friends.