Classic, Elegant, Refined
R. Cartwright Studio – Clive, Iowa
Serenbe Townhome
Boho Modern Home Office
Baby Boy Nursery
Glen Oaks Transitional Remodel
We were hired by the clients to coordinate the finishes, fixtures, furniture and design elements for their massive whole house remodel in the gated Glen Oaks community located in the city of West Des Moines. Spanning multiple years, the project touched nearly every room in the 10,000 square foot residence.
Our vision was to create a modern home inspired by the traditional architecture of the home. We used a neutral palette with a variety of rich textures such as wool, grasscloth, mohair, and linen and added mixed metallics, like oil-rubbed bronze, antiqued brass, and polished nickel, for an eclectic feel.
R. Cartwright supplied the furniture, rugs, lighting, artwork and accessories throughout the home. For a closer look at other projects completed with this client, please see our Guest House portfolio.
Hall Bathroom Remodel: From Dark and Dull to Light and Lovely
We have a fun makeover to share with you today. Last summer, one of our long-time clients decided that she wanted to make over her second-floor hall bathroom, which is the one her two teenage children share. The current space wasn’t really that bad, but it was very dark, and the space wasn’t being utilized to its fullest potential.
Before Photos
Floor Plan Before
You can see in the plan of the existing conditions that the long narrow room was divided in two with a single vanity in the first room and the toilet and tub in the second room. There was quite a bit of wasted space in the second room, while the vanity area felt tight and awkward.
Proposed Floor Plan
Our goal was to demo the interior walls and open the space up into one big room with a large double vanity. This is the only bathroom in the house with a tub, so we felt we needed to incorporate a tub for resale. After debating free-standing vs. built-in, we ultimately decided on a large garden tub with an integrated shower.
After Photos
Our client is definitely a new traditionalist and loves mixing vintage, modern and traditional elements throughout her home. We designed a large, double, furniture-style vanity and selected a dark stain to pull out the veining running through the marble-look quartz countertops.
Instead of tiling the shower surround, we used large slabs of white quartz with dramatic veining in shades of warm gray. The ship lap walls and ceiling add texture and dimension to the rest of the space. We added the ship lap during a meeting onsite with the client and contractors, and we feel like they unify the entire space. The hexagonal floor tile is a nod to tradition but the soft gray color and larger size are decidedly modern.
We love mixing metals, and this bathroom was no exception. Polished nickel fixtures are complemented by warm brass sconces and accessories. The large recessed medicine cabinets are good looking and extremely functional, being wired for electrical and lit on the interior. No more electric toothbrushes and razors charging on the countertop.
Every room needs art, including the bathroom. We love how these acrylic framed nest prints work in the space. The gold hooks are from Pottery Barn.
We hope you enjoyed this makeover. The remodeled bathroom is so much more functional and looks fabulous too. You can see more photos from this home in our portfolio under New Traditional Home.
Modern Country House
A Fresh and Fun Boy’s Bedroom Design
For the past two months, we’ve been working on a really fun project with the most delightful client – a single dad who just purchased a townhome for himself and his seven-year-old son. We were so touched by his desire to create a cozy, personalized space that his son could grow into over the years.
We started with one of the son’s favorite colors – red – and his love of airplanes and vintage toys. We selected a fun graphic wallpaper from Schumacher for the bed wall and anchored it with a queen size headboard, upholstered in a soft blue cotton/linen blend reminiscent of chambray. White nightstands with a midcentury modern vibe provide extra storage, and the articulating lamps add some contrast with their black shades.
We found vintage, airplane patent prints on Etsy and framed a set of three to hang over the bed. Line drawings of vintage airplanes adorn the pillow shams, which we’ll pair with a simple linen duvet and a red throw blanket.
The dad wanted him to have shelving to house his collections and books, so we selected a white minimalist bookcase that would blend into the walls and allow his objects to pop. Next to it, we left room for a custom whiteboard where the son can draw or leave notes.
A faux sherpa covered beanbag in the corner provides a comfortable spot to read or play on his iPad, and a woven basket can be used to corral smaller toys and objects.
Airplane Prints | Vintage Tractor | Basket
We’re really excited about how the concept for this little boy’s room came together, and we can’t wait to see it installed. Kids’ rooms and nurseries are some of our favorite projects to design, and we’d love to work with you on a bedroom for the special little one in your life. Contact us today to get started.
R. Cartwright Design Studio Tour
Almost one year ago, we began the hunt for a new studio space. We were bursting at the seams and we saw our need for more space as an opportunity to relocate within the Des Moines Metro to be closer to our clients and vendors. After a short hunt, we discovered the perfect location.
The space had previously been a daycare and had been completely gutted to a raw state. We immediately recognized the potential. Located on a corner of a multi-unit brick building, it had large windows that faced both west and south. The southern windows looked out onto a biking trail, which is lush with trees, grasses and shrubs during the warmer months.
Our concept was for the space to be light, bright and clean, with a mix of new and old. We wanted to incorporate plenty of white to create a backdrop for showcasing artwork, furniture, textiles and other decorative pieces.
We drafted a floor plan that included a long desk with plenty of storage, two huge islands for laying out projects (and more storage), an office/conference room, small design library, kitchen and large storage room. We left plenty of room along the southern side of the studio for a modest showroom space.
From the beginning, we knew we wanted to partner with local contractors and vendors to create our space. Ted Reeve of Legacy Homes served our general contractor, and he and his team did an excellent job of bringing our vision to life, and Webster Electric installed all of our beautiful lighting. Iowa Reclaimed Floors supplied our gorgeous, reclaimed barn wood floors, and Clay Aronson of Aronson Woodworks created our desks and storage units. We collaborated with the Stone Shop on all of our countertops and work surfaces and Minnesota Cabinets on our kitchen cabinets.
When we visited High Point last October, we kept our eyes open for unique pieces that would be functional for the studio and incorporate our love of antiques and vintage items. We couldn’t help purchasing a set of gorgeous mid-century modern chairs that we had painted and reupholstered as well as a ten foot long, antique Belgian counter that was once used in a bakery.
After several long months, the studio was finally completed in February, and we were able to move in. We love all of the natural light that streams in through the large windows throughout the day. The central location has allowed us to be so much more efficient, reducing our travel time significantly. Our clients can pop in to pay a bill or for a quick design meeting, and we can easily visit our local showrooms to source tile, flooring, cabinetry and more.
All photos were taken by Cassandra Monroe. We hope you enjoyed this little tour of our new space!