What’s old is new again! Transforming a living space to a throwback in time is easy, fun and inexpensive. If you are partial to the way homes used to be, miss your baby blue shag carpet, avocado and rust color combinations or black and white checkered flooring then this style is for you!

The look is easy to replicate. For design inspiration, turn to the past. Research old magazines and catalogs online or at the library. Raid your Grandma’s house, hit the antique stores and check out Ebay. True retro is bold, bright and streamlined. There are no rules to follow and you can mix and match decades or stick to one period. All you need is a bit of research and a passion for the past.

Here are a few Retro tips to take you back in time:

Floor and Furnishings

• Streamlined and clean
• Materials used: formica, plastics, chrome and pine
• Shag carpet, bean bags and blow up furniture (remember that!)

Color ~ Color ~ Color

• Everywhere in any combination on everything!
• Color your walls, furnishings and even appliances (which is making a huge comeback)

Accessories

• Look for at antique stores
• Clocks in every room and the odder the shape and size the better (I have a great connection for you on this…wink, wink)
• Patterns and lots of them! The quirkier the better
• Don’t forget your incense sticks!

As featured on Tukee AZ, Ahwatukee’s Lifestyle Magazine

What sets the show apart from other home makeover shows is all of the contractors on the show are local and easy to reach. From the vendors, the homeowners, the restaurants to the culinary and even the wine is Arizona based.

View full episodes of Fine Wine & Design

If you’re I’m a less-is-more kind of person, you may not wear a lot of jewelry and stick to the basics. Your home may reflect that with a simply stated, clutter-free look. Although this rule applies to most, there are circumstances where our personality plus shines through our fashion choices yet we keep our living spaces conservative, and, vice versa. You may be a composite of a few different personality types so one may happen to show through your home style, the other through fashion.

In both our home and fashion design choices we do tend to gravitate towards our favorite colors, fabrics and accessories. If your closet is full of neutrals with just a few colorful accent pieces chances are your homes color palette is the same. And those of you that are wearing and loving red, orange, chartreuse and turquoise, I’ll bet you have these beautiful brights incorporated in your living spaces as well. Anyone wearing animal prints, leather and fur are probably resting their feet on it too. And if you’re waking up daily looking forward to wearing one of Arizona’s five C’s….Cotton…I suspect I would find high thread count cotton sheets on your bed. You silk, satin and lace gals, you know who you are; those fine fabrics always seem to jump out of your wardrobes and into your furnishings.

What are some of your favorite accessories? Is your jewelry armoire full of bold, geometric, oversized pieces? Do you prefer silver, gold or burnished metals? Crystals, diamonds or pearls? Is there a hand-tooled leather belt hanging in your closet? Maybe a cowboy hat or 2? Compare those items to your existing home jewelry or what you would like to have adorning your home. Your personality, or multiple personalities, may be shining bright. You may suddenly start to notice just how similar your favorite crystal necklace and the chandelier hanging over your bathtub are. How blue really makes your eyes pop and how great you really look sitting back on your new Meander Blue sofa, even when your eyes are closed.

I can’t end this article without addressing the “His and Her” closet influences in the home. Two personalities, perhaps very different fashion tastes, both coming out of the closet and in to the living spaces. How do you create a synergetic home design where both personalities and sense of style are shining through? Call a professional!

About the Photo

Our featured model is not just any model. She is one of Arizona’s very own up and coming, Ms. Maggy Day! Part of why I love my career so much is I have the opportunity to share with many my passion for Design, both Fashion and Home. I also get the opportunity to participate in some very cool activities and events. Recently I was asked by Cindy Christi, owner of Get Image Ready, to judge and choose the winner of one of Get Image Ready’s Model Search. In this photo is our winner Maggy. I would like to thank her, photographer Paul Beard of Love Hate Photography and Get Image Ready for a beautiful visual showing us how our Wardrobes can very much influence our whereabouts!

As featured on Tukee AZ, Ahwatukee’s Lifestyle Magazine

O ur very creative publisher suggested I write about interior decorating tips for the interiors of our cars. She said to me, “You design right? So you can design and decorate anything, right?” There is truth to that. However it’s also true that I have never been hired to decorate the interior of anyone’s vehicle. But I thought hey, why not?

We are what we drive right? As I started my vehicle design research, I was amazed at all the cool things there are out there for our cars interiors. And as I got more into it I realized there are a lot of similarities in designing your home space and your car space. I found awesome floor, seat and window coverings and tons of hip and functional accessories I wanted to share with you. Do something fun this summer! Decorate your vehicle and bring out your personality. No matter where you drive to, you’ll be going in style!

A few Vehicle Design ideas…

1. Fabulous Floor Coverings ~ Mats are universal and provide an easy way to upgrade & update.
2. Sweet Seat Covers ~ They come in so many innovative fabrics and designs. A fun and practical way to express yourself and protect your interiors!
3.  Adorable Accessories ~ Sassy wheel covers, awesome for protecting your hands from the heat. License plate frames…Ladies! There is a Swarovski Chrystal Rhinestone Series! Ceramic car coasters add a personal touch and they soak up the drips from sweating cups. Sun shades are wanted, needed and respected in Arizona and there’s one for every personality out there!
4. Car Organizers ~ No More Junk In The Trunk! There is a huge variety out there to fit your needs! Check them out!

OH…and don’t forget the fuzzy dice!

As featured on Tukee AZ, Ahwatukee’s Lifestyle Magazine

Figuring out that personality is the important first phase of a design interview. Sometimes this can take several hours and a great bottle of Pinot Noir. Okay, that’s not the truth, just an excuse. When a client already has that sense of style, feel and personality that they want to incorporate into their project, my job is simply to help them achieve it. It’s interesting for me to work with someone who absolutely knows what they want. Their vision is expressed to me passionately and they are excited to put a personal stamp on their transformation. Always makes me smile. Walking them through that vision with professional guidance is where the inspiration and fun begins.

A style that has become more sought after is Modern Design. This look can be truly transformational and realistically economical. Modern design themes came about as a rejection of other more ornate design styles and offered something new for those wanting the simple, minimalist look. Modern can be edgy, clean and sleek, yet remain comfortable and inviting. Bold, strong and sexy, some love it, some do not. But it’s a style that can be intimidating to create. Modern Design is truly an artistic statement. For those looking to introduce this personality into their living spaces, here are a few basic tips to keep in mind, although applications can vary greatly.

• The use of bold color is especially important when modernizing. Color can be introduced through the form of accent walls and accessories. A simple splash may be all you need.
• Flooring selections such as dark wood, low pile carpet and cool contemporary porcelain tiles can be used alone or in combination to create dramatic flooring affects.
• White sinks and chrome fixtures are striking against dark counters and cabinets.
• Lighting will always take center stage in the world of Modern Design as contemporary lighting is full of artistic flair.
• Furniture and accessories are clean, solid and chic. One of my favorites…the wall mounted electric fireplace! It’s insanely conversational and functional.

Personalizing while modernizing…it’s inviting, inspirational and fun! Perhaps a bit challenging and for some a total transformation however if you are looking to bring out personality this is a creative way to let yours shine. It’s a look you will want to come home to!

As featured on Tukee AZ Magazine

Our team certainly offered Daryl and Debbie a realm of possibilities when we took their basic kitchen remodel to an eclectic infusion that included a complete kitchen renovation, bar transformation, bathroom make-over, flooring and staircase updates, fireplace conversion, window replacement and treatments, decorative wall finishes and a cantera stone wall application that leaves chins on the new wood floor upon entry!  Not to mention an audio/visual system that is the envy of the neighborhood.  Oh the art of transformation!

Change is good.  Evolving is great!  Debbie and Daryl allowed me to bring an opportunity to create a whole new appealing environment to their already beautiful home.  An eclectic home personality allowed us to infuse the creativity and talents of a variety of designers and create a home environment that is not only aesthetically interesting and sensible, but affects us in positive ways, giving the homeowners a warm, safe, comfortable and connected environment.

Before Photos

Before we began, we spent time really looking at the spaces we wanted to design.  We then spent more time together doing homeowner self analysis, which is a great place to start when considering what suits your interior needs.  Taking a look at routines and dreams gave us the inspiration and direction we needed to create a fabulous interior living space.

This home is truly eclectic, exhibiting a variety of periods, styles;  traditional meets southwest meets transitional.  We used that to our advantage and presented it with confidence when choosing their design selections.  Their kitchen was opened up and reconfigured giving Debbie space and freedom to move around.  Beautifully handcrafted cabinetry, exquisite granite countertops, an innovative backsplash and a top of the line appliance package, updated lighting, unique and sophisticated paint finishes, oil rubbed bronze fixtures and even a window replacement added to the whole new visually pleasing, completely functional kitchen sanctuary.  But it didn’t stop there!  Adjacent to this newly redesigned kitchen masterpiece is a bar that also needed a little attention.   What started as a simple sketch on a napkin evolved into a bar transformation like no other.  After a few structural renovations this average track home bar was revolutionized into entertainment central.  Complete with a “built in the wall” coffee pot to totally utilize the coffee bar/wine bar concept.  A stunning monorail light system, built in wine cooler and fridge and bar sinks and fixtures that are more of a piece of art, all add to this amazingly sophisticated gathering spot.

All that’s nestled up to this beautiful handcrafted wood bar now seemingly needed a facelift as well.  Replacing a light porcelain tile floor with a rich dark hand scraped wood made perfect sense.  And of course we incorporated it into the staircase.  A little change of an existing finish on the risers, rails and front door turned this traditionally common entry into inconceivably phenomenal!

What made this home a castle…literally…is the amazing cantera stone wall that evolved over a design dilemma when we moved the air duct from the kitchen to the living area.  This wall stands alone; truly a remarkable piece of art!  A team of five worked together to conceive what became a fireplace focal point, complete with a retractable audio/visual screen, cantera stone mantle,  and a warm, inviting fire that comes to life at the flick of a switch.

One of our last rooms of renovation was the guest bath.  Originally planned to remain untouched, we couldn’t help but want to carry the “wow” factor here as well.  Rainforest granite, a stone vessel sink, new plumbing and oil rubbed bronze fixtures, refinished cabinets, new lighting, crown molding and fresh coat of carefully chosen paint turned this average guest bath into astonishing.

From a “simply does it” traditional/southwest to an eclectic/transitional “wow factor”, this home is a livable piece of art…an entertainers dream!

After Photos

Copyright 2009 Denise Teichert

Rich patterns and textures, beautiful stones, wood and marbles, vibrant decorated walls and ceilings, rich colors, ornate irons, distinctive lighting and an ingeniously created hand carved airplane bar…this home absolutely seduces us with it’s simple and rustic, sophisticated style. We were able to capture a look that is an expression of the passion and exuberance of the homeowners and their daily way of life.

Before

As a new build, especially one this size, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with options. Melissa and our team did a fabulous job infusing a few design styles into one look that came together exquisitely. Added to the mix of styles we threw in a few conversational design elements that you will find in no other. The overall look is a combination of Old World/Tuscan/Mediterranean. Comfortable and broken in; where distressed meets polished. A touch of rustic flair with a taste of Spanish modern, this home is bold simplicity with a variety of textural contrasts. A refreshingly unpretentious style that is easy to live with, an extremely inviting home.

We enhanced this elegant shelter by applying paint imaginatively. Our team of artist’s engaged us by executing a variety of methods and approaches, giving aesthetic sensibility to the fine art of painting. Our decorative artists created sophisticated embellishments and architectural illusions through the use of layered plasters, metallic glazes, stencils, murals and Tromp L’ oeil.

The rooms of this home are beautifully proportioned and the size and layout of the architectural features, especially the cantera carved stone moldings and the fireplaces, have all been carefully calculated to create a sense of harmony, balance and intrigue. The floors are also an integral part of this old world style home. We have a rich combination of stone, chocolate carpet and dark bamboo. The lighting was chosen carefully as it is very important because it has to perform so many functions. You will find an array of spectacular chandeliers to simple wall sconces and pendants. Wood blinds and ornate iron-like tableaux’s enhance the windows simplicity and custom flair. Elegance and warmth through fire features has been added to poolside creating an inviting ambience outdoors while the latest in audio/video complete this homes entertainment needs both indoors and out.

After

The kitchen still retains its primary and historical function as the room where meals are prepared and where people come together. This kitchen certainly allows for both…spaciously and effortlessly. It is superbly equipped and has been designed to be efficient and practical. A stunning chocolate brown appliance package, chocolate sinks and oil rubbed bronze fixtures “sweeten” up this relaxed atmosphere where friends can gather around an expansive island that’s granite is a piece of art. The master bath is both practical and luxurious, perfecting the art of bathing. We paid great attention to the bathroom furniture including the beautifully designed powder room cabinet which was created using a chest, onyx top and onyx vessel sink, with a touch of under mounted lighting for the perfect amount of illumination.

Creating artistic living spaces by incorporating innovative design elements into a theme helps to put a personal stamp and statement on our surroundings. That’s exactly what we did in this conversational wine bar. Complete with a state of the art wine cellar and Red Barron influenced hand carved plane that is mounted to the wall and serves both as an art of expression as well as a functional bar. This is more than a wine bar…this is Theatrical Extravagance! A comfortable place in which to entertain friends, somewhere to sit and socialize, watch T.V., listen to music or read a book.

A home, a sanctuary, a functional artistic creation…this is a true dream brought to life by homeowners with passion and drive and a team of incredibly talented craftsmen, contractors and designers!

Copyright 2009 Dense Teichert

Our design team transformed this Ahwatukee home from ordinary to extra-ordinary! The look we gave Colleen is a blend of comfortable, livable elements that work together to create sophisticated modern. We kept simplicity as our driving force when working out a new plan for this home. The use of bold colors was especially important in our contemporary planning. The infusion of vibrant colors came in through form of accent walls and accessories. We played off her high ceilings keeping in mind that the bare wall space between furniture is equally important when accessorizing. In this case, less is more!

Before

The flooring is sleek and sexy. A combination of ebony wood, low pile carpet and cool contemporary porcelain tile come together dramatically. The bathroom renovations became works of art! In this design style, bright metals are an important element so our natural selection was…chrome. Dark natural wood, Caesar stone, tile, glass and chrome gave these bathrooms an expansive, unadorned modern edge. Contemporary white sinks and chrome fixtures are a striking contrast against black counters and tile showers. Although we chose to avoid pattern throughout the house, a touch in the master screamed out to us. A hand painted block of solid and geometrics became a simple touch of flair. And a jade metallic paint was the perfect accent color to the innovative guest bath.

Lighting takes center stage in the world of contemporary design. Fixtures are extremely important so we made sure they became their own artistic statement. Furniture and accessories were kept clean, solid and chic. But one accessory we were especially ecstatic about is the electric fireplace. Wall mounted, insanely conversational and functional!

After

Windows in this home were purposely kept simple, straight with little fuss; an updated modern look with a classic choice in materials. After all, we didn’t want anything to come between our inside/out view of what we are proud to say is “the best front yard on the block”! This simply elegant first impression is not over the top but it is a modern masterpiece. Simple, green and clean! Straight lines and artificial turf make this a maintenance free winner. A beautiful cantera stone courtyard paired with a western exposure is a perfect invite to a morning cup of “outside” coffee. And when the sun goes down…the lights come on! This perfect illumination draws attention to all the landscape design features, including the creative staggered pattern walkway, giving the right amount of contemporary pizzazz.

Truly transformational and realistically economical, this contemporary residence is now modern and edgy with all the comforts of “home”. Warm, inviting, inspirational and fun…a place you want to come home to!

Copyright 2009 Denise Teichert

I had the great privilege of working side by side with local celebrity chef Doug Brochu of Creative Hands Cuisine in his home kitchen. What I found surprising is that he does not have a million fancy tools or any more pots and pans than you and I have. And nothing is unusually orderly. His kitchen reflects the same chaos one would expect of a family of 2 working parents, an energetic 2 year old and 3 personality plus dogs. At home Chef Doug celebrates life each day with family, friends, clients and of course good food and wine. It is not a large kitchen however it certainly is great for cooking and entertaining. And although there is not a ton of counter space, the kitchen island offers generous room for a workspace and houses a deep spacious sink to help with the clean up or just hide the creative aftermath.

Before & After

Adding amazing granite and a metal backsplash full of personality like our Chef himself brought in that personal touch, but it was the appliance upgrades that were an important factor when renovating this kitchen. Chef Doug and his wife Camille chose Viking appliances knowing their new Designer Series would be a welcome addition to their home.

Viking offered affordability, value, substance and style. Their new appliances have helped make life easier and gave them the affordable luxury statement they were after, which is important knowing your home kitchen design is also in the public eye.

This kitchen still retains its primary function as the room where meals are creatively created and where people come to gather. It allows for both casual entertaining with family and friends and formal presentations to potential clients. It is superbly equipped to meet a professional chefs needs and a mother’s desire to feed her family effortlessly. Throw in efficient and practical and you have a perfect kitchen suited for anyone, professional or not.

Touring a celebrity chef’s kitchen is always a special treat. Enjoying a scrumptious meal that was almost too pretty to eat was equally enjoyable. So delicious, perfectly prepared, professionally presented…I almost forgot we were at “home”.

Copyright 2010 Denise Teichert, Fine Wine & Design

Our design team had the privilege to work both indoors and out on a charming house built in the 1950’s. Updating this residence yet still holding on to the original architectural structure and originality was rewarding, educational and actually easier than I had imagined it would be. Renovating the existing space both indoors and out to an updated open feel and turning individual smaller areas into spacious larger rooms automatically modernized this homes appearance. By creating an outdoor lifestyle area it added the feel of an additional room.

Show Home Before & After

Rejuvenating the kitchen to incorporate beauty, space and performance and meet the standards and requests of our homeowner who loves to cook was a gratifying design experience. This kitchen is contemporary and sophisticated yet comfortable and inviting. Soft and subtle however full of contrast with white cabinetry and dark granite countertops and striking Viking appliances all sitting on top of the original wood floor that was given a restored finish to help make this home shine.

A great deal of attention to many details helped keep the charm of this older home in an innovative way. The creation of a fireplace and recreation of original stone on another through the eyes of an artist, perfect placement of granite tiles, selection of the right simple cabinet door styles and the hardware chosen to bring them to life, enhancement of architectural details and additions where needed…the list goes on and on. Truly a perfect sanctuary!

Copyright 2010 Denise Teichert, Fine Wine and Design