Industry Ed with Richard: Flood Relief

Ourso Designs is up and running and fully staffed.  We feel very fortunate that our office, facilities and employees did not receive any damage from the flood.  We are in the process of gearing up to help people affected by the flood and the community to rebuild our houses and businesses by offering cabinetry, counter tops, and hardware that can be delivered to the job site within 4 weeks.

With that being said I have compiled some information on what to expect and where to start when it comes to replacing your kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Check it out:

Custom Cabinets

• A good percentage of the cabinets in our local homes were made in a custom cabinet shop.
• If you have custom cabinets and you know which custom cabinet shop built them, you should contact them. They will be able to best match new cabinetry to your existing undamaged cabinetry.
• But keep in mind, some shops were also damaged by the flood. With some shops being out of commission for the time being and the work load created by the flood, the custom shops are going to be extremely busy.
• Many shops are operating on a first-come-first-serve basis, so you will want to be in contact with them as soon as possible.

Factory Cabinets

• If you have factory cabinets, try to find any labels or logos to determine who the manufacturer is. If you go back to the that manufacturer, they will be able to best match new cabinetry to your existing undamaged cabinetry.
• Factory cabinets are a good option when renovating your flooded home for several reasons:
• They are many price levels that can accommodate any budget.
• They have a 4-5 week delivery time frame. So when you are working quickly to get your home back in order this is a great resource.
• Factory cabinets come with lifetime factory warranties.

If you have any further questions or are interested in our design services and products, don't hesitate to give us a call. 225-291-8588

- Richard L. Ourso

History Lesson: Gustavian Style

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"The Swedish Gustavian Provincial style is distinctive in its clean, hand-carved lines and cool color palette of blues, grays, and weathered whites. King Gustav himself imported these influences from other parts of Europe, such as the Louis XVI styles seen in France and the Neo-Classical styles seen in Italy during this period." - http://www.gustavianfurniture.co.uk/info.html 

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"The classic greys and off whites of the Gustavian colour palette set off the striking use of gold gilt most elegantly. While most people are familiar with grey Gustavian minimalism, the Gustavian public entertaining rooms were awash with amazing giltwood sofas, chairs, mirrors, chairs and cabinets in a Swedish interpretation of the more ostentatious French Louis XVI styling. You may also recognize the classic ribbed front pattern that appears on many grey/white Gustavian cabinets as an intricate part of the design. Also the classic Gustavian sofa draws heavily on the French Louis xvi style. Very often in gold gilt or white and gold, the sofas would be very detailed in appointments and wonderfully handcarved." - http://ezinearticles.com/?History-Of-Gustavian-Furniture&id=987350 

Another great article on Gustavian Style by Houzz: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/6605460/list/royal-idea-go-cozy-and-refined-with-gustavian-style

Check out these Gustavian inspired interiors!

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Trend Alert: Wood Veneer Paneling

In the last few years we saw an increase in the use of wood as a wall covering.  Recently we are seeing a decrease in the distressed reclaimed plank look and a shift towards a seamless mid-century aesthetic with a lot of lighter wood tones being used.

Here are a few examples:

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Here are our designer picks:

Curbless Showers: Practical and Beautiful

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Today's shower designs are making an obvious shift towards curbless showers. A design that once was associated with an institutional feel, because of its use in hospitals and commercial settings, is now beginning to change the standard for the residential walk-in shower. Not only is it the most practical for aging-in-place but, it is beautiful and lends a really nice open and contemporary feel to the ever evolving bathroom design. The features that were once considered a luxury, are now standard practice.

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Here are a few positive points that will make you so in love!

1. Functional for everyone.

Not having a threshold to step over eliminates opportunities for trips and slips. Everyone from the grandparents to the grandchildren can use this shower. It is a CAPS (certified aging in place) standard, so, though you may not be needing to worry now about how to get in-and-out of the shower in your older years, if you are doing the remodel now, and plan on aging in your home, it is a detail that should not be overlooked.

2. The openness.

With a curbless shower you can break down all the barriers, often times just separating your shower with a simple glass partition. This really opens up your bathroom, giving the affect of a larger space, as well as allowing light or a view from a window that might otherwise be covered up.

3. Maximize each square inch.

With the use of a curbless shower you can increase the effective use of space by eliminating a barrier wall and threshold. A bathroom that may not have once been able to house a separate shower and tub can now do so.

Now, check out these curbless showers that will inspire!

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