We love seeing the assorted colors, textures and ideas that Jessica Curry of Interiors by J. Curry has put together over the years in her designs. When we saw her mood board for her #alaboroflovereno project we couldn’t wait to see more. By the end of the project we completely fell in love with this renovation, just like she did.
It was no surprise when we learned Jessica had chosen her “A Labor of Love Reno” project, when selecting a home to submit to the Rochester Area Builders Association Annual Remodelers Tour in Rochester, Minnesota. She couldn’t be more grateful that her clients allowed her to share their space with others. Having worked with her clients previously she received, “Complete trust in my process and vision for their home, allowing me to create a truly customized, one-of-a-kind space they will be comfy, cozy and happy in for years to come.”
With the trust of her clients, a busy family of four, plus one pup, Curry was able to mix both the traditional needs of the family with high functioning design aspects. For example, during the renovation process, they used the existing coat closet area to expand the laundry room into a more practical mudroom. The addition of an adorable cubby bench area for the children’s coats and school bags brought functionality to the space.
One request the family had was to incorporate darker countertops and warm floors into the design. To satisfy this need, Curry along with her homeowners selected Absolute Black Granite for the serving buffet, cooktop and sink area to add contrast to the lighter walls and cabinets, while accenting the island in a gray paint and a lighter Fantasy Brown Marble. With the addition of an island, Curry continued to blend function and style throughout the kitchen by giving the family an area for quick meals or homework, while also creating a prep area for cooking dinner unobstructed. The kitchen was designed around the seated island, and appliances were shifted to allow better flow and convenience, with even the microwave being placed at a height the children could reach. Smart!
Throughout the home, Curry utilized cabinet hardware from Elements’ Hadly Collection to add the finishing touch to each room. Curry expressed her love of Hadly’s “square edges with a softness to the arched shape,” which she found complimented the “timeless and transitional flow throughout the overall design.”
Curry incorporated Hadly throughout the home in a variety of finishes from Matte Black in the kitchen, to Brushed Pewter in the mudroom. “Let’s be honest, it’s all about mixing metals these days,” said Curry gleefully. “Sometimes it’s nice not to go too matchy and give each space its own identity. Also, I think having a finish change from one room to the next is eye pleasing and signifies that the room has a different use.”
The powder bathroom is unique with its Satin Bronze hardware found on the charming Adler vanity in Hale Blue from Hardware Resources and offset by the colorful wallpaper as well as the dark fixtures. Curry said her goal was to bring color and personalization to the room to “make it a fun space for guests and homeowners alike to use.”
Curry found that planning out the project well ahead of time was the key to having this job run smoothly, particularly during a pandemic. Curry stated, “this reno was a large undertaking of the entire main floor with a year of planning prior, so our clients could move out during the renovations and not have to live in such a mess.” The top tip Curry has for planning a renovation is, “you can never have anything planned out too far ahead of time. Now more than ever with this ever-changing climate.”
Curry, as she has for the past ten years, found comfort in the fantastic quality of Hardware Resources products she used in the home, “they continue to have unique designs and are offered at a reasonable price point.”
The details of this project, from the herringbone laundry room floor to the contrasting accent in the tile backsplash and the striking blue vanity in the powder room are what brought the whole project together and set the home apart on the Remodelers Tour. Curry added, “photos are great, but there is nothing like seeing it in person, especially in a home where people are living rather than just a model.” Particularly with this project, Curry felt she really allowed the space to be unique and not look like every other home on the block.
Jessica is a certified kitchen designer with 20 years’ experience in the field of interiors and custom cabinetry design, and she is a recent recipient of a National Kitchen and Bath Association award. You can see more of Jessica’s work by visiting her website or Instagram. You can also visit AB-Photography online or on Instagram. A big thank you to Jessica for sharing her work with the Design by Hardware Resources blog!