Houzz Interview: Rebekah’s Weekend Farmhouse Retreat

Rebekah Zaveloff is now the principle designer of Kitchenlab, in addition to the co-founder of Style at a Bag.com, but the path she followed to wind up where she is today was a small fun zig-zagged one. In the same way, a serendipitous missed twist and a U-turn led her and her husband to their beloved weekend escape, a farmhouse at Michigan. In the her career and finding this house, timing, adventures along the way along with a convergence of conditions have all been crucial to where they have landed. You can discover more about Rebekah on her profile on Houzz and on her site.

Please tell us about how you found your beautiful farmhouse. What was your first meeting with the house like?

This is a hilarious marriage story! So my husband, that NEVER gets lost…if he’s been to any town after , he knows his way round. Columbus where I grew up. NY, London, several towns in France, Seattle, does not matter — it is beyond annoying for someone to be right this much! That being said, we’re on our way to a buddy a of friend’s house for dinner out in Michigan…and he has been there just once, years ago. He drives past their road and strikes a T at another road and decides to turn around, imagining we passed the turnoff. We pass a”for sale by owner” sign — I freak out, never one for subtlety…and write down the number. Mind you, we’ve looked at around 50 homes this summer alone, the majority of which we anticipated by first sight to be near our budget and are frighteningly NOT. I predict the following day, and that I swoon once I hear that the owner say a price that is really within our range of’hopeful.’ We go meet her that day, spend 6 seconds in the house and both knew, it had been the one.

What managed to impress you much in these 6 seconds?

The floor plan was amazingly modern for a farmhouse over 100 years old. Amazingly it has 2 baths, but strangely, both have been on the first floor…not that unusual for this era. The house had been surrounded by grapevines on all 4 sides, belying the fact that it had been just 1 acre but felt just like a hundred! There were no neighbors, that had been my husband’s sole requirement. We had been sold. Nevertheless, it was needing some serious love, which we have documented in our”This Old Farmhouse” blog series.

Just how does it differ from your house in the town? How is it different working from the farmhouse and working in town? Is there a change in your mindset or work?

I shoot a large, deep sigh to be able to answer this question…it is so funny, the moment we cross hit on this one depart, Lake Station, off of 90 and back on 94, I sense myself just exhale and release all of this town stress! Everybody I know that resides in both areas feels like this, and it never gets old. I can concentrate in a different way in the country than I can in town. From town it is all cliché hustle and bustle — back to back meetings, planning my day based on neighborhood, traffic, client schedules, client’s child’s naps, customer’s child’s carpools, sports, etc.. I’m so busy bouncing around town that I do not sit down for long — the speed is kind of nuts, but I really like it.

The moment I get to the farmhouse it is a different kind of concentrated intensity. I understand I have a whole day in front of me going to jobsites – to concentrate on drawings, phone calls, orders. I definitely can not get that kind of work done once I’m in town, I’m too tempted to jump in my car and put out the fire du jour, or du moment. Possessing high speed internet access (even in my backyard!) , a fax machine, scanner, and most of my books and magazines make working at the farmhouse dreamy and simple. I can possess un-interrupted calls with clients, and uninterrupted time to draw and design. I’ve made it Fridays are my’office’ day — even if that means my’office’ is sitting in my backyard working in my notebook with the crickets chirping.

What is your favourite place in the house?

The back patio is first — I see this as an extension of the house. But when I had to select a second — it is the kitchen of course! I love being at the kitchen in Michigan because it is the place I’ve time to cook and hang out with my spouse and friends. Throughout the week that he does all of the cooking. I’m a lucky woman.

What was the very first measure of your remodeling/decorating procedure? How did this use at the farmhouse?

Measuring and placing everything into Autocad is always first. I will not even discuss particulars of thoughts with a client on site until I get everything in the pc and begin space preparation. This design phase differs for me than the decorating phase. Finishes for me personally come after, though I have an idea in my head, I find most clients, and myself, find it overwhelming to try and do space planning and picking finishes all at precisely the exact same time. Too much! A good, clean, functional space that addresses the customer’s requirements and the challenges of this room always comes first. Once I’m confident with these decisions and the drawings are all done, we begin taking a look at hard surfaces such as countertops, tile and cabinets, we then move to the finishes such as lighting, furniture, rugs, wall colors.

For our farmhouse…it had been the space planning and layout as well. I measured the whole house before we shut and had everything attracted. Enlarged openings, including windows, relocating doors, and adding the French doors, and designing the kitchen. As chronicled in our blog, our decorating changed and evolved since we moved along.

What was the biggest renovation/decoration challenge you faced?

It is cliché, but doing your own space is your toughest. I tell my clients to help quell their nervousness, and I wonder if they think that it’s me talking them off the cliff, but I truly mean it! It is hard! I have fun and I’m confident in my choices for clients…I agonize over the right combination and the right equilibrium, but in the long run I know that I’ve put at time and I’m usually quite pleased. For my own spaces there’s no boundaries on the criticism…it is like an continually unfinished painting. While I have the time, I always consider things such as’we ought to paint the walls in the living room x’, or’we ought to change the pendants at the kitchen, sconce in the bathroom, rug in the living space, ” — it never finishes. I’ve a sense of closure and satisfaction with customer’s projects that I’ll never have the luxury of feeling with my own house. I pretend so my husband does not divorce me. The majority of these ideas I keep to myself, except for the few that leak out from time to time.

Besides photos and pets, what would you grab in a fire?

After my husband and dog, sadly, my next thought is my notebook. I guess that means I need to back up my files longer. Next, my paintings. After that…When I could carry our sofas from the home (bought off a movie set), and our inherited Eames couch…along with the dining table that was a gift from fabulous boss said above also off a movie set…coffee table that my husband built from old ceiling joists….But really, all that can be replaced, even the photos if I manage to catch my notebook. Dog and husband are the only things that matter.

What is your next house project?

Besides the wonderful projects I’m now working on with Kitchenlab clients, our coach house renovation following a fire we had in April. We’re turning the back attached coach house into a mini urban house. Stay tuned!

What is your favourite resource for home decoration?

I Must select one!!!! ? You are speaking to a recovering collagist here! If I need to select 1, or two it are the last 2 in my list for a stop shopping…. Otherwise, if I can list a few more….Antique shops that are off the beaten path in which I can discover bargains! Antiquing in Michigan’s harbor country — Ipso Facto Antiques, Marco Polo, Alan Robandt, Lakeside Antiques. Rugs from Madeleine Weinrib, textiles from John Robshaw, light from Circa Lighting, tile from Ann Sacks tile, and accessories and furniture from Jayson Home and Garden along with ABC Carpet and Home.

I made a reference earlier to your zig-zagged career path (or perhaps it is more like a lot of rivers converging at a delta? Poet I am not!) Anyhow, you’re a full service designer, but you ended up focusing in kitchens and baths. What fueled your passion for these spaces particularly? How did you wind up here?

Well…truth be told, I think that it’s amazingly cool that all my different passions and pursuits have come to an intersection in what I do today with KitchenLab and Design at a Bag.com since it wasn’t planned like that. I studied fine art throughout high school and college. I really started working in pubs at high school and that is when I became interested in food and cooking as well, but most of my interests were compartmentalized at the time. Design, cooking, traveling, entertaining, set design, graphic design, fine art, rehabbing old buildings, interior design, psychology…it all connects in what I do daily. My time waitressing my way through school in LA and Chicago made me more interested in restaurant design, wine, food, and cooking. I worked in set design for film and television for a while following faculty, and had the absolute best manager in the world in this time who invited my abilities in all their different and unfocused types. Do not underestimate the ability of a boss or mentor that sees your potential and nurtures it it’s a beautiful thing. . .and sadly, the experience was hard to find again. I became disenchanted with this work. I had this gnawing feeling that I wished to make’real’ chambers…not sets anymore. So back to college I moved…and loved it! It had been problem solving at a visual and creative way that I found addictive. I instantly gravitated towards hard surfaces, rather than soft goods like fabrics, and landed my kitchen design job a couple of weeks in my first semester.

I sort of dropped into kitchen design, but I don’t see it as a coincidence at all. I absolutely adore the problem solving side of kitchen design particularly, along with my love of cooking, I get quite into how each client uses their kitchen whether it is as a busy household making sandwiches for 4 kids, or an amateur gourmet. As a designer I’m organic and all about following what I’m attracted to viscerally and cerebrally. I encourage my clients to try and do exactly the same. Within my fine art education, I always concentrated on collage. I dabbled in painting, sculpture, film, but that I was always happiest when I had been working with found object and substances — making them into something brand new. It has also found its way into my design sensibility and how I approach jobs – layering. After years of nurturing KitchenLab’s growth, my husband and I launched Design at a Bag.com last fall. It is all about bringing readymade design recipes for individuals without access designer or designers products for a fraction of the price tag.

Kitchens and baths are catchy, possibly the chambers where designers are most needed – would you please spill a secret or two for individuals attempting to plan out theirs by themselves? If they are on a budget, then where if they splurge and where can they detract a little.

There’s no doubt that a larger volume of your homeowner’s funding will visit those 2 spaces, therefore that they need to be doubly smart! I err toward the classic and classic because the substances I assist my clients select tend to be much more lasting than a sofa, coffee table, pillow or throw, and much more expensive to replace! So, I encourage people to go with classics for your large expensive purchases, and then have fun with the smaller budget items such as light (which may be expensive, or not, but may be changed out in the event that you get tired of it), decorative accessories, hardware, along with tile being the last. Tile backsplashes make a huge impact, and are messy and expensive to tear out and replace, but it is doable if you tire of it! Do not be afraid to invest in this — it will change your whole kitchen! In terms of toilets — prevent moving pipes if you’re able to help it. Look for creative ways to use inexpensive tile in enjoyable ways – a boundary of fancier tile to create character, either on the ground or wall. Do not skimp on wainscot tile, even if it’s basic white, it makes a statement and you can always paint the wall above a stunning and intriguing colour! Think drama and contrast — but be wary of this trendy. You can always change the paint color, but we all understand how those shiny brass fittings and pink tile look to us now — dated!!!!! Think to yourself, what will I enjoy in five years or longer.

In case you have dated cabinets, that are in good shape structurally, and you can not afford an all-purpose remodel, painting your cupboards is large on sweat-equity, low on price, and will offer a huge change to your room. For a number people, awaiting that day once we can afford the all-out remodel may be years off — do what you can do now to make your space more your own. Our online design company, Design at a Bag.com was created so that we could channel what I do daily for those on a budget in places without access to designers and designer resources.

Rebekah, thank you so much for taking the time to talk about your wonderful weekend house, in addition to your story with us! Readers, to keep up with Rebekah and Nick’s remodeling experiences, be sure to follow their blog over at Kitchenlab. There are also some great articles with unbelievable before pictures of this farmhouse.

Rebekah is offering a $50 Style in a bag giftcard to a blessed Houzz reader! Only leave a comment under Wednesday, September 8 2010 to enter.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

This was a missed turn and also a subsequent U-turn that led Rebekah and Nick to this charming farmhouse.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

An eclectic mix of seats helps to keep the air of the house relaxed.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

“I’ve made it Fridays are my’office’ day — even if that means my’office’ is sitting in my backyard working on my notebook with the crickets chirping.”

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Rebekah’s country”office”

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

The sensation of not having neighbors – CHECK!

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Once they saw the first floor layout, they were sold on the house (in about 6 seconds).

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

The dining room table was a gift from Rebekah’s favourite boss. It was from a movie set.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Rebekah was constantly attracted to hard surfaces over fabrics when she was in design school, which led her to specialize in kitchens and baths.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Baths are a natural extension of my passion for hard surfaces, mixing substances, etc.. Bathrooms are sort of the reverse of kitchen emotionally. They invoke thoughts of private spaces, calm, quietude, sanctuaries, etc.. The contrary of this hustle and bustle of a kitchen and a chance to talk about the other side of our personalities.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Rebekah’s favorite form of art has always been collage, and you’ll be able to see how this carries through the way she arranges matters.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

I’ve a sense that this workplace is highly neglected during the summertime, when Rebekah can shoot her notebook out to her back patio!

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

“I love being at the kitchen in Michigan because it is the place I’ve time to cook and hang out with my spouse and friends. Throughout the week that he does all of the cooking. I’m a lucky woman.”

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

In your opinion, what is so great about the kitchen? Why do you love it so much?

See above — working in restaurants, being more interested in food and wine. My husband having an amazing cook! And largely, the profound believe that food is the ultimate cultural money….people wish to create spaces where our nearest and dearest need to hang out and spend time with us. The kitchen is where all the action is, where people can assist, take part, feel life happening and be a part of it…even if they don’t understand how to hold a knife! Who cares! Pull up a stool and also help wash veggies, shuck corn, chop herbs, whatever. People want to feel a part of something along with also the kitchen instantly creates a sense of belonging that no other room in the house has the ability to create. “What do I do” function as normal question of anyone who comes around for a dinner party, a cookout, anything.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Can you get a big style pet peeve? If so, please dish!

Symmetry! Period! That’s an easier answer! I think symmetry really kills the humanness, the sense of the individual imprint with just a little insanity and imperfection, in space. I love rooms that have tension, contradictory scale and feel, a little messiness, a little chaos and mismatching, a little clutter. Any room that’s too great and too considered feels stale and neutral.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

It is so important to get a lot of fun books and matches round in a weekend house.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Rebekah’s husband Nick, that has been renovating homes for several years, made the coffee table from old floor joists. Also, see the 2-over-2 windows.

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