My father has the boldest of blue eyes. Striking eyes against his dark hair. You can tell a lot by looking into his eyes. There he is unable to hide his emotions.

My father is famous for his stories. He loves to tell the one of when he was a young guy with small children, that he was once mistaken for Jim Craig, the famed goalie from the 1980's Lake Placid Olympics. This little boy asked him three times for his autograph. Finally my father, like only he could do, he gave the little boy an amazing swirly Peter's family autograph. The little kid thought that he got the autograph of a famous Gold Medal Olympian, he really just got the autograph of my good looking, blue eyed father.

Jim Craig gained his fame then by playing hockey. He has since married (amazing wife, love you Charleena) and has two amazing kids and of course a champion Weimeraner, The famed stud, Hudson. I don't know him as a hockey player. I know him as a husband who loves his wife. I know him as father who adores his children and is working tremendously hard to leave his legacy to them. He is a marketing genius and a really funny guy. He and I hit it off years ago. There has never been a time when I have been in the company of The Craig family that we are doubled over with laughter and good stories. I gotta say, I love them. Always have. Always will. It is easy to work for people like that, a pleasure.

Spending time in their company was an incredible experience for me. Of course Charley (Jim's Wife) and I are like peanut butter and jelly. We can shop till we drop, fueled by Dunkin Donuts, in the finest consignment stores and bargain basement places. We both have great taste. So the hunt is what we are all about. The whole time, there is hardly a moment that we do not chitter and then just throw in a bit of chatter for the hell of it.

How many people can say that Jim Craig taught them to Jet Ski? I can. The guy is amazing. He laughed when he saw that my nails and toes matched the black jet ski. Only you Peters. He took his time, taught me, guided me......and low and behold, I backed that beatch right out like a champ. Within moments he and I set off for the making of a memory that I will never forget. There out in the deep ocean, I saw dolphins swimming, the sun setting, the scene, nothing short of a moment in the movies. And I realized that Jim Craig is my friend, that he respects me, validates me. He took the time to care about me. His advice and wisdom was like a metaphorical torch passing. I have met so many fine and kind people over the years. Given the course of my life over the past month, I feel most sad for lumping everyone, under one title. There are so many friends that I have within the Kittansett and golfing communities, I do regret their involvement. That needed to be brought to my attention. Thank you Jimmy, Thank you.

He not only hired me to decorate his entire house in Florida, he confirmed in my heart what I have known all along........

That I too am a winning underdog.

I have found that my blogging is the most efficient way to put together a design board for a creative project. I spend many hours clipping digital images and sourcing the collection not only to present to my client, but to share with you as well. When it comes to a bathroom remodel it is quite a task to put together a collection of materials that will go into the finished design. I am not a huge fan of trying patterns with tile to create interest within a room. Instead, I prefer to use a range of materials in similar, or tonal color ways. In the end, I think that the finished designs have a higher level of both sophistication and visual interest.

I also like the idea of mixing old and new. In this bathroom project, you can see that there is a bit of "antique" in the rustic nature of the subway tile that will serve as the wainscoting to the room and the tile for the walls within the shower. I plan to use a modern and sleek glass door with nickel finish on the hardware. This will coordinate nicely with the nickel finish that will be on the shower heads and water controls. Instead of a tub, we are planning a larger, couples shower with dual heads and controls, in nickel from Kohler. As a special touch, the floor will be made from a collection of bleached sea stones that will add more tonal texture and wonderful feeling for the feet while my clients enjoy their new spa like master bedroom suite.

There is also a bit of antique in the use of a furniture style vanity. The floors in the room are currently oak and will remain so. I am not a huge fan of mixing a lot of different types of woods, so the use of an antique oak in the vanity will perfectly coordinate with the floor. I like the idea of a footed vanity instead of a baseboard of a toe kick to the design. I do think adding two bays of door style cabinets might both a better look and a much more functional design. I think that I may have to make a trip to Kitchen and Bath Details to discuss this design and adapting it to be both functional and beautiful.

I will finish the vanity with a clean, crisp, white carrera marble with an ogee edge. As another modern/antique juxtaposition, a polished nickel vessel sink and wall mounted faucet will provide visual balance and a sleek design flair to this exciting project.