Author Archives: Jessica Marx

I recently posted about our kitchen renovation in our new home and showed the major transformation from ugly duckling to stunning swan. Well today I’m talking about the transformation of our powder room, which is just adjacent to our black, white and gold kitchen. I really needed this space to tie in with the rest of the kitchen design since they are so close to one another.



I always love to create mood boards for all my designs. It helps me envision the end goal and make sure everything flows nicely.

First off, we have the mood board for the space. I knew I wanted to make a statement and create a little jewel box within the tiny bathroom footprint. It’s so unexpected when you see the clean simple lines of the rest of our home. The simplest way to tie the bold design of the powder room with the high-contrast kitchen was to keep the same color scheme throughout both spaces; black, white, and gold!





As you can see the existing powder room was awful. It had a horrible vanity tile countertops and carpet flooring (yes, carpet, so gross!)

The easiest way to create a bold statement was to use wallpaper. I found this amazing black and white print that had been around for decades- I loved that it was from the 70’s just like the rest of the home. Since the walls were so graphic I needed to keep the rest of the space simpler as not to make it look too busy. I used a black floor tile, which complimented the adjacent black kitchen cabinets and kept the vanity neutral by making it white. I tied in the rest of the spaces by using similar brass hardware to the kitchen and the same Caesarstone Statuario Nuvo countertops.



Obviously, the cost of home renovations can add up quickly, so the nice thing about these gorgeous countertops is that you can add them to any inexpensive off the shelf vanity or dresser to create a custom, one of a kind, expensive look. I think by adding a surface mounted sink it really elevates the look of the space, essentially creating the jewel box look I was going for. Here are some more photos of this dreamy space for your viewing pleasure.





Post By: Jessica Marx, J. Marx Atelier

For more bathroom ideas: How To Create A Refreshing Bathroom Design | Bathrooms With Round Vanity Mirrors

Hello Interior Collective Readers!

Let me introduce myself, my name is Jessica Marx, I am the owner and designer for my Los Angeles based interior design company, J. Marx Atelier. I’ve designed some pretty cool and trendy commercial spaces over the last decade from LA to NYC, which is how my love affair for Caesarstone began.



My husband and I recently purchased our first home, which was a total gut job, thereby leaving me with a blank slate to work with. There were so many decisions to make, but the easiest of them all were my countertops, I knew I NEEDED to have Caesarstone from day one. Here is a little more insight into my kitchen design process, including some before and after photos.



I always love to create mood boards for all my designs. It helps me envision the end goal and make sure everything flows nicely.

First, let me share the inspiration behind the kitchen. Our house is an open concept with lots of natural light, which was a contrast from our previous apartment that was super dark. Once we removed the carpet (oh, so much carpet), we added light oak hard wood floors and painted the walls white to create a neutral blank slate to work with.


As you can see, the before wasn’t much to write home about. It was closed off, dark, and dated, nothing was worth keeping.

Originally I wanted to do white cabinets, but with such an open floor plan and white walls I was afraid the kitchen would just disappear. I really wanted the kitchen to anchor our home so I opted for a high-contrast black kitchen instead. Gold accents were a must, so I went with these beautiful champagne bronze faucets and simple brass pulls.



The last major decision was the countertop. Now, let me preface this with the fact that I actually cook, and this kitchen isn’t just for show. I really needed something that would be durable and low maintenance. I’ve been a huge fan of Caesarstone for so many years installing it in countless residential kitchens, and commercial restaurant bar tops, dining tables, and kitchens. This product is hands-down so durable and easy to maintain, everything cleans right up even when using a light colored stone. My initial selection was the Calacatta Nuvo. I originally spotted it when doing research for a sushi restaurant in NYC online and instantly fell in love. It wasn’t quite right for that particular project, but I always kept a mental note for the future. I ended up using Calacatta Nuvo when designing my uncle’s kitchen and in that space we contrasted the countertops with gray cabinets- it was stunning. I knew right then that if I ever were lucky enough to design my own kitchen this would be my countertop.



Fast-forward to 3 years later it seemed like a done deal, until the week after I placed the order for my countertops when I was flipping through a design magazine and saw an ad for Statuario Nuvo… I immediately called and had them swap out the stone. It was so stunning, a grey-cream color with a simple grey vein running through it, I was in LOVE. It was the perfect compliment to my black cabinets, gold hardware and oak floors. I wanted to keep a clean modern look so opted to keep the backsplash the same as the counters. I also decided on a mitered edge for the counters and added the waterfall to the island which makes such a statement. Once it all came together I had to pinch myself… I literally get to wake up to my DREAM kitchen every day. Here are a few more images of this black and white dream.





Post By: Jessica Marx, J. Marx Atelier | Photos By: Heather Kincaid

For more Caesarstone inspiration: Insights from Sheri Adelman | 3 Different Kitchens Using Caesarstone Countertops