Interiors for Ta-Ta’s

Let me just share, while growing up in a ‘proper’ southern household, the discussion of body parts and functions were relegated to quiet, private chats with my mother who was a nurse.  My father was definitely a bit squirmy when the advent of female-related commercials began to let it all “hang out”.  He’s somewhat mellowed out as he’s been witness to too many friends and loved-ones experience loss because of ‘taboo talk’ which might have saved their lives.

I think he would be totally okay that I’m sharing a post about ‘buppies’, ‘ta-ta’s’, and ‘the girls’.  :)

(I created a custom lamp from Mottega to benefit the cure.  Click on the lamp to create your own design, using the color petal.  Your purchase in pink will generate a 10% donation to the Susan G.Komen Foundation!)

There are a lot of wonderful design vendors who are stepping up with beautiful products to provide support for “the girls”, as they are donating part of their sales to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure fund, as well as other avenues in the race to cure breast cancer.  Each year, important strides are being made in research.  Research needs to be funded.  Simply said. 

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.  (And some men will be diagnosed, too.) 

I think that’s appropriate fodder for “ta-ta” talk, don’t you?

Classically Curated Room Design

curated:  past participle, past tense of cu·rate

verb:  Select, organize, and look after the items in (a collection or exhibition). 

Have you been noticing the great frequency of the term, ‘curated’, in reference to interior design?  As in any great phrase, it’s important not to overuse it or it can become passé without that being the intention.  Remember the days of ‘eclectic’?  It became the catchall when a style wasn’t so easily defined.

I do tend to incorporate many of the principles of a ‘curated’ process in my interior applications.  I do love a well-organized design and room!  I also actively participate in the search for selections with my clients.  And . . . while never wanting anyone to feel as if they are living in a museum, I do like procuring items which indicate they are to be treasured, or looked after, long when the room has been completed.  It goes against my design sensibilities to suggest fly-by-night selections to be tossed in a just a few short months.  Layered, collected, loved, and “special additions” are also phrases which describe the way I design.

What do you envision when you hear the term, curated interiors?  I’ll give you an example of mine:

   

Nothing stodgy about this space!  A beginning point could be an inherited family antique.  I find it’s often the biggest concern many people have . . . how to incorporate something from Grandma without it looking forced.  I saw the vignette photo on Pinterest and it had my creative sparks flying on how to pair it with other elements for a classically, beautiful look. 

Here’s what ended up on my design board:

Love this luscious embroidered silk from Stroheim?  It can be ordered just for you!  I would use it for pillows, panels, shades, or even stretched as a canvas for wall art.

 

Blown glass balls on this Currey & Company Chandelier are a different twist on a crystal version.  The modern, silver-leaf finish captures the glow, brilliantly!  I’ll be visiting their showroom in High Point while I’m attending the upcoming fall market.

Lee Industry’s elegant but not overly formal loveseat.  As we say in entertaining with our china, “Use the good stuff”!

(A group of my Twitter & friends are attending the London Design Festival!  Their first stop? An afternoon tea at the Victoria and Albert Museum.  Sigh and ‘cheerio’ to them!)

You don’t have to live in a museum to appreciated a finely curated design style.  Chances are, you may already have some special pieces just needing to be refined and reworked into the right space.  It simply takes a trained eye to help bring them back to life!

What do YOU think?

Has Color Gone To The Dogs?

Trends are a constant in this interior designer’s world.  I have to keep my eyes and ears open as to what’s coming down the pike.  There always seems to be a lot of interest in trends as people want to keep their homes looking fresh and updated while trying to be careful not to go too crazy in the process.  I can attest that I don’t have too many clients who subscribe to the Betsey Johnson school of design.  *wink*  (Not dissing Ms Betsey . . . She dives into her own world of design with pure glee!)

Etsy - (The Duchess)

Meanwhile, the next time someone asks me what going to be ‘hot’ in the world of interiors, I can honestly reply, “I think color will be going to the dogs”.  If you don’t believe me, check out swatch number 5, from the top down.  I just can’t wait to suggest the prefect shade of “Dachshund”!

(via Apartment Therapy)

(via Pinterest)

(via House Beautiful)

(via Martha Stewart)

My Magnum and Freckles give it a big “paws” up!

Falling Into Bed

The daylight hours are becoming shorter and I don’t know about you, but that only means one thing for me . . . the eyes go half mast a bit earlier than when they’re flooded with sunshine!  Honestly, sometimes when I’ve been pushing through fourteen and fifteen hour work days, (as I tend to work more when I have the extra light), fall can be a welcome respite of “calling it a day”, just a little earlier! 

Even while the season of holiday entertaining is almost upon us, the bedroom seeks our attention if for nothing else than a cozy sanctuary to end the day with a soft landing.  (And don’t forget about those guests or family members who might be sleeping over when sharing a visit!)

By the time the fall season has arrived, it becomes tight in scheduling for a lot of custom accoutrements.  In that event, my local go-to source is DeWoolfson Fine Linens, in Charlotte, NC.  I’ve previously written about them but a reminder never hurts!  They also ship across the country. 

I recently stopped in for a visit to see what’s new as well as to look through tried-and-true products.  I thought I would share some pics of my discoveries.

I had a nice chat with Sally Southern, their store manager, and I shared how I’ve loved the quality of their products, as well as the variety of value ranges they offer.  Yes, a good set of bedding may set you back a few dollars, but I can tell you, I’ve got sheets that have lasted me for over five years!  They just get silkier and more refined, rather than pilling or wearing through. 

I like to consider quality bedding as a category where I’ll spend less dollars, in the long run, when I take the time to collect the proper foundation “garments”, such as a good mattress cover, special pillows, and of course, the coverings.  As I need to update these items, I invest a little more for the long haul.  The folks at DeWoolfson also appreciate that their customers have different comfort needs and preferences. DeWoolfson makes their own pillows and they will happily adjust yours, whether if it’s to plump them with more filling or to take a bit extra out. 

The displays at DeWoolfson are divine!  Inspiration awaits with “real life” settings. 

Here are a few helpful tips to consider when buying bedding:

• The life of a down/feather pillow is about 5-10 years, depending on the care and quality, while a good foam or synthetic pillow should be disposed of after 2-3 years.
• Silk pillow covers are good for the complexion.  Dermatologists say silk includes the essential amino acids that we often find in moisturizers and hair care products. Silk pillows are hypoallergenic, too.
• Save a little energy by generating your own.  A down-filled duvet will hold in body heat when the thermostat has been set lower.  The down doesn’t lump together as much as a synthetic fill; therefore, eliminating cold spots.  Of course, construction should be considered, as well as if feathers have been added.

 

Since the holidays are coming, soon, I’d like to add one more tip . . .  Shop your local stores!  I’m fortunate to be close enough to stop by to see Sally to pick up a “surcie” or two for friends and family.  It spares me the mall traffic, too.

If you do reside in the Charlotte area, I understand DeWoolfson will be providing some bedding for the upcoming March Of Dimes 2011 Designer Showhouse.  Can’t wait for a walk-through of what looks to be a grand estate! 

516 Museum Drive

Charlotte, NC 28207

October 7, 8, 9 and October 14, 15, 16

Friday & Saturday: 10 - 6; Sunday 1-6

Admission: $15 at the door

Proceeds from tickets and portion of design sales benefit March of Dimes

For event information, please call 704-377-2009

Look out for the showhouse on Living Social...tickets will be available 2 for 1!

Here’s to falling into bed in comfort and style!

Too Cool For School Furniture & Design Ideas

Just in case you’ve been busy with getting all of the kiddies back to school and have missed checking out some fab contests, I thought I would share my recent guest post for Hooker Furniture.  They have some adorable pieces with lots of great function and design potential.

Here’s the redeux without further adieu!:

What Mom or Dad hasn’t felt the tug at their heartstrings while preparing a child to get ready for back-to-school days? Whether it’s packing them up for their first venture or watching them advance to the next level, it’s probably easy to reflect back on a time, not so long ago, when they were taking their first steps!

 

(via)

Of course, when it’s time for your child to move up to their “big person’s” room, you may also be deciding on how to redesign their space to accommodate a different function. A trundle bed can allow for newly-made friends to feel welcome without taking up a lot of extra space. I’ve also discovered one of the pieces often needed to accommodate schoolwork is a new desk. This furniture addition can be equally useful for creating crafts or for working on a favorite hobby. For the young ladies, it can double as a vanity.

(Opus Designs For Hooker Furniture – Lily Computer Desk)

I’m totally in love with the Lily Computer Desk from Hooker Furniture’s youth division, Opus Designs! I’m always looking for pieces that my clients’ children can grow into . . . perhaps even to see them off to that other milestone of higher education. I’ve been with some of my clients long enough to watch their little ones go from changing tables to tween rooms to the experience of their children becoming parents, too! That’s why it’s so important to find furniture with multiple uses and classic shapes. All it takes is a simple color palette change and you have a whole new space! Speaking of which, did you know the Lily Desk features removable color accent panels? Four color panels, with a total of eight color choices, are stored inside the drawer fronts. Simply remove the knob and you can slide the panels in and out to create an array of color schemes. This option is also available on many other Lily Collection pieces. How cool is that?

(Change the personality of the Lily Collection by swapping out the color panels!)

(Way cool colors, don’t you think?)

As if there isn’t enough to be excited about, with the Lily Collection, Hooker Furniture has created a give-a-way contest where you can register to win one of these fabulous desks! The only catch is, if you win it, you have to bestow it upon your daughter. I can see how it might be tempting to find a spot in a grown-up’s corner, too!

Click below to see how to register to win. The contest ends on September 20th so you still have time to enter! 

Good luck to you!

Wood Minimalist House Design by Robert MCain

Wood Minimalist House Design by Robert MCain. Minimalist home is designed with wood. Such as dining table, wall, floor ceiling, shelves. This minimalist house design also uses a glass material for some of the walls, in order to add lighting so it looks nicer house.

Architects design homes according to:
The house is distinctive in that it acknowledges the plain style southern vernacular farmhouse roots of the older, utilitarian structures in the area and interprets them in a very modern way. The transecting circulation corridor is an adaptation of the vernacular dog-trot style house formerly so common in the south. The house represents a true southern style in its recognition of climate, site, vernacular heritage and honest, direct use of materials and systems.


The linear form allows the house to be well ventilated thus maximizing enjoyment of the seasons. The open, airy and light living/kitchen/dining area is the heart of the house and all indoor and outdoor spaces extend from this area. The bath/storage/utility core with interior clerestory is a “house within a house” in the gabled, sky-lighted high-ceilinged interior of the main shed.

Let There Be Light

“The hero is the one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by.  The saint is the man who walks through the dark paths of the world, himself a light.”  ~Felix Adler

Honoring both the heroes and saints of 911.

Top These Tables!

As the peak entertaining season is about to embark, I’m on the lookout for accent tables to help complete and to complement rooms under ‘construction’.  There is always the need to find a good nesting spot for a light source, an area to safely position a cocktail or teacup, or a place to rest the latest novel or tablet. 

Here are four, fine little pieces that have caught my eye:

 

It’s always serendipitous when I can find great pieces in stock.  Don’t we all love immediate gratification?  If you are looking for something special to grace your living quarters, before the main events begin to challenge your calendars, keep in mind it can take 12-14 weeks for some of these beauties to arrive from special ordering.  Of course, good things do come to those who wait.  Just don’t wait too long!

Digging Indigenous Design – Part 1

In simple terms, indigenous design is “by the people, for the people”, including a culture or tribe and the original inhabitants of a region.  These people created what I think of as ‘functional art’.  Everyday items: vessels, blankets, rugs, and furnishings, were designed from local materials and were embellished to showcase their skills as crafters and artisans.  Often, historians can determine the age and points of origin by these designs and materials.  Over periods of time, there has been an evolution or an adaptation which melded design motifs into other cultures or geographic areas.

  

(Peruvian textile designs harkens back to pre-Hispanic days.)

(Preparing yarns, with natural dye pigments, for blankets in Mexico.)

As we embrace what we believe to be modern trends coming forth in the design world, we should pay homage to its derivation and the early creators.  Think you’re seeing something totally new?  Perhaps if you’re a time traveler from hundreds of years ago! 

Sharing a little “blast from the past” and totally today – Chevron Style!

While certain designs may not be totally original, the way an artist or designer interprets their application or use can be!  More often than not, creativity is generated from a combination of knowledge, experience, and tackling a project with the resources we uncover.  It’s kind of like being on an archeological dig.  Sometimes you have an idea of what you’re looking for and other times, it can be a delightful surprise!

I think it worked well for our predecessors, don’t you?