10.30.2012

Last Minute Crafters !

Hey There . .

One of my all time favorite blogs ... Oh Happy Day is a go-to for me for DIY projects and overall inspiration.  Written by event planner Jordan Ferney it features daily party ideas, projects, interior design, wedding ideas as well a just beautiful photography work.  San Francisco based Jordan has been featured in Sunset Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, The Knot as well as Anthology Magazine.  Online features include Elle, Apartment Therapy, Design Sponge and Decor8 just to name a few.  She and her team are simply amazing and their images are perfection . . .

Take a look at a few ideas I pulled from her blog to create your own something special for the kid's but you better get on it !!




via Oh Happy Day

My kid . . had to be a Mad Scientist !!


Happy Halloween !


10.25.2012

An Oasis in the City . . . Part One.

Hey There . . .

When my client's Scott and Melanie Freeman called me to get involved with their garage renovation, new exterior guest suite and overall exterior haven I knew I wanted to create something "rustic chic."  Their property is hidden down a driveway with a large pond.   You would never know it's right off Providence Road.  It's an amazing escape and so secluded. The garage was just that - a garage, on the back of the house with a lead in to the main hallway of the house and just off the pool area.  The plan - a family room for their growing family.  The new garage would then be built and located in the back with a new guest suite above it - a perfect on site get-a-way for the kids and visiting family.  This entire project also included new landscaping to tie in their existing pool are.

The project started with exterior plans by Legacy Landscaping and interior plans by The Salins Group. Adriana Herrera of Cucina Design Studio jumped in on the bath, cabinet and tile selection.

Take a look at the plans for the new exterior.




I was hoping Ben Collins of the Salins Group would be pulled in as General Contractor - my number one choice.  I know Ben by his work with several other clients and he always brings something new and creative to the mix.  His project manager Thomas was on it and great to work with, making my job easy.

image via Chris of The Scout Guide






I checked in not too long ago - cars were gone, sheet rock was up and ready, the big built in was almost done.  I couldn't wait to see it painted.



I came up with a plan . . . to mix leather, wood, the look of hand sketched paper, lucite and metal, all the makings of rustic chic.

Take a look at my "inspiration."



Tomorrow we are installing !  Stay tuned for the finished product . . .


Mid Century Salvage




meet scott and darra (owners) and robert (custom refinisher) of mid century salvage! when i heard they are having a sale this weekend, i had to go see. ($100 off $300 or more..yay!) this place rocks. i must go back asap. they travel all over the place to find these great pieces. check 'em out!











(my headshot by scott stallings, all other photography by mekenzie france)

so there are a few of my favorite things. i regret posting some of these because i'm sure they'll be gone before i can go back!
you can go check out their sale at 5807 hwy 74 in indian trail (don't let the address scare you. it only took me 20 minutes to get there from elizabeth!) happy shopping! 


passez une bonne journée!




10.22.2012

Color and Grit on a Sunny Sunday . . .




yesterday i thought i'd try out a new lens and capture some color and grit. what better place to do that than plaza midwood?! take a look!















(photography by mekenzie france)


passez une bonne journée!





10.20.2012

Office Re-Design . . .

Hey There . . .

Every once in a while you just have to have something special for yourself.  I treat myself to lamps usually, but I saw this at Market and I had to have it.   I saw it, was allowed to (almost) take a nap on it,  re-arrange it's pillows and smell it's leather.  Now, while it should go in my house . . it's too nice for my messy kids, 2 dogs and husband.  I am re-doing my office.

Now this picture doesn't even do it justice . . . the sides and back are a cerused oak, the leather seats, arm and back are a pale blue grey, all atop a thin silver leaf frame.  It's deep, it's soft, the back isn't too high and it's the perfect 90" long.  I love it, but then again - what's not to love from Oly !


So yep, re-doing the office at  Lucy and Company.  It's been a while and with all the new doings at the studio, we are doing a major re-arrange !  I am also shifting everything to create a new space for me (with a door, it gets a little crazy out front!).  I thought about the design all day today . . and have finalized the colors in my head - all based off this yum yum of a sofa.  I second guessed my colors about 4 times, I looked at 500 wall paper samples and 1,000 curtain fabrics, all while eating left over bread pudding.

Take a look . . I have a warm peach, my favorite grey, powder blue, cream and white.  I was inspired by an old Kelly Wearstler fabric, a color way I can't get anymore - so I might use that inspiration for an art piece I want to put in my new room.





The windows are small and high, so to create more "weight" to them I am adding molding above and below and painting it all the lighter color of this kickin wall paper. Adding a new mid-century style bookcase and this fun, major comfort chair in pale grey with all it's tufted glory.

The pillows resting on my sofa-oh-joy are a mixture of hand-dyed, burlap and linen in my accent colors of peach, and cream with a little more dark grey.





The other side of my digs will shift to a grass cloth wall paper as I have a huge push-pin inspiration board filling the side wall.  This is my "get-down-to-it" work zone.  A floating glass top table desk with chrome saw horse legs sits in front of a new Asian inspired cabinet (for printer and not so pretty office stuff).  An upholstered screen (to hide that fuse box) and curtains I plan on hand painting.






So there you have it.  Come January Lucy and Company's office will have a whole new look !  Stay tuned for the finished product (s).  We are tackling three other rooms as well.

I can't wait . . . let the demo begin . . . and remember -  think it through before you dive in or call your designer to do that for you!  It takes an uninterrupted day and a big bowl of bread pudding!