Install of the Day!

Hi There !

I received a call from Gadi Rwayitare about 8 weeks ago.  He and his family had just closed on a new home in Raleigh and needed quick help pulling it together for company coming July 4th weekend. Wanting an eclectic mix of new things, I loved this project for several reasons, older home with character and color filled furniture, fabrics, art and accessories.   He wanted a mix of urban, mid century and bohemian with a touch of the Congo (where he hails from).  Fun I say.  The living room, enclosed front porch and third floor family room were high on his list to complete.

With a short deadline, I had to select from vendors with quick ship programs.  I then I got really lucky with a few pieces being in stock that I really wanted but wasn't sure I could make happen in that time frame.  Working long distance has it's challenges - using sub contractors I didn't know and trusting their measuring skills, but with the exception of a little wall paper shortage in one room, it went off without a hitch.

Mekenzie and I followed the movers Thursday am to Raleigh and pulled together the living space in record time, a 12 hour turn around !  It's all about pattern on pattern and saturated color for this install of the day.

What was a completely empty family room is now a cozy, eclectic, fun space for this young family.

Prior to arriving I asked Gadi to have the room painted white and the window and door mullions painted black.  I love the way a white wall sets off color.  I also love to paint windows black with white walls - reminds me of a cool NY loft apartment with old casement windows.  We also painted the fireplace black for a little more drama.  

I think the design boards came really close to the real thing !

Keith is working on a series of ink on metal.  This piece was perfect for this blank spot, as well as this unique piece from Pacific Green.  

A little metal and wood shelving off set and styled up - leaving room for art to the right of it.

Mixed in a little mid century inspired seating and a unique floor lamp.

One of my favorite pieces is this rug covered occasional chair.  The colors are amazing !

Now I absolutely LOVE this piece by Joel Hopler.  I found it at Slate.  I took it for the install to show Gadi and Ruby.  They had been art shopping just prior and found a piece they loved.  So it is still available.  Call Terri at Slate if you want to snap it up.  

Joel will be showing at Slate the month of July.  His work (and his wife's) all amazing.

all photos by mekenzie france

The front porch came together, with the exception of two new rugs that won't be available until July - I love the eclectic pieces all clustered  to sit and relax with friends. Pictures coming soon !

The third floor media room was being papered when we arrived, they were running a little behind, so no pictures yet.  But heading back soon to take a few.

It was a fun and quick trip to Raleigh.  

It's a Southern Thing

Happy Sunday . .

Being in the mountains, at the family house, I am surrounded by things I grew up with.  Very collected, very Southern ! I went to the farmer's market yesterday and met up with an old friend, Natasha, who worked with us back in the day. Now she is living the dream on her farm in the Asheville mountains. I love reading her FB blurbs and seeing pictures of life on the farm.  Her family of 3 expands all the time with the 4 legged kind, and the egg laying kind.   Growing dueling gardens with her Chef husband and farming fresh eggs have replaced her paint brushes (somewhat . .  though they are opening a new restaurant and she's pulling back out those brushes).  Fresh veggies and eggs are always spread across our porch table for dinners at dusk and it got me thinking while I relaxing a bit  soaking up the view.

No porch picnic for us is the same without a few deviled eggs.  If you are the collector type, how cool would a grouping of vintage plates clustered together on the wall be . . . here's a little inspiration.

Carnival Glass would be my material of choice . . . 

But here are a few more that caught my eye . . . grouped in the colors and styles I would use together.

It's a bit hard to find the cool, old ones.  Replacements in Greensboro is a good place to start.  Etsy is another good place to hunt.

Save the simple ones for to take to a group lunch and hang the cool ones on the wall!

Here's a great example of a cluster . . . overlapping and on a large scale !

Happy Lazy Sunday !

Busy, Busy . .

Hey There !

When you have a new client who's not afraid of color, texture and pattern it's a bit of a dream come true (pour moi).  I had such good time working on these boards for Lisa Hicks.  Recent California transplant, her new home has a few key pieces she wanted to work around, well two actually, A coffee table and dining table.  She needed everything else.  We are starting in her main living space, kitchen and dining room with a huge infusion of color in various forms - windows, wall paper, rugs.  I am quite excited.  Take a look . . 

There are some key things in the design that are new and I have been anxious to use.  The first is this gorgeous wall paper by Amanda Talley (available through us designers or Hidell Brooks Gallery)  Amanda has transformed her unique patterns and colors into these all engaging papers.  Love.

I chose this pattern for Lisa's family room - but it was a hard choice.. all of the colors and patterns are gorgeous . . .

Take a look at the other patterns available

Another detail we are adding to her space is a dose of tile behind her TV and fireplace.  It's a weird angled wall that just needed something.  This is a new pattern mixing a grey marble and a black marble, the perfect tie back to her backsplash in the open kitchen / family room floor plan.

New and unique lighting to replace the ho-hum builder lighting.

And fabrics - big and splashy.  These are the two curtain fabrics I am pulling in.  Brand new and on a large scale for a lot of drama.

Have a fabulous new account with a furniture vendor in Highpoint.   They have several pieces with unique lines and details.

An 84" tight back, tufted sofa in a grey fabric as oppose to the leather, along with two comfortable swivel chairs will fill her living space.  Take a look at a few other pieces in their line that really caught my eye.

All available through www.lucyandcompany.com

A big splash on the "fifth wall' as well.  This Ikat pattern rug with  it's reds, rusts and teal will break up all the blues in the space and add this "mis-match / eclectic" vibe I am going for.

Take a peek at the other colors available.  Love this rug !

After we finish the main living space, we plan on moving into the master bedroom.  I put a plan in place so when ready we can just begin ordering.  I wanted to give the Hicks a full look into how it can all come together, as well as pricing out for planning purposes !

We have a front office and foyer in the works as well.

Stay tuned for this fun install !