Install of the Day !

Hi again,

Along with the fabulous bar we shot the other day, Mekenzie shot the dining room we put together a while back but hadn't had time to shoot.  Such a pretty space.  Right by the front door it really does set the tone for this home.  We worked on this design at the same time as the living room and kitchen and when the time was right $ wise we started ordering. 

I love to work this way.  I did a plan for this entire first floor a couple of years ago.  We started with the most important space - the family room, breakfast and kitchen and have each year we've moved on to the next install.  The dining room was next and finishing 2017 was the bar (previous post).  Wonder what's up for 2018 !

Ok, so the dining room . . . take a look at the board I created a white back.

I though this space needed the drama of a little grass cloth.  Soft but pattern filled.

New table, chairs and sideboard.  New curtains and rug.

Love some of the details in the furniture.

Now this room has a slight bump and angled doorway making this space not completely square.  It was good in this case as I wanted to add a tall mirrored storage piece.  As a result we shifted the chandelier and table a bit creating a clear walking area.

Gorgeous !

Wanted to show the tie back to the earlier room we started with.  The Family Room was first with a new sectional and large rug.  Added lots of details in this wide open to the kitchen space.

Open to the kitchen, it's all a good flow.



And now we have the bar !!!  Love it.

photos by mekenzie loli

Install of the Day !

Hi !

We had several last minute installs just prior to Christmas break, but have to say this one was really fun because it was used immediately, within minutes !  My clients - awesome couple who I have worked with over the years room by room,  wanted a "bar," a real bar in a space off the kitchen and living room.  A little room to unwind and hang together at the end of the day.  A fun space, something different.

Our deadline was this past weekend for their daughter's 1 year birthday party, just a small crowd of 60 family and friends.  We were all on deck installing cabinets, counter tops, brass and glass shelving, styling and adding all the details literally as the door bell was ringing.   Cutting it this close, not my favorite thing, but this time of year, it gets a little hectic !  Luckily this family is so fun to work with they didn't mind and it really turned into a fun experience up to the very end.  Feeding me homemade baklava while I poured the last decanter of Bourbon and styled up the bar top.

Now I adore this space for so many reasons and both Maggie and I are jealous wanting it for our own.  It's awesome.  

Wide open to the living room the colors really needed to flow well and they do, but it's definitely a space of it's own.  When we designed and installed the living room, foyer and kitchen this space was painted dark grey in anticipation of something cool.  We just went back and forth a bit on just what that would be.

Enter the bar . . . I had two cabinets made, one along the entire wall in a dark grey lacquer with gold details and a second in a lighter grey with horizontal gold banding trim detail.  Both holding a black marble like - granite.  Now I'm not a fan of granite at all, but this was a gorgeous slab I found at the Walker Zanger Showroom.





Two tufted velvet chairs and a brass and glass nesting table set.

Hide rug. . . cleans up well being a natural fiber

Brass and Glass shelving.

And gorgeous bar stools.

Mixed up the glassware and bottles with a little art for texture.

And two beautiful Made Good's mirrors.

Voila !

photos by Mekenzie Loli

We are all so thrilled with this space !  Perfect for a little New Year's bubbly.

Belly Up to the Bar !

Hi There !

I just finished a new bar area in a client's home and have to say I LOVE IT... we have all decided that it's our favorite room in the house.  I wanted to show you my design boards and where I'm drawing my inspiration from prior to the images of the finished product !

I wanted it somewhat dark and moody so we painted most of the walls a dark grey then popped this killer grass cloth on 1 accent wall.  Two new cabinets were made - a storage piece and an actual bar trimmed in brass detail and topped with a gorgeous black granite.  I am not a granite fan but I found a slab at Walker Zanger and it was perfect (and didn't blow the budget !)  

We went back and forth a bit on the windows and lighting so it's a little different than this but love the overall feel.

When doing my "research" I pulled all sorts of bars I love and snagged a detail or two from all of my Pinterest inspiration files.  I say bring back the home bar - it will really be the talk of the party.

The main thing I knew I wanted was brass detailing.  On the woodwork and shelving . .  I asked my carpenters to use a trim with a slight grove we could gold left and while we were all there installing, Keith added that touch of brass I was really wanting.

Of course I would do this if i could - lol.  The roof bar at The Standard in NYC - mine and Keith's last trip up there.  It is perfection !  How gorgeous is this... you can even snag an idea or two from a place like this !

In prep for the party they were having and to our photo shoot and to generally my love of styling .. I had a big ole time ordering a few goodies!!

Mix some new (Crate and Barrel, West Elm, Macy's) with some vintage !

Once the tools were added I hit the ABC store... for some of the good stuff.. including my new favorite - a bottle of Pimm's.  Have you had a Pimm's cup.. sooo yummy.

Let's not forget all the other things you'll need for a good bar.  Stools, hardware and lighting.

For the somewhat "glam" bar I like the idea of brass and or lucite.  Vintage would be great !  Here's a few of my favorite styles.  Can you tell the difference from the old and new ones?

Lighting over the bar.  A chandelier or a few really cool pendants.

And hardware . . Addison Weeks a big go to for gorgeousness.

Lucite and brass are good options too.

So stay tuned for Mekenzie's images, we just finished the shoot !