5.10.2018

Install of the Day !

Hi.

With a new baby on the way, nesting kicks in in most cases, this project included.  I worked with the Hollands to get their nursery ready for baby no. 1 as well as a few other spaces in their home (stay tuned ! )  They were wanting a neutral palette but with a little style and texture.  The easiest way to achieve that, layering.  I started with this wall paper . . . one of my favorites.


With the paper we mixed in a textured, organic feeling mirror, floor lamp, wood shelves, mixed with lacquer pieces.  Soft faux fur pillows and custom art in the form of a mobile !





A wall mount bookcase filled with a few goodies, not too "baby"  for mom !



photos by mekenzie loli

Mission accomplished.


Install of the Day !

Morning !

There is nothing like a hard deadline to really pay attention to all the details.  This deadline was the Wells Fargo Tournament at Quail Hollow.  A long standing client of mine gave me a call right around the time I was having surgery and knew I would be laid up for several weeks.  Normally I'd be like.. don't bother me, but in this case, I was thrilled I'd have something to do - not being able to walk and all for a few weeks.  So I designed their new digs.  The job, fill the first floor of a new purchase on the 15th hole and have it completely done by the tournament for .... this amount.  Challenge accepted, game on.  In my usual way, I stared at the front door and worked my way through.  I know this client pretty well and know just how far I can push from their normally traditional boundaries.  I started with art, a piece by Kristen Blakeney, which I knew was a favorite.





The blues, greys, whites and neutrals were my chosen palette.  From the foyer you turned into the dining room.  For this space I needed to work around a dining table and 8 chairs I had placed in their previous home back in 2012 . . . lasting power.



This space is long and has a bay window.  What I meant earlier by "all the details" included this little area, not really part of the plan we agreed upon at first but I just went ahead and did anyway.  I knew she would love and thank me later. 

Two small chair & 1/2's, the perfect little coffee table and a hide to define the space.  Done and it turned out to be one of my favorite little spots


New curtains with a hand stamped feel.




Turning into the kitchen which didn't need anything, great house !


Love the feel of this living room.  Clean, bright, open.  We painted the entire space an off white to match the trim and took down all the curtains.  I wanted a neutral palette with pops of blue.  I wanted nothing to detract from the view out of the french doors onto the golf course.


A mix of styles and materials was important to me to keep you eyes moving around the room, but in like colors with touches of black to ground things.


I asked Keith to create two pieces to flank the large windows as I wasn't planning to do curtains.  Asked for light and texture filled with a little blue.  We incorporated a little of our coveted gold left we purchased in Venice this past summer.

art by keith keim


Huge bonus this space had such gorgeous ceilings !


My friends at Shain were so generous in bringing over not one but 3 art pieces I chose and thought the spaces really needed.  I love to do this in the hopes my clients will see the art necessity and love as much as I do... and they did.  Win win...

art by Cathryn Miles from Shain Gallery Charlotte


Had two beautiful custom swivels make in leather.




Love it all.


This is the view I was mentioning . . . pretty gorgeous, and while installing we had so much fun watching them set up for the tournament !


All neutrals, with a little pillow pop from Windy O'Connor.  Don't want to detract from the course !




Circling back inside we placed 9 botanicals along the long hallway, they turned out so perfect.


Making a turn into the master I found another Kristen Blakeney piece with the perfect colors and size. 


The master is so soft and inviting.  Slight traditional feel with the window treatments but a more modern twist on the furniture lines.  The lighter colors keep it much more modern.








Look closely the wall paper has a shadow graphic pattern.



It's pretty yummy in there !


Lastly one of the upstairs guest rooms.  This one in particular I love with the pop of the wall paper,  how fun is that.

photos by mekenzie loli



We pulled it off, just as my clients were landing in Charlotte and their friends were arriving, phew !

Thanks to all involved with was a big one . . .





5.06.2018

Install of the Day !

Hey There !

It's been a busy couple of weeks and May is set to be one of the fullest of all, it always seems to be.  I wanted to take a small break this Sunday morning and catch up on projects we've recently installed. This first, the Chapman's home in Raleigh, NC.

These relocated Californians did a great job renovating their brick Georgian with an open floor plan and room for all of their five kids !  The two front rooms needed the most attention though as they hadn't gotten to them quite yet.    I love creating spaces that are casual, kid friendly, and relaxed.  I wanted an easy flow from these spaces to the back of the home to create unity.  Their colors in place - off whites, greys, neutrals and pops of blue, different shades of it.  While keeping the navy accent wall in mind in the dining room across the foyer I actually started in this living room. 

Take a look at my inspiration.


It all started for me with the wall paper.  A subtle grey on grey graphic pattern with the look of something hand painted.  I wanted to mix pieces and styles in this space, as I do in most, different chairs, different fixtures, a collected look.




Decided on a large black metal mirror to reflect light and two mismatched chairs.  One tufted leather, one linen with a fabulous brass frame.  This music room is a TV and technology free space to practice, reconnect, talk or find a quite place to maybe read that book !



Large custom art and custom chandelier to finish off !


Across the entry foyer from the new living space - the new dining room.  We went back and forth on this room a bit.  Dining to game room, but back to dining, which I was happy about.  Though your "formal" dining room may not be used daily, it is typically located right off the front door and a beautiful introduction to your home and your style.  My goal was to keep it somewhat casual so it might be used on a more regular basis. . . hopefully !


My client's had installed this wood accent wall and painted it navy.  With that color being so prominent in the front of the house, I did take my color inspiration from it and worked off of that.



A new, large 72" round dining table and 8 chairs in a dining friendly leather.  Modern horizontal top stitching.  Lucite and chrome chandelier, new graphic drapes and a large art piece I commissioned Keith to do for us.

This faux ebony veneer sideboard also has a modern finish in a high gloss and the wood tones add warmth to the space.



I love this clean and bright space



art by keith keim

The master bedroom needed finishing off as well.  With all the furniture in place we simply added an accent wall paper, rug, curtains, accessories and a small sitting space.  It went from simple and somewhat plain to a little more styled.




all photos by Mekenzie Loli

Fun project !