Install of the Day !

Hi !

The holiday guest room, kelly green, an accent color.  SusanVitz-Ward came to me wanting help with a former attic, now a guest room retreat.  Company was coming for Christmas, we needed to hurry and luckily I picked items that shipped relatively fast !  Her contractor did a great job creating this small, one window space complete with an amazing adjoining bath. She needed everything.  Without a day to spare we installed,  just before company arrive, but yesterday we filtered in her two bedside lamps, the two straggling items.  While the loaners I gave her for the holidays were ok, this are perfect and worth the wait.

We started with the bath and needed to pick and receive the tile asap.  Susan had chosen a Restoration Hardware vanity, and we worked off of that.  I fell in love with these floor tile from one of my favorite vendors.  Looks like grey washed oak, but actually a tile - what a bonus.  We then mixed in a shower wall and floor tile, something a little different pattern.  All very clean and simple.

We added two chrome wall sconces to tie back to the faucets.

Now came the bedroom area.   Keeping this space tone on tone, we carried the bathroom colors into the bedroom, but punched it up with just a touch of kelly green.  I created this board to give her an idea.  She was loving the kelly when I showed her, then got a little nervous, they came back to it,  and so glad she did.

Dropping off the lamps yesterday I got a good look at the finished product, and have to say, it's one of my favorite small space bedrooms !  It feels like a retreat, a calm get-a-way.  Even an all neutral, this space would have been pretty, but I love the splash of color just here and there.  We added a large drum chandelier and a little graphic paper behind the bed to bring it up a notch.  I love that Susan said she just might lock herself away in this room tonight for a little "time away,"  and it feels just like that.

Don't be afraid of a little pattern of pattern !

The perfect size side tables in a light but interesting material.

Take a closer look at these side tables.  West Elm and saved a bunch on the budget.  Love the bone detail and compliments the bath so well.

photos by mekenzie france

Love it.  Was happy to help and even more happy it came together so fast.

Timeless Chinoiserie

Hi There . . .

I loved Ashley Burlingame's family room.  Kelly green is one of my favorite accent colors.  We kept the look neutral with the cool grey and pops of pink and green.  A few of the accent pieces I pulled in had an Asian feel.  My Great Aunt, Netsy Scott, a fabulous designer, once said to me, "every room should have a touch of black and something Asian, and I agree totally.  When I think of Chinoiserie, I don't just think of gorgeous wall panels of flowering trees and birds, I think of graphic patterns, pagodas, and anything with a Chinese motif or technique.  Today's chic chinoiserie comes in all sorts of bright colors and patterns.  Add a touch or two to your space and it instantly looks collected and interesting.  Whether it's Mary McDonald's new fabric line with F. Schumacher, or a sofa with a turned leg, a little is all you need.  Take a look at some pieces to inspire, all for the kelly and pink lovers

 "America's Most Fabulous Decorator"

If you are a chinoiserie lover, like myself, check out Beth Connolly's blog

Chinoiserie Chic !

Install of the Day !

Hi There . . .

Ashley Burlingame called in the hopes of bringing my husband Keith, out of retirement and re-do the stained, diamond pattern floor we had done about 10 years ago.  He agreed . . . and after we finished we decided to take on a new paint color and decor in the kitchen and adjoining family room.  She was ready for a fresh look.

Ashley and I go way back . . . years.  We worked together forever ago on her daughter's room as well as her remodeled kitchen.  Way back when "faux finishing" was the thing, I glazed her family room and kitchen walls in a warm gold - yep sure did.  At the time (circa 2002 maybe) that French Country gold look was fab.  Today, not so much.  I haven't done a faux finish in about 8 years and not sure it should ever come back.  The color palate as well, was very late '90's.  It was time to freshen up, and change things.  We all wanted a cleaner, crisper feel.  Less cluttered and brighter.

Take a look at where I started . . .

Now Ashley loved the bright Kelly Green with just a touch of pink.  I couldn't wait to show her these boards for the kitchen and family room.

We finished up late last week, while they were away for Labor Day, and it was a nice surprise to come home to !

A clean color palate of white and pale grey.  The bookcases also received an eye popping kelly green back wall color.  I took the curtains down completely, didn't need them.  Recovered 2 of her chairs and added new pillows.

Keith created this simple and bold piece of art.  Venetian Plaster and Tar, it's striking over the mantle.

A little bookcase styling was key.

And always my go-to for a little something fresh and beautiful.  Campbell's Greenhouse here in Charlotte - Thanks to Jessie for these gorgeous hot pink orchids.

The details always make the room, a little Asian inspired leg, a little nail head trim.

We moved into the kitchen as well with new cornices and romans, recovered the chair seats with a pop of hot pink snake skin vinyl and also recovered two more chairs.  

I am still waiting for my F.Schumacher trim detail for these chairs . . . just have to pop it on later . . (back orders will be the death of me)

It's such a clean and crisp space now !  

Thanks Ashley.

Finally, Finally . . . The Day Has Come...

Hey there. . .

When your job is to provide inspiration, it's vital to be surrounded by color, pattern and images of great works of art and design.  I am a huge coffee table book collector.   After 15 years in the business, I finally have an office.. with a door.  I am so excited.  Having purchased my building a while back and renovating all 4,000 square feet of it .. not once, but about 3 times, the time is finally here -  now that I am surround by the best help I have ever had -  to retreat back to my office for quite, focused design work.  While my team has filled the main space and is so on top of it . . .  I love having a retreat all to my own, away from the ongoing day-to-day business of calls, deliveries, tracking, and general hubbub !  

I wanted to fill the space with everything I love... to excess... why not, right !  It's full of pattern on pattern, color on color, fabrics, wall papers, art, books and an obnoxious amount of furniture crammed in one small space !  

I did an inspiration board for myself... and yep I did change my mind once or twice on the overall colors.  But here's the finished product . . 

What once was a back storage room, now a back retreat.  I chose two papers to begin with.  A Harlequin graphic, yet organic, metallic on one side of the room - with a Phillip Jeffries grasscloth on the other.  I wanted to mix the silvers and golds in an elegant, yet fun way.  The windows were short, small and lacked any molding.  I decided  to add floor to ceiling trim to elongate the look and give them some weight.  I painted all the trim, including the window  a darker grey.  There is nothing I dislike more that long drapes on a short window or drapes that don't hit the floor.  You can mix window styles as well - blinds on the side of the room, drapes on the other.

Take a look at my re-purposed sofa.  This piece lacked all that deep tufting, thanks to my great upholster, it now looks more elegant and rich.  We had the frame painted a cream as well.  I found this soft, yet heavy textured hemp rug . . as apparently there are no grey cows in the world and I couldn't get the hide I wanted . . . funny - huh!  

The didn't stop with an abundance of furniture, a large hand painted coffee table, an old cream rattan chair, an asian inspired chest in a blue/grey, upholstered side chairs and tree stump - painted gold - side table.

Keith painted a Rothko inspired piece for me with touches of gold leaf and kelly green and peach, a combination I have always loved.

A little mid-century inspired bookcase and lamp and plenty of books to inspire.

Plenty of texture and color in the pillows and accessories.

I have been wanting to use Rose Cumming's banana leaf fabric.  I love it so, I filled the windows with large, to the ceiling, panels!

all photos by Mekenzie France

One of my favorite art pieces, and gift from Rebecca Brooks, a Chas Walker combine all my favorite colors and hangs low near more of my favorite things, a Christian Lacroix pop up notebook.

Take a closer look at the amazing pillows.  Thanks Kevin O'Brien, the soft cut velvet in a vibrant green snake skin pattern was hard to resist !

Love the retreat.  Don't forget your work space - you are more apt to be creative and productive in a space that makes you happy !