Install of the Day !

Happy Sunday

I tell my clients when it's all done it will be worth it.  Through all the mess, dust, inconvenience and surprises, it will be worth it.  Renovations, I've put up with it myself and here to say when it is done, you will forget what a pain it was.  Trying to be as organized and thoughtful throughout is the key.

I'm up early this Sunday in Syracuse, NY (at Maggie's Wedding !) having some coffee and relaxing a bit before we head home and I run back up to High Point Market Monday and Tuesday!  It's been such a crazy month or so my posts have been few and far between, with all the traveling and big installs, finding a moment of time - sad to say - hasn't been easy.

But I do want to  take a few minutes to post images from a really fun project we recently installed One I love.  Mekenzie captured some beautiful images (Thanks girl !)  When I started working with Danay and Lee Houser I was thrilled their wants were so similar to what I saw for this home.  Light filled was the word.  Modern but not overly, as not to fight the home's style.  Updated.  A lot of that going on right now and coming up with a game plan is important, especially when you have multiple rooms. Danay wanted to fall in love with her house and was at a point where she was ready to fix all those things she didn't love and have always bugged her.

I started by getting to know Danay and what she really wanted, we looked at images on her Pinterest boards, talked about her lifestyle, an overall feel and look she wanted to live in daily.

Right off the bat, it was the kitchen.  Dated.  Not very functional and to me, felt a bit cluttered and chaotic.  I wanted to freshen the entire look.  What started with a face lift, was soon an entirely new space.  If you are going to do it - do it, worth it in the end.   The family room was the second biggest request.   Just off the kitchen and visible to it.   These two rooms needed to work as a whole.  So I sat down and started at the front door actually!  Knowing we needed to paint the entire place so it all worked together, I wanted to give them a visual of where we could go with it all and if we wanted to phase it we could. What happened next, and much to my delight,  was a game plan to tackle the entire first floor.   Step no. 1 the floors - changing them from that orangish oak to a dark special walnut with a no sheen top coat.

Let me walk you thought the finished product, front door and through !!

Paint color first.  Ben Moore 1549, a great neutral grey that goes with everything.  Black handrail and new console and chandelier.  Done.  Clean and bright.  Towards the end we added a "runner" cut to fit the space.  One of those details that does make a difference.  Those "off the shelf" runners are always too small, so splurge and get one to fit.  I love this console... and yes, it's backwards (ha).  I'm such the rule breaker... I wanted it to flare out to follow the banister.  And yes, those are dryer balls, thought they looks cool !

Chrome was our metal of choice in this chandelier and sleek console table !

The front living room, just off the foyer was really a phase two project; however, I got lucky at the last High Point Market and shopping locally at Cotswald Market Place.  I wanted this space to feel fresh and inviting, not stuffy and a room you never use, enter the swing.  How fun !  I'd chill in this space !

Danay's art was my jumping off point.  Neutrals surrounding it but a few pillows to tie it together.

Score with this side chest from Cotswald.

To warm it all up a bit, and compliment the swing's rattan, this wood chandelier.  How fun, different, not so serious.

And this lucite rocker - um . . . . super fun, modern and full of style.

One of my favorite shades of white on the walls (though out)  Ben Moore's China White.  Bright yet a warm white, not too cold.

Rug layering - another way to pull in not only texture and pattern, but a pricier rug less expensively.

What a clean, casual and fun space !

Cut through the living room, to the dining room.  Existing chairs and chandelier, we pulled in this amazing F. Schumacher Queen of Space classic paper !  Josh Utsey created a new live edge table for us atop a new, larger rug.  Sideboard and killer shagreen mirror to top it off.





Take a look at the details.

Gorgeous in it's whites and greys.

Love the dining room, especially it's view through the kitchen !!

Before I get to the kitchen I want to show you the family room.  Really high up there on my list of favorite rooms !  Even better than the vision in my head.

I love this space and while watching some of the carpenters punching a few details towards the end, I planted myself on her new sofa in that window and just soaked it all in (almost dozed off), felt the sun on my back and though I could stretch out there for hours just reading or watching a movie.

Where's the TV you ask?  . . . well the big debate was over the fireplace or not.  I wanted not.  What I chose to do, and it worked out perfectly, was take out the really dated wet bar in the left back corner, add a cool storage piece and put the TV on an arm over there.  Adding a chaise to one of the sofas and you have a place to stretch out with a clear eye shot to the TV !  Done and done.

Huge plant lover and these two really added live to the space !

Art comes in all forms, this piece, by artist Megan Purcell is one of my favorites.  I have one, love love love.  Visit her instagram page (here).

There is always one straggler and her coffee table was that one... so for photo reasons, I brought one from our showroom.. gorgeous too (just not too kid friendly).  The forever one, the perfect black and brown zebra !

This space is so light and airy now !

When you turn around your view is of the kitchen.... dated it was, and out it all came.  

This new space is clean and white with a long 7 foot island, lucite bar stools and all white walls and cabinets.

Love the continuous view from the dining room through the kitchen to the family room.

Lastly, the powder room.  All updated with a new vanity, lighting, mirror and wall paper.

all photos by Mekenzie Loli


This home is not quite done yet . . . stay tuned for the master bedroom and back porch.  We all needed a breather after this big installation !

Thanks to all for the hours of help.  Maggie, Bree, my carpenters and painter.  Most of all my cool clients who did seem to go with the flow as well as all my thoughts and ideas.  You make my job easy and such fun !

Bringing Spice to Vanilla

Hi There !

So we had a big, big install this past week, pretty exciting.  In fact, the month of July is a little out of control with vacations and two whole house installs. This project was one of my favorites and I love that my clients just gave me the key and left town.  The big coming home to a full review is always the funnest !  The first day I sat on the one piece of furniture we are keeping in the living room and watch as the house was taken over by 2 electricians, 3 carpet installers, 3 painters, 3 tile installers, and 3 carpenters.  Yep it was a busy day.   Excited for how different this new look will be.   I am working with the most laid back of clients who love different things, the unexpected.   Their style is, I'd say "traveled."  Jeff having lived in Honduras and Florida and Gaby with an Asian heritage hails from the West Coast.  Jeff having designed clothing for the likes of Armani,  they both wanted to add spice to their gorgeous, yet a little vanilla Myer's Park home.  

At our first meeting I noticed a lot of strong art pieces to work around.  These pieces, for me, set the tone of the design I wanted to create for the entire first floor and up into the Master Bedroom.  The request was for big pops of color, but what I chose were big pops of pattern in more neutrals, yet strong colors like blacks, grays, whites, and caramel.

The foyer starts it all.  I immediately added a big dose of wall paper and commissioned Jose Utsey to create a big chandelier that snaked across the foyer ceiling.  I then brought in a seagrass L shaped runner and a David Hick pattern on the actual stairs.. love the crazy combinations.

Gaby's front office, just off the foyer is a deep semigloss gray already which is perfect.  I really can't wait to see this space done and know she will love it.

We kept her chandelier and art, but added a new desk and two very dramatic, tall lamps.

She also had a gorgeous tall black Asian inspired breakfront I loved.

The dining room had a rustic dining table, and upholstered chairs, but I decided to move that table into the breakfast room.  I love this dining room.  I also decided to keep the crystal chandelier, but add a rustic white sideboard, hide rug and new black dining table.

Walking straight forward into the large kitchen and family room is where most of the change occurs.  I added new black, wood grain tile on the fireplace wall and opposite on the backsplash up to the ceiling.  We added two matching sideboards flanking the fireplace, new chairs, rug and coffee table all large in scale to compliment the large art and open kitchen floor plan.

A large sliding door to the back porch with like furniture to create a cohesive feel and perfect for entertaining and enjoying the new pool. The flow from the living space outside will blend so well !

I particularly love the new tile in the kitchen, very dramatic and will help the white,  kitchen cabinets seem less traditional.  We mixed in two red floating shelves over the stove for a pop of color.

Now Jeff's office is the coolest !  To suit his personality and style, I found a few different pieces each with style of their own.  We added floor to ceiling wood paneling in a charcoal finish, even bouncing over the three doors in the room to - it's amazing and Joe and his team did an awesome job.

Another show stopper in the room, a commission piece Lori Love created for us of . . . guess who.  Take one look.  It so captures Mick.   I am always amazed at how she does that in vinyl !!!

Their master bedroom finishes it all off.  Very large and vaulted.  Their existing bed and side tables were keepers, we just pulled in everything else.

A large black chandelier, bedding, lamps and a gorgeous wall paper by York.

Gaby's make up table and mirror needed an update, we pulled in this desk and large round mirror.

My favorite piece in this space, Ron Royal's oversized art.

That's the plan . . stay tuned for the final product!