Install of the Day !

Hey There !!!

Back at the Pearce's house to finish up their main, open concept living room.  We worked together on their master (here) a while back and phase two just finished up yesterday with all the details.

They lovingly built their "dream home" last year and we are working room by room to create something special for their much anticipated new home.  Jef and Leslie designed every inch of this when it came to the build and I was happy to help find the perfect pieces to combine their unique personalities.  Leslie - all girl who love a little glitz, Jef - musician and hunter. . . yes that's right, how different could they be !

This living space is wide open.  One room that steps up into the custom kitchen, design by Jef.   My goal was to mix his rustic vibe with her love of a little glamour.  We also had two dogs to take into consideration, i.e. dog friendly fabrics, rugs and textiles !

Take a look at my inspiration for Barbie and GI Jo . . .

First of all . . this space needed to work with the gorgeous kitchen Jef created !  We needed a good flow as it was wide open . . 

Clean, simple, artistic with that pop of red Leslie wanted !  We had custom made -  both the sectional and the recliner to fit the space and style of the house.  The leather on the sofa is a light taupe/grey and perfect for the dogs !  Sleek style for this modern room, but "rustic" in it's texture.  Layering in a hair on hair hide rug and the perfect coffee table.  We kept the windows simple with bamboo blinds. 

 It was such fun yesterday bringing in the custom red recliner !

The details are always the thing that bring a room together and I gave a lot of thought to these.  I wanted to mix rustic with glam and that can be challenging, but I found a few pieces that do just that.  The side table above, gold leaf with a wood stump and what about this lamp - shiny metallic antlers for the hunter meet glamour girl !

Another pop of red to balance the chair . . . with a mid-century modern vibe.

The combination of the lamp, mid-century red desk and George Nelson clock all work !!

Speaking of George Nelson, unfamiliar ?  Amazing mid-century designer who created pieces for Howard Miller in the late 40's.  There are some 150 different designs for these iconic clocks !  The first created was the "ball clock" (top row, far right)   Take a look at all his original designs !!

So when I spotted this red Spool/Spindle in the original box - had to bring it over !  I thought it was so perfect in combining the colors and style.  It's one of those special accessories.

So Jef is a hunter.  Though Leslie was reluctant, I felt these in the stairwell would be beautiful.  With this modern look and the white walls, they are simply more like "art" in this application !  Love them.

So to further mix the two styles, this hair on hair hide in a modern graphic pattern, was the perfect choice I thought.  And . . the ultimate in dog friendly !

From the ground up and to complement the leather sofa I got more than lucky on these pillows from Slate Interiors !  The patterns are perfect.  The first being a Kuna (see below) and hard to find.  The others were major scores included a fabric from Ground Works !  Normally uber expensive by the yard, these were already made up and on sale.

The coffee table, the perfect round shape for an "L shaped sofa, but also the perfect mix of rustic and the glam of shagreen (a type of rawhide consisting of rough untanned skin, or shark skin, this of course .. faux)

Simplistic yet a pulled together.

Lastly,  I came across a framed Mola to add just the right amount of color splash.  With their red accent choice, this piece not only is the real deal, the guitar image was perfect for Jef.

What's a Mola?

Mola (pronounced MO-la) means blouse or clothing in the Kuna language.  It's a word that describes colorful patterns made of cotton fabric and thread created by Kuna women of Panama.  They are generally attached to the front or back of women's clothing.  So this piece, to me, combined Leslie's love of clothing and Jef's love of music, plus the color was perfect !

Take a look at a few more patterns . . .

To learn more, this is a great book.  I just love all the texture !!

I love that the main living space flows up to the Master Bedroom !! We've started something good here I think !!

all photos by Mekenzie France

Thanks to all !!

The Chic Cabin . . . Project Three.

Hi There !!!

Ok . . . so I could not be more excited about this one !  A challenge that's for sure.  When I first got the message from this new client who lived in a log cabin I thought . . cool, then I thought . . oh no - she's gonna want typical country-cottage, then I saw the pictures.  I called and went by out of pure curiosity.  I liked Laura immediately.  What I liked even more was one of her first comments . . . she was game to change the color of the logs, thanks goodness.  Now I am all about a true log cabin but when I get to create something chic and artistic IN a log cabin I am even more excited.

Located right in Charlotte, off the well-traveled Providence Road sits this cabin on it's own pond.  It's quite magical. The front door opens to an large multi use living room / dining room combined with a large stone fireplace.  Take a look.  Now the logs are surrounding the room but my first thought was how busy and heavy it all looked.

I got back to the studio and began working on this project right away, it was a challenge.

She wanted "unique pieces," something different, not the typical.  I was all aboard.  

I started pulling rug options, fabric options and remembered the Mirth Tiles.

When starting the design boards I photoshopped the logs to a white with slight grey cast.  Without changing the integrity of the logs but lighting them in the entire space to calm it all down.  Leaving the upper beams wood and working with the red brick herringbone floor pattern I believe this will lighten up the space, give it a more modern, chic feel.  

The plan is to float a live edge dining table on one side of the space with eight grey canvas chairs.  A large and very unique desk in the left niche and Laura's chandelier centered.  I added a grey seagrass rug on this side with matching on the other, again to tone down all the harsh orange tones of the floors.

The opposite side is the fireplace.  With the same rug, a grey sofa with chaise and a huge 90" storage, TV console.  All these pieces will be in the same grey tones but then popping in small doses of red and navy in the way of art, pillows and poufs.

The front door and back door are identical with two flanking windows.  The plan is to add a barn door tracks with these Mirth tiles inset.

It is sure to be an amazing transformation and I cannot wait.  Stay tuned.!

Install of the Day !

Hey There.

Finished installing at Lisa Hick's home yesterday.  A new build in much need of color and furniture! When we met, I could see they needed help with a game plan to mix her love of teal and eclectic furnishings in four spaces.  My deadline, Thanksgiving.  So finished just under the wire and just before I split town for my much anticipated vacation with the family.

The Hick's style is definitely eclectic.  A little bit of modern, a little rustic, saturated color.  I was thrilled to help this couple pull it all together, as this combination style can be tricky.

I started in her family room and kitchen which soon bleed into the foyer and front living - turned home office - space.  The goal was to combine a very modern and sleek kitchen with a few rustic pieces she already had.  I kept the color teal for two chairs and fabrics, but brought it back into the front office on the walls for a little drama.  Take a look at all the design boards and details, this client certainly isn't afraid of a little color !

This brand new home has a great layout, open with tall ceilings and plenty of space.  Painted though out in a pale grey I decided to add the pop color in the furniture and a few accent walls.  As you enter the foyer we added a grey graphic wall paper for a welcoming bit of drama, but on the subtle side and saved the color for the office walls and furniture in the living room.  

As you walk straight back into the living room we created a focal wall in the niche with this amazing wall paper by Amanda Talley.  Available through us and at Hidell Brooks Gallery, this paper is the showstopper in the room.  Amanda is an amazing artist and her pieces are so beautiful.  This paper has the style and feel of her art, yet with a smaller, continuous pattern.  I loved it so much I used a bit in our office as well.  We framed it out and added a large sideboard against it with two teal and grey glass lamps.  Layering more art and sculptures gives the feeling of collected an only gives your focal wall more attention.  The key though - knowing how to edit !

On a site note - Check out more of Amanda Talley's work on both her site and Hidell Brooks !

The living space has a big punch of color in the two new upholstered swivel chairs, red and teal ikat rug and amazing curtains, another big focal point you see from the front foyer.

Lisa's large, distressed wood pieces, I feel, are complimented by the rustic and strong color palette.  We are pondering adding horizontal "wood" tile on the TV and fireplace wall, an additional that I think would be perfect in this space - giving it a little more depth.   Stay tuned for that !

Take a look at a few of the details in this space.

The living room is open to the dining and kitchen area.  Using the same colors we added splashy curtains and a strong rug under this new dining table, all tying back to the colors in the family room (foyer and office).

It was fun pulling this look together for the Hicks.  We have painted and installed the front living room turned office.  With a few other added pieces it will be completed soon.  Stay tuned !