Install of the Day !

Hi There !

This time of year is crazy !  I always thought the holiday season was the busiest, but then Spring suddenly creeps ups and before I realize it, March is here . .  the kids start getting out for Spring Break and Easter kicks in.  Historically we get a huge interest from clients in the Spring to "re-do." Major projects start happening (thanks to a bonus here and there and maybe a good tax return). 

Luckily a lot of our big projects started in January, the design part, my part !  Come Spring and early Summer we begin the big installs.  I am so excited to see these start happening, about nine of them !!

With the amazing team I have now, Bree, Maggie and Mekenzie - I can rest assure they will coordinate, deliver, style and photograph each one so having to wear all the hats is something I can finally let go of !!!  

With all the craziness, Maggie has been a huge help with the design process.  Her style and taste level is one I don't have to question and her attention to detail is really proving so invaluable.  She and Bree work so well together coordinating it all.  She jumped right in on the Rimler project, finding the Murphy Bed our client really wanted.  She sourced it, styled it and then found the perfect accessories to compliment it.  We installed it the other day and with her taking the lead from the beginning, I wanted to see her full vision and happily did when Mekenzie finished photographing!

This space, just off the main living space was probably intended as a guest room.  With two boys and frequent visitors Irena really wanted a multi function room.  Sleep, art, homework and overall hang out !  It was very important to us to have this space jive with her great room and the look Irena has going on in there.  She mentioned a Murphy Bed.  While we have seen several in NY at markets and such, they can be really pricey.  Maggie contacted local California Closets and at their price point (and installation) we were able to complete the room with all the "wants" on budget.

Take a look at where it started !

Shot the other day, this space has an artistic feel, modern look and slight industrial vibe.

Coordinated, clean, simple and pulled together using the colors Irena has brought into her home.  It's important not to deviate too far from the color scheme of the home, unless changing it all is the plan.

Irena's artwork and current pieces throughout the home are in the warm and saturated family.  Reds, golds, black, chrome.  Her dream is to turn a very traditional home into a modern one and there are ways to do that without completely changing everything and losing the style of the home or going broke in the process !!

Cool Murphy Bed,  huh !

Pull down for guests, push back from more space.  We chose to paint the walls in a like color as not to have this piece look too heavy in the room.  It's blends in allowing the rug and accessories to pop not the bed.

A fold down desk, with the same modern vibe is mixed with a chrome and leather chair, metal file cabinet, great - large task light and fun, red shelf.

Love the metal bookcase and the touches of modern art and the funky floor lamp.

One of my favorite elements in the space are with window treatments.  Functional romans.  The pattern ties it all together with clean, graphic, modern lines and reminds me of the art in her home.

Always fun to see the design boards come to life !

What's next for Irena . . . a tweaked dining room and great room.

Her dining space has the most beautiful Stark rug.  She also already has a dining table, chairs and console.  We were asked to give it some more "interest," style it up.  She just said she wanted a better chandelier actually, but of course we couldn't stop there.  

We managed to convince a wall paper wary Irena to add this paper to give the walls more texture and interest, and it's gorgeous !

With a slight beaded texture and graphic look it helps this space feel more "styled."

It's a beautiful line and available in several colors, these other two are other favorites of ours.

Just adding the paper, chandelier, console lamp and an art piece by my husband Keith,  pulling the wood tones and rug tones up high in a modern way, gave this space a more finished look !

We have another install coming up shortly for her great room.  Again, using what she had and the colors already present, a few new pieces will give that space a fresh look.

Stay tuned !

Install of the Day !

Hey There.

Maggie and I finished up a gorgeous room over the weekend.  We call it Boho Chic, my client's request.  I was pretty excited about the color and pattern combination in this room.  We used navy, purple and mint and it all started with the amazing large scale graphic wall paper - GG's pick.

I wasn't thrilled that the four-poster bed I ordered months ago, along with the navy dresser were pushed back another month, but, what can you do beside re-select or wait.  This space really isn't suffering too much without it, but when it does arrive it will be the icing on the cake.  The dresser, well that was delayed as well, but in an effort to complete the space for a big, beautiful reveal by my deadline,  I found an amazing navy dresser at Slate to use in the interim (and will be quite fabulous in this empty spot I have in my showroom).

My long time clients, have a teenage daughter, GG, whose space was looking too young for her. We thought it was time to give it an update to take her through high school.   At our design meeting, we pulled our thoughts together and voila.  I love this space.  I always have such a clear picture in my head as to the finished product and I think my clients do as well.  But when the space is revealed, there is always that surprised reaction of wow . . . it works.  My advise to any young designers out there .. install with everything so your client can see the completed look, it will win them over, delivering piece by piece will only cause anxiety with some of your clients who have trouble seeing things.

Take a look at what Mekenzie shot for me yesterday . . .

Don't discount a window wall, it can be a beautiful focal point of light and drama.  With the organic, loose feeling of the paper, the symmetry of everything else gives it order.  I am beyond thrilled over the chandelier . . . 

Wow, that paper and bigger wow, those curtains and rug.  I really love the combination together.

These linen curtains are beautiful.  The gradual light to dark of the fabric so amazing, and Amy our seamstress, did such a beautiful job with the pleats falling just where the color changed (Amy I totally noticed that . . . beautiful)

I love a large push pin.  We make those at Lucy and Co.  Quite simple actually, but the frame is what makes it look finished and fab (look close there's a pic of Keith and I as kids, lol).

A few more last minute accessories found at Slate.

The initial design included a floral paper.  Pretty, but wasn't GG's favorite.  I pulled out this huge navy and white leaf pattern at our meeting and it was The One, she loved it.  

Don't be afraid to mix gold and silver.  It does break up the over match !

The added touch of yellow in the rug, also breaks up the over-match.  

Boho Chic can be interpreted in several ways, and in this space "chic" drives the look, and the boho (a.k.a bohemian), to me, means a collected mix of vintage, modern, patterns - and lots of them, a bit of metal and something organic.  The key to boho is layering pattern on top of pattern, literally.  The wall paper has an apparent organic feel in a sophisticated color palette.  When you layer the gradated curtains on top, it not only creates a beautiful look, it softens the walls.  I love these curtains.

I recently read a post by one of my favorite bloggers, Bri, of Design Love Fest.  Her style - simply gorgeous.  She created this dream catcher (a boho must).  I loved it, so Maggie and I decided to create our own, to not only add color to the wall, but bring in even more texture in the way of tactile art.  Take a look at our inspiration.

Now take a look at our version.  Maggie and I stitched the stripes of fabric around rope which was looped over a treated birch tree branch.  We mixed in a vintage pearl and gold beaded necklace.  We wanted it on a large scale to fill the wall.

I didn't want to group art on that wall, as I thought it would only start looking cluttered with everything going on next to it.  It really needed to be simple yet jive with everything else.  I think it's perfect.

all photos by mekenzie france

The bed I love.  Iron and simple, with thin enough posts not to be too overwhelming.  If it would just show up !   It will, again, add to the symmetry of that wall and the straight lines, as oppose to the curves of her existing iron bed and won't compete with the wall paper.  Pretty - huh.  

. . . and annoying back ordered dresser.  Love this piece - newly available in navy (maybe that's the hold up?)  But must wait, it 's the right height to balance those bedside tables.

So - Great room, love seeing the boards come to life, love that everyone was happy !
GG's comments . . .

“I gave Beth one color as inspiration and she

created my dream room. I never want to leave it. My favorite pieces

are Beth's custom "dream catcher" and the wallpaper everyone

disagreed with me on initially. The light fixture is definitely the

thing that makes the room.”

Happy Wednesday !!

Install of the Day !

Hi !

The second room in this crazy week was Liza's, twin number 2.  This is the perfect example of the eclectic mix which I love.  We used a mult-color palette in this space, but all in the same tone.  I worked around two side tables, Bungalow 5 that I happen to love, so no problem.  Take a look at Liza's room.

This rug is my favorite element in the room.  It's give all the new and sleek things a little age and definitely a worn, lived in, cozy feel.  I love this rug.... and also available in several colors, just give me a call and I'll hook you up!

Again this new burlap lamp shade and burlap with silver pouf toned down the "new" and gave it all more texture and interest.

My client loved this wall paper.  Unfortunately it's discontinued by Designers Guild, but I saved 1 roll and we used it as an accent up the wall behind the tables, perfect !

Stray Dog - the perfect fixture

all photos by mekenzie france

It's funny, this room wasn't as planned out when I showed up to install it, and it look a bit empty.  One day shopping at my various favorites and it turned out adorable (as if I had orchestrated the whole thing ahead on time . . not really - got lucky !!)

One more to go !!