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 !!

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 !

Inspired by Valentino's Spring 2015 Collection . . .

Hi There !

With Easter weekend behind us, Spring has officially sprung for me.  It was a gorgeous day yesterday in Charlotte, sunny and warm.  Ready to brighten things up?  Valentino is.  The Spring 2015 Collection bursts with color, that's for sure !  Stripes, checkerboards, chevrons - all in a kaleidoscope of vibrant color.  What makes it work, and how to you pull that look off?  Just embrace it and layer it.

It's definitely happy and not for the timid.  Take a look at a few images from the official Valentino site.

The look is translating to the interior world, as it always does !

photo compliments of Holly Phillip of the English Room

Take a look at a few new intro hitting our showroom this Spring

How about a rug?

The Rug Company / Jonathan Adler's Harlequin Multi 

Met with a client Friday with three different teen girl designs to choose from and was pumped Ceci chose this wall paper pattern and look.  Told her she was right on trend !

How are we pulling this color explosion off?  Just papering one wall with Harlequin's, appropriately named, Kaleidoscope print.  Available in four color combinations, this particular pattern screams Ceci Drendel with her bright and happy personality.

Just a rainbow of color out there for Spring 2015 !

Happy Monday !