quote of the day...

 via melanie turner

minty fresh

Yesterday was install day for a young couple in their family room.  While there was definitely a few hiccups (designers- only you can relate) we were able to get everything installed and delivered as promised.  As you can see, my client was open to fresh color, bold patterns and mixing playful prints!  This project was definitely a breath of fresh air for me and I'm sad to say goodbye!

quote of the day...

on board with banquettes

It seems I have a new obsession... banquette seating!  I found myself incorporating yet another banquette into a floorplan today and I wanted to share some of my inspiration! 

I have to admit, at first my clients were very skeptical to the idea of a 'booth' in their house.  Each client was surprised that they had never thought of a banquette as an option, but they were still hesitate as to whether or not it would be functional.  So I asked them this- "When you walk into a restaurant, do you prefer  a booth or a table?"  Not to my surprise, they all answered with 'booth' and became instantly on board with the idea of incorporating a banquette into the design.  If you are more comfortable in a booth when dining out, then why not be comfortable in a banquette while dining in your own home?

While banquette style seating certainly does not work for every space, it is something to be considered for those who are limited on space.  The use of a banquette or settee allows more space to be freed up on the perimeter by pushing the arrangement up against a wall or into a bay window. 

Below are a few examples of ways to incorporate banquette style seating in your home.  The options and styles are endless so be sure to use your imagination!

via palmer weiss

 via ekb

via lch

via ekb

via bear hill interiors

via vogue

via tobi fairley

Don't they all look so cozy?!

quote of the day...

"it takes courage to mix things up and conviction to push a look to its limit. when you do, the reward is rooms that exude passion, personality and flair."

~mary mcdonald

quote of the day...

"trust your own instinct. your mistakes might as well be your own instead of someone else's."

~billy wilder

a must read

in defense of a decorator

via the ny times

happy wv day

in an attempt to stay true to my roots today i'm honoring west virginia day! 

in wikepedias words, "the day celebrates the anniversary of the creation of the state as a result of the secession of several northwestern counties of virginia during the height of the united states civil war." 

and there you have it! blahblahblah HAPPY WV DAY! enjoy the blue & gold eye candy!

via tobi fairley

gina kates

via traditional home

via lindsay coral harper

montani semper liberi, xo

quote of the day...

via sarah black

sneak peek

i have been working on a very special project for roughly a year now and i'm thrilled to share a sneak peek of the progress with you! while most of the pieces have been delivered and installed, i still have finishing touches to incorporate including artwork, accent lighting, accessories, and throw pillows.  for your viewing pleasure, my very first beach house... enjoy!

quote of the day...

"i have no recipe for how to combine things. but you must be sincere. and if you are, strangely, it will succeed."

~andree putnam

rerun

just in case you missed it the first time... 

"design shapes the way we live. so it ought to serve everyone."

~eva maddox

lately...

 life is beginning to get rather hectic around here. and by around here i mean in the design studio, because it seems to have become my new home. which is why i had a few minor ocd spells this week and brought it upon myself to organize the studio...

baskets are my new obsession. besides organizing, i seem to have developed a new ritual once i make it into bed at night... more work in the form of brushing up on my id bizness knowledge, eating a bowl of special k blueberry cereal and reading the hunger games trilogy on my ipad until i can no longer keep my eyes open :)

freezer ziplock baggies get me through the day... 

...pulling looks, on looks, on looks for clients

 and because i live by the motto 'work hard. play hard.' i celebrated the launch of the latest issue of maniac magazine at 'the white party' with my besties! the party was oh-so-fab, and that view...

happy friday, everyone! i hope you make some time for YOU this weekend! xoxo

quote of the day...

"find things you love and build around them. designers will be the first to tell you that they'd rather not start from scratch. their best work is a combination of what you love and what they know."

~karol dewulf nickell

she's a maniac

big thanks to maniac magazine for the exposure in their may/june issue xoxo

quote of the day...

"design that moves others comes from issues that move you."

~jennifer morla

spring market '12

i'm finally back from high point...it was a whirlwind four day trip and i still feel like i'm moving a million miles per hour! for those of you who don't know what 'high point' is... i compare it to fashion week for your home! designers and buyers are invited to preview all that is new and exciting in the world of interior design! i could go on for days about everything i had 'omg' moments over but i will simply leave you with a few snippets of eye candy... enjoy!

i ran into genevieve in the capel showroom! she was there to unveil her new rug collection and it does not disappoint... i'm showing the new collection to a client this week!

quote of the day...

"we are the least expensive psychiatrists you can hire."

~mimi mcmakin

holla

new business cards! eee!

quote of the day...

"...designing a home can be a very daunting and expensive process. rich man, poor man, and everyone in between, no one ever has enough money. everyone is always trying to stretch practicality and what they have to meet their dreams."

~william norwich

shout out

 a big thank you to visual comfort for sharing my work! be sure to catch the lovely post over at the vc blog featuring the use of their lighting in my hgtv showhouse!

the rooms you didn't get to see, part two...

as soon as the episode ended everyone who saw my bathroom in person was asking 'why didn't they show your master bathroom? it was my favorite!' i was also screaming at the television something along the lines of "nooo. my bathroom. the 15' shower. whyyy." so to say i was disappointed they didn't show it is an understatement... not only for the satisfaction of seeing the tile sparkle on the television screen, but for all those who brought my vision to life. so here you go... the debut of my master bathroom!

i found the original plan of the master bathroom to be a complete misuse of the space.  because i did not want to simply decorate a bathroom that someone else had designed i chose to redesign the bathroom plan and make it my own. as seen in joe’s house (see below), the original plan of the master bathroom involved a drop in tub with a tile surround, a corner shower, and separate his and her vanities. 

i wanted the shower to be the main focus of the room, not the tub. often with the busy lifestyle most couples experience today, they're competing for their turn in the shower each morning. having a shower large enough for two to shower at the same time was key! i predict major marital problems will be solved in that shower! 

stripe detail continues from the wall onto the ceiling!

artwork by yours truly! to-die-for crystal sconces by visual comfort.

i'm not a fan of drop it tubs like those called for in the original plan. i wanted something freestanding and modern... i wanted the space to feel open, airy and modern! many have inquired on the fabric used for the side panels... the linen/cotton blend pattern is 'gazebo' from lee jofa through kravet.

"details are not details, they make the design"

joe's (my competition) bathroom

so there you have it! who gets your vote?! :)

the rooms you didn't get to see, part one...

for those of you who already know, my episode of showhouse showdown was originally set to be an hour long program showcasing all five rooms we were assigned to design. unfortunately,  they decided to cut down the hour long program to 30 minutes leaving my office and master bathroom on the cutting room floor. while the new format was a drastic and much needed improvement, i was still disappointed that the hard work put forth but not only me, but the people who made it happen was not showcased. so here we have it... the 'room of choice'!

we were given 'a room of choice' on the first floor to do whatever our heart desired. knowing most would take the standard route and design an adult office, i chose to step outside the box and create a 'young adult office.' because i was designing for a couple in their mid-thirties with children it was only natural to accommodate children ranging from grade school all the way up to high school. i aimed to promote creativity with the use of chalkboard paint, encourage learning by the installation of two workstations and of course, an element of fun, the bubble chair! 

what child wouldn't want a bubble chair? what adult for that matter? 

this bubble chair will undoubtedly be present in my barbie dream house waiting for me in my future!

one door closes...

the highly anticipated premier of my episode of showhouse showdown aired on march 3rd. i was very lucky to have viewed the episode with my close friends at our local watering hole in shadyside. i want to thank each and every one of you who came out to support me... it meant more than you know! one of my besties even surprised me with balloons (i gain an indescribable amount of happiness from the presence of balloons)

 i would also like to thank each and every one of you took the time to send me a message via facebook, twitter and email. i spent most of the day saturday in tears while reading all the kind words... what can i say, i'm a sap!

this past friday marked the end of my so-called '15 minutes of fame' with showhouse showdown. heartland homes hosted a fabulous viewing party at joe's (my competition) model home and we had a meet and greet with fans! it was great to meet the viewers and chat with them about our experience. it was also bitter sweet to bid farewell to joe and bob! my experience on the show is something i will never forget and i look forward to all the future holds. as this door closes, many more doors have started to  open! 

stay tuned this week for photos from the showhouse you did not get to see on the episode! i have also been receiving numerous emails with questions on where to buy pieces used in the house and will be sharing my sources with you!