Part II: House Beautiful: 5 More Surprise Design Details



Everyone wants their house to stand out from their neighbors... don't they?
Here are the last 5 ideas from House Beautiful to help set your decor apart from the rest:




Upside Down Mirror


LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea! Way to save on counter space by putting the mirror on 
the ceiling. But of course you could just hang it on the wall, but that is so boring! By 
using the stem work and hanging it from the ceiling you are creating an interesting 
architectural detail in a room that is normally function only. If you can find the right mirror, 
I wouldn't hesitate to replicate this design.

Easel TV Stand


This one is a cute idea for the married couple. Ladies does your man have an 
obnoxiously large TV in your beautifully designed room? Well let us help you turn 
the monstrosity into a work of art. By mounting the TV to the easel you are not only 
pulling it off the wall and giving your self flexibility but you are taking something 
ordinary and making it extraordinary. This is turning into a real trend, not just 
mounting the TV to easels but getting the TV off the floor. Now they are behind 
cabinet doors, above fireplaces, recessed into walls, and even mounted on the ceiling. 
I love this because it give you the opportunity to move your furniture or 
rearrange it in any way you see fit.

Chandelier Bulletin Board


Here is a crafty idea that anyone can use. Now in this particular photo from House Beautiful, the 
owner of the apartment uses this Ingo Maurer’s Zettel’s 5 chandelier to hold her to-do lists, 
notes, directions, and even a hat. But how neat would it be to display pictures, or post cards 
of where you have been. This is such a great conversational piece that you will never get tired 
of talking about, and probably wouldn't ever repeat a story either.

Green Gingham Ceiling


By show of hands, how many of you have white or unpainted ceilings? 
 If you still do, here is such a great opportunity to expand your color wheel and 
your viewing pleasure. Also, let's face it... we have really high ceilings here in Texas 
so we can pull this off. Now I'm not saying you have to go and have a mural painted, 
or even a gingham but you might be surprised how adding a little color up top really 
changes the perspective of the entire room. Remember that paint is a cheap trick!


Rope Railing


Now I'm not a nautical person by any stretch but this idea is so unique...
I can't believe I haven’t seen it before. Clearly though it's not for every home, but this is exactly what 
this entire article is about, going outside the box, which they have and done very well. 
So we must give credit to Mr. Thom Filicia, for designing this neat little space, 
from the rope railing to the off center runner going up stairs... 
he does it well.

Call us to add that special "twist" to your nest...

Until next time,


Images via* www.housebeautiful.com
Friday, May 6, 2011 Comments: 0
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Part I: House Beautiful: 5 Surprise Design Details



Do you read home decor magazines in the carpool line? at the gym? at the nail salon? I try to 
scour my favorites any time I can! One of my go-to shelter magazines is House Beautiful 
and if you are stuck waiting for someone (or something), open a copy or check out www.housebeautiful.com
 on your Ipad to get your daily design fix.



I did just that... and this is what I found. Something I said I would do this year... and still plan to. 

Add surprising decor details to your rooms 
to create the unexpected!  

I'm featuring ten spaces and here are the first five ideas from 
House Beautiful that get noticed! Try adding a quirk... Texas style!

Surfboard Coffee Table


“Purchased from a vendor who makes tables out of vintage surfboards and skis, the coffee table
 in the family room of this Cape Cod beach house gives the room a relaxed, lived-in feel. 
"Every room should have something that makes you smile," says designer Annie Selke.
Anyone can see this room is well put together, Annie Selke's fabrics really help to enhance the beach house as well as the custom Surfboard Coffee Table. But not many Texans are going to want a surfboard sitting in their living room. So how about something original that fits your life style, such as a tree trunk slab, old fashioned suite cases, or even an old wood door. Make design your very own.

Mirrored Cabinet Doors


This is a neat trick if you feel like your kitchen just isn't big enough, plus no one will 
ever be able to sneak up on you:). The mirrors trick the eye into believing there is space 
beyond the actual space, giving you an expansive kitchen that isn't expensive. Already have 
glass paned cabinetry?  No problem, just insert the mirror in the back of the cabinet and 
this will give you the same affect plus prevent fewer finger prints all at the same time. 
But you don't have to stop there, reflective hardware, and light fixtures can help to keep 
this open and lighter than air theme going throughout your kitchen.

Rattan Hanging Chair


This is a pretty sweet sun room, don't you think? Very cool, and retro. Although the rattan 
hanging chair is an awesome accessory for this room, it isn't always the practical option. 
If hanging your chair from your ceiling isn't a possibility then why not try a newly 
shaped wing-back chair, or curvy chaise. It's easy to dress a room up or down 
depending on what you put in it, for instance a wing-back chair doesn't always have to be 
formal, with a bold graphic fabric, accessories, and lighting we can achieve this same 
quirkiness as the hanging rattan chair.


Dress Mannequin




Ok, ladies this is something we could all use in our bedrooms, and no I'm not talking about 
an ice cream machine or a Starbucks Barista. How many times have you see a dress 
mannequin an antique shop? Well next time grab it and use this creative little gem.  
Toss your purse over, or hang all your accessories across it. Here is a chic way to lay 
your clothes out the night before...actually you can see what the whole picture looks like 
before taking the time and energy to try on all your clothes. We are all about saving time!

Can you Canoe?



This is a really cute idea if you have the space and personality for it. Who knew that hanging a 
canoe from your ceiling could be such a design inspiration? Now for this Idaho barn-style house, 
the canoe fits in very nicely but not so much down here in Texas. But use this idea... it doesn't have 
to be an oversized object but the thought is very smart. Use your wall space and take full 
design advantage of your home.


Stay tuned for your next 5 Surprise Design Details!


Until next time,




Images via* www.housebeautiful.com
Wednesday, May 4, 2011 Comments: 0
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Client Update: Kate's Space and a Spruce for Bruce!

Remember this post?

and this room for Bruce?


With some secret sourcing and a wave of our wand...
we now have this!


which includes some of new finds:




A spruced up Man Cave for Bruce-
and-
...on our way to Kate's Space on the other side of the house,
we passed by this:



which magically became this:



Loving the way the black color is integrated into their home and it makes
such a great impact!  Bruce's mantle was also give a new coat of
black paint with a bit of rub through... what a change-

Here's Kate's Space BEFORE:


and Viola... AFTER!




Artwork on left wall BEFORE:


and AFTER:


Remember, scale is everything my friends!

Here's one of my favorite parts... art on the back wall BEFORE:


and AFTER:


Loving the birds, antique mercury glass lamp and the Egg prints!

Thanks to my little elves~ Noelle, Julie and Fred:)


Until next time,
Saturday, April 30, 2011 Comments: 1
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Wraps, Ribs and Rabbits!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter... 
this was my view on Easter morning:)


 Nothing against Kansas City, but not many
 children wait for the arrival 
of the Easter Bunny... in the Marriott.


Who plans a Qualifier Volleyball Tournament on Easter Weekend??

Hmmmm....

As much as I love watching my daughter play volleyball, will it ever end?!!!  

I've spent more time lately on a bench watching ponytails swing and balls fly... 
one more week???

But as luck would have it... an injury occurred during the first game and we ended up like this:(







Mom and Daughter were good sports and stuck it out for the "Black and Yellow"...

So, I put my time to good use-

Eating and Designing

While at a KC favorite-


I skipped over the menu and saw this on the walls of


and...

 and...


Sorry about the terrible Iphone shots but these collages
reminded me of an artist with the gallery, La Montage, 
that I've used quite a bit for my clients...

If you have a favorite memorabilia collection in a box or even an idea... 
we can make it happen and put it on your wall!

I perked up after my visit to Jack's and we rounded
out the weekend with Easter Dinner at Consentino's grocery market
and flew through tornadoes to arrive home at midnight Sunday.

Life is full of experiences:)

Until next time,
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Comments: 0
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Finish out those Forgotten Spaces!



As I begin to work on a new custom home project with a lovely new client,
I am reminded that NOW is the time to look for those nooks and crannies
that you can make functional in your home...

FOR STORAGE...
or
JUST FOR FUN!


Pouring over the blue prints to finish out potential "dead" space is the first step,
but the creative options may not present themselves until framing...
when you can actually see through the walls!

If your house is d.o.n.e., you are still in luck. Call me and 
we will work with a contractor to break through the existing 
drywall and make a great space.

Take a peek at a few ideas below:

What a cute resting spot? 

Here it is all about the architecture... and the gorgeous window doesn't hurt-


As you can tell by the division in the flooring, this job must 
have been done after the fact.  Bravo... homeowners...
for recognizing the free space and putting it to use!


Super fun way to utilize the space underneath the staircase!


Love the privacy with the drapery panels-


My favorite... DREAMY!


Don't forget attic spaces! 


And last but not least, convert those closets!


So, YES, think storage, but also think about some fun spaces you
can create for your special someone (3 ft. blonde?)...

Until next time,







Image credits: **I saved most of these photos before I started blogging, so if you know who deserves credit, give me a shout!  Bottom two: www.bhg.com and www.gardnerfoxremodeling.wordpress.com
Thursday, April 7, 2011 Comments: 1
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