My favorite...

I've always enjoyed reading about Designer's favorites. It's a great way to hear a fresh perspective and be exposed to new products. So, it's my hopes that I will be able to share some of my favorites with all of you.  Today marks my first favorite show and tell: 

The 3972 Swivel Chair by Lee Industries. I know, the name could be a bit more inspiring, but this chair has more than enough wonderful aspects to put it at the top of my favorite list, and maybe yours too!

Right now, I am looking for the perfect swivel chair for three clients, myself included. This little number with the Cloud Nine cushion delivers on being the most comfortable chair me or any of my clients have ever sat in. I've had my fair share of looking for the perfect swivel chair, and this one perfectly supports your shoulders but is low enough to position in the middle of a room without blocking up the space. Its transitional design easily suits many decor styles, and the dressmaker skirt hides the not so attractive swivel mechanism. The functionality of a swivel is ideal for many spaces, because it can turn to face a TV, fireplace, or conversation grouping.

I've seen this chair done in a traditional rich velvet, but for two clients I've had it covered in a caramel linen, and for another in a gorgeous Ikat in various shades of red. I wonder what I'll get it covered in for my home :)

Sometimes it can be hard to purchase a chair before testing it out, so if you live in the Boston/ Metro North area, you can visit the Grand Rapids showroom in the Boston Design Center, or Wishbasket at the Tannery Mall in Newburyport. 

Quick change: wall decals

Having children who live in rental apartments and being an interior designer, we are always thinking of new ways to put some personality into their places.  As a renter, you can make minor changes but nothing permanent, so when I came across a company called Wall Slicks I was instantly intrigued.

They are large scale peelable stickable inexpensive graphics that are easily removable, making them perfect for rental apartments. You can make them a large statement by using them on a focal wall, or less obvious by using smaller decals as an accent. For all of us creatives, you can even create a custom design.

Click here to explore the Wall Slicks website. It is definitely worth checking out, especially for spaces that are rentals, those that change with the season, a child's room, or people like me who like a quick change every once in a while without doing something permanent.

These are two of my favorite graphics:

Gleam

Picture Frames

Lemon Sorbet

Do you think that your color taste has changed throughout the years? I certainly do. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE color, but lately I've noticed that I've been opting for more subdued hues with less contrast. I'm more inclined to choose softer colors nowadays, and reserve bright, bolder colors for accents. Gray is a great way to ground any color and to restrain its punch.

Color is such an interesting subject in so many ways. It can change your mood, make you hungry, tired, or a space feel larger. Benjamin Moore just released their 2013 color of the year: Lemon Sorbet. It is reflective of the interior spaces trending right now that are going towards a more pastel color palette. While, it wouldn't be my first choice, I could grow to love it. Ask me again next November how I feel about it:)

Brass is Back

Have you noticed lately the comeback that brass is making in the world of interior design?  I'm not talking your highly polished brass, but more of the antique gold and brushed brass. It's everywhere lately, and I can't say that I mind!  It has a warm quality that chrome just cannot provide in a space.  Here are some of my favorite antique brass home finds that I am loving lately:

Restoration Hardware's Square Column Floor Lamp

Crate & Barrel's Clairemont Side Table

South of Market's Bruno Wing Chair

Thibaut Wallpaper

In the works: Transitional & Serene Master Bedroom

I was thrilled when one of my past clients called and asked me to help them create their wife's dream master bedroom.

Below are some before photos.

 

Their bedroom, though it had beautiful bones, needed some love. How they have been able to sleep with live wires hanging out of the wall above their heads is beyond me! 

After meeting with the client to go over some initial design concept ideas and take some measurements of the existing space, we decided on a color scheme of soft gold, green, and beige.  Everything started to come together after I found this beautiful wallpaper from Thibaut:

I decided that this would anchor the wall with bed, and ground the rest of the space. A challenging aspect of this project is that it was done on a budget. It is so easy to get carried away so quickly, but it's always a creative brainteaser to achieve a designer look without spending big bucks.  What do you think of our furniture selections:

I'm looking forward to sharing photos of the final result in a few weeks!

Holiday Mantels

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season at our house, and every year I look forward to making our home festive. I love using lighting as a holiday decor tool. Whether it's candles or twinkling lights, they bring warmth to the dark winter months. While I do love seeing the outdoor decorations people deck their yards out with, my realm is inside. Here are some inspirational pictures I'm keeping in mind when decorating our mantel this holiday season:

Another thing to love about Thanksgiving

Hi Friends!

What's not to love about Thanksgiving?  I love having my family under one roof, taking a day off to reflect on and be thankful for all of the gifts that have come my way over the past year, and eating something delicious. But as an interior designer, you can imagine that decorating the Thanksgiving table is another highlight of the day for me.

I love looking through the design mags and catalogs at all of the pretty ways to dress up a holiday table. Some of the ideas just might be splurge-worthy this year, don't you agree?