Photo Shoot Fun

A couple of weeks ago, I had my fantastic photographer, Bob Narod, took pictures of Project Love. It is always fun to watch Bob work. He works with the lighting until he gets it just right. The room with the green ceiling was a tough room to shoot but it was well worth the tinkering. Here are some shots of Bob at work...

My assistant, Natalie, and I was doing the usual tinkering in the form of staging. Much of the time, I was doing this...

But the one who stole center stage was neither Bob, Natalie, or I; it was the feline...

She found her spotlight and never looked back. Oh the simple joys of life!

Builder's Blunder Solved

A while back I posted about a builder's blunder... remember this? Many folks commented and gave me great suggestions but I had a plan. My client did not want to do any type of construction ~ they had had enough of that with their kitchen renovation. So naturally I thought well placed mirrors would work nicely as I would hang the new chandelier lower such that the light reflected in and off the mirror. Can you see the pattern on the door? Diamonds. The existing sheers that I used again also has a diamond pattern ~ I added the drape and area rug below to the sheer ~ you can vaguely see the diamond pattern on the sheer...

I decided to pick up on this theme and add a crescendo to the rhythm...

The gorgeous area rugs I designed are covered for the install but there you have it ~ my non-construction solution to the builder's blunder.

What do you think?

My Design Gets a Nod

My Delos rep emailed me a while back. He asked for some pictures of the rugs I recently designed for a client. I had no idea why he wanted them but I sent them along. Sure enough ~ here is one of my designs (top left). You may recognize it for one of my blog posts (it actually looks better on the blog post :-)

Here's the thing ~ I snapped these photos with my little camera. Had I known they were being considered for publication, I would have had Bob in for a photo shoot.

Either way ~ there it is!

Thank you Delos for selecting one of my designs to feature.

Project Love Revs Up

The custom wool rugs for Project Love are here! You may know it takes custom rugs a while to be made. The waiting is just a part of it especially if you want it done well. I love this rug company. Select the fiber colors to compliment the palette, specify the finish(s), design the motif and viola ~ a beautiful, high end sumptuous area rug. The one above sits in between the staircases. Don't you love the glass art I placed on the foyer table?

I love how elegant this looks. Note the brick red band on the drape repeated in rug.

Somebody likes the way the rug feels :)

These pictures do not do this rug justice. It is just stunning. I designed this rug to compliment the Hickory Chair buffet I placed in the room.


It is coming together. Not quite done but definitely on its way...

I love repeating patterns throughout a home in subtle ways. I have repeated the arc motif in the kitchen, which is adjacent to the dining room.



In the kitchen, the pantry door was replaced. I added a mirror insert. This was done in part due to a window being removed to accommodate the gorgeous hood. The mirror adds back some of the lost light by reflecting the natural light that remains. I designed the mullion on the right, which will be installed on the mirror echoing the arc motif from the dining room. It is being fabricated in faux wrought iron with a nickel finish consistent with the other nickel elements in the room. An intimate detail adding lovely rhythm and harmony to the home.

The Greek Key motif from the first photo will be repeated in a very subtle way in the living room. You'll have to stay tuned to see that. That particular furnishing is on its way...

Project Love ~ Rolling, Rolling...

I'm introducing you to a new part of the project ~ the kitchen. This was started after other areas of the home. Here are the before shots...

Not too shabby. However, the island was an awkward shape with places to sit only at opposing corners. Not very conducive to discussing the day for this lovely couple. Plus there wasn't much originality, nothing outwardly special about the room. There is a remedy for that!

First make a mess, then add here and there. Don't worry, the cabinets removed will be repurposed. The island and other woodwork seen are the work of the craftsmen at Creative Works. An island was designed and constructed such that husband and wife may actually sit next to each other ~ imagine that :) The island's glazed ivory finish contrasts with the perimeter cabinetry. The perimeter cabinets are in fantastic shape and are quite lovely ~ still... they'll eventually be enhanced even further. The perimeter base cabinets will have Silestone...

I love the functionality, ease, and look of Silestone! We'll add some tile...

A combination of natural stone, copper, and glass. We'll also add granite for the island and a grand cast stone hood...

So far so good?

Monday I'll show you a no-no and the cure that happens occasionally in kitchen projects. It will be the first Monday's Method I've done in a while. You remember Monday's Method don't you??!! You know where folks write in and get interior design advice. Peruse a couple of the posts and if you have an interior design question or dilemma, by all means leave me a comment or drop me an email with pictures if you have them. A very important aspect of interior design is solving problems.

Where did we leave off?...

Ah yes, the wallpaper was installed. So what next for Project Love? The window treatments...

First the dining room drape panels and privacy sheers were installed followed by the foyer. The dining room panels are simple. I want nothing competing with the glass bead wallpaper.

I checked on the family room a few times. I place items and then leave the room. Come back, tweak, edit... The art piece has yet to be placed but something is amiss. I moved two large vases from the foyer into the family room. I like them. The tree and floor lamp give me pause. I repurposed the rug and the sofa pillows from the living room and used then here. The pillows on the new light green chairs are also new. I really love they way they look.

Here is one foyer treatment completed. The custom rugs yet to be placed will relate very well to these treatments. I am excited to see them together. The wallpaper in the dining room is glowing ~ love how glass bead picks up light.

Here I am in between editing. This is how I think best. Note the toe nail color. My daughter picked it out :)

Jeff and Joe. My window treatment, art, and mirror installers. Big, burly men. The first time I worked with them, this is years ago now, I thought 'These burly men are going to touch my delicate treatments?!' It was thought with anxiety and fear. Those feeling were so unnecessary. They're the best. Jeff installs with precision and Joe is the finisher. Joe has the best hands in the business. The most delicate touch I have seen on my lush treatments. Mind boggling. Joe re-enacts civil war scenes in his spare time. Interesting and fun folks. I have spent hours with these two and laughed until my side hurt.

It is getting there. The lamp and cocktail tables make me get that line in between my eye. You know, when one is thinking... they were existing tables the client had. When I was recently in NYC at the Design Center, I saw some tables I would love to place in this room. Note the sofa pillows...

Here they are with their covers. Sumptuous.

The rug is covered in this picture. Take my word for it ~ the pillows relate very well to the rug and window treatments. I still have that line in between my eyes, lips sucked in looking at this picture. I think my client did too. The next time I was in the home, the cocktail table was removed. They have a good eye. I said I would try and use the existing tables. I think they voted. Time to organize those NYDC pictures.

Onward...

In this phase of Project Love, the magnificent wallpaper is installed and lighting and fabric begin to make their debut...
Breathtaking glass bead wallpaper surrounds...

The dining chairs are home again. But Paula Grace, they don't look any different!

On the contrary, they are very different with spectacular Barry Dixon fabric on the chair back. The head chairs have a little something extra.

This chair treatment is just like this...
Beautiful and restrained from the front ~ daring and delicious from the back.

The living room now has a fabulous chandelier where there was none before ~ on a dimmer of course. All lighting, but particular overhead and wall lighting, must be on a dimmer to perfect the ambiance for any given situation.

There's grumpy Mike again. You may remember him from the tween project. He's installing the dining room sconces...

and twin chandeliers over the table. His son is his helper during the summer. There is he with some of the extra chandelier chain around his neck. Mike did an eye roll in response to this. I just smiled :) His son is at then age when defiance is starting. I smile at that too and wonder how Mike will contend with the next few years.

This project is getting exciting. I don't think Mike is excited about what's to come ;)

The Journey...

The journey continues with Project Love... the curlers are out but we still have so much styling to do...
The beautiful custom medallions are installed in the dining room.
The powder room switch plates are painted the same color as the walls. I wanted them to fade completely into the background to not detract from the eventual sconces.
Mission accomplished. Make sure you use switch plates that are specifically for painting or have your painter properly prime and paint the existing ones to prevent chipping.
The exiting dining room chairs begin there journey to stardom.
Bye bye...

Here is a shot of the living room, family room, and dining room from the foyer at this phase. This is such an important view. It is the first visual sweep of one's home when guests enter.
Living room...
Family room ~ notice the wonderful coffer ceiling.

Dining room.

I think of the walls as the canvas. They are now ready to receive and embrace.

I am linking with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday. I haven't linked in a while and this project is certainly a metamorphosis.