Remodel Mode

Well, we are in full remodel mode around my house.  I wish I could say it’s well planed and that we are ready with decisions, contractors, and a bank roll but, were not.  And yet we are already in deep in demolition so you can imagine I’m “designing” as fast as I can.  I do have a spreadsheet ( I love google sheets) going so I can track and estimate exactly how much I’m going to overspend. But i think I might be a bit ahead of myself…

In early January our little house on the cape took on a significant amount of sea water, so we are forced to open and dry out walls, replace ruined floors and repair damaged systems and woodwork.  I’m a little (ok a lot) heartbroken, but trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel.    That light looks like a garbage disposal, a dining are that seats more than four, and maybe… just maybe a washing machine and dryer.  The picture on the left is whats left of the kitchen, and the right is a deVOL kitchen I’m using as inspiration.  Those little cabinet doors vent holes are too cute, and I’m going brass with the hardware but the truth is I’m not sure if I’ll commit to grey of just do a classic white kitchen.

The bathroom will be Painted Simply White with white subway tiles in the shower – with light grey grout – and this pretty palette on the floor.  The tiles are from Heath Ceramics, I’m picking a 4″ hexagon mixed in these three colors.  Currently our plan is to use a washstand and basin from Duravit and a toilet from Duravit – designed by Philippe Starck – that I really like.  I think the tile colors will mix well with Carrara curbs and thresholds.

We might end up moving the kitchen to the room we currently use as a dining room, this would allow us to have larger dinner parties and the dining space would be directly off the living space making for one larger entertaining space. I think I like the sounds of that, but I have to make sure all the charm and the old-timey vibe is not lost.  This will require special attention to the millwork; chair rails, paneled walls, cabinets and the like.

White kitchens are pretty… and the brass looks sweet against it.

And I think thew white against these Carlisle Wide Plank floors would look pretty fresh.

I’m Working On It

It’s always a lovely drive down to Narragansett Rhode Island… Several bridges, miles of coastline and farms and charming towns along the way.  I made a recent trip to deliver some goodies to a client there and here are just a few (non-professional) iPhone snap shots.  Just wanted to share what was keeping me busy these days.  Among other things I was picking up a custom sisal rug from Merida from their Fall River plant.  Very exciting to me as I had never seen their operation before and I’ve been selling Merida for over 10 years.

Check out this state of the art facility.  They have work tables that must be 30, 40 or maybe even 50 feet long!  I loved seeing the guys working on custom bindings, and I feel lucky to have the “workroom” so close – by just a few towns away – not because I intend to visit more… but because my orders come so quickly!  So after the brief tour of the Merida facility, I was on my way to deliver not only a beautiful sisal rug but ALL of this furniture (mostly LEE Industries).

This room was a totally different layout when I first saw it.  Sofas flanked the fireplace just out of the frame to the right.  It was cozy but cut the room in two, and no one was using the other half of the room and that was the space with the best views of the ocean beyond.  So, I pushed a sofa to the window and turned another sofa to face the fire-place.  English arm chairs covered in a Thibaut woven fabric flank the fireplace (so there’s still a cozy spot for cold nights) but the room is much more open and inviting. We 86’d green sofas and red and green striped chairs so the greige palette is quite a change. Once I place the coffee table and a few accessorizes this living room will be done.

Since the kitchen is open to the living area the client and I decided to update the yellowy kitchen too by painting the island a warm tannish grey Ben Moore Revere Pewter HC-172 and the other cabinets Ben Moore OC-85 Mayonnaise.  The white is still a warm white but the yellowness is reduced to something that feels white, without feeling like primer.  The existing kitchen had beautiful wood countertops but the island had a basic “builders special” granite top so we upgraded the counter surface on the island to this beautiful Calacatta marble.  We chose to have it honed, knowing a highly polished surface would give way to use.

Last but not least, what do you do when you walk into a clients bedroom and you discover they have a water-bed that they are not willing to part with? you recover it!  I chose this nautical looking woven from Thibaut to update a well made but dated wooden bed.  The dark nailhead coordinate with the bedside lights and sconces in the room and maintain our intended “tamped down” tonal, quiet range of colors.  We repainted this room too, a dark mocha to set off the view… pale blues and creamy whites brighten this master bedroom and keep it interesting.

 Different client, different house, different look.  I can and do use color.  Quite a bit in fact, even though I prefer to live with less of it in my life.  I enjoy the enthusiastic client that asks for color.  This hip couple wanted something that felt younger and more playful than what their pervious designer had given them.  The house is big, and formal and in an area where, um… Lets just leave it at the first designer made assumptions based on the house and the area, she didn’t know her client.  The shot above is a screened porch.  We started from scratch with the exception of the brown woven side chair, the set was newer and very useable so I found a dining table to match and we worked with it (recovered cushions of course).  The chaise can be flipped to allow the user to face the fireplace in colder months and away from the fire when the fireplace is not appropriate.

This is the same clients sun room, the only thing we kept was the woven wallpaper.  Oh, and I recycled the settee that has the Thibaut print on it,because it was the right scale, well made and it allowed us to spend more on other things in the room.  I love this room.  Plenty of color – NAVY is a color – for the client and still tonal and sophisticated and grown-up feeling too.  The dark inky blue sofa is from LEE, the custom pillows are all made from Thibaut fabrics.  All thats missing here is a rug.  Were going to go tan to pull the wall color because this fall the floors are going dark! The lighter rug on the dark floors with the tan walls is going to look amazing.

Thanks for checking out the blog, hope you got inspiration from it.  xo

SUMMER (house)

Believe it or not it’s finally time… Memorial Day is fast approaching and the season is beginning!  Its time to paint the shutters, clean up the yard and air out the house. Roll up rugs if thats your thing. I’m thinking that the sand from the beach will be easier to get up with out the rugs in the way. Plus I love the look of the bare floors so I’m going naked (floors of course). I just finished painting the shutters Chrome Green (Ben Moore) the color is so old-timey/wasp/preppy… to be honest I might not have picked it, but it’s the color they have always been, so it suits me.

 

This tiny guest room recently got a fresh coat of paint. in fact it went from dark taupe walls and wall to wall carpeting to simply white (Ben Moore) everywhere.  The walls are flat, trim satin and floors high gloss.  I’m not going to lie, the carpet came up easy, and those wide board floors were there, so a simple rough sanding was all it took for the painter to get the finished look you see there.  I tried to paint this room and the color was so dark, I gave up during the 3rd coat!  Some things are better done a pro.  The look certainly captures the spirit of an old beach house and looks chic mixed with the “unintentional” look of family cast-offs, “temporary” furniture that never got replaced  and nautical kitsch collected for generations sprinkled in.

There are still gallons and gallons of paint left to go, but this little house at the end of the road is quickly becoming a charming little beach house that is sure to see plenty of fun, laughter, relaxed days and maybe a few rowdy nights for years to come.  The dogs certainly love running leash-free on the sand and going on walks (something they do do much of at home) so everybody gets a change of pace – not just me.  Below are some inspirational images of rooms I like the look of… maybe some of these details will find their way into this little house.

     

I’m Working On It

I’m sorry.  It’s been a long time since I’ve posted.

Before I update you all on what’s been going on for me professionally, I have to thank all my new followers for seeing value in my past blogs and deciding to follow me in spite of lack of attention I have been giving this blog… and all of who have been following me for years, your continued support is much appreciated. It blows me away that so many people want to read my rants on design, color, furniture, fashion and let’s not forget food!

It’s been a very busy spring for me. My design work has been so rewarding… clients who truly value my insight, clients who truly want to create a room – or home – beyond simply a place to watch tv or sleep, a place that makes you take notice… A moment. I see that magic happen when clients allow me to keep them “on message”.  I find a strong direction or perspective and sharp, intentional execution create rooms – or homes – that have that wow thing.  In recent months I’ve had several projects that felt very focused, the results… happy clients. I love it when clients love what I help them create.  The above shot is a professional one ( as many of you know my images are typically a iPhone snapshot).  The clients were totally open to this limited and tonal palette.  The result of a trusting client is a pulled together look and something I can be proud of.  Of course I brought in most everything to finnish the look (the feathers are cuortisy of the clients husband) Please contact me if you’d like resource information on anything.

I literally rolled out this custom rug today at a clients… a favorite client in fact that is fearless, and often pushes me to go further and bolder.  We have a great time picking things out and her homes are like no others.   It is truly wonderful when a client becomes a friend.  I snapped this picture to send to her, but I wanted to include it in todays post because its such a fun room.  I might have staged the coffee table and played up the orange accents – pillows on the sofa, a chandelier over-head – they really pull the corner chair into the color story, I’m sorry you can’t see more of the room. The rug is by Patterson, Flynn and Martin.

This living room is a total transformation and yet the exact same rom I designed for another great client several years ago.  The layout was great, the furniture was classic – and still in great shape – so we just recovered everything and replaced the existing sisal with a wool/sisal rug from Merida that is creme and oatmeal.  Prior to this taupe, cream and navy palette the room had been red, gold and green (insert Culture Club joke here).  The yellow walls were painted out a pretty greige (grey/beige) a color just a shade or two lighter than the new upholstery and the accents became navy to suit the cooler color scheme.  The perfect summer retreat for cocktails with friends or TV with the family all this room needs is a few more tweaks with the accessories.  (My husband insists that I not show rooms without full staging but often the client wants to fill the small details in over time, and typically I and posting pictures I have taken simply to document, not publish) whatever!  Stay tuned for more on this room.

And this happened in recent months too.  Some modern, some whimsy; straight lined and clean with feminine edges and pretty details… a wonderful mix for a city apartment.  I’m lucky enough to have worked on another project for these clients, a beach house so when they decided to buy a small(ish) apartment in town, I got the call.  The beach is light and easy with strong colors and patterns so it was a no brainer to make the apartment sleek, and a bit more subdued.  Yes, this is subdued.  Plum, violet and grey tones sit on a nearly white rug, vintage brass etageres flank the sofa and echo the light fixture over the dining table in this open concept space.  I have a bad habit of posting pictures of rooms 90% done, because I don’t always go back for professional images the last trip out with orchids, accessories and the little ditties that make rooms really finished often don’t get documented.  Sad huh?  But enough about that I have to let it go.  Just so you know we stacked a grey and white geometric box made of inlaid bone on the table with a few coffee table books and three gold lotus blossom bowls to add a little shimmer.

OK… thats going to have to be enough for tonight.  it’s 11:53 at night and I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow.  Thank you again for sticking with me when the posts don’t come as often as they used to. I hope you are amused, enlightened or even just distracted for just a little while when you’re here, and leave inspired. xo

I’m Working On It

Yes, sadly it’s been some time since my last post.  Don’t worry it wasn’t a tail spin created from one failed dessert… It was frankly a busy work and social schedule coupled with my discovery and love for Instagram.  Far less informative, it is great for eye candy  – mostly fashion, pretty people, pets, cars and destinations but there are some good designers and architects posting work… myself included).  Whats not on Instagram and what I have found I miss is the dialog that goes with the images, there is no real context.  Just pretty images, sometimes with a #tagline.  Stick with Pinterest, Houzz and good blogs for real information, resourcing and inspiration if your planning a project that involves design.

So here is what Ive been working on… The first two images are a sunroom I designed for a client that has been coming to me and Surroundings for years.  She is dedicated, open to guidance but has a good eye, willing to go the extra step and likes nice things.  Suffice to say it’s a winning combination when you add in a Virgo designer.   This space hasn’t even been accessorized and fluffed yet and it’s already a show stopper if you ask me.  The “greige” and cream color palette is puncuated with dark woods accents and glammed-up by the dash of mercury glass.  favorites of mine are the Palecek cocktail table made of petrified wood and the floor lamps designer and produced by Rich Brilliant Willing.

In recent months I also completed a summer-house for a young couple.  They were a delight to work for, and a designer is always happy when clients see the vision and allow a designer to do his or her job.  We chose nearly everything in 3 or 4 meetings.  I love the way this house turned out, every room is polished, the vibe is fresh without feeling too trendy there is quality built to last in every piece.  When it comes to furniture, you really do get what you pay for.  Most if not all the upholstery is LEE, the cool banded pillows on the sofa in the lower shot are custom with fabric from one of my favorites Kelly Wearstler, i think they add a edge to the room.  The cocktail table made from cut marble is as heavy as it looks and gets most of the attention, as it should.  It is an amazing piece from Global Views and makes the room.

I thought I’d better post a few jobs with color so newer readers wouldn’t think I only do neutrals.  All three of these rooms are for the same client, the first an apartment in Chicago, and the following two are in her home on the coast of Massachusetts.  She is a favorite, I’m not going to lie.  I am lucky to like most of my clients but this gal has guts, likes it bold and loves the details… thats my type of client.  There are way way way too many vendors to mention, fabric designers to credit and paint colors to list, so if you want info on anything  send a note.

As if all that work wasn’t enough… I helped two dear friends pull together a wedding in my back yard earlier this summer.  It was a great time, everything looked great, the food was amazing and every seemed to have a really good time.  Designing the wedding cake and helping with the flowers were the “work” highlights.  Maybe I’ll post more pictures and details of thier wedding and my nieces wedding in the coming weeks, stay tuned!  I hope you feel inspired to tackle a project, get creative, invest in some good quality furniture, hire a designer… do what ever it takes to love where you live.    BB

My Day Off

 

I am especially lucky to have Mondays off from my typical work day.  The Interior Design business; paperwork, installations and the balance of client/office time morphs into something completely different, something more personally creative, almost introspective on a day off.  And eventhough I snuck in a tiny bit of client time most of the day was spent alone, arranging shelves, gardening, induldging and maybe a tiny bit of napping!  So, as I start to unwind tonight I thought I’d send out what a typical day off looks like for me.

 It started with a commute (about 15 minutes) to a Clients for a quick rug install.  We flipped a few rugs around the house to freshen up other rooms while updating the living room “off the kitchen” (vs the living room” off of the front foyer”, through the “tween” room and bar.  Shes a great lady and I have fun with her, we debate and collaborate to find common ground between us and when we find it, we buy what ever it is we are in agreement on.  The Ascot rug from Asmara Rugs in Waltham, MA is a beautiful addition to the relaxed space that’s affords comfortable reading spots, coffee cozy spots and a snuggle up spot.  We agreed on this rug after she had the chance to have it brought into the home.  This Asmara Rug was definitely love at first sight.

Not going to lie… I had cake for lunch, torte actually.  It was Mother’s Day leftovers, it was calling my name, I had to taste it.  I made a semi-sweet torte with pecan and cookie crust for Mothers Day and I was so happy that there was actually a bit of it left over for today.  It is SO rich that one 9 ich spring-form pan ( and 2 lbs. of chocolate) produces enough torte to serve 20 people.  I served it with homemade (of course) carmel sauce.  Here is the link I used…simplyrecipes.com

 

If I had known I was going to post this topic today when I was planting rose cuttings in the hopes of propagating them.  A client gave me these after I had complimented her healthy rose-bush, so vital in the ocean air, and pretty too.  A small pink rose covers the canopy, Cecile Brunner? heirloomroses.com If I don’t kill them I will plant them to climb the columns on the front porch.

And one of me proudly presenting my torte to the family.

A Day In The Life… (of a designer)

Not going to lie… The PUPPY along with a busy work schedule is taking its toll on me.  I’m runnin every day, working on designs for clients, making deliveries, and managing the paperwork, scheduling and other details that go along with a busy design practice… But today I found the time to have a runner installed on the back stairs at my house, yeah… MY HOUSE.  You’ve heard about the cobblers kids right? …they go around with old or no shoes, well I am no longer the designer with an unfinished staircase.  I have been a fan of this pattern for some time (I’ve used it more than once for clients) and love the way it turned out.      
Speaking of clients, the sofa for this room finally arrived today.  The clients were in town last week for just a day or two are thrilled how things are turning out.  I can’t wait to hang art add accessories and the finishing details.  Once that happens I’ll be sure to get some professional shots before the clients start enjoying the house.  I have a beautiful pair of embroidered pillows in mind for that sofa!While at the New York Gift Show I spied this new color of the ever popular “Cats Paw” rug from Dash and Albert.  A fan for years of Dash and Albert for Summer homes and coastal cottages, I can not tell you how happy I was to see this affordable and durable wool rug in a palette I am literally in love with.  This rug is my soft, tonal, “greige” dream-come-true… It looks good with warm tan walls, grey walls and countless other colors and that’s why I ordered several for the store today , so excited.And, I helped install these custom-made drapery today.  The green flange at the lead-edge coordinates with a slip-covered chair and ottoman and the neutral colored sofa and love seat have orange and lime patterned pillows, perfect!  Now All I need is the sofa and the love seat, they’re still at the upholsterer (the slip-covers are custom).  I have been assured they will be done before this client returns from traveling for work.

I ‘d be lying if I told you I worked out today… But it has become a regular thing for me.  I’m seeing my trainer two to three times a week, I am committed to having the body I want by summer.  A trip to Mexico at the end of this month is coming a bit too quickly, I’m not where I want to be just yet, but the warmth and sunshine will be a good reminder of why I’m working out and help me stay on track.  I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t splurge from time to time.  Last week in Boston I had a great meal at cinquecento and I did have dessert.  This panna cotta was infused with bay laurel and was served with a cherry coulis, and it was worth every calorie!  If you’re in Boston check out this boisterous and popular eatery.   In my down-time (7pm to 10pm) I blog, Facebook, Instagram, cook healthy dinners, play with the dogs, wash the dishes, email family, and occasionally try to catch-up on my DVR’d TV shows (Downton Abbey being the only show I try not to miss) and I squeeze in a bit of work from time to time.  I actually love sitting on the sofa, with a dog on my lap, poking around Pinterest, Zinc Door and many other great resources for furniture and accessories with my husband across the room while I enjoy the warmth and the crackle of the fireplace.  

Ralph Lauren for Visual Comfort

I think I’m a modern-kinda-guy but sometimes I find comfort in tradition.  The designers over at Ralph Lauren know how to put out the classics but give them a twist…  Like the collection for Visual Comfort.  These table lamps are a small sampling of the brass, glass, ceramic, nickel  and other great materials that are employed in the traditional yet up-dated collection.  These lights are easy to place, work into may different looks and have a high-end quality look to them.
I have a great client (who I have a small crush on) up in Newton, MA and this look will be perfect for her.  We are reusing some blue and white buffalo plaid silk drapes from her previous home and I’m thinking that these lamps will layer up the look nicely with a camel sofa and perhaps a pair of chairs in cream.  We have a small pair of occasional chairs to recover too, I think those would look great in a leopard but that might be too wild for her.  Stay tuned for up-dates on that project. This zebra lamp would look best in a room filled with cream-colored upholstery and dark wood floors.  I like the idea of making this lamp one of the only patterns in the room vs mixing it with color and pattern… That might just be a tad OTT (over the top) for yours truly.  Maybe the space could support a modern wickerish coffee table and a leather chair, but this with too much else is just too much.  Bottom line: careful how you use this light.I prefer Navy and Chocolate as my dark tones in color palettes.  Navy mixes with so much, it looks good with almost every other color AND it plays well with other blues & blues are notorious for not  being easy to mix.  Soft wall colors or a white room would benefit from the visual strength of this solid blue lamp.  And, if you’re feeling more than a bit wild perhaps a leopard based lamp will feel right at home at your house.  

White on White on White

White on white (on white) to me is like a little slice of heaven – and heaven looks a lot like a slice of cake to me.  I have a young couple I’m working with right now and we were discussing the direction for a pair of guest rooms in their summer-house, colors, etc. I suggested white and surprisingly they agreed.  Now I know that doesn’t sound like a milestone or a “stretch” by any means but when a person asks a decorator what color to paint, trust me they don’t expect to hear white (in this case Simply White by Ben Moore).  They want to hear about the latest and greatest, the trendy color, the color that going to make them look the thinnest or most tanned or the color that will work with EVERYTHING.  Frankly, you can not go wrong with white.  its timeless, classic, traditional, modern, neutral and given the day, hour and whether it’s cool, warm and everything in between.

I can not wait to fill these guest rooms with old dressers painted white and family beds white or maple or what have you.  Lay down a seagrass rug hang a few do-dads and a big mirror and call it a day.  Easy, chic, beachy – did I mention this project is on the water? – and a room that anyone would feel comfortable in.  You could ask your mother-in-law to use a space like this, let your teenaged niece crash with friend in it or treat your best friend for some landlocked state to escape to the ocean for a long weekend in a room like this:  Neutral is something everyone can love… including those who “live for color”.  Think about it what stands out in a room full of white? The person standing in it ( dripping in color and pattern )!

 

A bit of shiny never hurts a space this neutral…I think I will spec a few mercury glass bedside lamps for one of the two bedrooms.  And skip the seashell prints and cutesy  light house lamps… If your going to go coastal, use one big statement piece like this shell mirror.  Mixed with a few traditional pieces like a tiger maple bed or a chest on chest the whole thing comes together in a refined, luxe sort of way. If you paint your space all white, yes… you eventually have to put something in it… I don’t care how pretty the mouldings are!

 

 

Design Within Reach

I have been crushing on Design Within Reach lately… I love the crisp sharp classic designs they produce and carry.  I am careful to not over do it with their product, a few pieces mixed with traditional upholstery or antiques give a room an interesting mix, an eclectic blend of modern, mid-century modern and early 20th century is the dream mix for me.  The price points vary, they are pretty good for the most part, there are deals and there are some pretty ouchy price points too but for the most part when you compare design and construction it’s really “within reach” and worth the price.  These pieces are classic, many have already stood the test of time and the quality is incomparable to  IKEA (IKEA really is down and dirty, but so not worth the build it yourself or the cheap construction).  The sales team in Boston – Tremont Street – couldn’t be nicer, or more professional and they know their stuff.  Hip, Hip, Hooray! …for Design Within Reach.

SHIT designers say…

 

Not going to lie… Guilty on almost every count.

 

 

Industry Praise

I waited until now to post todays blog, knowing this was coming out:

sellinginteriordesign.com

As you all know I am lucky and feel extremely fortunate to have made a career from something I love.  I’m not sure however if I’ll be able to convey how profound it is to have that industry then confirm and praise your contribution to it.  I’m full of pride, I appreciate the aknolegement and accept the love.  Everytime you click back to see what I’m up to you send the same message.  Thank you.

Jody Seivert is an independent training and development consultant she has created and delivered sales management programs for manufacturers such as La-Z-Boy and Thomasville Furniture and their retailers nation wide.  To have been asked by her for an  interview is/was extremely flattering and I wanted to share it with all of you.  So if you don’t mind I’ll just post a few images of some of my favorite projects, and we’ll call it a wrap for the day.  xo

These images represent some of my favorite jobs. Most – if not all – were taken by me, with my iPhone  and were not professionally taken or lit for that matter.  I chose them for many reasons, some were favorite clients, some are favorite rooms, so frankly were a stretch for me but it was good work and the client was happy… All were a pleasure to create.  I appreciate my clients, I appreciate Jody Seivert and her wonderful support of me and I appreciate you for reading BILLblog and for coming back day after day (after day).

 

Design… It’s more than a sofa and a few chairs

Here the secret…  Here’s the reason that people hire a designer/decorator: Interior Design is more than getting a sofa and a few chairs to be the right size for the room, to coordinate with other furnishings, to be delivered on time and on budget and to suit the clients lifestyle… that’s what’s tangible, you can put all of that on a spread sheet.  Trust me thats hard enough, but what you can’t see and what most clients seem to lack is understanding the vibe.  Every choice creates mood, ambiance if you prefer that term.  You can’t just pick drapery hardware, you must decide what material; metal or wood or ? then you pick color; Dark or light or ? and then you have to decide size, finial, and even shiny or matte or ?  That level of detail is what a designer is faced with EVERY time someone asks “what do you think?” and the truth is some clients don’t really wait for the full answer. “Brown wood” is not really an answer, it’s a starting point.  Is the space modern? Do we want the drapery rod smooth, shiny and slim to set the right mood or vibe… YES.

It’s important that the casters on the table leg match the metal light fixtures mounted on the wall, that’s “good decorating”. Mixing metals and doing it with style and panache is “great decorating”.  Mixing it all up and having the room give off the right tone or mood, is simply put, why people pay to have someone else tell them what to buy.  Now I’m not trying to imply that decorating is easy.  Take more than one opinion, a budget and a ticking clock and that’s a recipe for not only stress, but for a very bumpy ride darlings.  A good (great) designer has to understand the emotions involved in design work, handle clients and the budget appropriately and listen a lot.  A great designer also has to know how and when to put his or her foot down and make a point when the project is going off the path to greatness.  It’s going out on a limb, I don’t like to do it, but forced to I will.  It’s not a sales pitch… there are a thousand million sofas in the world, find another.  It’s about the look, the vibe the mood of the room, my job is to see that in the end, the details speak to glamor, or to modernity or to rustic beach chic or what ever the end result has been targeted for.  that’s what designers do, that’s what I do.  Thats my job, I love my job.

GREEN (Growth, Renewal, Earth-color, Energy, Natural)

It’s all over the place, bottle green might just be the new it color.  Trending that’s for sure, I’m seeing this beautiful hue in fashion and furnishings and it seems to be gaining strength.  Now that Sandy – the hurricane – has past ( and I hope all are well and getting back to normal.  My heart goes out to those who have lost… a loved one, a pet, a home… ) we can all try to get back to “normal” or at least allow ourselves the distraction of design, fashion, trend and pretty things.

The luxury brand Akris is no stranger to identifying trends or creating them, their newest collection includes multiple pieces in the most delicious green you may have ever seen (or worn).  The handbags are an architectural dream of trapezoids, and elegant geometry and the dresses and other clothing sublime.

This is one of the newest table lamps from Jamie Young.  I love the fresh green of this lamp – so much in fact I just spec’d it for a clients TV room.  This lamp makes me want to open multiple pack of M&M’s and eat all the green ones.  For those of you who fear color, a colorful lamp is a nice entre into the world of color.

 There is always an option for the bold bunch too.  Take these malachite print drapery panels, this is a commitment to color!  But it so works… Love it with a bit of brass for that 70’s vibe without being to literal, it pays nicely with the dark stain of the floors and has good contrast with white walls and furniture.

And, this takes the term living green to a whole new level.  I could live with a green room but it’s hard to look pretty in a green room, you might want to add pink bulbs to your light fixtures to counter the effects the green paint will have on your skin-tone (not entirely kidding, but not sure it will work either).

Ladies and gentlemen,  I give you… Bottle Green! go git yo sef some.

Asmara Rugs – A Private Tour

I took a drive (in the delivery truck) up to the outskirts of Boston on Monday to visit Asmara Rugs.  I needed to pick-up a rug for a client so I decided to go myself so I could see new styles, shop the inventory and meet the group of nice people behind the rug company.  You see, even though I’ve been selling Asmara Rugs for years, I’d never been up to visit the showroom/warehouse… so I’d only ever met one employee.  I developed relationships with others by way of email and telephone, so it was nice to finally meet them.  I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of rugs in their inventory.  Can I just say I’m loving Asmara right now?!?  Each rug I looked at was more beautiful than the next.  I wanted to take them all back to the shop with me.

I did bring this one down to Surroundings to show to a client, it may still be available (comment if you’d like more info).  I think I’m going to love this rug with linen slip-covered sofas and a big black cabinet on one wall… brass or gold coffee table, don’t you think? So excited to show it.

I’m Working On It

I have a new client that is looking for a young, chic look that is tonal and easy but sophisticated.  This image above is a great palette, the right amount of coastal accent without being tongue in cheek or too literal.  However because she is young, I’m guessing the lines are too traditional and a wee bit too romantic.

This pretty room has all the right bells and whistles… Sisal on the hardwood floors, garden seats as side tables, dark accents that feel modern and edgy all with furniture that is interesting in shape but not completely traditional.

This room screams coastal – but it doesn’t hurt your teeth, no light houses or seashells – sisal check, garden stool, check.  easy breezy sheers, cool update furniture and a killer view? check. check. CHECK!

If the kitchen eat-in area ends up looking anything like this then all will be right in the world.  Love the turquoise bench seats.

Just met with a young client who has a wedding coming up in a year or so who has bought a beautiful waterfront lot along with a home that is in need of some up-dating.  Our first meeting went really well and we seemed to like each others ideas and the rooms are a good scale so I’m excited to begin the process with she and her fiance.  The major requests are tonal, natural, chic, comfortable, easy and no florals.  Easy enough!  It’s basically my dream home, but for her… I’m good with that at least I get to help create it.  I posted these pictures with the post because I think they all have something we could borrow for the living room in my clients house.    

Sisals will be laid, un-dyed linen covered sofas filled with down on top of wide plank floors and under a coffered ceiling.  White accents and white orchids everywhere.  I wonder if she’d go for a cowhide rug under the coffee table(s)?

There was much discussion around what patterns if any will be used.  Geometrics and trellis is ok, vine, floral, seashell motif are all out.  Can’t wait to have our next meeting, I already have a file bulging with clips and ideas.  Stay tuned for some “before pictures” I plan on taking them next time I’m there.

I’m Working On It

So this is an image I took over the shoulder of the professional photographer, but I couldn’t wait to share it with you.  I know his will be much better but here are my snapshots.  With this house the clients were really great to work with, they were so receptive  to my vision of something modern but soft, beachy yet crisp.  We stayed on message for the most part, a few times we were seduced by something Asian, or a painting the client had to have, we worked together quite well. I really do love the home we have created and thrilled to have it photographed.

Thank you all for stopping by as much as you do.  I am so flattered that so many of you keep coming back to see what I’m going on about.  I hope you all have a great Father’s Day Sunday!  See you tomorrow.

And just for fun they put me in front of the camera for one or two shots… here I am.  Yes, I know I may have only posted my picture on the blog once or twice before in 3 years!  But, I figured it was about time.  This screened-in porch is completely open to the dining and living rooms thanks to folding glass doors.  I love the soft palette that mimics the living room.

I’m Working On It!

It’s always a pleasure to work with a style and look you like…  It’s also nice to like who you are doing it for.  Well I got really lucky on this one!  Not only do I love the look my client and I are creating, I love my client.  She’s easy-going, has good taste and also is open to my ideas (whats not to like?)… and the fruits of our labor are starting to arrive!  The beautiful sisal rug is bound in a butterscotch linen tape that matches the Hickory Chair sofa perfectly and the A. Rudin chair is trimmed in the same super soft leather as the sofa.  The table lamp is alabaster from Visual Comfort – designed by Thomas O’Brien – we have a pair flanking the sofa on sofa tables also by O’Brien.

This dramatic side table pairs crossing rectangular-frame legs with a solid stepped top. Sturdy, elongated proportions belie the delicacy of the interlocking construction, encouraging high visibility use in the living room or as a pedestal for books and art. The raised panel top, in figured English brown oak veneer is a show stopper!  The craftsmen vibe this table gives suits the architecture of the clients home  perfectly!  and because they float between the living room and foyer and dining room spaces their goods looks don’t go unnoticed!

Maybe you remember this image from back in January?  I blogged about the best of – last year – and what was to come… Well we have come along way but still have a few holes to fill and add some small details to make this house a home. Thanks, as always, for stopping by BILLblog.  Have a great day!

House Paint Update

It’s been decided.  I have committed to a body color and a shutter color.  I thought because I design for a living that choosing a paint color for my own house would be easy… it wasn’t.  It wasn’t really hard either, but because I care so much the decision took several trips to the paint store and many test patches.  So what colors did I pick?  The house will look a lot like the one in the image below.  Maybe my body color: Dove Wing by Ben Moore is a bit less yellow, and I’m using the same color on the trim only in semi-gloss… so no lighter trim for me.  The Shutters: Briarwood by Ben Moore will read slightly darker than this houses, but over all a similar vibe.  I picked all my colors and then found this image, it would have been too easy to start with a photo.  

We are all primed and the painter has given me a very large test patch of the Dove Wing, I love it.  That’s good because I already invested in a 5 gallon bucket of Aura (that’s the fancy eco-friendly version of Ben Moores paint line) paint.  BTW, New York State of Mind is the front door color.  the dark corner poking up on the top of the paint chips is the porch floor color, forget the name of it, and HC-173 is Revere Pewter… I was going to do the window sashes that color but I think I’m going to keep it simple and nix that color.   

Here she is all primed up… The planters are full now, by the time the paint job is finished the pots will be filling in nicely and I promise one final up-date. Can’t get over how different the house looks not green and without shutters… I miss the shutters, not the green.