tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375106748271066582024-02-20T00:51:21.857-08:00 Jane Ann DesignsA practicing interior designer shares her philosophy of design, what inspires, tips and tricks, and bits and snippets of her personal journey through the world of interior design.Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-89268320223384050332011-07-06T14:25:00.000-07:002011-07-06T14:25:30.111-07:00Nautical Fun for Summer - Part Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sometimes you need to take a break from blogging and find your muse again. Mine is back and I have lots to share with you. My creative juices got going when Tracey Roman of the Fort Mill Magazine asked me to do an article on how to incorporate the Nautical or Coastal design trend into your home. You may read the article, and see photos of a recent beach cottage that I completed, at the link at<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=337510674827106658"> http://www.fortmillmagazine.com/this_issue.html#26i.</a> That article was fun to do but space in a magazine is limited and I just couldn't share all the images that I found inspirational there, so I thought I would follow up the written article with a visual one. I hope you enjoy all these wonderful designs from talented designers across the country. Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkqiei1okDrfxKrUHLoPVQu2UNr8v3BFpLA2nWnS5_U4If_wsgkujrlRbMuokT_-_cZIsMFGlV9Gp-UNaV8kvLR5-AQC3zM1tZlqbGATDH4yayHhSGbl0rltlUYF1aQFjTsfo-U04bx38/s1600/43031_0_8-6247-eclectic-living-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkqiei1okDrfxKrUHLoPVQu2UNr8v3BFpLA2nWnS5_U4If_wsgkujrlRbMuokT_-_cZIsMFGlV9Gp-UNaV8kvLR5-AQC3zM1tZlqbGATDH4yayHhSGbl0rltlUYF1aQFjTsfo-U04bx38/s400/43031_0_8-6247-eclectic-living-room.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional blue and white with touches of coral gave this home a coastal presence.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLQIh6WOSMV3ayvXka4GlC9VQgcmqM1VKQUultzyv0nSU3RbAyKs0OBOVGGyHGMU4aB8OJv9SZ0zmOHsMMmoeyoHIfrXR2ZIkrH0Uj-pCj3iFxRovzDdDW8ZGwqk9v7552WMjaVAtBpDB/s1600/modern+ocean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLQIh6WOSMV3ayvXka4GlC9VQgcmqM1VKQUultzyv0nSU3RbAyKs0OBOVGGyHGMU4aB8OJv9SZ0zmOHsMMmoeyoHIfrXR2ZIkrH0Uj-pCj3iFxRovzDdDW8ZGwqk9v7552WMjaVAtBpDB/s400/modern+ocean.jpg" width="368" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This modern seaside worthy room takes on a turquoise color scheme pairing it with bright white and bold art.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UvdPtjJRHdQEhDb_a3-ZzH2k7hl1u3YYCx1OE_-VvqYRmfeTN8GHyy_pX35U4x-tRoHJcOY6qJffwWHZu1DzOq1LO9LYQ5C9MoyH3eoAwWpvWlPo1wz-jBoqN8dwS7Lj6jG4HpBahyzI/s1600/chair+covers+coastal.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UvdPtjJRHdQEhDb_a3-ZzH2k7hl1u3YYCx1OE_-VvqYRmfeTN8GHyy_pX35U4x-tRoHJcOY6qJffwWHZu1DzOq1LO9LYQ5C9MoyH3eoAwWpvWlPo1wz-jBoqN8dwS7Lj6jG4HpBahyzI/s400/chair+covers+coastal.jpeg" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The colors, simple plank floor, and chair covers with seashells are all that is needed to create a coastal cottage look.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkkFZLfFMEZTEgVv-I6n6ZBnAJhRqjLiVgShL7STvkoSRR19SIico-1VG5hVAoA4CCNbdGmck_666tBgnysKdXPOS7TBnSEx8-ogzJ4Og0B11WVurXrQh7As19NwoOuhArsmgtcoINw_h/s1600/porthole+mirrors.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkkFZLfFMEZTEgVv-I6n6ZBnAJhRqjLiVgShL7STvkoSRR19SIico-1VG5hVAoA4CCNbdGmck_666tBgnysKdXPOS7TBnSEx8-ogzJ4Og0B11WVurXrQh7As19NwoOuhArsmgtcoINw_h/s400/porthole+mirrors.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soft gray stripes and porthole windows dress down this more sophisticated breakfast nook.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG07YMC7WmcIoHghMV5xXqViC-jV8X-mC8dFr13I62KUbGLPzy9wdwkNkeeCkz7gaJNDxsBMlwLSVgVNUnYq-YpHLZT7Q80Kt-zN_3moSPEmSaeDVLVGmhXtW1Mq73IayZzZjTGgoTjOLh/s1600/blue-hallway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG07YMC7WmcIoHghMV5xXqViC-jV8X-mC8dFr13I62KUbGLPzy9wdwkNkeeCkz7gaJNDxsBMlwLSVgVNUnYq-YpHLZT7Q80Kt-zN_3moSPEmSaeDVLVGmhXtW1Mq73IayZzZjTGgoTjOLh/s400/blue-hallway.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This entry hall takes it "beachy" cue from color and texture. The sisal striped rug and the storage baskets and blue bead board, all lend to the coastal theme of the room. The organizational bulletin boards are a great idea for sorting information for each family member.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2lajMdmkZEdzYkMvgGeiJKbCArWUxZhCZXm3nT3-vO6OQAh9v1W2oFRT2ql9KITnuZ1IwOtdgTIpgNQBQXmh2YrTxixfKZqAunl01vzvSuNRMoZmYU9b9mhrSMhP96CJlw2ElO9fd4Zy/s1600/sea+glass+stirpes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2lajMdmkZEdzYkMvgGeiJKbCArWUxZhCZXm3nT3-vO6OQAh9v1W2oFRT2ql9KITnuZ1IwOtdgTIpgNQBQXmh2YrTxixfKZqAunl01vzvSuNRMoZmYU9b9mhrSMhP96CJlw2ElO9fd4Zy/s400/sea+glass+stirpes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stripes and sea glass colors help this modern design look great at the sea side.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpxmqmHliynoot3UrjkZ8GZpSQgJ6Zq3j1Szl31wapA3rjT-0x3g29V3MaXTVjUVdOiprrUAcoTRgbowL8YIP4ElzNWVrg7mYEuJQlKPg85y1oOTgHM_5T257xKs4cgFKG8sod6WUqzR-/s1600/nautical+canopies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpxmqmHliynoot3UrjkZ8GZpSQgJ6Zq3j1Szl31wapA3rjT-0x3g29V3MaXTVjUVdOiprrUAcoTRgbowL8YIP4ElzNWVrg7mYEuJQlKPg85y1oOTgHM_5T257xKs4cgFKG8sod6WUqzR-/s400/nautical+canopies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could this red and white striped cabana-look be any cuter for a kids room at the coast?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQpPAfiANsyj2YAcRhjbhXXM3sZUJ91VAtBl3H5epu2VkuDgI2ShkYaglN37mwFoH0OQwsoYXLgyQRuBNEsbVvV626CQdSj7yUCKMB5ynJe1NR0tIHjInj2QxoIzzPI6Qm-XCWkb1eEoR/s1600/beautiful+blue+home+envy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQpPAfiANsyj2YAcRhjbhXXM3sZUJ91VAtBl3H5epu2VkuDgI2ShkYaglN37mwFoH0OQwsoYXLgyQRuBNEsbVvV626CQdSj7yUCKMB5ynJe1NR0tIHjInj2QxoIzzPI6Qm-XCWkb1eEoR/s400/beautiful+blue+home+envy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue and white is a timeless nautical classic.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qh4UBDxQhMbu5LZ6nxkVuvC5Gk4hTCgGLbSUe5d-G0Bl208LPPsQGWE4iVTC59cdY3TSN_JWGCFccnfifs-dYEoWdNkGqD0yyDBGQ6rqxdqmvwypMjVarcX9DZ2LJytcBEtFb9xR5oQ2/s1600/coastal+bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qh4UBDxQhMbu5LZ6nxkVuvC5Gk4hTCgGLbSUe5d-G0Bl208LPPsQGWE4iVTC59cdY3TSN_JWGCFccnfifs-dYEoWdNkGqD0yyDBGQ6rqxdqmvwypMjVarcX9DZ2LJytcBEtFb9xR5oQ2/s640/coastal+bath.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A touch of driftwood and seashells and you are transported to the shore!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywxi7PG90ACB-7EcaUOMdC41Ja1ClegSi0rVcb7q4TEMauNzwha9MXm6AnQ9XEI1b7WOU_Ym42uOdfAmpPRLsSN34V3y87r3kW2q4nMaPQpiFQT2AhUT7WKKHnVabFEJQjmMwmYJNbU5b/s1600/27826_100154396703983_100001282680239_246_7923050_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywxi7PG90ACB-7EcaUOMdC41Ja1ClegSi0rVcb7q4TEMauNzwha9MXm6AnQ9XEI1b7WOU_Ym42uOdfAmpPRLsSN34V3y87r3kW2q4nMaPQpiFQT2AhUT7WKKHnVabFEJQjmMwmYJNbU5b/s400/27826_100154396703983_100001282680239_246_7923050_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple slipcovers, a vintage table, seashell chandelier, and crisp white curtains add to the ambiance without taking away from the fabulous view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk-J5yY_Sot8XanCicNn7G_bPreYdh0q9JMpEBe77Yj6COiS-gOHWVNDB4PMFKkTQ8DF8TgKt3Bz5pqUHscQ-CDtYS8QpQrf48WjMPHfpqSKAFZqRdMRuarl1vA8-7hm1g1FknYWGgyxv/s1600/tile3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDk-J5yY_Sot8XanCicNn7G_bPreYdh0q9JMpEBe77Yj6COiS-gOHWVNDB4PMFKkTQ8DF8TgKt3Bz5pqUHscQ-CDtYS8QpQrf48WjMPHfpqSKAFZqRdMRuarl1vA8-7hm1g1FknYWGgyxv/s640/tile3.jpg" width="499" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Normally less is more when it comes to theme decor, however, here is a case where more is... fabulous!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-62415970541089165892011-02-24T10:42:00.000-08:002011-02-24T10:43:29.131-08:00Hollywood GlamA recent request by a client for a Hollywood Glam room, for her teen, finds me having lots of fun. This dramatic, dressy look is characterized by mirrored furniture, bold colors and prints, sleek and shiny finishes, lush fabrics and, of course, some bling! Whenever I start a project like this, I am always inspired by those that have blazed the trail before me. With a big salute to the designers of the following rooms, let's look at some great ideas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4CHR-QYeLlYUY9nuYOpbJbXzlAcezajQTGTWcwMxwK1FbGOlAP-RjAA3Rbcj_1lvBAKPvyv0sTXglomthZDJHztzDnlIb8S3weiaqrsaSyFLghqFtQdfj0UMvry5xn5y6q0GmvxkhTHn/s1600/1a57727e5157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4CHR-QYeLlYUY9nuYOpbJbXzlAcezajQTGTWcwMxwK1FbGOlAP-RjAA3Rbcj_1lvBAKPvyv0sTXglomthZDJHztzDnlIb8S3weiaqrsaSyFLghqFtQdfj0UMvry5xn5y6q0GmvxkhTHn/s320/1a57727e5157.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tufted furniture works with this look because it is all about luxury.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyz0COtI6WYnAYPjbV-aYspMN1ERBhXoUftP4Qjsi_fG_0lHEFGtpjPn23PM5VLWLMiM-pkRV6c8ScBUn36g2Ei9qn34Si5Y8YkI724zYZA6Nyldk2nGGp2Gf9fDHmHxrJt1Esk-Tg56ww/s1600/39+z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyz0COtI6WYnAYPjbV-aYspMN1ERBhXoUftP4Qjsi_fG_0lHEFGtpjPn23PM5VLWLMiM-pkRV6c8ScBUn36g2Ei9qn34Si5Y8YkI724zYZA6Nyldk2nGGp2Gf9fDHmHxrJt1Esk-Tg56ww/s1600/39+z.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These candle sconces from Z Gallerie are perfect for adding the "bling" factor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3MMbKPRXgGyj9iI6-PQEkAz-JdM7-PyXA39B8RIHXUwdXhUCCI4plsc8X9VxYdWboZ10yBS5vQGS1HUmqqwz7qt72IeJjj61xIlP9xCjzgWhGEnKVX9zO15KHwHX2LVo3RsbhsaIKVeL/s1600/3583569931_378fd269e7-via+elle+decor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3MMbKPRXgGyj9iI6-PQEkAz-JdM7-PyXA39B8RIHXUwdXhUCCI4plsc8X9VxYdWboZ10yBS5vQGS1HUmqqwz7qt72IeJjj61xIlP9xCjzgWhGEnKVX9zO15KHwHX2LVo3RsbhsaIKVeL/s320/3583569931_378fd269e7-via+elle+decor.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crystal chandelier, fur bench, flokati rug and curving headboard make this work</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqPyDtfZ4dsQqWrK9OwVUAoloX5vhQ6p9MYW9csBMQxfpK4gx-zWN5JWmK5_lKIM9mDsDn8lC3Jbuaf7KqD55qj-0qmBRoom-JV2OH303l13uSLVTr4yXRmhFYkpBQejDvJ67luiL93bn/s1600/headboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqPyDtfZ4dsQqWrK9OwVUAoloX5vhQ6p9MYW9csBMQxfpK4gx-zWN5JWmK5_lKIM9mDsDn8lC3Jbuaf7KqD55qj-0qmBRoom-JV2OH303l13uSLVTr4yXRmhFYkpBQejDvJ67luiL93bn/s320/headboard.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bold graphic pattern and fabulous tufted headboard scream GLAM!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJ3Lcd5Aqnuh6cu-MefFKDRFw_AxgcXrpV806CAa1cjjbzzEK1jP9frjsenyL2_Te5ZimxfkCeiCcJEZNJv8W6RuxMIqtaFskpVk3n478YlzDK6ux1oZr8tIIATSkeJIcXNHnHD-sPEaD/s1600/Holly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJ3Lcd5Aqnuh6cu-MefFKDRFw_AxgcXrpV806CAa1cjjbzzEK1jP9frjsenyL2_Te5ZimxfkCeiCcJEZNJv8W6RuxMIqtaFskpVk3n478YlzDK6ux1oZr8tIIATSkeJIcXNHnHD-sPEaD/s320/Holly.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirrored furniture like this vanity are a staple of this look.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mRThoyiqP0FNQ4U-V508av9pN2Q7FJn02T10_rFIG3xaLEYg6Wo6OHQ7crifQisaFQcOA01X-NZQp4iWvcH7xmY1QUpv_oUuwwUHtXkdo-xPhfJbr687JQ5HywyEoEC0cjqm3yfgni1E/s1600/holly+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mRThoyiqP0FNQ4U-V508av9pN2Q7FJn02T10_rFIG3xaLEYg6Wo6OHQ7crifQisaFQcOA01X-NZQp4iWvcH7xmY1QUpv_oUuwwUHtXkdo-xPhfJbr687JQ5HywyEoEC0cjqm3yfgni1E/s320/holly+bed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This mirrored bed from Julian Chichester is gorgeous!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_eXTydKTkCN411aQT8T0kzFBhLo0R1AL3zai7wLhmNRQ6N159Tc0xpzV6pl54CN2SmQjoGPQwOYiaHD_fywiqApPU3_53kVCEqr5lelkVRu5Rr2mO-YPXvoBnItt690EZQmoJdxADBNq/s1600/uph-settee-02A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_eXTydKTkCN411aQT8T0kzFBhLo0R1AL3zai7wLhmNRQ6N159Tc0xpzV6pl54CN2SmQjoGPQwOYiaHD_fywiqApPU3_53kVCEqr5lelkVRu5Rr2mO-YPXvoBnItt690EZQmoJdxADBNq/s320/uph-settee-02A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tufted love seat would make a perfect addition to the foot of the bed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8c6ntM6A9TetGKtvj18rNRp6s2jiysONNhhAvlTjuZfJNGUEAS1ABYIJBmagg8VuH16fO-pA1HxnSRl77kppEPL6LKP0y7nI0LzOtkKqEmKGI7tKfOokWdoCLnLB0oWTz8SA2dD8LUZX/s1600/wallpaper+option.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8c6ntM6A9TetGKtvj18rNRp6s2jiysONNhhAvlTjuZfJNGUEAS1ABYIJBmagg8VuH16fO-pA1HxnSRl77kppEPL6LKP0y7nI0LzOtkKqEmKGI7tKfOokWdoCLnLB0oWTz8SA2dD8LUZX/s320/wallpaper+option.png" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metallic wall paper in a bold graphic is just the thing for teen glamour.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table> This is going to be a fun project. I will be sure to share the results with you in a few months, when it is done.Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-49660005737541327102011-01-27T10:44:00.000-08:002011-01-27T10:44:36.675-08:00Working with My Mother and Her Take on Green Design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>My mom is a 5 foot nothing powerhouse! If I have any natural design talent it comes from her and I always tell folks ~ you will like me best, until you meet my mother. It is no surprise that when she moved here 18 months ago, I was thrilled. Like anyone scaling down and moving into new digs, mom wanted help in choosing what to keep, what to let go and how to put it all together in a new, open floor plan. We began the process and I quickly realized that my mother has a very "green" approach to design. She loves natural fabrics and textiles, is a big believer in re-using, recycling and re-purposing, and wants her home to be as energy efficient as possible. And so we began. The only room that I had total control over was the dining room. Interestingly enough, it made the cover of Drapery and Design Magazine.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioOfsscFcZjDZvrnP0GuNbUE0i4rm1UXQtLx4Jb9pL45K0jF-Uc8nmMp8RjPsq9Bp94ow3SK3IH4o9cfrO_9xolZUNEQT2gFuzX96XTzbxKQXmwaI8_SNVKuflZQLUwVHG6UKrDuvc_hL/s1600/volume11issue1_cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioOfsscFcZjDZvrnP0GuNbUE0i4rm1UXQtLx4Jb9pL45K0jF-Uc8nmMp8RjPsq9Bp94ow3SK3IH4o9cfrO_9xolZUNEQT2gFuzX96XTzbxKQXmwaI8_SNVKuflZQLUwVHG6UKrDuvc_hL/s400/volume11issue1_cover.png" width="308" /></a></div>In the foyer, an old chair got re-born when we refinished the wood from dated pickled pine to a distressed chestnut, and, added new Robert Allen fabric. An estate sale table purchased for $25, and given a new finish, sports some high end lamps and a piece of porcelain collected on a trip to Japan. A wool rug and a recycled mirror finish the welcoming entrance.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LRBLVjseka2SoTlagJxG-DP4LzxmDPOjD-s4hBnCTDWPXkzaxFNEkq0EajvKatBlAJUGTyTEe8q51ilnRNsYXPu3BlXZm6ioHtZR_LrsdqO86Mwk7hTqkPJA7BJfzmzNpHEQ8U7oJP5l/s1600/Copy+of+DSCF0385aaaaAsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LRBLVjseka2SoTlagJxG-DP4LzxmDPOjD-s4hBnCTDWPXkzaxFNEkq0EajvKatBlAJUGTyTEe8q51ilnRNsYXPu3BlXZm6ioHtZR_LrsdqO86Mwk7hTqkPJA7BJfzmzNpHEQ8U7oJP5l/s400/Copy+of+DSCF0385aaaaAsm.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> My mom loves her 25 year old petite love seats. The bones were good, so we covered them in Sunbrella fabric. Light control was an issue so they installed top down, bottom up shades on the windows, which we softened with sheers to keep the room light and airy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovTrHCK5eLegM6V0fidYXEayixnPfqR_b21UzA42Hye1waWwNSnJOz8aQR1HbJ4X_Uid_WJh-U-KNuaaBxysBRc-4BGxlZP1kiQmFFJtZHyc6u-lzWWHoprv2GBCJmVMCdIxl8kLwVj1k/s1600/DSCF0402aaaSm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovTrHCK5eLegM6V0fidYXEayixnPfqR_b21UzA42Hye1waWwNSnJOz8aQR1HbJ4X_Uid_WJh-U-KNuaaBxysBRc-4BGxlZP1kiQmFFJtZHyc6u-lzWWHoprv2GBCJmVMCdIxl8kLwVj1k/s400/DSCF0402aaaSm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I had nothing to do with the next piece, but it is one of my favorite things in her home. My dad's mother, my grandmother, had an old pie safe that she passed down to my mom. The thing was in terrible condition but my energizer bunny of a mom got right after it! She re-painted it, added some fabric, and it now displays treasures from the past in her guest room. Talk about re-purposing!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_DM8mL9MukfjKPS0o-KKGjtGHPc6B4Kyc_UQBLkYfT38Jto3PhOOs72x9tLEneUBRe8sEwdUWn62NxhFs1QZ8SFrrR0ys10gCGUmhuo7f39STmvIJDFUpb3ufuwhALo-n1WqU966go67/s1600/Copy+of+DSCF0406aaaVsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_DM8mL9MukfjKPS0o-KKGjtGHPc6B4Kyc_UQBLkYfT38Jto3PhOOs72x9tLEneUBRe8sEwdUWn62NxhFs1QZ8SFrrR0ys10gCGUmhuo7f39STmvIJDFUpb3ufuwhALo-n1WqU966go67/s400/Copy+of+DSCF0406aaaVsm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> A close up shows the wonderful patina of age and an antique ironstone jug, family photo and my grandmother's iron that you held in the fire to use.<br />
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Working with my mom was a hoot. We laughed and went down memory lane about a thousand times, but, the thing that made me proud was that, at 80 years young, my amazing mother knows how important it is to use our resources wisely and to stay as green as you can. What would happen to our planet if each of us did just that?Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-55972263494696994332011-01-17T08:26:00.000-08:002011-01-17T08:26:44.269-08:00Beautiful Bookcases<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Being a bookworm, I am in love with books and bookcases. In winter, there is nothing I like better than curling up by the fireplace with a hot cup of tea, my favorite throw, and reading. The fact that my fireplace is surrounded by built-in bookcases adds to my enjoyment. Bookcases are wonderful to own, especially if you love to read. They add texture, drama, warmth and interest to a room, but, they can be tricky to decorate. Too many books, inadequately arranged, can give you a messy or cluttered look. Bookcases that are book-free, and used instead as place to hold decorative items, can look a bit odd without the item they were made to hold. Bookcases can be found in formal rooms, offices, craft rooms, and just about anywhere else in the home. Today, we are going to take a look at ways to make sure your bookcases look their best.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievp5l42UqOCZDqdoNep595192_nzzSzLTqAlamoUuoedGM0mfUCU2k9sEvnjeeX563dmeMNZPdWXc0NiSWh41RHi4HWflgmsAFSZEuYJAGporsUMpqP2ZRnuGE9CuTlBIr0V8ouR3bw1D/s1600/you+can+hang+art+on+a+bookcase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievp5l42UqOCZDqdoNep595192_nzzSzLTqAlamoUuoedGM0mfUCU2k9sEvnjeeX563dmeMNZPdWXc0NiSWh41RHi4HWflgmsAFSZEuYJAGporsUMpqP2ZRnuGE9CuTlBIr0V8ouR3bw1D/s400/you+can+hang+art+on+a+bookcase.jpg" width="312" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here a formal piece of art dresses up the bookcase to go with the room.</span> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGnOz0cFAZSJ73fVRHHs66mwG52HrOYUzliZb34fLB2j5bq3X0au6QtzwyYb5Mw2EYkt5uKh_L4e2B5omGyLOUBDNLWeUsWkSVHTaf2fwzIIy6WzP7sWqQwCMFYeWa45yySpMD-5xvjT1/s1600/bookcase+adjust+your+shelves.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGnOz0cFAZSJ73fVRHHs66mwG52HrOYUzliZb34fLB2j5bq3X0au6QtzwyYb5Mw2EYkt5uKh_L4e2B5omGyLOUBDNLWeUsWkSVHTaf2fwzIIy6WzP7sWqQwCMFYeWa45yySpMD-5xvjT1/s400/bookcase+adjust+your+shelves.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">In this bookcase, art is hung on the walls and the front of the bookcase. Additionally, the owners adjusted the shelves to varying heights in order to add other decorative elements. Last but not least, notice how they painted the back of the bookcases with the wall color, keeps it interesting, don't you think?</span></td><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></td><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVnIf-0m5fMA_DrNdmShl2S7xH7NjceUlfysAMNv9XNG-OfXUAbarFRwZ_zCwpjB3Gjaz7Ys0gaopyrxY82suWE41NjHt9VkuJiZQFzln05JFh5q7B8z2geQSu1jng5ihRGuZGx_Y0yLL/s1600/bookcase+by+color+by+size.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVnIf-0m5fMA_DrNdmShl2S7xH7NjceUlfysAMNv9XNG-OfXUAbarFRwZ_zCwpjB3Gjaz7Ys0gaopyrxY82suWE41NjHt9VkuJiZQFzln05JFh5q7B8z2geQSu1jng5ihRGuZGx_Y0yLL/s400/bookcase+by+color+by+size.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Brilliant here, is the use of color and organizing according to size. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oS9HdLzE_ERbKgR7TkoGUsNgewn4e05OJfbSpfwS7bbHYKUmPH7jYPyQmVsSTOugqTot207fl1KEsSDkizqrU_vVT9tfG1CSPYDjxCIIL2jWbHOBfVtxabP-w9mRAmqdxijHWJSp9ML6/s1600/color+and+balance.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oS9HdLzE_ERbKgR7TkoGUsNgewn4e05OJfbSpfwS7bbHYKUmPH7jYPyQmVsSTOugqTot207fl1KEsSDkizqrU_vVT9tfG1CSPYDjxCIIL2jWbHOBfVtxabP-w9mRAmqdxijHWJSp9ML6/s400/color+and+balance.jpeg" width="336" /></a></div>Color on the back of the bookcases compliments the colors shown in the organizational tools and dust jackets for the books. Balancing decorative items and decreasing the visual weight as you move up the case makes this work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2tDbWJpYc-SXTe3CWCN5_yRc-a_svF8PQPa9m0ItgVBVUAjo1-8BqnmFJDqdqq_I09PSXqdbrFmU2DFe0hggXPm5_7V5fl2usxTAstDWtqmgSsyeLoPuY1eglGYaAHwZBRr3yAnQ1loK/s1600/wallpaper+backed+bookcase.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2tDbWJpYc-SXTe3CWCN5_yRc-a_svF8PQPa9m0ItgVBVUAjo1-8BqnmFJDqdqq_I09PSXqdbrFmU2DFe0hggXPm5_7V5fl2usxTAstDWtqmgSsyeLoPuY1eglGYaAHwZBRr3yAnQ1loK/s320/wallpaper+backed+bookcase.png" width="319" /></a></div>This bookcase is lined with a decorative wallpaper that adds elegance to the books and glass collectible<b>s.</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnPG95MGDrJ9mvu275Nkw0d-NBQ8dps7-s_RwbiRLYkQr1Jv1qdviAgAoXfcQqif79ag73glOmV0qBafmAIppkFYgxISOSUp6J477kmz0QBp3W_jRCE8idSzMeWwGpH1DqHaArZ4MI5qb/s1600/two+tone+bookcases.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnPG95MGDrJ9mvu275Nkw0d-NBQ8dps7-s_RwbiRLYkQr1Jv1qdviAgAoXfcQqif79ag73glOmV0qBafmAIppkFYgxISOSUp6J477kmz0QBp3W_jRCE8idSzMeWwGpH1DqHaArZ4MI5qb/s400/two+tone+bookcases.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><br />
In this home office, the soothing blue background of the bookcase and the white wrapped books keep the space calm. Again, the visual weight is on the bottom and it gets lighter as you move up toward the top.<br />
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Every so often, I would encourage you to<b> </b>take your bookcases apart and rearrange them. Move your art and accessories around, if it looks good in the living room, it might look better in the den! Playing with what you own and moving it around keeps things fresh and helps you appreciate items that you may not even notice now that you have seen them in the same place for so long. Re-doing your bookcase with color or new art, books, and accessories is a great way to refresh your room without a big commitment. So be bold, be daring and have fun!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-50488292272942954602011-01-04T10:18:00.000-08:002011-01-04T10:19:45.546-08:00Losing It!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Whether you are planning to get rid of extra weight, or the unwanted weight of items in storage, the first part of a New Year is a great time to lose it! During the Christmas season between the "big" day and New Years Eve, I find myself wanting to start fresh in the New Year. I go on a bit of a purge, clearing out closets, storage spaces, cabinets, pantry, you name it and it is not left untouched! I do this, not only because it is on the annual to-to list, but because it helps me internally. I want my hidden spaces to be as calm and pleasing as my "public" interior. The idea of losing a few pounds of storage weight also has the added benefit of making room in life for new and good things. Organizing things is work for me, not something that I adore, therefore, I keep a lookout for inspiration This year to motivate myself, I looked to one of my resources, Closet and Storage Concepts for ideas. One of their products, that I have coveted for years, is their gift wrap, mail and craft center. Imagine having it all right there at your finger tips! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19Oqy_qJiGOGf9cBAPETGIffxGicZbW7NicRamoZ_WH4tUROWIeFjrfwS7fUW9cMmduwJmZiATkkmonGjws3Yw2tiwu_uj9spQiBeIXe26WDHdm2OJVOKcMZFYEPqUNdoGz7MmQIXo1bx/s1600/dream+storage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19Oqy_qJiGOGf9cBAPETGIffxGicZbW7NicRamoZ_WH4tUROWIeFjrfwS7fUW9cMmduwJmZiATkkmonGjws3Yw2tiwu_uj9spQiBeIXe26WDHdm2OJVOKcMZFYEPqUNdoGz7MmQIXo1bx/s400/dream+storage.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>Another goal of mine is to add storage gadgets to my fairly standard closet. Drawers for jewelry is big on my to-do list.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGWyiQTosKI9KTj2Z_lfzhyeP9SgZ6-M0951E5GKIqvuC6LVgpOdhwt7gTDVX4FGWBquSnnn1S-nbRH9zrmIxq3gzaebBeI275JvtP3GUNMDKjLp0MkLiOQg6DZtm4WUTx6GnFGZ04Frm/s1600/closet+gadgets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGWyiQTosKI9KTj2Z_lfzhyeP9SgZ6-M0951E5GKIqvuC6LVgpOdhwt7gTDVX4FGWBquSnnn1S-nbRH9zrmIxq3gzaebBeI275JvtP3GUNMDKjLp0MkLiOQg6DZtm4WUTx6GnFGZ04Frm/s400/closet+gadgets.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One more closet item that has my attention, is the drop down rack that allows for maximizing vertical space.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EEk3EKB33a4-Nd1bOunQsWdLyvMrp_pgarvsJQ3fH-14L9XeFuKZvKWSvZei_DU9YpSSxM8LqTDLFOo0bhcP7YBTFl4_6ltXiDLvlosTfKS3zuata6T9KmI9Lku9tma-FC3eLsNXOw59/s1600/closet+gizmo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EEk3EKB33a4-Nd1bOunQsWdLyvMrp_pgarvsJQ3fH-14L9XeFuKZvKWSvZei_DU9YpSSxM8LqTDLFOo0bhcP7YBTFl4_6ltXiDLvlosTfKS3zuata6T9KmI9Lku9tma-FC3eLsNXOw59/s400/closet+gizmo.jpg" width="292" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Finally, when it comes to kitchen pantries, I don't know too many people that don't struggle with keeping it all visually pleasing. In a recent issue of Good Housekeeping, Jamie Lee Curtis shared her organizing tips for her pantry. She shares "I feel like packaging is bringing somebody else's design into my house." So she stores cereals, flour, sugar, and the like in clear containers with lids. This allows her to access her pantry without all of the label clutter. Ikea has some great storage solutions that work with idea in mind.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>When it comes to getting organized for the year ahead, look for ways to motivate and inspire. Create a list of storage ideas you want to add to your own home, work on areas that feel visually cluttered, create a sense of calm in your hidden space. The benefit for you is a feeling of having "your ducks in a row" or readiness to tackle the challenges and opportunities of a new year. Here's to losing it!Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-85883201971045356272010-12-18T10:47:00.000-08:002010-12-21T12:52:05.541-08:00Have a Sentimental and Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8yVTdEeUewl0B5IfUoEDxo_62Jlw7I9GyR3IM5BAPHgSBuGTVNKmsg2VWkX2N0OxnjgyByUPW1rMstpGnPEyeqvqWHjWdGMem91SzULpTHBZDjT-59HDW2wogIZMU-QajHOEvygpRamV/s1600/christmas+perfect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8yVTdEeUewl0B5IfUoEDxo_62Jlw7I9GyR3IM5BAPHgSBuGTVNKmsg2VWkX2N0OxnjgyByUPW1rMstpGnPEyeqvqWHjWdGMem91SzULpTHBZDjT-59HDW2wogIZMU-QajHOEvygpRamV/s400/christmas+perfect.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Christmas Decorating Perfection</span>!</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love a beautiful interior design for Christmas, I just can't seen to quite go for the "designer" look in my own home. A friend of mine visited my home recently and commented on my Christmas decorating. She said "Jane Ann with you being in the interior design industry, I would have thought that your Christmas decor would be over the top, instead it's very homey and charming, I love it, but it is not at all what I expected." Well my friend is right. I am just too sentimental to do "formal" Christmas decore. How do I opt for a beautiful tree topper, when I have my son's paper mache sheppard with it's crooked hook and google eyes? How do I decorate my tree in a wonderful color scheme, when I have so many hand-made ornaments, done by my children, made from the bottom of paper cups, old cd-roms, coke cans, plaster of paris handprints, macrame, and colored paper? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZn1TH33ZZ9o-ohJiNhxI3iReyuyt1Sid-OGB_usyIaxbSXGHegS_crjRCnaBhkAVqQvPItyvSaEciVRFEMfbnIGxgCNM7ewEiONcaomLhkwbs_IRAYPoOGp84KPoU_QM8rrD4MmlUY_sQ/s1600/christmas+ornament+kid+made.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZn1TH33ZZ9o-ohJiNhxI3iReyuyt1Sid-OGB_usyIaxbSXGHegS_crjRCnaBhkAVqQvPItyvSaEciVRFEMfbnIGxgCNM7ewEiONcaomLhkwbs_IRAYPoOGp84KPoU_QM8rrD4MmlUY_sQ/s320/christmas+ornament+kid+made.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">These are the items that I use to decorate my family room tree and always will. Of course, being a lover of the eclectic, I mix in my Waterford and Oreffors crystal ornaments, and other lovely ornaments gathered over the years. I still put out the Christmas teddy bears along with the Christmas china, and mix fresh greenery with my children's gingerbread houses, made years ago and protected as if they were museum quality sculptures! The good news for all of us is that Christmas isn't dependant on perfectly turned out decor, but on the treasures in our lives the represent years of family and love. It is my ferverant wish that each of you have a Christmas that rejoices in beauty, reflects love of family and friends and touches your heart with the true meaning of this lovely holiday. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2011!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
PS: Here is a photo to help you to dream White Christmas dreams...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9Wzq3zFyXnpbf6r0-j2cQp9AQ4HDYSjSjmWG8BkcVIgksZTNgRvtUKuSN6LHJgZdEVKwiimtSf5MiVgX0b4CD0SKUiZgoItcA-Vf4wW__89v_DVRoVWO9FopBvbkij33YXEXV5QG8VIJ/s1600/snow+scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9Wzq3zFyXnpbf6r0-j2cQp9AQ4HDYSjSjmWG8BkcVIgksZTNgRvtUKuSN6LHJgZdEVKwiimtSf5MiVgX0b4CD0SKUiZgoItcA-Vf4wW__89v_DVRoVWO9FopBvbkij33YXEXV5QG8VIJ/s400/snow+scene.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-102019097712079292010-11-09T06:26:00.000-08:002010-11-09T06:26:23.489-08:00The Thankful Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I love Thanksgiving. I like the traditions, like the whole family dozing together in front of the football game after lunch, the food, especially grandma's recipe for stuffing, and the time spent with those that I love the most. I enjoy the days of preparation, the laughter and fun around the table, and the opportunity to acknowledge all of the blessings of life. It seems like today's retailers have decided that Thanksgiving is nothing more than the kick off to the Holiday shopping season! It is because I am seeing stockings and tinsel in the stores, that I am more determined than ever to celebrate this great holiday with some festive decor in my home. I have also had a couple of clients ask for my help in preparing their holiday table. It has been fun to find inspiration on the web and I thought I would share some of my favorite, easy-to-do ideas with you. Don't let the Christmas push deny you the opportunity to celebrate the decor of Autumn when these simple projects can add so much to your own Thanksgiving table.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-W902UVff-1EToLwRgsJRsp3-qXsmnvMmns3OKrm-5mXMBQxUzohhuzZU4lOWVlx4Wnyz2PuOtUTcrk2rruW18Eceg0N85FYkXn2Z3RptdF24bL82g1kMNL5N8irsY6eEWZxc9jaKfpAc/s1600/pumpkin+candle+centerpiece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-W902UVff-1EToLwRgsJRsp3-qXsmnvMmns3OKrm-5mXMBQxUzohhuzZU4lOWVlx4Wnyz2PuOtUTcrk2rruW18Eceg0N85FYkXn2Z3RptdF24bL82g1kMNL5N8irsY6eEWZxc9jaKfpAc/s1600/pumpkin+candle+centerpiece.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple, right? A small baking pumpkin with leaves, berries and a candled added. Do a group of these in a row down the center of the table and you have a lovely centerpiece. No muss. No fuss!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6A1ob4H0bwLfrnTgFZtedrgtb4h7Zon9XMGiq5xscPAXpSQxEZE_KiFacLLNV1urhromF-8p22t5Ta_AW2-It4ujUFjsn6WPr9nfPOknQiETkPYIXOTdBZOHr71YGXvLhTQeXAcNHZ80/s1600/gailsdecorativetouch+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6A1ob4H0bwLfrnTgFZtedrgtb4h7Zon9XMGiq5xscPAXpSQxEZE_KiFacLLNV1urhromF-8p22t5Ta_AW2-It4ujUFjsn6WPr9nfPOknQiETkPYIXOTdBZOHr71YGXvLhTQeXAcNHZ80/s400/gailsdecorativetouch+blog.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This entry is so welcoming. I love the topiaries, particularly, and they aren't that hard to create. Hammer a long dowel down through the three pumpkins to hold them together. Hot glue, or wire, leaves, nuts, pine cones and berries between the pumpkins - and you're done!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8ruMSEzQ9D7-HiOw_cs6s3wxAyiaiZHdKpnk-6QR4EO8PYP7ItDjXrdTVqqDggxTeQlV9cBwe0mk4or0XU0DHIt7u9Nd31hO6Cimj55Zr9q1-AkQYFqLGH-2wTGs4KEAFd_MGeqZcNR7/s1600/indiancorncandle.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8ruMSEzQ9D7-HiOw_cs6s3wxAyiaiZHdKpnk-6QR4EO8PYP7ItDjXrdTVqqDggxTeQlV9cBwe0mk4or0XU0DHIt7u9Nd31hO6Cimj55Zr9q1-AkQYFqLGH-2wTGs4KEAFd_MGeqZcNR7/s400/indiancorncandle.bmp" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raffia wrapped Indian corn looks gorgeous around this large hurricane globe and candle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4-MXs7ZlqCWdIlkO8SYhhEsGgRqscAGlguJlfg8IFN7ac1BNdeFDSI42hZXRxQlG94n51pRG3HbC1QFTctnr0UKum7pVkQsZaheyTMjyIqy8sJpzSw3skRIWn2yWcQwFlovR0xRGP5m5/s1600/autumn+outdoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4-MXs7ZlqCWdIlkO8SYhhEsGgRqscAGlguJlfg8IFN7ac1BNdeFDSI42hZXRxQlG94n51pRG3HbC1QFTctnr0UKum7pVkQsZaheyTMjyIqy8sJpzSw3skRIWn2yWcQwFlovR0xRGP5m5/s400/autumn+outdoor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talk about simple... corn husks and a pumpkin! Watch that you choose a really great vase for maximum impact.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBynLEtpgG-aTEanPvzTxQt9XnrrIJv8FIYR7JzUBWXi70QNRTatOFg7yvxbe51Tgc8iPYJES_BnMrYxHB1Rpu977iXcPfK9JpKvt1WABq7YfD2P4BoAQEwNfPfs_9x5X0NU0ZWe1AjLu/s1600/citrus-centerpiece-fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBynLEtpgG-aTEanPvzTxQt9XnrrIJv8FIYR7JzUBWXi70QNRTatOFg7yvxbe51Tgc8iPYJES_BnMrYxHB1Rpu977iXcPfK9JpKvt1WABq7YfD2P4BoAQEwNfPfs_9x5X0NU0ZWe1AjLu/s400/citrus-centerpiece-fb.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one takes a little bit of pre-planning... but so pretty. Slice a variety of fruits very thin and allow time for them to dry. Hot glue the slices to the base of your candle and tuck bittersweet berries in and around them for extra color.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-66053139584970167852010-11-01T09:46:00.000-07:002010-11-01T09:49:17.371-07:00Back from the High Point Market... Trends in TextilesMuch of what we do at Maxwell House of Design involves textiles. We do window treatments, bedding, upholstery, slipcovers, pillows, throws, rugs, you name a textile and we have probably used it or come close! At the recent High Point Market, I noticed that the trends reported to us in March by Jackie Von Tobel, were showing up all over the fall market. Jackie shared that embellished linens, sheers, and pillows were a big trend in Paris at the Maison de Objet show held in January. Sure enough Emdee International, Lili Allesandra and others had some wonderful items in their showrooms!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0a58PGLfYD6Q0jkLeYMmGl_LbVC8pXfVpJzlNDz9yIJuXiBxAh4EU0cLdk7bN-sqPPEn-h_O_WHl1yUSzivvOfVguQinUe4csQ_SJ-iqRlFsZqj2fln37n3TG0-bF2LFXPawJXiXVjjfs/s1600/emdee+applica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0a58PGLfYD6Q0jkLeYMmGl_LbVC8pXfVpJzlNDz9yIJuXiBxAh4EU0cLdk7bN-sqPPEn-h_O_WHl1yUSzivvOfVguQinUe4csQ_SJ-iqRlFsZqj2fln37n3TG0-bF2LFXPawJXiXVjjfs/s400/emdee+applica.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lovely orchid embellishment was on a linen window panel. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zt7hALgmVL-mu2ChmZpbJi4KMqYuofgXDYkzuMGGyt8PNhQOmLbyGT6b7yNgq3sseQgZdRF3PyuCgPzqg-f-LX5d96nxiKK7IuwAUG1MZRMXgVSHhagOUlewboKOhOlfqkjMx214a4Zo/s1600/emdee+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zt7hALgmVL-mu2ChmZpbJi4KMqYuofgXDYkzuMGGyt8PNhQOmLbyGT6b7yNgq3sseQgZdRF3PyuCgPzqg-f-LX5d96nxiKK7IuwAUG1MZRMXgVSHhagOUlewboKOhOlfqkjMx214a4Zo/s400/emdee+chair.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even plain chairs can become spectacular in this slipcover!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXd0AntluebzthjOXrpgMcVrEbMNU6as1LWyZTv06pUmtEShRKl0lOlMlRFSBG87BgLLv6jrcJBCFtfeqff6qiSN6KEfvLdNkRf4mWYzQHllto2bbo_O2hneNPDgrfoQoDx-Q0nRfKB9R/s1600/emdee+sheers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXd0AntluebzthjOXrpgMcVrEbMNU6as1LWyZTv06pUmtEShRKl0lOlMlRFSBG87BgLLv6jrcJBCFtfeqff6qiSN6KEfvLdNkRf4mWYzQHllto2bbo_O2hneNPDgrfoQoDx-Q0nRfKB9R/s320/emdee+sheers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicate petals add a romantic touch<br />
<div align="left"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> In the world of upholstery, we are seeing quite a spectrum. From bold color and whimsical patters, to tartan plaids and hounds tooth, the options in upholstery have never been better. In my humble opinion, it seems like the world of home furnishing is answering the public response to the economic crisis in one of two main ways. On the one hand you have a return to very traditional rooms, think British hunt club with worn leather chairs, wool plaids, antlers and animal skins. This style evokes comfort, stability and a restful cocoon that provides a safe haven from the harsh realities of the world outside the home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOODCBOEueDABeVWgLOXfwK-b9X3t0gg9W22blqPSd5ARHGWf9Rz3TNFvBYloZPorQ6xPe_zn9efsD3K0dZejGrpz2AT1UWw8q1inYP77XcshC7xCqarrFAb6qZm_MLlJaKwaM1smHC8h0/s1600/Ralph_Lauren_Home_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOODCBOEueDABeVWgLOXfwK-b9X3t0gg9W22blqPSd5ARHGWf9Rz3TNFvBYloZPorQ6xPe_zn9efsD3K0dZejGrpz2AT1UWw8q1inYP77XcshC7xCqarrFAb6qZm_MLlJaKwaM1smHC8h0/s400/Ralph_Lauren_Home_1.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vintage Ralph Lauren</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZk3EQ1av8ApJ9L8rUs3LLsVEfkL7CKc26PdD3qgeZHU07upoMzTkwk9cO7ntdMpq6_CsZAb99QKphO2CIH9g6fRBWWlOf4gPAVtphwb9exjVxHPz2MpkxF4HZ8txYfVtIbUSxSM3Fg3l/s1600/hunt+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZk3EQ1av8ApJ9L8rUs3LLsVEfkL7CKc26PdD3qgeZHU07upoMzTkwk9cO7ntdMpq6_CsZAb99QKphO2CIH9g6fRBWWlOf4gPAVtphwb9exjVxHPz2MpkxF4HZ8txYfVtIbUSxSM3Fg3l/s400/hunt+dog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C. R. Laine's take on traditional</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
On the flip side, bold clear color, riotous mixes of pattern and whimsy address the doldrums of daily life. This attitude is much like those folks that hole up in the Caribbean to have Hurricane parties, refusing to stop having fun, when Mother Nature is threatening. Bright, happy and optimistic these rooms allow the homeowner to retreat to their "happy place". <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbjo8cPCIxKeH0lBCvSHo-SIFFcrjr8gatDUs4ywcDJpG6S6nJ50_ug-QNvw_tVRm30Q873fv-xYV2tH93zWWsz6raE27js5CsaOnRIhfTx63_xoWX1P1BKVTsTeOAKZSxZzJ0sK245BS/s1600/moroccan+inspired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbjo8cPCIxKeH0lBCvSHo-SIFFcrjr8gatDUs4ywcDJpG6S6nJ50_ug-QNvw_tVRm30Q873fv-xYV2tH93zWWsz6raE27js5CsaOnRIhfTx63_xoWX1P1BKVTsTeOAKZSxZzJ0sK245BS/s400/moroccan+inspired.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C.R. Laine does Moroccan</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinisBt05jdHStNudPkwRVO2ZLxAnDYDQCJ4ZL4pghGV7_XWHZtnn8uHUk5LAbNp8y_QbTSBW2MWuNzlVqMFY1jc5Zge4jccLIqxyVBrcdV_Ec2KDw6i9WJIqXuqWExEGmI5bnA4aXvPnSa/s1600/century+happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="323" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinisBt05jdHStNudPkwRVO2ZLxAnDYDQCJ4ZL4pghGV7_XWHZtnn8uHUk5LAbNp8y_QbTSBW2MWuNzlVqMFY1jc5Zge4jccLIqxyVBrcdV_Ec2KDw6i9WJIqXuqWExEGmI5bnA4aXvPnSa/s400/century+happy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Century Furniture</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most of us fall into one of these two categories. Which one appeals to you? Traditionalist comfort? Bold Optimistic Bubble? Whichever category that appeals to you, the High Point Market served up plenty of both!</div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-30641504490450971602010-08-28T05:06:00.000-07:002010-08-28T05:06:05.529-07:00Use Fall Fashion Trends to Re-fresh Your Room.I must admit, I am not a big fan of most television design shows. The quality of the work is often shoddy and they don't show the months of work that it takes to produce a completed room. That being said, HGTV has lots of fans and especially popular is their reality series, Design Star. Last Sunday night HGTV crowned its newest Design Star, Emily Henderson. Emily wants to host a show that takes cues from her client’s fashion sense and turn it into a style statement for the home.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJhfMhe1FPwczuLcDBn8Tl-OEuFJHkXRN8ycRNzxO7W-_rP2faVya8Vfm6IUCDNE81MZr_Vw_v_uSon0-l3XvMvdX2Cx8Ip9rXh80Up51t5y18FCGaO7bJuoNR7zcueVtnXbsGELSAw4l/s1600/design+star.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJhfMhe1FPwczuLcDBn8Tl-OEuFJHkXRN8ycRNzxO7W-_rP2faVya8Vfm6IUCDNE81MZr_Vw_v_uSon0-l3XvMvdX2Cx8Ip9rXh80Up51t5y18FCGaO7bJuoNR7zcueVtnXbsGELSAw4l/s400/design+star.bmp" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Emily Henderson, HGTV's new Design Star</strong></span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table> Thom Filicia, formerly of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, had a show on the Style network called Dress My Nest which is also based on creating a space from a clients fashion style. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwNtjZDOoCIVcvCPCUxVV_IFZ8yfx5kMVq5VZUAYxjm1RaBlQ-rY3HKzZlqvpsG9aguUYXFVX_Ns_KSeFoBKYlc3W6o8htguFEPc4ixQyxP3K5zt1bxnKSSS6avDKFD5k7L4yRpwqG1rx/s1600/thom+fi.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwNtjZDOoCIVcvCPCUxVV_IFZ8yfx5kMVq5VZUAYxjm1RaBlQ-rY3HKzZlqvpsG9aguUYXFVX_Ns_KSeFoBKYlc3W6o8htguFEPc4ixQyxP3K5zt1bxnKSSS6avDKFD5k7L4yRpwqG1rx/s400/thom+fi.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Thom Filicia</strong></span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is a timely concept, as more and more, the design industry is following the lead of the fashion industry. Each year the furniture market offers pieces in color stories, textures, embellishments that can be seen on the runways in New York, Paris and Milan.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhss4fV9TR8wgXpacZfT7nyezn_liEWYEa1uUnEi3ZJ6Zpi_VQsY0xUdYoyBusqK-_pO-MxhyphenhyphenYkWyirsl7968bwfDSKrDerwcyWe2ApfHuc6hKJF9BBWZbUTJxml15vCblJ_-5FxrNI4dQQ/s1600/runways.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhss4fV9TR8wgXpacZfT7nyezn_liEWYEa1uUnEi3ZJ6Zpi_VQsY0xUdYoyBusqK-_pO-MxhyphenhyphenYkWyirsl7968bwfDSKrDerwcyWe2ApfHuc6hKJF9BBWZbUTJxml15vCblJ_-5FxrNI4dQQ/s400/runways.bmp" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>In this blog post, I thought it would be fun to look at what is going on in the fashion industry for Autumn 2010 and talk about ways to incorporate those ideas to refresh our own homes as we anticipate cooler weather. One of the most talked about fashion must –haves for fall is a camel hair coat. This classic material never goes out of style.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1VYtLvw3dthGYW1c6jLcnjYFev9L-gdW1Hk9MCDYe2oG2Kp7zwslz3JM_O3X7LaD8z5A1Mr1EMdKbjhmqzKgp8HMMZ1xIFv-RmvYxtivNnWnPmli8Cy2U6ZWGyDY2VkN1H4OiiMExSeo/s1600/max+mara+camel.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1VYtLvw3dthGYW1c6jLcnjYFev9L-gdW1Hk9MCDYe2oG2Kp7zwslz3JM_O3X7LaD8z5A1Mr1EMdKbjhmqzKgp8HMMZ1xIFv-RmvYxtivNnWnPmli8Cy2U6ZWGyDY2VkN1H4OiiMExSeo/s400/max+mara+camel.bmp" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Max Mara's take on the camel hair trench coat</strong></span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
One way to incorporate this look into your home is by adding a camel hair blanket to your bed, or <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRv4dF864mn4JILQIYsaMIQhWTHzRS6axJm3XtYZNZ-usiTrIQGA1TZBHhggSaBuwjYyNVZ6PlEWJ4QAHg3RpK7U9BeZWCZuvxggyTVvhdPybkJJyDN6LN9qZV6nis5mPArea9gxEtA7T/s1600/camelhair.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRv4dF864mn4JILQIYsaMIQhWTHzRS6axJm3XtYZNZ-usiTrIQGA1TZBHhggSaBuwjYyNVZ6PlEWJ4QAHg3RpK7U9BeZWCZuvxggyTVvhdPybkJJyDN6LN9qZV6nis5mPArea9gxEtA7T/s400/camelhair.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
as I plan to do, add a camel hair pillow or two to my sofa.<br />
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Another fall fashion trend is embellished sheer materials. Peek-a-boo clothing has been with us for ages, but now, the more embellished the better.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3W2hbwcNKm0-6LbmzqDEjf7HLH9bzpdaBUoU1YGpfu4a0QLyn-aEy_t4nWjdUAwm9JQaJFTDOiiavCEsUr8syJrJgb4Dj1v3fbSvmovVnNHX7u7yzukNObszqynk6L8X8PN-RS117_761/s1600/embellished+sheer.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3W2hbwcNKm0-6LbmzqDEjf7HLH9bzpdaBUoU1YGpfu4a0QLyn-aEy_t4nWjdUAwm9JQaJFTDOiiavCEsUr8syJrJgb4Dj1v3fbSvmovVnNHX7u7yzukNObszqynk6L8X8PN-RS117_761/s400/embellished+sheer.bmp" width="233" /></a></div><br />
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True to form, the for-the-home market is offering its take on embellished sheers for your windows, a quite beautiful version, don’t you think? In the summer, I love my windows open to the sun, in the winter, layering in a sheer under window panels adds warmth, visually and literally.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQH_RAoqhPIfD7j_nqgHffNBh_e2oOHMNlKmw7F67O-61MDYyW8r1wXUK9rnnAPoIXVvzb6K_JhvR_zMMD6KK9MeT3_cXO_sfkjwx2FE6UcDUsnfH6DHj55FzWISMb3DAUGu6Ak1VOupPx/s1600/embellished+sheers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQH_RAoqhPIfD7j_nqgHffNBh_e2oOHMNlKmw7F67O-61MDYyW8r1wXUK9rnnAPoIXVvzb6K_JhvR_zMMD6KK9MeT3_cXO_sfkjwx2FE6UcDUsnfH6DHj55FzWISMb3DAUGu6Ak1VOupPx/s400/embellished+sheers.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br />
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The final fall fashion trend that we will explore in this post, is the ever popular animal print.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSPI-_t2t-aQTBwGQBGkxH_CAOpYXslAu1cc7RpbyoeAq8qEV4lzIKWCkPw_9LaV2RwzYFwY_YetFEX-a2wQw7Got1LhZa0r4E9yR3gQaJwqVRX6erCPRjC_lQjtyQ3aHaVWdTGhSUjOh/s1600/chicchocolatedc+animal.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSPI-_t2t-aQTBwGQBGkxH_CAOpYXslAu1cc7RpbyoeAq8qEV4lzIKWCkPw_9LaV2RwzYFwY_YetFEX-a2wQw7Got1LhZa0r4E9yR3gQaJwqVRX6erCPRjC_lQjtyQ3aHaVWdTGhSUjOh/s400/chicchocolatedc+animal.bmp" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Thanks Chic Chocolate for the image.</strong></span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am of the opinion that every home should have a little animal print somewhere, even if its in a rug<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQM5sqoLJaIYiue0eAd17FdkugiFexvimoJ3_djIJzPLcJ61Sp6w734EEo9BWZ7MX8hOz06o389nu_fuo86_c6H8OXvZmNR4pIRqJtwsclwnkI3dEmvyA3uqCD0FSg8gK9C6KBDGMwxRL/s1600/animal+print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQM5sqoLJaIYiue0eAd17FdkugiFexvimoJ3_djIJzPLcJ61Sp6w734EEo9BWZ7MX8hOz06o389nu_fuo86_c6H8OXvZmNR4pIRqJtwsclwnkI3dEmvyA3uqCD0FSg8gK9C6KBDGMwxRL/s400/animal+print.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Ballard Design</strong></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
or a throw. (I plan to add this throw in my family room when the weather grows cooler.) How fun to snuggle under something soft and beautiful!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwboDYjG4lyVIVsMlqp08Xepn1T6y25lz6JDA-UnUDv0q8ruv-A8O3XYalLe2fpHDamsb2bHryvOlTAJLZ8nTLCdMmbuIjsYYuwCTwIMbPBmvnJxenwAOv145StSN_X3i9HlVypYTxaWx/s1600/wmsonoma+throw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwboDYjG4lyVIVsMlqp08Xepn1T6y25lz6JDA-UnUDv0q8ruv-A8O3XYalLe2fpHDamsb2bHryvOlTAJLZ8nTLCdMmbuIjsYYuwCTwIMbPBmvnJxenwAOv145StSN_X3i9HlVypYTxaWx/s400/wmsonoma+throw.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Williams Sonoma throw</strong></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
That’s it for today. Next time, we will address metallic’s, leathers, and men’s suiting. Until then, what fall fashion trend are you going to incorporate into your home this autumn?Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-28714272000639875742010-08-13T07:44:00.000-07:002010-08-13T07:48:16.280-07:00Thinking Outside the Box...A recent client wanted her dining room to reflect her love of bold color, tropical dreams, and flights of fancy. This is a really great kind of client for a designer to have. We had a lot of fun along the way but the room presented several challenges. The first one was the narrowness of the space. The room was 16+ feet long but only 11 feet wide. The client already owned a narrow dining table and Paris flea market chairs. The chairs are adorable but low. They needed a cushion to bring the seat up to the proper height to dine. Custom cushions in a hot pink fabric were just the thing, both functionally and in a fun decorative sense. The window provided our next issue. At the end of the room was an asymmetrical bay window with not three windows, but a fourth, on the next wall that demanded to be included in the treatment of the bay. Helser Brothers French Poles took care of that issue beautifully, thank goodness. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7G06nNozpeyztrIN_JnBSJZkG3BtS271ibA0KdHvAik4yhV8s403ZnVaf9UGo0mYYsCuxb6Y4V7fp1ta18txl3RVYgHaQrTPtvV_3DF7fem0JMyc9E-XVwY3i20LEOcTSjGKYx9lk_R7Q/s1600/Helser+Dining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7G06nNozpeyztrIN_JnBSJZkG3BtS271ibA0KdHvAik4yhV8s403ZnVaf9UGo0mYYsCuxb6Y4V7fp1ta18txl3RVYgHaQrTPtvV_3DF7fem0JMyc9E-XVwY3i20LEOcTSjGKYx9lk_R7Q/s400/Helser+Dining.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Helser Brothers saved the day with their French poles. Custom pink cushions bring the chairs to a proper height</strong></span>.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The next challenge was the area rug. The homeowner owned the area rug and liked it, but the colors were dull and muddy. This homeowner really prefers clean, clear color and yet refused to abandon the area rug. We chose a clear color pattern on the window treatment bringing in the pinks and greens that she loved while adding a gold colored linen leading edge band to the panels. These bands helped tone down the playful fabric and helped tie in the area rug to the design.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMtPp8w0k_0L_mNgikUmCZ3DPoVnfWdQQfu_iibxjOjtJ5hIyVGqXMshLKZddNAjLhm7lUCAAPpWmToR0GPAnHuzJBhP9zPProOTNYXxeTxS2w9dInl5Sex6KlPFlFhtDePx1nS7y-aCU/s1600/MHS+leading+edge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMtPp8w0k_0L_mNgikUmCZ3DPoVnfWdQQfu_iibxjOjtJ5hIyVGqXMshLKZddNAjLhm7lUCAAPpWmToR0GPAnHuzJBhP9zPProOTNYXxeTxS2w9dInl5Sex6KlPFlFhtDePx1nS7y-aCU/s400/MHS+leading+edge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Banding on the leading edge</strong></span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Finally, the client needed some way to fill the long wall behind the table. We needed an affordable solution and again, she wanted something really different. At the Spring 2010 High Point Furniture market, Holly Blaylock of C. R. Laine furniture had used birdcages on the walls in the company's showroom. When I saw this long wall in my client's home, her tropical leanings and the dining chairs, I knew what needed to be done.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFaJhi1UHsMJTPduQss5c58gAt26pcqKuNglf95b8DX-rqe3X200RbD1oQ50Oyk2By9mGldj5ysFSnzgUMWZGw6JpHeVkpybr4KDiMNDJc0L2KSNXhCVyQqYcDirQZs0yhZdm_dLdOCgk/s1600/great+installer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFaJhi1UHsMJTPduQss5c58gAt26pcqKuNglf95b8DX-rqe3X200RbD1oQ50Oyk2By9mGldj5ysFSnzgUMWZGw6JpHeVkpybr4KDiMNDJc0L2KSNXhCVyQqYcDirQZs0yhZdm_dLdOCgk/s400/great+installer.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><em>Mike Barclift, master installer and "fix anything" guy</em>.</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I contacted Holly and found her source for birdcages. I had my installer, and fixer of anything, Mike, to cut down the largest birdcages for them to fit in depth. We arranged them on the wall and filled them with flameless candles to provide a soft, safe, candlelight during evening meals. The result is an out of the box dining room that embraces it's narrow proportions, offers up a tropical setting and provides whimsical flights of fancy for a delightful and happy homeowner.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjk78uhRWtprDEGjPLQ80tn6c99C5EXOs3oxp9aHJIUaJf75-bjRApd-IqWCQw4YlTrTGVViaUODhlyWsXC9PMPQFr6a4dchGa-SE3W_gtkgEmmXgQl4N5VeqXWo7D2-mT1TOKftf81PEM/s1600/MHS+night+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjk78uhRWtprDEGjPLQ80tn6c99C5EXOs3oxp9aHJIUaJf75-bjRApd-IqWCQw4YlTrTGVViaUODhlyWsXC9PMPQFr6a4dchGa-SE3W_gtkgEmmXgQl4N5VeqXWo7D2-mT1TOKftf81PEM/s400/MHS+night+shot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>The completed room</strong></span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-40088729749374237402010-08-02T18:20:00.000-07:002010-08-02T18:22:04.221-07:00Decorating Dorm Rooms...There is a funny back to school commercial that starts with a recording of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". That ad has made parents all over the country smile in recognition of the fact that the end of summer marks a return to schedules and some semblence of order. If you have a college bound kid, you are probably singing a different tune, like how do I make a small dorm space function for my child? Dorms act as sleeping spaces, study halls, social lounges, multi- media centers, and storage facilities all in a very small space. Fortunately, many retailers are offering color co-ordinated storage solutions that work with a young adults sense of style. <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3IjY8_B-bMNHYPbtGa1eloq5qgd5YcH9ogs0G4MMYwqI4_sG59m7VEs3H5c19JgdDoe7nLM__UF98nuqWtiUy5_vwf2P9hXTN467t25wyVqm2x3STmxI0u5iO46zKmVn6x9GqEnH1FE9/s1600/dorm+room+design.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3IjY8_B-bMNHYPbtGa1eloq5qgd5YcH9ogs0G4MMYwqI4_sG59m7VEs3H5c19JgdDoe7nLM__UF98nuqWtiUy5_vwf2P9hXTN467t25wyVqm2x3STmxI0u5iO46zKmVn6x9GqEnH1FE9/s400/dorm+room+design.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cyTJkQI1gvNZeUgHOsFHXdn0ruWJE9_xcRQvS-uu_OWZQYsVLdVdvoW9bbi91aKoQxd3m3K9D6B0jR6rvSA20pgfydi6RZB-EkwZcQ6ekptUglpJ055E0CFwCZc7w7k51KNfMBKub0Y9/s1600/Maximilian-Dorm-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cyTJkQI1gvNZeUgHOsFHXdn0ruWJE9_xcRQvS-uu_OWZQYsVLdVdvoW9bbi91aKoQxd3m3K9D6B0jR6rvSA20pgfydi6RZB-EkwZcQ6ekptUglpJ055E0CFwCZc7w7k51KNfMBKub0Y9/s400/Maximilian-Dorm-3.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">In addition to co-ordinated and creative storage, don't forget to make use of vertical space. Wall hooks or tack strips provide lots of options.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAM8MWfyW8k2-GTvi_QuWLmowYjzgowTI-hcLw4GJoC4PA6prIfK-5YaI6f-KnDepd-S0ycaHz3VbqrWULK8NnFHf1hYU0nAC3Ca5ftXQ7snvtOR8qw8F9D87DBx40CQTFJXw1Uq5hhcO/s1600/dorm+room+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAM8MWfyW8k2-GTvi_QuWLmowYjzgowTI-hcLw4GJoC4PA6prIfK-5YaI6f-KnDepd-S0ycaHz3VbqrWULK8NnFHf1hYU0nAC3Ca5ftXQ7snvtOR8qw8F9D87DBx40CQTFJXw1Uq5hhcO/s400/dorm+room+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the problems with dorm rooms are blank, boring walls. That can change now that there are wall tatoos. These stickers come in a wide variety of designs and colors and can instantly add color and personality without being permanent.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4LAy2_ePc7fZHHtz_bO6WS0W4sCsP4bIBsTDP0j0rMFwYstW-4fanFYW40-ZpevYmtb7KUUDODmCDvGz6NyPTvYVZacl-qT8Bae8brZlcpucEVqEThr3gGGsc-dHuBt3zv0oFziMaQqM/s1600/wall+stickers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4LAy2_ePc7fZHHtz_bO6WS0W4sCsP4bIBsTDP0j0rMFwYstW-4fanFYW40-ZpevYmtb7KUUDODmCDvGz6NyPTvYVZacl-qT8Bae8brZlcpucEVqEThr3gGGsc-dHuBt3zv0oFziMaQqM/s400/wall+stickers.jpg" width="397" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Dorm rooms can be comfortable and fun if you help your student maximize storage, go vertical with your design and add personality with color and focal points like wall stickers or your favorite art or art posters.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-44232637426969290012010-07-24T19:19:00.000-07:002010-07-24T19:19:49.092-07:00The Blowing Rock Tour of HomesFor the past 52 years, St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Parish, in Blowing Rock, NC has hosted a tour of homes. This event has progressed from a local fund raiser to one that draws visitors from as far away as Florida. There were over 1700 folks that enjoyed the tour this past Friday, July 23, and I was one of them. There were four amazing homes on the tour and each one was either recently renovated or brand new. The 4th home, Katydid, was my favorite. The home was a study in exquisite materials. There wasn’t a polyester thread in the entire home. Each room was lovely, understated, but luxurious, just the kind of interior that I love to do. Wool carpets, Brunschwig and Fil fabrics, imported hardware, exquisite antiques and art, custom appliqué on the bedding, all done in with a sense of homey comfort. The cottage style home and interior was perched on the side of a mountain that overlooked a spectacular mountain vista with two lovely decks to enjoy the view. The master closet was an organizer’s dream and was accessorized with about two dozen pairs of drool worthy shoes, most of them Manolo Blahnik’s. Truly, every aspect of this home was fabulous! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYUz2Wlo2xgX9DJOLEUEfMo9HNSnVt_WEJRZoVnQZLknXfRYblMfOsB0mm6pXizrSrFJKaQTxhtYliUDhmdoWld4Mq6O8jcgf2WbPfgNKZNHicQn3Y3M9SBjvzMEzImkwO3pAgKuUBOAI/s1600/katydid+view" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYUz2Wlo2xgX9DJOLEUEfMo9HNSnVt_WEJRZoVnQZLknXfRYblMfOsB0mm6pXizrSrFJKaQTxhtYliUDhmdoWld4Mq6O8jcgf2WbPfgNKZNHicQn3Y3M9SBjvzMEzImkwO3pAgKuUBOAI/s320/katydid+view" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the decks of Katydid.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUMLc2i7PaACfBwk2lfhBHGJSz5vQeYQP_D3_iV5Hz1npv11RoEO8V3ORmixnyuXrZDoW_7ZjL310h_YGDfrkgmD_5gSyUK-Ao3FrnDLtJcG-6jKh8aPeuQuZrd1G0ZAhgSr-vTk_D97T/s1600/Katydid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUMLc2i7PaACfBwk2lfhBHGJSz5vQeYQP_D3_iV5Hz1npv11RoEO8V3ORmixnyuXrZDoW_7ZjL310h_YGDfrkgmD_5gSyUK-Ao3FrnDLtJcG-6jKh8aPeuQuZrd1G0ZAhgSr-vTk_D97T/s320/Katydid.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite home, Katydid. Interior photos were not allowed.<br />
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</tbody></table>The first home, Stonehenge, was a study in using reclaimed materials. Wormy Chestnut, Mushroom Cypress and reclaimed Hemlock were incorporated into the interior, while old stone steps and other stones found on the property were used in the landscaping. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bXD8LRbuavBAOVV6ejDkSeJ0vBAj97K_RA89MH4mXjQgtFRJDoCHfzLtcmoojIXFRJQXdLZng4-QmPwCp_qu61P7JvekXzm7WKwk-rQTIOAb09tqr0CEVj5oYZl7yp3-LghDb7CJTU2K/s1600/Stonehenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bXD8LRbuavBAOVV6ejDkSeJ0vBAj97K_RA89MH4mXjQgtFRJDoCHfzLtcmoojIXFRJQXdLZng4-QmPwCp_qu61P7JvekXzm7WKwk-rQTIOAb09tqr0CEVj5oYZl7yp3-LghDb7CJTU2K/s400/Stonehenge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonehenge</td></tr>
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The 2nd home, Golden Hill, was the home, of Charlotte interior designers, Ed Springs and Bo Henderson. This home has the charm and warmth of an old English Manor House. The couple’s amazing and various collections took the main stage in this home, while the butterfly gardens commanded the attention outside. When we walked out onto the deck, the entire garden looked like it fluttered from all the butterflies. Each area was planted in different plants and each plant attracted a unique type of butterfly. It was just gorgeous.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaynBcEpEnPqK8J1P8GG9lDMk3Cisr-9t1LlLAsaW9Ym3d4p39kXJk3QyYB73q5PSp4y1M44-1cZBpYa8XpUhodZ_nfIJYgGk01Nf5Zj2Pn2bNk7CJCYEV1L08veO0j7UWv8XpjHr5HrHK/s1600/GoldenHill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaynBcEpEnPqK8J1P8GG9lDMk3Cisr-9t1LlLAsaW9Ym3d4p39kXJk3QyYB73q5PSp4y1M44-1cZBpYa8XpUhodZ_nfIJYgGk01Nf5Zj2Pn2bNk7CJCYEV1L08veO0j7UWv8XpjHr5HrHK/s400/GoldenHill.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The 3rd home, Green Gates, was warm and inviting with a sense of history, yet all of the modern conveniences. This home had a lovely guest cottage and the most amazing floral arrangements incorporating local wildflowers like Queen Anne’s lace and hydrangeas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfYvzNa4q8xsBrwID9HafKD8C8dEWgyRUhbOPP_zlbyyIC3W6EXdbRlAAGWZXm5Ku4f3C2v2Ga8OlpTAp0I1DXE23U3BW5y_sSv-ae8D6ttTdVSm3jryI5uldatAhjAEkRQZo0VL4XlYy/s1600/GreenGates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfYvzNa4q8xsBrwID9HafKD8C8dEWgyRUhbOPP_zlbyyIC3W6EXdbRlAAGWZXm5Ku4f3C2v2Ga8OlpTAp0I1DXE23U3BW5y_sSv-ae8D6ttTdVSm3jryI5uldatAhjAEkRQZo0VL4XlYy/s400/GreenGates.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Gates<br />
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</tbody></table>If you have the chance to go, I highly recommend it.Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-28465106811049912362010-07-19T15:11:00.000-07:002010-07-19T15:11:33.357-07:00Autumn Color Trends...As a parent of school-aged children, I start getting things in the mail about this time of year reminding me that summer is rapidly coming to a close. This is bittersweet because it has been such funning spending time with my kids, and yet, I must admit that I relish the idea of a predictable schedule. As I ponder the fast approaching autumn with an eye towards interior design, it is always fun check out the Pantone color trends. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKQdILU_YxUmek9VU9yWQL723O5EeewqZU1VO2AKiff5fy0kH93s_Abiz4bmFIwdi781qd8w9-U_rh5xT18HsnqRutn8VVmsue49IK3AHjwGH1BL0nLOyaI-WwazmSe4sLRndSvAUtpOB/s1600/fall+color+palet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKQdILU_YxUmek9VU9yWQL723O5EeewqZU1VO2AKiff5fy0kH93s_Abiz4bmFIwdi781qd8w9-U_rh5xT18HsnqRutn8VVmsue49IK3AHjwGH1BL0nLOyaI-WwazmSe4sLRndSvAUtpOB/s400/fall+color+palet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pantone's Fall Color Trends</span></em></div><br />
These color trends tell us a lot about what is going to be available to us as designers. These colors were actually selected several years ago by the industry folks that forecast what will work in the coming market. Manufacturers then take these projections and incorporate them into the goods that they produce. If you have ever looked for a color that wasn’t currently popular, you will know what I mean. Two years ago, I needed a deep coral color to accent a dining room. I, literally, had to make my own fabric because we could not find coral color anywhere! Now it is all over the place, as one of Pantone’s hot colors for fall. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3yGW47SK8a1UzHb4jWu9k2ubRjkp-MWlw7-q84MQIgEhT65BYE3uY2qK_6uBgDDXD7a1QmjjY-bluHcy4b3QISvInBUJkivR_EoIOWIr4Svas8a39M8ZHCELx_rnM1uNH-EDQW2FjP25/s1600/coral+and+oster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3yGW47SK8a1UzHb4jWu9k2ubRjkp-MWlw7-q84MQIgEhT65BYE3uY2qK_6uBgDDXD7a1QmjjY-bluHcy4b3QISvInBUJkivR_EoIOWIr4Svas8a39M8ZHCELx_rnM1uNH-EDQW2FjP25/s320/coral+and+oster.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">A lovely room in Oyster and Coral</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>This fall we are see an earthy side of the spectrum with oyster gray, rose dust, woodbine, endive and chocolate truffle. . <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyDFtsvxxLVu76KQE968ZLbhxVH2i2-U8z9cet2Ogia1qw56mIjfqsWQSR2syiOIP86b4BTn6CQoXldjrgXOXrjsXt6FiR3t2vFNTU2dZ49OfbKid4rYG8db2y27HZ335XqisKEZaZkl-/s1600/woodbine+green+fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyDFtsvxxLVu76KQE968ZLbhxVH2i2-U8z9cet2Ogia1qw56mIjfqsWQSR2syiOIP86b4BTn6CQoXldjrgXOXrjsXt6FiR3t2vFNTU2dZ49OfbKid4rYG8db2y27HZ335XqisKEZaZkl-/s400/woodbine+green+fall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">An example of Woodbine and Endive</span></em></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>On the opposite end of the spectrum are the jewel-like colors of golden glow, purple orchid, lipstick red, living coral and lagoon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAof8Xuexkf_E1hZD_Ov8ktS5O9AsC6FHIo_AliAg_t6a2zbzNSqz7v0AgSCrr9r0rq9Pl1EeIndPOhHxoqGSZUnQZjh4c4RZNMDOwcgW53mu1JD-FVmucjxnuzm7z5OIeVlMvMgNjr0r/s1600/lipstick+red+martha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAof8Xuexkf_E1hZD_Ov8ktS5O9AsC6FHIo_AliAg_t6a2zbzNSqz7v0AgSCrr9r0rq9Pl1EeIndPOhHxoqGSZUnQZjh4c4RZNMDOwcgW53mu1JD-FVmucjxnuzm7z5OIeVlMvMgNjr0r/s400/lipstick+red+martha.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Martha Stewart does Lipstick Red</span></em></div><br />
Lagoon is the newest variation on Pantone’s color of the year; Turquoise. This version has added a touch of grey and green to tone it down a little. It is still quite vibrant and works well with the other versions of turquoise that Pantone has offered in their spring, summer, and, no doubt, winter offering.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aPOKMJjYE8rPiqkfa48ZWqxqvhfzXBzcIfEEWEjyaSMVl8yxteUOGSeA1c0ApeBTSmzd_KTzta6GhEcJ-cbFITjVlHSfnpZ3F2BJUdAR-LhdCFK3dTRq-ZVefad0Bb0AekEs48VNz9nz/s1600/Turquoise-for-Home-Color-Decoration-469x351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aPOKMJjYE8rPiqkfa48ZWqxqvhfzXBzcIfEEWEjyaSMVl8yxteUOGSeA1c0ApeBTSmzd_KTzta6GhEcJ-cbFITjVlHSfnpZ3F2BJUdAR-LhdCFK3dTRq-ZVefad0Bb0AekEs48VNz9nz/s400/Turquoise-for-Home-Color-Decoration-469x351.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Lagoon mixed with Woodbine</em></span></div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-57294588985110449612010-07-03T15:54:00.000-07:002010-07-03T15:59:11.550-07:00Southern Porches...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslTeG8KqRdc_yBahdeNdQE7ISe69BsUjYId34ZsLCr5S_WW4MbDZ3K_WwuZQe618pTRGWk-Rd1klk8kHV2NN-amTIRKM80UpNvjhTjf-DUeluxh51FdPvT9b_D3tlYtt4wAs9zniEK6QG/s1600/chic+home+porch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslTeG8KqRdc_yBahdeNdQE7ISe69BsUjYId34ZsLCr5S_WW4MbDZ3K_WwuZQe618pTRGWk-Rd1klk8kHV2NN-amTIRKM80UpNvjhTjf-DUeluxh51FdPvT9b_D3tlYtt4wAs9zniEK6QG/s320/chic+home+porch.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to Chic Home Blog for the image</span></em></div><br />
What is it about porches in the South? Are porches as popular in other parts of the country, or, am I right in believing that the South without porches is like a Southern breakfast without grits! In the summers of my youth, we gathered on my grandma’s front porch whenever we visited. My aunties would shuck corn or peel apples, the men would talk sports and news, while watching all the grandkids play. We caught lightening bugs, hung from trees, had sandlot baseball games, and made mud pies… all under the vigilant watch of the porch sitters. Time seemed to slow down on the porch. Mine was the rural version, my good friend Jean grew up in town. Her family took to the front porch each evening to say hello to passing neighbors, have family jam sessions, watch the kid’s bike-ride and play hopscotch. Her porch sitting was neighborly; our visits were about family, yet, whether country or city, we all gravitated to the porch. Porches aren’t as popular now with television viewing, internet surfing, and our dependence on air conditioning. Folks rarely sit on their front porches any more. There is hope; however, more and more “village” concept sub-divisions are springing up and along with it, the return of the porch. We have one near us called Baxter Village. Then there are the decorating magazines that show us how to decorate our porches. The photographs make them look so inviting that we have to take a second look at our porches.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooGJFgvX1Cln6lHxImFIFccJnza2AkupGIxgx7zcdQ2xH9UEVF_NSqcD6MFrN0N9XwgSrutJ8-FmdPyf-3Gdy2fUsaB0baBcfyBmHCgxo4Zz0EAV7YTHJ7WB_mHcp8ebVRI9lrT4mVHv7/s1600/patriotic+porch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooGJFgvX1Cln6lHxImFIFccJnza2AkupGIxgx7zcdQ2xH9UEVF_NSqcD6MFrN0N9XwgSrutJ8-FmdPyf-3Gdy2fUsaB0baBcfyBmHCgxo4Zz0EAV7YTHJ7WB_mHcp8ebVRI9lrT4mVHv7/s320/patriotic+porch.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Thanks to Carolina Panache blog for the image.</em></span></div><br />
We have a board and batten cabin, complete with a tin roof, in the mountains of West Virginia. Recently, I got to enjoy an early morning quite time on the porch swing while overlooking a gorgeous view. The ceiling fan flapped overhead to keep things pleasant and the birds were in full chorus. I felt like I had woken up in a little slice of heaven. As you enjoy these summer months, I hope that the friendly nature of the porch calls you. I hope that you slow down to the pace of a porch swing, that you listen to the chorus of the birds and that you find that Zen –like state of Southern porch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LU6B5tak9RITa40yyqgFmuvKL0PWJoxekrGdNBdPtR1vMcZb1MMUJQyERySjEjTurFKQpjFc9BFO533Dv3ixZ081dfFT-KucYCZBpCWYRoj3J8_XOx3a5VdQyYLosl1aRgYrxDUikKho/s1600/porch+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LU6B5tak9RITa40yyqgFmuvKL0PWJoxekrGdNBdPtR1vMcZb1MMUJQyERySjEjTurFKQpjFc9BFO533Dv3ixZ081dfFT-KucYCZBpCWYRoj3J8_XOx3a5VdQyYLosl1aRgYrxDUikKho/s320/porch+view.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is the porch view from our family cabin</span></em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-69997693489373345742010-06-06T07:49:00.000-07:002010-06-06T07:49:02.506-07:00How to Hire an Interior DesignerOver the weekend a friend visited me from out of town and asked me what she should look for in hiring design help. She recently purchased a foreclosure and it needs major renovation. She had spoken with a decorator in her new town, but was worried that this person didn't seem have all the answers to the questions she posed. Her question to me was simple, "who do I look for to help me with this renovation?" That is a question that many clients need to have answered. I began with a bit of an overview of the differences between a decorator and an interior designer. I gave her questions that she should ask the folks that she interviews and the questions that she should ask of their references.<br />
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First, the difference between a decorator and an interior designer is usually education and approach. An interior designer usually has the education in design that teaches them to look at the whole of a project. Interior Designer's consider the spaces that they will be affecting from the blueprint to the final accessory and how everything relates to the whole. An interior designer reads blueprints, understands basic electrical plans, plumbing, and kitchen and bath design. An interior designer understands space planning and traffic flow, furniture placement and the importance of layering in the rest of the details that will complete the space. A decorator will help pick colors, and help with adding decorative elements to a space. Decorator's have their place, but if you want help in managing a project, an interior designer can save you stress and money. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicH-F8xpjOnRbCFHh3LxnmjdLtB8okq4u3aoQuszB27NKDWqlzVTSipMwYU-3qhx5HoshxbMiWLvfbj0MkalgJ8FYgQFh6OgdyUKsFZfAJYFCPIc4CtCMH1e5oCQmMBXLpGV0Z1lLGELVF/s1600/consultation.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicH-F8xpjOnRbCFHh3LxnmjdLtB8okq4u3aoQuszB27NKDWqlzVTSipMwYU-3qhx5HoshxbMiWLvfbj0MkalgJ8FYgQFh6OgdyUKsFZfAJYFCPIc4CtCMH1e5oCQmMBXLpGV0Z1lLGELVF/s400/consultation.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The following guide should help:<br />
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<strong>Simple Steps for Selecting an Interior Design Professional</strong><br />
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1. Be sure to look for someone who is easy to talk to. Regardless of the magnitude of your project, you’ll want to know that your designer is approachable. <br />
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2. Ask prospective designers to show you samples of their work. A portfolio, a Web site, a studio and client referrals often work in concert to illustrate a designer’s personal style. <br />
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3. Ask if they are involved in a professional interior design association. Ask what appellation they carry. This will help you determine where they stand within their industry.<br />
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4. Don’t automatically assume an interior designer is out of your price range. Many industry professionals offer reasonably priced services, and their experience and knowledge can often save you money in the end. <br />
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5. Trust your designer to guide you through the design process. With numerous projects under his or her belt, it’s often in your best interest to rely on your interior designer’s firsthand experience and knowledge. <br />
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<strong>Communication Counts</strong><br />
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Inviting someone into your home can be rather personal. To make sure the process of working with an interior design professional is a pleasant one, take the time to do a little homework beforehand.<br />
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Among the most important considerations is communication. Ideally, you will choose someone with whom you are comfortable; someone who feels like a friend. If you find you’re not on the “same page” when you first meet a prospective designer, it is unlikely things will change down the road.<br />
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To avoid communication snafus, make sure you partner with someone who understands your specific wishes and can use his or her knowledge and experience to create a space that is reflective of your interests and lifestyle.<br />
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<strong>Ask to See Samples and Credentials</strong><br />
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Before choosing an interior design professional, ask about his or her credentials and request samples of previous work. A portfolio with photos of other projects can shed plenty of light on a designer’s particular style. In some cases, you may even be able to see a firsthand example of the designer’s work in a studio or some other public location.<br />
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It’s also a good idea to find out if the designer is a part of a design organization. Ask about their appellation, are they an associate member, allied member or professional member of their group? This will help you understand their standing within the industry.<br />
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Another way to learn more about an interior design professional is to ask for the names of some existing clients. Contact a few and see what they have to say about the process. Having the opportunity to ask questions of someone who has been down the same road with that designer can prove invaluable.<br />
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Ask for some trade references, the folks that work with designers tend to know how they work and can often provide insight client's won't have.<br />
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<strong>Focus on Long-Term Savings</strong> <br />
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A lot of people are hesitant to enlist the aid of an interior design professional because they are afraid it will cost too much. In many cases, however, that is a misconception. Many designers offer reasonable rates, and when you consider the knowledge and expertise they’re able to provide, they may even save you money in the long run.<br />
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Industry professionals are well versed in what works and what doesn’t, and they can suggest plenty of ways to be efficient and economical throughout the design process. Do-it-yourselfers, on the other hand, may choose products that are less reputable than those with a proven track record, wasting unnecessary time and money<br />
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<strong>Think Big</strong> <br />
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An interior design professional has the ability to visualize a room in its finished state more easily than an amateur decorator can. Because of this, he or she likely will have a pretty good idea of how everything will fit together before it is finished. The designer will know how big the furniture needs to be, and he or she will have a plan for where various pieces of furniture will be placed. They will have an accessory plan and they will have thought through your lighting needs. Many interior designers today will help clients visualize the room by using technology, sketches, or sample boards. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAprkio5ibBrXFHJ-cEMpDRk-gIRnL0YFrALKr_PYuSpc4tKlLstDPhLttYJsbIfbH9DkQuUR91mri-cspaYfBWH4zk4-tKWUGRwSqu8wXGOzT6Bq2cg6aqwN5lrS90QPyIpun-F42BCfl/s1600/presentation+hoteldeopt.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAprkio5ibBrXFHJ-cEMpDRk-gIRnL0YFrALKr_PYuSpc4tKlLstDPhLttYJsbIfbH9DkQuUR91mri-cspaYfBWH4zk4-tKWUGRwSqu8wXGOzT6Bq2cg6aqwN5lrS90QPyIpun-F42BCfl/s400/presentation+hoteldeopt.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to Hotel Depot for the image of the presentation board</span></em></div><br />
The process in choosing an interior designer is an important one, because you will work intimately with them. Designer's get to know your lifestyle, your marriage and family life, and to some extent your finances. Many of my designer friends and I agree that helping couples reach agreement on what they want in their homes is often like marriage counseling! Finding the right fit is important, but once you make the connection, it usually leads to long term friendship, at least that has been my experience.<br />
Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-41948879567704757162010-05-30T08:43:00.000-07:002011-10-02T06:22:08.760-07:00DIY’ers and the Painful Truth- Anne Lubner's blog post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every now and then, I read a blog post that mirrors my own thinking and philosophy so well, that I just have to share it with my readers. Such is the case with the talented Anne Lubner. Her post, this week, is so spot on, I think it should be required reading for anyone considering doing their own interior design. Enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD31On6kq1FPtE1EJM7O5K-N7iQPA3hn3OgufcTTEYmbMPrCr36r5lbgKX7tLsGctc1Esb9twm7tXSpcPVHO0Vut6QpF5HAZPi-oE4LA3itj5EpCFp_MXMQwE9eD6PEp9DRA-xNLy4onqI/s1600/Anne+Lubner%27s+main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD31On6kq1FPtE1EJM7O5K-N7iQPA3hn3OgufcTTEYmbMPrCr36r5lbgKX7tLsGctc1Esb9twm7tXSpcPVHO0Vut6QpF5HAZPi-oE4LA3itj5EpCFp_MXMQwE9eD6PEp9DRA-xNLy4onqI/s400/Anne+Lubner%27s+main.jpg" width="322" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This painting is Time Saving Truth From Falsehood and Envy by Francois Lemoyne. There are many things that make it difficult to tell the truth. Who among us hasn’t been in this position: We’ve been asked for our opinion by someone who doesn’t really want the truth. The person asks for our opinion, but we know that to be 100% truthful would create hurt feelings, disappointment, and maybe even jeopardize the relationship. The problem is that when people ask us for our opinion, often what they really want is our validation. They want us to like whatever they did.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">As Guylaine Rondeau, a graphic designer at Guylaine Rondeau Design wrote, “In a world becoming quickly and obsessively a do-it-yourself-everything, someone will inevitably one day come and ask you the painful question. The most difficult time for being honest is when someone designed something on their own and asks a professional designer for their opinion on the final result.”</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As interior designers, we get DIY’ers who show us their do-it-yourself projects and wait expectantly for our response or ask us outright for our opinion. It’s awkward because we know what they really want to hear is that they did a good job and it looks beautiful. It’s awkward because 9 times out of 10, we see the mistakes and how we would’ve made the project better.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
This shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody. We all hire experts all the time to get the best results. The tailor, the plumber, the caterer, to name a few. Few of us dare risk ruining our expensive suit. Hardly anybody feels competent enough to fix their hot water heater. The very idea of preparing a gourmet meal for our daughter’s engagement party has us calling our friends for help–to find a good caterer, that is. Oh and let’s not forget the hair stylist. I don’t know a single person over the age of 5 who doesn’t get their hair cut by a professional. Who’d want to risk having to wear a hat for 6 weeks?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvL5LKGsql23i9V2CQqin-jiWhufcAqu3DDgRhyphenhyphenzfrATQ-wIkEypi-OgI02Sa7H4hWUxBNQ4JkRzqKnXXmkipmCGA0TdQFEQmxDdkm1b8iHgt9mkbtPXqgO_d3ce3LCsfgyCeA6Fsk1iJ/s1600/anne+lubners+hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvL5LKGsql23i9V2CQqin-jiWhufcAqu3DDgRhyphenhyphenzfrATQ-wIkEypi-OgI02Sa7H4hWUxBNQ4JkRzqKnXXmkipmCGA0TdQFEQmxDdkm1b8iHgt9mkbtPXqgO_d3ce3LCsfgyCeA6Fsk1iJ/s320/anne+lubners+hair.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So why do people feel they can be their own expert when it comes to interior design?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEKyisEEaebZNjdDNooA1Q0yRxNd-wjRw0hluN0qmYzZnmJWzeB9K4-Fxq8vxpY9s9dpvbVKK5UoBjGM8fO1DXulYLsEFbB1WLb7vaMbnSmmEDZpLsRMTeb7lIKw1KAnR0iR2ePZX4Q3b/s1600/anne+lubner%27s+hgtv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEKyisEEaebZNjdDNooA1Q0yRxNd-wjRw0hluN0qmYzZnmJWzeB9K4-Fxq8vxpY9s9dpvbVKK5UoBjGM8fO1DXulYLsEFbB1WLb7vaMbnSmmEDZpLsRMTeb7lIKw1KAnR0iR2ePZX4Q3b/s400/anne+lubner%27s+hgtv.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">HGTV has fueled an explosion of interest in interior design and decorating. Decorating shows appeal to people who have a genuine interest in making their homes beautiful and I’m all in favor of that! Unfortunately, viewers often infer that interior design and decorating are not difficult, that anybody can do it, that it can be reduced to a formula. This can lead to the totally unrealistic expectation that everyone “should” be able to decorate their homes beautifully. People need to realize that decorating shows are entertainment, not education. Sure you can pick up tips, but don’t be surprised if your results don’t look professional, because there is a lot that goes into designing interiors. The shows do not tell the whole truth about what good interior design involves, nor can they in 30 or 60 minutes. Most of the real work is done off camera, somehow labor costs are usually not included in the budget, and beautiful furniture can be picked up for a song. Watching a design show in order to learn how to design and decorate your home is like trying to learn what giving birth is like by watching a woman having a baby on a sitcom. You can see what’s going on but still not know what the experience is really like – and the baby sure appears a lot faster than in real life. Not that there isn’t a wealth of design talent to learn from. It’s always inspiring to see good design; one show I’ve always enjoyed is Candice Olson’s “Divine Design”.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoEqtDJ5diVpgYegdwiDRtlOLidv2gsamr0dL4SANV1UVe6utFbLwCKaD8Q0F6UCEnTRKtp53F5J6iAuly2jFBHGotHCXV4T1DPXU_tBVL93I20QIdE3t0R0f5j_lXsoCFZxxXd923AKI/s1600/anne+lubner%27s+candice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoEqtDJ5diVpgYegdwiDRtlOLidv2gsamr0dL4SANV1UVe6utFbLwCKaD8Q0F6UCEnTRKtp53F5J6iAuly2jFBHGotHCXV4T1DPXU_tBVL93I20QIdE3t0R0f5j_lXsoCFZxxXd923AKI/s400/anne+lubner%27s+candice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can learn a lot about what you like and don’t like by looking at pictures in shelter magazines and reading the articles. My favorites are House Beautiful, Veranda, Elle Decor, and Traditional Home. There are always good tips and beautiful rooms you can study to help train your eye. That’s still not enough to make anybody an interior designer though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I believe we are all born with creativity and an appreciation for beauty, that doesn’t mean everyone has the talent to create interior beauty in their home. People can learn the elements of good design, and which steps to follow, but good interior design goes beyond following a formula. Anyone can take an art class and learn to paint a landscape, but that doesn’t make them an artist. Good design involves more than education, there’s artistic talent involved, and while appreciation can be taught, some talents are just inborn. This applies to anything creative: writing, painting, music, cooking, dancing, singing, anything design related. Expressing beauty is harder than it looks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Interior design is a marriage of right brain and left brain, of creativity and art with analytical and project management skills. And we may have talent but not enough, like Salieri in the movie “Amadeus.” I have clients who have an eye for beautiful furniture, but not how to combine colors; who know how to arrange accessories but not pull the room together. I sing well enough to get compliments in church, but believe me, nobody would ever compare my singing with Celine Dion or Lady Gaga.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vycxcSdwtQTRiVyCjS2ojfmCc5OI9mdfu_vAVW56Dv9UA7P2S86jd-YH7pfkNXwUebEqfPPzCC-seyxWG8vUOSQfw0zEr9B6Rm3_meH6bn6LATW4rQ76-MaJd8qpE0VDVxxJUy5_pPaz/s1600/anne+lubners+lady+gaga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vycxcSdwtQTRiVyCjS2ojfmCc5OI9mdfu_vAVW56Dv9UA7P2S86jd-YH7pfkNXwUebEqfPPzCC-seyxWG8vUOSQfw0zEr9B6Rm3_meH6bn6LATW4rQ76-MaJd8qpE0VDVxxJUy5_pPaz/s400/anne+lubners+lady+gaga.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And this leads to my next theory on why people feel the desire to be their own interior designer. I suspect they think if they hire an interior designer, they can’t take any credit for how good their house looks. That can be true with some designers who are more concerned with “The Look” than with the client, but they are in the minority. That’s certainly not how I work.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div align="left"><br />
</div>What I absolutely love-love-love about interior design is the creative design process, the happy satisfaction I get from helping people discover their own style, their inner creativity. It’s the joy that springs from the synergism of collaborating together to create a space that perfectly reflects who they are and how they want to live in their home. It’s a partnership not a dictatorship.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj2BvxG39p_HfsUmb8YQY9ob7UKyqQ9pxqNAm798DgTPE3X_meKabqYwbTCEuLlcWWR2R7UT-12ZQmVOTjjLVF40tGcS57ezqAgwFxCptutWd3TZmw8gfaQkkCCFk4cx8pqP0rIEu8h7O/s1600/anne+lubners+happy+couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj2BvxG39p_HfsUmb8YQY9ob7UKyqQ9pxqNAm798DgTPE3X_meKabqYwbTCEuLlcWWR2R7UT-12ZQmVOTjjLVF40tGcS57ezqAgwFxCptutWd3TZmw8gfaQkkCCFk4cx8pqP0rIEu8h7O/s400/anne+lubners+happy+couple.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maybe people think hiring an interior designer is expensive. Consider that it can easily cost a few hundred dollars to have the plumber come fix your water heater, to have your carpets cleaned, your trees trimmed, etc. Anytime you have a professional come to your home to perform a service, it costs but it’s worth it because in the long run, it actually saves us money. Surely spending that much to make sure your DIY project isn’t heading for mediocrity or disaster is a worthwhile investment too. Nobody ever thinks their DIY project will come out anything but great, but there are a lot of not so great DIY projects out there. It’s a shame to spend your budget on furnishing and decorating a room, or remodeling a bathroom, only to have it turn out just okay, or worse. If you’re going to work that hard, you want it to turn out great!</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div align="left"><br />
</div>Many designers, including myself, do consulting work for a reasonable fee as well as offer complete design services that are well within budgets much more modest than those seen in Architectural Digest and other shelter magazines. It doesn’t matter how big our homes are, we all deserve to feel our home is our castle!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjRVa3cfn73LLUgz_K83UMn053Jzt3SX4b-MsnbJ3TY4PEQ5LCjvBOx0xbiwOnZZIUKfsdKOCMTMAAKoekddiozLTcUD97iYlacNIIXUoUCbq2ChidBF6B8Q1W5SlRiBeTEfBE6-SF3ix/s1600/anne+lubner+castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjRVa3cfn73LLUgz_K83UMn053Jzt3SX4b-MsnbJ3TY4PEQ5LCjvBOx0xbiwOnZZIUKfsdKOCMTMAAKoekddiozLTcUD97iYlacNIIXUoUCbq2ChidBF6B8Q1W5SlRiBeTEfBE6-SF3ix/s400/anne+lubner+castle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Which means that before you buy that furniture, hire an interior designer to design a space plan for you. That way you will know before you go shopping what the focal point will be, which pieces will work best for how you’ll use the room, which pieces it’s worth spending a little extra on, and what pieces you can spend less on, and you’ll know the furnishings will be in appropriate scale to the room. You’ll know that your investment of time and money will pay off in a beautiful room that’s just right for you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGSMzmLc_QB1lWIXFQ55vSTZXMNxIulaqLl_-gPgTcFqAD7MOtWdiwrJ1MmV3pYJ04Rq318eleUh-laYKpjZi1zv8OQFKf3y5R3DWi08WCOK865y_2dU5vW2oqgLZyXxhntO60t7LHntH/s1600/anne+lubners+floorplan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGSMzmLc_QB1lWIXFQ55vSTZXMNxIulaqLl_-gPgTcFqAD7MOtWdiwrJ1MmV3pYJ04Rq318eleUh-laYKpjZi1zv8OQFKf3y5R3DWi08WCOK865y_2dU5vW2oqgLZyXxhntO60t7LHntH/s400/anne+lubners+floorplan.jpg" width="373" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You may not be able to afford Mario Buatta’s designs, but most designers don’t charge his fees either.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYahUIwfGewQMVtj-BzfnLfezm1kRm_lRJIuARvcn9vrzaUlDqVmFIuVTG6CLPsetvf-xIiCv3EOi_vgTQLUbEOG8MQNkEwKxdU0Vn6ayRcJgZSbgg6oN2q7vbzM_77kEs6m7V3iOepyF/s1600/anne+lubner%27s+mario.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYahUIwfGewQMVtj-BzfnLfezm1kRm_lRJIuARvcn9vrzaUlDqVmFIuVTG6CLPsetvf-xIiCv3EOi_vgTQLUbEOG8MQNkEwKxdU0Vn6ayRcJgZSbgg6oN2q7vbzM_77kEs6m7V3iOepyF/s400/anne+lubner%27s+mario.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And certainly before you go painting your living room, hire an interior designer to help you select the right color, one that won’t have you gasping in dismay when you see the painted room. This is a very reasonable fee, one that can save you hours of back-breaking re-painting. [Don't even think of trying to duplicate the above wall finish on your own, this is a project that needs to be specified by an expert and accomplished by an artisan!]</div><br />
But what if you didn’t hire a professional and you chose to do it all by yourself, should you ask a designer their opinion? And if you’re the interior designer being asked, should you be honest?<br />
I think if the selections haven’t been ordered yet, and there’s still time for a designer’s input to be implemented, and one makes it clear that one really is looking for guidance, then it makes sense to ask a designer for their opinion.<br />
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But if someone has just spent thousands of dollars on new furniture or a basement remodel, would that person really want to hear how the project would’ve been improved if XYZ had been done instead?<br />
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Let me put it this way: If you’re at a party where the appetizers are just okay, and the hostess who’d made them asks you what you think of the hors d’oeuvres, how would you feel? What do most people say? Right. Good manners trumps Truth.<br />
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When I’ve been put in this awkward position, I say what I like and hope that’s enough. I’ve toyed with the idea of saying what I would’ve done differently, if only to demonstrate that I really do know what I’m doing, but I don’t. I don’t want to jeopardize the relationship.<br />
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So I say that if you really want an honest opinion, ask an interior design professional, but ask them at the beginning of the project, not the end. If what you really want is validation, ask your friends. But please don’t ask an interior designer for their opinion when what you really want to hear is how good a job you did. As Guylaine says, “if you can help it, please don’t ask, we love you and we just don’t want to hurt your feelings.<br />
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</div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-52763389629724136852010-05-23T07:00:00.000-07:002010-05-23T07:00:00.593-07:00Spring Cleaning, Mom's way.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oYwq6V2PO9P3bQBMoV7yt3zynkFEaf2RXsNkQvGTxYjrRUIRhUy7w0Bux3PL6ar8GRyNBcEohyphenhyphenWHcO5WcCkB4Sn_f-z68zFzq0RZv8znZfn2a7pOAcn3q8z7phCYn7yrwnIt1zAfq4WQ/s1600/spring-cleaning-400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oYwq6V2PO9P3bQBMoV7yt3zynkFEaf2RXsNkQvGTxYjrRUIRhUy7w0Bux3PL6ar8GRyNBcEohyphenhyphenWHcO5WcCkB4Sn_f-z68zFzq0RZv8znZfn2a7pOAcn3q8z7phCYn7yrwnIt1zAfq4WQ/s320/spring-cleaning-400.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My Mother is force in this universe. She has always had amazing energy and still does in her 70's. She is friendly to everyone, loves to have laugh, is a mean jitter bug dancer and a fierce housekeeper. In my childhood, I knew that this time of year meant the dreaded spring cleaning. The stuff of urban legends, only in our home it was no myth. When my Mom decided that the spring cleaning should commence, no corner of our house was safe. We washed windows, cleaned carpets, and scrubbed tile with comet and elbow grease (whether it needed it or not). Non-existent cobwebs were twirled on brooms out of ceiling corners, sofas and chairs were de-cushioned and vacuumed, and dust bunnies were banished. This was a time of cleaning out drawers and closets, as well as, scrubbing baseboards and door frames. In Spring Cleaning mode, the driveway and porch were scrubbed, the beds weeded and flowers were planted. I hated this whole process! It kept me from playing with my dolls, roaming the hills and otherwise enjoying the pastimes of a young girl. But, I loved the results! At the end of this cleaning frenzy, the house sparkled. There was a fresh fragrance in the air, a sense of renewal and peace seemed to emanate from the house, as if it had appreciated the attention. I will admit, I am behind on my own spring cleaning this year. I will never hold a candle to my Mom in this department, yet, I will press on with my own version of this tradition. I know my children feel the same about this process that I did, but I know that they will enjoy the result like I did as well.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xGFlbPMFPHTLryNEv7bjMWoom73618xM3BNvm0KsXBHNhbLy3wsC21OkNR8jh8OjAC4AXkS4paiBStf6AGcP3ITOnn3lZ_w0hkjRwDkxiUg4kaWGS-Q-deCpKTYEpmriKb43jmna-2-E/s1600/mom+and+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xGFlbPMFPHTLryNEv7bjMWoom73618xM3BNvm0KsXBHNhbLy3wsC21OkNR8jh8OjAC4AXkS4paiBStf6AGcP3ITOnn3lZ_w0hkjRwDkxiUg4kaWGS-Q-deCpKTYEpmriKb43jmna-2-E/s320/mom+and+girls.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">From left to right, my Mom, Jo, Catherine and Emily</span></em></div><br />
As a designer and stager, I often see homes in real need of a good cleaning. It is interesting how people can live with, get used to, and ignore basic household hygiene. They spend money on beautiful furnishings then leave piles of mail, layers of dust and dirty windows to detract from space. If a beautiful home is important to you, don't forget the dreaded spring cleaning!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-88363269478478802072010-05-20T06:05:00.000-07:002010-05-20T06:05:09.573-07:00101 things I hate to love...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My Facebook friend James Swan has a Facebook page entitled <em>101 Things I Hate About Your House. </em>This is a particularly fun page because of the photos and discussions that are posted. While I am not about to list 101 things I hate to love, his site prompted me to think about the things we grew up with and thought were the bomb. Things that, as designers, we would rather not admit even liking! The thing is, there are certain home furnishings, that elicit such strong childhood memories that we can't help having a fond spot in our hearts for things that James Swan would hate! My dad, for instance, had a recliner that would've given the tv character Frazier's dad's chair a run for it's money. My mom replaced it once with a smaller, more attractive chair and his big frame tipped it backwards on the first recline! While I avoid oversized recliners now, when I see one I secretly smile. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71GVmJ-S-M_b-xDRltw_fD_RFFcOeySfVAQF_hqnmPYLySySvy4H-fXc53wi0Unx0YN5UqnO9BSSZFrN-uUiUjQqoZCdvvDpsAFHtqN8d1DMZD0bIbEo1bcwhO2M8VnlzSbh2oUDqAsFu/s1600/ugly+recliner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71GVmJ-S-M_b-xDRltw_fD_RFFcOeySfVAQF_hqnmPYLySySvy4H-fXc53wi0Unx0YN5UqnO9BSSZFrN-uUiUjQqoZCdvvDpsAFHtqN8d1DMZD0bIbEo1bcwhO2M8VnlzSbh2oUDqAsFu/s320/ugly+recliner.jpg" /></a></div>Another thing that I hate to love is my grandmother's tatting. Tatting is a technique for handcrafting a particularly durable lace constructed by a series of knots and loops. Tatting can be used to make lace edging as well as doilies, collars, and other decorative pieces. Tatted doilies topped her tables and rested on the back of some of her chairs. While these are not used in this manner in today's interiors, I must admit that framed, they make wonderful textile art pieces. Personally, I would love to be able to go back in time and rest my head against her tatting covered chair!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGS2OlTkkgXyiPdVbCoD0DRZYEXf4aAL5uMhcAMrvzBsSUgyPMgCXQ60rlB_HRWqSq4DNCGEzhJCtkuavh6frTiwZ_rwaQQAf5rPAPoJXt7Rn9P5yLxVzEoa_MtZzGRj1RdMgs2hSpLPS/s1600/tatting_max_48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGS2OlTkkgXyiPdVbCoD0DRZYEXf4aAL5uMhcAMrvzBsSUgyPMgCXQ60rlB_HRWqSq4DNCGEzhJCtkuavh6frTiwZ_rwaQQAf5rPAPoJXt7Rn9P5yLxVzEoa_MtZzGRj1RdMgs2hSpLPS/s320/tatting_max_48.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The last thing on today's list is outrageous cookie jars. My best friend's mom had the most amazingly ugly cookie jars you have ever seen. The thing was; they were all filled with goodies. Some had cookies, some had marshmellows, other had candies, it was a veritable smorgasbord for kids. Knowing those cookie jars sat on that countertop waiting for us at the end of our play, was like the cherry on top of the sundae. Let's hear it for ugly cookie jars!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-FvmA7edTmo6sPgCjr6vxMJZ2F6szB4vYFJStcH9FgtYlJbW5vMr1Bcl0DD3yfg42sAiw8avABvrvY0BjQAh9WlyFfnKvIGY8irwdjoPTK8ARlbjypibkuTXuZtOHu4KJgl7kj6WT6Ma/s1600/weird-cookie-jars-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-FvmA7edTmo6sPgCjr6vxMJZ2F6szB4vYFJStcH9FgtYlJbW5vMr1Bcl0DD3yfg42sAiw8avABvrvY0BjQAh9WlyFfnKvIGY8irwdjoPTK8ARlbjypibkuTXuZtOHu4KJgl7kj6WT6Ma/s320/weird-cookie-jars-6.jpg" /></a></div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-77857738573602518312010-05-09T14:55:00.000-07:002010-05-09T14:55:59.027-07:00Favorite showrooms from the High Point Market... Yes, There is Still Much to Share!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YIjdDFDZIT4u6hVXKdjCtjqVKNfifkqlCkcbtG6dPVbYC6nHT4tLSgOuDYwDbEW79_JGquB02LLlMnlTp-IS7AXJkKQQwpvwSgF-WHgtvXQiU-OK8VmxWHlZ_cCVeFB7sVT96UachmGF/s1600/mobile+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YIjdDFDZIT4u6hVXKdjCtjqVKNfifkqlCkcbtG6dPVbYC6nHT4tLSgOuDYwDbEW79_JGquB02LLlMnlTp-IS7AXJkKQQwpvwSgF-WHgtvXQiU-OK8VmxWHlZ_cCVeFB7sVT96UachmGF/s400/mobile+012.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each year I share photo's from my favorite showrooms, this year is no exception. Global Views always has inventive merchandising, gorgeous lighting, and the products are great too! This market they had several rooms that were worth sharing. In the first photo, everything is coming up roses, literally, with this lovely rose and brown color story.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vvgSvZzbOgw0WQFnSCHqChKkZux0IHoQlS3hED1k7Uc6HBE1x7fFNYrgyr_q-dkqA2cGlq4GH1wrOkS3YUManSNxBU62PPvXQ05qcSd65t_XVQHkrF2RAelAU_-zuCEtk3LNeER1GKN_/s1600/mobile+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vvgSvZzbOgw0WQFnSCHqChKkZux0IHoQlS3hED1k7Uc6HBE1x7fFNYrgyr_q-dkqA2cGlq4GH1wrOkS3YUManSNxBU62PPvXQ05qcSd65t_XVQHkrF2RAelAU_-zuCEtk3LNeER1GKN_/s400/mobile+013.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the next room, pewter and silver were mixed with green and pops of turquoise to create a contemporary bedroom. I loved the velvet headboard in charcoal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2TBP1P5lN80ApaLCWp1Gjx_Qj4k9v9Tbm9GNGn-gv0X_QDiAKsBVYpAdFtaXRVaXFGjCyl8BPaDCnvn2x-f58ksgqlgRr-2Phmbk01JfdslGb27c8p0qrPUMajgn84D7Ug22H_aWk4Tg/s1600/mobile+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2TBP1P5lN80ApaLCWp1Gjx_Qj4k9v9Tbm9GNGn-gv0X_QDiAKsBVYpAdFtaXRVaXFGjCyl8BPaDCnvn2x-f58ksgqlgRr-2Phmbk01JfdslGb27c8p0qrPUMajgn84D7Ug22H_aWk4Tg/s400/mobile+014.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Turquoise and chocolate create a yummy bedroom space. The pattern on the wall is achieved by using fabric mounted inside of trim boxes for a stunning effect.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-67149498081408777492010-04-24T06:08:00.000-07:002010-04-24T06:11:25.944-07:00The High Point Market; a reviewLast week, vendors, from all over the world of home furnishings, put on the Spring Market tradeshow at High Point. This show covers 10 million square feet of space and offers folks in the retail and design business a chance to see the unveiling of the newest products that the industry is offering. This market is a great place to spot the coming trends in interior design. There is always a color story, an emerging trend in finishes, and the spotting of new twists on traditional products. This blogpost will tell the color story.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0FSxIFFNPzUqghzQukQtjWmUWyUgtG8ISBJN6Qy_tSVsIMCy4nOZ6knBDnmsVGWlQRZw07WhlWZK9pnnhs2Iu5lXk32Zl-RZ9ZeT-zSAYkD0DEy4fPGkiCFdoatck_KGAj40cwKgiMVb/s1600/high+point+market+076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0FSxIFFNPzUqghzQukQtjWmUWyUgtG8ISBJN6Qy_tSVsIMCy4nOZ6knBDnmsVGWlQRZw07WhlWZK9pnnhs2Iu5lXk32Zl-RZ9ZeT-zSAYkD0DEy4fPGkiCFdoatck_KGAj40cwKgiMVb/s320/high+point+market+076.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>There are two color stories that emerged at this market. The first is a Paris Chic colorLESS pallet. Think textures like flour sack and burlap, white washed woods, neutrals in beige, white, and taupe, all given energy by copious amounts of texture, with a touch of soft color thrown in<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPLfBVPuPtRnJCygzexIgt4-ocGF9GNjzSYWyGYVV5lolm9TpFVdCGcMdcD8iSn46z_HQMHFt03xGAcUz1QVrTCfVfbXpE74jTtcFTRf2AKT_nNdnmNAP5aWilBoFd-lmvwAR2CDPitOi/s1600/high+point+market+107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPLfBVPuPtRnJCygzexIgt4-ocGF9GNjzSYWyGYVV5lolm9TpFVdCGcMdcD8iSn46z_HQMHFt03xGAcUz1QVrTCfVfbXpE74jTtcFTRf2AKT_nNdnmNAP5aWilBoFd-lmvwAR2CDPitOi/s320/high+point+market+107.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second color story is a 180 degree turn from the first. The return of color, bold, clear, and optimistic dominated showrooms like this one at Baker. Gone are the greyed tones of blues, greens and browns that have been so popular. Bring on Spring-like blasts of pink, green, yellow and turquoise. This was such a fresh and welcome look!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">more of the Paris chic trend</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHa1Ocvi5x9hqDdxfLxDBLqRZVEwAjod5kPUxJsrJDksglPRr9xAWqnWZzbqzyoj2hVXvkIqyMJnnKMvSPjgF1XVBpZPLjgROSHZg5BipXHfSqN3Pf3WcQlCttPoCdWTaxUCcOyxjOw64/s1600/high+point+market+073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHa1Ocvi5x9hqDdxfLxDBLqRZVEwAjod5kPUxJsrJDksglPRr9xAWqnWZzbqzyoj2hVXvkIqyMJnnKMvSPjgF1XVBpZPLjgROSHZg5BipXHfSqN3Pf3WcQlCttPoCdWTaxUCcOyxjOw64/s320/high+point+market+073.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">love these mirrors!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUN-IFYBejL3Ye-LN38tZLLxEh6xYzTnpRGCXQXnZwhVhFTqDGegLvgXslscwsfDFD9sNQVPhyphenhyphenoNR2q6JL_QKyjsZTgXwntvyONXSuX5GHh5v9IuJCzWSy2OlPv0U6lSA1jMETtbTfoZ4/s1600/high+point+market+115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUN-IFYBejL3Ye-LN38tZLLxEh6xYzTnpRGCXQXnZwhVhFTqDGegLvgXslscwsfDFD9sNQVPhyphenhyphenoNR2q6JL_QKyjsZTgXwntvyONXSuX5GHh5v9IuJCzWSy2OlPv0U6lSA1jMETtbTfoZ4/s320/high+point+market+115.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bring on the color!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQvZtDzXX1p4A28OxOdOtc3OEb5jZyIRVY8R98CFHahk6fkqG8h2VIoAwJGQYJsxR6BCiS0oHYE6OCVo2EiqDk7I8ex3SDP4YFxTsr0x-ba3E9JaWl4he9rI0sOhQCAPO2N498iBP_OMl/s1600/high+point+market+106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQvZtDzXX1p4A28OxOdOtc3OEb5jZyIRVY8R98CFHahk6fkqG8h2VIoAwJGQYJsxR6BCiS0oHYE6OCVo2EiqDk7I8ex3SDP4YFxTsr0x-ba3E9JaWl4he9rI0sOhQCAPO2N498iBP_OMl/s320/high+point+market+106.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even the accessories are bright and fun!</div><div style="text-align: left;">.</div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-17740349011347095072010-04-16T05:24:00.000-07:002010-04-16T05:24:59.405-07:00To Market, to market...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVI67z796m-IxP3GBdXe3lrqFIdVNmJ2Bv5WTU_1UWJecslHr0I5NSTiYqNHgr7QG3-fifMs9ibgZVoxGRqcayiXLAqw38ByYqPav0SVEMQlRBCcx2m4fMVbmEnLH4FasKiqr4D8n4SJr9/s1600/global+views+wall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVI67z796m-IxP3GBdXe3lrqFIdVNmJ2Bv5WTU_1UWJecslHr0I5NSTiYqNHgr7QG3-fifMs9ibgZVoxGRqcayiXLAqw38ByYqPav0SVEMQlRBCcx2m4fMVbmEnLH4FasKiqr4D8n4SJr9/s320/global+views+wall2.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>Each Spring the design industry pulls out all the stops for the High Point Furniture Market. A massive, 10 million square foot trade show that introduces designers and furniture retailers to the newest offerings for our industry. Each show, I look forward to certain showrooms that I know will go over the top in merchandising their spaces. One of my favorite stops is Global Views, they always have the most amazing wall groupings. Pictured here is a booth they did for the Diffa organization during their Dining by Design kick off tour of the country. Check out the way the company used their starburst wall hangings en masse. It is brilliant! Global Views is always right on the mark with color trends and I always enjoy seeing their approach to modern accessories.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrAKawN88dK5kPaJ2HroRZg8spLdYG8BNroqyHpAs2drEt7niLdzQ4qe4WqZfqn9gh1auY8Avuh4-dlS07v9f9gEVjyNFYSlB5TwIg8DoAJ6ye4WI7BR8oh-PZxkV-KsdI_HLLmzL9WM8/s1600/cyan+design.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrAKawN88dK5kPaJ2HroRZg8spLdYG8BNroqyHpAs2drEt7niLdzQ4qe4WqZfqn9gh1auY8Avuh4-dlS07v9f9gEVjyNFYSlB5TwIg8DoAJ6ye4WI7BR8oh-PZxkV-KsdI_HLLmzL9WM8/s320/cyan+design.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sS-POq5OBpoGbxGFhancFDm9J83dIQKQgB8K1S4r43xFCuHY4XigE7n2TsEFj5VzHJSZRVvCsnjSCLYVBJIJSVXkhz0mgnasNKceb8rf2UkcdQIamPDh0ue6Q5XEHfJbr0PFKXQTSLdk/s1600/cyan+design2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sS-POq5OBpoGbxGFhancFDm9J83dIQKQgB8K1S4r43xFCuHY4XigE7n2TsEFj5VzHJSZRVvCsnjSCLYVBJIJSVXkhz0mgnasNKceb8rf2UkcdQIamPDh0ue6Q5XEHfJbr0PFKXQTSLdk/s320/cyan+design2.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>Another favorite stop is Cyan Design. They offer lighting and accessories. Again, this store is a great one for spotting trends in color, texture and design. The company uses whimsy, lighting, and fabulous merchandising techniques to showcase their products. <br />
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There entire first floor of the International Home Furnishings Center is dedicated to designer friendly companies. Isle after isle of goodies await. For me, it is like going to the a candy store for adults! I can't wait. As soon as I return, I will share some of the fabulous things that I find... stay tuned!Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-1350164480327222582010-04-06T05:31:00.000-07:002010-04-06T05:33:16.090-07:00Jackie Von Tobel and the WCAA Spring Event<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HrkJrYpF0IxbUu7LOm9PGe10bMhy-Se4GGComB9aNXxxVb7NyoAeZpMfxN5eM50RgrN4ijCK1WNJ17WDQkNEOb4WJgo4htYvM8E_bBGh06yxmHWNixlkuMhq_OcDKwb8dItckFIN66Aw/s1600/jackie+at+event.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HrkJrYpF0IxbUu7LOm9PGe10bMhy-Se4GGComB9aNXxxVb7NyoAeZpMfxN5eM50RgrN4ijCK1WNJ17WDQkNEOb4WJgo4htYvM8E_bBGh06yxmHWNixlkuMhq_OcDKwb8dItckFIN66Aw/s320/jackie+at+event.jpg" /></a>Jackie Von Tobel came to Charlotte, NC, on March 26th for the WCAA Spring Window Fashion and Interior Design Event. This event was put on by the WCAA Charlotte Chapter as a once every 18 months to 2 year event. The day also includes a table top vendor exhibit with 18 industry partners to the design trade. This year, the WCAA Charlotte chapter invited the AIDP Charlotte Chapter to come on as a marketing partner. Since I am a member of both groups, I became the co-chair of the event. My role gave me a unique opportunity to work with both teams. It was a great experience. One of my jobs was to secure our speaker. When Jackie said yes to us, we knew that we were in for a treat. In the months that followed our invitation, it seemed as though Jackie’s star was on a meteoric climb. There is a good reason for her huge success!</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Jackie’s first session was all about the coming trends in design. Because this was sponsored by a window coverings organization, much of her focus was on fabrics and trims. Jackie had recently attended the Maison de Objet show in Paris and had wonderful slides illustrating her talk. The overriding theme was embellishment! From multi-level weaving to beading and ruffles, everything shown was taken to the next level by what was added to the fabrics. Neutral fabrics with over-the-top add-ons like metallic threads or ribbon trims seemed to be everywhere at the Paris show.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtnyMeieYnurdZkEqB_g16yrJ_Lsu5VciQlafFL7l9NI1I3QgDLZ5Sjj5Zs-k7HFZLo2UiHiD05fLWmS8V6FAJpoHQHlYhFxPVjkLavmMUMIoPmcM6wXAOPvxu46K4ux7QAyI6RH9GDqC/s1600/jvt+and+aidp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtnyMeieYnurdZkEqB_g16yrJ_Lsu5VciQlafFL7l9NI1I3QgDLZ5Sjj5Zs-k7HFZLo2UiHiD05fLWmS8V6FAJpoHQHlYhFxPVjkLavmMUMIoPmcM6wXAOPvxu46K4ux7QAyI6RH9GDqC/s320/jvt+and+aidp.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">In the afternoon, Jackie shared how to achieve a high end look. This was my favorite session because it felt like being back at school at a great art/design lecture. The slides she shared were an assortment of different designers and what worked in the designs shown. As usual, details are the key, as is taking customization to the next level. Jackie shared that many of the companies in our industry are beginning to offer ready-made items that are setting a whole new standard. Our job, more than ever, will be to offer the unexpected and detailed customization. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6So9fmojAYmzCsN7uV4iF9_1yWIZWV7jx_rc6pcoEKnKaXWU9LT2ywRV2_8XjGttNbPoVAYVE_stKjKHLngBOYysSLA3_cqb-fgICPbiSIYvGilcKHtkTOoO0AkYfktqwuL4v8Q0hvLJb/s1600/event+janeann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6So9fmojAYmzCsN7uV4iF9_1yWIZWV7jx_rc6pcoEKnKaXWU9LT2ywRV2_8XjGttNbPoVAYVE_stKjKHLngBOYysSLA3_cqb-fgICPbiSIYvGilcKHtkTOoO0AkYfktqwuL4v8Q0hvLJb/s320/event+janeann.jpg" /></a></div> As an interior designer, I tap my creative side on a daily basis. I love doing this, but whenever you pour out your energy, from time to time, you need to fill back up. This event with Jackie Von Tobel certainly did that for me. I took four pages of notes! Jackie’s ideas, her review of the Paris show, and her insights to what makes great design gave me just the boost I needed. Because of my position behind the scenes, I also got to spend a little bit of time with Jackie. She is just as warm and friendly as she looks in her photos. In addition to great information, I feel like I made a new friend. Thanks Jackie!<br />
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Decorative screens are a part of history. They orginiated in China and, originally, were hand carved works of art, and, very heavy. When the Japanese started using screens they were constructed from lighter material and this made them movable. There, they were used to create rooms within a room. With the advent of European travel in Asia, screens were introduced to the world.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbk_I0DQh4NXPNwPVUYNmxmw6B5KMtMByRsuMeIrcmyzhUpz64tXZMn2XlU-1kGaHHp0RmN75XDT6UksCdh-YzldsdHEB83zxV01WVfizviw_RAZgwifndb72mbKXupkFbfyvdOhhlrUj/s1600-h/using+decorative+screens+vicente+wolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbk_I0DQh4NXPNwPVUYNmxmw6B5KMtMByRsuMeIrcmyzhUpz64tXZMn2XlU-1kGaHHp0RmN75XDT6UksCdh-YzldsdHEB83zxV01WVfizviw_RAZgwifndb72mbKXupkFbfyvdOhhlrUj/s320/using+decorative+screens+vicente+wolf.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, screens can offer an interior design client may different functions. In a loft-style home, or one without a defined foyer, the screen can be used to define the space</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUMFe9TUZl7gicok7IQZZO5IImKmJktgLs_JlL2IDQbmQkLJ1k6vgTBcygykwwcX5k8H9RyLS8lKO_UAzt48tYoij2ZUmPVFIPRqvXwZQAEIPM6_EtJvxHDS_8A8o_X16tuHnWWBgrW7R/s1600-h/usuing+dec+screens+vicente+wolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUMFe9TUZl7gicok7IQZZO5IImKmJktgLs_JlL2IDQbmQkLJ1k6vgTBcygykwwcX5k8H9RyLS8lKO_UAzt48tYoij2ZUmPVFIPRqvXwZQAEIPM6_EtJvxHDS_8A8o_X16tuHnWWBgrW7R/s320/usuing+dec+screens+vicente+wolf.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>. They can also provide a backdrop for a seating area, as pictured here.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogRrp7iLbmOrNlwg7eenKy2jUQWvSuKnEl17EdTk5mdxNawbMkPEP1px3vUz4qOcP8EO4Xin_IRSeifvjMwKgjYMBIaTe4c7o2h-sdkFeHj3uD3SwZbOlBEhIenY65bWZhZtJNJkVtcNE/s1600-h/usuing+dec+screens+scott+laslie+trad+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogRrp7iLbmOrNlwg7eenKy2jUQWvSuKnEl17EdTk5mdxNawbMkPEP1px3vUz4qOcP8EO4Xin_IRSeifvjMwKgjYMBIaTe4c7o2h-sdkFeHj3uD3SwZbOlBEhIenY65bWZhZtJNJkVtcNE/s320/usuing+dec+screens+scott+laslie+trad+home.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On a long wall, screens can be used as artwork and help draw the eye upward.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BUcBGjCvh3p02zBZkPm8ztvq3Citmbe3xheRzQ1PQAgToEXIBL-F_PVP2bTrPEabkhpIS1PpDxgq-bg64jAAqL01M62WBloartsj0usnDFJgX0Cz1CVPGYW2joPqh8jeVCoQGtk74cMH/s1600-h/usuing+dec+screens+veranda+charlotte+moss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BUcBGjCvh3p02zBZkPm8ztvq3Citmbe3xheRzQ1PQAgToEXIBL-F_PVP2bTrPEabkhpIS1PpDxgq-bg64jAAqL01M62WBloartsj0usnDFJgX0Cz1CVPGYW2joPqh8jeVCoQGtk74cMH/s320/usuing+dec+screens+veranda+charlotte+moss.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The use of this open screen helps define the division between the living room and dining room without losing any of the lovely natural light that streams in the window. A solid screen would have been to heavy for this light and airy space.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5enou-GtdUIMdrL3tF548_wB_2IiVSxH33AaFKhuTO3_ZGKA2VInJAug94me6NyOL2N-c9b1IMQfra_5ojrygtsgBFQF3FGr4MHQqfbnHvEEUffd2XCAJy1woOaiYQsN9MAmuqWc1cbk8/s1600-h/usuing+decorative+screens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5enou-GtdUIMdrL3tF548_wB_2IiVSxH33AaFKhuTO3_ZGKA2VInJAug94me6NyOL2N-c9b1IMQfra_5ojrygtsgBFQF3FGr4MHQqfbnHvEEUffd2XCAJy1woOaiYQsN9MAmuqWc1cbk8/s320/usuing+decorative+screens.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An awkward corner niche becomes interesting with the use of the screen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhurVAbzhj5LPED1aEhZqfAMwiCVyeyh9qlCNePQZADfbOleRDpcEfGnAXgWKO6CV7_BQZu3oTyhxR86Z6i_mUdSWAXGGkXyjXDAtzl-j60ReyJiuLZm8ZD9Yzj_ETPTlsYtYIOqKgeD8T/s1600-h/using+decorative+screens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhurVAbzhj5LPED1aEhZqfAMwiCVyeyh9qlCNePQZADfbOleRDpcEfGnAXgWKO6CV7_BQZu3oTyhxR86Z6i_mUdSWAXGGkXyjXDAtzl-j60ReyJiuLZm8ZD9Yzj_ETPTlsYtYIOqKgeD8T/s320/using+decorative+screens.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am a sucker for old ceiling tins, the patina on these and the texture make a stunning backdrop for this table for two. This is most likely a DIY project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, we use screens in many different ways, I have used screens in the ways already mentioned, as well as, to hide workspaces, treadmills, weights, and play spaces for children. How have you used yours? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Thanks to Veranda for the images.</span></em> </div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-18599079323261256012010-03-15T05:33:00.000-07:002010-03-15T05:33:05.745-07:00Inspiration from the movie, Alice in Wonderland...What a visual feast is the movie Alice In Wonderland! From the sets, which are creative, detailed, a little dark, and wonderfully imaginative to the costumes that are equally so! This movie inspired me with the use of color, texture, scale and out of the box thinking. In this post, I am going to share some screen shots that are a visual treat! Yum!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4-VoAGJHKIZxqSxNJ19FRoHxe_wPY3ctjRuGIiGNS27GHuLvZiRuo-uqPkuSRBPp3QaKqAX7k5GaDBKQgEeWK47IOQyXUcJFVCHMyRZxQCYCxZv5JNfpBM2lNOPFmgBfmWDud3JZ7z_y/s1600-h/alice+second+best.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4-VoAGJHKIZxqSxNJ19FRoHxe_wPY3ctjRuGIiGNS27GHuLvZiRuo-uqPkuSRBPp3QaKqAX7k5GaDBKQgEeWK47IOQyXUcJFVCHMyRZxQCYCxZv5JNfpBM2lNOPFmgBfmWDud3JZ7z_y/s320/alice+second+best.jpg" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div><em>The color, scale and detail in this shot is spectacular. Tim Burton loves curly Q's and you see them here above the door.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganpNPqwA4ur39oFZqJ4zTclY2JvUU58s2gmR3CpAZyMw6KJKsksXme2muETAntg2qlI0I1zSwtE3s8XSbOgaY7cUMXRxBXuzuSsfXbaeH4XZd4KFgTbsd4ZWtcspJQELRlC8kpUGVPE_0/s1600-h/alice+in+wonderland2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganpNPqwA4ur39oFZqJ4zTclY2JvUU58s2gmR3CpAZyMw6KJKsksXme2muETAntg2qlI0I1zSwtE3s8XSbOgaY7cUMXRxBXuzuSsfXbaeH4XZd4KFgTbsd4ZWtcspJQELRlC8kpUGVPE_0/s320/alice+in+wonderland2.jpg" vt="true" width="269" /></a></div><em>Notice the beautiful iron gate, but it completed with the dark touch of Tim Burton by twisted gates that somehow seem sinister in the midst of the garden</em><br />
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<em>I wonder if the popularity of animal topiaries will increase because of the beauty of this garden scene.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilavZvQi7TSQJEUGYtCu07bxa_n44o5OVVEiz9HijVAJL_DOZoLhvfiyC6NKnrtBUnYAYaMqYukpcDkPF7G__0JQjDoen7KSkRiZuOy4lltSq-9ILMftHsibivcaIG6jJQgeq8ojdqH1tR/s1600-h/alice+in+wonderland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilavZvQi7TSQJEUGYtCu07bxa_n44o5OVVEiz9HijVAJL_DOZoLhvfiyC6NKnrtBUnYAYaMqYukpcDkPF7G__0JQjDoen7KSkRiZuOy4lltSq-9ILMftHsibivcaIG6jJQgeq8ojdqH1tR/s320/alice+in+wonderland.jpg" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div><em>This shot has it all! Iron works, topiaries, curly Qs, a fabulous costume and a rich and lovely color pallet to boot!</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8znpjWdMTVKeDAt2wowzn068Ti0s5S0SCo_kAxYslhcjHNRhacT-kYRkfjJd7-rBcMoQBQkltIif9MkbT8-KJ3FJWPLwB7qLYqv8lH6fFAAD72kwH0Iu1QNSLfwqVY9YItPLrGCqA-oNR/s1600-h/alice+costumes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8znpjWdMTVKeDAt2wowzn068Ti0s5S0SCo_kAxYslhcjHNRhacT-kYRkfjJd7-rBcMoQBQkltIif9MkbT8-KJ3FJWPLwB7qLYqv8lH6fFAAD72kwH0Iu1QNSLfwqVY9YItPLrGCqA-oNR/s320/alice+costumes.jpg" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div><em>You can't watch the movie without being awed by the costumes. Alice changes clothes at least six or seven times. Everything in the movie was layered, detailed and sumptuous lending to the Wonderland of it all.</em><br />
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<em>The White Queen's Castle...don't you love the checkerboard yard?</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58hL052cBbtkOrj9C0LkxUywQsqX4ubP7Vxpf8M05sA3yRsRqMwlUTJsnUJvcFryucANdY1RS6UURvYltzkJXQVWwpYvIWZPpo4Onf39-eW-Io1uIDjvFTaAwkP6eDF9hKsVdJt43pxCc/s1600-h/alice+white+queen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58hL052cBbtkOrj9C0LkxUywQsqX4ubP7Vxpf8M05sA3yRsRqMwlUTJsnUJvcFryucANdY1RS6UURvYltzkJXQVWwpYvIWZPpo4Onf39-eW-Io1uIDjvFTaAwkP6eDF9hKsVdJt43pxCc/s320/alice+white+queen.jpg" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div><em>The ethereal nature of the White Queen is expressed with Pantone's color of the year, turquoise, soft white and silver accents. Love the chair!</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9cXMrZcMWcXK33hteVwXdNyfVOpYwEzNB5cX21RhuGhdBfQv_5Vf9bPzDvZcX6QmbYFqA8mta09eMac6KiAb-QScvYHVsCrVo29P8MyhWObSgC049xtJ-HPbC20tjf9t763JAEzHRlqL/s1600-h/Alice+interior+of+the+red+queen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9cXMrZcMWcXK33hteVwXdNyfVOpYwEzNB5cX21RhuGhdBfQv_5Vf9bPzDvZcX6QmbYFqA8mta09eMac6KiAb-QScvYHVsCrVo29P8MyhWObSgC049xtJ-HPbC20tjf9t763JAEzHRlqL/s320/Alice+interior+of+the+red+queen.jpg" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div><em>The Red Queen is surrounded by grey, gold and red. She wears her hearts like trophies from battle. The colums are quite lovely and the black and white tile floor adds a graphic element to the room.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTsZcvjOLCjHZvfCzITzT8ThjJiZo8CBz8hLuNy6kO03CaZf6vXUEa1fLikTDzrgg-Vby7BBLUoin_8yg2oiE3yq5qw6Ckh-bCibPdkQK5T46JNhwE6B-HO4XMGF5UsouhkoapfnOYnac/s1600-h/alice_in_wonderland_photo_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTsZcvjOLCjHZvfCzITzT8ThjJiZo8CBz8hLuNy6kO03CaZf6vXUEa1fLikTDzrgg-Vby7BBLUoin_8yg2oiE3yq5qw6Ckh-bCibPdkQK5T46JNhwE6B-HO4XMGF5UsouhkoapfnOYnac/s320/alice_in_wonderland_photo_01.jpg" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div><em>This is a tea party that I would want to attend! Notice each chair is unique as are the different tables, table cloths, and china pieces. Notice the lace like details in the table cloths...</em><br />
<em>Brilliant!</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-iGNa2cEQiY_BeE5fIEupKI0qWr9xjiAIIpNhrAMIAGDckRcDsLN6l7v-9U0zhvXDrs2gOG7DuJt1MilLzr8oMTEOARIRHpDI5kyOKFrXoGBS8X_JSlQRsVZxTCSwmz8GhRr-4ous64p/s1600-h/alice+in+wonderland+Johnny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-iGNa2cEQiY_BeE5fIEupKI0qWr9xjiAIIpNhrAMIAGDckRcDsLN6l7v-9U0zhvXDrs2gOG7DuJt1MilLzr8oMTEOARIRHpDI5kyOKFrXoGBS8X_JSlQRsVZxTCSwmz8GhRr-4ous64p/s320/alice+in+wonderland+Johnny.jpg" vt="true" width="260" /></a></div><em>No post on Alice in Wonderland would be complete without a shot of the beautiful Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter! How can a man sporting red fuzzy hair, a gap in his teeth, and chalk white skin be so gorgeous??? His costume is amazing as well. There are several times in the movie where the pattern on his ascot looks like skeleton heads...eerie, and, just like Tim Burton to have a costume illustrate the madness.</em>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337510674827106658.post-50603975736022255302010-03-13T06:21:00.000-08:002010-03-13T06:26:35.588-08:00Design Solutions - Another High Point Visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PDfkjM2aZ36k_jny4zRykjg1xEibm8v1Is1VuhrzeWyVORHPLeXYNSGojI1H2CpDa_CEgn3UdMVdu3krHHTqJOsASMpmL-X9_Bgv_sgco0bivEpYM-bzg-RSx_652UzxUwryk2x4ysvr/s1600-h/design+solutions+range+shot" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PDfkjM2aZ36k_jny4zRykjg1xEibm8v1Is1VuhrzeWyVORHPLeXYNSGojI1H2CpDa_CEgn3UdMVdu3krHHTqJOsASMpmL-X9_Bgv_sgco0bivEpYM-bzg-RSx_652UzxUwryk2x4ysvr/s320/design+solutions+range+shot" vt="true" /></a></div>Recently, I have been sharing visits that I enjoyed when I attended the Unity in Design event in High Point. Just before heading back to Charlotte, I went to see Design Solutions. They create dream kitchens and baths. There, I met Pamela Merritt, furniture designer and cabinetry wizard! Pamela designs kitchens and baths that are made up of individual furniture pieces, she calls them unfitted. Each piece of cabinetry is made individually, and then slides into place. Theoretically, you can re-configure your kitchen, or bath, at will, if the plumbing and electrical allows it. The design process is amazing. Pam works with clients from floor plan to completion, customizing the design every step of the way. Pamela says it best, “At Design Solutions™ we do not make cabinets; we are furniture makers." This company does not use any particleboard or fiberboard (MDF) or use any materials with formaldehyde; they use only sustainable wood resources, biodegradable and edible glues and low VOC finishes. The next time a client asks me to be involved in the building of their custom home; I will be referring back to Design Solutions. Check out these beautiful photos of their work:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1tBDA1xZD_lkIsAnxeICqPMaDG4e_2O0hdjFG7SaQfulSf1k6Azl5JIh7OBZTAEBPes20pFm-an4LRmzNfWdAIw4wWmPZD3Rb7jtQmzkdyOmaGvIjQBzF7dLEdz53HfISHporyRiFiud/s1600-h/Design+Solutions,+kitchen+shot" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1tBDA1xZD_lkIsAnxeICqPMaDG4e_2O0hdjFG7SaQfulSf1k6Azl5JIh7OBZTAEBPes20pFm-an4LRmzNfWdAIw4wWmPZD3Rb7jtQmzkdyOmaGvIjQBzF7dLEdz53HfISHporyRiFiud/s320/Design+Solutions,+kitchen+shot" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Furniture pieces create a fabulous kitchen</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj56lnEUECrkD8bf8n-zkAqfbMHqb8ypyFZ-syiLW0-DU-Vdx9s1LGzUiw-Wp5oT0fLR50Hp-0nHkCDKPWa5uQoaodD5CWTEAUwnGdU_Zq9M2zgouC97l9PRYIPenHMgypwhd6XJBe1QD4/s1600-h/design+Solutions+buffethutch" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj56lnEUECrkD8bf8n-zkAqfbMHqb8ypyFZ-syiLW0-DU-Vdx9s1LGzUiw-Wp5oT0fLR50Hp-0nHkCDKPWa5uQoaodD5CWTEAUwnGdU_Zq9M2zgouC97l9PRYIPenHMgypwhd6XJBe1QD4/s320/design+Solutions+buffethutch" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Beautiful hutch</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXG4VYDkj7ZrOKgd-I-e7EMV-aZzIX41WE5f2nMO07X_IU9ISp9RSw3CXMGUGDCRIBLSmD9b7bL8Zsjxp_Y3-MfR-ynQihV8_xUmOY3nWgiXHXOsa6N5h2DSUeTppAm8V-QCBlOIw2tJ54/s1600-h/design+Solutions+sink+area" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXG4VYDkj7ZrOKgd-I-e7EMV-aZzIX41WE5f2nMO07X_IU9ISp9RSw3CXMGUGDCRIBLSmD9b7bL8Zsjxp_Y3-MfR-ynQihV8_xUmOY3nWgiXHXOsa6N5h2DSUeTppAm8V-QCBlOIw2tJ54/s320/design+Solutions+sink+area" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The details on the cabinet fronts are exquisite!</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUIea0C9YHywAvGTW8Pvzz3bXIFtIVxk6b4h9O1RIKIqD0pWP4SrOLdyc7nTfEaQMf_jq8cFpDcSRE2I-0RnLNRm29fNtyE-viX_ZVCWaeg2_6kP4EwOw_PzMCSvUC7h7izN764XCyQRw/s1600-h/Design+Solutions+kitchen2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUIea0C9YHywAvGTW8Pvzz3bXIFtIVxk6b4h9O1RIKIqD0pWP4SrOLdyc7nTfEaQMf_jq8cFpDcSRE2I-0RnLNRm29fNtyE-viX_ZVCWaeg2_6kP4EwOw_PzMCSvUC7h7izN764XCyQRw/s320/Design+Solutions+kitchen2" vt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">This kitchen island is a showpiece!</span></em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Jane Ann Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425180277899673039noreply@blogger.com0