Gadabout

Classic

Great paper is one of my favorite luxuries in life and Gadabout by Hanna Brooks Nation is something I always have on hand.  She has some new designs/colors that are darling so I thought I would share~enjoy!

Tuk Tuk

Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall

why put off tomorrow what you can do today?

Bar

photo from Domino Magazine

I want this bar for my dining room from Tori Mellot's apartment . . . it's fab!

Desk

Love this desk from the Todd Romano showroom via Habitually Chic.

Beautiful!

Countertops

My Materials class is studying countertops right now and it is so interesting.  The instructor delved into how each of the natural stones are formed by the Earth which helps us understand durability, appropriate usage and maintenance needs.  We went over all types of natural stone to recycled glass and everything in between.  But the most interesting to me was cement and how it can be customized.  It can be made into any color, the edges can be decorative and imprints can be made--anything from a leaf to your college alma mater's logo.  She shared a story about creating a cocktail table with a client, a base was purchased and a custom cement tabletop was created with three different colors to look like abstract art.  It is expensive and takes 28 days to cure, but is very durable and beautiful.

images from absolute concrete, pure contemporary, concrete countertop institute

Field trip

My Principles class took a great field trip last week to the New Jersey Decorating Exchange.  This picture was taken while we were in the fabric room.  Our host has been in the design field for many years and provided us with great information and resources.  I look forward to working with them in the future.

New York School of Interior Design

The other night I attended one of the New York School of Interior Design's lecture series events.

A big thanks to my friend Michele who gave me a tour and is endlessly interesting to talk to!  This is a great series~free and open to the public.

Thanksgiving Living

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and the new Martha Stewart Living celebrates it in style.

love the cover!

talented artisans and women owned companies~my favorite was Jane D'Arensbourg, a glass sculptor and jeweler

pass the butter, please

love the contrast of the glittered corn and rough husks

lonny!

check out the newest issue of lonny magazine~it's the first anniversary issue.

design inc.

Okay, I love Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe but Design Inc. is the best.  The Sarah's House television series is really good, but this is great.  For me, it is fascinating to watch Sarah and her team interact with real clients, source items, come up with design concepts and experience the reality of mistakes made, things gone wrong, etc.  This is an older show of hers and HGTV is airing it again once a week. l.o.v.e. :D

Williams-Sonoma Designer Series

 Last week in my Materials, Finishes + Sources class, the lecture and discussion was on selection criteria for interior materials.  There is much to consider.  Budget, design concept, existing conditions and client's habits are just some of the things that need to be analyzed.  This interview with Heather Clawson sums up many of these issues perfectly. 

In addition to owning her own interior design and consulting business, Heather Clawson is the author of the popular design blog Habitually Chic.

Listen before you leap. I start by talking to my clients to get a better feel for their aesthetic and how they envision using the space. Knowing if they plan to entertain, need child-friendly fabrics, or have pieces that can be moved from another room or taken out of storage is key. It's also crucial to figure out the budget so that I can make the right choices and get the most for a client's money. Paint and wallpaper can make a huge impact, so I try to pinpoint what's happening on the walls early on in the process.
Think practically. Designers have to avoid forcing their will on clients or choosing the most expensive options instead of thinking about how a room will actually be used. I was at a beach house in the Hamptons recently, and was shocked that the designer had chosen silk fabric for the sofas in the living room across from the pool. In a family with four boys, it seems inevitable that one or all of them might run in from the pool and sit on the sofa with wet hair or bathing suits! I always try to think of all possible problems that might occur before the design is executed.
Have a seat. When I'm selecting a sofa, comfort comes first. I have a client now who is 6'5" so though I made suggestions, he really needed to go to showrooms and try out different styles to sort out what felt best for someone of his height. Another important thing to do when picking a sofa for a New York City apartment is to make sure it will fit in the freight elevator and through the doorway!
Be consistent. It's easiest to stick with neutrals for larger upholstered pieces, and work in brighter colors with throw pillows, which are less of a hassle and cheaper to swap out if you get sick of them. Make sure that the palette of each room works within the context of the entire house. This is especially important in smaller city apartments where one room tends to bleed into another.
Pay attention to detail. Without accessories, a room reminds me of a woman who got dressed and forgot to put on jewelry. Small accents create another layer and keep a space from looking cold or boring. I avoid buying everything from the same store or period. The most interesting spaces offer a mix of modern and antique from a bunch of different sources. Flowers or potted plants help create a warm and inviting environment. Placing favorite books on a table and a cashmere throw blanket on the arm of a chair also sets a nice mood.
Make it your own. A house should feel personal to a client. I love incorporating family heirlooms or anything that has a lot of sentimental value. If we're starting totally from scratch, I try to choose pieces like marble Buddha heads or old art books that look like the client could have picked them up along their travels or inherited them. I don't want anything to look too done—a space should never look like a designer came in and did it all.
from Williams-Sonoma designer series

IKEA project

 This probably doesn't look like much, but I have to admit it took me about 10 hours to choose all the elements and design 4 rooms for my first project in Principles of Interior Design.  We had an imaginary couple as clients, a floor plan (to scale) with all the doors and windows marked and a budget of $10,000.  Everything had to purchased from IKEA.

We had to keep in mind our clients' preferences, lifestyle, habits and budget.  Everything we chose needed to look great and fit properly in the room.  It took me awhile to get inspired but then something clicked and I became absorbed in designing these spaces and the time flew--it was 2 a.m. before I knew it!  Most everyone in the class presented today and it was interesting to see how differently each space turned out.  It is becoming clear how much effort goes into making a space functional, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.  My appreciation of good designers continues to grow.

Martha Stewart Kitchens at Home Depot

Recently, Martha Stewart launched her line of beautiful kitchens at Home Depot.  But, the cabinetry, counter tops and islands can also be configured for a laundry room.  I'll take this one! :D

For more on this new line available at Home Depot, click here.

Simon Pearce

During a beautiful Fall weekend, I had the opportunity to visit Simon Pearce in Quechee, Vermont.  Their quality and craftsmanship is impressive and it was a treat to experience in person.

Immediately upon arriving we put our name in for lunch, I've read great things about the restaurant and knew it would be busy on such a lovely Saturday.  We then proceeded downstairs to the glassblowing area.

This gentleman is a Master Glassblower and I believe he said he'd been working in this craft for 14 years.  They were making wineglasses.  My youngest daughter was especially fascinated.

Samples of what was made that day along with the mixture used to make the glass.

The exterior view of the restaurant.

Each table is set with their own glassware, utensils and pottery.

It was busy but so worth the 40 minute wait--everything was excellent.

Our sweet finish.

After lunch we visited the Master Potter.  He was making pitchers and it was amazing how quickly and perfectly each one was created.

The store is large and full of so many tempting items.  In addition to pottery, glassware and utensils they carry decorative elements, napkins, hammered copper and sterling items and much more--it's difficult to make a choice!  The tabletops are gorgeous.

Simon Pearce is worth the visit!

blog noun \ˈblȯg, ˈbläg\

Since I began this blog, I have had a lot of positive feedback and gained followers in the design community.  As someone who is beginning a new career after being in politics + government and a stay at home mom + volunteer, it is a way for me to connect with others and share my experiences as a student.  A couple people have inquired as to what this is? a business? what I like?  As a blogger and avid reader of blogs, these questions surprise me.  One inquiry came from someone living overseas, but still, I thought, doesn't everyone know what a blog is in 2010?  To be clear, I have added blog to the header and the description remains the same.  Thank you to all who take the time to read it--I hope you enjoy!

Definition of Blog

: a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer; also : the contents of such a site

— blog·ger noun

— blog·ging noun

short for Weblog

First Known Use: 1999

Wikipedia - Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages and other media related to its topic. The ability of readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs.