Design Inspiration - Once Upon a Time

ABC has a new show called Once Upon A Time, basely loosely on all the fairy tales we all grew up with.  I was watching it the other day and can I say the evil mayor has an office to die for, OMG!
I took a couple of screen shots hopefully can you see the genius in this room.  The room is supposed to convey darkness but trust me I would love to live in this "dark place".  Isn't it fantastic?

The lit niches above and around the fireplace create a beautiful place to display art.  The sunburst mirror has just the right glam and compliments the busy wallpaper and don't you just love the white horse?  The vase with the red apples provide a pop of color in the room.

Molding Love

Loving the wallpaper, the birch firewood and the leather chair.  So what you think?

GOLD RUSH

Have you noticed alot of gold metals lately? Alot of showrooms at the recent High Point Market, had alot of gold elements in their vignettes. Whether in mirrors, lamps, flatware, hardware or curtain rods.....gold is worth alot again.

I started having a gold rush a couple of years back with this lamp, now in my living room:
And this one in my piano room:
This season though I'm beginning to see gold making it's comeback more and more. There's gold in interiors, but also fashion accessories such as Austin based Kendra Scott's line.
Love this Ainsley bracelet from her current collection:
Mom's are even jumping on the gold rush by adding it into the baby's nursery:


In kitchens, lighting and hardware is getting the gold touch:


Nails are going glam:

Bags are even getting bling with the Tory Burch clutch:


Recently REVIVAL in Austin, just got this fabulous pendant:


Ralph Lauren recently introduced gold again in his new classic collection called One Fifth:
I've been recently considering adding some gold curtain rods into my home office.

What do you think about gold coming back. Are you having a gold rush?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!,

(images via Pinterest, Revival, All Lacquered Up, Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren, Van Wicklen Design)

Crocodile Walls & Barn Slider Doors

In my Yahoo mail today I had two newsletters relating to each other that I wanted to share. The first one was from Zita Raymond, a faux artist I use for projects in Austin. Actually Zita's crew flew with me to Mississippi when we worked on a southern historical home. They will travel all over and have done all size jobs. Zita has many years of experience and has an incredibly talented team.

Zita recently created the walls above in a crocodile texture for a downtown project. I wanted you to notice the walls because they are beautiful! (click or double click on the image to enlarge the photo).
Wouldn't they be great in a man's study, a master bedroom or a boys's room?

I thought you'd love to see how Zita adds a detail to any ceiling with Anaglypta papers also . They give you the look of old metal ceilings and can be painted in any color you like. A great way to add warmth to your dining room and they're also great in powder bath ceilings:
In the first image above, notice one of my fave details to include in design: the sliding barn door. Notice the hardware is on a stainless steel track.

The other email newsletter in my box today was from the Interior Design Society, and they were advertising an October special for the sliding track hardware from Barn Door Hardware.
Stainless steel sets , in October, are running as low as $ 795. If you've ever priced the hardware, it can get pricey. If you've been thinking about a barn door project, then now's the time to grab this great deal!

Have a great day,

E-Design (Girls Bedroom)

Recently my client Jennifer asked me to do another E-Design, this time for her daughter Kendall's room. E-Design is great when you just need extra ideas to top off a room, & help with the direction of the room. One of the best perks about E-Design, is that you can shop online for most items!

Here's where we started with Kendall's room.
Jennifer had already purchased items from Pottery Barn as our base, and I just needed to add some touches to pull it all together.

The main focal point of the room is the fun Madison quilt they bought, from Pottery Barn Teen.Jennifer had just painted her daughter's room a great lavender and also painted the iron table a vivid turquoise. She bought a new green velvet tufted headboard, cute "butterfly" chair, and great crystal bubble lamps...but looking into the room it just needs something more.

First of all I suggest to hang the curtains higher, midway between the top of the window and the ceiling. Doing so, will make the room feel taller & draw the eye up. Next I recommend adding a border to the bottom of the existing white curtains with a band of the chevron green fabric. I would also take out the brown wood blinds, and swap out with white ones. The best cost alternative are Lowe's "cut to fit" blinds. Take your measurements to any Lowe's and they'll cut the blinds while you wait. Or have a custom made fabric shade in place of the brown wood blinds.



Here's the large graphic chevron print I suggest for the extra band of fabric at the bottom of her white curtains. Don't know how to sew? Just take to your local alterations place and they can easily sew them and it's alot cheaper than custom. I love to create and sell custom window treatments, but I always like to give a client an economical solution first.
The large graphic print will add another bold punch of color to the room and give it that extra wow factor.



Kendall created a GREAT assortment of colorful graphics by framing scrapbook paper. I suggested moving these over the green headboard, and moving the desk to another wall.
They added a few bubble ring flowers on the wall.....I suggested moving those to the wall where the framed scrapbook papers currently are.
The dresser is a great classic but for visual interest, I suggest painting it a fun turquoise shade. Remove the clutter, then place cute jewelry holders on the dresser for organized storage. Even sweet antique china tea cups would be a great way to store jewelry.

Jennifer has this great mirror she's considering for the room. I suggest painting it a high gloss Super White from Benjamin Moore. Hang the mirror vertically above the dresser. I'd also paint the base of the shabby chic lamp. Paint the main body Super White, then accent the bands with the alternating colors shown below. Add an updated drum shade and instantly the lamp is made over too! I'd also place the floor lamp over by the green butterfly chair.

A fun way to add extra sitting space in children or teens rooms are floor cushions. I'd love for Kendall to add a couple of them to her room. Love the vivid crochet poufs made by La Casa De Coto. (check out their colorful website)


I'm also lovin' this pouf for Kendall's room from Aleta Fae:

Here are the rest of the suggestions all together on a design board.....
Jennifer can easily click on the highlighted areas of each recommendation below, and this will allow them to find the item to purchase online:

1) Chevron Euro Shams in apple green & white for the bedding
2) mauve purple and white lattice rug for the right side of the bed
3) light kit for existing white ceiling fan
4) curtain rods
5) outlet covers
6) knobs for dresser
7) white nightstands to put on each side of the bed
8) Paint color from Benjamin Moore for the dresser ,BM Tropicana Cabana
9) Drum Shade for existing floor lamp
10) Velvet pillow for the center of the bed, monogram with initial(s)
11) jewelry holder , place on top of the dresser
12) owner's quilt, Madison from PB Teen
13) Accent paint color to paint on bands of existing floor lamp, BM Stem Green
14) Kitty hook for wall, or back of door
15) throw to place on green butterfly chair
16) lamp for desk
17) Chair for desk
18) Another accent color for the bands on the floor lamp, BM Pink Taffy
19) Ring holder for dresser
20) Barn light , hang above the painted white Ikea floor length mirror
21) Chevron fabric for bottom band of curtains
22) pouf, place in front of the green chair...use for extra gf's hanging out!
23) need more pouf's for extra gf's? place these on the right side of the dresser, on the floor. Pull out into room when needed.
24) paint this mirror a high gloss white, hang on the left wall, in between bed and the desk. Hang the barn light above, centered.


And here's a detailed version for Jennifer & Kendall to reference when their new items arrive. (remember to click each image to enlarge):



I just spotted something else that would be so fun and a great conversation piece for Kendall's friends! The mini cooler from Pottery Barn Teen.....keeps bottled waters/sodas/snacks handy in your room ....place this on the dresser or the desk and it's instant fun!



I'm working on upgrading my E-Design packaging more. But until I can master my photo editing program , I hope that Jennifer and Kendall have the direction they'll need to complete a fun young girl's room!


If you need design help with your room, send me an email for rates here.


All the best,

Design by Sarah

Recently while in San Antonio, my sis-in-law Sarah had us over for a small lunch. I thought you'd love to see the details of her home.

Sarah's always gracious and welcoming from the moment you are at the front door. See the small chalkboard with our names on the door:

I could easily take photos of their entire "magazine worthy" 3 story amazing house, but with only a short visit, I just snapped a few photos to share.


The living room is refined yet casual....
Sarah knew zebra was cool before it was everywhere in the design world.

The table was set for Fall using a Cinderella pumpkin as the centerpiece, tortoise shell napkin rings & sprigs of grape leaves. A geometric linen runner with a key motif was
my favorite table detail.



Sarah recently purchased the runner on a Uganda missionary trip. She's planning on turning it into a valance later.

Old style tags were used for place cards on top of plaid goody boxes.

A painted gold tree holds goody boxes for those not able to join the lunch:

Sarah is thinking about going into the monogram business one day, and owns the rights to this antique, special Arabesque monogram on her dining chair:

Love the coordinating chair with the daisy detail on the nailheads,

... her collection of antique blue and white china,

...the simplicity of live ferns in tall vases.

Sarah's kitchen is the heart of the home. We normally eat in the kitchen at a large farmhouse table. And I should've taken more pics of this fab kitchen, but I'll remember next time.
The backsplash of her stove is an antique painting, isn't it gorgeous??

(remember you can always click on a photo to enlarge the photo)

Her double refrigerator/freezer doors are my fave.....they're antique Italian scenes painted on wood, retrofitted to each door:

Hanging beside her extra large arched wood window is a sweet collection of family baby cups:

Before leaving, Sarah had to share her latest gadget, the Nespresso machine. I'm telling you this needs to be on your Christmas list. The Nespresso machine made the best cup of Espresso cup & it's super EZ!!

Looks appropos for a Fall day , don't you agree?

Wishing you a yummy Fall kind of day,