New House Love

I just got an email from my cousin's wife. She, my cousin, and their sweet one year old have moved to their dream town and are starting to make this house their dream house.

I am struck by New House Love.

New House Love is that joy/enthusiasm/envy/curiosity/promise that you feel when you hear someone is starting out in a new place. The canvas is (almost) blank, save a few details left by the owner and some items making the trek from their old home. This is when the promise can be inspiring, or downright frightening!

For me, I knuckle down with room boards, a general color board, furniture layouts, and inspirational images. These surround me as I build a new space.

A client is also having New House Love and here's a color plan that we have just started for their colonial.

Entry and Hallways Shaker Beige



Living Room Powell Buff



Dining Room Whitall Brown











Kitchen Coventry Gray



Powder Room Van Duesen Blue



Playroom Wethersfield Moss









Master Bedroom Gray Huskie



Master Dressing Room Coral Gables



Boys' Room Nantucket Fog









Ceiling Linen White


Trim Decorator's White










Ain't New House Love Grand!

Geometric Inspiration

I was once walking in Prague and was struck by the geometric patterns that surrounded me.


























They were beautiful--exacting and visually appealing. Each new pattern led me further along the road throughout this beautiful city.

I also love this chair.

Overlapping-Squares Side Chair

Simple geometric patterns can be so alluring.

www.westelm.com

Fresh--A Saturday Afternoon Project

This felt a little stale. It was a lovely piece that had been acquired a few years ago. I loved it and it worked so well in its first house, but in this new space it needed an update.

So, we pulled off the Chinoiserie fabric.

We pulled off the background wallpaper from owners even before.

We measured the shape of the background and used the older fabric as a guide.

After attaching the fabric with a glue gun, trim was added.

And the glassware was returned to show a cabinet with a fresh face.

What would make this even fresher would be to paint it with a high gloss white...but that would take more than 1-2 hours on a Saturday.

The Power of White Paint

I once worked with a woman who stood by the statement,

"Never underestimate the power of white paint."

A quick reminder:

Dining Room Table Settings

Mark Hampton wrote, "We should all remember that dining rooms are really stage sets." I love this idea on so many levels. I love the notion that gatherings in this room are planned with lots of details and provide a bit of an escape--just like an ideal dinner party. I also love the idea that the dining room can be a little outside of the realm of the everyday. For some clients (myself included) this means some less durable furniture, and even breakables! Finally, I love to really set the stage in the dining room. I can't begin to tell you how fun (and I mean FUN!) it is to go through a client's china drawer/cabinet/box/garage corner and put together a beautiful place setting.

I have long been inspired by Carolyne Roehm who does beautiful work at the table (even has a cutting garden specifically for bringing flowers inside for these vignettes). And, it seems that every designer who publishes, ends up doing some version of an entertaining book. I completely understand why--this is the best part of having a welcoming, comfortable, and beautiful home! So, perhaps some of you are planning a special dinner party in the next few weeks. And, while every other part of the country gets to be outside, if you are in Seattle you may still be using that dining room.

As you plan your party, here are some schemes by Carolyne Roehm that make me happy.









Green Glasses! Colored glassware is a great way to bring in some fun--or history if you are using something antique. While these look great with the green plates, feel free to pair with another color, maybe white china with a blue band, or a paper plate in a basket for a more casual feel.


















Put your flowers in Pottery! And, repetition is wonderful.











Stripes and sunflowers look so great together. Considering using an even stronger table cloth or napkins--bold black and white stripes would look amazing. Makes me think of August...










And, above, is one not from Carolyne Roehm, but from a lovely baby shower thrown by a friend. I love the white linen placemats and crystal goblets juxtaposed with the natural eggs and fluffy flowers.

I think we need to throw a party!

http://www.carolyneroehm.com/

Living with Matisse

I have always been drawn to Henri Matisse, with his cut outs being most appealing. As a child I loved the idea that an artist was someone who could "cut and paste." Of course, his work is so much more than that, but I love that his works start from such a simple place.














Loving Matisse, I adore this chest from Bungalow5. (Matisse Large Cabinet in White Lacquered Oak.)













I can imagine having this in a room, possibly even storing construction paper and scissors so that someone can do a cut out of her own.

www.henri-matisse.net/paintings/cutout_a.jpg
http://www.bungalow5.com/

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

which is the fairest of them all?

There is much to choose from when selecting accessories, and mirrors are no exception. Mirrors are a versatile piece of wall decor. They provide beauty in themselves, and they can also enhance the space by reflecting warmth, expanding views, and projecting space.

These three caught my eye this week.

















West Elm Antiqued Tiled Mirror
Lets stand a tall wall mirror in the hallway. The tiled border adds to the visual interest, but still keeps it clean. Perhaps it is reflecting some vibrantly colored room or outdoor garden at the other end of the hall.

















Brissi Louis Phillipe Mirror
This is the mirror I want in my bedroom. This Louis Phillipe Mirror is a great copy, and easily accessible...if you live in London. Boo.














Arteriors Nikita Mirror
I am drawn to these panels and often think about separating them and placing them in between furniture in a dining room or entrance hall. The finish says formal, but the shapes are quite playful. That would work in any number of design schemes!

West Elm www.westelm.com
Brissi www.brissi.co.uk
Arteriors www.arteriorshome.com/

Starting Fresh

A couple with a 2 year old--and a baby on the way--have just moved into a home that hasn't been touched since 1978. And, in 1978 it was just the kitchen that received a facelift. So, they are truly starting anew with a wonderful colonial with great bones.

Let's breathe some new life into a classic treasure.

A Home Office

Working from home allows you to move beyond the cubicle and create a textured space that meets your needs--functionally and stylistically. When your room looks like this, you might be excited to go to work.

Enjoy the commute!

How do you choose wall colors?

Does a fan deck scare you?

The color of your walls can be the most critical part of your design scheme. When the shade suits the space, a level of perfection is reached that is so high, one might not even notice the color. Or, the color is so right for the room that it sings, and presents a stage for the other elements to join in the chorus. But, missing a color can have equally strong results, of the negative kind.

So, how can you best gauge the color without painting and repainting for months on end? (Which I have done!)

Paint Boards! These can be carried around the room to be seen in different lights. But, when you are ready to put the project down for a moment, you don't have to have a paint square on your wall.

To begin, purchase 20x30" foam boards and sample pot of the desired color.

Paint the boards using a paint brush or a roller (best).

Move the boards around the room at various times of day to confirm which one is the ideal shade for the space.

You can even check your accent color. A dressing room will be coral, above, and the master bedroom will be one of those shades of gray.

Once you know you love it, paint that room!

Photo Credit: Amy Smith http://amysmithdesign.com
Benjamin Moore Paints

Why do I love this?

Texture, simplicity, warmth.

I think is why I folded down the page when I was flipping through the catalog. It would look so lovely in an entry (obvi) or a home office--maybe with covered magazine files on top and an upholstered stool under for impromptu seating.

(Like when your daughter comes in and wants to tell you about her day...)

West Elm Parsons Console in Natural Rattan
www.westelm.com

Summer Entertaining, on a dime!

It looks like the sun might actually come out in Seattle this week. Not one to waste Vitamin D, we will be entertaining outside!

I have loved seeing the melamine dishware--some even monogrammed--that has graced the pages of Elle Decor and House Beautiful this month. Such lovely things and I do think a set of these would look AMAZING at our backyard table.

The reality of our backyard table, however, is that it lives on a soon-to-be replaced deck. So, our dinnerware has come from some sneaky sources.

The Midsommar plate set (in red, set of 4 for $1.99 at Ikea) is happily paired with braided placements (World Market, $15.96 for four).

Napkins get to stand out at our table and when we are entertaining with children, paper is usually the best call. I was charmed by the Midsommar collection (also at Ikea, $2.49 for 30).

Adding some real glassware might feel like a nice contrast with the plastic plates. I think I would, however, embrace the durability of plastic and break out my melamine tumblers.

Happy Almost Summer!

Midsommar Plates and Napkins, Ikea.com
Braided Placemats, World Market
Melamine Glasses, Graham and Green

Dear Friend,

I found a rug that made me think of you. It is soft, but fine. Has some texture, but in a neat weave. And, it comes in a variety of colors that evoke summer ease, as well as cozy winter evenings. I am quite enamored!
Take a look at this. I think it would look so lovely in your bedroom, or perhaps in the tv room. Or, what would you think if we covered your stairs with this?
Talk soon!
Love,
Me

Dash and Albert Zipper Rug
www.dashandalbert.com

Hello!

I am a devoted blog reader. Family blogs, travel blogs, cooking blogs...those capture my interest. But, design blogs motive me. They inspire me. They are a creative driving force. In some ways, these blogs have taken the hole left by the closing of several important shelter magazines. They delight my senses with images of beauty. And, a few make me laugh.

I have always loved interior design and architecture. I know I was not alone in wanted to redesign my childhood bedroom. I viewed my college dorm room as a blank canvas each year. And, my first apartment? Sheer bliss. My first studio, alone? Even more amazing. A home with my new husband? Delight. A home for my new family? Joy.

As an interior designer in Seattle, I have started a small business bringing the joy and fun of designing and decorating into homes and small businesses. I love this work. I also love my green notebooks that I have filled with clippings, notes, sketches, and ideas. In some ways, I am hoping this blog will be musings much like what I add to my notebooks. I also hope to show a little of the design process for projects currently in progress.

So, here are some thoughts from my notebook...