Not Your Typical Iron Bed!

Saturday, March 06, 2010 | Category: Bed and Bath, Shops and Showrooms

When I think of iron beds, visions of dark metal and straight lines usually come to mind.  Something like the below…

That is, until now….

I opened up my new Anthropologie catalog to find the epitome of “scrolls, curls, and twirls” in their new Calligraphy Bed.  This white, whimsical, Hollywood Regency-inspired bed would be the perfect finishing touch to a mega girly room.

And how fitting that it’s called the Calligraphy!  I can immediately see how the elegant lettering art form was the inspiration for this lighthearted and fanciful design.

Unsolved Mystery

Thursday, December 10, 2009 | Category: Bed and Bath, Shops and Showrooms

I’ve received a few panicked emails within the past few days asking “what happened to the Dallas D. Porthault store?”

I, of course, was shocked by these inquiries….“what do you mean? It’s not there anymore?”

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Apparently it isn’t located in HP Village anymore- but the mystery still remains.  Did it re-locate? Did the Dallas location shut down?

I haven’t spoken to anyone at the store since this summer so all of this is news to me! Anyone who has any info on the situation, please email me.  There are some faithful and concerned customers out there who desperately need their linens!

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UPDATE: Angela, who used to manage the Dallas Porthault store, emailed me and said “Yes, our precious store has closed and Porthault is now available across the parking lot at Madison.”

Sophisticated Kids Rooms

Tuesday, December 01, 2009 | Category: Bed and Bath, Decorating, Kids

Kids are just growing up way too fast these days…<sigh>

Many have cell phones practically before they learn how to talk, kids who are thirteen look about twenty-three, and some are even more computer savvy than their parents!  (what happened to the days of Mall Madness, bad perms, and dial-up?)

As for these kids’ own rooms? They are looking equally as mature!

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How about a room that will take your child from seven to seventeen? Here are some of my favorite rooms that prove that a sophisticated color palette plus classic furnishings will grow WITH your child- and you never know, he or she just might take that fabulous chandelier that was in their nursery, with them to college!

This room featured in House Beautiful is by far my favorite on the list.  I would transport this vignette to my own bedroom in a heartbeat!

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{House Beautiful}

I specified the nightstands below for one of my own client’s bedrooms.  The only differences were that we purchased them in white and the fact that she was a grown woman!

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Jill Zarin of The Real Housewives of New York City decorated her daughter Ally’s bedroom in icy blue, black, and white creating nice contrast.

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{Traditional Home}

Buh bye wicker beds of the 90’s ! Hello upholstered twin headboards of today! And we must not forget the crystal chandelier and fabulous wallpaper for some added panache.

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{Traditional Home}

RIP Domino- you always had the best compilations of kids rooms…at least they are still searchable through Google and we haven’t lost you forever!

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{Domino}

Houston designer, Sally Wheat, designed this incredibly unique room for her daughter (featured in House and Home).  The pillows say it all- LOVES!

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{House and Home}

The color scheme in this imaginative child’s room is certainly dreamy!

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Wallpapering your child’s bedroom doors- what a concept!  Brown and white striped Rose Cummings wallpaper is paired with Granny Smith green trim for added punch.

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{Domino}

Here we have a kids room with an understated sailboat theme executed beautifully (and notice I emphasized understated!) You don’t want to be selling that Dora the Explorer bed-in-a-bag set next year when your child suddenly decides to move onto Miley Cyrus or the Jonas Brothers! Sometimes themes are better left more subtle.

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{Domino}

This preppy pink and green nursery (featured in where else?…..Domino) makes me swoon!

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Mr. Jonathon Adler is the brains behind this bold and multi-hued child’s room.  I love how they painted the antique piece in the corner bright yellow! Nothing is off limits here.

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A more traditional child’s room, but still incredibly lovely.

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{Traditional Home}

This soothing lavender space could almost double as a guest room.

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{Elle Decor}

And another favorite….would you expect anything less from Nanette Lepore’s daughter’s room? Especially one designed by Jonathon Adler!

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{Elle Decor}

And trendy chocolate brown and pink lives on!

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Woven shades look amazing in a child’s room- especially rooms that are painted a bright color.

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Simple but chic- seems to be the motto in this light and airy beach house.

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Now how did these homeowners already know that maps would become such a trend?

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{Traditional Home}

A soft, feminine room at its best.

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{Traditional Home}

This room is so versatile.  In a few years, if the child grows out of florals and checks, all they’d have to do is make the switch!  Changing out the duvet, accent pillows, and roman shades would instantly turn this room into one even a grown up would enjoy.

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{Traditional Home}

I know I have posted this one before, but I couldn’t resist!

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And this one too…a girl’s got to have her portrait collection!

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{Domino}

And although these rooms are labeled as “kids rooms”, there are certainly elements in each that you could incorporate into your own bedroom.  My head is already spinning with ideas on how to change up my own!

Today I received an email from an MG reader wondering if I knew the paint color that was in Audrina Patridge’s bedroom?

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Dear reader, unfortunately I do not…however, I am so glad you sent me the link to these photos from In Touch magazine of Audrina’s Hollywood Hills home.  I can’t tell you how long I have been looking for a glimpse into either Lauren’s, Heidi’s, Audrina’s, Lowe’s, Stephanie’s, or Kristen’s homes!

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I have never been able to find any photos of the “real” homes of the Hills cast.  And with all of the talk about the show being scripted and fake, it makes you wonder if the homes are in fact staged and just part of the Hills’ set design!  But apparently these actors (excuse me, I mean these girls) really do live there.

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What do you think of Audrin’a digs that her mom decorated? I personally love the rich plum paint color in her bedroom paired with her crisp white bedding and curtains…however, I think other parts of her house could have used a real decorator’s touch.  What do you think?

If anyone out there knows what brand of paint/color is used in Audrina’s bedroom, please leave a comment with the info!

A Bedding Book Must-Have

Sunday, October 18, 2009 | Category: Bed and Bath, Books, Design Bloggers, Designers

Jackie Von Tobel, of the Jackie Blue Home blog, is definitely one of the hardest working designers/bloggers that I know.  If it’s not one project, it’s another.  I don’t know how she keeps up with it all- I am really in awe of her talent and dedication.

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Most recently, she has written a design book entitled The Design Directory of Bedding (and no, it’s not her first book either! This woman is on a roll!)

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Her new book consists of so much great information in the bedding department.  It is a serious must-have for any designer or homeowner’s library.

And can we just talk about the 1,000 + illustrations that Jackie hand drew herself?  Quite amazing!  You will be so blown away by all of the detail in this book.  It is incredibly organized too which is a plus- sections are divided into bedding components such as decorative pillows, pillow shams, pillowcases, bed skirts, bed covers…you get the idea!

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{Illustration pictures from The Decorating Diva and The Design Directory of Bedding}

There are just too many lovely bedding ideas in here to count.  Jackie is truly an inspiration to all of us other designers. I love how creative she is AND am so jealous she can hand draw all of her ideas out.  What a great visual tool for clients to get to see what is brewing in that mind of hers!

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As most of you can probably tell, I love to read (books OR magazines)- anything I can get my hands on really.  I am always wanting to learn more and soak up as much design information that I can- so up next for me is reading Jackie’s The Design Directory of Window Treatments!

If the information in here is just as extensive as that in her bedding book, I’m surely in for a treat!

Dwelling on Duvets!

Monday, October 05, 2009 | Category: Bed and Bath, Kids

I’m currently working on a child’s bedroom and have been searching for a bright, fun duvet cover which has been surprisingly hard to find!  The catch?  I need one that doesn’t go too themey.  So you can imagine my happiness when I stumbled upon these lively but stylish Dwell Studio duvet covers.  They are exactly what I have been looking for!

These duvets are perfect for the mod child of today.

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Owls Sky Duvet

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Paper Dolls Petal Duvet

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Sparrow Lilac Duvet

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Transportation Multi Duvet

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Garden Duvet

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Gio Aqua Duvet

Where were these when I was growing up?  The only bedding words spoken in our house were Laura and Ashley.  Times have certainly changed!

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They design their kitchens in all white!

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They buy x benches!

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{Kristen Bell’s home featured in In Style “Inside Stars Homes”}

There are just way too many similarities between myself and Kristen Bell! We could be sisters.

with Jan Showers’ new book, Glamorous Rooms!  I read it all in one sitting.  It is 206 pages of fabulous eye candy and noteworthy design advice from the Dallas based interior designer.

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With a foreword by her friend, Michael Kors, and a book case created to look like one of her favorite fabrics, Hinson and Company’s Snow Leopard, this book goes down in history as one of my favorite coffee table reads!

There are so many jaw dropping images throughout her book.  I gathered my favorite Jan Showers’ rooms to share with you (as well as quotes), until you can go out and buy a copy of the book for yourself!  It’s too bad this book wasn’t a magazine or I would have torn out a bunch of pages to keep on hand in my Style Book!

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“Create an aura of glamour with some or all of these classic design elements: warm silver-leaf tea paper on the walls, a fabulous Murano-glass lamp, gilded mirrors, a pair of eighteenth-century painted Italian slipper chairs, and a graphic animal skin on the floor”- Jan Showers

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“Rugs should be kept understated and elegant.  Though it’s not a hard-and-fast rule, low-contrast rugs typically work best.  However, you may opt for a high-contrast black and white graphic rug to mitigate the vastness created by a double-height ceiling.”

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“Mix textures and styles liberally.  Cashmeres, low-sheen satins, linens, silks, velvets, mohair, and wonderfully ironed and waxed leathers are favored textures in living rooms.”

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“Mixing silver and gold is always a good idea”

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“Never be afraid to mix patterns, periods, and wood finishes.”

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“Too much upholstery is one of the most prevalent mistakes made in present-day design, because it lacks detail and interest.  Detail is critical to establishing the singularity and quality of any piece.”

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“Two lighting elements are central to all my dining room designs: chandeliers and lamps.  Frequently people are surprised when I suggest that lamps be placed on buffets.  They create a luscious glow in a room that can be quite challenging to illuminate.”

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“One shortcut to an atmosphere of warms is the use of dining chairs with upholstered backs.  At a rectangular or oval table, have the host and hostess chairs upholstered in a different fabric than the other chairs if they are a different style.”

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“The opulence of bedrooms should extend to the walls themselves.  Soothing colors such as soft greens and French blues are just right.  Ivories and pale peaches complement skin tones, which is a very good idea in the bedroom.”

Her first book definitely aims to please!

All the Best Bedrooms!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009 | Category: Bed and Bath, Contests, Design Bloggers

Are you a creative homeowner who has the best looking bedroom in town?  Or are you a designer who has created a fabulous bedroom for a client? Now is the time to show it off!

Our friend Ronda over at All the Best is hosting a Best Bedroom Contest!

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All you need to do to enter is submit clear, unpublished photographs (maximum of 5) of one bedroom designed by you to (allthebestcontest@gmail.com)

Familiar faces such as Ronda Carman, Amanda Nesbit, Todd Romano, Nathan Turner, Kelly Wearstler, Michael Devine, and Vicente Wolf will be looking at your work and ultimately deciding the big winners!

1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes include Sferra Linens and will be published on All the Best blog.

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Contest goes from 8/21- 9/25.  Winner announced 10/5!

Metallics Team Up!

Sunday, August 16, 2009 | Category: Bed and Bath, Color, Designers, Magazines

I always have to add a little bit of metallic to every room that I design.  It just never feels complete without this element…but oftentimes, I battle between silver and gold.  Do I want to design the room in predominantly silver? Or is this room more of a gold room?

Windsor Smith shows in the new House Beautiful, that it never hurts to add a little bit of both!  Who ever said it was a crime to mix? I am loving this chic combination with little touches of color here and there.

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Windsor’s bedroom suite is perfect in my eyes- walls and ceiling are upholstered in a soft metallic printed fabric.  A gold sunburst contrasts nicely with silver pillows and a silver vase.  She definitely isn’t afraid of a little gold/silver action!

And let’s not stop here!

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The silver/gold combo is carried into her bathroom area as well.  The vanity is covered in a gray/white silk skirt (from the Silk Trading Co.) and the antique French repousse mirror adds in some gold sophistication.

And Windsor isn’t the only designer that’s integrating both gold and silver into her designs…there are many more out there who adore this elegant mix.

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{Jan Showers}

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{Southern Accents}

tobi{Tobi Fairley}

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{Elle Decor- Vicente Wolf}

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{Elle Decor}

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{Elizabeth Dinkle}

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{Angie Hranowsky}