Houston Design Blog | Material Girls | Houston Interior Design

So I may be a little preoccupied as of late.  Sure clients, moving, and my husband changing jobs is a lot to keep someone busy, but the most important distraction has been the anticipation of my sweet baby girl.  My husband and I are gearing up for a new change in life and I couldn’t be more excited, scared, nervous, overwhelmed, or overjoyed!

I could not wait, I HAD to know the sex of the baby. I just couldn’t do a unisex nursery.  Since I was just certain I was having a boy, I had my color scheme and vision all figured out.  I just wouldn’t allow myself to fancy the thought of being blessed with a little girl.  When the radiologist said, “girl,” you could have knocked me over with a feather!  The rest of the afternoon was spent in and out of baby boutiques and me trying to come up with how I would outfit the nursery.

To my surprise, I loved the all white linen bedding with crazy-full bedskirts but knew I didn’t want the room to go too shabby chic.  I realized this would be the perfect place to use the color scheme I’ve been dying to try out in my own home…Lilac, silver, charcoal, gold & white. 

The room is pretty small considering I’m going to squeeze a crib, dresser/changing table, full sized bed, and glider all in the space. 

The bedding will be custom, but this is an idea of the look I was immediately drawn to.  I’m going to add big lilac satin bows to the bumper and a matching monogram. 

The walls will pick up on the color of the bedding accents.  This is, “Hydrangea” by Serena & Lily. 

The vintage bow-front dresser we already have will be re-painted in a chalky soft dove gray with a little rottenstone in the crevices.   

Ivory silk taffeta curtains will flank the one window in the room.  I may end up adding a valance or cornice…

Obviously, I have to throw in a gold accent.  Dreaming of this chandelier from Pieces. 

White Linen Slipcovered Glider from Lee for ME.  Very excited about this.

 

The guest bed will be dressed in simple white linens with a long leopard print pillow. 

I’m still working on my walls…I love the paper maiche zebra from Anthropologie. 

Other misc. things I’m liking…

So there you have it, the start of the nursery!

 

New Jersey Housewife Teresa Guidice might have been gifted a humongous yellow diamond for her 10 yr Anniversary as seen on the show Monday night, but any of these beautiful rocks on lucite would make the Geo-Geek in me’s heart pitter-patter.  Artist Brenda Houston’s pieces are available today on One King’s Lane.

I get pretty excited when I see a new product email from Wisteria in my in box.  Wisteria is probably my favorite catalog, and lately they have really been delivering!  This black & white dhurrie  is calling my name. 

I’d pair it with a funky-yet-streamlined slipcovered sofa.

This pair of marble tables would be used in lieu of a cocktail table.

 

I’m on a BIG orange kick right now, so I’d add a pair of these, “Baxter,” club chairs from Pieces.

Always a touch of animal print…Needlepoint Throw Pillow

 

 

A cluster of Pagoda Chandeliers would look great overhead.

As for the accessories…

Vintage 1960’s decanter

 

Assorted Accessories from Ms. Wearstler

White Faux Silk Tafetta Drapes would line the walls and windows

This stunner from artist Amanda Talley would be the finishing touch!

 

Have you ever seen a more fabulous tent?  This creation was made by Boutique Tents, a company that specializes in the fabrication of these one-of-a-kind masterpieces.  Events, backyards, cabanas – the uses for their tents are endless.   

Why not tent your patio?? Gorgeous!

Of course!  A mini tent for your puppy! 

Visit Boutique Tent’s gorgeous website and view more of their designs!

 

{Graham Collection from Z-Gallerie}. 

I can’t say that I’ve seen it in person, but I like the lines of it, and the prices are really reasonable!  I got brave and washed my slipcovers for the first time, and I have to say, it’s pretty awesome.  The sofa looks brand new.  I even had pretty nasty black marks on the back from squeezing it through our front door, and those came out as well. 

Set of Four Vintage Bertoia Chairs

This week I’m scouring Craig’s List again for steals in Dallas, Houston, & L.A.  I’d loved hearing your key search words last time, keep ‘em coming!

DALLAS:

Lucite Bench

Great shape!

HOUSTON:

Crystal Chandelier

Quatrine Chairs

Polished Nickel Bathroom Mirror & Medicine Cabinet

Bamboo End Table

L.A.:

Dorothy Draper Style Chest

Pair of Alabaster Lamps

Bamboo Nighstands (pair)

Hollywood Regency Console

{Southern Living}

Hello, color!  This cheerful Southern Home belongs to Interior Designer Megan Young and her husband, Erik.  Though grounded in Traditional roots, the punchy colors freshen up their one-level home in North Carolina. 

Between the turquoise chair and chartreuse lamp shade, the most formal room of the home still manages to “pop.”

The brown “Chivari” chairs upholstered in a turquoise and lime green toile around the modern Ikea table is like a shot of adrenaline to the white kitchen.

You don’t see a lot of white formal dining room tables, but this one is a great contrast against the orange walls.  Time to have Grandma’s table lacquered! 

Master Bedroom vignette.

When is doubt – create your own artwork!  That’s what Megan did here.  The canvas reiterates the turquoise and teal hues throughout the home.   

For the complete article, visit here.

Lucite & Gold Chandelier  

This week I’m mixing it up!  I decided to feature some of my favorite Craig’s List finds from MG Cities New York & Chicago.  If you like it, next week I’ll hit LA, Dallas, and Houston! 

If the above lucite and brass chandelier was within a 60 mile radius from me, it would be mine!  Sight unseen!  I love it…perfect for a little bathroom. 

You certainly have to look past the bad photography and out-dated upholstery when searching through the pages and pages of listings.  Look for quality pieces by Baker & Hickory Chair and don’t be scared to get specific.  Looking for a Quatrine Slipcover Sofa?  Just search it, you never know! 

NYC Finds…

Charles Hollis Jones Lucite Table

Rattan Bench Settee

Vintage Desk

David Netto Crib

Chicago Finds…

Mid Century Mirror - someone please buy this!

 

Hickory Chair Sofa - classic lines, redo it in a punchy fabric!

Vintage Picture Frames for your DIY art projects. 

Oil Landscape - I love the soft colors

Baker Credenza - huuuuuuge credenza, perfect for your roomy loft. 

Pointers for wheeling  & dealing on Craig’s List:

#1 – Use Common Sense.  If someone wants to wire you money sight unseen before they leave on their honeymoon (yes, I’ve gotten that email), it’s probably too good to be true.  Use discretion when responding to questionable emails.  Also people will low-ball you.  Be prepared to counter.

#2 – Try to meet in a very public place, and do not go alone.  

#3 – Bring Cash to purchase & Only Accept Cash (Or Money Order)

#4 – Prepare for disappointment.  I tried in vain to sell an antique sofa & chair.  After annoying several no-shows and nearly giving them away, I consigned at a local Auction House and came out ahead.  Don’t get desperate, and be patient.  Post your items under multiple categories.  It’s free after all!

#5 – Key Search Words – Just a few I use:  Baker Furniture, Hickory Chair, Lucite, Acrylic Furniture, Oil Landscapes, Regency, Vintage, New Sofa, Campaign Furniture, bamboo…what key search words do you use?  Good luck and happy hunting!

{The Panelists from L to R: Me (MG Houston), Paloma (La Dolce Vita), Beth Green (VP of Marketing for Kravet), Karen Davis (Karen Davis Design) & Terri Symington (The Countrypolitan)

This past Tuesday I had the honor of being on the Houston panel for the Kravet Social Media Presentation at their beautiful showroom in the Decorative Center.  Beth Greene, VP of Marketing for Kravet spoke to local designers about the importance of incorporating social media in their businesses.  “How-To’s” on Facebook, Twitter, and blogs helped the audience understand how to use these tools to generate clients and stay ahead of the market.  The question and answer session with the panelists gave the designers insight on the time commitment and benefits of social networking. 

To keep up with Kravet and their upcoming Social Media Presentations, be sure to follow them on Twitter!

The home of Toronto designer Jennifer Ferreira is chock full of inspiration.  I would love to have the restraint to do my entire home in a black and white palette…maybe I’ll save that for my dream Paris pied-a-terre (someday, someday).  So for now I’ve pulled together lots of black and white pieces that would pull together fabulous spaces.  

Wisteria’s Sleek and Simple Sofa

French Mid Century Coffee Table

Chevron pillow by Madeline Weinrib

Vintage Arm Chair

Blackened Brass Pedestal Table

Relic Gold Bowl

Kulla Floor Lamp

Parchment Books from Pieces

Pottery Barn Bedding

Craig’s List Houston find - I’d paint it black

Faceted Crystal Lamp

King George Bench from PlexiCraft