Houston Design Blog | Material Girls | Houston Interior Design

{Georgina Chapman}

There is nothing more feminime than a ladies dressing table.  The above image of Georgina Chapman epotimizes modern notions of what glamour and luxury are all about.  By simply adding a piece of furniture to your bedroom or bathroom, be it mirrored or modern, you too can doll yourself up the way the Old Hollywood Screen Sirens used to. 

MIRRORED:

 {via Belle Vivr}

{via Pink Wallpaper}

 

Mirrored Table from Justine Paris

Dressing Table  by Downtown

 

1930′s Mirrored Dressing Table via 1st Dibs

Home Decorator’s Collection

Collette Vanity

WOOD:

{Alexa Hampton}

Oak Malm from Ikea

Swedish Desk  from Mecox Gardens

 

Dressing Table by Barbara Barry

Meredith Table from Pottery Barn

 

Black Enamel & Rosewood VanityTable by Drexel

LUCITE:

Kate Walsh’s dreamy vanity as seen in the latest In Style

{Robyn Karp}

{Domino – photo by Paul Costello}

Lucite Dressing Table, Mirror, and Stools

 WHIMISICAL:

Capiz Shell Dressing Table

 

Dressing Table by Ponti & Fornasetti

So how do you get ready in the morning?  I can tell you that my routine is hardly glamorous, maybe I need to transition my desk to a dressing table!

 

A big thank you to Jennifer Adams for including us on a segment of Better TV about where designers shop that they’d never like to admit!  My Homegoods lamp and rock crystal bookend were featured on the segment.  Click the link to check it out!

{Gucci Resort 2010 Collection}

When I saw this ensemble, I instantly thought of MG favorite, Nate Berkus…sure enough his portfolio had two runway to reality spaces!  I’m still drooling over that leather jacket by the way…

 

{desire to inspire}

In the spirit of my recent kitchen related posts, I decided to dedicate this week’s Furniture Friday to the bar stool.  I love having counter height seating in the kitchen.  It’s great to have a little seating for your friends while you are working hard in the kitchen!

{brown design}

{la dolce vita}

{Inspiration for Everyday Living}

{blueprint bliss}

{katie stassi via cote de texas}

{steven gambrel}

{delight by design}

I looooooove this pair of Lucite Bar Stools.  My friend’s barstools are still for sale y’all!  They look EXACTLY like this but cream seats in lieu of black.  BANANAS.  Email me if you are interested!!!

More lucite lovelies…Waterfall Barstools available from Little Paris Antiques via 1st Dibs

Marais 30″ stool from DWR – industrial chic!

Charles Ghost by Kartell available at Hive Modern – love these!

Bright Chair Company available on Decorati

“Taylor” barstool from High Fashion Home

Kilim Swivel Barstool - Pottery Barn

Bryce Bar Stool - Pottery Barn.  Geek or Chic?

Henriksdal Bar Stool from Ikea – I’d slipcover this bar stool in a second (to the floor with a scalloped hem)!

Marlow Nailhead Counter Stool from Ballard Designs

Madeline Bar Stool by Restoration Hardware

French Bistro style Rattan Bar Stools

Brass Bamboo Barstools via 1st Dibs

Set of Three Cantilevered Brass Barstools via 1st Dibs

Flared Back Bar Stool from Mecox

Round Back Counter Stool from Mecox

I think I love the lucite versions the best, which ones are your favorites??

After my last post on my favorite kitchen products, I decided I needed a follow up post on a few items I realized I left off! 

 

 

I love Everpure’s “Exubera” system.  It allows you to get instant chilled still or carbonated water on demand.  The “fizzy” water is fabulous for entertaining – mix in fruit syrups or wine for spritzers!  I drink a lot of water during the day, so I get a lot of use out of the chilled “still” water feature. 

The “Avado” Undermount Sink by Elkay is a favorite of mine.  I’m a big believer in large, single bowl sinks.  If you are a little reluctant about transitioning from double bowl to a single one, this Avado option with the shelf (as seen below) is great for balancing that cookie sheet while you wash it off. 

Avado Undermount Sink w/ Shelf

I just love, love, love this kitchen by architect Steve Giannetti (Brooke, of Velvet & Linen’s husband).  One of my favorite features is the vent hood.  

 

I love zinc and pewter in a kitchen.  They are a cool color but still warm.  They will patina like crazy, so use with caution!  Handcrafted Metal in Austin has great Zinc Hoods and countertops.

Once you have an ice maker, it’s hard to imagine living without one!  People ask for “Sonic Ice,” all the time, but as far as I know you can not get a machine that produces that type of ice in your kitchen (most units are commercial and have to go in a garage, etc).  A good, solid, clear cube is really best for keeping your drinks cool!  The clearer the cube, the better.  The Sub-Zero ice-maker is one of the only ones on the market with a zero-clearance hinge that can be truly “built in”  or integrated with a wood front panel (trust me, I learned the hard way). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miele Fully Integrated Dishwashers are my favorite, and my clients seem to agree!  I rarely hear a complaint about these.  They integrate nicely and are SOOOO quiet!

I’m sure I’ll think of products I left off the list, but in the mean time, are there any products you’d like to see included?

 {Mark Maresca Kitchen}

I feel like I’m a little light on my kitchen posts, and seeing as how I design kitchens everyday, I decided to dedicate this post to my favorite kitchen products.  I know I’m probably leaving out a lot, but these are my favorite “work-horse” products.  Not only do they look great, they are the best functioning products out there. 

Appliances:

 

Refrigerators: Sub-Zeros are the best, period.  My favorite model is the Pro48 w/ glass door.  I love the industrial look, and this is the ONLY refrigerator that looks best not “built in”.  Please note that it is still the integrated depth.  I could do an entire post on refrigerators, but I’ll keep this one simple. 

Sub-Zero Pro 48

My other choice are the Sub-Zero 700 series – the first truly integrated models.  This armorie below actually houses two of them!

 

Wolf 36″ Induction Cooktop

 The latest and greatest in cooking appliances is the Induction cook-top (I prefer the one by Wolf).  While most serious cooks prefer gas, this is a great option if gas in not an option.  I love it because it boils water is 60 seconds or less! 

 

 

 Probably my favorite appliance – the Miele Coffee System.  I made the most amazing pumpkin latte on this puppy yesterday!  I will tell you this appliance is very high maintenance – constant rinse and cleaning is necessary to keep it functioning properly.  We have the whole-bean system in our office, but you can also choose a model that uses Nespresso pods. 

Miele Steam Oven - SO many uses for this appliance. I would use it to replace a microwave because it reheats the food by returning the moisture.  Those left-over steaks will taste just as good as new! 

 Ahhh, my dream range – LaCornue.  What can I say, it’s a work of art! 

 Plumbing Fixtures:

My taste in plumbing fixtures are polar opposite – I either like very traditional, vintage styling OR very contemporary and streamlined.  Rarely anything in between. 

Shaw farm sink by Rohl - I’d LOVE one of these one day.  I specify A LOT of stainless steel sinks, but I personally love the beauty and function of fireclay. 

{Photo via Cote de Texas}

I recently designed two marble farm sinks for a client – GORGEOUS! 

 

{photo via Urban Grace}

Perrin and Rowe’s Bridge Faucet is so gorgeous! 

 I’d say the majority of my clients really want a pull-down faucet.  My favorite is by Dornbracht.  The Tara Ultra faucet (on the left) is another favorite of mine. 

Lighting:

Okay, for the unglamorous first: the newest in undercabinet lighting (not “undercounter” as many people accidently say), LED undercabinet light fixtures.  Pricey? Yes. Worth it?  I think so. 

 

{Amy Morris via Things That Inspire}

I love lantern fixtures, and I especially love a pair over an island. 

{Amanda Nisbet}

I remember seeing this kitchen in O at Home and I was immediately smitten with the pendant fixtures and barstools!

 

{Via Alkemie}

I love a whimsical crystal chandelier.  Even in a contemporary space – it really gives this kitchen personality. 

{Via A Life’s Design}

Another trend I’ve seen is woven basket pendants.  I love them! 

 

Industrial Pendants are still very hot!  I love them in bronze and polished nickel finishes.   

Cabinetry:

My favorite cabinetry right now is the Beaux Arts line by SieMatic.  Designed by American designer, Mick deGiulio for the German cabinet line, it fuses traditional elements in a very clean, fresh way.  I also happen to sell it

Backsplash Material: 

Mirror with antiqued patina.  Yes, I STILL love this stuff.  Gorgeous (and practical) on a kitchen backsplash. 

{Windsor Smith via Pink Wallpaper}

Two things I love – black cabinetry and white marble.  I really like the marble shelf on this backsplash. 

Mixed Up Mosaics is an amazing company out of NYC that specializes in custom mosaic tile.  The niche in the photo above is all glass mosaic. 

This kitchen by Betsy Burnham proves that backsplash tile can make the kitchen! 

Barstools:

 

All time favorite barstool by Lee Industries.

 

 

I also LOVE these in Angie Hranowsky’s kitchen.  My friend Katherine has a pair almost exactly like them, and she may be selling them – email if you are interested. 

I know I breezed through these items pretty quickly, feel free to email me if you have a specific question about anything I featured.  I promise to post more kitchen and bath related items!

 

I’m loving the pieces by designer Jules Reid (I spotted her first on The Love List), and I especially love this look.  I’ve been obsessed with bright lilac and fuchsia independently, but I REALLY like them together. 

 

I know I’ve posted this room before, but I think it’s the perfect translation of outfit to room!

 

Our favorite online retailer of fabulous paper and desk products, Iomoi is now selling canvas pillows!

I had to include this one because of the, “MG,” and my sorority emblem is an anchor!

The pillows are priced $58/small and $78/large.

I interrupt our regularly scheduled “Furniture Friday” to bring you my latest obession – CONCETTO! Made by the same people who brought us Caesarstone, this one of a kind countertop material uses cut semi-precious stones mixed with resin to create a low maintenance heat and stain resistant surface.  The possibilities of how you could use this material are endless!  My affinity for rock candy just intensified!

Check out some of their color choices and the unique ways they utilized it…did I mention it could be backlit for more drama?!

Amethyst anyone?  I love how this material can be incorporated into furniture design…

AMAZING blue agates!

How gorgeous would this be as a top of a dresser or coffee table?!

OMG not even half way through the NEW Lonny Online Magazine and I couldn’t be more excited – it’s AWESOME!  Congrats to Michelle Adams and Patrick Cline and their team for putting together such an amazing product – I don’t want to spoil too much so go check it out NOW!