Houston Design Blog | Material Girls | Houston Interior Design

{above and below photos via La Dolce Vita}

Along with a white, tailored, slipcovered- sofa, a velvet textured sofa (because let’s be honest…some of these fabrics just look like velvet) is a personal favorite of mine. Tufts or no tufts – I could go either way! I do prefer a “funkier” shape like the turquoise number from Shine Home. Do you have a favorite?

{Angie Hranowsky}

{Elle Decor via The Goods}

{Mary McDonald}

{Kelly Wearstler}

{Katie Denham}

{Mary McGee}

{Tobi Fairley}

{Melissa Rufty}

{Shine Home}

{Lee Industries}

{Alister Sofa}

{Lee Industries}

{Jayson Home & Garden}

{Hutton Sofa - Room and Board}

{Easton Upholstered Sofa - Restoration Hardware}

{above and below photos via La Dolce Vita}

Along with a white, tailored, slipcovered- sofa, a velvet textured sofa (because let’s be honest…some of these fabrics just look like velvet)  is a personal favorite of mine.  Tufts or no tufts – I could go either way!  I do prefer a “funkier” shape like the turquoise number from Shine Home.   Do you have a favorite?

{Angie Hranowsky}

{Elle Decor via The Goods}

{Mary  McDonald}

{Kelly Wearstler}

{Katie Denham}

{Mary McGee}

{Tobi Fairley}

{Melissa Rufty}

{Shine Home}

{Lee Industries}

{Alister Sofa}

{Lee Industries}

{Jayson Home & Garden}

{Hutton Sofa - Room and Board}

{Easton Upholstered Sofa - Restoration Hardware}

My heart may have skipped a beat when I spotted this Erickson Beamon designed chandelier from Vivre.  It’s dripping with Japanese glass pearls, Swarovski crystals, glass, and brass chains on an antique brass base.  I would pair it with very minimal sleek modern dining furnishings in an old Parisian apartment of course!

{The Darling store, Perch, where THE VAMP works!!!}

{above two photos from the Perch blog}

I just spent a long weekend in New Orleans, and I have to say, I’m smitten with the city!  I was so excited to meet Valorie, who works at the shop Perch on Magazine Street.  The store is fabulous.  If you are in NOLA it is a must see.  Please excuse my iPhone pictures (my camera died after I dropped it eating a funnel cake @ the Houston Rodeo BBQ cook off - priorities, people)!

Loved this bergere!

I thought this vintage Lenox dish would be so cute on a coffee table with match books.

I may have a thing for Angel Wings…I loved this delicate dish-tray-catch all.

I WANT this little painting – it would be perfect on a gallery wall with black and white photos, sketches, and prints.

{photo from the Perch website}

This turquoise blue Venetian glass chandelier was gorgeous in person.

After a nice, long, lunch with Valorie, she headed back to work and I browsed up and down Magazine Street.  I loved seeing the Leontine shop in person – it was like visiting the Motherland.  Julie Neill’s light fixtures are more beautiful in person (I DIED), and I also managed to get some clothes shopping in too!

A long day of shopping ended with a fun night at the piano bar @ Pat O’ Brien’s!  Of course, I was focused on the copper pianos and their “nail head trim (a.k.a. silver screws)!”

So the no beignet story…well I was really excited to try the famous beignets @ Cafe du Monde.  I needed to leave for the airport around 1:15, so I raced over to the square around ten til 1 and the line to get in is down the block.  One thing I have observed about New Orleans is that you just can’t be in a hurry there…they run at their own pace.  When the “to-go” line wasn’t moving, we ended up getting a not-yet-cleaned-off table (for Houstonians, it was like the Avalon diner on Saturday morning…on crack).  It’s 1:15 at this point and we are a good 15-20 walk from our hotel.  Darn, no wait service yet…1:20…no service and not a nice reaction when a waiter is flagged down (table is still nasty).  Eek.  We had to bail.  Tragic.  I could actually SEE the beignets being pulled out of the fryer.  I was breathing in the powdered sugar.

Alas, I was forced to race back to the hotel because I knew that line at the airport was not going to move at Houston’s pace.  Don’t worry, I got my beingets…at Crescent City Cafe in River Oaks.  Not NOLA, but I got my fix.

One more plug for Perch…they’re giving away a lucite ballroom chair! You know the Material Girls love them some lucite!  I’m entered…are you??

 

{Photography by Brandone Barre via Desire to Inspire}

I think every room needs a little lucite.  Accent tables are the perfect place to experiment with lucite because they are small enough to just add a subtle glimmer to a room.  I’ve rounded up some of the most fabulous little clear tables out there!   

{Above two photos Blount Design}

 

{Acrylic I-Beam Table}

I spotted this vintage darling at Mecox…I really wanted to bring it home!

Pair of Lucite and Brass End Tables.  Emily, these really remind me of you!

 

Glass & Lucite End Table

Charles Hollis Jones Lucite Side Tables

{Can’t beat this price}

{Alec Acrylic End Table}

{Acrylic Side table from Horchow}

{Timber Table by Gus Design making it’s second appearance on Furniture Friday}

 

{Kartell’s Jolly Table}

I immediately fell for this chic ensemble when I spotted it on Franki’s blog. I could really relate to it because as much as I love black, I do need that pop of color!  My favorite part are the Chuck Taylors…so chic with tights and a mini, yet so practical for walking all over a city!

This Living, Etc. bedroom via Mimi and Meg really exemplifies the casual elegance of the woman’s outfit.  I love the fur throw tossed on the bed and the pop of striped fuchsia pillows, acting as the “scarf” of the room.

{design by: Grant K. Gibson}

This Furniture Friday is dedicated to a very controversial piece of furniture…the skirted table!  It has even inspired a blog/radio show. I like mine stream-lined with a graphic punch or done-up with dress-maker detailing!

{Julie Neill}

{Above two photos, Palmer Weiss}

{photo from here}

{Beach Dwelling via Patricia Gray}

Pam Pierce via Cote de Texas

Ballard Party Table

Linen Table Skirts from Wisteria

I think the above three tables are the best options from the big stores.  There are also a few great tutorials on how to make your own out there in blog land… try here, here, or here.  If anyone decides to brave trying to make one yourself, please email me photos!

 

Attention all you design-obsessed Houstonians!   Three of the city’s top Designers are competing for your vote in the, “Redesigning Downtown,” Style Competition at One Park Place, Downtown’s newest luxury apartments.

Renea Abbott, Michael Stribling, and Chandos Dodson have each designed an apartment, and YOU get to decide which one you like the best!  Tickets are $10 and benefit Discovery Green.  I, for one, can’t wait to check it out!