Inspired by...

  Have you seen the work of Betsy Brown, a designer from Alabama?

 Oh my.

"Modernist sensibilities form the foundation while antiquities inform and balance, providing a delicate tension and subtle energy."  Betsy Brown

Done and Done.

Happy Fall and Catching Up

Just back from a weekend at Bethany Beach, DE, it has hit me hard that fall is here.  It was 52 this morning when I got up!  The end of summer is beautiful at the beach and I was happy to get a break from our workload this summer. The bonus was that I went with Bethany, as the two of us don't get to go out of town together very often to just play!

Here are some peeks of projects going on, starting with a lovely dining room client, a traditonalist, art collector and horse lover, who took a leap with a bold vintage Kilim as a jumping off point for her room.

As you all know, it all begins with a plan....

The window treatments will be in early October after which we'll get some professional photos.

The Phillip Jeffries ( Grey on Blue) grass cloth is so beautiful and the perfect compliment to the newly painted millwork in the room.

Next is a whole office that is being installed this week.  It has been so fun to build the design from a blank space. Here are some shots of it shaping up:

This week we install the marble on the reception beverage center, hang the barn door in the bathroom,  install some custom wood features, lay more rugs, hang art, style and accessorize...so fun!

A really fun project we both are over the moon about the textiles with, is a wonderful couple who needs a total living room makeover and partial kitchen makeover.

We presented kitchen options...

and love the flow from the living room to the eat-in kitchen.  [We're waiting on their decision.]

Another prospective project is couple who wants to meld their existing things with newly acquired pieces inherited from her mother.  With a mix of his, hers and moms, we are neutralizing the basics and adding layers of rugs and accents to pull it altogether.

[Neutral drapes are waiting a selection of trim banding.]

The exciting thing about this busy summer of projects is how we are honing our brand, business model and skills.  

Have you heard of a "Hobson's Choice"? It is basically when you [more specifically a client] think there are unlimited options and are overwhelmed, the more you define your likes and dislikes and delve deep into the problems and solutions, the result boils down to just one or two ideal solutions.  This is a great way to handle the customers dilemma and insight in working with them. 

Have a great week!

Styles evolve

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Back in 2012, I did a series on Decorating Styles and tried to simplify styles into Traditional, Country, Contemporary and Eclectic categories.  Styles sure have evolved into more categories since then!  I am loving this California-contemporary-swedish-eclectic-vibe currently. 

 It is typically light-filled, a bit sparse, layered with texture, neutral with subtle color and speckled with some antique treasures so it doesn't look all new like a store catalog.  I love natural materials like the brick floor under the sisal rug.

Are you wanting more color these days, or are you liking neutrals still? 

 Seriously, anything goes.

Are you on board?

It took me a while to get on board with Radiant Orchid, Pantone's color of the year, but in small doses, I'm all over it.

Especially loving saturated magenta as an accent color with beige, taupe, gray--or just about any color scheme!

What do you think?

1/2/3/4

Sneak peek

We had a ball installing for our fabulous client Lisa, last Saturday.  It is being photographed soon, so we will just give you a peek at this living room design.  We kept saying how it felt like Christmas; for us for the joy of giving and creating for our client, and for the client to receive this gift of a new room! This business is a constant reaffirmation of doing what we love, and for me, having my two kids doing this with me on the scene--Bethany my partner, Michael our carpenter and installer, and my husband doing some woodwork, makes this job all the richer for me.  It is a dream come true.

You may have seen this dresser makeover , but here it is placed in the room as a media console.  Please excuse the fuzzy iphone photos!

I created a  36 x 36" painting for an accent wall.  It was a surprise for the client, so the subject matter had to be fairly tame and neutral, not knowing what her art tastes were, as we saw no other art in her home! We just needed subtle color to bring the eye around the room. My husband framed it.

These installation days are crazy and the most fun we could ever have.  We are thankful to be able to do what we love, and to do it with family and the best clients!

P. S. Thank you HOUZZ for our Best of 2014 badge! We love HOUZZ and get most of our referrals from this site!!!

Favesies Part Dos

Remember how much I heart neutrals with texture?  Yeah, about that....

 via

via

via

Someone find me that screen, STAT.

via

What are you dude and dudettes up to this weekend? 

Another Look for Less

I covet this picture.  Neutrals with texture.  'Nuff said.  Easily my favorite genre of all time.

I wanna show how accessible this look is.  First, let's swoon.

BTW - remember when chair-and-a-halfs were all the rage?  I was hard pressed to find one today!

Paint a light grey color under your imaginary chair rail and voila!

Planter | Round Side Table | Slipper Chair | Chair-and-a-half | Moroccan stool | Easel | Art | Sconce | Stool | Plant | Mirror | Pillows

Reason 272 why you should hire a designer to get the look you want for way less.  You can really end up forking over some serious cash for oversized and well-worn.  But there's always a way to do it for less!  Each item here was sourced from a store that you or I have access to - either a big-box store or an online store.  I should take my own my advice and do a room just like this!  Too bad I've run out of rooms in my little cottage.  But this would be a room I'd love to recreate!

What 'look' are you dying to recreate?  Do you have a favorite room or inspiration pic?

-Bethany

If you are looking for help with your home, we'd love to work with you! Contact us for a listing of our services and prices.

Nancy and Bethany

whoa neutral nelly…

Neutrals have always been 'in'.  So have rustic elements.  That's why these rooms are killin' it for me today!

Jessica Helgerson

I can't find out, for the life of me, who the designer is, but I found the image on Cote de Texas.

The fabulous Paula Coldiron at Two Ellie.

I could stare at these for hours, dissecting what I love about them.  Has a lot to do with the feel they both give me in my gut. Warm, welcoming, sturdy and great scale.

-Bethany

If you are looking for help with your home, we'd love to work with you! Contact us for a listing of our services and prices. 

Nancy and Bethany

Myrtle topiaries?

I would like to share with you Loi Thai's lovely blog, Tone on Tone, and  have got to make a sojourn to his beautiful Swedish antiques store in Bethesda, MD soon. What caught my eye is Loi's topiaries that he has so magnificently collected and nurtured in his home and gardens.   Since  Bethany and I are slightly obsessed with topiaries,  I wanted to share some photos of Loi's with you.

You can see more about the home of Loi and Tom on Lauren Liess's Pure Style Home , since she was  there recently.  His home is a perfect blend of simplicity, exquisite styling, amazing antiques and classic garden accents, all wrapped up in neutrals and white.

In asking Loi more about his topiaries, he told me he picks up specimen plants at  Garden Shows and places like the NY Botanical Garden Antique Show.  He uses " mrytus communes compacta" variety Myrtles since they are easily shaped.  I love this look, and would love to have real topiaries inside my home.  


Do you use real topiaries or artificial, or none at all ?

~Nancy

Inspiration from Nancy Meyers, Film Director

You know the Director I'm talking about: Nancy Meyers, the genius behind the romantic comedies: Something's Gotta Give", "The Holiday", "It's Complicated"-- my all time top 3 movies.


I think from the first time I saw the house in the Hamptons in " Something's Gotta Give"(2003), I changed my living room ( again).  My husband says he doesn't ever  know where to sit, I move the furniture around so often.  


The sea grass rugs, the slip covered neutral Linen furnishings, the beachy vibe, the watery art paintings....everything just seemed to change in the decorating world then.... and it is still a hugely popular trend.

Hooked on Houses

Hooked on Houses

Then there's that ranch style Santa Barbara House in "It's Complicated"(2009), that I fell in love with..

even though it was filmed in New York in the snow. ( All of these interior sets for ALL of her movies were built in locations other than where the real house sits ).  I don't even care that they were fabricated.. I bought into it all, and was full of house and character envy after each movie...

Then comes "The Holiday"(2008), and I'm in love with "Amanda's" house in L. A...  This was 4 years ago, and I'm still loving this decor!

Hooked on Houses

Whites, textures, greenery, lots of glass and architectural elements, phenomenal views....
One of the main attractions to this house ( or movie set) of this L. A. home was the spacious architecture, metal floor to ceiling window frames, stone and wood accents...


Are there any movies that you love that influence your style? You can take inspiration from anywhere...and just add this to the list of books, magazines, model homes, decorating stores, fashion and style trends...and of course, something you see in someone else's home that you love, and interpret in your own style.


Happy Decorating!


Nancy