HOLIDAY FUN

HAPPY CHANUKAH, MERRY XMAS and A VERY PEACEFUL NEW YEAR!

Make a resolution, even if it's a repeat. Enjoy your family tradition or start a new one. Count your blessings! Here's a quick sketch I made last week in anticipation of the holidays. If you could only invite 3 people to join you at this table, who would they be? Enjoy!

PLEASE PASS THE BREAD!

"ANTIQUES: EDUCATED EYE"

Forget the French sticks we call baguettes! One of these things could be a circus wagon, a baby crib or something you might see an organ grinder stuff a monkey into. But, it's none of those things: this is an 18th century example of a distinctive box known as a "panetiere" from Arles, France. It originally sat on the table or workspace, but was eventually hung on the wall, away from little creatures. These old boxes are very hard to find because the French themselves love them. Wendell Patterson of The Whimsey Shoppe in Dallas says that if you find one this old, expect to see a repair or two. "You just want to ensure that whatever was done to it was done with care and is in keeping with the character and quality of the piece."

The other item is the 1950's version of the breadbox, from my husband's family kitchen when he was a boy. It's made of metal, and has small ventilation holes on the back. I guess if your bread is wrapped in plastic it's already protected, but it's a nice way to neaten up the counter. What a dramatic difference!

The third item is what I call the best compromise because I love natural materials: The wicker basket! There is no end to the uses of the wicker basket- dirty clothes, clean bread, whatever you need!

My holiday wish for you is a basket of whatever you most enjoy! P.S. Ironically, I'm gluten and bread free! ;

Xmas tree decor

Now that we are all stuffed with turkey and mashed potatoes, its time to get some exercise and what better way than breaking out the Xmas decorations. I find there are two personality types when it comes to tree decorating. Those that favor the Homemade Ornament type:                                                                              

Versus the Color coordinated/matching ornament type:

For those that know me, I am definitely the second type. The biggest compliment someone can give me is to say "Wow! It looks like it came out of a magazine!"

Here are a few trees that I personally designed and decorated. Enjoy!

How to Have a Happy Holiday Table

1. Don't take yourself too seriously. Seriously.

2. Remember that there's no such thing as "perfection."

3. Relax. Don't be afraid to try something new and use unusual items as centerpieces- keep it clean and make sure it doesn't crawl.

4. For my "tablescape" and dining room design, the most important theme of this holiday is....LOVE! Christmas in particular is all about the gift of love. Share it with your family and friends. Keep it simple and Lighten up!

Design and Fashion

I am constantly thinking about all of the components of a room to make sure the scale, textures and colors are all cohesive. With my recent engagement, all I can think about is bridesmaid dresses, flowers, suits and table arrangements! How do I make all of these individual components work as a whole? And look great, of course!

Some people are choosing the vibrant bridesmaid dresses...others pale colors...

www.brideorama.com

www.weddingbee.com




Or the famous 'rainbow' bridesmaid dresses...

Once the dresses are selected then it is on to determining should the bouquet's contrast in color or be similar to the coloring of the dresses?

No matter what your preference is, it all comes back to claiming your personal style! Whether you are designing a room or planning a wedding, you want to make sure your decisions reflect your personality.

THE GREATEST GIFT of FALL

Fall is fleeting- some days are very warm and we call those "Indian Summer". I'm not sure whether or not this term is politically correct- but the warmest days in fall usually find me pining away for summer.

I find it difficult to say goodbye to the sunshine, the heat and the colors of summer plantings- psychedelic greens, shocking pinks and purples, obnoxious yellows and sizzling oranges. I love these colors.

But then again I love all colors and have taken a few shots of fall in my own yard in order to better appreciate the display of nature as the plantings fade away. I believe that mother nature is the ultimate artist- the landscape is always changing- if I slow down enough to really LOOK, I can fall in love... with FALL. By the way, supposedly LAVENDER is one of this season's IN colors. As an artist, I believe all colors are IN. If you look closely, you can see that these FALL shadows are a play on LAVENDER. By the time WINTER is in full swing, the shadows will change to BLUE . More on that later...

Creative Clutter

We all have STUFF. It is interesting to listen to others and find out what each and every person considers important to collect. Whether these are items that remind you of a past experience, represent access to knowledge, or was once upon a time owned by someone else and you are giving the items new life.

The real design challenge comes down to...'What do you do with your stuff?'

Do you have a room full of clutter?

Cluster the items together to create a display?

Leave them in their boxes never to be seen?

Check out these wonderful photos taken from a friend whom helped organize and display a few important items that are special to her daugther.

A Sketchy Business

When I sketch for my clients, I am sketching for myself also. It benefits both of us- just like learning a new language, you have to practice daily to improve. These sketches help people to visualize change. Computer aided design is fabulous, but hand drawings convey something else.

DON'T BE AFRAID....

The best way to give your home warmth is to inject your interiors with your personality. When your friends visit, they will love being surrounded by your colors, your fabrics and textures because they are an open expression of...YOU.

Each piece in your room should contribute to the whole and be a reflection of all that you love. I've said it before... just be yourself and your home will follow. Here's a sketch of a cozy den for a good friend who loves transitional fabrics and bright colors. I'll be posting "after photos" of the real thing soon. The best compliment I receive when I design for someone else is always "this looks just like me." That's how I know I've nailed it!

Fall is in the air!

Being an interior designer, I tend to focus on the interior of a home, but with the wonderful fall colors and cooler temps it is a relief from the hot summer air. My advice, being the inside out! Just because a 'dining' table is always seen in the 'dining' room, it is ultimately meant for good dining no matter where the location is. The fall colors and last of your garden blooms can make a beautiful backdrop. If you are saying, "I don't have a beautiful garden..." Well the easy fix is to just put a cluster of luminaries or candles in glass votive's. The twinkle of candle light can even make dirt look fabulous. Plus your friends will be wowed by the none traditional dining experience to oversee any lack of blooms. So get creative, think beyond the deck and patio furniture and decorate your lawn! You've just gained more usable real estate.

Inspiration of pumpkin

Some people are inspired by great leaders while others are inspired by a close friend. I have to admit, PUMPKIN is my inspiration! When this time of year rolls around and I start seeing the beautiful orange color popping up on porches, my creativity starts flowing. Whether it is cooking, entertaining or designing a room pumpkin finds itself being incorporated.

When starting a project, just think about what makes you happy. Is this a color, vegetable, piece of artwork, favorite necklace and figure out a way to incorporate it into the space.

Pumkin Muffin Toppers are a great welcome gift!

  

DRAPERY 101- Now you Know!

Win, Lose or Draw!

When I work with clients on a project, no matter how small, I try and sketch for them. Sometimes I even hand them the pen and ask them to draw for me, so I can be sure I understand what they mean! I always tell them not to be self conscious about their drawing, just get the basics down and as a visual person, I will immediately "get it" once I see it. In spite of the fact that the English language contains so many word variations for describing something, there's nothing like a picture or a sketch to immediately convey an idea.

Why are people so selfconscious about drawing? Most tell me that they "can't draw." Of course they can, they just may not like the finished product. I'm not asking them to rollerskate, solve a Rubic's cube or speak French. No one's going to get hurt, just take the pen and use a few lines to show me what they have in mind. I don't judge the sketch or give it a grade. It's just a tool to help us communicate. Good drawing skills are like anything else- tennis, bowling or Sudoko...in order to improve, I practice daily to keep my hand fluid and my mind engaged.

Clustering aka collections

Whether you call it clustering or collections, it is when you take one item and multiply it to create more impact. In a economic state where less is more this may apply to purchasing less Precious Moments and kitchen gadgets, but when it comes to making an impression on the wall....multiply!!

Recently I was visiting a friend whom requested help with her mantel. Yes, we could have gone with the typical one mirror over mantel look, but instead we opted for clustering multiple mirrors over the mantel to create much more or a wow affect!!

Let your surrounding walls go bear and focus on one main wall. Whether it is mirrors, plates, pictures etc. clustering definitely makes a statement.

                                         
 
                                                                                                              

Everyone is good at something. I am not good at everything and have decided to accept that and try to improve those things I am good at. My clients benefit from those things at which I excel- color, pattern, scale, texture.

My neighbors suffer for those things I cannot seem to do- planting, growing, trimming and watering. My plants have a much better chance of surviving at the greenhouse and nursery. I visit these places, enjoy them, and leave wishing I could grow and nurture living things. I'll keep trying - as in next year, but in the meantime, I'll concentrate on what I can do well (oil painting, sketching, interior design) and accept the fact that I cannot do everything well.

The is no place like home....

I have a passion for travel. I love experienceing new cultures, people and especially food! But I think one of the most significant attractions to traveling is the ability to come home. As exciting as it is to be absorbed with the high gloss, flashy streets of city life or the slow pace of a country fruit farm in the early stages of fall, neither have the familiarity of home. Creating a space that reflects your personality and interest can take time, but it is an appreciation for the process and the unexpected 'finds' that seperate your home from anothers.

In my latest preliminary 'internet' search for vacation hot spots, I came across  Asia de Cuba which is a boutique hotel in LA and South Beach, FL. During a typical day in my life, you can find me stressing to friends, clients, myself the importance of scale and proportion in a home. This hotel has thrown these design principles out the window and said, 'Hey look at us!'. There is an almost Alice and Wonderland feel to the space with the excentuated scale. With high gloss, columns triple the normal size and 30' entry doors it evokes a classy, unique travel experience. I give them credit on thinking outside the box and branching out, but like I said earlier....There's no place like home.

                                               
                             
                                                             Mondrian Hotel