Interior Design Sense

I don’t know about you, but I find accessorizing one of the most challenging parts of the design process.  It’s partly because you have to get the right “mix” of accessories. There has to be a balance between textural and smooth, shiny and matte, colorful and neutral, etc.  It can also be difficult because you might find the perfect accessory, but the scale is totally off…or maybe it’s the fact that it’s the last step in the process and if you are anything like me, you are a perfectionist and won’t quit until you find those amazing last touches for the space.

But above all, I truly believe that accessories can be so frustrating because of the lack thereof.  Of course there are a lot of accessory showrooms in Dallas, but  not very many that will let you take things on approval to test out and that is KEY with accessories (buying more than you need, playing around with the arrangement at the residence to get the perfect balance and then being able to return anything that just didn’t work out).  This past year I re-discovered IBB Design Group, a 40,000 square foot showroom who lets you take on approval, has up-to-date/ stylish accessories and has a warehouse FULL of them!

And if that’s not enough to convince you, here is proof-

Shay Geyer and her mother, Beth Rafferty are the brains (and beauties) behind the thirty year old showroom.  The duo’s knack for creating inspiring commercial and residential interiors, as well as stocking their showroom full of goodies from markets around the world, has kept their clients coming back for more.

{Shay in front of one of her favorite pieces}

Not only do they have accessories galore, but they also stock furniture from tons of different manufacturers such as Baker, Henredon, Lee Industries and Vanguard.  The best part? Everything is available for purchase off the floor!

As you can see, they have tons of mirrored pieces. I recently bought two John Richards mirrored etageres from them that are to die for!

Their colorful, patterned vignettes are constantly changing as things move off the floor very quickly (and I have to say this keeps my visits really interesting!)  You never know what they will be up to next

They also have great abstract giclees at amazing prices for the size!  Most of them are really large and already come framed.  You get a lot of bang for your buck with these.

I’m back on the art hunt this time I’m looking for something colorful and bold for a nursery and as I’m browsing through, what feels like the entire world wide web, I came across this print gallery that caught my attention.  Cozamia has a variety of art filled with beauty and energy and it’s sure to brighten up your space.

Browsing Pinterest is like a great day of window shopping, except from the comfort of my own home or office (shhhhh)!  I open Pinterest and vow to only spend a few minutes for inspiration gathering.  However, those 5 minutes somehow turn into an hour.  This evening’s visit to Pinterest, per usual, produced many inspirational images that I want to share with MG readers-heck the editing process took at least an hour.  Check out my latest finds on one of my favorite sites.  Follow me so that I can see what your favorites are!

{image via Etsy}

It’s always fun to see creative and imaginative playrooms. Here are some fun rooms for both kid’s rooms & playrooms!

{image via Design Sponge}

Modern and minimal…but that teepee sure says “let’s play.”

{image via Pinterest}

Lots of room for books and storage, and a cozy built-in window seat.

{image via Pinterest}

The most ethereal playroom I’ve yet to see…

{via Kids Room Decor}

Side by side beds leave plenty of floor space for play.

{image via Project Nursery}

Love this bold and graphic playroom with the chalkboard walls! (I actually blogged about this room awhile back in my post, “These Walls Are Made for Chalkin‘”)

{image via Bonesteel Trout Hall}

A colorful playroom with just the right balance a white backdrop.

{image via Samantha Pynn}

Fun striped walls and a multi-purpose window seat.

{image via HGTV}

A very spacious attic space turned playroom.

{via Steve Gambrel}

For the sophisticated boy…

{image via Etsy}

You’re either a pink person or you’re not.  I happen to be a big pink person!  It just a really, really happy color.  It’s practically a neutral -  I mean it goes with every color!  I decided to dedicate this FF to the color pink…

Fuschia + Gray is a fabulous combination as seen in this room by Massucco Warner Miller

Above two photos via CocoCozy.

The perfect pink sofa.  I really don’t think I would get tired of this.

Above two pieces by Windsor Smith Home.

A pair of pink “bubble” chairs from Pieces.

Above two from Furbish

Milo Baughman chair…remember him?

Pair of lounge chairs from new-to-me vintage website, VandM.

Are you a pink lover?  Do you have any pink in your home?

Out with the old, in with the new.  Just as in fashion, where we see trends come and go, (and sometimes come full circle decades later) decorating has its trends that move with the colors of the year(s).  For quite sometime now (i’d say over the past 2 years), gray has become the new beige and it’s making a statement like no other.  Gray is such a calming color but it can be bright, light, dark, subtle…no matter what, it’s always soothing to the eye.  This is the very reason I’ve been convincing my clients to use so much gray lately, especially on the walls!  It’s the perfect neutral that will cohesively tie any room together.  Take a look at these gray rooms and see how well it works in different spaces:

I’m loving these lanterns and chairs in this country gray kitchen!

Don’t be afraid to mix your grays and beiges just make sure that gray is the more dominant color in the room.  It will freshen up your space instantly and keep you on trend!

Lake Forest, Illinois

6 bedrooms, 6 baths

15,000 square feet

$6.95 million

Pedigree: Celebrated architect David Adler built this Tuscan-style lakeside villa in 1916. It is considered one of his finest residential estates, due to the classically symmetrical interiors, stately loggia, and stone-paved courtyard.

Property Values: The three acres feature an original sunken garden, conceived in collaboration with landscape designer Ralph Rodney Root, and direct access to a white-sand beach on Lake Michigan.

Talking Point: Watching over the grounds are statues of Neptune and the nine muses, among other mythical figures.

Contact: Coldwell Banker, 847-987-8517; coldwellbanker.com

Read more: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2012/01/estates-for-sale#ixzz1gMgoVZbC

From time to time I love indulging in the Architectural Digest feature “Homes for Sale Around the World.” Having lived in many houses myself (and naturally as a designer), I have a fascination with houses.  Leave it to AD to feature some of the most glam, luxurious and decadent estates from around the world.  Although I am not sure that purchasing a $50 million private island in the British Virgin Islands is in many of our realms of possibility, but, a girl or guy can dream, right?  Check out some of the latest listings on “Homes for Sale Around the World.”  Maybe AD will be coming to your block next!

Text and listing information courtesy of Architectural Digest.

Peapack, New Jersey

31 bedrooms, 14 baths

60,000 square feet

$4.9 million

Pedigree: Designed by Carrí¨re and Hastings, the venerable architecture firm behind the New York Public Library, this secluded Beaux Arts mansion was constructed in 1903 for financier C. Ledyard Blair. The house, which has undergone an incomplete restoration, still exudes Gilded Age grandeur thanks to bespoke mantels, elaborate moldings, and imported marble.

Property Values: The 34 acres feature Italianate gardens by James Lyle Greenleaf.

Talking Point: With its unique past—reclusive nuns owned the place for some 50 years—Blairsden, as the house is called, has long been the subject of local lore.

Contact: Turpin Realtors, 877-788-7746; turpinrealtors.com

Read more: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2012/01/estates-for-sale#ixzz1gMeM4fPg

Ojai, California

4 bedrooms, 3 baths

4,300 square feet

$4 million

Pedigree: In 1959 architect Rodney Walker, best known for his three contributions to the Case Study House Program, erected this hilltop retreat as his personal residence. Modeled after an equilateral triangle, the ethereal structure merges indoor and outdoor spaces using glass curtain walls and pointed overhangs.

Property Values: The three-and-a-half-acre plot, accessible by a winding private drive, enjoys sweeping views of the surrounding valley.

Talking Point: Vintage linoleum and wood surfaces and a paint-box color palette lend midcentury cool to the open floor plan.

Contact: Crosby Doe Associates, 310-428-6755; crosbydoe.com

Read more: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2012/01/estates-for-sale#ixzz1gMez2N17

British Virgin Islands

7 bedrooms, 8 baths

17,000 square feet

$50 million

Pedigree: Natural beauty abounds on Buck Island, a 43-acre private haven boasting pristine beaches, protected coves, and coral reefs. Presiding over it is a contemporary masonry compound, comprising a main building, a satellite master suite, and three guesthouses.

Property Values: An infinity pool, a helipad, and a cabana dot the land, while two additional villas occupy a base on nearby Tortola.

Talking Point: A partially built bridge adds archaeological intrigue.

Contact: Smiths Gore, 284-494-2446; smithsgore.co.uk

Read more: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2012/01/estates-for-sale#ixzz1gMgDBwEi

Como, Italy

7 bedrooms, 4 baths

7,530 square feet

$34 million

Pedigree: Built in the late 19th century, this stucco-clad villa is perched on a superlative lot overlooking Lake Como, with views of the village of Bellagio on the opposite shore. Refined ornamentation, a grand scale, and neutral decor give an airy feel to the interiors, which have been restored by Milan-based architects Alberto Brugi and Elio Messi and are available furnished.

Property Values: The leafy seven-acre grounds include a gymnasium, a spa facility, a boathouse, and a pool.

Talking Point: A helipad allows for easy arrivals and quick departures.

Contact: Christie’s International Real Estate, 011-44-20-7389-2631; christiesrealestate.com

Read more: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2012/01/estates-for-sale#ixzz1gMgV4cjf

Hickory Creek, Texas

6 bedrooms, 6 baths

36,630 square feet

$35 million

Pedigree: Just 15 minutes from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, this attention-grabbing mansion—built in 2002 for CellStar founder Alan Goldfield—continues to linger on the market despite huge price cuts. It was modeled after Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th-century chí¢teau that inspired Versailles, and overflows with baroque flourishes.

Property Values: Ninety acres with a lake, tennis courts, a pool, and a cabana.

Talking Point: Over-the-top amenities include a two-story Chanel-themed dressing suite, an indoor pool, a hair salon, a home theater, and a bowling alley.

Contact: Briggs Freeman, 214-350-0400; briggsfreeman.com

Read more: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2012/01/estates-for-sale#ixzz1gMhA03Wk

Congrats to Katie & Jane for starting off the new year with their January 2012 issue of Matchbook Magazine which went live online today and marks their one year anniversary! Keep on the good work and look forward to future issues of Matchbook! Check it out here!

Here’s to another great year for MG!  Where has this time gone?  It seems like just yesterday that I was blogging about the Business of Design Conference back in August or debuting my space at the Chicago Merchandise Mart Dream Home back in June.

I did this post at the end of 2010, and I can’t believe the time has already come to do it again!  Here’s to you, 2011!

What MG Chicago and my firm Buckingham Interiors + Design were up to these past 12 months…

Wishing all MG readers health and prosperity in the new year!

December

“Fun for the Whole Family”

This post was about a very family friendly project I recently completed in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood.  I wanted to showcase bold colors, textures and patterns in a space that is just as whimsical for adults as it is for children. Look for this home being featured in the January issue of CSInteriors on bookstands January 19th. Written by Tate Gunnerson and photographed by Anthony Tahlier, this should be a very good read.

November

“The Luxe Life”

This is a post about a project I recently completed in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood that was featured in Luxe Magazine.  I tried to play up the homeowner’s love and appreciation of fine art as well as the unparalleled views from this stunning modern high rise.

October

“Affordable Modern? Sign Me Up!”

CB2 did a promotion called “Unlock Affordable Modern” throughout the country, and while it has since ended, my affinity for CB2 certainly has not.  As a lover of all things modern and antique, it was around this time that I coined the term “modernique” to define by aesthetic. I was asked to speak at the  High Point Antiques Market to elaborate on my visions of design nirvana achieved by the mixture of using antiques and modern furnishing’s within each space that I design. Thank you Karen and Amanda!

September

“Totally Wu-ed”

The month of September was a busy one for me!  I was here, there and everywhere, including the Brizo event for Jason Wu in NYC during Fashion Week.  I was invited to the Blogger 19 event (as you can see, there are 19 of us) and had a fabulous time mingling amongst some of the blogosphere’s finest!  Not to mention being up close and personal with Jason Wu’s stunning couture creations was worth the trip in itself! I made some amazing new pals- we are connecting again in February of this year for the 2nd annual Design Blogger’s Conference in LA. So looking forward to seeing them and friends who will be speaking and presenting this year.

August

“Staying in Style in NYC”

One of my assistant’s stayed at the Surrey Hotel in NYC in August and came back to Chicago raving about it.  Of course, I had to check it out for myself! I must say I was very impressed!  Sleek, modern, sophisticated yet so comfortable and livable…I didn’t ever want to check out when I was staying here!

July

“A Gift for You, A Gift for Me!”

I became obsessed with Layla Grace when I had to purchase a birthday present for a friend in July.  While I bought her a monogrammed lucite tray, I inevitably found many things that I was obsessing over for myself! Needless to say that the BID Team has been on the wire many times since then sourcing for our client’s galore.  This orange side table being one of my faves…

June

“Dreaming Big at the Merchandise Mart Dream Home”

I was thrilled to be a part of this year’s Dream Home at the Chicago Merchandise Mart!  Above is an image of my space.  Many thanks to my wonderful team and vendors at the Mart-Bradley Hughes, Baker, Dessin Fournir, Boyd, Paris Ceramics, Holly Hunt, Cai, Jim Thompson, Joanne Trestrail, Richard Norton and Lee Jofa…couldn’t have pulled this together without you! I am looking forward to seeing what next years chosen Chicago designer’s do with these spaces.

May

“Come out to See the Lake Forest Showhouse!”

May was the month of the highly anticipated biannual Lake Forest Showhouse.  My firm designed the foyer, front staircase, and second floor front hall.  May was a fantastic, albeit very busy, month for me.  All worth it because I love what I do!

April

“Victorian Era”

I finished this Lincoln Park Victorian in April.  I loved this project because like many of my projects, this was a historic home that had unbelievable architectural details beneath the surface of some subtle digging and that we were able to bring back upon restoration.  It was amazing to see the history of the house come alive while being updated with modern furniture, art and finishes.

March

“Sunny Side Up”

Spring break month!  One of my assistant’s spent a week in beautiful Palm Beach, Florida and sent me this article about the Lauder Estate there.  Can anything top this view?!  Aerin…I will come hang out anytime

February

“Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful!”

February is truly is the doldrums of winter, and during this time nothing looks better than a blue sky, crystal clear ocean and tropical drink.  Included in Travel and Leisure’s 500 Best Hotel issue were many beach resorts, and I couldn’t resist indulging and fantasizing that I was was lounging on this chaise above.

January

“No ‘Breaking Up’ With This!”

“The Breakup” is one of my favorite movies because a. I love Vince Vaughn b. it takes place in my hometown of Chicago and c. it features my good friend and wonderful artist Francine Turk!  I use Francine’s work all the time (and exhibited her work in my showroom as seen above) and wanted to share with MG just how talented and amazing she is! Hopefully Francine will be joining me this month at Maison et Objet in Paris. Can’t wait for that- not just Paris but to see and learn the latest and greatest in design for the upcoming year.  More to share with y’all!

Hi All!  Happy New Year!  It’s been a really busy time around here…You know Christmas, New Years, Sadie turned 1.  I can’t believe that happened.   I wanted to share a few pictures from my little one’s big day.  We actually had her party on New Year’s Eve (during the day).  Naturally hosting a party for 25-30 in our two bedroom apartment sent me into a little bit of a tailspin, but we had so much fun at the party!

The theme was basically “girly zoo.”  That means lots of pink and oranges!

I hope you enjoyed the photos!  Here’s to a fresh, new year!