Interior Design Sense

I was reading designer, Emily Clark’s blog today which featured a recent bedroom makeover that she completed.  My jaw practically hit the floor when she revealed her source for the nightstands.  She took a big box retailer’s run of the mill chest (for $79.99) and then added pretty hardware to it.  I swear, it looks like a whole new piece!

Click HERE to find out what retailer Emily got her revamped nightstands from- you won’t believe it!!

When you mention getting a “custom” piece made to a client, they are usually a bit skeptical at first because let’s face it- custom just sounds expensive and not to mention, can often be painstakingly slow.  It’s not uncommon for the lead time on a custom piece (like furniture or rugs) to range from 12-16 weeks.  It can often be hard to convince someone to want to wait that long, even if it would be perfect for the space.

But what if there was a way to order something custom with just a two week lead time?  Now we are talkin.  A designer’s dream, right?  Mark Moussa, of Arteriors Home has managed to put to bed any custom fears by offering consumers a custom-made ceramic lamp program that can all be created..online!

Mottega is the name and custom ceramic lamps are their game.  I’m especially loving their Mandarin and Peridot color options.  With these lamps, you can choose your shape, base and shade (so pretty much everything down to the finial).

I just designed one online and here is my favorite combo-

Finial- Acrylic Sphere

Base- Acrylic Round

Color- Peridot

Shape- Tresana

Shade- Linen flat drum

A DeGiulio Kitchen in one of my Buckingham Interiors + Design Projects in Kenilworth, Illinois

While the title of this post is a nod to one of my favorite Food Network shows, the real reference here is to kitchen extraordinaire Mick De Giulio’s new book, “Kitchen Centric.” De Guilio is a veritable kitchen genius and is one of the most revered names in kitchen design not only in Chicago but throughout the country as well.  With over 25 years in the kitchen biz, De Giulio really knows what works.  With his versatility in design, De Giulio appeals to clients with almost any taste.  His projects have been featured in publications from Traditional Home, Better Homes and Gardens to House Beautiful, and his unbelievable showroom in the Chicago Merchandise Mart is definitely worth a visit.  De Giulio is a frequent speaker at industry events, but now his words are being immortalized in a beautiful book that I surely am looking forward to checking out!

Mick De Giulio’s new book, Kitchen Centric

De Giulio kitchen Glencoe, IL

De Giulio kitchen Glencoe, IL

De Giulio Highland Park, IL

De Giulio kitchen Highland Park, IL

De Giulio kitchen Highland Park, IL

De Giulio kitchen Atherton, CA

De Giulio kitchen Winnetka, IL

De Giulio kitchen Monte Sereno, CA

De Giulio kitchen Monte Sereno, CA

De Giulio kitchen Chicago, IL

De Giulio kitchen Chicago, IL

De Giulio kitchen Scottsdale, AZ

As an interior designer, I love to see a great transformation. Whether it’s a piece of furniture getting repurposed or an entire room evolve – the process of changing or transforming things is usually really exciting.  So recently when I was invited to experience hands-on two new products in kitchen transformations from Rust-Oleum – I was really curious to see how this product could work and what the outcome would be.

Rust-Oleum Transformations has two kits for the DIY-er to transform kitchen cabinets or kitchen countertops as an inexpensive and efficient alternative to replacing cabinets or countertops entirely.  Experiencing the product for myself, I can say the process is simple and easy to use (that’s coming from a person who isn’t capable of anything DIY-the fact that I could actually do this was a bit exhilarating for me!). The kit includes everything needed to complete the project. (The kits can also be used for bathroom counters/cabinets or even furniture.)

With the help of the people from Rust-Oleum, each of us got to test out both the countertop kit and the cabinet kit, using the easy step by step process.

The kits come with everything needed to complete the project. The countertops involve five steps, and the cabinets involve four steps.  Depending on the size of your kitchen most transformation projects could be completed in a weekend.

Here I am, happily sanding a laminate countertop sample.

The countertop kit comes with five color options, from light to dark, replicating a “granite like” finish (solid finishes are not yet available).

There are many options to chose from for the cabinet colors.

The kits can be purchased from local home improvement stores (such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc) or visit the Rust-Oleum Transformations website for more info, including details and tutorials. The retail price for the a newly resurfaced countertop kit is $250 and cabinets $150 (depending on your square footage).

The outcome?

Countertops and cabinets that look like they were custom without the custom price!

Thank you to Rust-Oleum for inviting me to expereince the products hands-on!

Thank you Elle Decor for including Material Girls in the feature, Design Insiders’ Weekly Finds!

MG along with Elements of Style, La Maison Boheme, Style Redux, and Design Darling shared their favorite blog post and article links for the week!

{One and Only Palmilla, Los Cabos Mexico}

With the record breaking snowfall and arctic temperatures that have been slamming the Windy City as of late (-20 windchill! Ouch!) my mind has been drifting to the warm, tropical paradise destinations that would be the sweetest escape during the doldrums of the bitter Chicago winter.  It just so happens that Travel & Leisure is currently featuring their 500 Best Hotels of 2011, many of which include beaches, pools and endless sunshine.  With 500 glorious destinations, how could anyone only choose one?!  I want to visit them all!  But for the purpose of this post, however, I had to keep it to my favorites, which was a difficult task! And while these may only be a tease on this cloudy February day, I can’t help but indulge myself in the hopes of (soon!?) visiting these luxurious (and warm!) hotels and resorts.  Anyone visited any of these remarkable destinations?  Please share!

{One and Only Palmilla, Los Cabos Mexico}

{Cap Juluca, Anguilla}

{Curtain Bluff, Antigua}

{One and Only Ocean Club, Bahamas}

{Sandy Lane, Barbados}

{Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, Nevis}

{Hotel Eden Rock, St. Barths}

{Grace Bay Club, Turks and Caicos}

{Jade Mountain. St. Lucia}

{Esperanza Resort, Los Cabos Mexico}

{Turtle Inn, Belize}

{Four Seasons, Costa Rica}

{Las Ventanas, Los Cabos Mexico}

{La Residence Phou Vao, Laos}

Milly Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear

I’m dreaming of a moody non-home office where I can meet with clients and sport this fabulous outfit head to toe.  I decided to design said office…picture dark walls upholstered in a grey flannel with nailhead trim and this console…

Burl Wood & Lucite Console Table

“Graffiti Series Avenue K” by Nicole Cohen of Sketch42 would go above the console and this would be my desk…

Black Lacquer Campaign Style Desk

Comfort is key so I’d splurge on an Eames Management Chair I’d have forever.

A pair of CB2 Hancock Carbon Bookcases would store fabric samples, design books, magazines, client files etc!

A couple Red Moroccan Leather Poufs from Furbish would be scattered around for impromptu scheme selections sprawled out on the floor.

Of course I gotta have my sparkle – Sophia Chandelier by Jan Showers

A pair of these Drake Barrelback Chairs would be for guests.

I love this off kilter Vintage Moroccan Rug

I’m so obsessed with photography these days.  “Chanel,” Green, Ink Jet on Canvas by Steve Miller would be my gift to myself for my new office

[Loving this monkey wallpaper from 2Modern!]

I am currently working on a nursery project for a client here in Los Angeles, with a modern home furnished in mid century modern designs.  We are incorporating the mid century modern look into the nursery with mixing her current crib and dresser with some new furnishings.

[Concept board for nursery project.]

Both my client and I love this monkey wallpaper as a “feature wall” for behind the crib.  So cute!

The only concern is finding something less permanent and something that wouldn’t need to cover the span of wall behind where the crib is – so decals come to mind!  Thanks to a “twitter tip” yesterday, I was directed to Etsy in search of monkey decals – and there are many to choose from.

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The number of options and amount of decals is more than overwhelming – definitely need more time to monkey around to find just the right one, but Etsy is such a great source – and not just for monkeys!

This month, Traditional Home’s cover story spotlighted the gorgeous Atlanta residence of Amy Bergman.  Amy enlisted the help of top architect,  Linda MacArthur, a fellow mom, to make her home beautiful, but also kid-friendly.

It was love at first sight when I saw this home, and in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, here are the reasons why I absolutely LOVE each of the Bergman’s rooms-

Living Room-

I heart…the fact that this room consists mostly of soft neutral upholstery fabrics (with rare pops of color) which makes it easy to change out the color scheme in the future, if needed.

Dining Room-

I heart…the totally funky, unexpected chandelier by Niermann Weeks and how it contrasts nicely with the dark sleek table.

Keeping Room-

I heart…how the scalloped stair wall echoes the curves of the banquette.

I heart…the fact that she even has a banquette at the bottom of her stairs!  What an efficient use of space and such a genius idea!

Home Office-

I heart….how cozy this room feels with the dark dramatic walls and trim painted in Sherwin Williams, Library Pewter.

I also heart…orange (in general) so this room struck a definite cord with me.

Kitchen-

I heart…the fact that their cabinets are painted in a color other than white. Don’t get me wrong, I love a beautiful white kitchen, but it’s not every day that you see darker painted cabinets, particularly in this gray-blue.

I also heart…the Anne Sacks glass tile backsplash over the range which makes for a very interesting focal point.

As I passed by the Chicago showroom of Roche Bobois the other day, I decided to check out what this uber chic Parisian home outfitter is up to.  I discovered their Jean Paul Gaultier home collection, which is fashioned in the same style as the designer’s couture creations.  Avant garde, opulent and oh so glamorous, I must admit that this collection isn’t particularly my style, but in the words of one of my most favorite taste makers, Carrie Bradshaw, it is undeniable that it is just “fabulous.”  This sophisticated and very unique line of furniture and accessories is so distinctive that it would take a bold designer and willing client to fashion a room out of this collection.  Perhaps a few pieces here and there might produce a more manageable effect.  What are your thoughts?  Hate it, love it, or somewhere in between?

{Jean Paul Gaultier Fall Winter 2010/2011}

{Jean Paul Gaultier Fall Winter 2010/2011}

{Jean Paul Gaultier Fall Winter 2010/2011}