Hey friends!  The new issue of ON Magazine is hot off the press!  This month we’re focusing on the family & I’m talking about designing cool spaces for your kiddos.  I had so much fun on this issue.  The game room featured in the article is my daughter’s & she even makes a cameo in her favorite space.  Vamping up your kid’s rooms is the perfect back to school project!  Click on the photo below to get an up close look at the photos & tips.  Happy designing!

CoolKidsSpaces_ON mag

This was forwarded to me by e-mail this morning.  I got a little chuckle & thought it was worth sharing.  Hopefully it will give you a break from your Monday & a little laugh!

REPLACEMENT WINDOWS

Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with that expensive
double-pane energy efficient kind, and today, I got a call from the contractor who installed them.  He was complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago and I still hadn’t paid for them.

Hellloooo,………..just because I’m blonde doesn’t mean that I am automatically stupid.  So, I told him just what his fast talking sales guy had told me last year, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for themselves!

“Helllooooo?  It’s been a year”,  I told him.

There was only silence at the other end of the line, so I finally just
hung up.  He never called back. Guess I won that stupid argument.  I bet
he felt like an idiot.

Need a design question answered?  We’ve got you covered!  If you’re already on Twitter, then take note.  If you don’t already have a twitter account, you may want to consider getting one for this special event!

Designers & consumers from across the globe will unite tomorrow night (Thursday, June 24th) at 8:00 PM EST to discuss design related topics on Twitter.  This is your chance to get FREE design advice from design professionals.   Ask questions & get advice from a team of designers participating in the chat.  I will be on-line sharing my tips & advice as well as many other well known interior designers.  This is an event you do NOT want to miss!

For more details on how it works log on to the official #IDzinechat website: http://idzinechat.blogspot.com/

Official Twitter page:  http://twitter.com/IDzinechat4U

I’ve got exciting news my fellow interior design aficionados!  I’m thrilled to announce my editorial debut & partnership with ON magazine.  Now, you’ll be able to get my latest design tips & trends in glossy form in addition to this blog & Good Morning Texas.  Each issue will focus on a different design topic.  This issue highlights different ways & suggestions on how to use decorative trays throughout your home.  Click on the PDF below to get the full scoop!  Let me know what you think & please offer any suggestions for topics that you would like to see me cover in the magazine!

ONDecorativeTrays2

Did you know that today is Nate Day?  And, yes I am referring to the uber-fabulous  Nate Berkus, celebrity interior decorator extraordinare.  If you’re active on Twitter, then you may have been alerted to the trending topic #nateday that has all of the design & blogging community in a frenzy.  “How’d he get his own day?”, you may be asking yourself.  No, Oprah didn’t declare it Nate Day.  The Moggit Girls did.  Why?  Is it his infectious smile & energy?  His drool worthy colorful designs?  Well, of course, but it all started with a recent announcement.  The Moggit Girls created such a buzz when they first tweeted about the debut of Nate’s new show premiering in September that they asked fellow design bloggers & tweeters to unite for a day full of Nate Berkus inspired content.  Being a fan of Nate’s, I am, of course, happy to participate.

So, in honor of #nateday, I thought I would share with you the top 5 reasons I can identify with & why I swoon over Nate’s designs.

#1 Contrast:  I absolutely adore the upholstery against the dark painted walls (covered in eco friendly paint company Farrow & Ball’s Off Black) in this room Nate designed alongside Ann Coyle for Elle Rakieten, a producer for the Oprah Winfrey show.

#2 Layering:  I’m a huge fan of layering!  I love to add a powerful punch to a plain sisal rug with a zebra skin rug as shown in the photo above.  Berkus hit the high notes with this one.  Each piece in the room is fabulous in it’s own right, but when joined together they create a beautiful design harmony.  I showed you a similar look  with a pair of green chairs & a fun zebra hair on hide rug on GMT back in March.

#3 Adding Ottomans:  The addition of ottomans or small benches not only allows for extra seating for your guests in a room but also gives you the opportunity to have some design fun!  I love the legs on the ottomans Nate used in this design.  The pop of color on the seat is a deep contrast with the dark rich sofa across from it.

#4 Sexy Sectionals:  Whether it’s floating in a room (like the one I recently showed you that I designed for a client in California) or hugging a wall, a sectional does not have to be boring or plain.  Even though this sectional is neutral in color, the squared tufted sections make it say “va va va voom”!  This swanky pad in Milan is one of my all time favorite Berkus designs.

#5 Any shade of blue:  I’m always feeling blue!  I’m drawn to pretty much every shade of blue from teal or turquoise to mineral or baby blue.  It’s one of my favorite colors to work with.  Nate livened up his sister’s nearly neutral color palette with the addition of a painted blue chest.  The shade is pure perfection & adds drama & intensity to her home.

HAPPY NATE DAY EVERYONE!

images from Oprah.com, Elle Decor, Glamour, Google

Who do you turn to when you need custom upholstery that not only looks hot, but is also comfy & cozy?  On a project I recently completed for a client in California, I turned to Hickory Chair.    Their Made to Measure program allows your clients to truly “Have it Your Way”.  It also gives designers an opportunity to put their personal spin on HC’s pieces.  My young &  hip client, who is a 6′10″ NBA player, requested an edgy contemporary yet comfortable feel.  When you are 6′10″, standard size sofas & chairs just don’t work, but as a designer you must also be mindful of the size & scale of the home.  So, I sat down with my friends at Hickory Chair & designed a sensational Made to Measure sectional that showcased all of the details my client wanted.  

Since the sectional would “float” in the family room, the back had to be interesting.  We dressed the frame in black Vacona leather & tufted the back using a subtle square pattern (click the photo to enlarge for a better view of the tufting).  (Hickory Chair was kind enough to forward me these photos from the factory before the sectional shipped.  My client could not wait to see it!)

The sectional ended up being 9×12 with a custom depth & height to accomodate my client’s stature.  The seat cushions were covered in a graphite flannel.  We used a COM Ralph Lauren cashmere for the accent pillows.  My client is not a big fan of pattern or color, so the house is layered in shades of black, taupe, gray & cream.  It turned out remarkably sophisticated & chic.

Hickory Chair has invited me to attend a program they are presenting, so I am heading to North Carolina this weekend.  So, if you don’t already, make sure to follow me on facebook & twitter to get a behind the scenes experience of our time at HC & lots of eye candy!

The kiddos will soon be out of school & begging to play in the pool all day everyday to beat the heat.  If you’re looking for inspiration for your home’s color palette, why not consider a few sizzling summer colors?  Last week on GMT, we chatted about one of my all time favorite color combinations ~ Turquoise & Tangerine.  It sounds so chic just rolling off your tongue, but when you combine the two hues with crisp whites or other neutrals it instantly satisfies your need for exceptional eye candy.  Whenever I’m around the powerful color duo, I dream of sitting on a beach in the Caribbean drinking a Hibiscus Martini.

Watch the segment here to get a few ideas on incorporating these summer inspired colors into your home.

We’ve just returned from our buying trip to High Point, North Carolina and I’m happy to report that several furniture manufacturers & designers are really in tune to today’s needs & how people are living.  They’re offering consumers more & more options as well coming up with innovative ways to allow one piece to be used several ways.   We all know that furniture is an investment, so you really need to take your time to select quality, stylish & purposeful pieces for your home.  Take a look at a few of my favorite finds.  These home furnishings are not only multi-functional, they’re also super stylish!

Cocktail Table by Barclay Butera

The cocktail lifts up on hinges to become dining height.  So perfect for those with smaller homes, lofts or apartments that don’t have a true dining area.  Also great for those days when you just want to dine in front of the TV.  Or, how about using it in a game room or media room for popcorn & drinks?  Your guests will get a kick out of it’s double duty!

Fabulous upholstered cocktail by Century.  The mirrored tray slides so you can place it in any position you like.  Plus, this table is H-O-T!!!

This dazzling floor mirror with eglomise details is by Hooker.  Use the crystal knob on the front mirrored panel to open it & reveal a jewelry display large enough to hold all of your necklaces & baubles.

Round cocktail table by Guy Chaddock.

This table also goes from cocktail height to dining height.

This is one of my favorite end tables.  Michael Weiss created it for Vanguard.  It slides right over the seat cushion of your sofa.  It gives you the option of having a spot for your drink, snacks or remote control anywhere you sit on the sofa.

Thomas O’Brien designed this classic coffee table for Hickory Chair.  It’s not a new introduction, but it’s one of my favorites.  I’ve showed it to you before.  The base of the table is slanted at the perfect angle to hold coffee table books or magazines.

Even if you’re not a huge fan of the Beatles, you probably instantly recognize the iconic group pictured on this fabric.  It’s the photo from the back cover of their album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. This fabric caught my eye not once, but twice during visits to two different showrooms at the High Point International Home Furnishings Market earlier this week.

Century used it in a contemporary setting.  They used the Beatles print for the back of this bench seat & contrasted it with black leather & a coordinating linen.   The scheme is a blend of contrasting neutrals and textures.  They paired it with a white lacquered end table, a fun black geometric screen & large round end table with a chrome pedestal base.  The round table is arranged in front of the bench to serve as a small dining table.  You could even use two of them in front of the bench to create a lounge feeling in a game room, media room, or hip home office or study.

Over at Vanguard, they took a more traditional approach.  The same fabric in primary colors covers a cocktail ottoman with leather, nail head trim & an exposed wood base.  An ottoman like this could add spunk in front of a gameroom or media room sofa.  Or, if someone in your house is a huge Beatles fan or memorabilia collector, this would be perfect addition to a study with book or display cases housing their collection.

I have a lot more fun finds from market to come, so stay tuned!

I was so excited to receive a sneak peek at Barbara Barry’s  new accessory introductions for Global Views that I had to share it with you all right away!  The elegant line contains ceramics, trays, boxes and other fabulous accessories that depict the timeless sophistication that Ms. Barry is known for.  She has selected an assortment of amazing finishes including laquer, leather & silver leaf detailing.

Script Oval Tray in Ivory

This might be my favorite piece.  I love to add a tray to a room.  They are so versatile.  Display pretty perfume bottles on them in your bathroom or use them to group or organize cell phones, keys, pens & to-do lists.  Bring them out to entertain with when you have a party or use it to serve your sweetie coffee or breakfast in bed.  Set one up in a guest room on a nightstand or dresser with items to make your guests feel welcome (fresh cookies, magazines, bottled water & a toothbrush & toothpaste).

Banded ceramic vase & Polished Tazza in white

You know I love to entertain, so of course I love this vase & footed serving piece.  They have such a fresh clean look.  I can just imagine displaying a fresh bouquet of flowers in the vase & arranging yummy muffins on the serving piece to have coffee with girlfriends.

Luxe Organizer in Ivory laquer

This sleek set of laquered boxes offer both form & fuction.  Perfectly sized to conceal pens, pencils, keys, or jewelry this should be on everyone’s “must have” list.

Global Views is one of my absolute favorite home accessory lines.  They also happen to be one of my favorite showrooms to visit at market.  I can’t wait to see them this weekend when we embark on our bi-annual shopping spree in North Carolina for home furnishings & accessories for IBB.  Market is like fashion week for the interior design industry.  I’m like a kid in a candy store there.  By the end of the trip, my head is usually spinning from all of the fabulous finds that caught my eye.

If you aren’t already, make sure to follow me on Twitter to get instant updates & see all the great things I found at market next week!  http://www.twitter.com/designershay

AND, if you’re a designer & you’ll be at market, you won’t want to miss our Tweetup at Global Views on Sunday, April 18th.  Click here for details & to RSVP.