I have to take a moment to give a big shout out to the guys over at Special Projects.  They are professional art installers & we use them on just about every project we do.  They always do a phenomenal job for us.  On a recent job, I was more than impressed at how they executed the heavy load of requests we laid upon them.  Our client had an impressive art collection of paintings & sculptures that had to be handled & installed with the utmost care.  Our client wanted one of their sculptures to be installed in their huge oak tree in their backyard.  The photo to the left shows Special Projects installing the work of art.  It was installed just above our client’s hanging egg chairs (which Special Projects also hung for us).

Bravo on a job well done!  It is always such a pleasure to work with such a wonderful & reliable company.

Whether it’s a mirror, a piece of art or just something your hubby doesn’t want to hang, I would highly recommend Special Projects for the job.  To contact them to handle your next art installation call 972-818-6522.

Today’s “Fancy Word Friday” is matelassé.   Matelassé is a French word meaning quilted or padded.  It’s a thick textile that appears to be padded, but actually has no padding within the fabric.  It can be hand-stitched or woven on a jacquard loom.  This quilted fabric is most commonly used in bedding but can also often be found on upholstery.  You will also see it in the world of fashion on handbags & clothing.   Oscar de la Renta even used matelassé in a collection of suits & dresses in the 1960’s and still continues to do so today.

Most matelassé fabrics are done in a single solid color.  The hand stitching is often used to create a decorative pattern to add dimension to to the fabric.  If you love a French flair or a Shabby Chic approach to design, this type of fabric would fit well into your design plan.  Matelassé fabrics are often used in soft neutral colors, but as you can see from the photo to the left from Martha Stewart, the fabric is also stunning in bright bold colors.  The tangerine matelassé coverlet layered on top of crisp white linens is so refreshing.

Here are a few of my favorite matelassé fabrics & different ways they have been used in both interior design & the fashion world.

Beautiful diamond pattern matelassé in amethyst by Barbara Barry for Kravet Couture.  I LOVE lavendar!  It’s such a soft, soothing & girly color.

This gorgeous light blue matelassé by Kravet has an elegant pattern to it.  It’s made fro 100% cotton so you can just imagine how soft & fabulous it is.

The matelassé coverlet at the end of this bed features a very common scalloped edge.  This shabby chic look would be fun in a guest bedroom or kid’s room.  Image from Country Living.

This rich chocolate brown matelassé coverlet adds a plush texture to this upholstered linen bed at IBB Design Furniture Showroom.  The Euro in the center  & kidney pillow are also out of matelassé fabrics.

Black & Navy floral matelassé dress by Oscar de la Renta

My friend Tina from Bagsnob snagged this stunning Chanel matelassé bowler bag on a trip to Paris.  Read more about this sexy bag in her post about it on Bagsnob here.

As designers, we use certain design terms on a daily basis, but people outside the industry may not always know what we’re talking about.  So, I’ve decided to add a new section to the blog called “Designer Dictionary”.  In this section,  I’ll highlight design terminology & give you definitions & examples that may make your journey thru your design project a bit easier.   You’ll be armed with a plethora of knowledge that will help make your design & furnishing purchases go more smoothly.

There are millions of words we could discuss, but in order to not overwhelm you, I will start off with “Fancy Word Fridays”.  If you’re familiar with Fancy Nancy (my daughter is a huge fan!), then you may have read “Fancy Nancy’s Favorite Fancy Words“.  Well, this is my designer adaptation to make learning “fancy” design lingo fun!  We’ll discuss a fabulous “fancy” new design term each Friday.  Please e-mail me or leave me a comment if there is a design term you would like to know more about & we’ll be sure to discuss it!

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

Today’s Sneak Peek Saturday comes from a project we recently installed for one of our Dallas clients.  We love to have fun & think outside the box when designing a powder bath.   Powder baths should not be overlooked.  Your guests will inevitably use this space, so why not make it special?  Whether it’s intricate tile designs, wainscoting or a showstopping vanity cabinet like this one, the possibilities are endless!

The vanity counter top & “X” design on the front are actually made from compressed gemstones.  It is simply stunning in person.  We used an elegant glass bowl for the sink in order to not detract from the beauty of the vanity cabinet.

The real pièce de résistance is that the gemstone design illuminates with the flip of a light switch.  Can you say a-ma-zing!!!!????  We fell in love with it the minute we saw it!  A huge thank you to Landon Smith from Elegant Additions for helping us with this custom vanity as well as many of the other fabulous pieces pf eye candy throughout the house.

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

 Have you ever looked at an amazing piece of furniture & wondered to yourself ”How did they make that?”.    We all drool over & daydream about where to put the gorgeous pieces we find for our home, but have you ever stopped to think about the countless hours that go into designing & building these works of art?  Quality furniture manufacturers like Hickory Chair may be making their product lines in a factory, but don’t be fooled.  These pieces are far from machine made.  When it comes to unsurpassed hand craftsmanship, they pay careful attention to every detail of their stunning home furnishings.    That’s right.  In 2010, you can still find beautifully crafted pieces made right here in the USA.  I had the privlege of being invited to tour the Hickory Chair factory in North Carolina recently and my love for their quality fine furnishings has been more than re-affirmed.  I am a huge fan of the well run furniture manufacturer.  In a time when many other companies are outsourcing overseas and cutting corners to cut costs, Hickory Chair remains true to their brand and to their people.  It was amazing to see the passion & pride ignited in their employees & craftsman as we met & chatted with them on how Hickory Chair produces their stylish line of  upholstery & casegoods.

One technique in particular left me in awe as well as many others in our tour group.  It was one gentlemen’s flawless application of nail head detail.  I chatted with him about the nailhead design on Thomas O’Brien’s new upholstered bookcase (which just happened to be my favorite piece from Hickory Chair from Spring market).  The bookcase’s design incorporates 3800 nailheads.  I stood in awe as I watched this young man deliver each nail head with complete precision by hand and by memory.  I shot a short video of him at work on the piece.  Warning:  Watching this video may spark a new appreciation for fine furniture inside you.  (The finished upholstered bookcase is pictured on the left)

 Nail head design implemented by hand

You can find the Thomas O’Brien upholstered bookcase & other fine furnishings by Hickory Chair here.

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

Having been in business for over 30 years now, IBB has designed quite a diverse range of projects for our clients.  Today’s Sneak Peek Saturday is a look inside of a private jet we designed for a client.  From the fabrics & the finishes to the custom seating for 12 passengers, we had a blast creating this space designed for style in the sky.  Take a peek…

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!