Don’t get me wrong, we love our quirky little 1930’s house.  It has lots of charm (original doorknobs, warm wood floors, scalloped built-ins, and french doors.) It’s also fun living near White Rock lake, Mockingbird Station, Greenville and Lakewood.

This house has been a great first house for my husband and I..but let’s be honest…one bathroom, closets that only fit half a season’s worth of clothes, and a living room that doesn’t fit anything larger than an apartment sized sofa, are things that are wearing on us just a tad.

{an example of our oven}

With our lease expiration in May fast approaching, the clock has started to tick on finding a larger place.  We’re toying with the idea of buying something and I have to admit that I’ve been doing what must be typical of every interior designer (right???)- something I like to call obsessing.  I check the MLS for new listings every single day trying to find the “perfect” house in our price range. My realtor has dubbed me the “picky” client as I always seem to point out what is wrong with every single house (“oh I need a separate formal living and separate formal dining”, “is that carpet in the kitchen?”, “does this backsplash give you the heebie jeebies?”, “does the orange undertone in these wood floors bother anyone else here?”, “Zoey can’t live in a house with a detached backyard”)

Okay, okay she’s right- maybe I am picky…but I think the main problem is that I improve spaces for a living and so I am out there every single day seeing the latest and greatest so when I see the not so great, I immediately have to comment on it. Of course no house will be perfect and really, what fun would it be if it was? My husband has been dying for us to get a fixer-upper so we can work on it together these next few years.

Until then, there’s nothing wrong with dreaming of the perfect house, is there?

There are so many images on MLS that make up “my dream house” but since that 12 million dollar house on Strait Lane is a little bit of a reach for me , I thought I’d compile my favorite images of realistic houses that we’ve actually been looking at into a virtual “dream home” for ya’ll to see- enjoy!

Hollywood Heights, Santa Monica, M Streets or Lakewood? I’d be overjoyed to live in any of these East Dallas neighborhoods. You don’t get a lot of space for your money, but because I die over those Tudor exteriors, I’d gladly give up square footage for curbside appeal with one of these cottage cuties-

An updated kitchen can be hard to come by for the right price in this neighborhood, but I managed to find a few white kitchens that I’d be happy to bake my cookies in (and I look forward to joining the rest of the world with a modern oven and dishwasher- woo hoo!)

I love a formal living room.  I know it’s not really practical this day and age, but I think I’ll always want to have one.  It’s the one room where you don’t have to feel guilty about purchasing unique vintage chairs that are on the smaller side, delicate mirrored coffee tables and clean lined, dainty tight back skirted sofas. This room can be all about PRETTY.  If your husband is anything like mine, he doesn’t care what goes in this room, as long as he has a “man cave” or a comfortable den, so this room truly becomes whatever you want it to be- bliss!

Of course, a family room is important too, but unfortunately most of these smaller houses in East Dallas only have one living area, so in this case, I’m loving how these homeowners mixed the formal with the informal to satisfy both parties in the family.

Arched doorways, painted wood fireplaces, and crown moulding give these houses architectural interest and extra detail.

My husband came across this listing the other day and said that he wants this exact room as his “man cave”- I can deal with that!

In general, I love me some dark wood floors, white trim and gray (or off white) walls!

I’m a nut for a clean and updated looking bathroom.  You can see that this homeowner was on top of the ball when he chose to use white marble in this guest bath.  I always say that every space needs a touch of black- he must have thought so too!

White subway tile is a very affordable way to give a bathroom an instant makeover.  Normally you see white cabinets with white subway, but I like how this homeowner went against the norm and stained his cabinets a deep brown. It warms up the small space nicely-

This room was done by the homeowner, who is an interior designer (can’t you tell)?  Most bedrooms I stumble across on the MLS in our price range aren’t this put together.  Notice the custom cut sisal around the perimeter of the room, custom window treatments and upholstered headboard. You can tell that this homeowner is with it.  Perhaps if we buy this one, he’d consider throwing in the sunburst mirror for free?

And I almost forgot about storage!  Since our house is bursting at the seams currently because of no storage space, I’d add some extra built-ins to our make believe house like the below-

Since this is a dream, I suppose I’ll add on this indoor side porch too.  It makes such a cute sitting area-

Of course, the backyard is very important too.  Even though our house is tiny, we have a great backyard with a deck (it’s probably larger than our house) so I know that is one of the things that we will miss. Here are some other views from the back porch of my pretend East Dallas home, that I wouldn’t mind waking up to every day-

And while we are at it, let’s throw in a guest-house for EJ Interiors to office out of-

Well I suppose it’s time for me to wake up from my house dream and get back to reality. Until next time!

Not only do I love the look of Flor, but also several of my projects, my own home, and now my own dogs (as part of the set) have been featured in their campaigns.  We actually have a shoot later this week with the FLOR Photography Crew at the home of one of my clients-sans dog models. And, one of my oldest daughter’s roomies was the model in their latest catalogue.  She had a blast at the shoot with our Wheaten Terriers, Jane and Frankie, but stole the show!

FLOR is a great solution for affordable, custom sized carpeting, and the broad selection is amazing.  The look of Flor trends toward modern with basics to suit any decor style.  I have the “Fine Feathers” pattern installed inside my offices. Having worked closely with Chip and Cynthia over the years, it was so much fun to “peek” into their home. It comes as no surprise that the home of this creative director in suburban, family-friendly Elmhurst would have a very midcentury look…I love it!

The look of Flor…

What an charming 1940’s ranch home.

Dying over this orange couch.

Love the original stove and oversized chalk board…perfect for a home with creative little ones.

Fabulous onyx entry table.

Such a fun room for the little guys.

I could get some serious R&R in this patio area…

Please visit the Chicago Home + Garden site for more images of this amazing home and much more!

Occasionally it’s refreshing to see interiors that are airy, light, and bright. While dark colors can be exciting and dramatic, lighter colors tend to be more soothing. Often times, clients request warm colors for the sake of having some richness to their rooms. Yet, this past week I did a paint color consultation for a client’s new home where we went with “barely there colors” – paint colors almost devoid of anything but a hint of color.  Sometimes it’s nice to “lighten up!”

{image via Hometown Girl}

Tone on tone, whites and creams.

Benjamin Moore Elmira White HC-84

{image via Pinterest}

A crisp white, bright entry!

Benjamin Moore Decorator White 1-04

{image via Home-Styling}

Light with a subtle hint of pink.

Benjamin Moore Mirage White 2116-70

{image via House & Home}

Cool blues and grays.

Benjamin Moore Wales Gray 1585

{image via Pinterest}

Off-whites and grays.

Benjamin Moore Owl Gray 2137-60

{image via Pinterest}

Cabinets painted in greige with a soft white contrast.

Benjamin Moore Ozark Shadow AC-26

{image via Pinterest}

A tone on tone affect with a hint of warmth.

Benjamin Moore Lancaster Whitewash HC-174

{*for E., for giving me the great quote}

The beautiful, handmade pieces in their new collection reflect the company’s passion for quality design, and we couldn’t be more impressed! Boasting 60 brand-new styles, the collection continues to focus on fanciful mirrors yet also includes their first headboard and nightstand designs. Whether you’re looking to re-vamp an entire room or find that one unusual piece to complete a space, the looks at Made Goods are sure to stand out and make a statement!

Some of our favorites: (it was hard to choose!)

Celeste Mirror

Catherine Drum Chandelier

Benjamin Table

Florence Mirrors

Gavin Headboard

For those of you in NYC, stop by Made Good’s new collection launch from January 28- February 1 at Pier 94 Booth 45020-23.

Since last week’s, “Furniture Friday,” was more luxury oriented, I thought I’d share an great, inexpensive online source for Parson’s Chairs, Carrington Court Direct.  I have used them with COM fabric and it turned out great!

Here is a look inside what we have been up to…

Hotel Plaza Athenee…our amazing hotel!  So Paris chic.  Lavish glam to the max! The Gallerie and Night Club were elegant and happening.  The Dior Spa and Fitness Center was one of my favorite haunts during my stay. Fitness was much sought out after foie gras intake daily.

Beautiful nighttime at our lovely hotel with the twinkling lights of the Tour Eiffel in the background. There is an ice skating rink in the courtyard of the hotel with children skating daily to the tunes of french music.

Restaurant Le Jules Verne at the Eifel Tower

Hands down the best meal and views of our stay in Paris.  I highly recommend for lunch, sipping champagne of course!

Clignancourt Flea Market…I was like a kid in a candy store even though I have visited many times….

My client and I trying to wrangle best prices while amusing the crowd

Vanves Flea Market…another endless world of treasures!

The main attraction of our trip, Maison & Objet Home Fashion Showcase.  Five days of the most amazing home furnishings and decor in the world!  What is it about Paris that makes everything so oo-la-la?

Check out these chairs…j’adore!

Some exhibitors and me in the Hall of Garden and Home Furnishing’s………..

A few little treats from Laduree to end the perfect day in our hotel …These are mostly gifts I swear!

This past week I was researching inspiration for closets and built-ins for a client project that currently requires renovating two bedrooms. The closets in both rooms may be visible to the room itself, so the most ideal way to make them presentable is to make them look good! That means built-in drawers and cabinetry, nice hardware and lighting, and other decorative elements to create a stylish closet space.

{image via Tumblr}

An attic space turned closet with gold and metallic accents, wallpapered ceilings.

{image via Pinterest}

Small and narrow, but every inch accounted for.

{image via Elle Decor}

Everything is neatly concealed behind paneled doors, with a stunning entry door.

{image via Pinterest}

A full length mirror makes a narrow space appear larger.

{image via Conspicuous Style}

A dramatic high gloss black painted dressing room.

Developed by noted sports chiropractor Dr. Mary Collings, the luxurious “Dr. Mary Side Sleeper” is designed to relieve shoulder and neck tension, and the “Jetsetter” pillow is perfect for comfort on the go.

Aliza told MG that she’ll catch some zzz’s with her new pillows in her favorite room of her new home- the master bedroom! The sleek pillows- recently featured in the Wall Street Journal- will fit perfectly in her white and grey bedroom, which mixes traditional elegance with hotel contemporary. Enjoy, Aliza!

Dr. Mary Side Sleeper Pillow

Jetsetter Pillow

Lorin Marsh is a furniture and accessories showroom that’s been in business since 1975.  It’s represented locally in Houston by David Sutherland.  I’ve picked my favorite pieces that fit my aesthetic  more, “cleaned-up feminime,” but they really have a range.  These products are definitely “high-end,” but it shows.  I’m off to face the swarming crowds (not my favorite thing) at Dallas Market – hoping to see Emily at some point!

We covered Newport, Laguna, LA and San Diego in a short amount of time.  It was an adventure to say the least!  Of course, it couldn’t all be about sand, waves and water.  I had to incorporate some aspect of design on my trip to keep it interesting and to slowly but surely educate my husband (which he loves of course!)

We stayed at Pelican Hill in Newport for a few days and the views around this place were breathtaking- Paloma wasn’t kidding!

It was a little bit more traditional than the hotels Ben and I normally stay at, but it was really beautiful and super cozy nonetheless!

During the days, we ventured out to Balboa Island (where I met Jill!) and Laguna Beach. There was the most adorable home shop in Laguna called Tuvalu.  It had lots of items with familiar names such as Currey, Arteriors and Palecek.

We then took a day trip to LA with my entire family (we should have known nine people in a limo bus on an all day tour was a recipe for disaster) but hey, that’s how the Johnstons roll. It’s not a family vacation if at least three people don’t get Hangry (angry because they’re hungry) or in trouble with my dad for running late.

Luckily, a beautiful drive up the coast and an amazing church made it all better.  Who wouldn’t want to get married here in California’s perfect weather?

I then had one (and only one) request of the bus driver…and that was to take me to see the infamous and mysterious Chateau.  I’ve read too many issues of Us Weekly, not to go there.  This castle on a hill is legendary in my mind and although I only saw it from the bus (because I’m not a B or C list celeb), you get this amazing slanted I phone photo…

OK, I did have one more request on the trip to LA….to see the iconic Martinique wallpaper that was made famous by the Beverly Hills Hotel and then later used by Paris Hilton and Brian Atwood/Nate Berkus.  We’ve blogged about this leafy paper before HERE. I had to beg the guy at the hotel to let me take a photo of it and luckily he obliged!  What I didn’t get a photo of were the tiny Olson twins eating next to us at the Polo Lounge five minutes prior. I don’t know what got me more excited- seeing Martinique or Michelle Tanner!

The next stop got a big roll of the eyes from the husband (well, a few stops did) but this one was the most memorable- The Beverly Wilshire hotel.  We just had to see the Pretty Woman elevator! I told Ben it’s on the list of things I have to see before I die, so that helped convince him.  As we walked up to the hotel, I heard my twenty two year old brother mutter- “What’s Pretty Woman?”

Oh geez- the adventure continues!

“Well color me happy, there’s a sofa in here for two!”

So now that Ben is almost convinced this is a complete girls’s trip…I reassure him of this by heading over to the Viceroy Santa Monica to stay the night and gawk over KW’s design.

The colorful California Viceroy was a complete departure from Wearstler’s more neutral design in Anguilla.  With bold kelly green and graphic black and white accents, this hotel was definitely more bold and vivacious.  It’s no surprise that Saturday night here by the pool is “bumpin” (per Trip Advisor).

This is a great blend of old and new

Perfect contrast between the table and chairs

A beautiful airy room in Malibu

A modern square is the perfect table to include everyone in the same conversation

Light and bright by the sea

Traditional with a twist of modern

A smaller, city friendly scene

Wow, things have really changed since I had my children.  Take a look at these pictures from Beyonce’s maternity suite.  It looks more like a luxury hotel than a hospital room.  The diva gave birth to baby Blue Ivy (as I’m sure you know because this news has been everywhere) at Lennox Hill Hospital in NYC, and clearly no expenses were spared.

Ok, ok…I guess this isn’t the norm.  But if this is the precedent Beyonce has set, expectant moms might be asking for the diva hospital treatment too! What do you expectant Mom’s think of these digs??? Pretty posh,no?

Photos courtesy of TMZ.

The Hotel Bel Air (located here in Los Angeles) recently reopened after undergoing an extensive two year renovation. Interior Designer Alexandra Champalimaud was hired to recreate  a new reception and boutique, new lobby lounge, all the guestrooms, suites, & twelve hillside villas along with the spa and guest lofts. Rockwell Group was commissioned to design the dining venues, for which chef Wolfgang Puck oversees all the food and beverage operations for the hotel.  Throughout the process, insightful feedback from past guests was taken into consideration when implementing many of the hotel’s design changes. It was important to bring the hotel up to date, while retaining much of the character of the original hotel and the glamour of the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s.

The exterior facade and signage, which retains the hotel’s original buildings.

The famous round pool of the legendary Hotel Bel Air.

Outdoor dining at the newly designed Hotel Bel Air restaurant.

A hotel room suite living room (Bel-Air Suite Living Room).

A hotel room suite bedroom (Bel-Air Suite Bedroom).

A deluxe room with private patio.

For more info, visit Hotel Bel Air.

So I thought I would share a personal project…”personal” meaning my own small Living Room.  We had a kitchen fire in September (everyone was fine) and have started the process of replacing or repairing the things that were damaged.  Our white slipcovered sofa and green silk chair were trashed from water and smoke damage.

This is our old apartment but shows the “BEFORE” of the sofa…

***SOFA – BEFORE***

***SOFA AFTER***

My sofa had to basically be re-built (notice the new arms) and I made the switch from slipcover to a neutral upholstery in a linen/cotton blend.  The green chair was skirted and I added a gray cotton velvet.  I’ve been wanting to de-colorify our place for a while now, and all it needs is a punch of hot pink peonies! (side note – our coffee table is usually more “styled” but alas, the box o’ accessories is most likely in my husband’s car trunk left over from the frantic hustle pre-Sadie Bday party).

***CHAIR BEFORE***

***CHAIR BEFORE***

The green silk chair was never my favorite piece in the world (really used as a desk chair in our bedroom but in our new place the scale was better for our LR).  Silk was obviously not my first choice and not practical for dog & baby.

And chair after….

***AFTER***

Skirted in a gray cotton velvet that changes color as the day goes on.

Here’s another “AFTER” of the same chair.  My Mom also had a pair, so we had them re-done in a punchy coral and added a box-pleat skirt.  These are the head chairs at their Dining Room Table.  Just waiting for the go-ahead on aqua/chartreuse wallpaper and silk turquoise drapes!

I hoped you enjoyed this FF.  It is always extremely nerve racking for me to share personal projects but I love it when others do, so why not??

{image via Elle Decor}

There is something about a white kitchen that screams “classic, clean, and timeless.” While it may not be an appropriate look for every home it is often a request for many of my clients. With the right mix of finishes, there are a lot of variations on the classic white kitchen.

{image via La Dolce Vita}

The bright accents of yellow make this otherwise all white kitchen fun!

{Hicks Pendant by Thomas O’Brien, available through Circa Lighting}

Globe pendants are stunning above a kitchen island!

{image via Birch & Lily}

Black countertops are a great contrast to white Shaker style cabinets.

Absolute Noir from CaesarStone.

{image via My Paradissi}

Can’t quite give this kitchen credit for being all white, but it still remains classic as being black and white – and I love it!

{Carrara Keystone, available through Waterworks}

A Carrra backsplash is undeniably classic.

{image via Pinterest}

Varying from traditional Carrara marble countertops is this more unique stone, Biano Macabus Quartize – stunning! (Read about it here)

{image via Pinterest}

A more modern classic white kitchen, always looks sharp when paired with stainless steel appliances.

Subzero-Wolf stainless integrated wine cooler.

{image via Flickr}

A warm wood flooring, contrasting countertops, and bronze hardware give this all white kitchen characteristic (& the beadboard wall of the pantry too!)

Pulls from Restoration Hardware.

{image via Decor Pad}

Mixing countertop materials, such as in this kitchen with a butcher block island creates visual interest.

Butcher block countertops, available at Lumber Liquidators.

{image via Apartment Therapy}

Last but not least, if you are going to play it safe with classic white cabinets – why not go a bit dramatic with the floors!

(Which can be achieved through staining, read here for the how to.)

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

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!