You can read all about the studio here, on Windsor’s blog!  Enjoy the eye candy!

{Ro Sham Beaux Lighting}

I had SUCH a great time in High Point, the highlight being to hang out in person with fellow MG’s Julia, Jill, Emily, and our Material Boy/Mascot/Biggest Cheerleader, Nathan.  It was a whirlwind trip, but so, so, so much fun and I hope to go back at least once a year!  Here are a few of my favorite things I saw…

A fun new discovery was the Phillips Scott Collection, I ended up ordering this chest above (for me) in the dark stain finish.

Oly Studio didn’t disappoint.  Everything is so clean, cool, and perfect.

Visual Comfort was a treat, especially seeing Aerin Lauder’s collection in person.  I can’t wait until photos are finally released of it.  Let’s just say I have my eye on SEVERAL things I must own.  I love this new Thomas O’Brien Chandelier.  I also ran into friend, Paloma working it and she was nice enough to introduce me and my partner in crime, Meg to Aerin Lauder herself.  Major Moment.

Julian Chichester was a visual treat, and wonderful to see some things I’ve specified in person.  A client ended up ordering that gold buffet – SWOON.

I loved seeing a great mix at Tara Shaw Maison.  Really, really great stuff!

I think all the MG’s enjoyed giving their tours at The Suites at Market Square.  The Suites are SUCH a great venue, I spent so much time there discovering new vendors.  It was awesome!  If you are a designer, you should really try to make it to High Point – totally worth the Business Trip!  Happy Weekend!

After treating myself to a vintage Hermes scarf at Round Top (Happy early Birthday to me), I am obsessed with all things orange.  But I don’t want cheesy orange, I want old world orange.  I think traditional bones are the key to pulling off this color.  I of course LOVE Hermes orange, but lately I’ve been completely obssesed to color matching fabrics to the label on a Veuve Clicquot bottle!  I also love the idea of the bold orange paired with powder blue and indigo.

Oh, I met Aerin in High Point…no big deal!  We’re BFF now, she liked my necklace!  Seriously, she is the DEFINITION of effortless chic, which sadly, to pull off, is not effortless at all!  Love her!

Here’s my spin on it…a little Michael S. Smith for Jasper, a little Windsor Smith, and a dash of leopard!

I’m thrilled to announce that Material Girl Bloggers, Emily (Dallas), Julia (Chicago), Jill (LA), and  me (Lauren, Houston) will be hosting curated tours of our favorite showrooms at the Suites at Market Square this coming High Point Market!  We will be showing off our favorite finds on all three floors, so if you plan to be in High Point please sign up!  We would love to meet you!   You can register here.

Here’s the schedule:

Emily’s Tour:  Monday, April 22nd at 9:00 am

Lauren’s Tour: Monday, April 22nd at 10:00 am

Jill’s Tour: Monday, April 22nd at 11:00 am

Julia’s Tour: Tuesday, April 23rd at 9:30 am

Space on the tour is limited so register today!

{Design by Renea Abbott}

 I’m obsessed with bedding.  I change my bedding at minimum every two years.  I definitely have my preferred way to make a bed and make mine every day.  This is a new habit developed  in the past year, but it sure makes our sometimes (always) messy bedroom feel a little bit more tidy!  We plan on moving to a new house this summer, and designing our Master Bedroom is the first thing on my agenda!  I have definitely had bedding on the mind…How do you make your bed?

{Source anyone??}  I love this soft look and die for a long bolster.  Definitely planning to add one to our bedroom.

{Above two designs by Urban Grace Interiors}

The above two designs done by Erika of Urban Grace Interiors best reflect how I like my bedding.  I absolutely love these two spaces, the top one was in the Coastal Living Showhome and the bottom is a client of Erika’s.

{Source??}

{Design by Melanie Turner}

{Design by Amber Interiors}

{Source??}

{Meg Braff}

 {Source??}

{Source??}

{Source??}

{Source??}

{Mark Sikes}

{Fabric Pretties at Lee Jofa, Atlanta- they hosted one of our Parties}

I had the great privilege of traveling to Atlanta, Georgia a couple of weeks ago to attend the 2nd ever Design Camp put on by hilarious Interior Designers/Partners-in-Crime, Kelli Ellis & Lori Dennis.  I was invited by Paloma of La Dolce Vita and pretty quickly and enthusiastically said, “yes” even though I was a little nervous and *maybe* skeptical.  I thought, if nothing else, it will be great for networking and meeting people!  Although I consider myself pretty outgoing, networking is not my most favorite thing to do…so going to Design Camp was definitely pushing me out of my comfort zone.

I will be sharing my experience from the perspective of an Interior Designer with my own business.  I’ve been to a lot of seminars/conferences where I’ve felt like it’s a lot of “fluff” and not much meat.  What Interior Designers REALLY want to talk about is business, systems, job management, and making money!  Kimberley Seldon who not only runs a successful design firm but also Business of Design was my favorite speaker.  Her candid talk about how all the business mistakes she made ultimately prompted her to meet with a business coach, which in turn enabled her to put her business practices in two books and now seminars was so encouraging.  I now plan on signing up for her online courses, because this was exactly what my business needed.

My second favorite session was by the ultimate Southern Gentleman, Barry Dixon.  Literally everything he said was quotable.  He manages somehow to be incredibly eloquent without a bit of pretension.  He really sees himself serving the house and the client.  A rarity in the world of egomaniac Interior Designers!

Design Camp is not only a place for inspiration but a place to meet like minded and open Designers, Bloggers, and Creatives looking to give their business and edge all while meeting fun and awesome people from all over the country!  For two other viewpoints check out these posts by Paloma and Ryan.  Sign up for the Seattle Design Camp here!

**My apologies for lack of photos, having an issue with uploading from my computer!  Will add photos later if I can get the problem resolved.

{BEFORE}

The girls at Marie Flanigan Interiors know I’m a sucker for a great “Before & After” and sent over this beautiful chair transformation.   Here’s what they had to say…

“A Taylor Lake couple enlisted our help as they set out to update their lakeside home.  The bulk of the project consisted of transforming a Master Suite and two guest suites from an outdated aesthetic to one that is fresh, serene, and designed with spa-like comfort in mind.  We promise home transformation photos will come later.  For now, enjoy the remarkable makeover of this charming guest room chair.”

Warning: You may immediately find yourself fighting the urge to pack up and hit the road in search of a coastal abode with a chair like this to curl up in!

{AFTER}

I think it is a stunning transformation and what an adorable pooch!  Thanks again to Marie Flanigan Interiors for sharing this with us!

I had the honor of appearing on the Live Well Network discussing what to do with all those blank walls in your home. To view the segment check it out here.

Blank walls really are a very pesky decorating dilemma.  Being the art hoarder that I am, my place is a little overrun with “gallery” or “salon” style walls.

My current obsession is extra large pieces of art.  In the Live Well segment, I show off a huge vacation photograph my client blew up to hang on her wall.  I love when the photography and art isn’t matchy-matchy AND when it’s personal.  I know it takes a bit more effort to buy or create “real” art but I truly believe it gives a home its soul.  Nothing sucks the life out of a perfectly decorated space than  mass produced art.  Sorry, that’s one of my soap boxes!

The above to images of Aerin Lauder’s new offices are EVERYTHING.  I absolutely love the artwork she has selected.

Love the large photograph in the apartment of Pierre Frey’s (of the famed fabric house – he is the Grandson of its namesake) Parisian apartment.

Love Ruthie Sommers’ combo of gallery wall AND large scale photograph.

One of my all time examples of a huge photograph over a sofa.  Blow up those vacation photos and enjoy living with what you put on your walls!

I wanted to share a few furniture “before and after’s” from one of my projects.  It’s always a plus when a client has a few pieces you can reupholster that are the right scale.  Sometimes they just need to be totally re-imagined.  The pair of chairs above used to look like this…    I had the channel tufting removed and slipcovered them in Java Java by China Seas.   They were the perfect size for this nook in their Master Bedroom.

The client’s existing chaise lounge totally transformed in my FAVORITE pattern by Galbraith & Paul.

In their Living Room, I added a clean waterfall skirt and slipped the chair in a tan and white small stripe.

(Please excuse my un-staged iPhone pics)

I hope you’ve enjoyed a fun twist on Furniture Friday!  Have a great Holiday weekend!

{The “Before” Photo of the Living Room -hello, cute pooch!}

Today’s Furniture Friday is courtesy of Marie Flanigan Interiors.  They sent over this great multi-room “before and after,” I just had to share.

The home is located in the great Memorial area in Houston.  The homeowners asked Marie and her team to transform their Kitchen and Sitting Room.   Instead of starting from scratch, the team opted to reinvent many of their existing furnishings.  Radiating a mix of French style and contemporary features, the updated rooms impress with clean, neutral color palettes and a hint of the dramatic.

What a stunning after shot!

The client’s elegant sofa and club chairs were re-purposed in the Sitting Room transformation.  Accent pillows with geometric shapes and traditional ikat patterns were incorporated to add a bit of frisky to the soothing, classic furnishings, while a lucite coffee table and coordinating lamps add a bit of glamour to the room’s antique French design.

I especially love what they did with the existing built-ins.  By removing the shelves on either side of the armoire, and adding antique mirror on the back walls, they were able to completely re-invent this piece without a lot of construction or remodeling.  Such a clever solution!  Getting the “bones” or architecture correct in your space can truly make all the difference!

The finishing touches – an inlaid bone tray (love, love, love this) with books and rock crystal candle holders, hold court next to an antique brass magnifying mirror on a stand, and a bold pop of purple.

{Kitchen – Before}

{Kitchen – After}

Nearly all the existing Kitchen cabinetry was saved and painted in a soft gray hue.  This was handsomely accented by a fresh new beveled-edged, white ceramic backsplash (a personal favorite of mine).

Custom grey and white drapery, reupholstered dining chairs, and a French antique chandelier unite the look for a space that can functionally feed ravenous teenagers while also appealing to Mom and Dad’s distinctive sense of style.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this special Furniture Friday.  I’m a sucker for a great B & A!  Thanks again to Marie Flanigan Interiors for submitting this project!

Vendors used: Area, Design House, Hien Lam, Joyce Horn Antiques, Memorial Antiques & Interiors, and Vieux.