Meet my friend Paul

So for months now my friend Paul Pagano has been saying he needs to start a blog.

He did it!

Kudos to Paul. Please encourage him by visiting his site -- click here -- and leave a comment.

Paul is an interior designer of the Ty Pennington variety, very hands-on projects involving creative construction, destruction, re purposing, painting and unique finishes. His faux concrete counter tops are his own unique invention and I am sure you'll see them on his blog soon.

Paul's background is strong in vintage restoration projects, but his heart is a mix of mid-century modern and vintage. His unique, fun style is featured at the Crestwood Plaza (see above photo) where he shares a space with like minded artist and furniture repurposer (my word) Elizabeth Maxson.

Paul and I partner on some jobs. He is currently doing a commissioned painting for my clients and I'll share that soon.

I love featuring design collaborations and I am so proud of my friend Paul.

my tree & me

Check out my tree & me for contemporary family history charts. I have been looking for something like this for a long time. I think I'll get the above "Birds of a Feather" print.

Every home should have a family tree, do you agree?

I found this resource on design*sponge.

Rate Me on Rate My Space

I am having fun reading comments to my portfolio at Rate My Space (RMS). It's a great online community and place to bounce off ideas and gain feedback to your work.

If you are not a part of it, you might consider. It doesn't' matter if your space is a work-of-art or a work-in-progress. The community supports your efforts. It's like having designers and neighbors at your fingertips giving you feedback and encouragement.

Top-rated right now is the remodeled kitchen I did for Annette and John in Ladue, Missouri. I have posted a photo above...see more by viewing the slide show at Rate My Space, click here.

Super Cool Skateboard Room -- Ashley Furniture

I am always on the look out for ways people have used Ashley Furniture in their homes.

Here is the I-Zone youth loft bed in a skateboard-themed room. Super cool!

I found this example at Rate-My-Space. Click here to see more photos. Super cool mom explains how she designed it.

The brick wall is actually wallpaper.

designHop this Tuesday

Amy Larson is having the designHop club over this Tuesday -- October 27th -- to tackle her decorating dilemma. What to do with blank dining room walls?

Amy says:

"I am reupholstering the chairs this weekend, and hanging the rod and sheers, so the pictures show a very bare room. As you can see, the furniture is definitely retro. I love the retro style, but I also want to put a modern twist on it. I was even thinking about a texture (maybe tiles--kind of like ceiling tiles--of some sort) on one wall in white. I just don't know. That is why I need everyone's ideas! I am buying a lot of accessories for us to consider and then will take back what we don't use. I'm so excited! Thanks again, Dana."

Amy just got her groovy furniture from T.F.A. (Tomorrows Future Antiques) -- a St.Louis favorite for mid-century modern.

We plan to paint patterns on the wall and each member of the group has been asked to bring any paints and brushes to share. Everyone has been given homework to research mid-century designs and bring their favorites found in magazines, books or online.

Amy is partial to hexagons as seen in her dining chair fabric (above)

The meeting's agenda: 1) We will talk pattern and study the retro designs each person brings to the meeting. 2) Then we'll get to work on that blank wall and anything else Amy wants.

We are meeting at 7 p.m. If you live in the St. Louis area and would like to join the group, please leave a comment with your contact information or call me at 314-276-1129.

Stay tuned...I will post the reveal!

I am in love with Marimekko

I am having a hard time deciding which Marimekko bedding I want to inspire my bedroom.

Help me decide and tell me your favorite. I could take any of them. Bright, bold, graphic...it's me!

When given the full range of the crayon box and permission to let go...I can do wild and fun. It's just happy.

I have two places I want to visit in New York: Marimekko concept store and the MOMA.

Book me a ticket!

Katherine's Zen inspired family room

Katherine Bish, photographer, has been taking a whole lot of photos for my updated website (reveal coming soon). Katherine is not only my friend and photographer, but she is also a client. This is her family room.



The room BEFORE -- above -- a basic box. We painted the mantel white so it would contrast with the dark marble surround and pull together with the punches of white in the room.
My favorite element in the room is the area rug. Who says an Asian room has to have an Asian rug? We chose a contemporary rug.



The circles remind me of the Japanese word Enso, meaning circle, a concept associated with Zen and symbolizes Enlightenment.

Cozy at home give-away -- pot holders in Heather Bailey fabric

My dear friend Elizabeth has opened an Etsy shop.

Yippee!

To celebrate she has a giveaway going on. Visit her site -- click here -- to win these darling pot holders made from Heather Bailey's fabric.

Happy Birthday to Whitney and my blog!

Happy Birthday to Whitney Johnson, Dare-to-Dreamer who dared me to start this blog two years ago. Wow, time flies and I really didn't think I'd stick with it. But here I am in bloggerland and contemplating twittering and other social media. Yikes.

This blog was Whitney's birthday present, but I think the present has really been for me.

Here is what I have gained from blogging:

1) An opportunity to develop my design voice.
2) Ability to share my design voice with the media.
3) New friends and networks.
4) Confidence that I can indeed manage technology.
5) Improved writing skills.
6) A way to look back, a journal for keeping design notes.
7) An active way to share my portfolio, beyond my website.
8) Joy in sharing.

...and probably a whole lot more. I never imagined all these things would happen.

Thank you Whitney!

Please help me celebrate by visiting Whitney's blog -- Dare to Dream -- and tell her your dream.

Painting Crisp Lines

Here is a little trick I learned to keep paint from bleeding through your tape.

Candlestick find in Melissa's home

Today I helped Melissa put the final touches on her room. We accessorized with items found around her home. I pulled this cool looking pea green candlestick she had hidden.

Melissa asked if I knew what it was made from. No clue.

Look close and see if you can tell.

Look closer. Does the shape resemble anything you know?

Clue: If you have a baby, you might get it.

Do you see it?

Baby food jars. Yep, those are baby food jars. Clever, clever.

Melissa's mother-in-law made this candlestick back in the 60s. Retro and green all in one.

I don't have the instructions, but I am pretty sure it involves gluing the jars together. The bottom and tops are plates that felt like metal. The whole thing was painted and must have several layers of polyurethane because there was not a chip or scratch on the thing.

The baby food candle stick looks right at home amongst the turned-wood variety.

Melissa's new mantel with our final touches -- all found objects from around her home. Melissa joked that she's been decorating this room for ten years, that's how long she's been married and collecting things.

My favorite among her things?

The baby food jar candlestick.