One Room Challenge: Colors + Fabrics

Choosing fabrics and colors for my #OneRoomChallenge office makeover has been pretty simple (although clearing the clutter to empty the space has proved to be far more difficult – I am so very behind in this part of the process!)

Once the space has been cleaned out and freshly painted (see the Sherwin Williams paint swatches that I am considering below) I will be incorporating a set of drapery panels made out of the vintage fabric pictured above into my room, most likely to frame an open closet from which I had previously removed the sliding doors. I am still using the closet to hang my dress clothes, but I would love to make this area work as a place to organize all the bits and pieces of my creative life. The panels are from a design show space that I put together back in 2010. I have been saving them ever since, and they truly bring me joy when I see them (but I am not feeling so happy seeing them folded up and not in use!) I will have to add some fabric to the overall length, however, since they are a little short for where I want to hang them. I am thinking a band of solid color on the bottom will do the trick. 

One of the first steps in “tidying-up” according to the KonMari method, is to pick up each item in your home and either keep it because it brings joy or thank it for its service and then get rid of it. I have managed to remove a bunch of stuff from my office (thank you very much), but I am not doing so well at getting it out of the house. I seriously have issues with letting go. But what can you do if many of your personal belongings are of sentimental value? Just take a look at the design show space that I called a Designers Before + After – where the vintage fabric drapes originated – and you will see actual memorabilia from my childhood used to style the room. I still have ALL of it. Some of it may resurface in my new office.

Colors I am considering ...

Inspiration photo from Nancy Meyers Instagram feed

showing the set design for The Intern

Pinboard from my space designed for the

North Shore Design Show 2010

End note: In case you were wondering if I won the trip to Paris via the Legrand Best Before + After Contest, I sadly did not. But I am still loving my new bathroom and oh so fabulous switches!

My apologies for such a short update, but I obviously still have a lot of work to do over here! Follow the other One Room Challenge participants by visiting the Calling it Home blog. Some of them have been getting it done!!

Guest Participants Week 3

Sponsored Participants Week 3

Spotting trends at The BDC

Classic zebra patterns in the Scalamandre showroom on display

during the Boston Design Center luxury open house: The Look.

Last week I took a field trip to the Boston Design Center to catch up on the latest interior design trends as presented by BDC Vice President and General Manager, Julie Rogowski, as well as via the well dressed showrooms throughout the building. At the entryway of the first seminar “Trends 2013” we were handed complimentary Mimosa cocktails served on silver platters. I could tell that this was going to be a good day at work!

We took our seats in the crowded fifth floor seminar room, eager to hear from Julie what colors and design directions are predicted for 2013. Her lively narration entertained us while a storyboard of designer eye-candy played in the background. See the Trends 2013 report here. But first, let me show you who and what I saw at the Boston Design Center that embodied the forecasted trends.

Above is a photo from the Scalamandre showroom. Classic patterns, like their zebra wallpaper circa 1930 have been reinterpreted in new colorways and treatments – as shown it is in a silver metallic grasscloth. The spindle chair is another design classic. Upholstered in a bold zebra print graced with a pop of color accent pillow in Mellow Yellow (another predicted design trend) this vignette is a great example of what we will be seeing in upcoming issues of our favorite shelter magazines. 

With Barbara Baratz of Venegas and Company, Lucy Dearborn of

Lucia Lighting, and designer Sarah Lalone of Sarah Lalone Design  

As we know, interior design and fashion design go hand in hand. Above, we see the same sunny Mellow Yellow paired with white and black worn on Barbara Baratz of Venegas and Company. I had to capture this photo with my Passport to Design partner, Lucy Dearborn (who is wearing True Blue – also on the color chart for next year), as the Venegas showroom sparkles with fixtures from her North Shore based design destination Lucia Lighting. The twin large scale orbs hanging above the island in the picture are the cousins of the chandi she lent me for my Modern Family Mudroom vignette featured at the North Shore Design Show last spring.

Read the post I wrote for New England Home Magazine

that included this dazzling light fixture seen at The Bright Group.

Dramatic lighting is one of those design tricks that truly makes a room beyond ordinary. In the showroom above, we see how a pair of lamps in bold orange (still an on-trend color choice, especially rosy-hued versions) are the perfect counterpoint to a neutral palette. Mushrooms, creams, and caramels – or “Tea Party” colors – will maintain a strong presence in 2013.  

From the North Shore: Lisa Kawski of LMK Interiors,

Juli MacDonald of Green Bridge Architects,

Linda Hentschel of iDesign Interior Design Solutions,

 and Nancy Faye Glass of Glass House Designs

Standing in front of The Martin Group showroom, these North Shore designers are wearing colors straight from the trends report: a bit of mushroom, coral, blue and teal, along with forecasted Neo Geo patterns. Lisa, on the far left, will be presenting one of her kitchen design projects in this Saturday’s Wenham Museum Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour.

Floral patterns are also trending, as is glass tile. These shots were taken in the new 342 Designers Club. This much needed addition to the BDC will provide designers with a stylish and relaxing area to sit with their clients to discuss their projects over a cup of coffee or a bite to eat. We popped in to connect with some of the design bloggers that we knew who were tweeting, meeting and greeting as part of the days Social Media Lounge (see the list here). 

Design blogger and former Rue editor Cassandra LaValle

with Julieann Covino of  Jace Interiors and Create Girl

I had never met Cassandra of Coco + Kelley and Rue Magazine in person before – she has a lot of amazing design happenings going on in her world. Check out her super stylish lifestyle blog. 

Stacy Kuntstel of New England Home Magazine,

with Cassandra and Julieann in Designers Club 342

And speaking of super stylish, Stacy Kuntstel was also tweeting in the Social Media Lounge along with presenting her magazine editor styling tips during the lunch and learn portion of the day. While she claims she is not a designer (she spends her days staging photo shoots and creating candelabras) I am pretty sure that any room that she even casually decorates looks like it should be in a magazine.  

With Stacy and Eric Haydel of EMH Design Inc.

Last spring Stacy was the honorary chair of the Wenham Museum North Shore Design Show (see candids from the preview party here). While in the lounge, we also ran into Eric Haydel, another Wenham Museum alum. His fabulous space was just featured in the fall version of the ASID newsletter.

Don’t you just love the striped carpet in the Designers Club? That’s right, stripes in all widths and colors are also trending!

The carpet in this Webster and Company showroom vignette has a similar striped look, but in a classic animal print. Combined with a feminine color palette, floral wall paper and Tea Party neutrals this space was soft, yet warm and elegant. That’s a lot of trends working the same room, yet together they look flawless.

Throughout the day, showrooms provided a unique mix of bits and sips. I passed on the jelly beans at Venegas and Company, but enjoyed a couple of the pineapple martinis being served by Del Frisco mixologist Paul McAvoy. They were quite refreshing. Linda thought so, too.  

Designers Katherine Hawkins and Rosanne Palazola

Another trend to look out for was dubbed Femme Fatale. These fine fabrics on display at the Duralee showroom are a great example of the combination of boldly feminine colors paired with prints in elegant finishes.   

Linda with a piece from the fashion collection of Marilyn Riseman  

While black as a wardrobe choice is always on-trend with the design crowd, I also noted a repetition of gold accents in the crowd (Mellow Yellow), geometric patterns and that brilliant teal blue which pretty much looks fabulous on everyone.

Stephanie Sabbe of Sabbe Design (a guest blogger)

with designer Michelle Cortizo of Cortizo Interiors

(a recent contributor to New England Finery Magazine)

With designer Vani Sayeed who is the principal designer for the

recently opened Boston Magazine Design Home 2012. She also

shared her style tips in the last issue of New England Finery.

With Gail Ravgiala, editor of Design New England Magazine

Even the flower arrangements were on trend:

Mellow Yellow, Seeing Red, True Blue

Say it With Flowers: whether on a fabric, or in real life, flowers are always in style. Referencing their natural colorways is a great way to orchestrate a design scheme.

geometrics + bold stripes + true blue + burnt orange = perfection

While I was at the BDC, I was looking for some inspiration for the Designer Bath showroom. Our brand colors are gray, orange and occasionally blue. I just may have to use this tile-like wallpaper in our storefront windows ... 

  

Artist Susan Siefert of MadPatter Design with Linda Hentschel.

See the Chalk it Up piece she painted for Linda in this post and more

of her work in my recent post for New England Home Magazine.

If one chandelier is good, half a dozen is better.

We had a wonderful time enjoying the luxury open house at the BDC. If only every day at work could be so sparkly!

{Boston Design Center 2013 Trends Report}

36 photos: North Shore Design Show 2012

with Cindy Barry, manager of Circle Furniture in Danvers

One of my favorite parts of participating in a design show is collaborating with others to bring my vision for the space to life. This year, I was fortunate to have a number of North Shore area businesses partner with me to create “A Modern Family Mudroom.” Cindy Barry of Circle Furniture accommodated all of my design requests when I visited the Danvers location. Circle has so many pieces that would work in a mudroom ... from the cushioned bench to sit on, to the six-cubby storage unit (on wheels), to the small step stool with long handle (perfect for holding a backpack), to the black metal table with industrial looking crank ... I truly wanted to take each and every item home. And I can’t forget the gorgeous peacock print that set the mood and color palette for my vignette. Everyone loved it! 

photo credit: Michael J. Lee Photography

wall construction: Howell Custom Building Group

Accessorizing the space involved a few trips to Home Goods and Target along with searching through my personal collection of props-on-hand and life-with-kids artifacts. When faced with a blank wall over the cubby unit, I decided this would be a great place to effortlessly gather those bits of paper that arrive in the mail or come home in the kids backpacks (think permission slips, artwork, invitations, etc.) to the saving-in-case-I-need-them-contact-numbers found on business cards and brochures. The artful install involved some kitchen twine, clothes pins and eye hooks. Couldn’t be easier, and it ends up being much more interesting to look at than a standard bulletin board. Plus I really wanted the mosaic tiled chalkboard on the other side of the room to be the main focal point combined with the honed black granite farmhouse sink and the amazing chandelier from Lucia Lighting hanging front and center. The living terrariums showed off the inspiring functionality of this space which was designed to help organize life’s everyday moments while providing room to create.

photo credit: Michael J. Lee Photography

terrariums: Laura Thomson Design

wool carpet runner: Landry and Arcari

Stone Forest granite sink: Designer Bath

Runtal radiator panel: Designer Bath

dish towels: Turkish Towel Company

mosaic tiled chalkboard: Tile by Design

sconces + chandelier: Lucia Lighting

furnishings: Circle Furniture

skateboard: Eastern Boarder

with Lucy Dearborn of Lucia Lighting, interior designer Sue Adams,

Beezee Honan of Designer Bath and Salem Plumbing Supply

I have been working with Sue and Beezee on the logistics team for the upcoming Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity Home Builders Blitz taking place next week in Lawrence (Designer Bath is donating fixtures from American Standard). Lucy Dearborn is also on the list of Blitz sponsors along with being my go-to-person whenever I need to illuminate a room. 

with Jason Sevinor of Designer Bath and Salem Plumbing Supply

Owners Ralph and Jason Sevinor of Designer Bath were happy to see the Stone Forest potting sink get so much attention outside of the showroom. Designers and visitors all commented on its natural beauty and charm. If you want to see it in person, it is now back at its 97 River Street location in Beverly. Stop in or call to make an appointment (there is so much more to see with several new displays including collections from Kallista, Duravit and more being built as I write this post!)

Being able to showcase North Shore design-related businesses at the Wenham Museum Design Show this year was a lot of fun for me. Equally enjoyable was spending time with visitors, answering their questions, and meeting the other designers. Here are my promised photos from the week-long event. 

with my sister Linda 

with my dad Charles

with interior designers Rosanne Palazola and Katherine Hawkins

Same pose on two different days ...

with Suzanne Roche and Ashley Drinkwater of Northshore Magazine

a little boy who stopped by to check things out

interior designer Eric M. Haydel also checking things out

Eric in his gorgeous space: A Gentleman’s Library

with Wenham Musuem marketing director, Mary Barthelmes

in a space designed by Carpenter and MacNeille

Their space featured a 90th birthday celebration

(in honor of the museum’s 90th anniversary)

Artists and shop owners of Nightingale Arts of Salem

Interesting fact: I used to work for Marie Barron (far right) one summer when I was in college! She owned MVP Sports and I worked as a graphic designer on their weekly sales fliers. We were neighbors at the show - small design world!

I especially loved her painted windows combined with fabrics.

Camille Garro Interiors (Evie and Camille)

with Lawrence Perna, furniture maker

Pillows from Landry and Arcari, mantel and furnishings Lawrence Perna

Timeless Interiors tree house inspired space with hanging terrarium orbs

Designer Mary ONeill’s tranquil seaglass-colored summer cottage guest room

Tack room by Finn-Martens Design with an amazing antler chandelier

Honey Collins Interiors: cool blue walls, striking patterns, citrus infused

Very cool chevron floor painted by Zoe Design, table by Oomph

Designer, and ASID President-elect, Mary Beth Haggerty’s ode to My Fair Lady

An impeccable space designed by Jenn Sanborn of Sacris Design

Walsingham Gallery of Newburyport featuring North Shore art and artists 

A charming niche by John Kelsey and Sally Wilson

Two vignettes out of one: Wilson Kelsey Design 

read about the transformation of this room here

 

Director of the Wenham Museum, Lindsay Diehl

Thank you to the dedicated staff at the Wenham Museum,

plus the volunteers and show supporters who contributed

to making this year such a success. It was a pleasure

to be a part of the show!  xoxo yvonne

(for pictures from the opening night gala event, click here)