Why Not?: Stores/Resources

Showing posts with label Stores/Resources. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Interest in Pinterest

Every now and then there is something I get really attached to. First, it was an addiction to magazines and shelter magazines like High Gloss. Later it became my ipod...followed by my iphone...and the migration to my husband ipad. Lately I found another thing that's quite addicting. Pinterest!

Image from pinterest

The pinterest website

Pinterest is a website featuring an online catalog of awesome images. It allows you catalog the things you love. People use it to plan their weddings, store potential additions their wardrobe, organize recipes...and for people like me - inspiration for interior design!

Check out this room design pinned by a pinterest fan.

Before I met shelter mags and Pinterest, I had (and still do) hanging files by room with inspiring images and tear sheets I've collected. Over time, I developed online files by room that I save pics into from favorite shelter mags and blogs. And now with Pinterest, I now have an online site to save them off too!

A room by Mary McDonald, one of my fav designers that I can search on, pined by a pinterest friend.

Another room I will "pin" in my file. Love the contrasting paper in the shelving.

With Pinterest I can store not only images of rooms I love, but can also pin architectural drawings, fabric samples, paint, floorplans, furniture and even design books people have recommended.

A design book I can pin to my board and remind me to purchase it down the road...

an interesting floorplan from another pinterest fan..

artwork that has tons of potential in the right room...

or fabric for pillows that would make the room pop...

or paint samples of the perfect color...

and piece of furniture I could potentially use for a client.

Best put by this pin, pinterest has ton of potential!

The options are endless. So take a peek for yourself and setup your pinterest account. And don't respond to this blog and tell me you are addicted...I warned you!

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Art on Etsy

This week in the Wall Street Journal (stay with me here and quit yawning...) there was an article about art and it's impact on the world. What might surprise you is that this article just briefly touched on the monetary value of art and spent most of the page talking about the impact on human lives. This is the beauty of art. It can bring a certain lively quality to spark your home's appeal.

Although it varies amongst clients, one thing holds true for these little pieces of heaven: it packs a punch in a home! Whether it is a child's homemade art work or a wildly expensive professional piece, art provides a wonderful way to enliven our otherwise dreary dwellings. "So, Carla, where do I start with this art buying thing?"

The answer is really quite simple. There are oodles of store out there that cater to the art novice. Various retail shops like ZGallerie, Crate & Barrel and Horchow all provide excellent beginning options while galleries offer a chance to discover a new artist. Heck, there are even luxury establishments where one can purchase world-class collectables at outrageous prices. (In the WSJ piece that I mentioned earlier, a Salvador Dali painting went for $20 million this year as opposed to the previous years prices of only $5 million...amazing...)

In other words, what I am trying to say is that there is no one place that one should purchase their artwork. For the Moss family and for most of America, the option to plop down $20 mil on a canvas by some old guy is not even on the radar. This is why one of my go-to sites is the world of Etsy. Take a visit but be savvy- there is some junk out there too. Buyer beware. Below are some of my favorites from Etsy.

Nicole Cohen has a bright, bold modern touch to her work.

Janet Hill exudes delicate and feminine.

Animals that remind me of artist Charlie Harper by United Thread

Sapphire Wind by youmin

Textured "Blossom Tree" using a palette knife by Modern House Art

And perfect for summer "Sherbet Summer Love" by Erin Ashley

In addition to the artwork variety that is available, Etsy also has fabulous pillows and accessories as well. You might want to set your phone alarm to keep you on track during your visit! Browse to your heart's content, knowing that others will be paying a lot more than you are at the Sotheby's auction to add that special touch to their homes.

happy bidding-
C

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Welcome Crate and Barrel

I was starting to get depressed for North Dallas. First it was Restoration Hardware pulling out of Stonebriar Center, then Williams Sonoma Home leaving the Shops of Legacy and now Robb & Stucky in the process of closing its doors. What gives for the home market up in these parts?

Well never fear, a fresh face is on the scene. Last Friday Crate and Barrel opened its doors in Willow Bend Mall in Plano! The new 25,000 square-foot store is next to the recently opened children's play area between Neiman Marcus and Macy's on the Park Boulevard side. It also has an exterior entrance too, making the carrying out process very easy. For those of you in North Dallas who received a welcome card in your mail, you receive 15% off the entire store.

Here are a few cool things I would love:

The Yates II Table Lamp. Love the solid bock of yellow marble base with a very modern square shade at $169

A who doesn't love a big fluffy white rug for the summer time? If only I didn't have two boys and a dog. It does come in other colors though.

Remy White Round Rug $89.95

This is the perfect couch for cocktails and catching up with a friend.

The Petrie Leather 86" Sofa in Fawn starting at $3,899.00

I'm a huge fan or white dishes (just ask my husband who confirms we have way too many), but they go with everything. I especially like these in the summer. I love the beachy rim and they look like they were shaped by hand.

Marin White Dinnerware starting at $29.95.

These spin style hurricanes are really nice and have some awesome texture. I can envision some sand or a nice candle in them.

Spin Hurricanes at $24.94 and $34.96

And last but not least, something decorative that I won't get upset for my puppy chewing on...

A Set of 4 Roe Ball Dog Toys for $19.80.

So hurry in to the new C&B in Plano....especially if you are in the mood for a sale. Now through March 31st you will also find the 15% off slipcovered Upholstery Sale. See you there!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Online Interior Design Magazines

Many of you know that one of my all time favorite things to do in my down time is read design magazines. Paper or electronic. I get so many ideas from them and enjoy saving those inspirational ideas for later use. Loads of clippings laden my already overflowing file cabinets -- all sorted by room, of course. However, an interesting trend has emerged in the last few years for me and that is the growth of the images that I am saving on my computer. Some of my images come from other blogs but mostly they come from reading interior design magazines online. Magazines have gone digital. We are not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

Even though I am as much old school as any person in my circle of friends, the one trend that I have caught onto is e-zines. And apparently, I am not in the minority. According to emarketer.com, the number of people switching to online magazines is taking it's toll on the traditional magazine market. In 2009, emarketer.com is quoted as saying "The shift in print advertising revenues to other media, particularly the Internet, will continue to thin the ranks of publications, and 2009 will be a year of survival for only the fittest publishers." And so it was...at least according to my computer image growth. That being said, I am thrilled to be sharing some publications that have emerged from the dust to take top priority in my e-zine reading.

HIGH GLOSS
Just released in January, High Gloss is written by two outstanding contributors in cyberspace. Paloma is the blogger of La Dolce Vita and has combined talents with fellow blogger Kyle Knight of Knight Moves to create this little jewel. You will not be disappointed. Glamourous rooms along with insightful articles on design, travel and entertaining all grace the inside of this sparkling gem. One look at the inaugural cover and the reader is captivated. Bravo!

Check out the premier issue here

RUE
Another top pick is Rue in which Crystal Gentielelo of Plush Palate and Anne Sage of The City Sage join forces to create this dazzling plethora of genius ideas. Published bi-monthly (who could possibly use all those ideas in one month only...) this e-zine features home decor as well as fashion. Perfect combination for those of us with limited time to check out both separately.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Art and my design job

I couldn't be happier with my job at Marco French Studio. We are gearing up to design a house in lovely Palm Springs. Marco, my boss and design master of 20 plus years, is headed out on their private jet to assess the situation while we get to drool over the pictures back at the studio.

In preparation for the new project, I forwarded Coco+kelley's timely blog to Marco. It features artist James Nares's creative work. I thought one of his painting could be an option for the condo.

He creates his pieces by suspending himself over a canvas in a selfmade harness. Amazing.

Searching for artwork has become a favorite part of the job for me. Marco often finds great pieces or artist and then forwards them on to his assistants to gather the details on. I get the joy of visiting several art studios in search of the perfect piece. I return with photographs, dimensions, pricing and then work on contacting our professional to schedule it being professional hung.

Where have I been headed to find these amazing pieces? Well, the design district of course. Here is a quick sampling.

Holly Johnson has a great gallery and often contain very large pieces. We have considered some of David Aylsworth pieces for a recent project.

David Aylsworth piece "I'm 41"

Another place I frequent is Conduit Gallery. About a month ago, we had a small area needing some artwork. As took some pictures in and two of the wonderful women there pulled out pieces they thought would work. We had a great time holding them up while I photographed the ones that might work. We eventually found a great piece.

Susan Barnett is one of their featured artist. Here is a picture of Permeable and Impermeable Boundarids II and III, 2010. Gouache on paper and is 30.5 x 44".

Craighead-Green Gallery is also another stomping grounds. I love their space because you can really take in some of their painting.

Their museum quality gallery.

I love this sculture piece from J P Long, made of steel and glass.

Thie amazing work of Miami Artist Ramond Saa captured my attention too. What detail. Created with acrylic, sumi ink and charcoal on wood. He writes, "Being from Miami originally, I am most interested in the agressive and lush plants of the tropics and these are the plants that invade the canvas. Their relationship to man as food or shelter or as a hindrance to him is also fascinating to me. I reduce the 'foliage' to a monochromatic language to dramatize the drawing (or painting) with 'light' and its negative, creating a flat image; a pattern that is very separate from its original three dimensional complexity.

Restoration Hardware previously carried this "dress" by Murphy.

As for me, I'm still in love with artist Todd Murphy who creates those amazing dress paintings. I wrote about him in a previous blog and he recently sent me a nice email stating how he enjoying reading it and that he soon would have an new website up, so stay tuned. As some of you know, I finally ordered my treasure print from Restoration Hardware. Several days later, I received a call from them that the shipment didn't meet the quality expectations. And, I was out of luck. They HAD NO MORE PAINTINGS! I was devestated...and my huge niche remains without a pieces. Perhaps I shall save up for an original.

I did recently discover another piece from my home by John Richard, called Golden Sky Giclee. It's fairly large (65 1/2" H x 49"w) and will take some time to install so I don't have any pictures of it quite yet. I found it on sale, of course, at Horchow Finale. Not only was it on sale, but I had my 40% coupon off one item, so I got it for a steal.

As you can see, art is a huge part of the design world and I can't get enough of it. I've been waiting patiently for my upcoming Art History Classes, but I 'm still treading through those entry-level drawing classes. Which explains why this blog is pretty choppy. Last night I was up past 1 AM drawing floor plans for my Space Planning final....

Until the next piece,

C

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Good-bye Williams Sonoma Home

An open letter to Williams Sonoma Home:

“Farewell Williams Sonoma Home!

I shall miss you. Your arrival at the Shops of Legacy caused my pulse to quicken quite a bit and my palms start to sweat with exhiliration. Your departure from our area doesn’t mark the end of a decorating boom in the burbs but rather leaves us with a void hard to fill. Sure. I know your goodies are available online, but what good does that do for my retail therapy? You are the reason that Benjamin Moore Shaker Beige #HC-45 graces the walls of my dining room. Your example of this beautiful color brought joy to your shoppers and even more joy to my family. So, from the bottom of my heart - thank you. When you decide that the outer midst is for you again, please think of me and smile.

Warm Regards-

Me”

The stylish Plano location is no longer.

Yes, that’s right....Our one unique cool icon in the suburbs has fled for more profitable ground, if not for good. Williams Sonoma Home is ceasing to exist in our neck of the woods and I am bummed! The only thing that literally kept me from throwing myself across the 24 foot by 24 foot sisal rug (you heard me right friends..) is the fact that everything in the store was rock bottom pricing and that’s makes me SO happy.

By the time I got there last week, things were picked over to say the least. (Or as Dr. Phil might put it “Looked like they were rode hard and put away wet.) The store was a shell. Nonetheless, I managed to discover a few goodies that I just couldn’t pass up.

The Keith desk...big time on sale.

First up on my must buys was a new office desk. High quality manufacturer Hickory Chair produces this stately piece aptly named the Keith Desk. Being that it was the floor model and being that the doors of the store were shutting in a matter of days forever, I got the desk at 60% off retail. Kill me with a feather! I was shocked. Despite the few scratches on the top of the piece, I knew that this was the one for me. Keep in mind that I have been using hubbie’s desk from college days. (no offense, sweetie...) Hubbie bought the desk when he got his MBA too many years ago to speak so it had done it’s duty. I bet Walmart never counted on that desk being around that long.... Sure, I had done the whole re-purpose thing and slathered on a coat of white paint but it was micro. I mean small - very small for my growing needs. Now that I am official switching to the Art Institute Online school, I am spending more time in my office so desk space is vital. (Quick shout out to my buddy Jen...Thanks for helping me load the beast into the Pilot at a moment’s notice. Those salespeople...that’s another story altogether).

To add a little spunk to my office, I am considering a cowhide rug to anchor the room underneath the desk. Last semester, I encouraged one of my friends (Chris) to draw a cowhide rug in his 2 point perspective class only to realize that they actually sell them at IKEA. Seriously? IKEA? Sure enough, there they were on the website. Check it out...

$199 at IKEA for a cowhide in brown or black.

On addition to bovine decorations, I would also like to add a big table lamp for one corner of my desk. Similar to the one in this photo to be precise. This past weekend, I spent some time shopping on the square in McKinney - hoping to find the lamp with the perfect shape for a great discount that I could re-fashion with some yummy paint and a new drum shade. Unfortunately, I came up empty handed but am not deterred! I will stay the course and find my lamp. McKinney or not.

To round out the desk area, it’s goodbye to swivel and hello to bamboo. Carved bamboo to be specific. My chair is similar to the red one in the picture except mine is white. This, too, is another score from an end of the season at Williams Sonoma Home a few years back. It’s likely that I will change out the seat cushion for one with more umph as too much white can start to wear on me after a while.

My desk chair...except mine is in white.

And finally, my awesome purchase of some sea fans. On sale at WSH also and such a steal at $12. They will look spectacular in some gold frames that I have hanging in the hallway looking really lonely and sparse. I am hoping to get them framed tomorrow and on the wall pronto.

To be framed sea fans...

So, it’s time to bid adieu to one of my favs and make room for something even more wonderful. It’s sad really. Seems like all my choice design shops drift away out here in the outskirts. But with that vacuum will come some good healthy competition. Horchow Finale and Inessa Stewart Antiques -- please don’t get any ideas about moving. A designer like me is not strong enough to take that type of torture.

Bon voyage-