Relationships and Design

I am so fortunate to have such great clients that have developed into wonderful relationships. This is the third home that I have designed for my client over the past 10 years. I wanted to share some of my thoughts about this latest project.

We began with the floor plan, and planning our space that allowed for family time as well as private time. This new mountain lake house requires many design considerations. Beautiful fabrics and leathers that are also kid and pet friendly is a good place to start.

The resources that we have available at our fingers tips at Furnitureland South made the task at hand fun and easy. Having only two days to pull the bulk of the project together, my client and I were on a mission. We selected the casegood pieces first, then onto the upholstery.

At Furnitureland South we see new products that are introduced at the High Point Furniture Market. Many times Furnitureland South will purchase entire showrooms, allowing for those new introductions to hit our floor sooner than other furniture retailers. 

                            

We both fell in love with the new collection from Artitalia called Cotone'. The finishes that Cotone' uses are fabulous. The ceruse technique combined with the zinc top is beautiful. Handcrafted in Italy with wonderful attention to detail and scale. We did a custom 66" diameter Dining Room table with a 5" border and a zinc center. It is going to be Awesome !

Please share your thoughts and Comments !

Missy Loves Design

Shades of Gray

                

I saw this wonderful old building painted in this color combination.  I started thinking about Gray and what colors really make Gray pop. First you have to understand that Gray has three undertones. The undertone are either Green, Blue or Purple.

Green Gray

A wonderful Green Gray that reads like a neutral is Benjamin Moore, Edgecomb Gray HC-173. It is wonderful with Creamy Whites and Citron. Thinking about  Calcutta Gold Marble. Another  beautiful Green Gray is Benjamin Moore Pashmina # AF-199; which looks like ancient stone.

Blue Gray

One of my favorite Blue Grays is Benjamin Moore  Gray Owl # 2137- 60 and Farrow and Ball Light Blue 22. Farrow and Ball  Light Blue 22 looks fabulous with pink, rose, corals and red.  Mercury Glass, Zinc, and Carrera Marble works with this palette as well.

Purple Gray

For more of a Purple Gray Benjamin Moore has some wonderful moody deep colors in their Affinity Colors, # AF-585, # AF-590 and # AF-620. These colors can work well with pale grays, periwinkle, soft white and deep gray brown. Two other  soft colors are the Benjamin Moore Horizon # 1478 and Cement Gray # 2112-60,  both look fabulous with the Driftwood finishes that we are seeing on case goods right now. Pinks, blues and lavender will also work with these colors.

This building may be old but the colors are certainly up to date!

What is your favorite gray ?

Timeless Charleston Iron

I wanted to share this beautiful piece of iron work that I saw in Charleston, SC.  I am always amazed at the beauty and the attention to detail that has lasted the test of time. Clearly what was "in" during  the 1800's is still very current for today. There is something to be said for "Timeless Design". We all get caught up in the latest trends of today, which is great because it keeps us current. However, staying grounded in timeless design, creating a new twist on traditional will keep us as designers in a the game for many years to come. Some of my favorite inspiration comes from Hickory Chair, Suzanne Kasler, Thomas O'Brien. They took 18th century and made it fresh. 

Please visit my blog at Furniturland South and my facebook design page Missy Loves Design 

I would love your comments and thoughts.

Go Retro "It's Back"

Love this Mid Century Modern Hermes Leather Settee that is in the entrance of a home in Big Sur. Fabulous color and the custom Tibetan rug adds just the right amount of color. Understated elegance.

                            

This is a 1950's Retro Dining Table and Chairs that was used in the Guest House. The art, the fabrics, the wall color and the light fixture creates a perfect retreat. 

Great Retro chair for the Guest Room, updated with a fun fabric and a custom rug. The Mid Century Modern pieces creates a Fresh, Modern Appeal with, with a bit of Whimsical Style.

Here are some great resources for the Retro look Bellini Imports, East End Imports, Theodore Alexander the Keno Brothers.

I would love to get your comments and thoughts about "Retro".

"Help" for the Master Bedroom Retreat

"Help I don't know what I am doing", that was in the subject line of the Blackberry e-mail from my client along with a photo with various paint samples on the wall. My client, like many young professionals with hectic schedules, decided to get help with their master bedroom project. They had purchased a home on Lake Michigan and wanted to update the master and make it an "Intimate Master Retreat".

I explained that we needed to develop a plan to move froward and understand all elements required to make the right decisions. We would need a floor plan, photos of the existing space and any ideas they had about what they wanted for the end result. My client sent me several photos and a hand drawn room layout that gave me the information to do a scaled floor plan. The more information I can consider for a project, the better the end results. A great tool that I am now using is a customer e-design gallery that we can post photos and share information online; it works great for clients on the go. Great communications makes for great design and I keep everything related to their project for any future reference or additions.

My Clients told me that they wanted a Century Furniture fabric headboard and wanted the space to have a calm and soothing feeling. The headboard gave me a great place to start. We began by selecting the fabric for the headboard,which gave me the palate to select all the colors for the project. Next, I found the bedside chest from Lillian August for Hickory White. They were perfect, with a wonderful honed Carrera Marble top.

The walls are Benjamin Moore, Edgecomb Gray (HC-173) and the trim is Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace (OC-65).  My client was hesitate about painting the trim, and I said "Trust me on this." The color combination gave my clients the calm soothing feeling they wanted.

I developed a rendering for the project. This gave my clients the visual they needed to see the completed room. I will be posting more photos once all of the pieces are in place. Everyone will have to keep following my blog to see the final "Intimate Master Retreat" on Lake Michigan.

Please contact me if you have any questions, thoughts or comments, I would appreciate your comments very much. You can contact me through my blog links or at Furnitureland South.

I would love to read your comments !

Inspirations for the "Baltimore Project"

See my inspirations for a fun new project for a client in Baltimore. Working at Furnitureland South located in High Point, NC gives me great resources, design inspiration and easy access. We see it first! 

It all started with a lamp

Add the fabric and you are off to a great start

This Vanguard chair from the Michael Weiss collection. We will do white leather

Bungalow 5 fun place for inspiration

A pair white lacquered chest for the bedside

Grey and Citron colors

Fun Pillows from Ryan Studio

Trend setting colors at Global Views and other fun stuff

First Day of the High Point Market

                                          Nothing but Smiles for the High Point Market