Chevron!

SNEAK PEEK: The chairs have arrived! So excited about these chevron printed chairs from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (MGBW). Absolutely lovely!

All the Beautiful Things...

I spent yesterday looking for the perfect navy upholstery velvet which eventually led me to The Washington Design Center located in Southwest Washington, DC. For me visiting the Design Center is always a treat. I just love it there. There are so many amazing showrooms displaying the latest and most beautiful goods and fabrics from all over the world.  I don't visit nearly as often as I would like because there seems to be a common notion amongst my clients that the Design Center is an extremely expensive place for luxury home goods.  And while this can be the case, it is not solely the case.  In quite a few instances, I have found it much less expensive to buy a sofa and have it upholstered in a fabric of your choosing than what it would cost to buy the same sofa from a local furniture store. And when you stop to think about about it, who wouldn't prefer a less expensive custom product versus one that is more expensive and mass produced? Hmm.

For some, The Washington Design Center is a secret treasure chest of goodies and for a designer, the Design Center is a place ripe with inspiration.  I didn't have much time to revel in that inspiration (only an hours worth of change for the meter) so I could only visit a few of my favorites (Duralee, Niermann Weeks and Holly Hunt).  Here are a few shots I captured of some of the beautiful things...

Tiebacks from Duralee.

Solid wood chair from Holly Hunt.

Saturn chandelier from Holly Hunt.

Lucite coffee table from Niermann Weeks.

Lucite and glass end table from Niermann Weeks.

Mixed Messages

New project. Fabrics. Very excited!

Wallter Circles

I am loving these Wallter Wall Art appliques by Linda Geiser and Max Geiser.  They are wood based and primed for painting.  So many cool things you could do with these, here are a few ideas spotted on Design Public.

Wallter Circles Large $42
Wallter Circles Small $42

Clearly Lucite

I spent the morning searching for the perfect lucite bar cart and wound up feeling very a day late and a dollar short as everything was either sold out or overpriced but I did stumble upon this beautiful dining room.  Love!

Designed by Tamara Kaye-Honey

Preston Bailey

A close friend posted a link on Twitter to Preston Bailey's blog earlier this week and I took a moment to read it.  Needless to say, I was both moved and impressed not only by the blog but by Mr. Bailey's extensive (and beautiful!) work in the event planning arena.  I've copied the post here for you to read.  I think we should all take our hats off to Mr. Bailey for this one. 
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Don’t Let Fear Hold You Back



January 04, 2012

In my work, I meet and talk to lots of different people. One thing that comes up again and again is how difficult and humbling design work is. Being a designer is hard; it’s hard on the mind and the spirit. After all, every time you design something, you’re putting a piece of yourself out there to be judged by the world. That’s some frightening stuff. So frightening in fact that some talented designers are never able to move past it. They spend their entire careers held back by fear.


But it doesn’t have to turn out like that. Remember, it all begins with the design process. Do I love designing? Well, I know I love eating dessert! And I certainly love spending time with my partner. I love waking up at a the beach and going for a long run, too. I love lots of things. But designing? Well… maybe.


The thing about designing is that it speaks right to your ego. Designing makes me feel exposed. Part of designing is making yourself vulnerable, and that means that sometimes you’re going to have to face those dreadful feelings of self-doubt. It’s one thing to design for yourself, but most of us spend our days designing for clients. Clients judge our work. They’re supposed to. But that’s what makes us vulnerable. We’re at the whim of someone’s else preferences. You want the client to love your design and, therefore, love you, too.


I think that’s one reason I always give my clients multiple options. I also know that my goal is NOT to be a great designer but rather an effective designer. When I give my clients two or three strong options, I know I am increasing my effectiveness. I like thinking in terms of effective, because it keeps me from focusing on the selfish desire to be the greatest and best. It’s better for me and my clients if I let effectiveness drive me.


Okay, well, now the more I think about designing the more I realize that I do love it. Forget the maybe: I LOVE DESIGNING. I love the challenge of it, and I love surprising a jaded client, who’s done and seen it all. I even like all the bad designs I’ve created over the last thirty years. It’s like mining for gold: you have to dig through a lot of dirt and mud to find that one shiny nugget.


I truly believe that all of us have a divine creative light just waiting to break out and shine. The trick is not letting your ego or a fear of failure stand in your way.


Dear Readers, has fear ever held you back? How did you move past it? Do you have a word or a phrase, like effective, that you use to center and focus your work? What is it? Please share.
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Live Colorfully!

Yesterday, I spent some time on Houzz and I stumbled across these two spaces by two different designers and I fell in love with both.  Both completely represent the Kate Spade catch phrase "Live Colorfully".  Do you agree?  Why or why not?

Photo Courtesy of Houzz.com.
Interior Design by Gina Willman

Photo courtesy of Houzz.com. 
Interior Design by Michelle Salz-Smith