Kravet's Ronald McDonald House of Long Island

I first heard about the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island project last year when I attended BlogFest2013. BlogFest was sponsored by Kravet, one of my most favorite fabric houses. I even had the great pleasure of sitting right next to David Kravet during lunch and then touring "behind-the-scenes" at Kravet following the hoopla of BlogFest. David Kravet told me all about their collaboration with the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, which happens to be just miles away from where I grew up.

As if I weren't a huge Kravet fan already, their level of empathy and philanthropy is overwhelming. Here are some of the rooms that were completed in Phase I of the project with the help of 30 designers. Now they are moving on to Phase II. I threw my name in the ring to work on the project. We'll see what happens- these designers certainly set the bar high!

Michael Herold

 

Amanda Nisbet

Tarasoff Interiors

Drew McGukin

Mehditash Design

Kate Singer

 

Mr. Call Designs

Eric Cohler

 Which is your favorite? 
My mind is spinning with all the wonderful Kravet fabrics I would use in a Ronald McDonald room if I am selected to participate!

Sarah Richardson at Kravet

What do you get when you combine two of my favorite powerhouses? One very happy designer.....and that is because Kravet now carries a fabric line designed by one of my absolute faves (a best friend in my head) Sarah Richardson!

 

Sarah Richardson

You TV junkies may recognize her from Design Inc or Sarah's House on HGTV. I love her down-to-earth approach to design. She makes the design process seem very approachable without down-playing the value of a professional designer. And she is absolutely gifted at working with color and mixing patterns.

When I was at BlogFest 2013 a few months ago, I had the privilege of touring the Kravet offices and I had a little sneak peek at the Sarah Richardson line.....I practically broke a sweat with excitement and grilled the Kravet peeps about the behind-the-scenes deets on Ms. Richardson....word around the office is that she is super sweet and a true pleasure to work with. Glad to hear her reputation didn't disappoint!

And here are some of the fabrics available at Kravet! If you are interested in any of these fabrics, Homestyling101 can get them for you!

Brookhaven


Hazelwood


 
Highpoint





Cottingham

Thank you Sarah for these wonderful fabrics...I already ordered my samples for an upcoming project!

BlogFest 2013: Day 1

So on Monday and Tuesday I had the pleasure of attending BlogFest2013- a conference of Interior Design Bloggers brought together for some fun, learning, networking, touring, lots of laughs (and some food and drinks...and gifts!). Over the next few posts I will share all the wonderful things I took away from this whirlwind of a time!

The first day started bright and early with an opportunity to tour the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse privately with the other bloggers (sans the public!). The Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse has been around since 1973 when it was started to benefit the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club after school programs for NYC kids. It was such a treat and truly inspiring! I took some pictures but the professional ones on the Kips Bay site are much better so here are a few teasers compliments of Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse site:

This dining room was probably one of my favorite spaces. It had laquered blue walls, yellow-ochre curtains, a deconstructed metal buffet and the one gem you can't see in this photo....a gold-leaf wallpapered ceiling that was hand-painted over. I COULD DIE! It was amazing! And the designer was in the room to greet us and she was so lovely. Kudos to Kristen McGinnis- you killed it! 

 

 Dining Room by Kristen McGinnis

 I believe this room below is the Lounge Suite by Garcia/Maldonado, Inc. It was such a gorgeous and serene sitting area. I loved the unique color combination...so pretty!

Garcia Maldonado Lounge

Here is the Master Suite compliments of one of my favorite designers, Kathryn Ireland. It was a beautiful combination of antiques and her always unique play on patterns and colors.

Master Suite by Kathryn Ireland

AMAZING Laquered powder room on the main floor.....love the play of two-toned turquoise and gold!

Foyer/Powder Room by Andrew Suvalsky Designs

I have to say- the outdoor areas in this Decorators House were unbelievable...each one more enticing than the next. I don't have a photo of the sitting area on the first floor but it was serene and sophisticated done by Nievera Williams Design....and then take a look at this....imagine bathing right outside in NYC! The fifth floor terraces featured amazing work by West Chin Architects & Interior Designers.

Fifth Floor Terrace by West Chin Architects

We were also treated to a lovely breakfast compliments of Doodle Home in this amazingly sophisticated yet rustic kitchen by Christopher Peacock. The wood can't be appreciated in the photos but those cabinets and the hardware were just divine. And Doodle Home had the most delicious breakfast set up for us to start off the day. For those readers who are designers- definitely check out Doodle Home- it is the wave of the future in how you will run your business and purchasing!

Kitchen by Christopher Peacock

After touring the beautiful Kips Bay, we headed on buses over to the Hearst offices which sit high up in NYC for a festive lunch and speaker time! Ok, you've been reading long enough...I think you've earned something....how about some HGTV goodness?

HGTV was so generous in offering the bloggers at BlogFest and our readers a 69% discount on a subscription! Just visit subscribe.hgtvmag.com - I am already a subscription but make sure you visit to be able to get your own monthly treat in your mailbox! Stay tuned for the next post on the HGTV lunch and the hilarious speakers.....

Favorite Fabric...thank you Kravet!

I have a boatload of fabric samples in my design library. I source some when I go to the D&D building in NYC and others while I scope out the fabric houses on my computer. These samples are on loan but sometimes a fabric is just soo good that it seeps into multiple design plans....here is one I'm digging right now:

Kravet's DotKat....in six different colorways and one is better than the next!

 I first spied this pattern in Silversage for accent pillows in a den. I love pillows with small pattern repeat to offset a larger scale pattern or solid pillow.

Then I spotted Dotkat in Mineral and I'm working it into my monochromatic gray master bedroom, also as an accent pillow- three euros across the king bed...divine!

Since this pattern was working out so well for me thus far, I even proposed it to a client for a seat cushion on an entryway bench in this yummy color Straw. I think it's going to get a yes!

I am totally dying for this color- Peony for my daughter's room- it is young and fun but can grow up with her to be quite sophisticated!

And the remaining colors of DotKat are River and Glade....I'm sure they'll be sneaking into my projects soon!

Then low and behold- one of my all time favorite designers, Sarah Richardson, used Dotkat Mineral in a kitchen design! (Thank you, Pinterest...just type in any fabric or paint and you can see how it has been used!) Look at those kitchen stools- so pretty!

Source: decorpad.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Source: hookedonhouses.net via Joanne on Pinterest

DotKat is by Kravet- one of my favorite fabric houses. It is part of their Echo Home collection and is sold through the trade. If you are interested in working DotKat into your design- contact us at homestyling101@yahoo.com for more info!