Crate and Barrel Sketch

So I know I told you in a previous post about the Crate & Barrel chair I designed for the Designer Custom Challenge. This challenge was so much fun- whether I win or not- it was a blast designing my very own chair! The chair I selected was the Essex Chair which is a Lee Industries frame sold at Crate & Barrel. beautiful!

Then I went on the Lee website and into Crate and Barrel and selected my fabrics....my inspiration was to design a chair for a Ladies Library. Imagine a powerhouse, female CEO. Libraries are typically designed with dark woods, leathers and menswear patterns. I decided to give that a little twist with some stripes, hounds tooth and florals...

Then I came home, broke out the old colored pencils and got to sketching...this was my final design....

It might be hard to tell from the sketch but the seat is done in a light ticking stripe, the back seat cushion is a light neutral floral and the back and base of the seat is done in a khaki hounds-tooth fabric. I think they announce winners this month so we'll see what happens! The best part is that anyone can really design their own chair by visiting Crate & Barrel and selecting from their gorgeous frames and fabrics!

Articles, contests and FREE design book!

Hope you all had a nice weekend! It was very exciting for me- I was featured in the LivingHere section of the Journal News as I had shared on Friday. It looks like the link I shared doesn't include the entire article unless you subscribe. Sorry about that...I'll see if I can get the entire text to share! Thanks for all your support and kind comments!

(This is not my design...this was the Contest ad....)

I also had the treat of designing my own chair for the Crate & Barrel Designer Custom Challenge. Crate & Barrel called on their design professionals to select one of their chair frames, work with their fabric selection and design their own custom chair. Entries are due today so I am going to wait to share my sketch until tomorrow but here is a little teaser of the beautiful fabrics I selected:

Sorry for the blurry photos and the shadows...I was trying to be discreet in Crate & Barrel! Anyway, wish me luck!

One other thing I just had to share today was a great Amazon book, "How to Design Your Perfect Interior" . It is available for FREE to download from April 15-19th. I highly recommend you download it!

It was written by Gail Dolby, founder of Design Success University and it educates consumers on important factors involved in starting a design project. It also highlights the value of working with a designer. Definitely worth the download!

By the way- it says it is a Kindle Edition but you can still read it on your Ipad or computer- just download the FREE Kindle app. I just learned that! Happy Reading!

Homestyling101 to appear in LivingHere section of The Journal News

Happy Weekend! Hoping that the sun is finding you this weekend...and hoping it shows its face in NY! I am tired of this dreary weather!

On another happy note- I am so excited to share that I will be appearing in this weekend's edition of the LivingHere section in The Journal News, the newspaper covering Westchester, Putnam and Rockland Counties. Here is the online version of the article. Read it HERE.

Thanks to all the wonderful editors at the Journal News, (especially Karen Croke) who were such a delight to work with! Also a big thanks to Frank from CST Creations who allowed me to use his beautiful showroom for my photo shoot! Anyone looking to re-do a kitchen should be sure to stop in there- the selection is stunning and Frank is a pleasure to work with!

New Client...New Master Bedroom

One of my favorite rooms in the house to design is the Master Bedroom. The furniture layout is usually fairly standard and very straight forward. While other rooms in the house may have multiple functions- the main function of the bedroom is to relax and rejuvenate.

Here are few of my tips for a sumptuous bedroom: 

Tip #1: Focus on mixing textiles. And choose fabrics that feel good! I love to mix fabrics such as linens, velvets, cottons and wools. I love working with a monochromatic palette(one color...although can be multiple shades of one color!) mixed with whites, creams, beiges, blacks and browns depending on the room. This keeps things simple and less complicated for the eye...creating an overall soothing effect.

Here I am loving the monochromatic shades in mixed fabrics such as silks...crushed velvets....crisp cotton....yum!

Contemporary Bedroom by London Interior Designer Alexander James Interiors

Tip #2: Focus on light control and window treatments! Window treatments in the bedroom are crucial! You absolutely need to focus on light control in this room over any other. Spend a little extra to get the black-out liner on drapes, panels or roman shades. Choose wooden blinds with no holes so the light can't sneak in...these upgrades are all worth the good night's sleep!

Have multiple light sources around the room and add a dimmer to that overhead light! This is very important as your are winding down to sleep- the light will stimulate you so have a bedside lamp, dimmers or sconces so the light can slowly be turned down as you prepare for a dreamy night of slumber.

Traditional Bedroom by Newport Beach Home Builders Spinnaker Development

Tip #3: Keep the family photos to a minimum! This one is not a hard design rule but I like to follow this rule. It may seem silly but lots of little eyes looking at you is hardly relaxing. Maybe one or two photos is fine but I wouldn't do a gallery wall in my bedroom or clutter up the dresser with lots of photos. Think minimal...if you have a gaping empty wall space that calls out for something to be hung- hang mirrors or a piece of soothing artwork....

Eclectic Bedroom by Atlanta Photographer Erica George Dines Photography

Tip #4: Control the Clutter! No one can relax with unpaid bills, newspapers, piles of laundry or daunting paperwork laying around the bedroom. Keep the clutter to a minimum....the floors are clear, the tabletops are clear and your mind will be clear for a relaxing night of sleep. Doesn't this photo make you feel relaxed already? Love it!

Traditional Bedroom by Greenville Interior Designer Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home

Ok, after writing this post- I think I am going back to bed!