Make Room for Baby

A SUPER DAY AT THE MARKET!

I am the typical grocery shopper who unloads the cart and passes the time perusing the magazines. With the rain pouring down, I was so thankful for that marketing genius who came up with selling magazines next to the checkout line. Even better,it was the beginning of the month!  Scanning the covers,  Southern Accents  seemed familiar. I knew this house.  One of my favorite jobs with Designer Juan Montoya was this one featured on the cover! 

Juan Montoya and his team out of New York have done several homes here in South Florida and it has been my pleasure to work with them on the draperies, pillows and bedding.  His eye for design and interpreting the clients needs are an amazing experience to be a part of.

We have just completed another job together and he has his second book coming out in the fall.

These are just a few of the photos from the article in Southern Accents July09.  Notice the special pleating on the drapes.  Not the typical pinch pleat, these were sewn with a large pocket, shirred loosely on buckram, then stitching a small pleat to secure the drapery pins, since we used a rod and rings.  I love taking the usual and turning it into the unusual.  When we get the work completed, we all sigh, smile and are very pleased!

The kitchen area is a dream come true for a family with children.  Can you imagine how nice it would be to do 'homework' on that table?  Open to the patio, it overlooks the inlet and the pool. 

One of the details specified were the special ties on the kitchen chair cushions.  I used grosgrain ribbon and wrapped the legs.

The bay window posed a few challenges in doing a double treatment of interlined silk drapes with the sheers behind and motorized.  When choosing window treatments, there are so many questions to consider.  With a double treatment, it takes up at least 9 inches for the track and drapes.  That can block a doorway on the side wall.  When you open the curtains, how far are they going to 'stack' on the window and block the view?  Would it be better to do a shade for the black out and side panels? Practicality does not always win! Because we love Beautiful!

Razzle Dazzle to Lavender Ice

BOOK    COLORS FOR YOUR HOME

I recently attended the HOUSE BEAUTIFUL COLOR INSTITUTE at the DCOTA.  What a wonderful experience..  I am so grateful for the internet at this moment, because I will give you the links rather than trying to share my notes!  

Stephen Drucker, the Editor in Chief for House Beautiful showed up with a purple tie, Mystical Grape #2071-30 to be exact!  Purple is a color that definitely brings charm and humor while looking at black and white pictures of the first editions of House Beautiful, just teasing... Mr. Drucker did a fine job of entertaining as he shared the history of design and color. 

Our keynote speaker, designer Jeffrey Bilhuber, was a delight, like lemon Drops #2019-50 from Benjamin Moore.  His point being, color is emotion, as in yellow brings delight, red feels like romance and passion.  Color is also pattern, such as gingham on the walls and curtains.  Be sure to look for his new book with Rizzoli, Defining Luxury, The Qualities of Life at Home. He painted a colorful picture of the challenge in naming new paint colors.  

Visit paint with ben for some fun with words and color. For serious planning, check out the Virtual Fan Deck for the latest in all the colors. Expect to spend some time playing!

Go with confidence.  Pick out the colors that you love, see what jumps out first, and work from there. If you are starting with fabric, look on the edge of it for the little color blocks, the least of these can be the wall color.  

 Make Room for Baby is for the Creative, Unique, One of a Kind, Have some Fun, DO WHAT YOU LOVE, and enjoy the trip... making your own bumper, designing your baby's room.

Quoting Jeffrey Bilhuber, "a decorator's job is to take you to new places". I want to take you to new places that also give you a rewarding experience.  Let's step out in confidence and do what we love, in color, style, and theme, creatively saving while we do!