Archive for June, 2009

Many, many thanks to the people who helped Susan and me with our Artist Studio at the Milwaukee Breast Cancer Showhouse this year.  It was a great success!

Neu’s Hardware Gallery — glass drawer pulls as drapery hardware

Glass drawer pulls as drapery hardware!

Duralee Fabrics — beautiful fabrics
New Threads — fabulous draperies

Jane from New Threads

Janet from New Threads

Carrie Storm's art

Carrie Storm — art

Sue Ellinger and Jean Hass– wonderful sewing skills

World Market, Southridge — accessories and furniture

World Market Southridge

Sara Pudlosky and Dave — extra hands to help move in
Zach Cvetan and Brandon Hessil — for providing muscle power to help us move out

Zach and Brandon helped haul the heavy stuff

It isn’t bad enough that movie or music celebrities think they can be designers just because of name recognition.  Now a former NFL football player is getting his own TV show as a designer!    I don’t know anything about Keyshawn Johnson but I’m guessing he did not major in interior design in college!  A & E is giving him a TV show where “he handles a variety of interior design dilemmas.”

Real interior designers work darn hard  to be successful and run our businesses.  Why is it that people think design is easy?

I’m sure not even an football player-turned-designer will get many of the men I know to start watching design shows on TV.

My friends and I have been going to the New Berlin parade on the 4th of July since we were in college.  Over the years we added spouses and children, changed our post parade venue and added brunch.

Summertime is my favorite time of the year and who doesn’t love the celebration of July 4th?  It gets hot by noon, but in the morning we relax on the porch over breakfast and Bloody Marys!

Festive red, white and blue

Setting an independence table is fun and festive.  You can pull out all the red, white and blue stops.  I found the iron table and chairs at a flea market for a song a few years ago.  A bit of sanding and spray paint and it seats up to 6 people comfortably.

Red, white and blue the color for the day

Denim placemats add the touch of blue to the place setting.  Since this is practically a picnic, I bring out my enamel dishes from Sweden.  You can pick up lots of white enamel dinnerware at flea markets, but since I’m part Swedish, I stick with those marked Sweden.

Vintage enamelware

Look for dishes marked Sweden. The cm indicates the size

Start the party with basic supplies

What could be more Americana than a red bandana?  They make perfect napkins—colorful and inexpensive.  I fold them in thirds and then half again.  Triple pleat in the middle and hold together with an old fashion clothes pin.  I write each guest’s name on the pin and add a couple of mini flags.

What could be easier than writing guests' names on old clothes pins!

Bandanas also work as chair seats. No upholstery required!

Bandanas also fit the chair seats.  The upholstered seats are fine, but I like the coordinated look since the table top is glass.

Festive place setting

It’s OK to break the rules when setting the table.  Since the cup and saucer take up the right hand corner of the placemat, I chose to put the knife next to the fork and spoon with the saucer.

Patriotic candles and ribbon for the centerpiece

The centerpiece is a trio of RWB candles, ribbon and flag.

Festive table setting

Such a simple way to start the celebration!

I love books and read as much as my time allows.  My favorite author is Jane Austen and my all time favorite book is Pride and Prejudice.  I’ve read it a dozen times!  I collect antique editions of classic children and adult novels (my oldest copy of P & P was published in 1892), vintage etiquette and entertaining books and interior design books from every decade.  I read the classics and the others are great for resource and inspiration.

Books make charming and lovely displays.  A new acquaintance walking into your home will instantly discover a bit of who you are just by reading the titles of your collection.  But they can also become unwieldy and messy if you don’t have a plan.

There are several ways to organize your book collection without looking like the local library.

• Arrange books by author or subject if you need to find a particular edition quickly.


Design books on the top shelf, etiquette books below

Framed photos in various sizes offer a nice contrast to old books

By simply elevating the books at the left of the top shelf, makes the display more interesting.

• Choose color or size to create an interesting display.

• Stack books vertically and horizontally for added interest.

• Stagger books for depth and to create little pockets for display.
  

• Find unique items for bookends.


Cut glass dishes can serve as book-ends



I love the contrast of the vintage book covers and beautiful glass

• Display books with another collection.  Family photos are a perfect pairing with hardcover volumes.  Art work of any sort offers a nice contrast too.

Vintage books and children's artwork are creative combinations

Books are great for elevating pictures. Successful displays have different heights

The Georgian Revival Breast Cancer Showhouse was built in 1912 by the daughter and son-in-law of Patrick Cudahy.  As in all grand homes, the front vestibule was the first interior space visitors would see when entering the house, so it had to be spectacular.

Anne Wangman of Forbes Design took the challenge of bringing the entry back to life for the BCSH.  The original leaded windows and transom are still intact, along with the stunning plaster quatrefoil design on the ceiling.

Anne Wangman chose a lovely chest and lantern trio for the entry

Anne chose a reproduction bow front chest in a distressed black finish to contrast with the paneled oak wainscot.  It’s a simple, yet elegant place to set your hand bag while you remove your wrap!  The candlelight lantern trio offers a lighting alternative to a typical table lamp.

Wall brackets featuring a playful collection of wire-haired fox terriers are an unexpected touch and draw the eye toward the ceiling and the Steuben glass light fixture.

Have fun in your entry. Display something fun and unexpected like this collection of ceramic terriers

Have fun with your entry.  Make sure a bit of your “Signature Style” is evident when guests enter your house!

The Milwaukee Breast Cancer Showhouse has 30 distinct spaces that area designers pour their hearts and souls into to raise money for breast cancer research.  It takes months of planning, building, painting, hauling furniture and accessories and hanging yards and yards of drapery treatments to create beautiful rooms.

Abigail Klode of Abigail Klode Interiors designed a beautiful and peaceful Master Sitting Room.  She layered multiple shades of grey and combined contemporary and traditional furniture.  The trend toward replacing the coffee table with an upholstered ottoman couldn’t get any classier than this custom leather piece with nailheads.

Master Sitting Room -- Serene and Peaceful

The Phillip Jefferies grass cloth on the walls sets off the turquoise triptych by artist Jason Rohlfs.  His artwork is currently on exhibit at Tory Folliard Gallery.  The color and movement in his work adds just the right touch of whimsy to the calm setting.

I love how Abigail complements the sleek sofa with her great-grandfather’s desk chair.  He started Klode Furniture years ago.  She thought it would give the room good juju!

Who couldn’t imagine spending time reading or lounging in this space?  Great juju!

http://www.abigailklode.com

You don’t need a special occasion to set a nice table.  Nice doesn’t have to mean fancy or extravagant or even expensive.  It doesn’t take much effort to make any meal festive.  Use what you have.  If you don’t have much, start collecting.  Every time I shop, I head for the clearance table.  You never know when you will stumble upon placemats or napkins at bargain prices.

You can use any fabric for a table cloth

At a recent dinner for six, I looked in my stash of fabrics.  I had purchased yards of the black and white check fabric several years ago for an outdoor party.  I cut off a length to fit my table.  If you have the time and know-how, hem up the edges for a neat finish.  If not, use pinking shears.  The zig-zag cut will keep the fabric from raveling.

Make your own table runner with remnants

The colorful pennants are remnants from another outdoor party with a nautical theme.  I simply laid them down the middle of the table to create a unique runner.

A simple knot can be elegant

Consider white dinnerware and white and black napkins basic accessories to your dinnerware wardrobe.  Whenever I find 8 or 12 matching plates or napkins at a great price, I snatch them up.  Like earrings and handbags, you just can’t have too many!

Place cards can be as easy as a tag from the office supply store

Fancy folded napkins are fun, but when you’re quickly throwing the table together, a simple knot and placed on the plate will do.  Don’t overlook the office supply store for tableware accessories.  Tags are perfect for place cards.  So simple, yet your guests will be wowed!

Yellow roses add a festive touch

Add yellow roses and candle light for atmosphere, throw in good friends, fine wine and a yummy meal and memories are sure to be made!

Select pebbles to match the table decor for your candle dishes

The Breast Cancer Showhouse opened to the public this weekend.  Although the weather was more fall-like than early summer (after all this is Wisconsin) crowds of supporters flocked to the house to support cancer research and get loads of design ideas.

Many of the rooms in the house are traditional featuring warm, creamy colors with bold splashes of black.  Each designer puts his or her personal stamp in their space.

Royal Doulton Toby Mugs

The kitchen displays a fabulous collection of Toby mugs from Jim Jung’s (Boston Store) personal collection.

The laundry room was devoted to the home owner’s dog Zoë.  Tom Hoffman (Tom Hofffman Designs) and Mary Shaufelberger (Steinkellner Decorating Studio) had pet portraits painted for the walls.  Patty Virnig’s (Ivy Interiors) third floor bath is glamorous and feminine in bold, graphic black and white. Makes you wish you were going to a ball!

Susan found this vintage vanity with the mirrored top in her Mother's attic.

Our room is the last stop on the home tour.  You walk into a blast of color.  Carrie Storm of  C.S. Storm Art brought in a collection of her latest paintings.   We particular love the bra, panties and camisole still life.

We just love Carrie Storm's lingerie painting.

Whoever said shag rugs are passé hasn’t been carpet shopping lately?  Anything retro is hot.  That includes accessories and colors from the 60’s.  (Did I mention psychedelic?)  A purple shag rug added the right amount of splash to the floor and grounded the entire room.

Love the purple shag rug.

The vintage daybed with loads of colorful pillows is so inviting.  A daybed is the perfect solution for a room that needs a mattress for sleeping and sofa for lounging and not enough room for both.

Day beds are perfect for sleeping, lounging, dreaming!

A comfy bed needs lots of pillows.

Pillows in a variety of shapes and sizes make the bed more interesting.

We chose furniture with medium to dark stains to contrast with the vanilla walls and bright fabrics.  It’s important to remember that all woods in room do not have to match. The maple flooring looks great with the darker woods.

Big splash of color in the corner!

We stayed with dark wood for the furniture. It's a nice contrast to the vanilla walls and bright fabrics. Remember, all wood tones do not have to match!

The bold, graphic purple flower fabric was our inspiration.  We used it on the bedspread and used it again on a pillow, and the ottoman and vanity stool.  You can use almost anything for inspiration a fabric, a beautiful rug, a painting or even a favorite accessory.  Find the one thing that you love or gets your creative juices flowing!  You have to start the design process somewhere!

Jean Haas upholstered the vanity stool to match the bedding.

The next time your community hosts a designer showhouse for charity, be sure to visit.  Gather your friends for an afternoon of design.  Not only will you support a good cause, but you will go home with more ideas for updating your home than you will have time to do.

I have been following Little Brown Pen at http://littlebrownpen.blogs…

She is an American writer living in Paris who posts beautiful photos of Paris and France.  Makes you want to hop on a plane right now!  These photos are from my trip last year.  How I miss the place, the people, the food and wine!

I love the country too and can’t wait to get back to Paris, just didn’t spend enough time there.  My French will be so much improved on my next trip and so will my camera.

Shutters on every building! Love the red ones.

There are shutters on every single building from the grand apartments in Paris to ancient stone houses in little villages.  Iron railing and french doors.  Made me want to come home and do the same in my bedroom.  Still trying to convince Tom it’s the thing to do!

I just read that Barbra Streisand is writing a book chronicling the 5 year building process of her home along with photos of her previous house projects.  I’m sure she is good at choosing paint and fabrics and buying furniture.  A lot of people are.  That doesn’t make them interior designers.  It amazes me when celebrities turn to fashion or interior design when their careers a on the down swing.  I guess everyone seems to think designing is easy.  It is if a big manufacturer is willing to invest thousands, millions of dollars in name recognition.

WANTED:

INTERIOR/FASHION DESIGNER

No education required!

No experience needed!

Don’t even need any talent!

Only requirement:  NAME RECOGNITION

Garunteed income because people will buy anthing attached to a celebrity name.

As P.T. Barnum said, “there’s a sucker born every minute!”

I bet suckers will be lined up to buy her book!