Look who I bumped into!

I'm a huge fan of the gals above. I love a gal with personality who also shares my affinity for design. While at High Point Market Spring 2014 I bumped into one of my favorite YouTube celebrities EVER! Ohmygosh. In the bathroom. At the end of the day. And I looked awful. Geez. Actually Rebecca's the only YouTube channel that I will search to find! I met Sharrah and Rebecca Robeson at the Surya showroom party. (It is a not to be missed event while it Market.) Go search Rebecca Robeson on You Tube. Then go subscribe to her videos. She's the best! She and her daughter Sharrah are sweethearts. And they are gorgeous. Totally. And they didn't look like they've been awake since 5:00 am, like me. We talked for about 45 minutes about our enthusiasm for design! Look for my conversation coming up with her on You Tube. I'll post a direct link to her You Tube accounts tomorrow. For now, it's time to sleep after a long exciting day at Market.

Future Home of the Washington Design Center

Exciting news! Today was the Hard Hat Tour of the New Washington Design Center. I went my design friend, Toni. We toured the construction zone, sipped some bubbly, and chatted with other excited designers. All we can say is THIS PLACE IS GOING TO BE GREAT!  I can't wait until it's ready in 2014. The rooftop terrace with a view if the Washington Monument was the show stopper. We envisioned all the future designer parties which we'll be attending. The local amenities and ease of parking were bonus points.  Who will be the first client of mine in 2014 that gets to go to the new building? We'll pull swatches, order rugs and chandeliers for your new space. And then I'll treat you lunch and we'll dine on fabulous crepes. Whoever you are...we're going to have an awesome time.

I love design! 

Hooray for the new WDC!

--

SK

Selecting a Roof Color

Lighting Makes a Big Difference

Credit: Traditional Basement design by New York Design-build Creative Design Construction, Inc.

 

Let's analyze the photo above. It's lovely.  It has several sources of lighting.

Light can make a space look fantastic.

Lack of lighting can leave you wondering why a room just.isn't.working. {Been there? Sigh!} 

Let me help.  Add lighting to your life. 

• Overhead lighting  (recessed lighting to light the room)
• Task lighting  (under cabinet lighting to light the countertop workspace)
• Accent Lighting  (the three pendant lights and the three lights above the stone wall)

{sk quick tip#1}  Consider adding these three sources to your rooms and you'll take the room
from humdrum to...OH YEAH!

{sk quick tip #2}  Updated lighting can also prevent guests in your home from
secretly wondering WHY are they keeping that granny lamp? Updated lighting changes their inner thoughts to
"They have a lovely home."  "Such a pretty room."  "Why doesn't our house look like that?"

Now you know the answer to that last question.  {nod and smile} 

Start shopping for new lighting.  Or hire me to help you. 
--
{sk}

A Pretty Christmas tree

This tree is about 22 feet tall. It's even prettier in person.
Enjoy!
{sk}

How To Decorate A Beautiful Christmas Tree

You don't need a lot of time or a ton of expensive ornaments to beautifully decorate a Christmas Tree. I'm a designer and honestly my tree never looks the same year after year, yet I never spend more than $20 in tree decor. And they always get compliments. This year I spent $15 on 15 berry picks. I wanted a "Traditional, Natural, Family" themed tree. I also had only 30 minutes to decorate.

Listen up: The trick to a designer tree is not the ornaments...the trick is WIRED RIBBON.

Try This:
Start with 2 or 3 spools of 2.5 inch wide wired ribbon in each pattern. I re-used sheer gold, red gingham, and a patterned "Happy Holidays" ribbon that I had leftover.

1. Pin ribbon together at one end.
2. Cascade them over the top of the tree.
3. Start at the top of the tree: Poke the ribbon into the tree with a flat object like a yard stick, a paint stick, or a ruler.
REPEAT with the next ribbon color.

--For natural texture, add a just few objects like berry picks and pine cones.
--Add 2 boxes of ball ornaments.
--Add your family ornaments. Ours are simple handmade snowman that we've added year after year. Some years I purchase 1 or 2 snowmen ornaments but ONLY if they look handmade.

Add Colorful Geometrics

Quick Tip: Add bright geometric patterns to pillows, windows panels, or floors to make a simple, yet fresh change to a room with neutral grey walls.
Enjoy your weekend,
{SK}

HighPoint Market Fall 2012

A few standouts from High Point Market this fall. 

Just wanted to share three quick images from my trip to High Point Market last week.  I enjoyed the extra, unexpected details in all of these pieces.  I'll post more later. I promise.  (I took about 900 photos in two and half days.)
Enjoy!
--{sk}

Packing for High Point Furniture Market

In a few weeks I'll be heading to the Highpoint Furniture Market. I plan on taking one bag so my choices need to be wrinkle free and weather appropriate. We'll be doing a lot of walking and I know my feel will SCREAM at me if I don't wear cozy shoes. I plan on layering tanks with lightweight cardigans and bright lightweight tops.  The pants are dark jeans, white jeans, and blackdress pants. 

Packing for High Point Furniture Market by susan-k featuring dooney & bourke handbags

Tunic, 299 SEK
Mango long sleeve top, £50
Monsoon striped cardigan, £50
Laura Ashley green shirt, £19
Pink cardigan
American Vintage slim fit shirt, $45
Dkny shirt, £24
Monsoon lace skirt, £55
Pied a Terre high waisted pants, £69
Hudson Jeans bootcut jeans, £103
Mango slim fit pants, £20
Me Too patent leather shoes, $89
Grazie studded wedge, $55
Libby Edelman black flat, $85
Sperry Top-Sider high heels, $98
Puma ballerina flat, $70
Dooney bourke handbag, $395
Biba square sunglasses, £79

A{sk} a Question: How to Select a Tile Grout Color

This is a little series of real Q & A questions that my company is asked each week. I thought I could share some of the things my which clients seek assistance. I'm calling the series: "A{sk} a Question"

The image below captures my client's delimma and how I found a solution in two steps. But most importantly, I helped my client understand why my solution would be the right choice. Read on. Feel free to ask your own question. I just might address yours right here one day in the "A{sk} a Question" series.