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.

You Must See the Vacation Home Pictured at Cote De Texas

Over the next few days there is a fabulous giveaway on the Joni Webb's blog, Cote de Texas. I've been a reader of her blog for years. Today was the first time I've ever commented on a post. It's actually the first giveaway I've ever entered as well. But TODAY I would have commented anyway. My keyboard scroll button screeched and pulled over to the side of the road when I saw the living room photos. Joni has posted pictures the most amazing, cozy, natural, casual, soothing vacation home and I loved it. The home belongs to Cindy Hattersley and it's located in central California's Paso Robles wine country. Cindy decorated it herself.
I thought you would like to click over to Joni's site and see the pics for yourself. Pure DELISH!
This is the first photo that made my keyboard screech to a halt:

Martyn Lawrence Bullard...in person. Part 2

It's a great day when you can share a love of fabrics with your design friends. (They know when  to oooh and ahhh over the "good stuff" with you.)  It's truly delightful day when you get to be entertained by a celebrity designer that also shares his love of fabric with a room full of people who share the same affinity.  Yesterday was that kind of day.    We got to meet the talented Martyn Lawrence-Bullard (pronounced Bhul-ARD) and hear about his new line, his favorites, his inspiration sources, how he got his start in this industry, and heard some pretty funny stories too.  This collection needs to be touched to truly be appreciated.  Photos cannot do it justice.  It's scrumptious.  And this designer is even more delicious now that I've met him in person.  Catch him on Season 2 of Million Dollor Decorator on Bravo's Television Network.   And be sure to catch me if you want to see and feel his new line of fabrics in person.   

Martyn Lawrence Bullard...in person!

click here to see the fabric detail

click here to read about Martyn's line at Schumacher fabrics.

I’m headed to the Washington DC Design Center tomorrow with three of my favorite designer friends. We’ll be sitting in the front row to hear Martyn Lawrence Bullard (celebrity interior designer, author, and TV personality from Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorator) to speak about his experience in designing a line of fabrics for Schumacher. He’s going to talk about taking a fabric from concept all the way to launching the line. We’ll be having lunch in the Schumacher showroom afterward. I can’t wait to hear his distinctive voice, see his always immaculate 5 o’clock shadow, and hear his perspective on working with fabrics. I need to go pick out an outfit for tomorrow!  Perhaps we'll have a photo op?

Did you know that I can custom design fabrics specifically for you?
Contact me if you want to make your room unique.

My Daily Comfort Zone

My Daily Comfort Zone by susan-k featuring h&m cardigan

Clemens en August jumper sweater, £95
Splendid heather grey shirt, €70
H m cardigan, £9.99
H m cardigan, £13
Joseph black wool skirt, £175
Closed boot cut jeans, £160
Kate Spade leather flat, $225
Cole haan shoes, $158
Kate Spade flat heels, $95
Chinese Laundry platform shoes, $70
H&M peep toe shoes, £30
Kate Spade crossbody bag, $316
Dooney Bourke tassel bag, $395
Croc handbag, $50
Forever 21 check wallet, $9.50
Kate spade jewelry, $278
Chunky rhinestone necklace, $235
Kate Spade retro jewelry, $178
Animal jewelry, $130
Kate spade jewelry, $128
Sequin jewelry, $28
H M wide ring, £3.99
The Row square frame sunglasses, $390
Michael Kors cashmere shawl, £264
Kate Spade wrap belt, $72
Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Oxford Dress Shirt White 18.5 - 36/37, $83

Out the door in 5 minutes

Out the door in 5 minutes by susan-k featuring beach tote bags

Wallis jersey dress, £35
J Crew j crew cardigan, $50
Sunner cropped shirt, $95
American Vintage cotton shirt, $45
Mango long cardigan, £35
Jeans
Zara platform shoes, $90
ALDO slip on shoes, $80
Dorothy Perkins black platform heels, $59
J Crew beach tote bag, $60
Gucci tote bag, £1,019
Hermès black bag
Paul s Boutique pauls boutique bag, £61
Furla bag, $198
Trina Turk cabochon jewelry, $248
White House Black Market enamel jewelry, $54
Miss Selfridge blue jewelry, $18
Sequin gold plated jewelry, $58
Tarina Tarantino lucite necklace, $70

Look Inside the American Red Cross Showhouse!

It's showhouse season!
This is a great video review of the American Red Cross Show House in Palm Beach Florida.
I'm looking forward to the DC Design House to open in just a few weeks.
Which showhouses do you like to attend in your area?
--Susan

It's Pinewood Derby Time

Its been a busy week around here and we are skidding into the Annual Pinewood Derby with an easy car design this year.  Our little family has made a car every year for the last seven years (multiple cars each year.) I love the Derby. But I'm not fond of doing woodwork in the garage during winter. (Nor science projects during winter, but that is another post.)  I do, however loooooove to volunteer as the lady at the car check in table every year and get to gush over the clever car entries and talk to the kiddos! They crack me up. This year, I was quite relieved  when my youngest said he didn't want to cut the wood.  (Insert: Chorus of angels singing while I do a happy dance and celebrate keeping all 10 of my fingers safe from harm.) Instead he wanted to decorate it like a stack of money. Easy! Color copier and Mod Podge to the rescue. To avert the questions: No money was harmed in the making of this car and it would never be mistaken for legal tender.  I certainly don't think Chick-fil-a would fall for a glued hunk of wood with $ pictures in exchange for a sandwich. I can't wait to see how much it weighs and if we get to glue quarters on it to add weight. That will look cute. Any ideas on what we should name the car? (Photo comment: Notice in the third photo the three snacks he consumed in the 10 minutes it took to decorate? The task must have been tougher for him than I thought.)

Teacher Gifts = Wrapped Chocolate Bars

This year the middle school teachers will receive wrapped chocolate bars dressed like Santa.  I purchased the super sized Hershey bars at the grocery store yesterday and used what I had on hand to decorate them.  They turned out cute. (I also think if I altered the colors this design could be repurposed for Thanksgiving next year.)

You want to see the dining room?

There is so much in here that I've created myself. I hope you like it. Upholstered zebra chair, Thomas Paul look alike pillow, ferns on the frame to coordinate with  my Kelly Westler Fern fabric (not shown). YET!

Chevron Frame Pics

In case you wanted to see the whole grouping, here is another view of the hallway.  I'm loving the scale of these painted chevron frames and how it relates to the dining room.