Thursday, December 24, 2009

Gingerbread Houses

An interior designer should be able to fabricate a pretty kick booty gingerbread house right?! Well my six year old daughter did much of the decorations on the above house which turned out great - while I was in charge of the construction aspects of it...note the gingerbread tree to the right...it became a support to the collapsing roof. I stuck it in the fridge to let the frosting harden and that helped out some, but we had fun anyways so that's what counts! A few more houses via Martha Stewart's website for some holiday inspiration...
I really like this one, it's fresh and different

Too cute...

Are you kidding me...it has LIGHTS! Who can do this...?


Gingerbread manse....maybe the gingerbread man from Candyland lives here off of his royalties?

Traditional gingerbread house, my inspiration for next years attempt...

I can't wait for the "snow" here in D-Town today...I will be traveling after Christmas where even more snow will accumulate so wish me luck in my travels!
God Bless America and send a prayer to the troops who sacrafice so much for all of us, while we aren't fighting the wars that they are in the physical sense we can continue to fight our own war here in America - the recession. We have to get back to the root of what America was built on in the first place...hard work, community, and plain old American values.


Merry Christmas and to a prosperous New Year for all of us!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

My Journalism Debut



Plinth&Chintz editor and founder Laura McDonald Stewart, ASID, IIDA extended a much grateful invitation to me to contribute to this month's article. Plinth&Chintz fills a much needed void in the interior design industry with it's relevant content and always up to date info as to what is going on in both the residential and commercial sectors of interior design. The web has of course increased coverage to designers and resources, whether it be via blogging, twitter, or facebook - but Plinth&Chintz remains to offer a sound board for professional designers and industry partners alike.

As I become much more long winded when I write versus when I am speaking (well...some may say differently!) the article has been broken up in two articles - so be sure to check back for January's issue! I wanted to show people - students, aspiring designers, and even clients - that our job is not all glam and glitter. To be an interior designer (a profitable anyways) you can not afford to NOT be a detailed oriented, compulsive multi-tasker with a keen eye for fabulous interiors and a plus if you have a psychology major when dealing with, ahem...eccentric? clientele. It also doesn't hurt to have a thick skin, you work with big, burly contractors who think this little designer with her heels clicking down the driveway doesn't know dirt from mud. It didn't take long for them to find out otherwise...sorry, my "competitive spirit" will come out real quick...!


Feel free to send me a line if you want an even deeper understanding of what you can expect in the "glamorous" world of design - and hey, at the end of the day - I wouldn't want to do be doing anything else...

And thanks again Laura! :)

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Longhorn Orange

As a tribute to the Texas Longhorns coming out on top of that nail biter game last night at Cowboy Stadium I am posting a few beautiful images of the color orange, a vibrant, showstopping color, it brings vitality and freshness to its medium without being too jarring. (Orange also happens to be Lady Luck's color of choice...hmmm, I find that interesting...) Anyways, enjoy!








Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Inked


What could be more glamorous or romantic than an ink black Murano glass chandelier, either dripping in embellished teardrops and arms topped with black silk shades or simply letting the silhouette speak for itself with its curvaceous, fluid lines?

Glass blowing became popular in Venice, Italy in the 9th century, with heavy influences from Middle Eastern countries. Due to the close proximity of the homes on the islands of Venice and fear of fire outbreaks, the glass blowers were sent to the island of Murano, a short ferry ride from Venice. Here, they perfected their craft and became prominent citizens of Venice, attaining wealth and popularity. Today, the craft is still revered as ever. Murano glass chandeliers and sculptures became envouge especially in America in the 1950's and 60's and are now showing face again.

The gorgeous piece above was used in the Palomar Hotel in Dallas at the Brut Champagne bar, after closing in 2007 the chandelier has now found it's way to Griffin Trading Company down in the Dallas Design district. This piece calls for a space like an entry way or any place you want to stop people in their tracks, measuring in at 52" in diameter. You are able to own this piece of art for a mere $5400. For more information contact Stephen by clicking the link above.

Renowned designer Larry Laslo created the above space for the Kips Bay Showhouse in New York. The chandelier marries both the femininity and masculine personas of this room. He used a Baccarat chandelier pricing in at over $80,000.


Another shot of the opposite side of the room. I love how Laslo choose to paint the ceiling stark white for a bold contrast.


This piece is from Cyan Designs, we used it recently on a design project for a plumbing and bath showroom in Fort Worth, Morrison Supply. We created the vignette below hoping to evoke a glamorous, Manhattan vibe. I simply sum it up as Audrey Hepburn embodied in a bathroom.


Another beautiful example of a more elaborate Murano and crystal chandelier.

Kravet has introduced a new lighting line - pulling out all of the stops with this modern Murano chandelier, utilizing both black and clear glass to create graphic, bold statement.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Daily Dose - Shake the Tree



"Shake the tree of life itself and bring down fruits unheard of!"

- Edwin Arlington Robinson


Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year.
Photos from my iPhone taken this morning at a pond by my house

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!


I have a lot to give thanks for this year...a beautiful happy, healthy daughter and wonderful family and friends and getting to do my obsession everyday and getting paid for it - working as an interior designer and writing this blog. Also this past year, my 17 year old nephew (who now is 18) had a terrible car accident and was in a coma for months, then to wake up and have no short term memory, couldn't walk or speak. A boy who his whole life was full of laughter, jokes, and energy - playing high school basketball and never met anyone who wasn't his friend. At the ICU he had so many people there, the staff said they had never seen that many people there for one person, it was so amazing to see how many people's lives he touched and continues to touch. I am happy to say that he now walks on his own, is back in school and his memory continues to improve each and every day. My family and I are so thankful for the miracles that he has been blessed with and his own will to overcome each and every obstacle that he faces. I love you Gabriel! Trying to find something good from that terrible event wasn't hard for me, I know in my heart he will be 100% one day. And sometimes when I feel tired or not myself - I think about him and how nothing in life is guaranteed, that this could be my last day on this Earth- or someone else's and push myself as hard as I can and take joy in the little things that we take for granted everyday. Stop and smell the roses, watch the sunset and most of all - give thanks to everyone...those who love you and those who don't, as those are the people who push me to do better to overcome their negativity and prove them wrong....
Ok, now go eat some turkey!! Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Psst....Nancy Corzine Book Signing

Any designer worth her weight knows who Nancy Corzine is. She is an inspiration to me - an entrepreneur who first brought beautiful, glamorous spaces to her clients. Then, as one of the first pioneers in our time who started designer branding. Amassing her own designs into furniture, fabric, and lighting collections sold at some of the most renowned designer trade showrooms, then on to print...publishing her own books, with the much anticipated "Glamour At Home". Corzine will be gracing her presence in a couple of weeks for a book signing at Allan Knight showroom in the International on Turtle Creek...if you are lucky enough to get an invite that is...
Designers can contact Candace Evans at Allan Knight for more information.


“It hasn’t been so difficult; all it takes is total devotion, boundless energy and the ability to reinvent yourself on a continuing basis," says Nancy Corzine of her work as a residential interior designer.

Design entrepreneur Nancy Corzine is one of America’s leading home design talents. Her innate design talent, strong determination and entrepreneurial spirit are the driving forces behind her success in the design world. Her keen understanding of how people live today, coupled with her talent for creating stylish and elegant designs have made the Nancy Corzine name synonymous with elegance, quality, and style. This commitment to excellence has enabled Nancy Corzine to not only design beautiful products for the home, but also manufacture and ensure their excellent quality.

Nancy Corzine’s design talent surfaced at an early age, at 6 years old, she was constantly redecorating the dollhouse her father had built for her. This God given talent is lifelong. While raising three children, Nancy Corzine decorated her own home on a very modest budget, yet with style and elegance. Venturing into other projects, including a large Seattle-based bank, she would put the children to bed and then spend 5 hours working at the drawing board. Business continued to thrive and Nancy Corzine moved to Los Angeles, where she eventually opened her own furniture and textile showroom.

The major step towards expansion came when she was contracted by designer Louis Catalfo to produce furniture for the Century Plaza Tower in LA. At this point, all of her manufacturing was done with outside contractors. Nancy saw the opportunity to have her own factories, maintaining not only creative control, but also quality control of her products. Over the past 23 years, her company has become a major success, encompassing 14 showrooms, two production facilities; and a textile line of over 2,000 selections. Nancy Corzine has attracted some of the country’s leading interior designers and celebrities including, President Clinton, Donald Trump, Madonna, Brad Pitt, Sharon Stone, Paris Hilton and Adam Sandler as clients.

Nancy Corzine marries her design talent and keen insight to current lifestyles. A keen observer of people’s needs, she has the ability to translate classic design elements to suit today’s homes; giving people products that incorporate both elegance and comfort. The responsiveness and understanding that Nancy Corzine provides her clients has led to solid, long-term relationships, and mutual trust. Through her hard work, Nancy Corzine has been able to achieve great success, yet feels the need to constantly challenge herself. “I believe we should always lead, and never follow trends.”

Nancy Corzine is always looking for design inspiration in all of her travels. Whether it is Asia or Europe the Corzine eye is always searching. It is this entrepreneurial spirit that makes Nancy Corzine able to see business opportunities, whether opening her own factories to ensure quality over her home products, or introducing new products and styles that her clients desire.

Dividing her time between homes in Manhattan, Bridgehampton, NY and Los Angeles, Nancy Corzine understands the importance of giving back to the community. Passionate about eliminating Alzheimer’s; the disease that took her mother, Nancy has devoted years to the Steering Committee of the Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala, raising funds to find a cure. She has also been appointed the President of the new Lauder Family public charity The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.

Two other passions close to her heart are education and animal welfare. In the past, Nancy funded a teaching scholarship at UCLA and even more recently she was honored with a degree from the Interior Design Institute in Orange County, where she has started a scholarship for deserving students. As if her time were limitless, Nancy continues to rescue animals and is a dedicated animal rights advocate.
Credits: IDI (Interior Design Institute)






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