Mary-Kate is the 9 year-old daughter of a Sarah, a good friend of mine. This sophisticated fourth-grader was ready for a change to her personal space. She’s a girl after my own heart because she has always understood the importance of decorating a room that’s uniquely one’s own. By that I mean, no theme rooms covered in Disney characters.

Mary-Kate’s Room “Before”

Her before look was terrific - a Lilly Pulitzer style that was bright and cheerful. But Mary-Kate’s mom sells marked-down Lilly at an online shop. So she sees it everyday and got bored; she wanted something that set her apart. And let’s face it, when it comes to kids defining who they are it’s (a) very important to them, and (b) changes often, and (c) is best defined by the space they inhabit.

This means that parents should be prepared for change within reasonable limits. Start with basic furniture that can carry off different looks. Look for bargains and shop carefully for things you know won’t be around forever. Finally, take a tip from Mary-Kate’s Mom. Once your child has really outgrown something, try selling it on Craig’s List. (I’ve had success with this, too).

Mary-Kate’s room: “after”

Mary-Kate designed the room’s basic look by herself. “I wanted a more modern look,” she said. “So I picked out black and green for the colors.” She chose a bright green paint for the walls - Chopped Chive, from Ace Hardware.

Sarah sold her old furniture on Craig’s list and bought a more contemporary daybed from West Elm. It’s covered in a polka dot duvet cover from PB Teen. The toss pillows, floor lamp and art hanging to the right of the bed are all from Target. The area rug is from Lowe’s - what a fantastic find. Sarah is a woman who knows where to find a bargain. She amazes me.

Sarah’s best trick is the art hanging to the left of the bed. She took a white frame she already had and used gift wrap for the artwork. (Sarah, you need to start your own blog. Call it Design on a Penny!)

The Parson’s desk is another find from West Elm. White is a good choice for a girl growing into her teenage years. It’s a good basic that will take her through high school. The shelves and desk chair are from IKEA.

Now for the best part - the window treatment. Sarah has a fantastic seamstress who made up this Roman shade with Mary-Kate’s monogram in the valance. I think that’s such a great idea. Matching pillows tie the look together. The fabric and ribbon are JoAnn Fabrics. They were very inexpensive and you don’t need a lot of yardage with this type of shade. I love that monogram.

Mary-Kate, you did a great job on your first decorating job. I love the color choices and the way all the patterns work together. I can’t wait to see your next project.

It’s been raining too much here in Grosse Pointe. I needed a bit of sun today, so I tool a virtual trip over to Marrakesh via My Marrakesh - one of the most visually inspiring blogs around. She takes awesome photos and writes beautifully about her life in Morroco. 

I invite you to skip the expensive plane fare and join me today in a cybertrip to My Marrakesh - where the sun in always shining.

Here’s something that I thought would be fun and get a good conversation going. Take a look at this room and tell me what you think. Specifically, I’m wondering whether you think the room should be repainted. Are the faux vines too Last Century? Or, considering that the windows allow the garden to become part of the room, perhaps the vines still work - even though this sort of faux thing is really an out of date trend.

Here are a couple of other things to keep in mind. This house will be sold (assuming the mortgage crisis is resolved by then) in about four years. And, the price to have this room painted could feed a small nation for a year. Is it worth the money to repaint? One suggestion I’ve already received is to paint only the doors and leave the walls alone.

What would you do if this were your house? What color would you paint it? There is no right or wrong answer.  I hope everyone will have fun, cast their shyness aside and weigh in with their opinions.

Who do you imagine would enjoy this dining room? Donna Summer? John Travolta? To me, it’s a horrible (if computer-generated) mix of the 1980’s and the disco 70’s. The stretchy fabric on the chairs is just eeeewww. And what’s going on with the glass insets in the dining table? Is there a TV monitor under there? Actually I know a lot of people who might like that. Consider it filed.

This is actually an image I was sent to promote Schonbek’s Da Vinci chandelier. Apparently, it’s a light fixture with multiple personalities. Are they all named Sybil?

It changes color! “Cool colors melt into hot, subtle colors shift to bold.” The crystals are Swarovski. Yippee. Can never have enough of those in my house. One good thing about the Da Vinci fixture is that you can put it in the dishwasher. Maybe it would be best to keep it there. To see their Youtube video go here.

I don’t want to bust Schonbek too much. I’ve used their fixtures in several rooms. But I think this is what happens when companies over-embrace a new technology. They’re so eager to use it that good taste flies out the window.

Nevertheless, I’m wondering why they couldn’t take the time to style a real room? The computer generated image makes the fixture look worse. So let’s spruce it up ourselves. What would you put on those shelves? What’s going on in the living room? Can we fit those chairs in the fireplace and burn them? Let’s have some Friday fun.

Maybe you’ve seen dining rooms which use a variety of chairs to create a single look around a dining table. The idea has been around for a while. Here’s a take on the same idea that I love. Use the same chair, but mix it up by using color.

This room is from last month’s Dwell Magazine. The owners of this Amsterdam apartment used furniture from Piet Hein Eek. I love them. And the use of four colors around the large table is the perfect number to create a nice mix. For a smaller table, I’d use either three or make them all different.

Piet’s table and chairs are awesome, but pricey. So I thought I’d take a look at some other options out there. Here’s what I found.

LL Bean has some very nice Cottage-style furniture at good prices. A lot of their things are painted, too. These chairs would be a good choice for a small room, where you need something small in scale.

Maine Cottage has some great styles with more than 20 color choices. Their quality is good and their prices are affordable. This is a good custom look with good value.

Finally, good ‘ole IKEA. This Norvald Chair comes in three colors and the price is great. I also love the contemporary look. The scale is perfect. These are my favorite.

I’m wondering if anyone has tried something like this already. Send me photos! Also, what is your experience with painting furniture. Is it tricky? I usually send mine out to the auto body shop. I get a sprayed-on, showroom fresh finish.

image: Rene Mesman

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge fan of design that goes beyond the typical. However, sometimes I find that my fantastic idea for something runs smack dab into a little problem called reality. I understand the desire to really, really want to create something because it would be soooo cool. Can’t you?

Unfortunately, there are these really pesky things called Building Codes. And another called Common Sense. Which bring me to The Bangalore Express.

This newly opened Indian restaurant is located in London (across from the Waterloo tube station in case you want to visit). I think the idea of having patrons climb a ladder to reach their table is fairly cool. Definitely different. It’s also an interesting way to expand the restaurant’s occupancy. However, as interesting as it is, I’m peering into the future and here’s what I’m seeing:

The sound of dishes crashing and food flying everywhere as waiters, loaded down with trays groaning with plates of Aaloo Gosht, Tandoori Chicken and Tikka Masala, miss the last step “by that much.”

Lots of lawsuits from patrons who drank a few too many Kingfishers and forgot about that dang ladder.

It might be a good idea to give the diners on the lower level sticks. They could use these when the Kingfisher Crowd gets a bit too rowdy. Bang, bang bang! “Keep it down up there!”

And you just know that as the evening wears on, the server is going to skip climbing up there to talk about the specials. Instead, he’ll be yelling, “OKAY! Listen up! The specials today are…” Perhaps a bullhorn would come in handy here. But he’ll have to steer clear of the sticks.

Finally, there is no doubt in my mind that everyone will want the top bunk. Fighting will ensue.

Okay, so that’s my list. Now I’m off to whip up some Mulligatawny Soup. What are your thoughts?

via: thecoolhunter

Dwell.com and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) would like to know, “How Green Are You?” This contest, which runs now through June 20^th, is your chance to show how green you are, and win some great prizes for it.

The most inspired entries will be posted on the competition pages on Dwell.com and evaluated by Dwell’s editorial staff and AIA architects. The grand prize winner receives $1000, and two runners-up will receive $500 each from the AIA to apply toward their next big Green Project. Here are some of the latest entries, which you can view here.

To enter, simply pull together up to four images of your green or sustainable project, and write a 250-word description of the project that highlights the most important aspects of the project, including material names, vendors, etc.

Projects will be assessed on their sustainability, functionality, originality, cost effectiveness and design, and the submissions will be judged by Dwell.com editors and AIA architects. To enter, or to find out more information, visit Dwell’s “How Green Are You?” page here.

I fell in love with this home featured in this month’s Metropolitan Home Magazine. The house is actually located in Tuscon, Arizona, but designer Ronald Bricke chose a Moroccan theme to invigorate an otherwise blah house with little architectural excitement. I love the results.

Bricke made sure that all his deeply saturated colors worked together as a whole, as if they were all in the same room. He used a matte finish for the Benjamin Moore paints to detract from the stippled stucco wall texture. The bright colors work well in the Tuscon climate. Lots of sun can take the intensity.

The living room sofa is a simple, custom banquette covered in amazing fabrics. Stripes, dots and paisleys all working together perfectly.

The owner created his own artwork by painting the canvas panels with regular latex paint. I love the color in this room. It’s Mango Punch. The fixture was a great find from ABC Carpet & Home, and the chairs were custom made from an antique inspiration.

Notice the way Bricke used variations of the same hue to create a tranquil space. He also created a meaningful purpose for a tiny room that, in new construction, is called the living room but which has no space for much more than a bench. Or, in the case of my parents’ Florida home, a grand piano and a bench.

The lady of the house insisted on a pink bedroom, which her husband at first hesitated on. But now he’s all for sleeping in a seraglio. Sexy. The paint color here is BM’s Pretty Pink.

I adore the sheets in this room. They’re made from tablecloths bought at William Sonoma. I hope they’re comfortable because they’re gorgeous. Check out the box spring fabric.

I love this house. Wish I could move in. If you like this look, I suggest you buy a copy of the magazine. Computer screens don’t do the color justice. You’ll also appreciate the beautiful photography by Grey Crawford.

What are your thoughts on intense color like this?

Today’s design dilemma involves redecorating a room for Becky, a 10-year old girl moving out of childhood and towards her teen years. She needs a look at matches her personality. Becky likes music and sports and is a great student. Her mom, Sandra, says, “I want her to have a bedroom that has her things. She is both a little girl and a “hip chick.”

Design concerns
Sandra told me that a big problem with the room is the lack of light. Becky’s room lost a window after some remodeling and the room is dark.

“I can’t stand the minty teal color,” says Sandra. “Becky’s first choice of color would be hot pink! I’ve had her bed in every possible spot and we re-arrange constantly. I can’t wait to get rid of the rug.”

Starting with a focal point
Becky loves Lilly Pulitzer. Fortunately, Lilly patterns are available in fabric by the yard. This was my starting point. The room needed a focal point. The bed is the obvious solution, but it was stuck in the corner. So I moved it in front of the window and added a Lilly Fabric curtain to frame both the window and the bed, thus creating a central focus to the room.

Color and Light
Currently, the room has no depth because the walls and carpet are the same hue with the shade (or value). It makes the room look flat, and darker than it really is. Contrast and a lighter tint of paint will make the most of the daylight. Another problem is the plantation shutter. It looks great, but cuts the daylight in half.
The solution is to paint the walls a light hue to reflect as much light as possible. I chose Benjamin Moore’s I Love You Pink. Paint the ceiling the same color. The trim could be painted green to match the fabric, or a darker pink, such as Benjamin Moore’s Hot Lips. Beware! My number one rule is to choose the paint last. Sandra will need to adjust the exact color after she chooses fabrics and sheets.

Even though there’s a ceiling fixture, Sandra says we still need more lighting. I placed table lamps by the bed and on the dresser. I removed the shutter and added a fabric roller shade for sleeping and privacy.
But we need some light and drama. A small chandelier is just the thing. I’ve hung it over the desk/dressing table. It’s the perfect thing for applying makeup.

Eliminating clutter
Becky’s room is a clutter factory – a typical teen problem. This room needs more storage with furnishings that work together. Currently, the separate pieces give the room a chopped-up look. I pulled it all together by adding two tall shelving units on either side of the desk. It frames the desk, with the chandelier, and the adjustable shelves take the clutter off the floor. These can work throughout Becky’s school years as her style changes. I removed the toy chest. She’s too old for that. I love the pink furry chair. It has a lot of personality. Next, I added a new bedside table that’s not skirted. Again, this diminishes the cluttered look.

Pulling the look together
I started with the Lilly Pulitzer fabric. Two choices are shown here, but there are lots of options. To pull the entire look together we need patterns that work with the Lilly and add texture and fun. I chose pink dots and stripes for the bed and a zebra-stripe rug for the floor.

Final thoughts
Sandra is a woman who loves to decorate. And she likes things to go together. So do I! A home looks best when the rooms work together. However, an exception sometimes needs to be made when it comes to teens. They’re rooms are their own planets – completely separate from the rest of the universe. They need that space to help them discover who they are. Sandra sounds like a mom who understands the concept of creating a beautiful room that still reflects her daughter’s personality.

For more thoughts on this subject, see my post on teen rooms. And don’t forget to weigh in with your thoughts and ideas!

Resources: Lilly Pulitzer fabric, PB Teen

I bought a wonderful book last weekend at Anthropologie. On assignment for Esquire magazine in 1962, fashion photographer and filmmaker Jerry Schatzberg documented the ultra-exclusive world of French haute couture. Paris 1962 is a beautiful photo journal of the Dior show, and Yves Saint Laurent’s first collection.

The photography is amazing. Here’s a decorating suggestion. Buy two copies. Put the first on your bookshelf. Use the other for framed art - a relatively inexpensive way to add a touch of chic to your home.

You can find Paris, 1962 via my Amazon Shop, and possibly at your local Anthropologie shop. It’s not on their site.

Estate sales are a huge thing in Grosse Pointe (the suburb adjoining Detroit). They’re a great way to find one-of-a-kind elements to round out your home decor. If you’re looking for furniture, bargain prices are everywhere. Estate sales have become a booming business - both for the companies that organize them and for the shoppers who frequent them. In fact, when it comes to shoppers, the competition has become fierce with casual shoppers vying for the goodies with professional collectors (some looking for bargains to resell on eBay) and antique dealers.

Estate sale companies organize the sales and set the prices in return for a percentage of the profits. Because of the enormous popularity, they’ve also created a system to control the free-for-all among shoppers trying to gain entry. They issue numbers to shoppers who are then admitted in groups. Being first in line is essential to getting first dibs.

If you’re interested in estate sale shopping, here are some tips for getting there first and getting the best price.

Make a list. Most estate sales are held on weekends, usually running from Friday through Sunday. Begin by checking your local paper for estate sale ads and make a list of the addresses you’re most interested in.

Check prices. If you’re looking for something in particular that’s mentioned in the sale, do a little research to ensure you’re getting a fair price (which aren’t usually listed in the ads). eBay is a good resource. Goodwill has a PDF of fair trade prices. You can also check prices for similar items that are new.

To guarantee first dibs, getting there first is essential. Contact the company to ask about entrance rules. Believe it or not, most companies in Grosse Pointe hand out numbers at the home on a first-come basis beginning at 3:00 am. Once you have your number you can go back to bed and return at the start of the sale.

Haggling. You can bargain for a better price, but typically not at the start of the sale. If you’re interested in a real bargain make a note of an item you’re interested and keep your fingers crossed that it will still be there at the end of the sale. That’s when many companies cut prices in half. Be prepared to make a half-price offer, since many shoppers don’t know this little secret.

The best bargain I found was an Orrefors bowl for $8.00. The items pictured here are vintage linens, including a Liberty napkin holder - with the napkins, an antique nut cracker, English horn handled steak knives, a pair of Chinese porcelain ducks, and a hand-carved Chinese cinnabar box.

Have you found an estate sale bargain? Do you have a tip of your own? Share it with the rest of us. And happy bargain hunting.

I’m seeing more and more Indian influences in the wild world of design. It’s a personal favorite of mine - especially when it comes to textiles. The colors are perfect for summer. Here’s a Friday afternoon tour.

This chest, from Wisteria, is inlaid with hand cut bone and retails for $2999.

These accessories are from my new favorite discoveries, Novica and Kaaya. The hand painted box, by artist Shivji Ram Mali, is $115. The hand crafted Mehendi candle comes in a variety of styles and is $98.

Saris make fantastic curtains and pillows. This hand embroidered sari is available on eBay shop Indian Delight for $24.99. The pink pillow cover comes in a set of three - all hand embroidered, for $32.99. The other two (also hand embroidered) are from Kaaya and retail for $62 (blue) and $72 (yellow).

Novica is associated with National Geographic. They sell products from six different world regions.