My Friends 
Design Blogs
- Always Mod
- Apartment Therapy
- Bloesem
- Bossy Color
- Damned Good Design
- Decor8
- Design Milk
- Design*Sponge
- Finkbuilt
- growers and nomads
- Housewears
- Hue
- Le Petit Cabinet de Curiosités
- Mocoloco
- Pan-Dan
- Patricia Gray
- Pigtown Design
- Print & Pattern
- Remodelista
- sfgirlbybay
- Sippican Cottage
- SoHaute
- Sweet Paul
- Tchochkes
- The Kitchen Designer
- The Style Files
Destinations
Detroit
Laughter
Archives 
- March 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
Jr League of Detroit Show House Presentation
In between bouts of coughing attacks last week, I spend my time feverishly (pun!) putting together my presentations for this year’s Jr. League of Detroit Show House. The house is a beautiful, French provincial stone home set right on Lake St Clair. That’s the large lake seen at the end of Grosse Pointe Blank and Gran Torino.
I put together two proposals. My partner in this venture, Sandra Olave, did another. We needed at least three. I thought I’d share my presentations with you.
I’ve been sitting on this idea for a while, hoping to work on a little girl’s room one day. My favorite feature of this garden wonderland are the painted screen doors at the entrance to the room and the bath. Painted screen doors is an urban art form from my hometown of Baltimore. My screens depict trees. The doors feature window boxes (filled with handmade felt flowers and critters) along with a birdhouse.
The rest of the room continues that floral theme. The window boxes sit atop radiators. Café curtains and a canopy on the antique spindle bed are dressed with flowers and floral fabrics. A floral wallpaper continues the flowery fun. I’m painting the ceiling, trim and fireplace in a coordinating color. A desk, similar to the one in the picture will be painted one color on the outside – another on the inside.
I find that this type of presentation is well received. I put it together on Photoshop and have it printed in tabloid size on good paper. It’s visually appealing, neat and clean. I don’t have to have actual fabric samples if I can find what I’ll use on a website. I scan things as well.
I’ll share my Bohemian Teen room tomorrow. Meanwhile, I’d love to know what you think of this room. Would your little girl like a room like this? Can I make a million felt flowers by May 1st, and how much should I sell them for? I’ve got to pay for this room somehow! :-) I can take the criticism. I don’t even know if I’m getting a room. I find out Friday.
Friday Favorite: Serena and Lily
I’d feature some of the things I found in Serena and Lily, a new (to me at least) bedding and home goods site. I like the details in their sheeting and especially the bedskirts.
Love this scalloped edging on this skirt. The ribbon is a beautiful touch.
They do a good job of mixing and matching sheets with pillows, etc. Again, the detailing is original.
The extra wide lumbar pillow looks great here. And it’s a nice change from the 3 pillows you typically see. Love the ribbon edge on the pillow cases and sheet, too.
I like the idea of mixing up the pillowcases. Buy two sets – each in a different pattern and put them together on the bed. I saw this at IKEA last weekend, too.
I really love a well-made bed. They’re lots of fun to play with.
Do you have a favorite way to make the bed? Share!
Bedroom Ideas & Inspiration: Canopy Beds
Years ago a very fancy woman told me that houses were like peanuts. Once you finish one, you just have to have another. Must be nice! I have to admit that I sometimes feel the same way. I want a super modern house. I want a bare-bones beach shack, a New Yrok loft. And I want a canopy bed.
There’s something very romantic and comforting about a canopy bed. I’ve selected a few of my favorites here. There are all kinds of ways to create a canopy. Let’s take a look.
This half-caopy frames a bed so nicely. I like the matching fabrics. It’s just plain pretty. And there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?
This is so French, isn’t it? I love the shape of the padded headboard. The informal draping of the bedding makes the bed appear more cozy and less imposing.
What’s your opinion of this mirrored canopy bed? Does it work with the striped fabric? It seems to. What I like, as an idea to save for a future project, is the way the headboard covers the entire back of the bed. I like the tufted aspect as well. This might be a good way to deal with a bed that’s not in great shape – you can hide the bad spots with fabric.
Here’s a way to create a canopy with very little fabric. A flat panel, draped and hung from the ceiling is terrific.
Here’s an incorporation of both ideas. The fabric isn’t gathered in the back. There’s just enough fullness to make this work.
Mosquito netting is so beautiful. It says, “I live in a tropical, romantic place.” Well, to me it does – even if it happens to really be Detroit. At night, all dreams come true.
Keep your upper lip stiff if you want to sleep here. Taker a closer look and there’s a good idea that you cold use in any setting. Why not use a piece of birch ply and faux paint it to look like paneling? Instant headboard. And, when it’s surrounded by the canopy, it becomes a thing of beauty.
Lastly, a light and airy room. This would make a perfect guest room. Except you’d never get rid of your guests!
Okay, so which one is your favorite? Mine is the first. I like the style of the cornice – like the one at the end. It bring out the girly-girl in me. How about you? I’d like to hear from the guys on this as well.
3 Golden Rules for Decorating Bedrooms for Teens & Tweens
I’m on vacation here at Sunset Beach, NC. Yay! But I’m still thinking about bedrooms – especially bedrooms for teens and tweens. I’ve written about the subject before and thought this would be a good opportunity to focus on my interior design rules for teen bedrooms.
Rule #1: Your color scheme and sense of style should end at a teenager’s bedroom door.
Teenagers are busy finding themselves – a very important thing that is too often overlooked. They often express their ever-changing sense of who they are through decoration. One day, they’re in love with the Jonas Brothers and their images cover the walls. Just as you’re learning the difference between Kevin and Joe, your daughter is rolling your eyes at you. The Jonas Brothers are so last week! Taylor Swift has taken over.
The image, above, is a good example. It looks terrific. But what will you do when your daughter decided she hates lilac next year?
If you’re a house-proud parent (and who isn’t), the best thing to do is sit on your hands, grin and bear it. Let your teens’ imaginations and identity searching run wild in the bedroom decor and, most likely, they won’t be running wild in the street. (At least I hope not!)
Rule #2: Set some ground rules and create a budget together.
When I was a teen I repainted my bedroom five times. To keep yourself from going mental and broke, set some ground rules before the arguing starts. Are black walls out or in? Can they paint the furniture? Try to think of things they can’t do, but also things they can. Write up a list together. If there’s something that’s not on the list, have them ask before they paint.
It’s a good idea, depending on the age of your teen, to give them a budget and let them do the shopping. A lesson in budgeting and planning for future change is always in style. Goodwill, Craig’s List and Freecycle are great places to find furniture and accessories at rock bottom prices. Challenge your teens to think outside the Pottery Barn box.
Rule#3: Place color on things that can be changed out easily.
Painting the walls a new color is really inexpensive – as long as he’s doing the work himself. However, new furniture every other week is probably out. Remind your kids that they might not want blood red walls next year (you know they’ll roll their eyes at your total stupidity and develop amnesia next year).
Put the color and the trends on the walls and the accessories. They’re less expensive to change.
Jennifer’s Tips
- Let your teen decorate their own environment
- Set ground rules
- Create a budget – add a little extra for each year
- Use walls and accessories for trends
- Shop thrift shops for cool stuff and things that can be painted.
- If you think your teen as gone a too wild, just close the door when company comes snooping.
Need some more ideas? Here are some of my previous posts on the topic.
images: PBTeen, Momoy, Top Home Pic
Rule #3 Exp
8 Great Bedside Tables
And the 1 reason that makes them all terrific.
Most of us will agree that a bed needs a bedside table. We need a place for a lamp, a book, the remote. A really great bedside table needs just one thing (besides style) to meet my requirements. It needs a drawer. At least one. Perhaps more, but at least one.
You need a drawer to stash those private things that we all need handy at night. Medication and condoms are obvious. Your dog-eared copy of Lovely Lying Lips might be less so. At any rate, you need a drawer. Here are 8 styles that fill the bill for me.
1. Wm. Sonoma’s Hudson Table
This lovely style from, Wiliam Sonoma, also comes in a dark stain ($895). I like its simple lines.
2. Ethan Allen’s Maison Chest
A chest of drawers is terrific, if you have the space. This is from Ethan Allen ($949).
3. De La Espada’s Weekender
De La Espada’s 643 Weekender bedside unit is low and chunky. Perfect to partner with a platform bed.
4. Wisteria’s Moorish Chest
At 34.5″ high, I think this beautifully inlaid chest from Wisteria ($2,999) would look great with a tall bed, like the one I’m lying on right now. The mattress has to be high enough so you’re not reaching up too high to access the hot oil.
5. Tealan’s Chinese Antique Table
This is a steal. Tealan sells Asian cabinets that are perfect for by the bed. The even have a drawer. This one sells for $375. You can find some in pairs.
6. Max Alto’s Thronos table
This is lovely in its simplicity. Designed for the Max Alto division of B&B Italia (one of y super faves), Thronos even has a drawer, believe it or not.
7. Shine Home’s Bing Table
I like the Bing side table – a colorful option. I see it in a dramatic bedroom with some large lamps. It’s from Shine Home where it comes in 3 colors.
8. Horchow’s Deco Side Table
For an eclectic, feminine touch, Horchow’s Deco Table is a good choice ($1,199).
My favorites are the William Sonoma table and the Moorish chest from Wisteria. One plain, one fancy. Which one is yours?
Interior Designer, Fiona Davies, Fixes a Bedroom Design Gone Wrong
British interior designer, Fiona Davies is my guest blogger today. Fiona trained as an Interior Spatial Designer, and set up her own interior design business, Flame Interiors, 2 years ago. Like me, she’s passionate about all things Interior Design. She works in both residential and commercial projects – especially hospitality (hotel, etc.) design. She’s an approachable designer who creates detailed, bespoke and colorful concepts, designed with enthusiasm and likes a quirky twist. In other words, Fiona is my kind of designer.
Take it away Fiona!
I love to design bedrooms! People really want to get involved in the design and are much more open to expressing their personality in the bedroom. As a designer I love the challenge of meeting the design brief as well as getting the mood and ambience right.
For example, a couple who needed my help approached me. They’d spent a lot of money on built-ins. Their beautiful Victorian, double aspect bedroom was packed to the brim with wooden furniture and looked like a room in Travel Lodge. They hated it and were devastated. We decided to keep the wood. They couldn’t justify the cost, and I couldn’t justify ripping out brand new furniture. My plan was to work with the existing space by softening the rest of the room so that the wood would blend in and look less harsh.
It was a pretty simple fix. I created a feature wall out of the chimneybreast, fireplace and the two new fitted wardrobes either side using bold wallpaper we chose together. My clients went for a hot pink color. We added gold to the color mix and chose new fabrics for a bed throw, cushions, a window seat and curtains. The warm tones complemented the wood tones, which softened the look of the built-ins.
To finish off, we choose a beautiful chandelier, bedside lamps and mirror to create the right kind of lighting within the room. I also wanted to add something feminine to counteract the masculine feel of all the built-ins. 
It was amazing how different their room felt when it was done. Best of all, the clients were incredibly happy with the result – and so was I!
Thanks Fiona! The end result does look amazing. To hire Fiona, visit her website. Or follow her on Twitter.
How To Shop for and Wash Sheets with SFERRA’s Paul Hooker
Welcome to Part III of my three-part (obviously) interview with SFERRA president, Paul Hooker. This is a man who knows his yarn. You can read Part I, in which we discuss the whole thread-count issue, by following this link. Read Part II, all about style here.
Paul and I ended out discussion with some dirty talk. How to wash the sheets, that is. He’s got a few tips on shopping as well.
DH: Is it important to wash linens with special detergent?
PH: What you have to watch for in detergent is chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach kills cotton fabric. It not only yellows the fabric, but it breaks down the fibers, causing the sheets to have a shorter life. They pill and rip more easily. There are many good detergents on the market. Just avoid any that contain chlorine bleach. Use an oxygen bleach instead. We have a page on our site dedicated to this subject.
DH: I iron my sheets, which has spoiled me forever. What makes an ironed sheets feel so much better?
PH: It brings out the crispness of the cotton or linen of the sheet. The same way a nicely pressed piece of clothing becomes the person, the nicely pressed cotton or linen makes one feel “extra special” when crawling into bed. It could also have something to do with the fact that extra attention was given to get this fabric just right.
Paul’s Tips on How to Buy and Wash Bed Linens
- Educate yourself about the various types of sheets. Do you want percale or sateen? A specialty store can tell and show you the difference.
- Know and trust the merchant who is selling you the sheets. If it sounds too good to be true, it generally is. Will they stand behind their product? Have they been in business a long time? Will they be there tomorrow? Those who have a long history tend to take the business more seriously, and offer better quality than others. Sometimes price leads the way. If it doesn’t, shop at a specialty store that carries the best quality possible.
More shopping tips and all about washing after the jump. (more…)
How To Make the Bed with SFERRA President, Paul Hooker
Welcome back to the second part of my interview with Paul Hooker, president of SFERRA, a premier linen and beddings company. You can read the first part here. Today we’re discussing sheets and how to dress the bed.
DH: What are the benefits of purchasing from SFERRA. Do your products last longer?
PH: People spend a third of our lives between the sheets. Shouldn’t that be a wonderful experience? Of course, the mattress makes a huge difference, but next comes what is next to your body. And those are the sheets. For over 118 years, we have worked with the world’s best textile artisans to create the very finished sheets in the world.
DH: What are your personal choices when it comes to making up the bed? Do you think white rules? Is there a special color or style combination that you especially like?
PH: I am from the Midwest, and I guess I like things rather basic. My favorite sheet is our white Celeste, which dollar for dollar is The best Italian percale in the world. It is chamois soft to the touch, and launders beautifully, and you just cannot get out of bed when sleeping in Celeste. It is the largest selling item in our company, and has been since I created it in 1980.
DH: Getting a little personal here, do you prefer a top sheet or just a duvet?
SH: I prefer to sleep with a bottom fitted sheet and a duvet only, no top sheet. The top of the duvet cover generally has some texture (matelasse for example) and the bottom is our Celeste percale. I don’t use a top sheet, preferring the freedom of just a duvet. It is what you find in most hotels in Europe.
DH: What’s your favorite way to style a bed? For example, decorative pillows in front of sleeping pillows, with a folded duvet?
PH: There are so many ways, and none are wrong. It totally depends on what the person likes. Generally though, you’ll sleep with a blanket and a blanket cover. Or, with a duvet and a duvet cover – unless the duvet is folded at the end of the bed. You generally use a top sheet with both.
For pillows on a king bed, for example, we like to put 2 king pillow shams across the top, with 3 Euro shams in front of them, and then decorative pillows to accent the bed.
Tomorrow, we rounf things up with Paul’s laundry tips! Be sure to stay tuned for that. Questions for Paul? Leave them right here.
An Inside Look at Luxury Sheets with SFERRA President, Paul Hooker
I had the chance to discuss luxury sheets with Paul Hooker, the President of SFERRA, one of the oldest linen producers in business today. I was curious to know the reality behind the mystique. After hearing Paul’s thoughts I think you’ll agree that it’s time to overcome our intimidation about considering a high quality sheet for your bed. After all, as Paul says, we spend a third of our lives between the sheets.
DH: Why are sheets in general so expensive?
PH: Well, in general, most sheets are not that expensive. The better ones are. As with all other products, you truly get what you pay for. The price, if considered high, may reflect the quality of the yarns used, the quality of the bleaching, dying, and washing. Also, it may reflect the quality of the cutting and sewing. As with a very fine automobile, some are better than others, and you often pay for that quality.
DH: Where do most people purchase their sheets – Target, K-Mart, department store?
PH: Yes, I would say the majority of Americans buy their bed linens from the stores you mention, but of course, these are not where the luxury sheets are offered.
DH: SFERRA has a reputation, among the general public, of being very expensive. Are your linens actually more expensive? If so, what makes them worth the extra price?
PH: Actually, that is not the reputation that we should have, because we are not the most expensive. The best? Yes. The most expensive? No. We have always considered SFERRA as affordable luxury for we source better than anyone else in the industry.
We are textile people; we design and construct all of our own creations. We buy directly from the best weaving mills in the world. We bleach, dye, wash, and finish directly. We also cut and sew directly. We go directly to the source on all aspects of our creation, so we feel we can buy the best and create it for a very fair price.
Perhaps the perception that we are expensive comes from the fact that we don’t sell to any big box stores, or any stores that ends in “mart.” We sell to the finest specialty stores in the world, and perhaps therein lies the perception.
DH: So I guess that means we need to get over our intimidation and start shopping in those specialty shops. What is the difference between a 300 thread count sheet from Target, Restoration Hardware and SFERRA?
PH: Generally, there are 3 things that differentiate us from our competitors.
- The yarns we use for the weaving.
- The finishing recipe that we use on the fabric to make it silky-soft, smooth, never pilling. And…
- The detailing we use in our sewing of the product. We source our entire SFERRA collection in Italy, where we can work with mills that have been doing this for hundreds of years. Keep in mind we have been doing this continually since 1891.
DH: How important is the thread count when it comes to linens?
PH: Thread count, as a guide to judge quality, is meaningless. The length of the staple (or fiber) is really the most important aspect. The longer the staple, the better the cloth will be. Long staple Egyptian cotton can only be grown in certain regions of the Nile, and of course, SFERRA buys the very best of the Egyptian cotton available.
DH: So it’s true that Egyptian cotton is the best?
PH: Egyptian cotton, as a whole, is considered the best in the world. It is grown along the very fertile Nile River where the soil and climate is unlike any other in the world. But like all things, there is good, better, and best when it comes to Egyptian cotton.
In addition, the longer threads are much finer than cotton grown elsewhere. Combine the length of the staple (over 30 mm is considered a long staple cotton) with the fineness of the yarn, and the soil from whence it came, and there you have the best cotton available.
Part Two of my interview will post tomorrow. Do you questions for Paul? Leave them here.
Redecorating the Bedroom
All this month I’m going to be talking about bedroom redecorating. I’ll also have lots of other useful tips for around the house, including 2 great design dilemmas. But I’m just finishing a much needed spruce-up of my own bedroom and thought it might be fun to focus on the room we spend so much of our time. The bed, below is from Portuguese company, Jet Class.
I’m asking all my readers to help me out. What questions do you have about decorating bedrooms? Trendy and soothing color palettes? Storage? Small spaces? How to add a little romance? Let me know what’s on your mind and all questions will be answered. Here’s what you can look forward to:
- An interview with SFerra, a premier linen company. Their sheets are a dream to sleep on.
- My take on decorating for teen and children’s rooms.
- How to dress the bed.
- Color and lighting to add softness and drama
- And lots and lots of bedroom photos to inspire you.
Take a moment to think about your own bedroom. Is there room for improvement? Are there products you’re searching for? Or, is your bedroom design perfection? Send me a photo or a bedroom design dilemma . Ask me a question. Let’s make August what it ought to be - a restful and relaxing month.
Interior Design Ideas: 12 Blue and White Rooms
There’s something about blue and white that just about everyone loves. If you’re sporting a foot-tall Mohawk with a spike dog collar, this might not be your thing. But for the rest of us, it is. Even if we don’t choose to decorate that way, blue and white rooms are refreshing – especially in summer.
I think it’s also an easy color mix. It’s not difficult to find fabrics, wallpapers and accessories with this color combination. And there are so many ways to use blue and white that you can decorate this way and still be unique.
Want some ideas? I’ve put together a blue and white interior design album to inspire you.
There’s something about red and tan that make them the perfect accent colors for blue and white. You can mix things up by using several blue hues instead of the standard navy.
Mix stripes with florals to create more interest. And pay attention to texture. The antique desk and side table add depth.
A great way to change a room’s look into something that says Summer is to use slipcovers. They’re not as hard to make as you would think. I love the monogram used here, too.
Blue and white bedding is especially easy to find. Here’s a tip for twin beds – replace the regular pillow with a king-sized sham. It covers the entire top of the bed and looks better.
I like the way the tan pillows tie in the sisal rug and the window treatment. Using a blue bed skirt with the white sheets is a great idea, too.
White slipcovers with a blue lumbar cushion are simple but perfect. The circular table, also in white, draws your eye to the light fixture – the focal point in this room.
You can’t get any more classic than navy blue and white. For some reason, this reminds me of Ralph Lauren. I think it’s the mirror.
Mosquito nets add a sense of feminine drama. I think the Victorians who really needed them would laugh and think we were mental.
There’s more blue and white love after the jump. (more…)