8 Great Settees: Better Than Loveseats – They Add An Extra Splash Of Design In Any Room

Settees are better than loveseats. Way better. Why? Well, as any fool can see from this fantastically fun model designed for your viewing pleasure by Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien they’ve got a personality all their own. And, they’re more likely to seat two people. I’ve chosen eight great styles to tempt you away from a matched set and the obvious. Settees rock! Read More…

Design Hole Dorm Room Giveaway! Roxy’s Rockin’ “Tempa Tie Dye” Room In A Bag

Because I’m having such a great time writing about dorm rooms, Roxy has decided to join in the fun by sponsoring this happening dorm room-inspired giveaway. The prize is an entire, 7-piece, XL twin-sized Room in a Bag they sell through Bed, Bath & Beyond. Yay! Specifically, Roxy has chosen their Tempa Tie Dye Bedding, which includes the style you see on the bed, but twin-sized. Sorry, you’ll have to supply your own guitar and sandals. Read More…

Exclusive For Design Hole Readers! First Dibs On Sale Items From Belvivere Luxury Linens

Good news! Belvivere, purveyors of luxury Italian linens, is clearing out some of its excess inventory, and they’re giving us first dibs on their inventory. They’re selling sheets sets for $187 and $199 for a duvet set. According to Belvivere CEO Jay Conti, some of these sets regularly sell for $500. Read More…

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. Caf?© 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.

Portfolio Profile: Interior Designer Marlaina Teich

Everyone loves a designer show house. I do. Fellow interior designer, Marliana Teich, sent me these “before and after” photos of her bed & bath combo in the Brookville Show House.

Pretty nifty, what? Marlaina teaches us a lesson in the importance of contrast. How did she do it? The silver armoire was her inspiration for the design. Marlaina highlighted the high ceilings with an elaborate Mother of Pearl fireplace wall, which was created using 12″x24″ tiles of capiz shells. That’s a cool idea, isn’t it?

The shimmer continues with the bed upholstered in pearlized “leather”. She framed the windows with silk. Using panels on either end frames the bed and removes any awkwardness of the bed in front of the windows.

The biggest design challenge – the bathroom – was completely outdated. The walls were painted cloth. Moisture on cloth? Eeewww.  To update the bathroom, Marlaina added an oversized trellis-patterned wall covering in charcoal gray and painted the trim a fresh white, and also built a custom wood surround for the tub.

To see the rest of the show house, follow this link. What do you think of the rooms? I think she did a great job and showed real creativity in the space planning and the shells on the fireplace wall. Designers pay for everything that goes in a show house room. We hope to sell enough of the furnishings to break even. Unless we own a furniture store, designers beg and borrow to create a room. Which is what I’ll begin doing in a few short weeks at the Junior League Show House here in Grosse Pointe.