Colors to Covet!

I just recently received a Farrow and Ball paint deck! I have been coveting these colors for quite some time, but for some reason didn't request a deck until my last trip to Chicago. Love, love, love F&B! They have the kind of colors that when I need a red or taupe I just pull any from the deck and it will work! Below are a few of my favorite colors that I am working with right now.

Pigeon

 Stone White

 Stony Ground

 Strong White

Turquoise and Green......

I recently pulled this together for one of my young clients. I felt like the bold colors, large embroidered pattern, and velvet/linen zig zag were striking and fresh! 

Counter tops

Selecting counter tops can be challenging, especially when there are so many beautiful options!!! Here are a few facts about different counter top options that I love...


Granite-  A natural stone that is probably one of the most widely used counter top materials. Why? Well, it comes in hundreds of varieties, has almost zero maintenance, and  is one of the hardest materials which lends to its virtually scratch-proof, burn-proof, stain-resistant, and heat-resistant qualities.

Traditional Kitchen design by Other Metros General Contractor Gabriel Builders Inc.

Marble- Also a natural stone that is absolutely gorgeous! Marble is not quite as hard as granite which can make it more susceptible to to stains and scratches, however these mishaps really give it a beautiful patina that only gets better with age! If you are not a fan of this look, occasionally sealing it helps protect against these mishaps. Selecting a honed finish creates not only an aesthetically beautiful, but also is a great way to minimize the appearance of scratches as well. Not to mention it is a dream to all those bakers out their who enjoy a non-stick surface for rolling dough!

Traditional Kitchen design by Chicago Kitchen And Bath Rebekah Zaveloff

Soapstone- This makes for rich and striking appearance, especially when used in combination with white cabinetry. It is a dense smooth surface that is great cooking and baking and is chemically inert, non-reactive to harsh chemicals, and extremely heat stable. Cooks enjoy the ability to set hot pans directly on the surface.  It will not stain, and liquid cannot permeate its surface. However, soapstone is soft and scratches easily- these scratches create a beautifully natural patina on the stone’s surface over time and should be expected with everyday wear. 

Traditional Kitchen design by Philadelphia General Contractor Current Works Construction Inc.


Wood-  The application of wood used as countertops brings a  warm and welcoming appeareance to a kitchen. Now, like many of you I too was very skeptical of using wood as a counter top, but after researching a bit, I quickly found out that its all about the type of wood, and type of sealer used. Regular sealing is requtired but by doing this, it keeps water from ruining it by filling in  the pores of the wood and thus keep water out. Even better.... "Waterlox" is a sealing product that can be used which is unlike other sealers by the fact that you don't have to keep re-applying it through the years. Also just like any other counter, you don't want to cut on it or you will of course leave marks. However, if with time water or scratchs do happen, you can have it sanded and resealed.

 

Traditional Kitchen design by New York Kitchen And Bath Brooks Custom

Bonjour!!

My husband and I just came back from our first holiday in France. One word to describe our trip......Incredible. We traveled from Paris to Cannes by rented car to take in as much as we could. Everything from the way Parisians sat at Cafe tables (everyone at the table would face out towards the street) to the cobblestone streets of the medieval village of Gordes amazed me. Many times I found myself standing and staring....just taking it all in.

One of my favorite places that we visited was the Abbey Senanque in Gordes France. We were fortunate to be there when the Lavender was in full bloom. The Lavender is usually harvested around the end of July so were just in time! While at the Abbey, I had a moment of complete awe. I just stood there smelling the Lavender and taking in the stunning hue of purple that was in full display!

My husband and I visited Chateau de Chenonceaux. One of my favorite Chateaus! As we were leaving, the GPS directed us through the village of Chenonceaux. I slammed on the brakes, pulled over, grabbed the camera and told my husband we had to snap pictures. The village was stunning. Unfortunately I didn't get very many clear photos as the sun was setting and I'm new to working with a fancy camera, but this picture is pretty clear. A sample of the ambiance of the entire town. Gorgeous!

We meandered through many villages. The photo below is of St. Remy. A charming town in the Provence Region. 

I have many more photos to share. Mostly of iron, doors, windows, etc.... basically architectural elements that I find inspiring. I will be posting those later this week so check back! For now, Au Revoir!

A Little Bit of Press......

I was just featured in a small blurb in St. Louis At Home Magazine!

Crystal And Marble Equal.......

"Glamour" and "Girly". A client of mine used these two words to describe her desired powder room. My first thought.....crystal and marble! The two paired together are quintessentially feminine. I started by painting the walls a soft white, added carrara marble floors and vanity top, threw in a splash of a soft grey blue with hints of gold, and topped it off with a crystal chandelier. One stunning powder room = satisfied clients and one happy designer!

Before

After

Whats Been Going On........

Just got back from a shopping trip in Atlanta. One of my favorite places to go. As usual it was fun, but exhausting......yes, shopping can be tiring! Three days of running around, snapping photos, e-mailing and texting photos, picking up and lugging furniture and accessories around, and coordinating the loading of a truck...... all while maintaining calls and e-mails from day to day business life that is taking place in St. Louis! Have I made you tired yet? Anyway, back to the fun stuff........here are a few snapshots of some of my finds!

I didn't end up purchasing these items, but I did find a great deal of other unique furniture pieces and accessories that are currently on their way to St. Louis. Hoping they arrive this week! Unloading a truck and seeing all of the goodies again is like Christmas! Can't wait!