When Design Styles Collide

When Design styles collide, that’s when the magic happens!

Nothing creates a more interesting, personalized and collected home like mixing Design styles. And I think that very idea intimidates most people. The thought of combining a Colonial dining table with modern chairs just comes with too much margin for error. How do you know which modern chairs will work with your classic dining table? And then what do you do about selecting a rug/light fixture/sideboard/lamps/art/mirror?

I’m not sure mixing design styles is something that can be taught. For me, mixing styles is intuitive - I “just know” what will work!

Take for instance, this Chattanooga client’s living room. We combined these ornate Rococo candle sconces from her collection with a modern drawing that we put in a clean lined glass frame. Opposites truly attract!

In the same room, a collection of “found” vintage pieces and contemporary works of art work perfectly over this modern sofa. Can you feel the client’s personalities here?

Same client, same room - modern print curtains provide the backdrop (and fabulous tension) to the antique armchair we had reupholstered in this yummy blue velvet.

Shall we go on?

In this Chattanooga dining room, we combined traditional French Louis chairs with modern art and a contemporary light fixture. More contrast is provided between the rough texture of the bamboo shades and metallic accents on the slick white and gold lamps. OH, and that’s a vintage carnival glass compote on the contemporary buffet!

Here’s a view into this gorgeous eclectic dining room from the kitchen. Viva the mix!

Here’s a recent dining room project that’s both rustic and refined. Artisan crafted table from hand-hewn planks combines with modern skirted dining chairs. Modern art and chandelier provide contrast to the antique Deco sconces and vintage Turkish rug.

This is where the magic happens!!

Yes, mixing Design styles creates memorable rooms. It also creates timeless rooms. Because so many periods and genres are represented, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when the room was done. There’s a collected over time feel that will continue to be added to as time marches forward, and each new layer will reveal something more about the people who live there!

So what do you think? Have I convinced you that mixed trumps matched?

If you’re in the Chattanooga area and struggling with creating your own memorable interiors, call Kim at 423.653.3186 to discuss your needs!

Here's Why I Think Chinoiserie is Timeless 2.0

Here is a blog post I wrote 4 years ago about the timelessness of Chinoiserie design elements. My feelings on the subject haven’t changed a bit, so I thought I would share it again today.

No doubt you've noticed the resurgence in popularity for all things Chinoiserie over the past few years, probably (sadly) to the point of oversaturation.  I remain undeterred.  I've loved Chinoiserie design elements for decades (seriously) and even though I'm disheartened to see it become so mainstream, I'm not ready to jump ship yet .

Here's why I think Chinoiserie has staying power.

1.  Chinoiserie prints are nature inspired.

Mother Nature has always been and always will be the greatest source of design inspiration.  Period. So it stands to reason that if we continue to look to nature for design inspiration, then Chinoiserie prints and wallpapers will always be relevant.

2. Chinoiserie is Whimsical

And couldn’t we all use a little humor in our lives?

Can you even look at this without smiling?

3. Chinoiserie plays well with others. (design styles)

Here (above) Chinoiserie blends perfectly with the modern console and lighting.

And below, Chinoiserie will always work perfectly with Classic furnishings and antiques!

Chinoiserie mixed with Louis chairs below - and put together in a most modern way.

4. Chinoiserie is bold.

Pagoda bed is not for the faint of heart!

The legendary Alex Papachristidis throws caution to the wind with an exuberant textile mix that is accented with whimsical Chinoiserie design elements.

5. Chinoiserie is timeless. We have been charmed by Chinoiserie for centuries and will continue to be for centuries to come.

The bedroom belong belonged to Oscar de la Renta in 1983.

Excuse the poor image quality below, but this Billy Baldwin room done sometime in the 1970’s demonstrates Chinoiserie’s staying power!

I rest my case!

If you’re in the Chattanooga and would like to live in timeless comfort and beauty, give Kim a call at 423.653.3186 . I’d love to hear about your project!

Interior Design Trends for 2019 and What It Means to You

Well, it’s that time of year again where design trends for the new year are being revealed by major media outlets. I always find their predictions so interesting - and to be taken with a grain of salt. After all, who are they to tell us how to live in our homes? I do have some thoughts on said trends and I’ll share those with you today.

1. Terrazzo is predicted to make a strong comeback, which makes you wonder if there really is anything new under the sun. Terrazzo enjoyed tremendous popularity in the midcentury era because of it’s low cost and low maintenance qualities. It’s also an attractive material because the color and pattern are easily manipulated to create different looks.

Here terrazzo is used as a counter top in a contemporary setting, but the confetti look of it will show up in smaller home decor items, wallcoverings, and fabric.

Terrazzo rug from Burke Decor.

I don’t currently see myself embracing the Terrazzo trend in a big way, but maybe it will grown on me.

2. Curvy Furniture - Perhaps it’s a deliberate counterpoint to all of the angular, modern furniture that’s been dominating interiors over the past several years, but furniture with curves is expected to be popular in 2019.

Didn’t realize we were setting trends at the time, but we just ordered this Cayman sofa from Miles Talbott for a client a few weeks ago. She saw this sofa on the sales floor of a local furniture store and absolutely fell in love with it, rejecting all other options we had considered. Because she had such a strong reaction, I wholeheartedly supported her decision, whether it was “on trend for 2019” or not.

A word of caution - sofas that curve have a larger footprint than a standard sofa. Make sure you read the furniture specs carefully to ensure you have the depth that a curved sofa requires!

3. COLOR! Well now, here’s a trend that makes me happy! And I think we’re talking more than just “pops” of color on neutral backdrops. Ugh. Enough of that look please!!! The pallor of beiges and grays are being replaced with layers of beautiful, vibrant color.

Can you tell I’m on board with this one? Color is everything in a room! It can create mood like nothing else!

Here a calming blue was used in combination with earthy rust accents to create a comfortable master retreat for some wonderful clients in Chattanooga.

In this Showhouse room by Atlanta’s Gordon Dunning, green is used to create a sophisticated, nature inspired retreat.

And speaking of green, look for green to challenge blue as the most favored color of 2019. Green has been my favorite color for decades and I don’t see that changing anytime soon! I’m still so enamored with these fabulous green velvet sofas seen below we used on a recent living room project in Chattanooga!

4. Kitchens - more classic, less industrial. Is this really a trend? Classic kitchens will always be stylish and in demand. The end.

This will never be wrong or “out”. A white kitchen with timeless finishes is forever stylish. Ditto on the white subway tile splash and polished nickel hardware. Kitchens are too expensive to replace to get sucked in by fleeting trends and wonky lighting - keep it Classic for timeless appeal!

I got one more for ya.

5. Murals and Scenic Wallpaper - This trend is already off and running and shows no signs of slowing down. Here’s a sneak peek of a dining room project in Chattanooga that I’ve been working on. It’s nearing completion and this amazing mural is the star of the show. It’s a one of a kind piece created exclusively for this dining room and it ‘s beauty and timeless appeal are undeniable!

So that’s my take on trends for 2019. Use what you love and it will bring you joy for years to come - regardless of what’s trending!

If you’re ready to create fresh and family friendly interiors that will stand the test of time, give Kim a call at 423.653.3186 to schedule a consultation!

The Most Timeless Print of Them All!

Floral. Ikat. Geometric. Paisley. Block Print. Plaid. Toile. There are so many wonderful prints to work with when it comes to decorating your home! I’ve found that people can be a little reluctant to incorporate prints into their homes - mostly because they’re afraid that whatever print they select will be “out” in a short period of time. I get it - decorating is expensive so we want to select design elements with real staying power!

What if I told you there was one category of print you should never fear?

It’s true and it’s a personal favorite of mine.

It’s the fresh and fabulous stripe!

Here are striped walls in a mud room in Veronica Beard’s weekend home as seen in Elle Decor. If I’m not mistaken, the stripes were hand painted.

I can’t get enough of this dramatic Shelley Johnstone designed dining room. The walls are upholstered in a Schumacher stripe. It’s so chic and so pretty - and completely timeless!

But don’t think decorating with stripes is limited to wall treatments.

These fresh blue and white striped chairs are in the home of Nashville designer Sarah Bartholomew. Stripes just never get old!

It’s also hard (for me) to resist a striped rug.

Did you even know you can have more than one stripe in a room? Here Mark D. Sikes fearlessly placed a striped sofa right on top of a striped rug! I love this room!!

Love these striped roman shades (below) in Harlem based designer Sheila Bridges’ chic and colorful kitchen.

For the timid decorator, striped pillows are a great way to interject the fresh, timeless feel of stripes to your room, ala Suzanne Kasler (seen below).

Here are a few more striped goodies to inspire. Enjoy!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed about decorating your home, give Kim at a call at 423.653.3186 and let’s work together to create place you’ll be thrilled to come home to!

Creating a Restful Master Bedroom Retreat in Signal Mountain, TN

Today I’m sharing a recently completed interior design project for some wonderful Chattanooga clients I’ve worked with for years!

For a frame of reference, here are a few other rooms in their home we’ve had the pleasure of transforming with them.

The foyer, seen below, was recently updated with architectural moldings, fresh white paint, a new light fixture and new furnishings.

Another fun project was this breakfast nook in the kitchen. We designed and custom built the window seat, updated the light fixture and furniture, and finished it off with custom window shades and pillows.

We then moved on to their living room seen above. New moldings, window treatments, a fireplace makeover and new furnishings all came together to create a welcoming space that’s comfortable enough for family but fancy enough for guests.

Our most recent project with this family was a makeover of the master bedroom. The homeowners were craving something light and simple. They were so pleased with the previous projects we had worked on together that they wanted to continue in that same vein.

Here’s quick photo of the room as it appeared before any work started.

We agreed that we would lighten the walls, add some interest to the bed wall with architectural moldings, and keep the palette light and simple.

Our clients also had a few pieces that were particularly meaningful to them and requested that we incorporate those pieces into the design of the room. And they love blue.

Here’s a mockup of the space I created to help them visualize how the finished room would look and feel. We were definitely going in a lighter, simpler direction with some textural elements. The mostly neutral bedroom would include accents of their favorite color too!

And here’s the finished product!

The moldings add interest and importance to the bed wall. We went with a custom upholstered bed in a soft shade of blue accented with silver nail heads. Gorgeous and restful! Our clients opted for these stylish wall sconces instead of lamps. I love a dash of the unexpected!

Did you notice the ceiling color? We brought a little more blue into the space by painting the ceiling a lovely sky blue.

We were also able to incorporate their painting for another shot of nature inspired color.

The turquoise pottery vase was another special piece they wanted to incorporate. It was a found on a recent vacation and brings those memories back whenever they see it.

We also went a little bold on our fabric selection for the curtains. They’re silk dupioni and really create a feeling of luxury in their bedroom. The curtains are lined with blackout and are mounted on a traverse rod for greater ease of use. These little details really go a long way to create an exceptional space!

We’re so pleased with how this bedroom came together and I can’t wait to work with these wonderful folks on their next project.

Thanks for stopping by!

Chattanooga Interior Design Project Reveal - Living Room

Today I'm sharing the final photos of a recently completed project here in Chattanooga for some lovely clients who trusted me to create a home that was both  sophisticated and relaxed. In my last few posts I shared the dining room, foyer and breakfast room makeovers.  Here's a shot of the breakfast room:

Could this space be any more inviting?  Fireside dining accented with nature inspired accessories is pretty hard to beat!  My client's love of Chinoiserie inspired decor guided most of our choices - and those whimsical roman shades provide the right amount of color and interest.

I shared the photo above so  you could see how the attached family room ties into the color palette and the feel of the breakfast nook.  

Here's a little peak from the kitchen into the family room.

The blues and greens found throughout the home's main level are repeated in the living room, along with nature inspired accessories and some textural rattan pieces.  The alabaster lamp was part of my client's personal collection, and it works beautifully in here.

Before we move on, I want to share a  "before" photo of the living room

It's a fantastic space with great bones and more beautiful symmetry!  We were missing color, texture, and some personality to match my clients' vibrant personality.

Here again we took advantage of the wonderful symmetry offered by the fireplace wall  and added some color and personality with vibrant furnishings and art. We kept the symmetry going with these fabulous opposing green velvet sofas and Louis armchairs. 

Colorful books and accessories could have made this area too busy, so we kept the rug and everything in the bookcases neutral. Their texture provides plenty of interest. 

Did you notice we changed out the chandelier too?  The gold  lantern fixture is a much better fit scale-wise and the open design keeps it from feeling too heavy.  

These framed Chinoiserie wallpaper panels are the star of the show, and they are completely gorgeous and timeless.  We had them mounted on foam board and custom framed in very simple gold leaf frames.  Since they are casual in style, my client's existing rattan side table and the natural fiber rug are perfect counterpoints to the dressy sofa and art. Using a mix of casual and sophisticated design elements creates elegance that is comfortable and livable!

This was such a fun project and I'm a little sad to see it end, but it's fulfilling to know how much my clients are enjoying living in these new spaces and how much joy it brings them every day!

If you're in the Chattanooga area and are ready to experience more joyful living at home, call Kim at 423.653.3186 and book your consultation!

Interior Design Project Reveal of a Chattanooga Living Room and Breakfast Nook

In my last post, I shared photos of a fun dining room project I recently wrapped up that really represents the type of work I love to do!  Here's the finished dining room:

We're so pleased with how it turned out and the rest of the home has a similar feel.

My clients and I share a love of classic design elements, antiques, and color mixed in with a few Chinoiserie accents.  As I mentioned in my previous post, Robin's Egg Blue is my client's favorite color, and since this dining room is right off of the foyer, we carried the Robin's Egg blue and red accents into the foyer's design - but in a more understated way.

Here's the foyer as it looked before:

So, I had a few things to work with when I started.  This altar table would remain as well as some of the small accessories. 

What was missing was color, and some personality.  Here's where we ended up:

I was able to re use my client's Chinoiserie inspired mirror that used to be in the dining room.  I think it looks great in the foyer over the Altar table.  And here's the blue and red from the dining room.  We used them as accent colors against the existing neutral wall color.

We swapped out the chandelier for something more whimsical,  and I just love the textural interest provided by those grasscloth chandelier shades.

The hand knotted, highly patterned runner is so forgiving - any little spots that are bound to happen just fade into the pattern.  I also like this type of rug because it brings a sense of history and tradition.  Don't you love it when form and function come together in such a beautiful way?

Finishing touches include a new lamp in my client's favorite color, the ceramic umbrella stand filled with a few of the their croquet mallets, and a lush fern to bring life and movement to the space. It's quite a dramatic change that was realized with a few simple changes!

Shall we move on to the breakfast nook?

Could this area be any more charming?  It's kind of hard to beat a fireside dining situation.

Again, we worked with the existing paint color and brought in tons of personality, beginning with these custom Roman shades.  A vibrant and whimsical print could have easily become overwhelming, but the simple tailored style of the shades keeps it in check. 

And let's talk about the symmetry for a sec.   When you have a perfectly symmetrical backdrop like this, I say you embrace it and keep the symmetry going as we did here.   Symmetry provides a feeling of calm and order - which is a good thing at the end of a busy day!

I have one more post of this home to share with you  - the living room - and you'll definitely want to stop by and see it.  It's one of my favorite rooms to date, so please stop by again!

If you're in the Chattanooga area and in need of some help with your interiors, contact Kim at 423.653.3186 to schedule your consultation today!

Chattanooga Interior Design Project Reveal

I'm so excited to share these images today!  This is a very recently completed project for some lovely Clients in the Chattanooga area who knew what they wanted style-wise, and completely trusted me to carry out the vision.  

The client and I share a similar design aesthetic - we both love color, classic design elements, and a little bit of whimsy!

When I was called in to help, my client shared that she had been working away at the dining room, and as you can see from the "before" photo below, the room was lovely!

Quite frankly, I wondered why she called me because she was already off to such a strong start!  It turns out she has an quite eye for great pieces, but she struggled with an overall "Big Picture" concept. 

My interview with her gave me lots of clues into her personal style and how to create the "wow" factor that was missing. I found out her favorite color was Robin's egg blue, and that when it was all said in done, she wanted the space to feel timeless but fresh.

She also wanted to retain the furnishings she had purchased up to this point, and I was happy to accommodate her request.  Her antiques are beautiful!

Take a look at the finished space!

As you can see, we managed to completely transform the space while working with the existing furniture - and a majority of her accessories!

We took a risk by painting her previously white woodwork in her favorite color - Robin's Egg blue.  We then took that color another step further by installing a fabulous sisal wallcovering in the same shade of blue. The contrast between the satin paint finish and the nubby grasscloth  provides just enough tension to keep things interesting - and it's such a gorgeous backdrop for her antiques!

Keeping her desired light and fresh aesthetic in mind, I had custom window treatments made up in a simple cream linen blend fabric with accents of cheery red.  The red is a little unexpected and adds a "happy" factor to the collected, layered look we were going for.

OK, extra points if you noticed that the mirror has been swapped out for this antique showstopper!  I spotted it at a local Chattanooga antique mall and knew it would be perfect in this space.  My client agreed wholeheartedly and it really makes quite a statement.

Did you notice the light fixture was replaced with an antique crystal chandelier?  It's definitely  an upgrade from the previous builder basic chandelier and adds some well pedigreed sophistication.

One thing I keep in mind with any space I'm working on is that a well decorated room is all about balance.  Crystal chandeliers and ornate mirrors create a feeling of formality, so we had the dining chair seats reupholstered in a playful animal print fabric to keep the mood fresh and youthful.

The spotted fabric is another unexpected selection that really updates these formal antique dining chairs.  Couldn't love it more!

I'll be sharing photos of the other rooms in this beautiful home, so be sure and check back in soon!

If you're in the Chattanooga area and looking for a designer to take your interiors to the next level, call Kim at 423.653.3186 to schedule your consultation!