Monday, September 8, 2014

Brimfield Round UP!

One of my favorite weeks of the year ... The Brimfield Antique Fair!

Last week I ventured out earlier in the week than I normally do.  I tend to go on Thursday's because I love Mays and J&J's Fields and that is when they both open.  But I decided to go on Wednesday this year ... you know "early bird gets the worm"!

My intention was to get back over the weekend to check out Mays and J&J, but real life does not allow one to go for two days!  Bummer!

Here are a few of the things that inspired me this year ... 

Large, beautifully bound books of old newspapers from the 1800's.  Gorgeous and I could see them actually used as an impromptu side table on their own ... you know, casually sitting there waiting for you to open them, but instead with your glass of wine on top! 


Love these carved wooden tables.  I call it the Rustic Garden Stool ...


We all might be getting a little bored with the large clamshell ... so now you can have a painted fiberglass piece of art instead.  I actually love this ... 


How about some petrified and glossed up tree trunk tables.  
The colors are stunning ... 




I am still a sucker for metal floral chandeliers.  This one was about 36" wide and I don't have anywhere to hang it.  A serious Crime.




I came home with 4 very large soup spoons for Don and 6 Gothic Forks for me. 
Yea ... I just downsized, remember??

Have you seen anything new that has inspired you lately? Please share!

Making the World More Beautiful.  One Room at a Time.

xo, kim


Monday, August 11, 2014

The History of Modern ... Patrick Dragonette!


Are you ready for more Inspiration? 

Another Speaker from Design Camp that truly knocked my socks off (sandals ... did I mention it was 107° in Las Vegas?)


While Patrick truly regaled us with his knowledge of all the past and present design icons ... he was so inspirational in his delivery.  You absolutely know, when listening, that this man is passionate about his love (and true KNOWLEDGE) of mid-century design!

And his inspiration seemed to be absolutely Billy Haines.




William Haines Designs carries on the Haines legacy by faithfully reissuing the original Haines furniture designs with great accuracy and penchant for this style known as Hollywood Glamour. Peter Schifando and J. Jonathan Joseph are extending the Haines aesthetic with painstaking accuracy and fulfilling the current demand for Hollywood Regency design. With an A-List clientele, which includes Nancy Reagan and Betsy Bloomingdale, it is only befitting that these iconic, classic designs from William Haines grace their homes.

Taken from the William Haines Design Web Page

While I don't think I would ever design a room completely in MCM ...  I do believe that just like any other era of design, bringing in a piece or two will make your space that much more fun and unique!  These are some of my favorite pieces from the Collection ... and they can work in ANY design style.


The Brentwood Chair






The Elbow Chair



The Pull-Up Chair



Dragonette is one of the country’s top resources for high-end mid 20th-century design and has made the works of William Haines a specialty and totally brought me down the rabbit hole with him after listening to him speak.

And of course Dragonette designs as well ... he studied theatre in New York before he turned his passion of antiques into a lifestyle ... and I love that you can feel the theatrics in his spaces.







The continuing theme from Design Camp ... Mix It Up and Do what you LOVE!

Making the World More Beautiful.  One Room at a Time. 

xo,

kim

Monday, August 4, 2014

Color Prediction (Not) with Susanna Salk and Sandra Espinet ...

Hello, Hello ... I have so much to share you better tighten your bootstraps ... or use your toes to grab on tight to your flip flops!


Last week I had the pleasure of attending Design Camp in Las Vegas.  If you can imagine 325 Interior Designers, design students to celebrity designers.  All gathered in one (big) room to be inspired by one another, learn about new trends both in design and social media, and my favorite part ... meeting new and re-connecting with old friends to inspire one another.  Let's face it ... Social Media Rocks.  But NOTHING beats one-to-one relationships!




Thank you Lori and Kelly !


Here we go ... 
Up First.  Color Trends.






First Up ... Susanna Salk who shared images and the stories of the spaces she collected for her newest book Decorate Fearlessly.  I have a huge crush on her ... she is so down to earth, so talented and I am convinced that she and I could be fast friends!  
She has the wonderful gift of making everyone feel that way!




The book celebrates Fearless Design ... Going for it and making it work!


No, not everyone can do this and make it look this good.  
The message here, however, is ... design for you or your client with what you/they love and bring it together without some pre-conceived idea that everything has to be "on-trend".

 You like dark, brooding, full spaces ... Go For It.


You want light, open, spacial designs ... Go For It.

And say, perhaps you want giant palm trees in your bedroom ... 
well, by all means Go For It.

But notice the design ... if you are going to do it .... DO IT!
Don't skimp!


The takeaway.
There are no rules.  
Trends, yes.  No Rules.




We were also treated to Sandra Espinet.  Yeah, I'd like to be her friend as well!



She has traveled literally everywhere.  It started when she was very young and moved everywhere with her family. Her love for travel has just grown stronger as she continues to search the World for inspiration and items to bring back to use for clients homes. 

And her new book, The Well Traveled Home, will delight your senses with her travels and how she brings her well traveled vision to her spaces.  


Sandra is inspired by colors she sees in culture, and she brings those colors back to her clients to create new spaces.



She doesn't follow the trend, she creates the trend.
What is not to love about THAT?? 


So Ladies and Gentlemen ... Go for It.  Do what feels best to YOU.
Keep it FRESH by all means ... but don't hold back!


Very Freeing ... don't you think!

Making the World More Beautiful.  One Room at a Time.

xo,
kim


Monday, July 28, 2014

Vegas ... and other Monday Musings!

This Monday Rocks!  My bags are packed and I am traveling today with my good friend and Interior Designer Linda Holt.  We are off to Las Vegas to attend Design Camp! Which also means I will be going to the Las Vegas Furniture Market ... follow me on IG and Twitter to be one of the first to know what's new!

In the meantime, I have a little progress to share at #ProjectDownSize.
We have been contemplating what to do with the fireplace holes in our brick wall ...

There was a big push to put in a gas fireplace.
Ultimately, I could't justify the cost of the insert, running the propane line, etc. etc.



It is now People and Pet Friendly ...
  Wine Bar and Dog Bar ... all in one!



Last week I was jamming with clients so that I could leave town and I had to miss a wonderful opportunity to lunch with fellow NorthEast bloggers.

They sent me these ... how cute is THAT!!



My luggage tag is being put to good use today, Thank you Sandy!

You should go check out my sweet New Friends ... 

And the treat bag from Jeanne ... she couldn't make it (she is in Seattle!) either. But she sent treats any way ... yeah, I am officially a slacker!

Thank you so much Ladies!  Looking forward to meeting you all soon!

Making the World More Beautiful.  One Room at a Time.

xo,

kim

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Nail Art ...

No, not what you are thinking ... but this.


As we continued our trek through Alabama, we stopped here.
Look at the nail line up.
Can you imagine the person that did this?
Such precision.
Rows and Rows.
Pride in Workmanship.
This person must be an artist.

You will never guess.

This was the inside of one of the oldest remaining log jails, circa 1868, in Alabama..
To keep the prisoners from sawing their way out,
the wood beams were lined with nails.


You know me by now.
And how I am moved by history and the art of day to day life.

What I find most interesting is that this place, meant to house those who were to be put away, there was still a pride in workmanship.



It's what draws me to the artisans of today.
Those that still take pride in their work.
Because, guess what, if you are lucky enough ... someone might have the opportunity to see your work in about 200 years.


What will your legacy be?  

Making the World More Beautiful.  One Day at a Time.

xo,

kim

Friday, July 18, 2014

Friday Snip-It's ... YaYa Style!


1.  Lisa always packs something fun for dessert!
2.  Lots of these!
3.  Cindy's Rockers that welcome us!
4.  Fun packaging to some Ya Ya Gifts.
5.  Yes, We did.  YOLO!
6.  My Ya Ya's.  Life Long Friends.  Family.

We always leave feeling inspired, motivated and energized by one another.  And the men in our lives deserve awards for putting up with us for the weekend!

Making the World More Beautiful.  One Room at a Time.

xo,

kim

Thursday, July 17, 2014

TBT ... Design Evolution.

 If you follow me on IG, you know we just returned from a RoadTrip.
 #massachusettstoalabama ... It was one crazy wonderful Ride!

Back at home and hitting the pavement running ... 
and while keeping several projects going I have also been putting plans in motion to update my Webpage and Portfolio.

As I looked through my online Portfolio, I did a little reminiscing about past projects and thought I'd share a few of my early favorites!

Here's a little TBT for you ... oldies but goodies!



I've said this about blogging friends and I will say it about my clients.  I have been so thrilled to work with so many wonderful families and the friendships that have developed make me smile.


In fact, the worst part about finishing up a project with a client is that I don't get to see them as much!


I've read several interesting blog sites lately about picking the right Client/Interior Designer.

One particularly good one was this by Lauren.



Absolute Truth. 
My best clients are the ones that have trusted me the most and let me create.  
The ones that have not worked out so well are those where there is 
no trust or "game" as I call it!


This does not mean that they do everything I suggest ... 
they do give me the rope to do what they hired me to do.


These photos represent the beginnings of a wonderful Interior Design experience and while I don't see them as much anymore they will always be a part of me!



I cannot wait to show you all the new projects ... photos coming soon!

In the meantime, thanks for coming along on my ride as I continue my goal to ... 

Making the World More Beautiful.  One Room at a Time.

xo,

kim

Friday, July 11, 2014

Feeling the Heat ... in Hot Springs!

Yes, it is one of my favorite weeks in the year ... the YaYa week!  And we are Road Tripping.  We are driving from Massachusetts to Alabama.  Why you ask? Well, my favorite people in the world and I ask you ... "why not?"!


In our quest to make life fun, we decided to stop along the drive at the Homestead in Hot Springs VA.  When I was in the hotel business, I visited ... it was probably 15 years ago at least.  And I started telling Callie about it and how fun it was, families vacationing "old style".  And one of my favorite memories was going to the Jefferson Pools that have been there for over 200 years and soaking in the 
"healing" waters of the baths.  


After an 11 hour drive on Day 1, it just seemed fitting that we begin our celebration with some bubbly!



Now Callie is an only child on this leg of the trip ... so she got to pick ... we started the day with yoga.  Thankfully the class was small and we were all pretty much beginners!

Then off to the Jefferson Pools BathHouse ... 


It looked just like I remembered and couldn't wait to have Callie and I put on the Rompers!

Then the note ... 


I told Callie of the beautiful older black woman who gave me my romper to put on and she told me how she made all the rompers for the guests.  
She is no longer there and I have to believe no one else wanted to take up that task in today's world. 
I was sad not to see her and I hope she felt my love today.



The Mineral Pools have never been proven to really be healing ... but they are certainly good for the soul.
I loved thinking about all the people that have come there before us looking for something.
I hope they left happy like we did.



I truly don't think much has been done here over the years and there was a terrific loveliness in that.


Our Dressing Room ... 


I love feeling history ... and I mean "feeling" history.  We spent about an hour here and when we walked out there was truly a feeling of peace.

Making the World More Beautiful.  One Room at a Time. 

xo,

kim

Monday, July 7, 2014

Painted Kitchen Ceiling ...

Happy Monday Morning!  I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July.  Ours started out a little slowly due to Hurricane Arthur.  He sure knew how to stop the party here in New England ... and I did what any sane person would do when the party got cancelled.  Bought some new paint! 

So while I am marching forward in my "all white" kitchen.  Well, except for the Black counter tops and the Green Door and the Red Coffee Maker. 
Okay ... the walls are white.  
And I like it.  
Clean and Crisp in my little #projectdownsize kitchen.

But you know me ... I need a Touch of color.  Yes, a Touch.

And I, evidently, still need Gloss.  High Gloss.

San Pedro Morning.  Benjamin Moore. High Gloss.

And my absolute new favorite paint.  BM Advance.  


Still in progress ... and I can't wait to share when I am done.
It feels like Liquid Sunshine.

I think I am renaming the #projectdownsize house.

#TheGlossHouse might be more appropriate.
Life is short.  Why not make it Shine?

Go out and get some Shine this Week in whatever you do!

Making the World More Beautiful.  One Room at a Time.

xo,

kim

Friday, July 4, 2014

Friday Snip - Its ...


1.  Cooper is enjoying his #ProjectDownSize deck!
2.  Saw these beautiful flowers last week ...
Milk Jug Vase and SeaShells at the bottom.
3.  Home Depot had these round wooden things. I like them.
4.  Anna French Fabric came in and is absolutely delicious!
5.  Happy Safe and Beautiful Fourth of July!
6.  Rumor has it that my Wine Guy might be back!
7.  FarmHouse Renovation in progress!
8.  Copper Top Table a client possibility.
9.  Aren't there days you'd just like this to be your only mode of transportation?  yeah ... me too.

Making the World More Beautiful.  One Room at a Time.

xo,

kim
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