There is something so simple yet exquisite about a beautifully designed chair. My son recently designed and built a chair for his high school engineering class. He used all recyclable materials–so I guess that makes it a “green” chair. He’s got a lot to learn about chair design but at least he is starting young.

Every chair seems to have  a very distinctive personality, don’t you think? Some are flirty:

Some are aristocratic and old world charming:

Some have great lines and would look fantastic in a bikini:

Some are buff and Brad Pittish:

And some are like your best friend–comfortable and always there when you need them:

Oh, yes, of course I lust for an original Eames, Le Corbusier or Saarinen.

But alas, I have four children instead. So I must settle for affordable, practical chairs in my home. But a girl can dream, right? These days I do my chair ogling at In Detail Interiors. It is a perfect fit–to be surrounded by beautiful chairs while I write about chairs!

Liz

Weeeel. Am back at my bed, er, desk from Spain and Cevisama, the Spanish tile show extraordina

Words cannot describe this trip so will let many many photos tell the tale. Heheheh. Me, short on words? Never. But will be posting one heck of a lot on this fabulous show. To begin with wanted to jump into some of the trends emerging, sustaining and those that should die a quiet death. I will be talking about my 5 favorite discoveries from Cevisama for the next 5 days!

I was brought to Cevisama as a guest of  Tile of Spain and part of a continent of journalists, architects and designers. What company I was in! Such personalities! Loved every one of them and of course will be handing out my awards in a later post.

Numero Uno!

One of the coolest things we saw and was universally loved by the architects and designers ( and trust me not a lot was agreed upon!) were the manufacturers who were producing the long and THIN slabs of porcelain. ( and YES I KNOW this was a big deal at last year’s show but this is about my impressions and this is a new trend that is not just sustaining judging from more mfr.’s joining the party but also about the penetration into the US market.)

As any designer of kitchens and baths will tell you, countertop options are relatively limited. You have your granites ( ho hum) your quartz options ( show me something new mister!), your laminates ( budget), wood tops ( not practical for all over), and of course there is always tile. But what is the big beef with most people when you mention tile countertops? The dreaded grout!  Grespania’s Coverlam showed last year at Coverings but this is first time I have seen it.  Naturally there are many great applications but my big thrill is for countertops and as solid panels in showers. Always looking for the next big thing.

Found it! 

• This material can be cut with a glass cutter
• Is lighter so transport is less costly
• Can be used on floors, walls, in the shower and exterior applications
• Several sizes
• Several colors
• Is resistant to UV light, chemicals and wear ( think of this as a countertop!)

WHAT IS COVERLAM???
Direct from the horse’s website: 
The limits on size and thickness formerly imposed by ceramics can now be surpassed .
Coverlam is a laminated porcelain tile 3 mm thick produced by mixing the natural raw materials, ground together in the presence of water, compacted using a technologically-advanced pressing system and then fired in a novel hybrid kiln (gas and electricity), which amongst other things enables major reductions to be made in CO₂emissions.
Furthermore, Coverlam is structurally reinforced by means of a glass fibre mesh 0.5 mm thick adhering to the back, endowing it with optimal mechanical strength.

Thanks to its thickness of merely 3.5 mm, Coverlam weighs only 7.8 kg/m². This means that Coverlam is considerably easier to cut and handle and notably reduces the logistical costs of packing and transport.
Coverlam is resistant to bending, UV light, attack by chemicals, wear, fire and frost. Coverlam is recyclable and the manufacturing process achieves the highest degree of respect for the environment.

Grespania’s Coverlam. At 3.5mm thick, this is a a new introduction that will make waves.

Close up shot of this THIN material on a countertop. I like it.

 Porcelanosa also had large thin slabs of porcelain that I loved but will be talking all about them in another post. I think Grespania has done it right and I really like the color selection.

Colors are great neutrals!

Look for Number 2 tomorrow!

Yeah well I would have at least done my hair had I known this photo would be all over the place!!

So here you go in one quick post! Not sure how you get on their short list because quite frankly not sure how I got on. This was how it went down. I kept seeing colleagues and other folks tweeting and face booking ( is that in Webster’s yet?) about Tile of Spain’s competition to attend this year’s Cevisama tile show in Valencia AND tour architecturally important Spanish landmarks, tour factories and all sorts of cool stuff I love to do.  Since tile is an integral part of my daily life ( the design assistant team at the shop know how to get me in a GOOD mood…order me new tile samples…) and I love to travel…no brainer. I decided to enter my name into the hat. Two days prior to the end. With zero hopes of actually winning, I wrote straight from the heart and (literally) straight from my mind short answers to their questions on the application. I think it may have been the “Just say no to tumbled marble” that got me the nod. Who knows? I am not questioning the Gods of good fortune and am packing my bags!

But what is Tile of Spain? It is a private organization whose objective is to support Spain’s ceramic tile manufacturers ( consists of 125) and the industry as a whole by promoting the Tile of Spain brand worldwide. They have a wonderfully informative website Here where you can read about current trends, awards, design ideas and tips about ceramic tile. Check it out as I was surprised what great information the site contained.

As well as meeting all these great new people, I will be taking a TON of photos to share with you and also for a few articles I have been asked to write. When? I do not know. Think I will have an opening between 3 and 4am one night! Ah but what fun! I love it and can sleep on the plane! Or when I am dead and gone! For now, it is time to brush up on my Spanish ( consisting of por favor and counting to ten) pack, and make sure all my clients are tucked in for the next week until I return. But they know too how invigorating these trips are for my creative spirit and inspiration! Wish you all could go!

Hasta la vista!!

( And most definitely not this horrid 3 bowl idea that apparently was invented by someone with more time on his hands that design savvy… who wants to clear a plate in a super shallow itty bitty sink? Bah.)

But let’s talk about pros and cons. I know the usual discussion centers around sweeping the crumbs into the sink easier on an undercount version. Yep this is true. But what about the crumbs on the rest of the countertops? We do not see people installing little undercount containers at specific intervals in the rest of installed counters do we? Of course not but would be funny to have our crumbs legislated like we do with electrical outlets being mandated every 4 ft! Lordy! Don’t let the government hear about this or next thing you know it will be in the codes!

And of course the look is almost always great like in this Blanco Siligranit sink. No arguments there!

I love this sink! But let’s talk about other considerations of under mount vs over mount installation.  Just for fun.

**It costs more to polish the interior rim. In my market up to $250.

**If you use a fire clay type sink ( I have one so I know) they are not particularly level and it is much harder to get a good and even caulk line..thus, the rim catches all types of groodah. And this is much tougher to clean along the inside rim than outside rim! Think about it! And rarely do I see perfect installs where there is not some risk of groodah penetration along the inner rim and the sink can come loose ever so slightly from the clips holding it in place and then this allows groodah penetration as well.

**Like stated earlier, crumbs sshmums. Arguably, one has crumbs all over the counter and no one freaks out and installs undercount “things” everywhere to sweep them into so why make it such an issue for the sink?

**Once you install under mount sinks, you are living with it. Forever. Or, as long as you keep the existing tops. Countless times people see me wanting to change one out and no can do as most are with a specific radius and is most difficult to replace. Over mount sinks just need to be similar size as can enlarge hole if necessary and there is room in the cabinet.

**Most importantly….WHOA….super style in the new Blanco sinks ( and existing ones as well) that are zero radius or over mount. Making a statement has never looked so good!

Blanco’s Modex sink. A 2012 Red Dot International award winner for it’s 3 inch raised profile and dual draining system. And is good looking! Love the drainboard concept and the slope!

Blanco” s Micro Edge is a work of art. This ultra thin rim provides a seamless look but with the ability to still sweep crumbs! Blanco does it right with 18 gauge sturdy stainless steel.

My personal have from the show. Look at that bad boy edge! Sexy! Sadly is not available yet in the states.

So don’t think I am against under mounted sinks. Definitely not. I still specify them more often than over mount versions.   I just hate when it is portrayed as the “only” way to do it. And of course I always like to stir the pot.

Perhaps before the market was provided with good looking and functional top mounted options, it was the only thing to do for solid counter tops. But now, we have options to suit the needs of each client and working surface.

And remember, don’t quote me the crumb rationale unless you have crumb catchers strategically placed on all your counter tops!

Always interested in your opinions so weigh in! Don’t worry I can take it!

After getting a really good night’s sleep, I am ready to hit the pavement and get back to work. I have lots to share on the blog about my impressions of the show, Blanco new products and other manufacturer innovations and ideas but first want to talk about the trip’s greatest highlight: the people. For me, it is always about the people first and foremost.

Not just the other folks on the Blanco by Design but the people who are part of the Blanco family here in the states as well as in Germany.  I hate to get all schmaltzy and ruin my perfectly good bad girl persona but this group of people are not only top notch professionals but kind and generous individuals. I am lucky to be included in the group and am humbled by my colleagues each time I meet up with them all.

There is not enough adjectives to adequately describe all the varied fantastic personalities on the trip and I am embarrassed to say I did not get a chance to meet all of the Blog Tour Cologne designers and bloggers. I will hope to rectify this at the next event where we may meet! And, no doubt I am biased but must say the Blog Tour Cologne group had quite the buzz going whenever they were together.  I marvel at how Veronika at Modenus is able to put together such dynamic groups over and over again. And I thought our Blog Tour London group certainly could not be topped! ( click on photos to take you to the respective links)

Lori Dolnick is part of the Blanco marketing team via Frank Advertising. She is the glue that holds the Design Council together with Blanco and is a key member of the marketing efforts of Blancoamerica . To me, she is simply a wonderful human being. But on this trip, I vote Lori “Most Unflappable”. Not ever seen her cage rattled! Here she is at the Sports Museum in Koln, walking the line…so to speak!

Another vital personality of the Blancoamerica marketing team. Christy Emens is not only (duh!) gorgeous but a very savvy woman. I loved talking to her on varied interesting topics ranging from marketing strategies to ghosts!  I vote Christy “Most likely to incite a riot on the streets of Koln”. Do you doubt me?

And of course our leader of all things Blanco! Tim Maicher ( shown trying to horn in on Koln Carnival time!) is one of a kind. A brilliant marketing mind coupled with an intensity that is to be admired topped off by a sense of humor that would make the most stalwart German giggle! I always am alive when Tim is around. This is how he makes you feel. I vote Tim “Most Inspiring”.

And then there is my erstwhile traveling companion. Nick Lovelady is a principal and designer at Cupboards Kitchens and is one heck of a guy. We laughed, snarked, rolled our eyes and were inspired by so much at the show. The trip was just more fun with Nick around. And despite catching a bit of a bug, Nick hung in with all the events. i vote Nick “Most likely to carry on” despite German ..er, germs. MWAH!

I have known this lovely lady, Susan Serra for a few years now and always treasure our time together. She too, is an inspiration to me. An incredibly accomplished Kitchen Designer but also a very astute business woman. She has multiple awesome businesses! I love Susan’s direct approach and she always has an opinion. Which, makes me vote Susan “My Kindred Spirit”. X0X0

Two new Design Council members I had yet to meet, Ken and Grace Kelly, were such a treat. They jumped right in with this crazy crowd and it was apparent they were the perfect additions to the group. I angled to sit near Ken whenever possible to discern his secrets to success. We talked of “hanging fruit”, employees,teenagers and I was even able to give Ken an idea or two as well! I was so honored when he whipped out his phone to write it down. This is the sort of trading of business practices that makes these events a BONUS plus for us all. I vote Ken and Grace “Most Real” and I thank them for being so willing to share ideas! Kitchens by Ken Kelly

My friend Leslie (KB Culture blog) is always an interesting traveling companion. As a writer, editor, and design lover, she brings a different viewpoint to many things we see. Leslie is quieter than the rest of us (thank God!) but do not overlook her gentle demeanor for not having things to say! Leslie has the ability to slow me down…a tad….long enough to really listen to what she is saying and thinking. I love her for this. I vote Leslie “Most Eurdite!”

And this sparkly lady is none other than renowned author and Kitchen Designer, Kelly Morisseau of Kelly’s Kitchen Sync. Kelly was one of my partners in crime going to Amsterdam as well and we had a blast. From walking and shopping and….resting…we all loved Amsterdam and Kelly’s bits of info she gave us on the local scene. We walked the show some together and marveled at the European innovation and cried a little about what we would not be able to get in the states. I love this woman and her ever present BIG smiles. I vote Kelly “Most full of Happy Thoughts”! Oh and say hi to Blog Tour Cologne participant Todd Vendituoli!

The stunning woman surrounded by all the guys? That would be the unsinkable Andie Day. Andie is an Interior Designer and business woman extraordinaire. She also happens to be a man magnet. We all discussed how to be around her just to garner a bit of the overflow male attention! What these guys do not see  on the surface is the inner beauty of this talented designer. She is always willing to talk, share her ideas, listen to yours, commiserate and be your friend. A truly exceptional person and am happy to know her.  I vote Andi as “Most likely to become your best friend”. ( That Todd snuck into a lot of pictures didn’t he!!:) Also here is Ken Kelly, Tim Bogan from Modenus.

Somehow I did not seem to snap even one photo of my good friend Jamie Gold! 1000 lashes for me!! So I am pinching this picture from Facebook and using it. Apologies to Jamie! Jamie who is a well known author as well as kitchen designer is someone from the group I have known the longest since meeting her in my NKBA chapter rep days. She is always a delightful traveling companion and love chatting with her about design and life in general. Always insightful, Jamie has followed a few paths to get her where she is today and is also another inspiring individual. She moved her life thousands of miles away and started fresh when most people are settling down. I admire her guts and determination. I vote Jamie as “Most likely to land on her feet” . X0X0

Jamie’s fab book just hot off presses a few months ago!

The cover of Jamie’s new book…and I am in it too! I am so proud of my friend!

More coming up on other folks along for the trip on Blog Tour Cologne!

Follow these great folks at the links below!

Nick at Cupboards Online

BlancoAmerica and Blanco Design Council

Leslie at KB Culture

Jamie at JG Kitchens

Susan at the Kitchen Designer

Kelly at Kelly’s Kitchen Sync

Andi at Andi Day

Ken and Grace Kelly at Kitchendesigns

So let’s talk about Jamie’s book. Full disclosure though, I have two kitchens in the book so am hardly unbiased!  But really, Jamie has done a very thorough job in this easily read and informative guide to kitchen specifics.  ( look for a future post about the projects of mine that were selected)

This should be required reading for anyone considering remodeling a kitchen, any newcomers to the kitchen and bath world (ahem…In Detail newbies!!), or anyone considering pursuing a career in the design field. Not only is it full of great kitchen designs, but Jamie does a great job breaking down all the elements that go into designing a kitchen in a way that’s not so overwhelming. From fixtures and flooring to wood choices and lighting, not a thing is left out.

If you’ve ever survived a kitchen remodel you have probably experienced the insane in-depth processes it requires. I love tackling a good kitchen challenge, but a lot more goes into creating a successful kitchen than granite and stainless steel appliances.  People come to me for a reason (well ok more than one): because I’ve mastered how to maximize a kitchen remodel. Each selection I make is carefully considered, not only as an individual unit and how it serves and reflects the client, but how it harmonizes with all the other elements in the kitchen.

This book walks you through everything you need to consider before starting a kitchen remodel, especially if you are the homeowner. I really liked how the book was laid out and organized. It allows you to jump around to the areas of most concern without losing anything. The photos are all gorgeous and lots and lots of details shots! Excellent! Needless to say I am very proud of Jamie’s efforts here and honored I was called upon to contribute to this project.

The book is available from Amazon and Jamie’s blog is another must read!

Stay tuned for updates from imm cologne! We are all very excited to be back together with Blanco and this year have the added fun of hanging out with the Modenus crew and seeing more old friends and making new ones. Love my job!

Until tomorrow!

The front half of our building is home to a super cool ( I think anyway) furnishings showroom. We love having this available for our clients as well as retail walk ins. What is NOT available for retail walk ins is the samples we have in back, access to our fabric resource room, and the things we use every day for our design clients. This is for several reasons but primarily because these are items we use for our clients who are paying us for our expertise and putting things together and this includes samples and fabrics that are not readily available otherwise. Ok, so maybe we want to keep some of these “ideas” for our design folks  to have unique offerings. Call it what you like but this is the way it works for many designers and in our case it also has to do with the scarce amount of space we have in the shop. Our back area is always being used by our team.

So I get a person who wants to “maybe” use our design services but does not want to “pay” for it because she “might” buy some things from us. This is not how we work. Anything on the retail floor is open for retail clients as is our very skilled showroom manager. But this person was insistent over a period of time that she wanted access to our back room design samples. No amount of tactfully explaining how we worked or trying to work out an equitable solution ( without compromising how we work) was getting through to this individual. On top of all this, this person treated the design assistants like they were teenagers working the snack bar. This is NOT ok with me. And, you can say I let it be known it was not ok. In so many words.

I am wondering if the proliferation of design sites and blogs have given people the sense that all of a designer’s resources are open to anyone who happens to walk in the door? That you have the “right” to access the “back of the house” so to speak because I have a retail showroom?  Or is it sites like Houzz? (where I  currently have over 200 questions waiting to be answered.) People seem to think designers should answer all these questions for free! That we have an “obligation” to tell them every single details when all we are really doing is sharing project photos for inspiration. Which is really A LOT if you ask me!  If you want to know all the info, then please, feel free to hire me!

What do you think? From both sides….as a DIY person or homeowner as well as a professional. Share your thoughts!

Off to work now!

Love the thrill of finding something that speaks to me!

Our design aesthetic is to create beauty from every day items you may already have as well as acquiring new pieces to enhance the vision. To this end, we are now working with spotters in a couple of areas looking for unique items for the shop too! I love how the feel of the shop has evolved and has so much more depth now that we are introducing more accessories but also “found loves”. This is one of them! And just so happens to incorporate my current appetite for corals and greens! See below for some other coral and green inspiration!

These beautiful girls are inspiring on all levels! But the young lady in the middle is my daughter…wearing…coral and green! She told me she had to find a coral necklace to work with her green dress and she did!

The day after we met with a client for a living room redo. The resource room is our haven of fabrics!

Off to work!

As many of you know who may know me virtually or in real life, I am always about redoing something in the little beach house I share with my husband, daughter(s), border collie and new addition, Luna the devil dog. (and with her around it is much easier to justify as she is chewing her way through just about every part of the house!)

It is an occupational hazard I suppose because I am around cool products, materials, fabrics every day and I am freak about innovation. Right now we are undertaking ( and I use the term “we” because I pick it and my husband has to install it) a bedroom redo. I desperately want to redo the bath even though is only 8 yrs old…what??? I have evolved since then! And it was post Ivan and well, my thoughts were getting back into my home after the hurricane and NOT designing a bathroom!

My goal now is to plan for the future and aging in place. (please do not point out here the lack of an elevator because I am ignoring that expense until my children can do payback which with the current state of the job situation could be like, never)

Whoa! Impressive stats.

If you ascribe to any sort of holistic ideas on health and your wellbeing, you know the concept of nirvana is often tied to nature returning to it’s source. Like the womb. I am not that touchy feely of a gal but I do believe warmth and water are a relaxing ambience for anyone. And, I think this ambience is akin to entering a “womb like” state. Any parent knows swaddling is the best way to calm a baby and give them the “safe” feeling they had before entering the big bad world right? This is how I feel about steam therapy.

Let’s face it. We are all overworked and underpaid. Right? Or is this just me? I am designing my bedroom to be less about my personality that IS, and more about my personality that I WANT TO BE. Meaning, relaxed and stress free. And yes, my husband does get a vote. A vote. I get 100 votes. It is just how our electoral system works around here. Go figure. It is Florida.

Despite the overuse of the words, spa and retreat, in current popular mags, this is truly what I want to have. More on the bedroom redo later in a series entitled ” I would never want to be my own client”. But for my eventual bath redo, my first purchase will be  steam shower unit from Mr Steam. I think the benefits of steam therapy make it a not a luxury but a necessity especially with any client wanting a true aging in place design.

Steam therapy promotes restful sleep, cleanses your body better than just soap and water, helps with muscle tightness, and most importantly to me…is a natural ( no pills needed) de-stressing tool. I firmly believe as you age, a combination of steam therapy and yoga can keep your body supple and younger way beyond the chronological number. The (ahem) older I get, the more I emphasize to my clients, the best bath design is not just about how gorgeous the space looks but how well it functions. And, how well the investment will function for aging in place considerations. No brainer really.

Mr Steam is recognized as a leader in innovation and design in steam therapy. They make it easy for you to handle the specifics of the sizing of a generator and your options with an  easy to use calculator. ( or you can call me and I will design your shower AND your bath…for a reasonable fee…..heheh). Even in a remodel it is not hard to add Mr Steam if you are opening your walls. And the generator can be remotely mounted. We have even placed them in the attic above the shower but a closet is usually nearby.

A custom shower design we did for a client incorporating Mr Steam. Note that there must be an enclosed shower.

I had the opportunity to meet Martha Orellana, the VP of Mr Steam when on BlogTour London just a mere month ago. In addition to being voted Most Fun, she was a lovely lady who really knows her stuff. We  chatted a bit about Mr Steam and I already know the product having installed it in a few projects but I will say her passion for the spa experience and how it can affect your lifestyle is contagious! Read more about Mr Steam HERE. And their blog is truly a wealth of information!

Keep checking back on the progress of that bedroom ( and bath) redo!

It is about the relationships you build…starting with the social connections on twitter, Facebook, pinterest, blogs and the like. And then putting names, faces and personalities to the tweets and posts is priceless. And you know? Everyone I met is REAL despite what people may say about social media. I found everyone to be as real as it gets. Different, unique and oh so fun! Just check it out!

Here we all are! Blog Tour London! I love this photo because there are so many real laughs going on. Notice Maryam’s (in the left corner) beautiful “laughing out loud” smile! Maryam has an interesting blog called My Marrakesh. A visual feast and some thought provoking text. I wish I could have spent more time with this uniquely talented woman!  I am voting Maryam “Most fascinating”!

Our local host with the most ! Irreverent and funny, I vote Tim “Most likely to know where to get the best drinks“. This concoction from The Gun, was mighty good….and packed a punch! I was teetering on my toes going back to the Citizen M.

And, who is this? Our fearless leader! In her VERY best candid camera pose! Anyone who is anyone knows of  Madame Modenus. Surely you do? V gets the “Uber Cool chick” award.

Oh so comfy is the Victoria and Albert new Cabrits as evidenced by Lynn Byrne of Decor Arts Now This accomplished  and stylish woman gets my vote for “Most Charming”!  I loved her sense of style and her blog is diverse and interesting!

Sponsor Mr Steam showed us all how to have a very good time! But hey, watch it Martha with Malik! Very sensitive there! I vote the Mr Steam team the “Most Fun”! These are two lovely people!

Robin of Urban Gardens also finds time to bond with Malik who is a resident of the Citizen M. In fact, what IS Robin doing with Malik??? I vote Robin Easy Peasy to get along with!   Sadly we never found any boots did we? Reading Robin’s blog inspires me to work outside in the yard! Ok, not really. I will start with a cute pair of gardening gloves!

Oh and Vitania of Verdisgrisvie!  I think she is the star here but Christopher Guy can come a close second! Cheryl says….Vitania is voted sweetest of all! Beautiful inside and out. She makes you feel like you are the only one around when you are talking to her!

Ok random insertion of pix. Had to make this black and white ’cause you may have gotten wrong idea by my BIG RED NOSE that I really had skipped out and was in a pub in Ireland making my ancestors proud….but whatever. I was doing a little kissy kissy here and look…Veronika was again, indulging my humor. Told ya she was cool.

 Chatty Patti  is hanging with her new friends…Malik and Gold finger. I hung out with Patti quite a bit and I am voting her “Most Photogenic”and “Prettiest Smile” Geesh! She never takes a bad photo and I think it is the 900 watt smile that does the trick! 

This was moments before all of us went on a big run, I mean walk, for Maggie’s Centres A wonderful organization that provides support for anyone affected by cancer. The lovely Nyla Free of Nyla Free Designs in upper left. I really liked meeting Nyla and I am voting her “Most Gracious”. She had a beautiful aura about her that just made you want to be her friend. The gorgeous girl in the front row is Erin who works with V at Modenus. She kept a good eye on us all and was a trooper staying late into the night to talk talk talk! And the best discovery was that we share a love of ethnic street food! I vote Erin “Most Adventurous”!

This kind man is voted Mr Debonair even though he goes by Mr Goodwill Hunting. A true southern gentleman! I am not sure I opened one door?? I enjoyed meeting Rashon and hearing about how he crafts beautiful things from thrift store finds!  A man after my own heart!

James Bedell is a lighting designer extraordinaire. I learned much from asking him 1,564,987,567,563 questions. Always explained with a smile and much eagerness to share his knowledge. Late night conversations with him and Erin of Modenus gives me great hope for our world!  I vote James “Mr. Calm”! 

I love this shot in the window of sponsor And-so-to-bed..what fun! I think it is a great shot of Jill Seidner, a talented designer in Los Angeles and a contributor to Material Girls Blog. I did not spend as much time with Jill but am hoping we will cross paths again. I am voting Jill “Most Relaxed”! Never saw her feathers ruffled! 

Great shot of Jennifer and Robin on the streets! I always wanted to sit near Jennifer from Dec-a-porter because she has such great  business savvy and design insights! Every conversation was interesting and fun!  I vote Jennifer “Most inspiring”!

Oh and here is Raina from A stylist’s life (cheating on Igor) with Christian from Maison 21! These two were fun…and funny!  I am most definitely voting Raina “Most Entertaining” (loved the tales of blogging wars!) and Christian….Driest sense of humor!  Quick witted and always a zinger to liven up the group!

Here is the happy Igor from Happy Interior Blog with some UK Bloggers   (whom?? advise  me, those in the know!) and Igor is last in the list here but he gets too take home the “Sexiest Blogger on the Tour” award! I think it is his charming and laid back demeanor and witty comebacks that does the trick! Love you Igor! Oops, sorry Raina. 

It is the people. No doubt about it. Is what makes the world go ’round. New places and new adventures are incredible experiences but, it is the friends you make over the years that define your life and give richness to your days. Thank you to Veronika, Tim, and Erin for allowing me to be a part of it all. 

More about design next time! Sleepy sleepy…..

MWAH!

But, I wanted to go ahead and get a few photos up from 100% Design!

100% Design is the largest design show in the UK with over 25,000 visitors. It was a wowzer for sure. This show reminded me more of our own stateside shows than any of the others I will share with you.

Was shocked to see so many of us on the 100% Design website photo! Go Blog Tour London! And…Oh my….look who you can see in a peep view in the second row!

Loved all the veneers shown at Alpiwood

Caino Design with unbelievable LED lighting fixture…ok am blatantly stealing this pix from 100%design website because mine came out horrible and I so loved this!

Never seen any handles like this before! From Philip Watts Design

Ochre never fails to wow.

And one of our Blog Tour London sponsors gave us lots to see with their beautiful Amtico flooring!

We have used Amtico on a large commercial job and was amazed at how good it looked and best of all…the installers loved it! I can see many applications for this in residential use too.

And thank you Amtico for hosting us in the Knoll lounge!

Off to do battle. More tomorrow!

When I first started my business 14 years ago, it was strictly design based. No products. But then, I began to realize I was in a MUCH smaller town that San Diego and did not have the same resources especially for cabinet hardware. Having always felt that the biggest sin in kitchen design is the ubiquitous round silver or (GASP!) brass knob being installed EVERYWHERE on all the cabinets, I needed to find some good looking hardware! Thus, my first product lines entered my business. There you have it. I needed the unique pieces I saw in my mind for my projects. Fast forward to today and you can see many manufacturers of hardware in my shop. All sizes and shapes and price ranges.

One of the more creative and unique lines my design crew and myself like is Duverre Hardware (you may know this if you read my last post where I mentioned their Pomegranate collection for my dream bath). Their hardware is crafted from recycled aluminum (who doesn’t like something recycled these days?) and finished by hand. With a kitchen full of knobs and pulls from them, no two pieces would be identical.

This is a shot of my own kitchen with the Lotus knobs. In polished nickel:)

Duverre Lotus

Here’s another one. In a kitchen like this with such clean lines and minimalistic approach, you’d expect the hardware to be simple and straight bar handles. But throwing in just a little bit of  softness with Du Verre’s polar hardware adds an unexpected, but nice surprise. The hardware is truly an artistic creation—a unique combination of form and function.

Gorgeous!

So you see I am quite familiar with this incredibly gorgeous line. Now off to make the Brits know about it too!

Think about me flying high ( in a plane) on Tuesday off to Blog Tour London!

Thank you Duverre for being a Blog Tour London 2012 sponsor!

Until next week,

Sigh. I love it all. I wish I had that Ravello tub right now to go sit in and soak.

My dream bedroom plan begins with the same design element I begin with for any of my clients when doing a bedroom: the bed. After all, it is called the BEDroom.

I chose the Dickens bed from a most fabulous English company called And so to bed. The Dickens luxury bed is hand-crafted in pure brass, with a polished nickel finish.  The polished nickel is my favorite “finish” on anything and this will coordinate with the bath! ( to me, chrome is the standard….perfect for most jobs but love polished nickel when you want to dress it up) My new bed is over scaled and stands at 69 inches tall! I LOVE THE SIZE! This bed is just as sexy as the bath fixtures. ( Puhlease, get your mind out of the gutter). And so to bed is all about custom. Finishes are hand applied and gorgeous!

The Dickens you say! Yep, that is what I said.

I also fell in love perusing their website with some of the accent furniture. You know I never met a small table I did not like and accent chairs are a close second. ( in my own home now..all 1900 square feet of it…I have at last count, 9 smallish accent chairs and 6 random tables….seriously)

The upholstered Chemille chair.

Best news? These beds can be yours in the US now also! More deets to follow on this…after I visit their new 7000 sq foot showroom! This is cool stuff and count on me to be reporting back and tweeting lots of pix!

My bedside table of choice is a beautiful mahogany piece that features a slide out shelf and beautiful details. They call the ball feet elegant but I am calling it whimsical. The proportions of the table and how it was designed lends itself to many applications and not just in the bedroom!  I love the fact that it is 30 inches tall. I am constantly looking for taller side tables for beside the bed. Who wants to lean over to set down your book ( or glass of wine in my case)?

Love the feet!

Here it is an alternate finish. Custom finishes are always the “thing” for us designer people!

I included some of my favorite fabrics from Romo too even though they are not a Blogtour London sponsor. They should be. I am going to sashay myself over to their showroom at some point  (I hope) and introduce V to someone. Maybe a shop girl or a sales clerk. It is not like I know anyone there of course but betcha I do before I leave London! I love Romo fabrics as evidenced by the plethora of their samples in my showroom and on my portfolio!

Love me some Romo!

I want to also mention an organization involved in Blog Tour London called Maggie’s Centers. This is a cancer support program that provides free practical, emotional and psychological support to anyone affected by any type of cancer including friends and carers.

Having 4 people in my very small neighborhood alone that are currently living with cancer as well as family members who have died from it, this hits home with me. I am excited to partake in the 8 yr old Maggie’s Night Hike through the streets  of London (well excited for as long as my knee will allow) visiting iconic buildings along the way including the famed London Eye. I think it is pretty cool that the Blog Tour London designers will be able to help support this event.

Keep your twitter account ready and follow me at indetailsays or look for Facebook updates at Facebook.com/indetailinteriors.

I bid you good night, sadly not from my dream Dickens bed but just an old relic that is decidedly NOT sexy. I can always dream.

Love it!

So here we are with 9 days and counting to Modenus’ 2nd Blogtour London  Tuesday departure! I am not sure how I am going to be able to fit in every thing that needs to be done for clients, my shop, family, and not to mention getting ready for the trip!

As promised a few days ago, I wanted to walk you through my design rationale on the selection of materials for my Blogtour London dream bed and bath! This is just part one as usual I have lots to say!

When starting on inspiration for any room I design, I always begin with the floor. Whether it is existing or new, I need to know what I am doing so can begin the design from this starting point. In this dream bed and bath, I wanted a unifying floor..flowing into both areas. Since I live on the beach, stone is a perfect choice! Here I have selected New Montpelier limestone from Lapicida. I love the variegated colors in the stone that will tie in grays and taupes from the bedding and window treatments.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite. Did you know the Great Pyramid is made from Limestone?

This floor will be the inspiration for the rest of the design and be the design element that makes the space work in harmony. My vision for this space is to blend  layers of monochromatic taupes and grays with lots of textural materials to achieve the sophisticated and serene look I want but with a few unexpected modern touches.

Now it may seem odd to some to begin with the bathroom in terms of designing a suite (SWEEEET) space like this but really is best. The bath selections are more permanent and need to be considered first and work bedroom selections into the mix. In a nutshell, I want to create a relaxing and quiet environment that is my “safe zone” from kids, relatives, guests, employees, and the daily stress of my hectic and crazy lifestyle. To accomplish this I also want a small bar area that will house a Thermador coffee center and small wine cooler ( YES I SAID WINE), a “vanishing ” Crystalline sink from Blanco.

The multi tasking Blanco Crystalline sink!

This is a new introduction from Blanco and is long awaited by moi as I saw it first last year in Germany. It is perfect for my dream suite as the size is compact and the cutting board covers it completely and can be used as additional counter area. And no microwave. Don’t need a dang kitchen!  I want a bar baby!

The coffee is just because I am basically lazy in the mornings and do not want to walk downstairs! And the wine cooler is for well, you know, storing my wine. Essential for my dream suite.

So we have the floor from Lapicida but I also fell in LUST with the Cascais Bongo Basin also in limestone from Lapicida.

Simply stunning.

Ok, so before I get the WHATTT? questions on the choice of a single basin with no countertop  for the master bathroom, hear me out. I would do two of these sexy honed stone sinks and have counter space separate! WHY does the sink need to be contiguous with the counter? It does not. What I need is a sink to wash my face and hands ( hubby shaves in shower) and lots of counter to use for all the other bath needs.  A gorgeous dressing table would be part of my mix but also his and her counter space areas with ample storage.

Think outside of what the magazines and boring designers have espoused  for years! Live dangerously! Challenge the status quo!

And while you are thinking dangerously, toss out the idea of the “typical” tub placement needing to be under a window. Is it like this in England as well? I am going to ask this question and a few others when I arrive! I prefer my dressing table or counter space to be near the window for natural sunlight. This keeps me from looking like a character from Dr Seuss when I go out.  Sometimes it works best for a tub to be under a window but this placement should not be the default by every architect in America.  Areas that are used for grooming should be near natural light. That is the gospel according to Cheryl. (Give me a break, it is Sunday!)

In my dream bath I have chosen my all time favorite tub…the Ravello from Victoria and Albert  I love this tub and my portfolio tells the tale.

Hands down my fave!  This tub is so versatile and can work in any setting, traditional or modern. This is why it is my “dream” tub!

This is the Toulouse tub from V and A. It is also a strong contender for the “perfect” tub!

I love the lines of it and the volcanic limestone is such a perfect material. ENGLISHCAST® is made from finely ground volcanic limestone mixed with resin. It is one piece and hand finished.  Seriously, we specify Victoria and Albert 85% of the time.

The tub fixtures and wall mounted faucet is from the Fairfield collection of Samuel Heath. Samuel Heath is an English company founded in 1820. They manufacture fittings that epitomize graceful style. I chose the Fairfield with the crystal levers because the mix of crystal and polished nickel agains the rougher context of the limestone sink contributes to my vision of layers of textural style. This faucetry is stunning in it’s own right and is the perfect foil to the limestone floors and basin.

Polished Nickel and Chrome…My go to choices…almost always.

And no dream bath should be without a towel warmer. I regularly use these in our luxury baths and people love them. Our go to unit is the 300 series from Mr Steam. It is wall mounted and electric. I like this model because it can be hard wired ( preferred) but also can be used with a cord when hard wiring is not an option. I prefer a taller unit from a stylistic point of view but also give you room for more towels. And listen, if you have never gotten out of a bath or shower to a warmed towel, it is sublime. Truly. A must for any dream bath!

Excellent choice.

To complete my bath materials, I adore the DuVerre Pomegranate collection for my vanity cabinetry.

Look for this collection to be featured in my Better Homes and Gardens feature “One kitchen, Two budgets” !

These recycled aluminum knobs and pulls are simple and elegant and the perfect organic choice for the rest of the materials chosen. DuVerre makes it tough to decide though and we have this discussion in my office constantly over which is the “fave” choice. It is a moving target! Each introduction is more gorgeous than the last. I have their pulls in my own kitchen already so keeping it in the family!

For the mirror and accent lighting, I chose an antique glass mirror to keep in visual scale with the free standing stone basin.

The Monteleone Mirror from Currey and Currey

Sometimes is not about the physical size of a piece but the “visual” size of the piece and the presence it occupies in the room. More on this in a future post:) I love this mirror and light together. The fixture is a high gloss lacquer and is modern….and yet…not. I like the juxtaposition with the old elegance of the antique glass.

So what do you think? I will continue this week with the rest of the design rationale for the glorious bedroom of my dreams!

Until then,

BIG HUGS,

I think it is fitting to compose a dream bed and bath on olio board since BlogTour London is a dream for me! I am still pinching myself and we leave in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!

I am excited to see everything there is to see, and I mean EVERY thing at the shows that will make up the London Design Festival but am also looking forward to meeting the other bloggers. (meet them Here ) I have gone on many trips where other bloggers are present and I have to say it has been a rewarding part of my job. Most of the people I have met along the way have not remained merely cyber friends but real friends in every sense of the word. Hugs and kisses to all and YOU know who you are! A special shout out to my friend Paul Anater of Kitchen and Residential Design as without his first introduction into social media, I doubt I would be going on BlogTour London!

Ok so on to my dream bedroom and bathroom. You may ask me, where am I getting in the time to work on something like this? ( My husband asks this too so you are not alone!) I fit it in between 2:30 AM and 3:30AM…slot usually open! Really, truth is I like to know my “stuff” and began researching the sponsors of BlogTour London so that while sipping champagne, I actually can converse with them about their products or about the tour in general.

Once I started really delving into websites, I was overwhelmed with some of the beauty that awaits us in the showrooms! A few of the sponsors will not be in London but luckily these are the sponsors who I already know and love and not a lot of studying necessary since we specify their products daily.

Soooo as I sometimes can do, I got carried away with all the beauty and since I am, SWEAR, in real life in process of redoing my bedroom…(2 year process but don’t ask).I decided to put myself together a little wish list. Are you listening, er, reading honey??!! A few of the selections are not from sponsors but items that coordinate well and hey, who knows, maybe they will be sponsors in the future!

My only question is how to get all this stuff in my checked luggage. Ideas? Tomorrow I am going to go through the why’s and wherefore’s of selections from each sponsor in a separate post  because I am getting frantic texts as we speak from my office. Heh Heh….just because I am in my bed does not mean I am not working!!!

Love y’all!

It’s no secret that green design and environmentally friendly products are  a hot trend and during my research I found  new product offerings I have yet to see in many homes. (Part of the issue is that I live and work in the south and honestly the “green” revolution has not caught on here)

One of these cool new products is Blanco’s Solon in counter composting system. Anyone who reads my blog knows my design team and myself love Blanco products. (And a bonus is they are a Blogtour London sponsor as well!). Blanco is always on the cutting edge of new product innovation and after my visit to the factory in Germany, I know why.

Blanco Solon Compost System

The word “compost” comes from Latin where it meant “to put together.” This is what we do when we compost—we put together the correct amounts of compostable materials to make a great soil amendment.

Composting is not a new thing by any means. People have had heaps of garbage in their yards for years and years, breaking down (and hopefully not combusting) into a useable fertilizer or, in some cases, people can convert the heat from the compost into green energy. Farmers use it, gardeners use it, co-ops use it—it’s a great way to cut down on the amount of waste you put into landfills and use it for a purpose. Read more about it HERE 

Blanco is bringing green indoors in a smaller scale,with an under-counter compost system. Some people have compost drawers built-in, similar to trash a pull-out. Blanco’s  Solon system makes it a little more convenient with an 8 inch hole in your counter to scrape food trash into, and a nice tight lid.

Sleek. This is a Blanco trademark!

Any countertop fabricator will be able to cut you out an 8 inch diameter circle to drop this little guy in. Easy. It would be great by a prep sink where you wash and cut your vegetables and prepare your meals.

 And then when your bin starts over-flowing, pull that little sucker out and dump him in your larger pile of compost, wherever that may be. If you do not use the compost in your own garden, you can often sell it to someone else or give to a gardening neighbor.

I fear the mess as I am not so “green” as I would like to think but the Solon system makes it easy….even for me!

I remember many years ago at the Kitchen and Bath show looking for products like this for a client who desired green products with no luck. I love how the Blanco team of engineers is always thinking of product innovation even as simple as this small idea.

Green hugs!

 

 

The new 5000 sq foot building is a veritable temple of stone inspiration.  And, anyone who has EVER read this humble blog knows I am a huge fan of tile and especially natural stone.

I may miss the rest of the tour I fear….how long do we get to stay here again???

I think this will be one of those “ah ha” moments on the trip. My problem will be how to get it all home for my clients…..will need to be discussing this with our Lapicida hosts!

These people are serious about stone and beautiful applications. The stone deliciousness  is everywhere! On the ceilings, floor, walls, shown as cladding, ( one of my all time fave things to do….put it anywhere!)  as works of art, and showing feature wall ideas. I have a feeling this showroom is going to humble this American designer and what we have to offer here in terms of impressive stone showrooms.

More showroom Sexiness!

My breath is taken away from just reading the website and viewing their photos. The antique stone display sounds unbelievable and as you know I love anything reclaimed or repurposed…this would be the pinnacle of recycling! Any clients reading this?

Dramatic lighting shows off glass mosaics and semi precious stones in the “dark zone”

I was also surprised how much I enjoyed reading their informative blog.  If you love stone as much as I do, you need to check it out. I confess I want to stay home on this rainy day and just read it cover to cover! It will be on my iPad for the  long flight to London!

Hat’s off to this Modenus sponsor of Blogtour London. I truly am looking forward to the Lapicida showroom visit!

Hugs!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Dutch hotel, they are known for being an innovative affordable luxury hotel. They offer self check-in, free wifi, and every room is equipped with a global plug system. So, my bags just got lighter!

A visual feast!

The London location has taken a fresh approach to mid-century modern. All of the rooms are furnished with iconic Vitra furnishings and the cool factor is played up with color changing ambient lighting.

Cozy and Stylish!

I’m looking forward to having a spicy cocktail by the bar after a great day of Blogtour.

The Bar…..

….and 24/7 gnoshing. Yep. Fits me to a tee. Like, who will be SLEEPING when in LONDON? for MODENUS BLOGTOUR?? Are your crazeeee?

The design of this hotel is blowing me away. Seriously. Ok yeah I am writing because I am staying there and they are a sponsor but really? This is unbelievably COOL!

“Are you a shower person or a tub person?”

(This is after we ask about their personal feelings on privacy and potty rooms. You must have no shame if you design baths for a living)

And this is critical knowledge to know before we proceed because….boy oh boy are they two different types of people! This information tells us what to emphasize and how much importance to put into shower layout and amenities or…finding just the perfect tub.Read more about the tub person vs the shower person HERE.

Our “go to” tub manufacturer ( and has been for years) is Victoria and Albert. Which as it happens, is also has been a BlogTour London sponsor since the inception of the BlogTours. Good for me, ‘eh?

We have used over a dozen V and A baths over the past few years. Some of our photos below can even be seen on their awesome new website at Vandabaths.com. Note: the revamped website is a joy to navigate, offers great specs on all the tubs and of course beautiful inspiration photos! Victoria and Albert tubs are made from  100% ENGLISHCAST®, a unique blend of volcanic limestone and high performance resins.

The inspired designs of Victoria and Albert provide something for everyone and honestly so do the price points. There are many collections but the favorite of our design team has always been the Ravello. We have also used the Marlborough, York, Toulouse, and the Monaco as well AND just designed a gorgeous bath and master suite where a new IOS will be the highlight! This will be the first time we have used this model and am excited to see it’s gorgeous self! This is it folks when it comes to luxurious tubs. Which is your favorite?

The new Cabrits tub is a stunner. 

Peekaboo at a Ravello tub we used last year. And this young client was most assuredly a tub person. I am guessing the two little people in her life encourage it’s use! We designed this bath around the Ravello.

The Toulouse was used in this colorful remodeled modern bath because of the simplicity of the design. There were three round art glass windows that we had to work around and we were lucky the Toulouse would fit perfectly in the design.