Is my Design Palette Changing?

They say every seven years your body goes through a major change.  In similar aspects, I'm thinking my design palette has been changing lately.  Is it a seven year change?  Perhaps, but difficult to determine.  I recently picked up these amazing Drexel Heritage lamps from Homegoods.  For some reason they jumped out to me and after a few trips, they had to go in the cart.

I've never been a big ginger jar fan, I've never thought of myself as traditional in style and these blue and white jars are just something I've always associated with that category. I'd like to think of this change as not just a coincidence - ginger jars are featured on the cover for this month's Traditional Home - but because I'm developing a deeper appreciation for design styles.

 

April 2014 Traditional Home

April 2014 Traditional Home

 Designer Julia Kleyman for Designer Showhouse of New Jersey.

Maybe my inner designer has started forecasting trends for me and I didn't even know it!
 

Regardless, I'm happy with my purchase.  This pair of lamps may soon knock the socks off of an all white airy room perched nicely behind a slip covered sofa.  They may become the anchor piece on a dining room sideboard for a future client, or maybe they'll just stay with me.  That's the fun part, I"ll have to wait and see where they want to go.  

- Amber

My First Publication: Design New England Magazine

I am so proud to be part of the 2014 March/April issue of Design New England Magazine.  I've been eagerly waiting its arrival and the issue is finally here!  

I was contacted early January by one of the editors about being a contributor for their recurring section in their magazine called Selections.  For this task, three designers were asked to design a guest bedroom for a visitor of their choice, all three had to be different.  The element we would all be using was a great Thos. Moser bed which we would design and style in their Boston studio.

Of course, my answer was YES!  I had spent the last year while in North Carolina working with some of the most talented photography studios in the home furnishings industry.  My experience working with their elaborate, amazing crew taught me so much and sparked a passion for these quick design on location settings.  Set design is so different, one of the first things I learned was that you can have a gigantic pile of props, furniture and staging to the right, and have a perfectly styled magazine ready room to the left.  The only thing that matters is the view behind the camera.  Check out Widner Creative and Diana Parrish Design Photography.

Below is my design, but you can view the whole feature by clicking here.  Our feature begins on page 41.

It was a pleasure working with the art director, associate editor and photographer during this shoot.  Their professional team has a great eye for design and produce exceptional content for their publication.  You must check out the rest of the magazine filled with beautiful editorials on projects for home, kitchen and garden throughout New England.

Happy Reading!

Design Cats: Sushi

Okay, so you may think its a little crazy that I'm posting about "Design Cats"  but when I get photos like this I just can't help myself.

Design Cat "Sushi" loves her new living room. Her owner snapped this photo from their second story balcony one morning.  Its a great view to see the pattern in this hand loomed, plush high/low pile in the area rug.  Sushi is posing pretty too.