Creating An Outdoor Room

Its never to early to start planning your outdoor space.  Spring is just around the corner even if it doesn't feel like it.  If your anything like us, we live in our backyard once the weather breaks.  If you spend as much time outside as we do, why not make that extension of your home really feel like one by creating an outdoor living room feel.

Shopping for your outdoor space is a great weekend project and is a great bonding time for a couple or even two roommates. There's something for everyone in building an outdoor space.  You may enjoy finding the perfect outdoor pillows,  but maybe your partner is into the decorative outdoor lighting.  Pulling together a look can be accomplished in four easy steps. 

1.  Agree on an overall look and stick to it.  If you have a inspiration you photo found in a magazine, study the colors and elements you most love about the image.  From there, you can replicate those pieces to create your own version.  If you know you really want to make a Trina Turk feel with oranges and blues, find an example of that color scheme and let that guide you as your shopping. 

2.  Build a base.  You need furniture to sit on right?   You don't have to purchase all new furniture to create a new look.  If last year's furniture is in good shape build upon that.  In my case, I built pallet furniture last year and it was a big hit. When making an investment in outdoor furniture, puck items that are comfortable, durable and versatile.  The accents you add in will be the elements you can change year after year to get a fresh look.  Before you add in the fun, make sure you have these basics: a good umbrella, a table and chairs for dining and playing cards, lounge chairs or sofas for relaxing, a cocktail or end table for drinks, a fold down or mobile table for quick bar service and serving apps.

3.  Add in the style!  Start with one piece you love and let that steer all other choices.  Whatever you find first typically determines this in many cases.  You can find excellent outdoor pillows at Homegoods with style and character.  Add an outdoor rug if you have a patio.  Add a ceramic stool in your accent color for an extra seat or drink table when needed.  Find an additional set of pillows in an opposite but coordinating color/pattern.  Oversize floor pillows are great for grass lounging and travel well to picnics.  Find a drink bucket in a bright color to keep beverages cold at parties. The container could also hold towels off duty if you have a pool.  Another great way to update old items: add a coat of spray paint. 

4. Fill in the accents for that lifestyle "lived in" feel.  Add plants of various size and texture, add hurricane vases and lanterns for candles at night.  Garden objects, sculptures of you liking and maybe even a wind chime.  If your theme is nautical, find a large clam shell for your cocktail table and fill it with succulents.  Add objects of interest like old buoys hanging on the fence or place found driftwood along a garden boarder.

Don't get discouraged if you don't find everything all at once.  The fun thing about design is that it accumulates over time and is perfected.  Keep your eyes open for inspiration wherever you go.  In the end, you'll have a space your family and friends can enjoy all summer long.

- Amber


For help sourcing any specific items shown, contact me.

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.

Good Things Come in: Safavieh Packages

Good things come in brown boxes... from Safavieh.  Today a companys branding message is everything.  Because we're socially connected through twitter, instagram and pinterest 24/7, we like things that speak to us and can bridge that gap between social cloud and real life.  You many know Safavieh because of their fabulous rugs, but let me tell you, their furniture does not disappoint either.

As I'm getting ready to leave my house Monday morning I'm greeted by the delivery of  two big boxes with a personality of their own saying, "Hello, we know you've been waiting on us.  We're here!"  Safavieh has turned their box branding into social media hash tags that can be found across multiple platforms.  Clever.

So, what was in the boxes?  I've become a fan of interesting wing back chairs over the last couple of years.  I love the grandeur, the scale, the masculinity and how fabric application can dramatically change their effect on a room.  I've seen some unique oversized elephant ear shapes, classic lines, tufted, but its always that something different that sticks in your mind.  



These Kameron Chairs from Safavieh furniture have grabbed my attention for some time now, I just had to find the right client to take them home.  When I did, I knew the result would be magical.  Not only are they unique, these chairs have the perfect place for your arm to rest and they actually "hug" you.  For added bonus, if you are hard of hearing, the acoustics are great. Stay tuned for the full room reveal later next month.

Photo of the Day: Design Cats

I snapped this photo today as I was packing up to visit a client.  I just love the little kitty feet.  As you can see someone was overseeing my progress.  Do you have a little project helper?

Project Notes: Parisian Chic

January and February have been busy months so far, I started working with a client right after New Years whose resolution was to do her living room.  The couple entertains alot and really wanted to make their mark on a home they had bought in recent years.  They've made some great decisions and the rooms is just a few weeks away from being complete.  Here are a few shots of our progress on this Parisian Chic look.

One of the first things I noticed in this living room as the tremendous light filled ceiling space. It took two stories of scaffolding and three professionals to hang this french Restoration Hardware chandelier.  This new focal point in the room replaces a stock ceiling fan that came in the home. 

Once we had our look down finding artwork that the husband and wife could both enjoy was easy.  Here is a sneak peak at the intricate 18th century french garden plans by Charlotte Moss for Soicher Marin.  I can't wait to share the full set when they are hung.

Every french garden needs some greenery.  This succulent selection gives a hint of lavender which happens to be a favorite for the client.  Look for how we used this as an arrangement in the final room.  

Maiden hair ferns are one of my favorite because of their delicate tiny leaves.

Last but not least, this almost 5' fig tree will be a great offset to the white linen curtains against the client's set of windows.  The leaves look really healthy for a good start.  Ideally we'd like one that is 6-8' tall but we can jack it up a little until it grows. 

Check back in a few weeks for the final look pulled together!