M Designs

COORDINATING HEADBOARDS, FABRIC COVERED

I really love the look of a fabric covered headboard.  It softens the room and adds interest and texture to the bed.  Who says a bed always has to be iron or hardwood?

This red velvet covered headboard coordinates with the bed skirt for a dramatic statement Image: House Beautiful

This fabric covered headboard coordinates with the drapes and wall color, and is finished with brass nail heads…beautiful! Image: House Beautiful

Tufted headboard Image: Tobi Fairley

Two toned, fabric covered headboard Image: Tobi Fairley

I just wanted to let you all know about a great on-line magazine that I really love!  It’s Lonny Magazine.  Lonny is celebrating their one year anniversary this month.  Happy anniversary!

It seems that I am always on the run between client meetings, kids activities and traveling.  I recently received an iPad, and I love having the ability to flip through this magazine on my iPad, while I’ve got a few minutes of “down time”.

Lonny covers everything from design ideas and tips, how to choose paint and colors for your home, how to select the perfect accessories….everything!  And the photography is just beautiful!

If you’re looking for great information, inspiration and eye candy, take a look at Lonny!  Below are just a few images from their October/November issue.

I saw these fabrics and fell in love! Call me if you are interested!

Love this mix! How fun is this!

See what I mean about great ideas?

By Eddie Ross and Jaithan. When I saw them at High Point I told them this is my favorite table EVER!

Another addition to my travel "must stay" list....beautiful!

As you know, I went to the Round Top Antiques Fair last week. My friend Linda Burnside, with LGB Interiors came all the way from Columbia, SC and was my partner in crime. I don’t even know where to begin. We saw it ALL! There were so many vendors, and fabulous treasures – I’m almost speechless!

We were on a mission to find the perfect accessories and furniture for several clients, and our mission was accomplished!

We purchased a beautiful oriental rug; some wonderful antique leather bound books, and an antique Spanish bowl, just to name a few things.

And of course, I had to make a personal purchase, which was a beautiful hand embroidered denim shirt. I couldn’t leave without it!

I’ve attached several pictures of interesting products that we saw while we were there. The last picture is of my car – yes, we managed to fit everything in!

I’m already planning my next trip. If you love antiques, you should plan a trip and go sometime as well!

Today I will load up my car and head south to the smallest incorporated town in Texas….Round Top, population 81!  Salute!  Round Top is home to one of my favorite places to shop for antiques; the Round Top Antiques Fair.  This fair began 43 years ago, and is going stronger every year with more exhibitors and certainly higher attendance.

At Round Top, you can find everything from furniture, to dishes, quilts to light fixtures, and everything in between.  Many vendors are known for their ability to find eclectic, one of a kind items that you wouldn’t normally be able to find on your own.  The exhibitors search all over the world for the highest quality antiques to display to their repeat and new clientele.  Rest assured, even if you are a faithful Round Top attendee, you will always find something new at the fair.  (What is that saying….everything old is new again?)

The exhibitors are set up in four different venues, creating a quaint “fair like” atmosphere, but the quality of their products is anything but “fair like”.

The Carmine Dance Hall is heaven on earth if you adore gorgeous antique glass, crystal, silver, linens, and my favorite….china.

I especially love the display in the Continental Tent.  Exhibitors in this location offer high quality products from England, France, Spain, Italy, and other European countries.  You can find items ranging in style from country to formal, small or large, inexpensive or pricey.

I have been to Round Top many times, and wouldn’t dream of missing it this year.  If you love antiques like I do, this is a must attend event!  If you are just an antique “browser” or an aficionado, there is something at Round Top for you.

When clients consider redecorating or working on an entirely new home design, they seldom consider lighting at the beginning of the project.  It is however, something that should be considered early on.

An effective lighting plan will have a dramatic effect on the space, but the lighting also needs to serve different purposes, depending on the room.

There are three basic types of lighting.  A well lit space should include elements of all three types of lighting:

• Task Lighting – used for things such as reading, sewing, or working on the computer
• Ambient or General Lighting – used to illuminate the room.  This can be accomplished with various table and floor lamps, strategically placed to give you adequate light to see and move safely throughout your home.
• Accent Lighting – used to add drama and create interest in a room.  Recessed lighting, wall sconces or track lights are perfect to spot light items such as furniture, paintings or various artwork, and fireplaces.

Gone are the drab, utilitarian lights of old.  Light fixtures themselves have become beautiful pieces of art as well, and can be found in any decorating style whether your taste is traditional, transitional, or contemporary.

Below are a few lighting tips:

• A desk lamp should be about 15” tall, shed light on the work surface and be adjustable.
• A properly hung chandelier should hang about 30” above the tabletop, and be 6” narrower than your table on each side.
• A standard lamp typically illuminates 40 – 50 square feet, so be sure to use several lamps in each room to avoid darks spaces.
• Be sure your fixtures are proportionate in size to your space and furniture.
• A reading lamp should be placed along your shoulder with the bottom of the shade even with our head.

*Photos from Currey & Co.

I recently worked with a client to furnish their family room, and found the most wonderful animal hide furnishings.  The designer of these unique furniture creations is Kyle Bunting.  In his studio, nestled in the Texas Hill Country outside of Austin, TX, Kyle and his design team have created a groundbreaking collection, and have redefined the use of hide in interior furnishings.  He is passionate about working with hide, and has worked strictly with hide for the last decade of his career, developing interesting designs, techniques and applications for this medium.

Kyle Bunting has product offerings such as rugs, wall coverings, upholstery, furniture and art.  His style is a combination of classic, contemporary design and impeccable craftsmanship.  All products can be custom specified for hide color and wood finishes.  In his collection you will see every color from white to black, shocking pinks, vibrant greens and calming creams, just to name a few.  By combining hides and textures, even his monochromatic rugs take on a multi-dimensional life of their own and become incredible works of art.

Primarily recognized for their collection of luxurious hide carpets and wall coverings, Kyle is also a supplier of hides for upholstery and architectural applications.  Kyle and his team have designed projects for design and private clients world-wide, for both residential and commercial use.  Kyle’s productions are of the highest quality in the world, and I think you’ll agree after viewing these photos, that his work is nothing short of incredible, for instance, the Custom Feature Wall – Cowboy Hats – Designed by Tracy Overbeck Stead for the W Hotel in Dallas, TX.

If you are considering making a bold, innovative statement in your décor, I suggest checking into Kyle Bunting’s line.  With the addition of just one wall covering, rug or set of interesting hide upholstered chairs, you’ll be the talk of the town!

I haven’t written this week as I am enjoying a relaxing week with family on Lake Michigan.  The beaches and water have been very refreshing and we have enjoyed kayaking, long walks, cool temperatures, and seasonal foods at the farmer’s market. I will be back next week with more posts on our trip.

Vacation Serenity

For now, please take a look at Kindel Furniture made here in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Amazing quality and I especially love the Dorothy Draper collection.

This Draper Slipper Chair is a beautiful piece for the bedroom or sitting area.

The Dorotheum Sofa is a beautiful piece for a small, intimate space.

This Braziliance Commode Cabinet is gorgeous in either a wood stained or painted finish.

Off to my kayaking trip now…more next week.

Denise

The next product line that I wanted to share with you in our series about Barclay Butera, is his furniture offerings.

At High Point Furniture Market in April, Barclay introduced an exciting new line of “Lifestyle” furniture.   His Lifestyle line is moderately priced and includes many case goods, as well as upholstery.  The Lifestyle line easily complements his custom, made-to-measure line, which we carry here at M Designs.

Below are some of the beautiful pieces in Barclay’s Lifestyle line that Alicia and I saw at High Point Market last month.

This four poster bed was great, along with the bedside tables and of course, the Butera pillows!

I loved this chair…so comfortable and could be used in a bedroom, sitting room, or even the family room.

This dining table and chairs are beautiful, and the animal print area rug (by Butera for Kravet) …..so elegant.  Again, we keep seeing the animal prints as a staple.

Barclay Butera Home is the name of his custom line, which is created domestically, by specially trained craftspeople, who give special care and attention to every detail involved in creating these masterpieces.  Each piece is 100% customizable, making it extremely appealing to any client’s taste and décor.

The most stunning display was Barclay’s St. Tropez collection, with an orange and navy theme as seen in these photos.

This is just a small sampling of the Barclay Butera furniture and accessories that M Designs can help you select for your home.

Here at M Designs, we carry several different lines of home furnishings, fabrics and accessories, but I have to say that Barclay Butera is one of my very favorite designers.

We had an opportunity to meet with Barclay over dinner and Alicia and I had a blast.

During the last ten years, Barclay Butera has become one of the most recognizable and sought after home furnishing lines in the marketplace.  Their products are 100% customizable and produced domestically, by specially trained craftspeople, who give each handmade piece the utmost care and attention at every detail.

I recently had the opportunity to see what was new at High Point Furniture Market, and the Barclay Butera Lifestyle display was fabulous!  I especially loved this bedroom, done in an orange and navy theme.

M Designs is one of only two firms in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area that carries the Barclay Butera Home line.  Over the course of this week, I will be showcasing the art that Barclay has created for Wendover, the fabrics and rugs created for Kravet, and the furniture that Barclay is so famous for!

M Designs has Barclay’s furniture on the floor in the studio, his art on the walls, and we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of more products we bought at market.  Barclay Butera also creates the most beautiful pillows and we have those on the floor as well.  Look for an upcoming blog entry on pillows and all we have to offer.

Please stay tuned this week and see what fantastic offerings we will be showcasing from Barclay Butera.

In the interior design industry, I work with many people in various positions from real estate agents, home builders, painters, carpenters, furniture and drapery suppliers…. the list is endless! I wanted to take the opportunity this week to profile several people whom I have had the pleasure of working with and getting to know. These people are some of the most outstanding professionals in their fields, and I want to share them with you! I’ll be blogging about a new person each day this week, so be sure to check in here daily!

Today I wanted to start my profiling series with Jan Baldwin, Realtor with Briggs Freeman Real Estate, Dallas’ leading boutique firm for premier properties.

I met Jan Baldwin while designing homes with her husband, the fabulous Barry Baldwin, of Waterford Construction Company. We immediately hit it off and had so much in common and Jan knows EVERYONE in Dallas……you can’t even imagine the friends she has accumulated through the years.

What I love about working with Jan is that she incorporates each buyer’s lifestyle into the equation, whether moving within the city or to Dallas from out of state. When listing a property, Jan’s analytical expertise has gained her the reputation among her peers as “someone who knows how to price a house to sell”, while ensuring that the seller gets the highest price possible in the shortest amount of time.

Jan knows houses. For years, she has been an integral part of her husband’s award-winning home building company, Waterford Construction. She and her husband bring her clients a wealth of knowledge, from what it would cost to update a prospective home to lot availability. Jan was able to sell one of her clients a prime property she found through sheer tenacity that was not yet on the market.

Jan has a background as a corporate executive in the Dallas area, including positions with Baylor Health Care System and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. She works tirelessly as an outstanding leader in the community as well. Jan has been President of the Junior League of Dallas, President of the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association; served on multiple boards, including the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum, The Genesis Women’s Shelter, and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. She is the immediate past chair of The Linz Award Luncheon and is chairing the 2011 Rancho San Miguel Parish Party at Saint Michael and All Angels Church.

Jan is one of the most dedicated, sincere professionals I have had the pleasure to work with. Whether you are looking to sell your home, or buy a new home, Jan can help you find that perfect fit!

As you may know, a designer and the real estate agents she serves are a very tightly knit team. I can assure you that the clients we share love working with Jan and I know you will too!

Jan can be contacted at:

jbaldwin@briggsfreeman.com
www.Briggs-freeman.com