M Designs

As a Designer and Decorator, it is very important for us to keep a portfolio of our work….after all, it’s not enough to TELL people what we do, we need to SHOW them.  We don’t photograph every job, however, there are those jobs that stand out, and we want to capture the end result.  The best way for us to do this is to hire a professional photographer, style the space and schedule a photo shoot.

I really love setting up for photo shoots!  It gives us the time on a job to ensure it looks like we envisioned it when we began.  It also gives the client a chance to see their home through our eyes.

What’s involved in a photo shoot?  It’s an all-hands-on-deck effort.  M Designs “styles” the space prior to the shoot.  As you can imagine, people live in their homes and they NEVER look like the photograph on a daily basis.  However, we need to have lots of prep time in advance to prepare the space.  We work with the photographer to style the shot and though I would love to hire a stylist on each shoot, most of the time, we style our own shots.  This includes providing props, which could include fruits, veggies, or food items for a kitchen shot, perhaps dishes and linens for a dining room shot, linens for bedrooms and bathrooms, and pillows and accessories for living areas, and ALWAYS fresh flowers.  We select items that would coordinate with accessories that are already in the space and make that photo come to life!

Once the shopping is finished, we arrive at the client’s home and proceed to “style” the space, putting each accessory in just the perfect place….sometimes moving items many times before the perfect shot can be captured.  This step happens 2-3 days before the shoot so we can take test shots to see what is still missing, or what needs to be edited out.

We work with a professional photographer on each shoot.  We also work with our builder and remodeler clients to style their photo shoots for their photographers as well.  I highly recommend working with a professional for a number of reasons.  First, they are extremely experienced in lighting a shot.   This entails a number of lighting elements, from actual lights, to reflectors, to standing outside a window and shading it while we take a shot.  Secondly, they can instantly tell you which shots will be the best and what will be the best angle to show your work.  We have often moved a piece of furniture 2 inches while they stand at the camera and check the shot for accuracy.  Lastly, our photographer does clean up in Photoshop at the end of the shoot.  This involves removing ceiling fans or plugs that are distracting, adjusting color to match a sample on fabrics, and taking out shadows that we weren’t able to remove in the field.

When you work with a professional team such as we do, it makes our job easier.  Without great photography, you aren’t able to show your work in its best light.  As designers, that is our calling card, and we are only as good as our last photo shoot, so we need to constantly document our latest projects.  Photo shoots are a lot of work, but they are fun, and the end result is always fabulous!

When we are asked to design a space, we often start with a great fabric or pillow as a foundation.  Pillows are often overlooked for the value they bring to a room.  Pillows have personality, texture, color and comfort – all wrapped up in one package. 

By adding this important accessory to the mix, you can completely change the look of the room and make a statement too.  It also allows you to change your look with just a quick pillow switch. 

Select pillows in bright colors, rich textures and interesting patterns, and feel free to mix them up to add interest to the room.  When using pillows on a sofa, be sure to use at least 2 pillows, in contrasting colors, textures and sizes, creating a warm and inviting setting.  The number of pillows in your space will be dictated by the depth of your sofa or chair, and how often you sit  in the piece.  With beds, I always prefer at least two bold decorative pillows for a visual punch.

A word on Forms and Fillers:

We prefer 100% down fill in all of our pillows.  If you have an allergy, we have a great faux-down that offers the amazing fluffiness and loft of real down – just ask for it and we can make a switch.

A few of my favorites that we have in the studio are below:               

Pillows by Barclay Butera

22” Hand-painted scrollwork detail on linen with contrasting welt cord

22” Zebra print – animal print is hot in fashion for home and runway

Great basic – 22” chocolate linen with cream flange – note the detail on the flanged corners

Navy linen with orange Greek key border – my favorite color combo as only Barlcay can do

Pillows by Dransfield & Ross

A statement in velvet  – with silver beaded welt cord – a “must see in person to appreciate” pillow

Lumbar pillows are fun, fun, fun – varying ribbons from velvet, to satin, to grosgrain

Bright yellow linen with charcoal/white grosgrain ribbon detail…..graphic and a statement for your chair

Raffia with grosgrain ribbon flag – great for a kid’s bedroom or front and center on your sofa

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.

During the month of January, we have had an opportunity to spend many hours inside.  We have had the coldest month on record here in Texas and we’ve even seen snow several times. 

As a result of many hours spent inside this month, many of my clients have decided it’s “out with the old and in the with the new” when it comes to the upholstered pieces in their family rooms.

We often have questions about how to buy these pieces, so here are a few of my favorite tips and furniture styles.  We are offering 10% off through the end of January on select pieces, so if you’re looking to purchase, now is the time.

Style: Timeless is the key here.  Look for a classic style that will fit you and your family for years to come.  This is an investment, so spend wisely.  Go trendy on pillows, not on the entire sofa.  Think neutral for the base and add pop with the accents.  Below are a few of my favorites from Pearson Furniture.

Fill and Frame: I recommend that you don’t go with 100% down fill - too much fluffing and not much satisfaction in the end.  I prefer a foam core with a down wrap.  This gives you the comfort and the form you need to keep that piece looking fab through the years.  We sell 8-way hand tied frames and always will recommend quality over price.

Trust your salesperson: If you aren’t asked your seating preferences or height of family members, this person doesn’t know what they’re selling.  If the seat is too deep, you will feel like Alice in Wonderland.  If it’s too short, your husbands’ knees will be up around his ears…..buy from an experienced firm when purchasing your investments.

Dating 101: When you are pairing sofas and chairs, it’s important that they can live together comfortably.  Style, back height, arms and legs are all important.  An experienced designer will combine skirted pieces with legs and coordinating finishes.  The same goes for the accessory pieces such as lamps, tables and ottomans.  A well coordinated room “sings” – you know it when you see it.  I love these pieces from Barclay Butera, Hickory White and Visual Comfort as companions.

When to buy: Often January – March is one of the best times to buy upholstery.  Manufacturers are preparing to launch their new fabrics and styles for Spring and there are deals to be had.  It will also allow you to have a fresh new look come spring and give you that update that is well deserved.

Give us a call to answer any other upholstery questions you might have.  I would LOVE to assist you in breathing fresh life into your rooms.