Design that Reveals
Design that Reveals
Creativity is my love, interior design is my focus. Whether it be full service interior design, re-decoration or even online design through Design in a Box, I am passionate about all things creative. Here, I will share insights into projects, inspirations and what's going on in the world of design from Calgary and beyond. Would love to have you follow along.
my bedroom reveal May 10, 2011
publications: my home in avenue magazine Jun 14, 2012
exciting news! Jul 13, 2011
With the launch of ‘The Nate Berkus Show”, produced by Harpo and premiering on NBC, September 13th, 2010 we are celebrating ‘Nate Day’ where design & decor bloggers are giving their thoughts on Nate, today ~ June 14th, 2010.
I am excited that the show will be about more than design, because essentially, so is Nate.
Not bad looking :)
Let’s just cut to the chase and make it clear right off the hop. We all know that many women would say that Nate Berkus is easy on the eyes, has a killer smile and oooooh that hair! Enough said.
Approachable.
For as long as I can remember, I have always thought of Nate Berkus as someone who is easy to talk to, someone who listens and also cares, exactly what an interior designer should be. The fact that we are entrusted with our clients personal spaces is something that should be respected and taken as a privilege. Anytime that I have seen Nate in action he does just that. He is sensitive to the needs and wants of those he works with, yet at the same time offering them an inspiring space.
Talented.
Nate is an extraordinary interior designer, TV personality, designer of his own line of home wares, author of Home Rules and Sirius Satellite radio host. All this, and he is self-taught! A testament to hard work, learning on the job and having some key people in his life to support and encourage along the way.
Enthusiastic.
With a smile on his face, Nate approaches each project willingly and ready to make a difference to someone’s home. He embraces each project, no matter the budget and sets forth to change their space in a way that will change their life. Nate gets fully involved in a project getting very hands on in every sort of way, even taking care of kids so Mom can relax while her home is being made over. Quite a guy!
Nate Berkus creates a modern, efficient kitchen in his own home.
I love Nate’s personal home! The mix of textures, statement pieces of furniture and simple accessories creates a warm home with personality and interest.
Nate Berkus’s redecorated living area.
Beautiful.
Nate designs beautiful rooms that are tailored to each and every client. I wouldn’t say that he has a distinct style and I appreciate him more because of that. He reaches into the clients lifestyle and creates a space that reflects their personality. He is respectful of budget and proves that you can have a successful space with a moderate amount of money.
Encouraging.
Nate encourages learning and finding things that inspire us to be better people. Approaching life with a sense of discovery and pushing yourself to try new things, gives us an enriched life because of it and he challenges us to “love the life we live”.
Real.
He is a people person. Viewers trust Nate to bring positive change to their lives and because Nate shares his own personal experiences in an honest way, people feel a connection to him through everything he has shared and gone through.
Kind and Generous.
Not only an interior designer, Nate is a humanitarian. Willing to give of his time and finances to help, support and encourage efforts not even related to design, he shows his true compassion for people, animals and social issues around the globe.
Unique.
He has a unique approach to his designs that allows him to be accessible. Not many celebrity interior designers can say the same thing. He makes it possible for people to have a beautiful home regardless of budget.
Stylish.
Nate Berkus is definitely stylish. Not only in his interiors, the way he dresses, but also in his personality. He has a love for life, a desire to help people and a passion for great design.
He is an inspiration in so many ways, to so many people!
Nate, here with Oprah in New Orleans helping families after Hurricane Katrina. Angel Lane neighborhood portrait.
The living space of one of the homes made over on Angel Lane.
As an interior designer, it is natural to take inspirations from others. Thank you for sharing your talent with us and for inspiring us on so many levels. Congratulations Nate on your new show! I’m really looking forward to watching it and maybe, just maybe being in the audience one day ~ would be such a thrill!
* All images from Oprah.com.
* Thanks to the infamous Moggit Girls who have also inspired us, and by way of Twitter pulled this day together. Their efforts have snowballed into an amazing group of over 100 Design & Decor bloggers participating in this ‘Nate Day’ blog affair. There are so many talented bloggers! You can see the others here.
The outdoor shower is the location of the second tree. Tall, skinny and magically embracing the blue skies above.
The kitchen below, so simple in stainless steel and white. Open shelving, looking through to the living room is repeated in other areas of the home as well.
The third tree is located at the back of the home. ‘Planted’ in a red painted concrete base at the lower walkout level, it grows up through the floor of the back deck right at the centre point of the doors.
Sustainable features of the home include: thermal rock wall, mobile sun screens, reclaimed lumber, passive evaporative cooling.
A simply beautiful home, embracing nature and the environment without compromising design.
The parallel between fashion and interiors goes beyond pretty pictures. Both are about putting together a look that makes you feel good. We spend a lot of time choosing the right outfit, shopping for the perfect accessories and let’s face it, feel fabulous rocking a great pair of shoes. Dressing with purpose boosts our confience and gives an outward reflection of our style, career and even personality. I spoke with Kim Flanagan, a Calgary based stylist inspiring women to get their groove on. She says “the change in posture is almost immediate, and the smile. I’m basically giving clients the permission that they can rock it and go out there and enjoy being themselves.”
The same is true about our interiors. Think about the last time you were in a home that was well designed, a high fashion hotel where you embraced every detail or a restaurant that had eye candy all around. Would you not agree that the feelings you felt were all part of your positive experience? Did you leave feeling like you wanted to go back and spend more time there?
This leads me to my next question. How many of you have spaces in your home that are less than inspiring? Perhaps you have one of those rooms that suck the energy out of you as soon as you walk in. We often focus more time and money on our wardrobes because it’s less risk, instant gratification and far less money than a sofa. {Here’s a hint: looking at your wardrobe will often set you in a direction of the style you might like for your interior.}
Interior Design can be an intimidating process for some. Not knowing where to begin, how to mix styles, working within a budget are all common reasons why people don’t make any changes. Please let me encourage you by saying that when you have a room that is pulled together and fabulous, it will change you.
By far the biggest stumbling block for most people is budget. Magazines are a great resource for idea building and showing us what is possible, however those rooms are not always accessible. It leaves you feeling overwhelmed and wanting this:
Source: Flickr
When the reality is that you can afford this:
Source: Flickr
That’s ok! Stop apologizing for not having the ‘Chanel’ budget!
Decorating in the here and now will not only respect your budget, it will also give you a space that you feel good coming home to, that you feel proud welcoming company in for dinner. There is a level of psychology that resonates with our emotions when we have a room that is put together in a cohesive, thoughtful manner. I believe in a give and take style of designing. There are items worth spending money on and others where you can save a little. No different than purchasing a classic, timeless blazer to work alongside a basic white tee. Just as Kim works with the budgets of her clients, so does an interior designer for your home.
We’ve all seen the TV show “What Not to Wear”. A poor victim of fashion disaster gets picked up by Stacy & Clinton and completely made over. More often than not they are reluctant to change and almost offended that they’ve been wisked off to New York City to shop for a new wardrobe. Hello?? That would be amazing!!
So why not have that same transformation in your home. What are you waiting for? Update, decorate or even renovate if your budget allows. Treat yourself to a space that is a reflection of your style, family and personality. You will not believe the difference it can make.
There are several ways you can get the help you need to pull a room together without breaking the bank. Many designers will charge a one-time consultation fee where they spend a few hours with you in your home, help you plan out your space, give you suggestions of furniture placement as well as where to shop and what to look for. Another service becoming increasingly popular is online design packages. You send all your room details to a professional interior designer who in turn provides you with everything you need in order pull the room together yourself. Now you are shopping with confidence. And just imagine if you were doing that shopping in a great pair of shoes! In the words of Stacy London- Shut Up!
Kim comments, “Style isn’t about the money or the labels its how you put yourself together.” I couldn’t agree more.
Thanks Kim!
If you would like to connect with Kim, you can do so here. Kim is also hosting Balance, Boundries & Blahniks on June 21st, here in Calgary. It’s a humorous look at our lives – the good, bad and just plain ugly! Enjoy an evening of fun, inspiration and self discovery!
If you would like to connect with me you can do so here and here.
Thanks for visiting!
My husband brought home this bottle of Evian water the other day and I was reminded of two things: one, that design is indeed everywhere and two, how much I love the designs of Paul Smith. His iconic colourful swirl pattern is classic and as you can see works effortlessly on a glass bottle as well as an area carpet.
Begrudgingly, Paul started work at a clothing warehouse in London England, however he had ambitions of being a racing cyclist. A terrible accident ended that dream and his career in fashion was born. Night classes to learn tailoring and introductions to some key people in the industry gave him his start. Now he is an international label known not only for his fashion collections but also interiors, collaborating with such companies as Cappellini, Maharam and The Rug Company.
I would love to have a piece of his Swirl pattern somewhere in my home. For now, I will happily display my bottles of water.
Swirl pattern area carpet for The Rug Company.
Paul Smith’s store, No. 9, Albermarle Street opened in the fall of 2005. “The aim was to create a shop that would showcase a varied selection of original and unique antiques, objects, art and curiosities sourced from around the world.”
“I have been a collector of ‘things’ for years and am very excited to have finally found a shop for these wonderful, individual pieces. The shop will be an odd mix, but that will make it utterly exciting all the time” Paul Smith
“The shop has a constantly changing and unexpected combination of treasures. While some are original pieces others are given a new lease of life with a Paul Smith twist. All items share the fact that they are unique.”
Source: http://paulsmith.co.uk/
Today the first of four (out of the six) houses I visited last year while attending the Dwell on Design show in Los Angeles:
Winding through the hills in a cab on my way to this home left me feeling a little nauseous, however it was well worth it when we finally arrived. Nestled in a very private setting with a stunning view, this bungalow was renovated around the previous house, creating a house tucked inside another house. Rather than tear down the existing home, the architects at Standard built the new home around it and incorporated it into the new design. The additions wrap around the old building and create two courtyards. An inner courtyard connects the main living spaces and the second courtyard offers an incredible view of Los Angeles, while still feeling like your miles away from the city.
Some of the building features include: cork flooring, redwood cladding, sustainable cotton insulation, native landscaping and vegetables.
The view.
Another art piece hanging above the kitchen island and a sitting area with fabulous sofa, area rug and footstools.
Ever have one of those days? One where something so totally unexpected happens? On this particular day, while in LA for the Dwell on Design show last year, I enjoyed a day I could never have imagined. I attended the show in the morning and finishing up far sooner than I expected I began to plan the rest of my day. How my day transpired from there was completely spontaneous and very out of character for me, however it was incredible. A day I will never forget. It was almost magical. I ended up here ~ at the Stahl house. One of the most famous mid-century modern homes, designed by Pierre Koenig and an icon in the Hollywood Hills. It’s been in movies, in print, and has one of the most spectacular views. I am certainly no photographer, but here are a few photos I took while touring the house. I could have done a better job but the experience was so overwhelming that I wanted to take in everything with my own eyes, not through the eyes of my camera.
Door ~ indicating Mr. Stahl’s initials and Case Study House #22
*sigh*
From the pool looking into the kitchen, dining and living area of the home.
Fireplace looking from the dining room.
View from living room through to the wall to wall, floor to ceiling sliding windows to the spectacular view of downtown LA.
I think what I found most impressive about the house was its simplicity. Almost everything in the home was in its original condition. They update as needed and the tours help to maintain the home. The architecture and view is of primary focus and these two things are what captivate you the minute you walk through the door. It’s a take your breath away kind of moment.
And, um…. yes, that is me lounging on the eames lounge chair. Feet up on the ottoman taking it all in. Sunglasses on because the sunlight that shines into this home is incredible. This is a moment I will never, EVER forget. How I found myself on this virtually private tour with Mark Stahl (son) and his lovely mother (who still lives in the home) is a story I will have to tell you over coffee sometime………
Bottom photo credit: Dan Chavkin
Home styled by Design Within Reach
Do you have one of those bathrooms that is circa 1980′s with the tacky, builder grade tile that acted as an “accent”. Well help is here with this great product I stumbled upon in Real Simple magazine. 2Jane offers tile tatoos, an affordable, waterproof solution to kitchen and bathroom makeovers along with many more products for DIY installations such as window film (love this idea too!), wall art, and decals. I hear from clients often that they eventually want to change their kitchen/ bathroom but for now they are living with it the way it is. These rooms are after all the most expensive rooms in your home to renovate. Well take heart, because there are a few things you can do to give your dated space a quick fix before you embark on a full on renovation. These tile decals are a great way to mask the 80′s and bring your room into the new millenium, while being mindful of your budget! Watch the ‘how-to’ video and see how easy it is. Peel. Spray. Stick. Voila!
Need a few more ideas to update your space? Design in a Box may be the perfect solution for you!
Well I found another dress that I fell in love with. This time in a magazine and do you think I was able to find in when I went looking online? No! So frustrating. In the meantime I had found the perfect interiors to represent with the dress. So I have found replacements, however I will keep on searching for ‘the one’.
This idea of bold and elegant is a stunning combination of black, grey, off-white and yellow tones. Each colour used so effortlessly yet it creates a wow-factor room that is warm, inviting and oh so interesting. I love the symmetry of the open, ‘globe like’ light fixtures and the bold use of yellow in the furniture paired with a more subtle colour of yellow on the walls. I also love the way the drapery wraps around the room with a floating neutral sheer from floor to ceiling.
There is so much to love about this room. The symmetry vs. asymmetry, the neutral yet striking colour palette, the elegant and at the same time bold feeling of the space. Attention to detail at it’s finest.
Sources: Dresses from Saks Fifth Avenue; Home via Traditional Home, Designed by Barry Dixon, Built by GreenSpur Builders
When it comes to your home, everyone loves a good deal and you can find some great ones at Homesense. The problem is it can be overwhelming and a bit of pressure with that lurking thought that if you don’t grab that fabulous item now… it may be gone. So you throw it in your cart because you love it! You’re not exactly sure where it will go in your home, but who cares! If you don’t take it now someone else will, and you just can’t imagine your life without it.
Believe me, I’ve fallen into this trap a time or two. It’s not only a waste of time and money, it can lead to decorating frustration. And who wants that? So with this in mind, I have put together a few tips to help you scout through the aisles of temptation and make smarter purchases.
1. GO WITH A LIST
Just like when we grocery shop, this rule applies in other areas as well. We always spend more when we don’t have a list to keep us focused. List the areas you’re looking for according to room and this will help keep you organized while you shop.
2. BRING MEASUREMENTS
Whether you’re shopping for accessories or an area rug, measure the space before you leave the house. Take a good sized tape measure with you so you can properly measure furniture, art work etc. That way you’re not guessing, only to bring it home and find that it doesn’t fit.
3. DON’T PUT THINGS ON HOLD
Find the perfect item but can’t take it home that day? Pay for it! If you put it on hold, a tag will go on the piece that is easily removed by someone else who falls in love with your treasure. Paying for it in full means they will set it aside so no one else can snatch it up. People can be ruthless when they find something they have to have, so take this advice from someone who lost a beautiful chair because I put it on hold.
4. GO WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF TIME
With time on your side you will be able to re-visit every aisle. There’s always lots to see and you may have missed something the first time around. We also tend to make impulse purchases when we’re pressed for time rather than thinking things through.
5. GET THE INSIDE SCOOP
Talk to the staff and find out when they receive their shipments. If stock arrives Thursday to be on the floor for Friday and you go on Monday, chances are you’ve missed out on some great finds. Also, there are certain Homesense stores that are classified as ‘premium’ stores and they receive better product than other stores. Find out if you have that special store in your city and make an effort to visit that one in particular. (for Calgary shoppers, our premium store is the Homesense at Market Mall)
6. MAGAZINES ARE FOR INSPIRATION
Magazines are an essential resource for finding great items. Based on the stock coming and going so fast at Homesense, don’t count on anything you’ve seen in a magazine actually being there. Use it as a guide and proof that you can find some fabulous pieces. Magazines print so far in advance that it’s not worth getting your hopes up!
7. IF YOU LOVE IT, BUY IT
If you do see something that you absolutely love but are not sure where it will go, buy it. You never know until you try and you might just find the perfect spot for it. If it doesn’t work, be ruthless and make sure you return it. Your wallet and storage room will thank you.
Below are a few images I grabbed off the Homesense website showing some of the many wonderful items you can find in store.
I hope these ideas and suggestions will help you the next time you head to Homesense. (Many of these same rules can apply while shopping elsewhere.) It really is a great store with lots to offer. If you find the idea of this overwhelming, hire a designer or online service to help you pull it all together. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about the process. You can reach me here.
Above all ~ have fun! Part of the excitement is the thrill of finding great things!
Whether in fashion, interiors or architecture, ‘cutouts’ are becoming a high rising trend. Offering a lightness and airy feel, these holes embrace the negative space of an object and create a captivating design and a statement all their own.
1. John Galliano’s first eye wear collection ~ Cutout Arm Sunglasses from Neiman Marcus. 2. Robert Lee Morris Flat Lace Ring available at Neiman Marcus. 3. Normally we strive to keep our clothes free of holes, however Vince makes it a fashion statement with this Linen Torn Sweater available at Nordstrom. 4. Oly Studio’s Pipa Cocktail Table would bring life to several styles of decor. 5. Franco Sarto Crest Shoes in stone. 6. Constantine Pewter 3″ x 3″ Tile from Metal Focus. 7. Eighteen Karat Ramen Vase available at Home Evolution. 8. Bev Hisey takes cutting edge to a new level with her die cut 100% Wool Felt River Rock Carpet. 9. This Dipped Abalone Bowl from Anthropologie has an organic quality to it as if it just come out of the ocean.
Mandarin Oriental in Barcelona Spain. Image via The Coolist*.
Mikimoto Building in Tokyo Japan. Image via ARCHizon.
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