A big thank you to Greater Nashville House & Home for including me in their article on kitchen trends!

So, when you’re out and about, pick up one of these…..

We enjoyed the process of looking back on the projects we’ve done over the last year to review what we’re seeing and being asked for.   We realized we’ve designed almost 30 kitchens during that time…..Wow!

So now, flip on over to page 30…..

That beautiful kitchen with the stone wall and warm red accents is from the home of some great clients of mine in Kentucky.

In the work we’ve done on those almost 30 kitchens (which still boggles my mind)…..we’ve worked on some great projects with wonderful people.

The combined living and kitchen space (which is definitely a trend) highlighted on the following page, was also featured in Nashville Lifestyles last year. These super and cool friends/clients still have one of the most stylish homes in East Nashville!

In addition to the trends noted in the article, we also noted eating in the kitchen – whether at table that also serves as an island or breakfast nook banquette, is a continuing trend in kitchen design.

Trends change and evolve with time, but they say a lot about what we want, what matters to us.  They also inspire us to consider doing something we might not otherwise.  We’re honored to to share our thoughts on kitchen trends with Nashville’s House & Home readers

 - marcelle

Outside that is…

If you want to know how I refuel as a designer, it’s this:  I bask in Mother Nature – the greatest Designer ever…..

The senses of nature reinvigorate me – the sound of the bird’s song, the smell of fresh cut grass, the breeze’s caress as it carries my tension away…

On days like today, I enjoy the sound of rain flirting with the leaves of our beautiful 56 year old dogwood as it dances down its canopy… (sitting in my my ever comfy butterfly chair!)…..

Reconnecting with the elements of mother earth…

air

fire

water

earth

wood…

and then allowing myself to be romanced by her generosity…..

TGIF

-          marcelle

image credits:

1. yoga statue via Tumbler

2. via Instagram

3. lakeside daybed via Recyclart

4. candle via Tumbler

5. fountain via stoneforest.com

6. garden party via Sweetie Pie Style

7. screened porch via Remodelista

8. poolside lounger via Summer Classics

Gold fever…

It’s sexy.  It’s glam.  And it’s back! 

The gold we’re seeing out there is more of a richer tone than its 70’s counterpart- more burnished – more of an antique gold.

But it doesn’t have to take over the room…..

Check out how this room sparkles with small hints of gold – at the light fixture fittings, lamps, frames, cabinet hardware.  When we really look at this stunning foyer, we notice how gold is going hand in hand with another trend we are seeing:  Rich colors…..

Like turquoise!

But it can just as well softly glow like candlelight…..

So here’s where we’ve been seeing gold (or antique brass):

Starting at the front door!  We’ve put it in door hardware.  Look how plush it looks paired with a super deep purple door…..

We’ve put it in lighting – adding some dazzle in the foyer -

We’ve shimmered up the stair railings …..

and dressed up dressers…..

Where would you put gold accents in your home…..?

-          marcelle

Photo credits:

1: black and gold pendant via www.homeadore.com

2: blue bathroom via www.smallshopstudio.com

3: triple tiered pendant shade via www.urbanoutfitters.com

4: gold door lever via www.dwell.com

5: new jersey foyer via www.elledecor.com

6: turquoise shower via www.tiles.co.nz

7: antique mirror pendant & table via wellappointedhouse.com

8: purple entry door via www.mariakillam.com

9: casbah crystal chandelier via www.restorationhardware.com

10: gold stair railings via marcelle guilbeau

11: living room via marcelle guilbeau

What a great time to be living in Nashville! There’s so many great things happening here, including my very own neighborhood!

For the second time in about a month StyleBlueprint, has featured the Sylvan Park and Charlotte Avenue area I call home.

Today’s article on Charlotte Pike highlights several area businesses, including Headquarters Cafe. They’re a great little coffee shop I blogged about in early February.

Here’s the StyleBlueprint article links on my ‘hood:

http://www.styleblueprint.com/featured/charlotte-avenuethe-long-road-home/

http://www.styleblueprint.com/featured/sylvan-park-eat-shop-walk/

Photo credit: StyleBlueprint.com

So in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I share my fascination with Irish design…..

…..starting with the love of the land…..

In Ireland, you see architecture – like this ancient relic of high culture – seeming to grow up out of the ground, as if by the hand of God – the hand of Nature…..

But it happens as much in low culture – a cottage hugging the moor…..

Even roads and paths seem to have grown out of the earth.

There is love of nature at the heart of Irish art and design.  Consider this wool throw…..

knitted in the “Aran pattern” – symbolizing the “ladder of life”…..

…..or the famed Irish lace…..

such as this one, with a delicate orchid pattern…..

or this chrochet lace coat dress….

with its soft, flowing pattern and cut.

Even Irish jewelry has a natural sensuality…..

This piece follows the curves of the hand.

So it only follows that Irish architecture and interior design would intrigue me as well…..

Far from the noise of the shamrocks and the kelly green, Irish design is simple and understated…..

…..elegantely homey…..

cozy and soft…..

But also sometimes sexy and sophisticated…

glam – in a natural way…..

…..and sometimes – with a touch of green

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

- marcelle

1.  Ballybunion Castle via redbubble.com

2.  Irish cottage via bing.com

3.  via pdphoto.org

4.  via irish-handcrafts.com

5.  via sweetpeapath.tumblr.com

6.  via vintagetextile.com

7. via wwwjewelry-guide.com

8.  via unexpectedcontractor.blogspot.ca

9.  via google.com

10.  via saidosdaconcha.blogspot.com

11.  via ravelry.com

12.  via clodagh.com

13.  via rothschildbickers.com

14.  via orlakiely.com

You know the saying, “The family that dines together, stays together”?

Or how about this one: “The kitchen is the heart of the home.”

These days, we’re pulled in so many directions  -  the hours between breakfast and bedtime filled with work, school, homework, practices and games…..Yet we still need to be together…..

This is something my clients keep asking for – new and different ways to be together in their home.  Especially the kitchen, where we naturally gather – to cook, read, drink our morning tea, help with homework, and of course – eat…..

This was my childhood – growing up in the seventies – eating together in the “breakfast room”.  Long gone are the days when we dined in the dining room.

But then, a funny thing occurred, after the invention of the “kitchen island” (the breaking off of the “peninsula” which divided off our 70′s breakfast room from the kitchen):

Everybody started hanging out there!

Enter my clients!  Lately, they have been requesting islands that can also serve as their table. Take this trestle-style farm table, for instance.  It visually breaks down the barrier between kitchen and eating even more than the island.

Do you see the chairs peeking out from behind that island/table?  The trestle base allows the chairs to pull up.

But what if you want to raise that table up to “counter height”?  You can always pull tall stools up to it.  But then some folks’ feet (mine!  children’s!) might dangle.  We recently tackled that problem for some clients:  A post and beam style table with integrated footrest  –  based on this inspiration picture below:

Notice how the table base pulls in from the edge of the table?  That way anyone can sit comfortably around the table without banging their legs.  But also notice:  There is a crossbeam at the bottom, which can act as a foot rest (like at a bar!)

So here is our rendition:

This full-on table will also act as a counter-height prep area!

I also think just a good-sized dining table in a good-sized kitchen is a cool concept.  Here are some of my faves:

But in the end, whether you just pull a table to the middle of the kitchen…..

or build an island with a bar…..

or create an updated version of the 70′s breakfast nook…..isn’t it all the same thing we’re after…..?

Togetherness…..

- marcelle

1.  via masterfile.com

2.  via sheknows.com

3.  via houzz.com

4.  via designcaller.blogspot.com

5.  via Marcelle Guilbeau, Interior Designer

6.  via dyingofcute.tumblr.com

7.  via idealhouse.tumblr.com

8.  via bungalowblueinteriors.com

9.  via room-galleries.myhomeideas.com

10.  via marthastewart.com

11.  via carlaaston.com

So this year’s Pantone Color of the year is….. emerald.

“The most abundant hue in nature, the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

Yet green in particular – bold “emerald” green – can turn so unusual and “unnatural” when you place it indoors…..

When I think of emerald in nature, I think of the “Emerald Isle”…..

Gorgeous.  But aren’t those colors are just as surreal as anything “man made”?

And that’s really the essence of  “emerald”:  It changes all the time on you, depending on where you find it.

It can go “natural” (read “serene”), such as these deep emerald kitchen cabinets…..

It can go super glam and eye catching – such as these bright, shimmery drapes…..

It can be incredibly plush and cozy, like this velvet sofa…..

Or it can be fun and festive, like this painted chest of drawers…..

Says Eiseman “As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world.”  I highly agree.

How might you bring emerald into your home?

- marcelle

1.  via glamorouschiclife.tumblr.com

2.  via webdeco.be

3.  via allthingseurope: Inishmore, Ireland (by Christopher Tierney)

4.  via matchbookmag.com

5.  via gildandgrace.blogspot.com

6.  via interior designer Bailey McCarthy, photography by Emily Anderson, styling by Alana Kaczmarski

7.  via blog.homeandstone.com

Quotes courtesy of the Pantone Color Institute.

…..so the first thing to love is it’s situated in a cool historic shopping strip on Charlotte, right across the street from Richland Park, at the edge of Sylvan Park – my hood…..

…..next to the junk antique shop I used to frequent back in the day…..

Only 9’ wide, the building was originally an alley – hence the exposed brick wall with original painted advertisement, “dry goods, milliner and shoes”.

Owners James and Louisa Green took the wall back to its original state, once they discovered it was a historic 1912 historic gem.  The brick wall dates back to the 1880’s.

The second thing to love is the truly cool “cafe vibe”…..

It’s everything from the hipsters who hanging out there, to the smell of fresh, free trade, locally roasted coffee, to Spencer, the knowledgeable barista, who will happily whip you up something good…..

But there’s something more to this place – and the third thing to love -

- ever watched those 40′s detective movies?  David and I are addicted.  Well, sitting in here, you feel like any minute that gumshoe is about to step in, in search of his gangster…..When I told that to Louisa, she said that’s actually the vibe she felt about this place!  And which they sought to channel in their sensitive rehab…..

Which is the fourth thing to love.  Everything from the exposure of the original wood ceiling and structure…..

to the aforementioned brick wall graphics, to the reuse of the original wood floor.

But the fifth thing to love is near and dear to Marcelle’s heart:  reclaimed, handcrafted everything – from the 1890′s entry door, to the 30′s leaded glass transom above, to the 60′s steel storefront window – all found and refurbished by James and Louisa.

The front bar at the window is a wood door stoop found in a friend’s basement.  On it are carved “Roy + May 1952″.  The coat rack is made from the building’s original flooring, and hooks found at Preservation Station.

James, a very talented carpenter and furniture maker, fashioned the hook.  In addition, he made the chunky wood and metal tables (wood reclaimed from a demo’d house in Sylvan park), the bar front with the cool metal Tennessee symbol made from his mom’s torn down fence…..

…..and – well – just about everything in there.  (Contact him at hankwilliamsismyhero@gmail.com, if you’d like your own version of the tables – or to rehab a cool historic space like this!)

Some come on over to my hood for a good cup of joe – and possibly the coolest cafe vibe in town

Headquarters is located at:

4902 Charlotte Pike

hours are:

7-4 Monday through Friday

8-4 Saturday

10-3 Sunday

Check out their facebook page for more info.

- marcelle

images 1, 3-8 via marcelle’s iphone

image 2 via Sheena T. on yelp

Thank you Nashville community for voting me “best of houzz 2013″ for design!

Did you even know houzz.com had a “best of 2013″ for Nashville – along with some of the coolest cities in the country?  I didn’t!  Among them are some of my favorite designers and architects…..  Very proud that Nashville is in there among them!

And speaking of which, I need to give kudos to one of my favorite design teams I ever worked with (for the house above, which is getting so many “looks” on houzz):  Clients Suellen and Rick Stringer-Hye, architect Susan Hagar (sabhagerarchitecture.com), and Fred Lawrence, of the Lawrence Brother Contractors (lawrencebrothersllc.com).

For more about this house, check out my blog post, “reclaimed wood love”.  But more importantly, see what the buzz is about Nashville on houzz.com!

- marcelle

So proud of my hometown of Nashville being featured in the New York Times!

Nashville’s Latest Big Hit Could Be The City Itself

(www.nytimes.com)

More on the architecture and interiors that makes this town so cool coming up soon…..

- marcelle

Have fun.  Be safe.  And we’ll see you in the New Year!

- marcelle

New Orleans perpetually captivates my husband (and favorite architect) David and I – especially the architecture – its wit, playfulness, and sophistication.  So on a recent fall family trip down there, in an effort to “get it” – we…..took pictures! And here is what we found…..

I am forever in love with the historic Victorian houses of the Garden District…..

This one here has a funky partial wraparound porch on the upper floor…..

…..and a porthole window…..

…..and an ambling haint blue porch ceiling that just dances on, around the corners, and around the brackets…..

The whole house is so silly and fun – yet so cool and intriguing at the same time.  That is what makes this New Orleans architecture. Every town has Victorian architecture – but not like New Orleans…..

On another day, David got captivated by a similar piece of architecture – a newly built corner office building…..

It has the same second floor cantilevered porch as the Victorian house. But this porch cleanly wraps the street sides of the building, giving it a more modern form.  The color – one of our favorite historic colors – is French Green.  But the use of it as the overall color of the building (instead of as an accent) gives it a modern feel.  A very, very clever take on a modern but historically “contextual” building.

…..details of the bracketry…..

Here’s a more traditional take on French Green,which has me swooning – on a shotgun house…..

And another – French Green on cream…..

And another – this is the most classic – French Green on the shutters. David and I both took pictures of this on different days!  We loved the boxwood patio garden too…..

Folks told us the architectural action was in The Bywater, on the other side of the French Quarter, so we checked it out…..

This historic garment factory which has been converted into apartments, was the most intriguing new development we found…..

A very lovely gentleman, a “real Creole” originally from the Dominican Republic, whose grandfather had played with Louis Armstrong, invited us inside.

Here is the view back outside from inside the courtyard.  Notice the apartments playfully ambling up and over the driveway entrance…..

…..quintessential New Orleans shangri-la outdoor living inside.  The stains up top are indigo garment dye from the factory days…..

…..and a shangri-la pool…..

…..and a detail of the steel windows…..

The takeaway?  It’s just the fun of it all…..

- marcelle

This weekend is the 34th Annual Lockeland Springs Celebration of Homes Tour – and I’m going! East Nashville is one of my favorite neighborhoods –  cool, funky and amazingly historic.  What’s not to love about getting to see inside some of those amazing homes?  Even better, this year’s tour also features the Top O’Woodland Bed and Breakfast, the Corinthian Lodge on Eastland Avenue, and Holly Street Fire Station!

It just so happens that the home of my very cool clients, Jenny and Aaron Armstrong,  is on the tour too – one of the not-historic (but very contextually modern) kinds…..

It looks vaguely like this on the outside…..

(courtesy of the East Nashvillian, full article here)

…..but on the inside, a spacious, light-filled modern home awaits you.

Here’s a peek at the living room…..

…..upstairs reclaimed wood art wall…..

…..and master bedroom…..

And here’s a peek at some of the seasonal decor you may see here and there, once the doors open…..

So come on over and see the rest!

For full details, and to buy a ticket, go to the Lockeland Springs Celebration of Home Tour 2012 website, http://www.lockelandsprings.org/category/christmas-tour-of-homes/.

- marcelle

A big thanks to houzz.com for featuring me in their “cozy kitchens” article! Take a look and see if you can guess which kitchen I designed….

- marcelle

So today I’m honored to interview someone who has brought style, class, comfort and affordability to homes around the world – Bob Williams, design partner of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.  I had the privilege of meeting him recently at Nashville’s local Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 5^th anniversary party.

(That’s Bob 3rd from the left, with owners and staff at the party)

A mainstay of stylish and affordable furniture, Bob Williams’ furniture designs, sometimes created years ago, are now defining our living rooms.

Thus he has quietly set trends – and raised the barre.  With emphasis onquietly. And now I know why.  That quiet humbleness is Bob Williams to a T.  A quiet genius, that is.

I’ve always loved furniture “with a good back” –  great sculptural form.   And I love to “mix it up” – casual, modern styles with dressier, classic forms.  Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams has served up these opportunities on countless occasions.  This season, I’m impressed with the resurgence of color in the collection.  And even more eclectic mixes of modern and traditional styles – many of which, I’ve learned, were designed by Bob and his team years ago, and whose time has finally come.  So on with the interview…..

Marcelle I’ve been very impressed with the explosion of color in your fall collection, and how it’s leading the resurgence of color in interior design.  Can you tell me, what was your inspiration for your fall collection?

Bob We’ve done 46 seasons so far now.  And every season we take a different approach.  We decided to tell a strong black and white story – with “black” being everything from dark purples, to browns and leathers.    And “white” being all the great neutrals.  We really wanted the silhouettes and shapes to be the star.  It’s a good place to start for anyone who’s a little bit intimidated by color.  You can add a little color pop, a little of your own personality that way.

Marcelle And your expressive play on the wing back chair this season – I’m a fan of the Nadine chair – how do you do it?  Where does it come from?

Bob We’re known for our occasional chairs.  That’s how we got started.  It’s like a piece of sculpture – it floats in the floor.  The color punch shows off the sculptural form.  People are a little intimidated by greatly saturated colors, but drawn to forms.

Marcelle I’m a big fan of your great sculptural forms.  Where do they come from?

Bob We do a lot of research.  We like classic forms, and then update with fabric, color.  We’ll update the shapes, but more for comfort.  For instance, Mitchell and I, over twenty years ago, fell in love with some Parisian flea market leather club chairs.  But you know years ago, people were smaller.  So we could take inspiration from the chairs’ forms, but updated to fit people today.  That taught me early on about scale and proportion.

Marcelle Really?

Bob Yes.  Some pieces need to accommodate someone smaller, and some need to accommodate some one bigger.

Marcelle I’m always asking folks to sit in the furniture before they buy.  That’s a real advantage to being able to bring them to this showroom here.

Bob When putting together a room, I encourage folks to have both sizes in it to suit everyone.  The funny thing is, when you go in the room, it never fails – the big people are in the little chairs, and the little people are in the big chairs!

Marcelle No that’s really true!  We were just talking about that before the interview.  I like to do eclectic mixes, and was pulling together a slouchy, casual sofa – the Blackwell, with the Nadine wing chair – which has that sexy back that I love.  And immediately all of us little women started jumping into the sofa corner, and curling up!  Then the guys came over and sat in the chair!

Marcelle Okay, next question:  You mentioned shopping for vintage furniture.  Does that inspire you?

Bob Yes, I’ve got a lot of vintage pieces, not so many new pieces, because – well, the truth is, if there’s anything new I need, it becomes part of the next collection!

Marcelle That’s fascinating.  Where do you go, if I may ask, to find vintage furniture?

Bob When I know I’m going to a city, I go online and look up the shops on 1^st Dibs (vintage and antique furniture site).  So I do my research ahead.  You can find some really great vintage and antique stores that way.

Marcelle So what do you do to recharge, as a designer?  Travel, perhaps – to places like Paris?

Bob Yes, I do like to travel.  Also – I never could understand why some people buy cookbooks.

Marcelle (I’m thinking, ‘Where is he going with this?’)

Bob But then I realized – it’s like how I like to read magazines with floor plans. I read them, and I start imagining designing a house, from the floors, to the walls, to the ceiling.  Then I have to put the furniture in it.  Then create the color palette.  Those become inspirations for the pieces we come up with.

But really that’s where the inspiration comes from. The inspiration comes from the vintage furniture, the house plans – and the needs that Mitchell and I have for our own homes and lives.

Marcelle Ah – I see!  This is where your inspiration comes from! (Translation:  Dude’s a genius……I could look at floor plans all day, and furniture would not just spring out of my mind…..!) I think I’ll check out 1^st Dibs before I hit a big city next time I need a vintage furniture hit, but leave the furniture designing to you, Bob!  Thank you so much, and thank you for your time!

Bob Thank you, Marcelle.

Nashville is blessed to have our very own Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams showroom, now for 5 years, where you can scoop the latest furniture trends, and discover what furniture fits for you.   If you haven’t treated yourself to a trip there yet, they’re at:

-  marcelle

image 1 – via Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams’ Nashville party pics

image 2 – via CBS Sunday Morning show, screenshot

image 3-5 – via Marcelle’s iphone at Nashville’s Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams store

The Tennessean has published a great article last Sunday, entitled “Nashville’s Modern Architecture gets Spotlight in Homes Tour”, pertaining to weekend’s modern home tour. The article provides a little back story on several of the homes showcased in the article, including our “suburban loft” in Sylvan Park.

For information on the tour and to reserve your tickets, you can visit the Modern Home Tours site at www.nashville.modernhometours.com.

So today I’m being interviewed by Mallory Baysek of Modern Home Tours.

Founded in Austin. TX , Modern Home Tours, has found it’s way to Nashville for it’s first annual tour.  Our home in Sylvan Park will be one of the homes showcased on this inaugural tour will be next Saturday, November 3rd.

The interview can be found on the Modern Home Tour Blog here:  http://modernhometours.com/2012/10/26/qa-w-building-ideas-llc-5007-wyoming-ave/

For more information and tickets on the Nashville’s first annual Modern Home Tour, you can visit their website.

…..wanderlust and whimsey here we come!

Click the link below to join in:

http://www.jossandmain.com/invite/marcellesinvitation

(After you click the link and the site pops up, wait for the little white box to come up.  Type in your email address, make up a password, enjoy your shopping, then opt out later if you want to )

- marcelle

So I have been asked to “curate” an “event” for Joss & Main this coming Sunday evening……

If you don’t know who Joss & Main is, they’re an online store, offering a range of home furniture and decor through “sale events” that essentially give away my “designer discount”.  So if you’re interested in a good deal on some good stuff, these “events” offer high quality products at “trade cost”.  Besides the fact they’re just beautiful…..

Here’s a sneak peak of my “event”, called “Wanderlust and Whimsey”…..

For a complete catalogue of the event, go here:

wanderlust & whimsey sneak peek

“Wanderlust & Whimsey” will be held this Sunday, September 14th, at 9PM Eastern Time (8PM Central).  If you’re already a member, you’ll be getting the email invite.  If you’re not, then you can use my invitation:

http://www.jossandmain.com/invite/marcellesinvitation

For more about the event, check out Marcelle’s lookbook.

For more about Joss & Main, check out their about page.

Thanks to all my clients who have inspired me in pulling these pieces together, which evoke our shared passion for travel, world citizenry, and enjoying life.

- marcelle

So…..in case you didn’t notice, color is finally making a comeback in fashion and design.  And no more than ever than in the latest fall trends …..

…..starting with clothing fashion.  Check out these color pops at Posh, one of my favorite boutiques in Nashville…..

Posh’s Taylor and Jenna say the colors of the season are wineberry and oxblood…..

golds, hunter greens and deep mustards…..

tomato and plum…..

and don’t forget to punch in turquoise!

For the brave at heart – mix it all up in a fun accent piece, like this necklace…..

Although this is fall season number two for many of these colors, I think they have gotten bolder this year.  And, unlike last year, these fall fashion colors are finally here in home furnishings, too…..

And no better place to see this happening than at our local Nashville boutique, Color…..

Love the turquoise, plum and tomato thrown in with the more traditional fall oranges and browns!

If you’re not so into color pop, you can mix the more earth tones together, for some more subtle drama – like this mustard yellow pottery worked in with hints of tomato and wineberry colored flowers, berries and squashes…..

Or if you don’t have time for all these decisions (that would be me!), just pare it down to two colors – such as the “tomato” in these roses, worked into a wreath made of twigs…..

Exciting – but a little overwhelming?  Not to fear.  Color’s very own home stylist Jason Grant will help you navigate the store’s bountiful offerings, and assist you with your own personal color palette.

Most recently, his work was featured on Styleblueprint.com – a front porch update that was as warm and inviting as it was colorfully exciting…..

Love the more muted plum dhurie rug peeking up from under these amazing burlap-covered rustic wood ottomans…..

Love the way you can have all the punch here – turquoise, tomato, mustard – even a little watermelon left over from the summer! – yet still be definatively “fall” colored – with the deep plums, oranges, and weathered woods…..

Check out the Styleblueprint blog if you’d like to see the rest…..

Let’s here it for the return of color

- marcelle

Images 1 through 11:  Marcelle’s iphone pics

Images 12 through 14:  via Styleblueprint.com.  Photography by Bridgett Ezzard.

So if you weren’t at the Jalan-Jalan Preview Party on Saturday, you missed the best party…..

Owner Caye David had her latest imports from Indonesia on display, paired with colorful splashes of expressivist painting by artist Sargam Griffin.   That’s Caye, lower left, with Sargam next to her…..

Sargam’s works were stunning in and of themselves.  Here she is next to my favorite piece – “The Economy” – very free and spontaneous – which I must have for the front entry of my design studio someday…..

Ben Collins, owner of our Nashville Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams store, chose this painting of hers, as his favorite piece…..

Her work added color and energy to the more serene, natural palette of the Indonesian furniture.  Ben’s favorite painting paired nicely with these stone stools and table, which would do nicely in some resort setting – as would the artwork…..

One of my favorite guys over at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Ian May, had a favorite artwork too – this abstract floral…..

“It’s happy and sunny, ” he explained.  Which made me laugh – cause that describes Ian to a T!

Another one of my favorite people, Julie Hullett, Concierge, was there too…..

Her favorite piece was this chair – and the carved table - and the huge carved panel behind it.  She thought the chair looked inviting – was surprised to find it was comfortable too.

And a detail of the panel…..

My friend and interior designer Mark DeMayo was there too.  His favorite piece was this wooden coffee table…..

…..for the rustic character in the wood.

And this huge canopy bed stole the show…..

Kim Ivey, an accountant whom I met at the party, called it her favorite thing, because it was luxurious in size,  yet could serve a casual lounge or sleeping need so practically.  I’d say luxurious, yet practical is something you see over and over again with this Indonesian furniture…..

The canopy bed was festooned with wonderful textiles…..

Artist Deanie French, who teaches at Art & Soul, and I vied for this teal patterned one as our favorite.  If she doesn’t take it, I could maybe put it up on a large wall somewhere in my house…..

But I don’t know – I might need the pillows too…..

This stone carved Buddha was Bill Owens’ favorite piece.  Bill has been a faithful follower of Caye’s Indonesian imports since she first opened 15 years ago, and has fitted his entire house out with the stuff!

But apart from the blue tapestry (for my house), “The Economy” painting (for my studio foyer), and the stone stools and table (for the spa I want to design one day), I had a favorite…..

…..this bench sofa.  So simple and happy.  Love the detail carved on the panel…..

“Jalan-Jalan” means “I’m just going for a walk” in Indonesian.  And I felt I had indeed “just gone for a walk” – stepping back in time to a place slower and more serene….. If you need a little bit of “practical luxury” and serenity in your life, this Nashville gem is not to be missed.

Jalan-Jalan is located at 2503 Winford Avenue in Nashville, TN, and is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 to 5.  Check out their website at www.jalanjalanantiques.com.

Sargam Griffin’s exhibit, East Meets West, will be on display at Jalan-Jalan through December 15th.

- marcelle

So one day I was talking to a group of gals about the fun of “mixing modern with traditional styles”.  And one gal asked, “Can you mix modern with Shaker styles?”

“Wow, that sounds really cool!” was my instant reply.  In short order, I was working with Lauren, who became my client, on making this happen in her master bedroom.  Here’s a before picture…..

See the “shaker style” chest in front of the stair rail?  Lauren wanted to keep that piece, along with the white painted cabinet, on the far right in the picture below…..

Lauren and her husband’s lives had evolved “away” from the original room setup.  The black-trimmed wall behind the chairs used to be the “headboard” wall behind the black painted bed.  With the bed now repositioned, the black wall trim and bed reading lights had to go….. In fact, the bed was up for grabs too!

So we decided to delete the black altogether.  We opted for a “Shaker style” white painted platform bed,  and got rid of the head and footboards altogether, allowing more room for maneuvering.  A more of a spacious, zen feel…..

We thought we’d repaint the room a pale blue, with soft white trim to echo the Shaker style cabinet and  new bed.  Then we’d find some matching chairs for the “TV viewing and reading” spot against the former headboard wall…..

An added layer to this intimate space was the “coral colored” artwork by Lauren’s cousin…..

and handmade blanked made by her mother…..

Lauren wanted to keep these, and work the coral into the overall scheme.

And here is the finished product…..

On top of the new platform bed, we updated the bedding with a soft gray-blue pintuck, and added some coral colored pillows – which Lauren’s Mom made!  See how nicely it ties in with her cousin’s artwork beyond the stair, and her Mom’s handmade blanket?

And here’s a view from the other side…..

The bed now ties in beautifully with the Shaker style cabinet, and allows a more “zen” space.  We found some matching chairs with a modern simplicity, but softness of form to blend with the Shaker element, and placed a sumptuous cream suede stripe on them…..More coral colored pillows made by Lauren’s mom……

Here’s a closeup of the bed with pillows and blanket…..

…..and a closeup of the chairs…..

We also got a “cozy, comfy rug” in there, along with a cream colored leather-wrapped full length mirror.  And Lauren, who is handy herself (must run in the family) repainted the little table a soft coral…..

We placed an ottoman in one of the dormers, along with another coral-colored pillow made by Mom.  Lauren and her husband can pull it up to the chairs for comfy reading or TV watching…..

And voila!  There you have it.  Modern meets Shaker style.  I could never have dreamed it up myself…..  Here’s to working with creative clients (and their mothers…..and their cousins)…..

-marcelle

photography by Ashley Segroves, www.ashleysegroves.com.

So I don’t typically “sell” products on my blog.  But today….. I have to let you in on this sale.  Cause it’s only good for 2 1/2 days, and if you need some furniture like this – you don’t want to miss it!

I realize not everyone is in need of an updated traditional style setee.  But perhaps you need a cube ottoman in a black and white houndstooth?

One Kings Lane has it, and assorted indoor and outdoor pieces – like this super cool “Bauhaus” inspired set –  on sale for crazy deals.

What’s so great about Century Furniture?  It’s what I call “lifetime pieces”.  That means top quality, inside and out.  The kind you could hand down to your children’s children someday. Or, which, like some of my clients, you could inherit from your parents.  It will always be a “classic”, which you can recover and refurbish endlessly, to give it new life.

So if you’re looking for some classic high quality furniture at an unbeatable price – check out this One Kings Lane sale today.  But even if you’re not, consider this site a great source for great furniture and accessories.

Happy shopping

- marcelle

So lately I’ve been getting a lot of requests for “cozy, comfy rugs.”  Ever noticed that when you buy a new car, all of a sudden it seems everywhere on the road?  Well, it’s kind of like that….. now I’m seeing all these bad ass “cozy, comfy rugs” all over the place.  Yes, I mean badass.cozy.comfy.

Check this out, for one…..

We all know a true badass is the strong, silent type.  He doesn’t need to draw attention to himself, you just feel his presence. These are the Chuck Norris and Jackie Chans of the rug world baby! Whether neutral or accented with color, their presence enlivens a room with warm and comfort underfoot.

Whether braided or woven, these (generally) natural fiber rugs provide the comfort and warmth of a favored winter sweater. Besides the comfort they bring your toes, they bring an essence of nature indoors.

The soft tones of the above  Restoration Hardware  rugs lend themselves to the warm and inviting, yet casual elegance found in European homes. The rugs pair easily with multiple fabrics and furnishings in the home, lending themselves well to multiple aesthetics.

For those who want to kick it up another notch, there are options available such as the West Elm rug pictured above done in a chevron pattern – a hot trend right now.   Keeping the colors neutral will make this rug outlast the trend, adding classic longevity.

Cozy, comfy wool rugs can also incorporate the flavor of other cultures. The soft hues, as in the pattern above, create a sophistication in global and eclectic homes.

A perennial favorite is the silky shag, like my client Lauren’s above…..  You can get these through yours truly for a wholesale deal (they are also available in abundance at your local furniture stores).

These rugs are just so darned yummy. They make toes happy.  So kick off your shoes, relax, and squish your toes in their plushy goodness.  You can just feel your blood pressure lower…

So, whether mixed with felted ribbon, like the West Elm rug pictured directly above…

or the pairing of this thick hand-knitted Masland rug constructed of New Zealand wool yarn and soft, silk yarn…

or these fun, delectable West Elm treats of recycled cotton jersey for your bathroom…

You just know these rugs don’t need to be anything other than what they are. They know it. You know it. That’s why they’re badass.cozy.comfy.
- marcelle

1.  Via google.com

2.  Via keltainentalorannalla.blogspot.com.es

3.  Via restorationhardware.com

4.  Via westelm.com

5.  Via westelm.com

6.  Master Bedroom by Marcelle Guilbeau, photograph by Ashley Segroves

7.  Via westelm.com

8.  Via maslandcarpets.com

9.  Via westelm.com

How do they go from this…..

…..to this?

One day, you wake up and realize you’re a parent.  The next day, you’ve got a big kid on your hands.  How do you make the transition?  Ideally, the room you put together can make the transitions along with your tyke.

Most cribs, like my son Liam’s, can turn into “toddler beds.”

By taking off the front rail, you buy yourself two or 3 more years before the next big move.

But what about the big bed?  In my case, space was an issue.  Liam’s room is only 8′ wide – and destined to be the entrance to our master bedroom suite – some day…..

I needed a “big boy bed” now, but the bed needed to “go with him to a bigger room” down the road.  So…..

…..the bed I designed kills 2 birds with one stone:  It fits in the current space, with storage below, leaving ample floor play space.  When Liam moves into a bigger room, the base of the bed is separate from the chest of drawers on the right:  So I can turn the bed the other way, and/or add a desk in between the chest and the bed.  I asked Master Craftsman Extraordinaire Tom Ferris to build it for me, and he did so beautifully.

But what if you’re not into the more “modern style” of built-ins?

Well, Tom has you covered on that too.  Check out this ingenious traditional style crib he made for another client…..

The side rails will later convert to the headboard and footboard of a standard sized bed!

Tom can create built-in or freestanding storage to fit this more “craftsman” look as well…..

But I really love what my friend and cool client Jenn is doing with her daughter Dylan’s room.  You may remember Jenn’s “mixing modern with traditional styles” cool home…..

Well, it’s time for Dylan to move on from her adorable little toddler crib…..

….. to a big girl bed…..

Am absolutely in love with the bedding fabric she’s picked out for her little princess…..

…..and the curtains…..

But Jenn’s having a little space issue too:  The wall where she wants the bed is too short for a “standard length.”  Enter Tom Ferris to the rescue again…..

See this side piece here?  It’s a “bed rail”.  Tom plans to customize Dylan’s bed rails to fit the space.  If she moves to a bigger room, he can take those rails out, and reinsert standard sized ones later on!

For storage, she plans to use this nifty Ikea piece…..

She’s asked for any advice, but I’d say she’s done.  Very excited to see the final product!

For more ideas on children’s rooms, check out apartmenttherapy.com’s nursery & kids section.  Another perennial favorite of mine (and Jenn’s) is pinterest.com (type “kids room” in the search box, and you’ll be there for hours)  Jenn found her bedding at etsy.com, another perennial favorite of ours.  And don’t forget to call Tom Ferris of Harpeth River Furniture when you’re ready for that bed…..

- marcelle

1.  via Marcelle’s iphone pics

2.  via Harpeth River Furniture

3.  via Harpeth River Furniture’s facebook page

4 & 7.  via Tom Ferris

5 & 6.  via etsy.com

8.  via Ikea.com

So a while back, I was working with a client who wanted an “upscale coastal” living room.  She wanted fun and easy living, a little “ethnic” – yet “classy”.

“And I want a pouf.”

To which I responded, “What’s a pouf?”  She pointed to one in a magazine.

“Oooh!” I’d seen them lots of times in the West Elm catalogue – just hadn’t made the connection…..

Later on, we found a really cool…..something…..we though would look really cool in her home…..

It took me forever to find out this was a “chakki”.  It had been mislabeled a “Moroccan ottoman”.  In fact, the wooden base is actually a traditional Indian wheat grinder.

Vintage ones can still be found for a pretty penny, and converted into a stool, or a low table…..

We decided to forgo the antique route, and opted for one available through Serena & Lily.

Here’s a sneak peek of the “upscale coastal” living room in progress, complete with chakki…..

En route to finding that pouf (which, by the way, is French for “stuffing” – not near as interesting as “chakki”), while looking for more “ethnic, coastal” stuff, we came across this “hassock”……

But this is not any hassock; it’s a coco feather hassock! (Even cooler in person.  The “coco feathers” actually stand off the round base…..)

We thought it would serve as a counterpoint to some of the softer furnishings going on…..

And here it is in the room…..

“Hassock” is an old English word meaning “chunk of turf”.  It was the original stool, made from what was handy back in the day.  It evolved into a kneeling stool…..

(hassocks in Salisbury Cathedral)

…..and how in the world it went from that to the the coco feather hassock is anyone’s guess.  My client says, “I think I partly bought it cause I love saying the word hassock…..”

But even more than being cool, this fun, moveable furniture makes the room more comfortable. My client says, “It’s gone from being the room nobody wants to be in, to being the room everybody wants to be in.”

We never found a spot for the pouf, but that is often the case with a project.  Something sparks your imagination, but leads to a whole world of other things.  However…..

I now have a client whose home I might describe as “upscale boho” – who might need a pouf….. She’s got a cool fireplace and a vintage sofa angling off it.  She just needs some soft, movable furniture to sprinkle in without blocking the TV.  And she’s sort of outgrown the floor pillow thing.  So…..

What do you think of this….?

- marcelle

1.  via potterybarn.com

2.  via tara-home.com

3.  via google.com

4.  via google.com

5.  via serenaandlily.com

6.  marcelle’s iphone pic

7.  via palecek.com

8.  marcelle’s iphone pic

9.  via google.com

10.  via google.com

Some houses just have a cool vibe….. like this chalet in the woods owned by my clients Lisa and Stuart (here’s a “before shot”)…..

It was cozy and inviting….. All it needed was a little updating, to make it “lighter and brighter” (Lisa).  Her only directive:  to “banish the brown”.  My clients were laid back, lovely and gracious.  My definition of their “style”:  “relaxed elegance”.  So we endeavored to to take their living spaces from “cozy” to “relaxed elegance”.  And here’s what we did…..

…..Painted the window frames pale blue-green, to lighten them up and help connect the cozy indoors with the fairy woodland outdoors…..

…..Traded the grass cloth shades for sheer linen ones, which let the light and views in…..

…..Changed the now well-worn chair fabrics to a creamy, nubby off-white, complimented by a soft turquoise throw pillow – the better to read by the fire…..

…..Replaced the oversized sofa (that came with the house) with a more standard sized one, to provide a little more room.  And of course took the opportunity to update the fabrics…..

…..gray-blue-greens, complimented by soft corals…..

Behind the sofa is a little wine bar (that goes with the wine cellar – not shown!) that looked like a little piece of Provence.  It was originally brown wood like the window frames.  We repainted it with the same soft blue-green, and subtly distressed it…..

Beyond the wine bar lies the kitchen.  It was Stuart’s idea to carry the colors into there (you know you’re doing well as a designer when the husband gets in on the action…..

(Here’s a before shot – with the original avocado green cabinets…..)

…..We kept the deep green for the “back side” of the open shelves (Lisa’s idea), and painted the rest a pale green, a shade darker than the windows and wine bar…..

…..Love the painted ceramic pulls Lisa found to go with the new look…..

And here is the other side of the kitchen – with, of course, the perfect island/bar to sit and perch with a glass of Chardonnay and watch the birds outside (is this not the coolest house?  Can you see the fairy woodland outside?)….. Love the “cork” lampshades they found for the chandelier…..

…..All of a sudden this little nook invites you to sit and stay for awhile…..

…..And a view from the kitchen bar back to the living room…..

Ready for your wine tasting?  Now that’s what I call relaxed elegance…..

- marcelle

photography by Ashley Segroves

So one of the things I love about my clients is learning new things from them.   Over they years, they have introduced me to things like 1stDibs.com and Etsy.com.  Sometimes they introduce me to new and dangerous things like a chakki or a pouf.  But lately there seems to have been an explosion of really cool furniture and decor sites that “curate” sales from various sources -which my clients keep laying at my feet.  And here I share…..

The Foundary…..

…..has some incredible, and incredibly priced outdoor furniture, such as this vintage dining set…..

…..or this sassy orange dining chair (good for indoors too!)…..

…..or this elegantly spa lounge chair…..

One Kings Lane…..

…..has its own selection of classy outdoor lounge furniture, with delicately printed upholstery…..

…..or just simple and mod….

…..and some cool bolster pillows to add in…..

And last but not least, Fab.com has an array of inexpensive, colorful dhurry rugs…..

…..Moroccan poufs and pillows…..

…..and not so inexpensive (but a great deal anyway) wool area rugs…..

All of these sites you have to join their “emailing list” to get daily updates – so be forewarned.  I tell my clients to “join in” when they know they need something, and then “opt out” when they’re done.

Happy shopping…..

- marcelle

So this is what I love about my job:  Going from this…..

…..to this!

A simple concept sketch, given over to some of the most remarkably talented craftspeople around – it’s like magic! The cabinetmaker, Jared Whitson, found some hardwood palettes up in the clients’ attic during construction.  Knowing my cool clients Suellen and Rick were searching for ways to incorporate a “Spanish rustic” look to the wood elements of their home, he made the island out of this reclaimed wood.

Here is a closeup, showing the slightly rough edges of the solid wood boards, giving relief to them…..

…..and a detail – wooden peg and character to the back drawer…..

And here is another one…..

Love what they did with it.….

The idea was to “pull the wood through” into the kitchen, by deleting some overhead cabinets, and adding back some rough hewn wooden shelves.  Love…..

…..especially the wooden pegs…..

And here’s one I had nothing directly to do with – save to refer Master Craftsman Extraordinaire Tom Ferris to the project…..

It’s the fireplace mantel! (Never mind the room itself is stunning….. Hats off to architect Susan Hager for a beautiful job.)

So in case you didn’t know, if you want to ring my bell, just bring in the reclaimed wood…..

For more on where to get reclaimed wood, other than talking to Tom, Jared, or the contractor Fred Lawrence, go to my previous blog post, great article on reclaimed barnwood…..

For more Lawrence Bros. pics of this beautiful house addition & renovation, click here.

- marcelle

So today I’m interviewing Personal Financial Planner and my own personal finance guru, James Justus, owner of Objective Planning.  One thing that James Justus and I have in common, is that we help people “get what they want”.  I help people create a home that expresses their “cool” and fits their lifestyle – and James helps people access the financial means to get that “cool factor”.

Marcelle:  So how do you help people “get what they want”?

James:  One of the golden rules of wealth is:  You have to deny yourself. If you don’t, you’ll never have the wealth to build.

So there are only four big needs:

food and water…..

clothing….

shelter…..

and medical attention as needed…..

Everything else is just….. nice.  I put it in the category of “wants”.  That’s where our opportunities lie.

Marcelle:  How so?

James:  I get in front of people and help them identify “here are your wants” and “here are your needs”, and areas of opportunity to save.  So that you can have the money to start to address your wants.

Marcelle:  One of the things I really like about how you do this, is you have your clients put together “dream notebooks” with images and words that describe their ideal life.

James:  Yes.

Marcelle:  And then when you meet with folks, you really talk to them, to get a feel for what their ideal life is.

James:  Yes, correct.

Marcelle:  And what’s cool about that, as I’ve found out myself, is that it really motivates you to put that budget together, and save.  Because I see what I’m saving for.  I’m not  just “not spending” or “not doing something”.  I’m really putting it off, so that when I do have the money saved up, I can go forward with no regrets.  You really help me pull back and see the big picture – and that little notebook sitting on my home office desk reminds me what it is.

The financial plan you help us make supports that dream, and directs us towards it.

James:  Yes, that’s how it works.

Marcelle:  One of the coolest  concepts James has introduced me to is the “filter account”.  It can be a regular savings  account or a money market.  But instead of putting your paycheck right into your checking account, and then having to withdraw money from that into savings, you do it the other way around!

You deposit the paycheck into the “filter account”, and then have your monthly “allowance” automatically deposited from the filter account into your checking account.  So there is always a portion of that deposit left in the filter account, and gradually building up as a cash savings.  It’s just like when you have your 401K contribution automatically taken out of your paycheck – you never even notice it.  But when you’re self-employed, as I am, this is a nifty tool to leverage back that concept.

Then once you have that money saved, the neat thing is James helps you carve out what’s “fun money” you can spend on anything you want (guilt free!  reference that dream book again), and what needs to go into various “investment vehicles”.  Then those vehicles begin to generate wealth that you could never have done before – which makes those goals ever more attainable.

For more clever and often entertaining tips on how to grow your money , take a look at James’ blog, www.objectiveplanningllc.com.

- marcelle

1.  Via americanfamily.com

2.  Via re-nest.com

3.  Via thepastwhispers.com

4.  Via thetrendtribe.com

5.  Via Marcelle’s iphone pics

6.  Via James Justus

…..what’s not to love?

- marcelle

1.  Via coastalliving.com

2.  Via chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com

3.  Via elizabethannedesigns.com

4.  Via thehappyhaven.blogspot.com

5.  Via google.com

6.  Via apartmenttherapy.com

7.  Via brabournefarm.blogspot.com

“Vintage industrial lighting” is something Nashville can’t seem to get enough of these days.  So I was thrilled to encounter a treasure trove of them recently at William Powell Co. in downtown Franklin……

These cool rusted metal lights have so much character and charm.  They would look equally at home in a downtown loft…..

…..or farmhouse…..

Loved the eclectic variety on display…..

This dainty little one just wants to perch over a cozy little breakfast table – or over a clothing boutique display – or something…..

…..whereas these two handsome ones could handle a large wood slab dining table – or conference table – or something…..

They were incredibly well-priced too!

William Powell Home & Garden Co. is located at 506 West Main Street, Franklin, TN.

Happy light hunting

- marcelle

images 1, 4 & 5 via marcelle’s cell phone

image 2 via ikeafamilylive.com

image 3 via rosesandrustblogger.blogspot.ca

One of the things I love about being an interior designer is getting to pick out the exterior colors….. (hee hee)…..

And I am swooning about that color palette above, for a couple of new board and batten houses I am working on with the Woodland Street Partners in East Nashville…..

Love the simplicity of an all-creamy-white house, with dark grey-brown trim…..and door – with a silvery entry light (yes, I get to pick out the lights too…..)

But I also love the subtlety of this play of creams and grey-taupes…..

And this indigo blue door set in an all white house – stunning…..

But then, this grey board-&-batten with white trim is so classic…..

Maybe I have to do them both…..

- marcelle

1.  via newlyweddiaries.blogspot.com

2.  via brockstreet.blogspot.ca

3.  via southernliving.com

4.  via ultimateplans.com

5.  via decorpad.com

Why go to L.A. when we have Retropolitan right here in Nashville, TN…..?  A recent trip to one of my favorite home and decor boutiques in Hillsboro Village felt like stepping into a shop in Venice Beach.   Owner Amy Heimermann really knows how to curate some the best vintage and retro furniture to be found – these days, with a real coastal flair…..

…..And who knew my friend and colleague Candace Sone was also a talented painter???  Go Candace!

Wouldn’t these dreamy oceanic paintings look lovely above a creamy white vintage sofa…..

…..kinda like this one…..?

Love the peg legs, detailing, and unique choice of white corduroy for a fabric…..

…..and the profile (seems to float)…..

And I am loving the return of crisp navy and white this season…..such as these breezy nautical throw pillows – which would go great on that sofa, below those oceanic paintings…..

And the perfect creamy white retro lamp awaits discovery atop the perfect whimsical blue glass side table – to perch alongside the sofa, with the throw pillows, and the coastal artwork above…..

And it just so happens that Amy’s having an “April Showers” 30% off sale all month long!  You can find out more about their sales on their facebook page,  retropolitanstyle.  Or stop by the shop in Hillsboro Village, at 1813 21st Ave South, Nashville, TN 37212.  It’ll put a smile on your face…..

- marcelle

So today I’m interviewing my favorite Master Craftsman in the art of cabinet and furniture making, Tom Ferris.  He’s the owner of Harpeth River Furniture, and he’s so talented, you just can’t believe he’s also one of the nicest guys around.

Marcelle:  Tom, be honest:  What do you hate the most about working with interior designers?

Tom:  When they don’t stay up on the newest functional trends.  They may stay up on the trends, but not functional, such as freezer drawers…..

Marcelle:  Wow, that’s a new one for me!  And that’s a beautiful freezer drawer, I might add.

Tom:  Or drawers to replace cabinet doors…..

…Or that you don’t need upper cabinets, necessarily.  You can actually put the dishes in the drawers…..

Marcelle:  Love that one, Tom!  It would save my back, and make it possible for my 4-year-old son to help himself!

Tom:  I also dislike it when they want to paint beautiful wood.  I don’t mind some paint, but I hate it when it’s all paint and there’s no wood.

Marcelle:  Gotcha.  Well, they don’t have to if they work with you!  So what do you love about working with interior designers?

Tom:  I love working with the creativity, being able to interact.  It’s a back and forth, and the sum is greater than the parts.

That’s why I love working with you, Marcelle because you let the creativity speak for itself.  You aren’t trying to force a square peg into a round hole.  if it doesn’t fit, then you don’t want to do it.  And you take the clients’ input to heart.

Marcelle:  That’s what I love about you, Tom, because I can come up with the general ideas, knowing you know how to make it work.  Not just functionally, but you really know the materials.  You make the wood express itself.  It becomes a work of art.  It makes you happy every time you see that kitchen drawer, or that wine box…..

…..and yes, it works – it lasts.

Having someone like you to work with really frees me up to be the designer – to come up with lots and lots of ideas – and help my clients get what they want…..

………………………………………………………………………..

So here is a project Tom and I are currently working on.  I met some fabulous clients, Rick and Suellen Stringer-Hye, who were completely renovating and adding on to their Nashville bungalow house, with one of my favorite contractors, the Lawrence Brothers.

They wanted to incorporate “Spanish farmhouse” elements in the living room and kitchen, such as wooden beams and plaster-like off-white walls…..

Working with their fabulous architect, Susan Hager, they came up with these wonderful living and kitchen spaces…..

…..and this is where I came in – helping them to integrate this new space with their existing bungalow interior…..

Notice the ogee arch in the wall?  Well – we got excited about the “Moroccan” flavor to it – and decided we’d “go to Morocco” in the Master Bath…..

…..and this is where Tom Ferris already comes into the picture – believe it or not.  Because I can let my imagination fly, knowing he’s got my back.  He’ll know how to make these fabulous medicine cabinet doors above the sink counter work…..

So these cool clients of mine picked #2 from the above, and here’s how it’s coming…..

(That’s Tom, pointing to the battens we’re adding to the turquoise blue ogee-arched cabinet doors – for structural stability.)

Although Tom loves natural wood (and I do too!), he does do a great artistic paint job when necessary…..

So excited…..!

But Tom doesn’t only work with interior designers;  he works directly with clients and contractors too – so give him a call when you’ve got a custom woodwork project coming up!

Tom Ferris

Harpeth River Furniture

(615) 519-2534

lostpirate@aol.com

www.HarpethRiverFurniture.net

So…..remember that couple of blog posts I did on “mixing modern with traditional styles” a few months ago?  Featuring my super cool friends and clients Jenn and Brandon’s new home design exploits?  Well…..the end product is now on the stands in this issue of Nashville Lifestyles Magazine!

So here’s how it turned out…..

Very open, light filled and minimal…..

Yet with dramatic splashes of rich color, texture and detail…..

What I especially loved about the way the house turned out is that it really expresses both Jenn and Brandon’s own ever-evolving style and taste, and yet remains very comfortable and liveable…..

For more pics, click here.

Thanks to Jenn, Brandon, and my favorite architect David Baird, and developers the Woodland Street Partners, for including me in the creation of this wonderful home which adds charm to this beautiful East Nashville neighborhood.  Hats off to Laura Holder and Ron Manville for bringing the story to Nashville so beautifully and eloquently in Nashville Lifestyles Magazine – honestly my favorite Nashville magazine – which finally “gets us right”…..

- marcelle

While I do live vicariously through my clients…..

…..not all of us can be as lucky as Buddy – who’s got his own custom mudroom to lounge in…..

….. but a lot of my clients want to know how to handle the storage overflow, ongoing kid traffic and other clutter that accumulate as you enter the kitchen…..

Well,  you can create variations on the “mudroom” theme without breaking the bank or adding on an addition…..

…..such as…..

…..building storage cubbies below a bench and floor-to-ceiling, which you can fill with baskets of your choosing.  Notice how this “mudroom” actually is one side of a kitchen/breakfast room.  Like that.

Or for those tight spaces, you can stick this perfect piece of furniture just inside your back door…..

…..it has all the basics:  a storage bench, beadboard and mirrored back for ambience, and coat/umbrella hooks along the top.  Available through homedecorators.com.

Another twist on the idea is lockers for the kids to personalize their own storage…..

The idea behind this is that it encourages kids to use their space…..

Or just do the bench, add some hooks above, and say you’re done…..

And lest you say, nah, I can’t afford any of that right now…..Here’s what the dynamic designer-architect Guilbeau-Baird duo have in their home…..

That’s right – Ikea storage cubbies, plastic bins for recycling, and David-designed Ikea pot-rack-turned-coat-hooks (the rod with the hooks that hang off it and slide around).

And here’s another sneak peak…..

…..aaahhhhh, storage…..lots and lots of storage…..in the form of…..Ikea cabinets…..

But here’s what I want for my house addition…..

…..someday…..

- marcelle

1. via Marcelle’s shapshot of our clients’ Nashville West Meade residence during final construction

2,3,4,5.  via coastalliving.com

6,7. Marcelle Guilbeau and David Baird’s Nashville residence, Brannon Segroves photographer

8. Via coastalliving.com

When I first met my favorite architect David Baird, he got me hooked on the concept of “urban infill housing”.  It was all the rage in San Diego, where he’d just moved back home from.  It involves taking back urban neighborhoods, one scrappy sliver of property at a time…..revitalizing that corner of the world with cool urban homes…..

…..So when we received an opportunity to work with the Woodland Street Partners, designing Energy Star urban infill housing in East Nashville, we were thrilled!  Here’s a sneak peek of a couple of them going up right now…..

The “red” one we conceived as “nostalgic traditional” in style.  The “blue” one is a little more “Mad Men mod” style…..

I especially love the minimalist “porches”…..

My favorite thing is the cool “volumes” in these tall split-level houses.  The kitchen and dining room are up a few steps from the 1 1/2 story tall living room…..

…..The sweeping view from the kitchen is awesome…..

And the soaring space of the living room beckons you to throw a swanky party…..

I envision someone having a lot of fun adding sexy drapes, a sparkling chandelier in the corner, and some cool sectional seating…..

…..But if that’s too much, you can throw in a swanky tall floor lamp, some cool funky furniture and a cool rug, and say you’re done…..

I also love the lighting that we’ve got going in.  These are the “nostalgic traditional” kitchen island lights…..

…..and below is the “mod” kitchen light, soon to be installed…..

They even come with a back deck…..

…..so the swank party flows right through…..!

These houses are pre-sold, alas, as is typical with Woodland Street Partners’ homes.  However, if you are interested in selecting a new one on the boards, check out their website to find out more about them, and how to reach them.

And speaking of houses “on the boards”, here is one final sneak peak:  The kitchen and bath finishes for a couple of “farmhouse” style homes, coming soon on Forrest Avenue…..

Happy house hunting…..:)

- marcelle

images 1-4 and 7-12 via  marcelle’s iphone pics

image 5 via interiorfurnituredecorating.com

image 6 via 2.bp.blogspot.com

Did you know that Nashville’s downtown Public Square  is a 2.2 acre green roof, with a 57,000-gallon rainwater harvesting tank, and extensive native landscaping?

I sure didn’t – and I live here!  I found out all this and more in a book on all things sustainable in Tennessee – Shades of Green Tennessee!

It’s choc full of inspiring photos of the Tennessee’s best sustainable residential and commercial architecture, green urban spaces, as well as informative profiles on the leading Tennessee providers of sustainable products.

There’s an article on the Routon Residence (going for LEED Platinum certification) designed by yours truly and my favorite architect, David Baird of Building Ideas, featured in it.

In addition, there are profiles on the the very companies who provided the energy systems we talk about for the house:  A. O. Smith, who provided the water heaters;  LightWave Solar Electric, who provided the solar panels, and Precision Air, who provided the geothermal heating and cooling.

Shades of Green Tennessee is the first of a series of books on emerging green communities throughout the country.  When they spoke to us about the book, the editors said they wanted to feature Tennessee first, because it is one of the hottest emerging markets for sustainable architecture and industry today.  Combined with Tennessee’s much touted quality of life, they felt this made for an exciting story!

You can find Shades of Green Tennessee at Barnes & Noble at Vanderbilt University, Parnassus Books, or any one of the Books-A-Million locations in the region (Nashville, Clarksville, Mount Juliet, Murfreesboro, Madison and Spring Hill).   Or, of course, on Amazon

-marcelle

Well the Dallas International Lighting Market has just come and gone, and I am loving the new lights rolling out.  Buzzwords for 2012 are “bling”, “modern” (think Mad Men mod) and “nostalgic”.  Below are some of my faves, which I’m considering for a bungalow house in East Nashville.

bling, for the master bath…..

bling, for the dining room…..

mod, for the dining room…..

mod, for the kitchen island…..

nostalgic, for the kitchen island…..

nostalgic, for the dining room…..

And, if you’re interested in how to mix and match these styles, check out this class I’m giving on How To Create Your Own Style, which I previewed in my previous blog post. You will identify your own major and minor design style, and what values/priorities/life commitments underlie them.   And you will learn the building blocks of a “timeless and classic base”, for you to use to put together your own your home furniture and décor in your own “style”.

If you’d like to know more about “the four design styles” or “how to create a timeless and classic base” for your home interior, sign up for my blog posts (or email me if you already have), and I’ll send you my info leaflets on it – marcelle

1, 2, 3 &4.  Via Murray Feiss

5 &6.  Via Currey & Company

“Uh-oh…..I think I overdid it…..”

So how do you get the trendy tangerine tango orange into your home interior – without overdoing it?

Well, you can get quite a bit of splash of  it with a great, inexpensive woven rug….

(Get one with a Moroccan style arabesque pattern, and you’re way trendy…..)

But even if you’re more traditional than trendy, you can sprinkle tangerine tango throw pillows (add monogram for extra effect) into a stately blue and white scheme …..

Or a modern one…..

…..a whimsical one…..

…..or an ethnic one…..

Or throw an orange quilt on the bed…..

…..paper the back of a bookshelf with orange…..

Or to get a little daring (but not too overwhelming), paint an accent wall with bold orange stripes…..

But how do you really get comfortable with playing with the styles and the trends out there?  Part of it is what I call “starting with a timeless and classic base”.  All of the above images demonstrate some variation on the theme:

Build yourself a good quality base of largely-neutral-colored classic styled furniture,

wall colors,

and window treatments.

After that, begin to layer in the throw pillows, area rugs, artwork and other trends.  Another important part of how to work with the trends is to first “identify your own design style”.

If you’d like to know more about “how t create your own style”, check out my previous blog post (where I outline the basic components of  it, and a class I’m giving on the topic).

If you’d like to know more about “how to create a timeless and classic base” to your home interior, sign up for my blog posts (or email me if you already have), and I’ll send you my info leaflet on it   – marcelle

1.  Via sohautestyle.com

2.  Via designsponge.com

3.  Via apartmenttherapy.com

4.  Via houseandhome.com

5.  Via thehandmadehome.net

6.  Via honestlywtf.com

7.  Via housebeautiful.com

8.  Via littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com

9.  Via community.apartmenttherapy.com

10.  Via fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com

11.  Via houzz.com

12.  Via decorpad.com

(The 2012 Color of the Year was recently announced by the Pantone Color Institute).

So today’s post is all about “how to create your own style”.

First, an interview:  If you ever wanted to know “how an interior designer works”, check out my friend and colleague James Justus’ recent interview of me, in his blog Objective Planning LLC.  As a financial planner, James really knows how to get to the heart of the “value” of what I provide.  We all know putting together a home can cost some bucks, and James wants you to get your money’s worth!  Of course, my interview ended up being all about “how to find your own style”, because that’s what I’m passionate about!  But James really emphasizes, in a fascinating way, how doing this can really save you time and money!

Second, I’m finally going to be giving a workshop on the topic:  “Create Your Own Style:  A Home Interior Design Workshop”.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

You will learn about  4 major design styles:

Traditional.

Whimsical.

Modern,

and Practical.

and the values/priorities/life commitments that underlie them.

You will identify your own major and minor design style, and what values/priorities/life commitments underlie them.

You will learn the building blocks of a “timeless and classic base”, for you to use to put together your own your home furniture and décor in your own “style”.

Bring your own home interior design project or “trouble spot” to class, and I will work with you to pull together possible solutions, that incorporate your own design style.  If you don’t bring your own project, you will work on a “typical living room project”, to begin to apply your own design style to a real life home interior.

At the end of the class, you will have begun to create your own “style notebook” which you can keep and add to as you go along, to create your own dream home/dream life.

The class will be held on February 2nd as part of the University School of Nashville’s Adult Education Classes.  If interested, you can register online at USN Evening Classes (class No. 505 in the Home and Garden Section).

If you’d like to know more about Four Major Design Styles, sign up for my blog post and I’ll email it to you.  (If you’re already signed up, just email me and I’ll send it )

- marcelle

Whenever people ask me, “What’s your style?” I say, “My style is cool.  I help you find your own style – your own cool.” People give me a hard time for being enamored of the word “cool” – try to get me to replace it with – “hip” or “trendy” (ack!) or – some word more du jour.  But I keep coming back to the world “cool”…..

I was intrigued when I came across this Time article on the “Coolest Person of the Year”.  Even though I don’t know who Ryan Gosling is (if Netflix doesn’t pick it for me, I don’t know it), I could tell he had that “cool factor” – at least for a guy…..

(notice the article defines “cool” as the “Marlon Brando way – an unshakable calm mixed with a confidence that comes from not needing others”…..

Although the basic insight is there, I don’t think that is the cool I aspire to…..

…..I think of my sexy, bold, wild-haired philosophy professor Yifat, whom I admired, and all the boys were in love with…..

This cool chick kind reminds me of her.  And she reminds me of what I endeavor to find in my clients, and help them express in their home interiors…..

So I take this New Years moment to ponder the meaning of the word “cool” as it relates to interiors…..

Henry Winkler put his finger on it when he said, “Cool is being comfortable in your own skin.  Everything stems from that.”  So let’s look at a few “cool spaces” – and see how they’re cool…..

…..This built-in window seat looks like it could be Yifat’s:  The huge view outdoors streaming into this library nook is unexpectedly exciting.  The window seat is so natural feeling, the slouchy pillows sexy and inviting…..Perfect for reading philosophical books and contemplating the New Year…..

…..but coolness doesn’t just come in casual forms.  Understated glam is cool, especially if it doesn’t sacrifice luxury or utility…..

To me it is harder to be cool and be “dressy” at the same time.  But this living room, although it is fancy and dressy, presents itself as cool…..I think it’s the disheveled pink velvet couch…..

…..Spontaneity and ease is always present in coolness, as with this outdoor lounge…..

…..But coolness – and its requisite spontaneity – can come in a highly “designed” form – as with this utterly cool shower, with (I would imagine) a gorgeous view of the Alps or something, an inviting wooden bench offsetting the pale blue arabesque tile, handsome spa-like cabinetry, and a luxurious oriental rug…..You could really take a long, comfy shower in here (and I am a bath person) and watch the sun set over the Alps or something…..

Adaptive reuse of cool buildings is way cool…..as with this 50′s era ferry converted into a spa in Montreal…..

…..or this 60′s waterfront restaurant converted into a chic clothing store…..

But adaptive reuse can be very simple, and still be way cool – as with this turn-of-the century warehouse window serving as a headboard.  The yellow trunk  and bedspread and blue lamp are playfully offset by this “chill” glassy backdrop…..

And “chill” is probably the definition of cool…..

1.  Via Time Magazine

2.  Via theimpossiblecool.tumblr.com

3.  Via thesartorialist.blogspot.com

4.  Via safdierabines.com

5.  Via retropolitanstyle.blogspot.com

6.  Via littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com

7.  Via browndresswithwhitedots.tum

8.  Via browndresswithwhitedots.tum

9 & 10.  Via Contract Magazine

11.  Via my “design inspiration file”.  If you know of its source, please leave it in the comments.

…..and a very nashvegas happy holidays to you and yours…..

Have fun…..

Be safe…..

And we’ll see you in the new year

(images via images.google.com)

What is it about Moroccan style lighting that has us all swooning?

Is it the cool, sexy shapes, hanging at playfully different heights?

Or is it the shimmering glass and metals?

All of the above!  So here’s a little study of Moroccan-inspired lighting I did for some clients recently…..

Starting with “cool, sexy shapes”…..

in wire forms….

and paper…..

And “hanging at different heights”…..

in the nursery…..

and the living room…..

And finally, “shimmering glass and metals”…..

a simplified Moroccan form in metal…..

an exotic shimmering glass light that plays well with the arabesque-patterned fabrics behind it…..

and shimmering glass globe shapes, hanging at different heights…..

Curry & Company, one of my favorite lighting companies, has out several Moroccan-inspired lights for us to peruse…..

such as the Tangiers pendant…..

the Giltspur chandelier (love this one)…..

the Omar pendant…..

the Pinto pendant…..

and one chandelier that I think goes great with all of these, the Spellbound…..

Enjoy

1.  Via 26.media.tumblr.com

2.  Via gallery.apartmenttherapy.com

3.  Via escapadeblog.com

4.  1.bp.blogspot.com

5.  Via houzz.com

6.  Via kfddesigns.blogspot.com

7.  Via styleathome.com

8.  Via www.decorpad.com

9.  Via houzz.com

10.  Via greigedesign.blogspot.com

11-15.  Via www.curreycodealers.com

If you’re interested in using reclaimed wood for your home, check out this article by Richard Lawson in today’s edition of the DeKalb County Times:  Reclaiming Barns a Board at a Time.

Here’s the skinny on it:

Barn wood is the greatest source of reclaimed wood out there, for use in home restoration, remodeling and new construction.  It can be used to make flooring, furniture, mantels, countertops and other decorative elements of the house.  (For more on that, check out my blog What’s not to love about reclaimed wood?)

Jason Neusse, a recent transplant from Copenhagen and the main feature in the article, is now in the business full-time dismantling Tennessee barns and selling them to folks.  Look him up in McMinnville,TN,  if you are thinking of building or renovating using reclaimed wood.  My clients have used it for hardwood floors, fireplace mantels and stairs.

Another great source of reclaimed lumber is sticktrade.com.  Neusse sells to this online wholesale clearing house as well.

And finally, the Tennessee Barn Project has an incredible website which features everything from furniture to reclaimed wood species in stock.  They even have an estore on Etsy!

The DeKalb County Times costs a dollar to read today, and you can’t print it (I would have – and scanned it for you! – if I could) but I highly recommend it for anyone with a serious interest in reclaiming wood for their own abode.  Hats off to Richard Lawson for an excellent piece!

…..family dinners…..

…..my husband’s Aunt, who always invites us to Thanksgiving, and who never lets me cook anything (I protest, but appreciate the break  )…..

…..the fall colors…..

…..pumpkin patch with friends…..

…..cool clients, who inevitably become good friends…..

…..cool graphics, and other things that inspire…..

…..Liam’s preschool teachers, who always make such crafty things with him to celebrate the holidays…..

…..etsy.com, and other places where I can buy such crafty things (since I don’t make them)…..

…..cool outdoor spaces…..

…..and kid friendly places…..

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours

1.  Via mango-watermelon-love.tumblr.com

2.  Via myrecipes.com

3.   Via suziebeezie.tumblr.com

4.  Via my iphone pic at Gentry Farms

5.  Via my iphone pic of my cool clients’ toddler’s birthday party

6.  Via chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com

7.  Via busybeekidscrafts.com

8.  Via bhg.com

9.  Via my iphone pic of my cool clients’ toddler’s birthday party

10.  Via my iphone pic of my cool clients’ toddler’s birthday party

Holiday shopping in Nashville has never been easier!  The Junior League of Nashville’s Annual ‘Tis the Season Holiday Marketplace is happening this weekend at the Nashville Convention Center.

There’s girl-pampering stuff, high end children’s clothing and home decor…..

…..as well as everything from pet products to movies to gourmet food…..

…..so you can really get your holiday shopping done for the whole family!

Pictures with Santa is back, with Ashley Segroves, Nashville’s favorite children’s photographer on Saturday…..

…..and yours truly, as the stage set designer…..

Here’s a sneak peek of how the stage is coming along…..

…..I call it “Neiman Marcus at Whoville”…..

You can even have Ashley make Christmas cards out of your “pictures with Santa”.   I got raves for mine last year.

And this year, we are adding an extra special surprise at the beginning of your shopping experience – a “Hall of Trees” provided by designers, landscapers and furniture boutiques.  Here’s a sneak peek:

…..Second Chance Consignment…..

…..Turf Managers…..

…..and yours truly…..

And if you miss me at the Holiday Marketplace (and I hope you don’t), here is a copy of some “Holiday Decorating Ideas” which will be available on a table by my tree…..

Holiday Decorating Ideas

The Junior League of Nashville’s ‘Tis the Season Holiday Marketplace is located at the Nashville Convention Center, 601 Commerce Street.  For more information, check out there website here.  And click here for their facebook page, which posts regular updates.

Happy holiday shopping…..

There is nothing like the dusk light in New Orleans.  Especially in the fall, which is the best time to visit…..

…..Equally mouth-watering is to glimpse the glow of chandeliers through the windows…..

On a recent trip to New Orleans, I had the rare opportunity to go chandelier shopping for my Uncle Chips and Aunt Janet’s’ new second home, a historic shotgun house.

Something for the dining room, which is just in the foreground below.  It would help visually anchor that part of the room.  Some drapes would help that out, too.

But since I was staying just off of Magazine Street, home to a world class stretch of antique shops, I endeavored to find the perfect chandelier first…..

First stop:  Balzac Antiques.  This stunning beauty of a French antique  in the foreground caught my eye…..

It was a little too small.  Would somebody please put that in a foyer – or perhaps a dreamy master bath…..?

Next stop:  mac MAISON, ltd.  Influenced by my recent forays into “Moroccan” style interiors, I gravitated towards these exotic little lanterns.  Very vogue to hang two or three over a table, at varying heights…..

…..but I feared they would get “lost” at the end of that long room.  We needed something that would visually anchor and define that dining room….

Next stop:  Julie Neill Designs – which my New Orleans native client told me was all the rage down there.  This chandelier was fun, breezy and coastal…..

Maybe too breezy and coastal for this particular house…..(love it, though…..)

However, while there, I happened upon a crazy deal on some drapes, so I ran them by my Aunt Janet, just in case…..

You could hang them the way they did at Julie Neill, below…..

…..with a wrought iron curving rod…..

To my delight, Aunt Janet agreed it was a no brainer!

Final Stop:  Passages Antiques…..

…..I knew this was The One as soon as I saw it.  Aunt Janet agreed!  Just the right size to anchor the room, dreamy and whimsical.  But in a “French Provincial” way that befits the space it’s going in.  A 19th century antique from Provence.

And somewhere along the way, we needed to find a cool tablecloth…..

This one’s not for sale, but something like this would be great.

And below, you can see a glimpse of the dining room with its drapes- and chandelier-to-be…..

Some day it will help to create that romantic dusk-like glow that New Orleans is so famous for…..

If you live in Nashville, you don’t have to go to Atlanta to get a good load of antiques.  There is a plethora of offerings right here in Music City, if you know where to look.  The key is to know what “kind” of antiques you are looking for:  “Workaday Country Antiques”, “Refined European Antiques”, or (it has its place) “Junk Antiques” – also known as “Vintage”.  So here are a few key places to go for each of these:

One of my favorite watering holes for “Workaday Country Antiques” is coming right up next weekend -

The Tailgate and Music Valley Antique Shows, down at the Fairgrounds.

It runs from Thursday, October 27th to Saturday, October 29th.  I got Liam’s “big boy bedding” at last year’s – a hand woven vintage blue and cream plaid blanket.

I got it for a deal, after a bit of haggling, at the end of the day on Saturday.  If you miss the show this fall, it also comes in February, and repeats every year.

Another favorite place for “Workaday Country Antiques” – with more of a hip spin, is Serenite Maison in Leiper’s Fork, which I recently reviewed.

And if you’re in the mood for a hunt and a drive in the country, try driving up I65 towards Louisville, and stopping at the little antique shops that pop up along the way – an amazing place to search for antique quilts.

“Refined European Antiques” are on display in abundance in a little stretch along Highway 100, just past the “Highway 70 & 100 split” down on the right.  One that has just relocated conveniently at the “Panera shopping strip” on the left, just before the split, and which comes highly recommended by my clients, is The Little Antique Shop.

Another place to comb the shops for a combination of “Workaday Country Antiques” and “Refined European Antiques” is downtown Franklin.

And finally, Nashville is blessed with an abundance of “Junk Antiques” or “Vintage Stuff”, among which you can always find a great diamond in the rough if you look hard enough (or have that diy knack).  One favorite source, that is really a combination of “Workaday Country Antiques” and “Junk Antiques” is Gas Lamp Antiques, a treasure trove of antique vendor stalls, with just about every era and every type of artifact covered, every day.

Another “Junk Antiques” standby is the Flea Market at the Fairgrounds.

And finally, if you want to peruse a mind-boggling mix of all three types of antiques, check out 8th Avenue, starting just past Melrose Avenue, until you get to Wedgewood.

Happy antique hunting

When my Mom went on a photography tour of Morocco a few years ago, I thought she’d bring back pictures stereotypically rich and opulent and taj-mahal-y…..

Instead what she brought back kind of took my breath away…..

The place and its people were beautiful…..

sensual…..

and utterly care free…..

The unending creativity in using arabesques, ogee arches, tile and color in their architecture was amazing to me as a designer…..

So whenever I have the opportunity, I travel back to Morocco to explore the opportunities for Moroccan tile in the home.

Here are some of my favorite ideas…..

An earthy tile for a backsplash, works well with a country provincial feel in a kitchen….

But “Moroccan” is just not arabesques and arches – it is also color…..

This Moroccan tile in a kitchen could also work great in a bath (maybe an ogee arch framing the tub?).

Using solid tiles to wainscot the walls, and mixing it with the curvilinear stuff on the floor is yet another possibility…..

But keeping it simple and spare, with a sexy Moroccan chandelier in the corner, is equally fair game…..

Might have to go to Morocco myself someday…..

1.  Via genuinestyle.net

2.  Via photosforpinning.blogspot.com

3.  Via google.co.uk

4.  Via cushandnooks.blogspot.com

5.  Via lh6.googleusercontent.com

6.  Via adesignerspot.com

7.  Via houzz.com

8.  Via remodelista.com

9.  Via remodelista.com

10.  Via designsponge.com

Though I’ve always loved my adopted home town of Nashville – believed it was a real diamond in the rough – I have never felt inspired to blog about the cool design of a retail space here. Until now.  Witness Two Old Hippies down in the Gulch, across the street from the Station Inn.

Especially the guitar room…..

First off when you first walk in, you get that divey barroom feel that’s oh so Nashvegas…..

But not.  Check  out the custom wooden gridded ceiling and customized wrought iron and parchment lights…..

…..the custom light blue velvet ottoman (for laying guitars down – and shooing off toddler sons)…..

…..and the ripplefold drapes (my newest obsession in drapery) made from faux suede…..

My guide for the afternoon, Craig Eck, was happy to show me how the chair in the corner had a notch out of the arm just for guitar playing…..

The guitar wall has a faux alligator hide wallpaper on it, and custom, locally made wrought iron guitar brackets…..

There’s something for everyone in this store.  Liam found his something in among the kid’s rocker t-shirts…..

Craig’s favorite item (besides the guitars) is the men’s shirts – some of them made for performance wear…..

I even found a cute little Nashvegas mod dress that wouldn’t overwhelm little tiny me…..

And the handbags were to die for (are those pillows for sale?)…..

Two Old Hippies is open now.  Their Grand Opening Celebration is this Saturday evening, and will feature some great live local music in the back of the store (permanently equipped with a stage)…..Now that’s Nashvegas style

So in case you didn’t get the memo, eclectic is in….. Which is good news for those of us who have inherited or collected a mishmash of things over the years…..

A lot of folks ask me how to get a fresh look, without getting rid of everything – particularly in the dining room, where attachments can run high.  So here are a few ideas of how to splice in the new with the old, or mix it up in a new and different way…..

Very vogue right now is to put two “wing chairs” on the ends to anchor the table and make a statement, with smaller chairs filling in the middle.  Love this breezy rendition of turquoise painted bamboo “wing chairs”…..

No, the end chairs don’t need to be taller than the side chairs, as you can see below.  These slipcovered end chairs do the trick, because they make a strong, anchoring statement by being visually “heavier”.  All these different types of chairs work together here because they share the same soft white color…..

This one’s one of my favorites – love the deco/mod stools paired with the gilded Rococo table and the straight back English chairs, softened with dainty little short skirts…..

Very hip and practical (efficient use of space) is to flank a table on one side with a built in banquette (or a bench) and the other side with chairs that have been slipcovered…..

And let’s not forget the clever recycling of shelving units as dining benches – of course…..

Enjoy…..

1.  Via houseofturquoise.com

2.  Via my design inspiration file, source no longer known.  If you do, please leave it in the comments.

3.  Via the book Decorate.

4.  Via housetweaking.com

5.  Via ikeahackers.net

So I’ve been researching design options for the master bath of a client, a fellow “spa style” aficionado.  And today I share with you a few cool ways we’ve found to make the “spa” happen…..

…..All whites – a simple white tile on the floor, wrapping up onto the counter adjacent, and picked up in the walls, drapes and porcelain sinks.  Accented with a simple plank sink counter/shelves…..

…..All whites in a more “traditional” vein, with a more functional wood counter with storage.  Add luxury with an upholstered chair and a dreamy white parchment chandelier…..

…..Or if you like a traditional travertine stone as your base, install it “plank style” and wrap it up the sides of the tub and wall wainscot thus…..This one’s counters combine the luxury feel of freestanding furniture, without sacrificing all of the storage…..

…..You can use a traditional material, such as this carrera marble, but in an unexpected way, as above:  Very clean and modern, wrapping almost all surfaces, alternating the plank with the large slabs for interest.  Love the little chrome stool perched in the corner….

…..And last but not least, concrete tile!  For an urban zen appeal.  Love the counterbalance with the stone and rich woods.  Also love the functional tall cabinet flanking the slab sink counter (aesthetic meets practicality at last!  That would be spa in all ways!….. )

1.  Via homedsgn.com

2.  Via houseofturquoise.com

3.  Via sfgate.houzz.com

4.  Via atticmag.com

5.  Via qualitybath.com

Ripplefolds are my newest obsession in drapery, and they’re making a huge comeback…..

Originated in the Mad Men era, they give softness to a modern interior.  They’re also a cool way to get that “finished look” in a clever, inexpensive way, as the fabric “ripples” in front of its rod or track – avoiding excess of fabric.

You could use them for functional solar and privacy screening, as above…..

Or use as “dress curtains” to finish out a room, as below…..

You can get super mod and sheer, with large-scale motorized ripplefolds on a track…..

But don’t think it’s all for modernists!  This look is all the rage in more traditional or eclectic interiors too…..

I could spend hours and days dreaming of the endless possibilities for this smart, sexy, and clever take on a curtain (a sheer, short version would look great on my lonely ranch house picture window, above the case study sofa…..hmmmm…..)

1.  Via google.com

2.  Via google.com

3.  Via picasaweb.google.com

4.  Via google.com

5.  Via google.com

So I’ve had several clients ask me to help them pull together their living rooms, recovering existing vintage furniture or splicing in the new with the old.  This has largely been a “fun with fabrics” exercise.  So here are a few of my observations on how to pull it all together…..

Not.  Prefer to avoid the “over done” look above.  Perfect balance of yellows and creams, but – too perfect…..

Better.  Love the whimsical juxtaposition of the pink and yellow vintage chairs, tied together with the sofa pillows and artwork.  Very vogue to start with a cream overall scheme for some easy harmony.  However, many of us find cream to be unfriendly to dogs and children, so we can’t have it…..

Starting to get somewhere.  Fun playing with and repeating similar patterns (properly scaled so they don’t compete) and colors in the rug, throw pillow and ottoman.  Then surprising you with the blue velvet on the chair…..

Love.  Love the big pattern on the chair, how it curves with the wood frame.  Love the way the sofa turquoise is picked up in the chair fabric, and the chair’s rusts are picked up in the sofa pillow.  Love the naturalness of the sofa throw pillow, juxtaposed against the cleanness of the turquoise velvet.  Keep the colors from “match-matching” for a more natural feeling.

Also love.  This clean, mod variation on “pulled together” manages to not look “overdone” by throwing all the yellow to one side.  The yellow chairs are balanced by the yellow fuzzy stripe in the sofa throw.  And the gray of the sofa tweed is subtly echoed in the grey and cream pillow on the chair.  Love the way the orange pillow on the white chairs throws the “yellow” off a little.

Enjoy

1) via houzz.com

2) via houseofturquoise.com

3) via decor8 blog.com

4) via horchow.com

5) via lookbook.elledecor.com

So today I am guest posting on my friend, and fabulous Nashville realtor, Elizabeth Colton Walls’ blog.  Elizabeth is a huge reader, even regularly reviews books for NFocus Magazine.  We joke that the thing we have in common these days is “magazines”.  Not cause I don’t love to read – I just don’t have the time for books, what with my toddler Liam and all…..

Elizabeth forwarded me a NYT review of design shelter mags ages ago, and challenged me to do my own review for her readers.  Time went by (what with my toddler and all…..) and then I finally got to it!

http://elizabethcoltonwalls.com/blog/2011/09/magazines-online

Read it and weep (for joy – having the time and all…..

So today I am interviewing my favorite Williamson County real estate broker, Cindy Harding.  For me, what is fascinating is what she sees people wanting out of their houses.  People tell her a lot more of the good, the bad, and the ugly, than they tell me.  Maybe cause once they contact me, they’ve already gotten over the hurdle of weeding out the really hard stuff.  Needless to say, a good realtor like Cindy comes in handy for that.

Marcelle:  What trends do you see out there?  What are people asking for?

Cindy:  A house that can be flexible, capable of expansion and contraction.

For example:  A downstairs master bedroom, with children’s rooms upstairs;  when the children are grown, they can “scale down” but still have that upstairs space when they need it.  Also great bathrooms and kitchens.

Marcelle:  What will people pay for the most?

Cindy:  Spectacular master baths or kitchens.  Garages – believe it or not.  Closets – definitely closets.

Marcelle:  Okay, what makes a great master bath to your clients?

Cindy:  Granites, dual sinks, separate shower and tub.  Light.

Marcelle:  What makes a great kitchen?

Cindy:  Being able to entertain – a bar, seating area, or a couch.

Marcelle:  Add a pool to that, too.  Sorry, I couldn’t resist.  What about garages?

Cindy:  Garages with storage space in it trumps a pull-down-stair to the attic any day of the week.

Marcelle:  And closets?

Cindy:  They want built-in floor-to-ceiling storage.  Gone are the days when the shoes were on the floor, and the vacuum was in there as well.  They’re putting wardrobes in there.  They’re putting chests of drawers in there.  They’re getting out of the bedroom or living room as much of what’s not needed as possible, and putting them in closets.

Marcelle:  That’s often where I first come in.  The client calls, and says, “I need you to help me get the Grandma out of my house.”  And when I come over there, the first thing we agree to do is pare the room down to its essentials.  Then to do that, we often need to revisit their storage needs.

Cindy:  Yeah, that’s right.  That’s what we’re all doing these days.

Marcelle:  When should someone fix up their current house, and when should they move?

Cindy:  I use the 5 to 7 year rule.  If it’s been more than 5 to 7 years since you’ve last fixed up, you may need an upgrade.   That can be as simple as changing the draperies, or it could be a major overhaul.  If it’s been less than 5 to 7 years, now may be a good time to move house,  to take advantage of the market rates.  In that case, you can just rearrange some furniture, “stage” it, and so on.

Marcelle:  Thanks so much, Cindy, for this very fun and informative talk!

For more information on Cindy Harding, check out her website, at  www.cindyharding.com.   In case you can’t tell from the interview, Cindy is a really great, down to earth person, who will watch your back and tell it to you straight.  She is also very knowledgeable about houses and the market, and passionate about helping you get into the right house for you.

1) Via Emily Bird

2) Via Sarahrichardsondesign.com

3) Via thebookofsecrets.tumbler.com

4) Via bhg.com

5) Via google.com

A recent trip to the shops in Leiper’s Fork set my imagination roaming, and got me hankering for the days when life was simpler…..

First stop, the furniture and decor shop, Serenite Maison.

These pendant lights in the storefront just want a dreamy corner near a chaise…..

I could easily see one of these porch swings, hanging whimsically from the store’s rafters, on one of my clients’ porches…..

These tablecloths are happy, and unusual…..

…..tablecloth detail…..

Alex, the owner, says these vintage industrial tables get used a lot in screened porches, or party barns (very popular in Leiper’s Fork)…..

Never caught sight of the “pickers” that come by during random times of the day, have been since before Serenite Maison was born.

Alex says she will be hauling in lots of new picks from France, Italy and Texas come early October.  Will have to come back…..

Next stop, an art gallery called Old Natchez House…..

Lest you think it’s all traditional stuff, think again.  Laurel Nash, who runs the gallery, and is a fine jewelry artist herself, says these Country chic variations on a Warhol, by Norb Skalksi, show up at trendy condos in Downtown Nashville…..

And here’s a lovely one of the traditional pastoral variety, by the well known Franklin artist Wanda Wright…..

The artwork is very well-priced, too, I might add.

Last but not least, for those who miss real book stores, Yeoman’s in the Fork…..

This porch swing at the entrance just beckons you to grab a book and a cup of tea, and take a load off…..

Although it is a nationally reknown internet source for extremely rare vintage books, there is actually a lot of variety in there, including a great assortment of current hardback history books…..

Even something for me – Breakfast at Tiffany’s!  Mike Cotter, the store’s director, informed me that not all of the vintage books are that pricey, some of them selling for $10…..

And here was the surprise find of the day…..

…..a lovely cream and pale blue antique map of the Mississippi River…..

a set of two…..would make a great piece of artwork in a boy’s room (Liam’s!), or a sun room…..

…..I may be back sooner than I think…..

One of my favorite design blogs is House of Turquoise, so today I share it with you.

Actually love today’s featured beach house by Trip Haenisch.  Adore the retro designed medial wall cabinet.

Here are some of my absolute favorite picks from her blogs:

A gorgeous villa in Spain that has me swooning.

Rustic chic by Meg Adams.

And anything by Stephen Gambrel just makes my heart go pitter-pat.

Enjoy

When I moved to Nashville back when, my friends were like, “What?”  But I had a special feeling about this cow town…..

There’s always been plenty of cow….. rustic, earthy – even a little sexy…..

There’s a Southern sense of tradition and family…..

And there’s this entrepreneurial spirit…..

The best kept secret about Nashville is…..it’s cool….. As a designer, I’ve always wanted to be a part of Nashville On The Rise – in the creation of cool spaces for cool people.  So when I met my clients Jenn and Brandon, I knew I wanted to be a part of their cool East Nashville house project they designed with my husband David (you may remember the Mixing Modern with Traditional Styles blogs…..well that’s them).  Now it’s built – and it’s so cool Josh Kelley just did a video in it!

http://www.theboot.com/2011/08/01/josh-kelley-gone-like-that-video/

(here are some still shots of the house, if you don’t have time for the video…..)

What’s more, my favorite pub is in the video too – Holland House Bar and Refuge!

(my pics from Nashville Fashion Week party)

And Holland House was just voted The Best Bar To Hide Out In by  Entrepreneur Magazine!

Rock on Nashville!  The secret’s out of the bag…..

I have a thing for vintage furniture.  Every now and then I have to swing by my favorite shop in my neck of the woods, Surroundings at 5200 Charlotte Avenue, to see what’s “new”…..as it were…..

This partition is made of a wood frame with a metal latice-work screen in the panels.  The doors in the middle are on hinges.  There is this really cool bit of green patina on the screen, and bits of green paint in the doors, which gives it cool character…..I could  see this acting as a casual room divider in an open, modern space – maybe held in place with metal straps…..

This Parisian bistro table is of very sturdy metal, 30″ round and 30″ high.  Why is that important?  Because it makes an awesome living room or study laptop table – very vogue these days…..tall enough to pull up to and surf the web, maybe drink a cup of tea…..

This large, 19th century African American quilt is just the coolest.  Love the red and light blue set in the soft greys.  Love the almost-contemporary abstract composition.  It’s made of clothing remnants, and you can even see some button holes in it up close.  If I had a big house, I’d put it on a big wall somewhere…..

Surroundings is open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.  Tell Jo Ella or Sandy that Marcelle sent you…..

So, I’ve been looking for table linens for a farmhouse table – runners, tablecloths, placemats, napkins.  Our idea is to “take back the dinner time” by subtly elevating the table’s status.  Casual elegance is the desire, as inspired by this picture from an article in Country Living:

Love the crumpled linen runner turned sideways, elegantly littered with simple stoneware plates, and complimented by wildflowers from the field in repurposed bottles.  As usual, a quick search found that these runners were real antiques found up in New England.  Can’t do that…..

But what can we do?…..

Well, other than “make your own” version (buy belgian linen, make the runners, wash and let dry wrinkled), there are some other neat things out there…..

…..such as this lovely short linen runner (good for sideways application, like above) with pintucks and beading.  Affordably available in abundance by comfyheavendeco, through etsy.com…..

…..or for a splash of color, this runner is available from Kainkain, in Jakarta, Indonesia, also through etsy.com.  Also makes a good short runner over the short length of the table…..

But a few hours on etsy.com last night left me dreaming of burlap and grainsack…..

…..such as this one from jennylyons81, through etsy.com, which wants to run longways down the table…..

…..and this one, offered by LittleFlowerLinen through etsy…..

Even cooler is to mix up the rough and ready burlap runner with with the linen napkins…..

I rather fancy this one with the ruffled edge and golden velvet trim, available through Gilchrist & Gilchrist, here in Nashville, to compliment the burlap runner…..

If you want to go dressy with it at Christmastime, consider placing an off white linen tablecloth under the burlap runner…..

But for the summertime, I prefer a super casual approach, like this blue and off white canvas short runner (wants to float in the middle of the table with an arrangement on top) and matching placemats, by CreativeChicsHome, available through etsy.com.

Enjoy those family meals

I am loving the striped rugs that are out there these days.  From bold to mellow, from casual to upscale, striped rugs are all the rage, and available in abundance.  A striped rug can pull together a room in a heartbeat.  Here are a few of my favorite ways…..

…..as a bold contrast to a bold coral colored room, tying in subtly with the gray bench, hat and hooks…..

…..as a tasteful and elegant echo of a classic navy wall, with the vibrant coral worked in – all the color you need…..

…..as a casual way to pull together an eclectic mix of neutral furniture and decor…..

…..as an unexpected punch of intense colors (very easy to rotate rugs in and out on a whim)…..

…..as a breezy, minimalist statement (love the way the bedding plays off this rug)…..

And here are some of my favorite rug sources:

Company C has lot of great, high quality wool tufted or hand-tied rugs at very reasonable prices.

For inexpensive whimsey, cotton wovens in an array of colors,  try Dash & Albert.

And last but not least, when you’re ready to invest in a high quality, timeless and classic rug, consider Surya. They have a killer custom color program which is easy to use.

Happy rug hunting

1.  Via Spectator 2011 by Leslie Farber

2.  Via things i love tumblr

3.  Via Amber Interiors

4.  Via Better Homes and Gardens

5.  Via Morgan Ingram

My clients and I are swooning over the wallpaper choices out there, these days.  So different from my indelible memory of wallpaper from my 70′s childhood (bold, graphic – LOUD), today you can find similarly bold ones (though easier on the eyes), along with all sorts of gorgeous styles and colors.

So here are some different ways to have fun with wallpaper:

For the bold at heart – the bold graphic (retro 70′s is easier to digest in the sofa color):

For the serene at heart, great patterns and colors come tighter in scale, reading like textures:

For the serene – but whimsical – take a slightly bold pattern, but select a more neutral color palette:

For the totally serene, you can still keep the scale large, but pick a softer pattern, in a soft color palette:

And last but not least, here are some great ways to place wallcovering, to have even more fun:

Limit the bold, strong colored variety to an accent wall:

Pick a really girly, busy one for your powder room:

And really last but not least, ain’t this retro-seventies one rendered oh-so-tasteful, tucked into the back of this china cabinet?

My mom had this one all over a breakfast room once.  I am liking it now…..8)

1.  Via etsy.com

2.  Via createfindadmire.tumblr.com

3.  Via us.farrow-ball.com

4.  Via simplyseductive.blogspot.com

5.  Via apartmenttherapy.com

6.  Via apartmenttherapy.com

7.  Via citified.blogspot.com

You may remember in my postcard from L.A., a highlight of my trip was discovering the diva behind the corals and other floatsom – she calls them “her naturals” – that graced the boutique hotels in the area.  That would be Shannon Colburn, resort hotel (and beach house) stylist extraordinaire.  Well, now she has a website – the better to visit with you.  And aren’t we lucky…..

These are some artworks I saw while I was there.  The dazzling colors are even more dazzling in person.  Her artists can customize size, shape, and colors for a very reasonable cost…..

Cool containers…..Really love the ideas you get from these settings – pears and twigs…..

The tops of these side tables are pieces of stone, fitted together to create a tortoiseshell effect…..

Simple, classic all-glass hurricane lamps.  Love the use of stones, twigs and the whimsy of the small, narrow candles on the left…..

More containers that subtly resemble sea flowers…..

But a visit to Shannon Colburn’s showroom is not complete without sampling her “naturals”…..

…..such as these coral balls above…..or this stunning blue coral below…..

What can we do with this one?  The possibilities are endless…..:)

So my sister Katherine has this gorgeous Shabby Chic home down in South Louisiana.  Soft creams in her slipcovered sofas, layered with warm golds and bits of rust.  Loves her house, and her furniture  – just needs a refresh (read:  energy….. somebody please give me energy…..)  She’s got two busy young boys, a great career, and a husband.  So we’ve explored different ways to layer the “energy” in on top of what she has, and here we share some of our ideas:

For the vintage piece collector:  Love the corals pulling off this vintage quilt.

For the Shaker fan:  Chartreus green balanced with soft blues.

For the adventurous:  A turquoise wall.

For the playfully sophisticated:  Punch in the turquoise with those soft golds.

For those who need energy and relaxation:  Punch in with just vibrant enough blue-greens.

Enjoy

1.  Via concretehoney.blogspot.com

2.  Via flickr

3.  Via apartmenttherapy.com

4.  Via serena & lily

5.  Via Country Living (I think.  let me know if I’m wrong.)

So in case you didn’t know, the color du jour is gray.  Soft, dreamy gray.  A little cool, but warm enough to barely avoid melancholy.  While I tend to question blindly following the trends, all the same – in some settings – it just makes sense…..

…..when you have a bad-ass collection of Jennifer Quigley artwork which is its inspiration…..

…..when you have a clever idea to use unfinished canvas for a curtain divider…..

…..when you need to dream….. concentrate….. create…..

My friend Kimble Bosworth didn’t know she was headed for the gray du jour, when she asked me to help with her office remodel – renegades that we are.  However….. sometimes, what’s hot is…..cool…..

Kimble Bosworth is Nashville’s it girl to promote your company’s brand.  She also has a super cool office to match her branding savvy.  Call her for an appointment so you can check it out for yourself…..

There is nothing better than feeling like you’re reconnecting with history,

doing good for the environment,

supporting local craftspeople,

and creating beauty and romance at the same time.

That’s why I’m in love with reclaimed wood.  The good news is it’s more abundant every day, as its market grows in leaps and bounds.  Below are a few good picks.

The driftwood-like table top.  Simple, yet oh so romantic.  Pair it with rustic slab-benches, and some great white china (oh, and of course a crystal chandelier for subtle glam), and you’re good to go.

The coffee table.  This one has vintage turquoise painted boards and some shells on top, for a beachy feel.  Love the rivets…..

Reclaimed wood feature walls are a classic way to warm up modern style interiors…..

…..or an eclectic mix of styles…..

Love the surprise element of this fat wall above, with a slot in it, making it a counter/pass through/room divider for a kitchen.  Extra double eco-points for its multifunctionality.  Love the way it respects the vintage paneled ceiling above.

Reclaimed wood can act as a gorgeous minimalist sculptural element for a stair (love the rivets, again)…..

Sculptural  even when it is sandwiched between walls.  You can really experience the character of the wood when framed thus…..

Here is a fun reclaimed wood pendant light.  Wonder how it looks when on at night?

The floor.  Working on this eco-chic home is how I got the bug in the first place.

Reclaimed wood flooring can give a new home  instant character and charm.

This utterly “spa” reclaimed wood bath counter totally draws you in, and is the all the drama you need surrounded by cool gray concrete walls and floor.  Love the “leaf-like” shapes of the sink bowls.

A reclaimed headboard – which would be easy to make (or have made)…..

And another way to get “headboard” out of it:  Serving as the dramatic, yet warm and cozy backdrop to this vintage wrought iron bed…..

…..something to put on my own wish list…..

Enjoy…..

1)  Via etsy.com

2)  Via caragreen.com

3)  Via extremehowto.com

4)  Anthropologie reclaimed wood console, image via themarionhousebook.com

5)  Via athome.kimvalee.com

6)  Via inhabitat.com

7)  Via 1.bp.blogspot.com

8)  Via vi.sualize.us

9)  Via reclaimed-brentnorman.blogspot.com

10)  Via flickr.com

11)  Via remodelista.com

12)  Guilbeau Baird photo archive

13)  Via greenecoservices.com

14)  Via auntielolocrafts.blogspot.com

15)  Via designspongeonline.com

So today I want to introduce you to my smart and witty friend and savvy realtor, Elizabeth Colton Walls. I caught up with Elizabeth recently to seek her advice for home buyers and sellers.

Marcelle: How about some advice for home sellers?

Elizabeth:  Now more than ever, the “staging” of your home is of utmost importance. Buyers have plenty of homes from which to choose, so your property needs to be perfect.

Marcelle: What are your three top “don’ts” when  selling your home?

Elizabeth:

1.  Pets running (or flying) freely about the premises

2.  Nonoperational vehicles parked in the yard

3.  Extensive religious iconography

Marcelle:  Okay, very funny!  What are your three top “do’s” when selling?

Elizabeth:

1.  In addition to a new front door, replacing garage doors, windows, and siding provide the most bang for the buck.

2.  Two remodels return over 75% of their investment:  Converting an attic space into a bedroom, and refreshing a kitchen.

3.  Add a deck to your house if you’ve already checked off the above.

Marcelle:  Any other other advice for sellers?

Elizabeth:  If you are planning to be in your home for many years, renovate to your heart’s content.  If you may sell in the next few years, consider the scope and budget of your renovation carefully.  Think curb appeal and the modest interior projects for the best returns on investment.

Marcelle: What advice do you have for buyers?

Elizabeth: Know what you want, and what you can afford. This seems pretty basic, but a lot of buyers just jump into the process.  I ask my buyers to complete a 4 page questionnaire which covers family, home features, and finances. Experience has taught me that the more I understand about the buyer’s circumstances, needs, and wants, the more efficient the home buying experience will be for all of us!

This a bit Zen (!), but I remind my buyers that a house isn’t just a floor plan, but a space which defines and supports you. Part of my job is to help buyers uncover that sense of who they are in a home– not unlike your job as an interior designer.

Marcelle: Very cool.  So given that, what, in your experience, is the most common mistake buyers make during the home search?

Elizabeth: A very common mistake is to pay too much attention to things that can easily be changed (paint colors) rather than things that can’t (no basement.) Sellers know this, which is why they stage the home so you don’t notice the lack of a basement, for example.

Marcelle:  So now for the “money questions”:  How important is it to have financing approved up front?

Elizabeth:  Very. There is no point in starting the home search until you know exactly how you will finance it. The days of lax lending are behind us.

Marcelle: What about short sales? Are they a good alternative for buyers?

Elizabeth: Short sales are fine for a specific subset of buyers.

1.  Buyers who have a flexible timeline–unencumbered by considerations such as the expiration of a lease or school enrollment.  Bank approved short sales take more time than traditional transactions.

2.  Buyers (& their agents) who have researched the market, and are comfortable offering the list price.  Banks don’t negotiate price on washing machines.  If you are a haggler, a short sale is not for you.

3.  Buyers who have their financing ready to go.  Once the short sale is approved, banks close fast.

Marcelle:  According to recent headlines, it appears that home sales are picking up?

Elizabeth:  Yes, last week, a house in my neighborhood received multiple bids the first day on the market. We haven’t seen that in several years. The average closing price for homes in both Davidson and Williamson counties is up from this time last year.

In Davidson County, especially in Area 2, homes under $300,000 are scarce.  Inventory at this price point is less than 5 months. (5-6 months is considered a “balanced” market.) In Williamson County, homes priced under $650,000 is the sweet spot with approximately 6 months or less of inventory. In both counties, however, there is still an abundance of high priced homes for sale.

Marcelle:   Thanks, Elizabeth for this very informative treat!  If you’d like more information on staging your home, email Elizabeth at eestescol@comcast.net,  for a copy of her free e-book Savvy Staging Sells, which includes general tips and room- by- room advice.  Her website is www.elizabethcoltonwalls.com, and her informative and often amusing blog is  elizabethcoltonwalls.com/blog.

Photo credits:

1.  Via internet-pets.blogspot.com

2.  Via bangshift.com

3.  Via paulmurray.typepad.com

4.  Via housetweaking.com

5.  Via Tracy McEachern

6.  Via apartmenttherapy.com

7.  Via desiretoinspire.net

I’ve always been fascinated with chaise lounges.  My mother had two in a sun room.  Another one sat next to a fire in the master bedroom.  To assuage my fascination with this object, I looked it up in Wikipedia:

“A chaise longue… is an upholstered couch in the shape of a chair that is long enough to support the legs.”  (Wikipedia)

We Americans insist on calling it a “chaise lounge” because – that is what it seems like to us – a place where you lounge.

And perhaps that explains my fascination with a piece I keep circling around, at a lovely new shop here in West Nashville, Surroundings:

But let’s face it, chaises have a rep for being – ah -  feminine….. And this vintage early 20th century French one definitely has some of that going on in its sensuous curves (the better to lounge on)…..

But what if…..

I kept the curves, but switched out the light green velvet upholstery for…..

…..some dark leather and nail head trim (with perhaps a cowhide pillow, of course – this is Nashville after all)…..

Well, that changes everything!

(Okay, confession.  This is a bike tube upholstered chaise.  But that works too, and is very eco-chic.)

Now this chaise can move out into….. the living room…..

…..before a fire…..

(okay this is not leather, but is utterly gender neutral…..)

….. in the corner of a room…..

…..or before a window, to gaze out while reading…..

…..Now I can chaise lounge away anywhere I want….. 8)

1 & 2) Via Surroundings, 5200 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN  37209

3) Via greatgreengoods.com

4) Via thedesignerpad.com

5) Via marthastewart.com

6) Via plushpalate.blogspot.com

7) Via isabellaandmaxroom.blogspot.com

8) Via greytheblog.com

9) Via remodelista.com

Marcelle:  So today I want to introduce you to my fabulous colleague, Peggy Roberts, a very accomplished up and coming Cleveland artist.  Her breezy, clever and whimsical artwork just makes you want to say “ahhhhh…..” I have invited Peggy to guest blog for me today on one of our favorite shared topics:  Living with art.

Peggy:  Art is a very important part of a home.  It can uplift the  consciousness, welcome guests into the home, add color, create discussion.   In my opinion, when it comes to art, bigger is better, even in a small  space.  Since my personal preference is almost minimal, streamlined  spaces, I prefer a large painting to a grouping of small works.   Groupings tend to look cluttered.

One of my favorite uses of art  is to anchor different spaces in an open environment.  Here are some  photos from my inspiration file.  I hope you enjoy!

The  entry way or sitting area.  Use art to welcome your guests and to set  the mood for a lively visit filled with intellectual conversation.

The  living area.  We’ve all heard scholars say that art shouldn’t match  your decor.  But this is a rule I prefer to break.  I like the art to  pick up, or even set the tone for the decor.  It seems natural to me, we  are all attracted to certain colors.

Marcelle and her husband do a great job of anchoring the different spaces in their beautiful home with art.

Art can be part of monochromatic room.  Monochrome can be very restful as this gorgeous room shows.

But that doesn’t mean your art has to match.  Art  should be anything you consider beautiful.  Contrasting art can be very  interesting, as can art that pops off an otherwise white or neutral  color scheme.

Like a black and white scheme?  Art doesn’t need to be colorful if you like it more subdued or moody.

Art makes a great conversation piece in the dining room, and can liven up dark walls.

Don’t  stop with just the living area.  Art looks great in the kitchen and dining area.  Anywhere you spend time, you should have lovely and  compelling art to look at.

One of my favorite uses for large paintings is as a headboard.  The art should be something that’s restful.  I like this one because  it’s like sleeping in a tree house!

Here is an example of a  room I designed around a painting.  This room is part of my ongoing  project attempting to show pink used in modern ways.

I am fortunate to be a painter, I have a steady supply of paintings that I can change on a whim.

Here’s one of my favorites.  I love graphic and pop art, and I love the combination of blue and orange pops.

Not a painter?  That doesn’t matter.  I believe every one’s  creative.  Buy a canvas and splash paint on it, or paint it in a solid  color.  I often do this when I am experimenting with a color.  This is  also a neat trick if you are in a rental and are not allowed to paint  the walls.

Art doesn’t need to cost a  fortune.  Check your local library, some libraries have art to loan.   Also check your local art schools, they often have art sales which is a  great way to support local artists.  The Internet also provides many opportunities to buy inexpensive art directly from artisans, such as  Etsy.  Just remember to go big, have fun, and if you love a piece you  can’t go wrong.  I hope you enjoyed this guest post.

Marcelle:  Peggy, I just love the tree-as-headboard.  And thank you so much for all these amazing art-as-decor tips!  I keep reading them over and over again…..  Be sure to check out Peggy’s blog, Creative Influences, where she shares more of her amazing ideas pertaining to home decor and art.   Peggy has an extensive collection of artwork which can be seen in her portfolio on flickr.  Honestly, if you have a need for some artwork to finish out your home, Peggy will work with you to customize something that’s just the right size, shape and color palette.  Now that’s my kinda gal…..

Picture 1.  Image via the Sumptuous Chair
(http://thesumptuouschair.com/chairs.html)

Picture 2.  Image via Line Juhl Hansen
(http://www.linejuhlhansen.dk/kategori/blog)

Picture 3.    Image via Jan Showers  (http://www.janshowers.com/InteriorDesign)

Picture 4.  Image Simon Watson via Desire to Inspire
(http://www.simonwatson.com)

Picture  5.  Image Summer and Josh’s Pumped Up Traditional via Apartment Therapy
(http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/house-tours/house-tour-summer-and-joshs-pumped-up-traditional-chicago-065851)
Picture  6.    Image David & Marcelle’s  Nashville
Beach  House)
(http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/house-tours/david-marcelles-nashville-beach-house-house-tour-143944)
Picture  7.   Image via March 2010 House  Beautiful.

Picture. 8.  Image via Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz.  (http://www.bnodesign.com)

Picture 9.  Image via Anthology.  (http://www.anthologymag.com)

Picture 10.  The lovely home of Carolyn Quartermaine.
(http://www.carolynquartermaine.com)

Picture 11.  Brian Elston.

Picture 12.  Decor8.

Picture 13.  Rue Magazine.  (http://www.ruemag.com/issues/issue-four)

Picture 14.  Peter Margonelli via Desire to Inspire.
(http://petermargonelli.com/)

Picture 15.  Apartment Therapy.

Picture  16.    Image via Living Etc.   (http://www.livingetc.com/)

Picture 17. The fabulous  painting is by Dee Adams.   (http://www.deedee914.com/about.html)

Picture  18.   Image by Peggy Roberts

Picture 19.  Image by Peggy Roberts

Please note in most cases image credit is given to the designer of the room, not the  artist.  If you know the artist of any of the fine paintings used as  examples, please contact Peggy.  She”d be happy to feature them on her blog.

When I was younger, my Mom would come to town and take me to the shops in Franklin.  I would always manage to fanagle a purchase of Thistle Farms lotions – one for me, and one for Mom.  It warmed my soul to know this product was produced by, and supported the lives of, women who had previously worked the streets, and now are on the path of recovery.  It made me proud to know I always picked this locally made product over its competitors.  I’ve since married, and had a child of my own, and now I regale my Mother-In-Law (and myself!) with their candles and lavender sachets – so the tradition lives on.

So it was with great interest that I’ve watched the creation of what looked like a a retail storefront for Thistle Farms on a stretch of new and growing shops on Charlotte Avenue, here in Nashville.

The other day, I had to come in, to assuage my curiosity.

It turns out that not only does this Thistle Farms outlet have a shop that carries its full line of products; but also, it is the organization’s headquarters, meditation center  and packing and shipping facility.  Above you can see the lobby, with the meditation room behind it, and beyond that, the entry to a state-of-the-art packing facility.

Anyone is welcome to come in and visit, sign in as a guest, take a tour, and find out more about this powerful organization, which enables women a new life through the power of love, nurturing and community.

Here’s the shop!  Oh, goody goody!!!!!  One for you, and…..

Best of all, if you haven’t gotten your Mother’s Day present yet, Thistle Farms has you covered!  Stop by and check out their Mother’s Day Gift Set, a lotion and soap in an ivory organza bag, with a lovely blank gift card included, for only $24!

Thistle Farms’ new shop is located at 5122 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN  37209.  Check out their website for a complete listing of other retail outlets throughout the country.

Happy Mother’s Day

As an interior designer, I’ve always drawn inspiration from fashion.  So last month’s Nashville Fashion Week was not to be missed.  My favorite local designer was White Rabbit, whose clothing line is sold at Local Honey.   White Rabbit’s runway show featured women’s clothes that were utterly clean, but soft and sexy;  utterly wearable, yet playful.  The colors du jour were orange, soft greys, and taupe or cream.

So here are some pics of some of the outfits on display – along with my thoughts and inspirations as a designer – as illustrated by pics of furniture from one of my favorite Nashville furniture boutiques – Retropolitan.

Love the curves, the way the skirt swings and curls around itself.  Love that deep reddish orange.  Nicely paired with a bit of black, soft coral and grey.

Reminds me a lot of these whimsical, yet simple chairs.  They feel comfortable to sit in, yet the grillage cut out of it is so playful and interesting.  Love the softness of the way the cut-outs show through…..

Soft fabrics, looks like they feel good to wear.  Loose, but still sexy and interesting.  Love the pairing of the soft coral with the greys.  Love the way the large, organic print on the vest doesn’t dominate the wearer. 

Well, this velvet upholstered chair is like the inverse of the outfit above.  Soft, sensual, curvy to sit on.  Again, love the coral and cream on soft grey, and the large scale yet friendly print on the thrown pillow.

This soft grey cashmere jacket on top of a breezy rose colored dress, with some soft cashmere gloves to warm your fingers during Nashville’s nippy spring days – this just says cozy and comfy one minute, breezy and cool the next. 

Okay, this pairing is a bit hard to explain…..I often get bedroom design inspiration from beautiful fabrics, beautiful draping, beautiful forms.  The clothing doesn’t have to be a nighty or a bathrobe, however.  It is really just anything that says – warm and cozy and soft.  Or sexy.  This upholstered headboard has the soft, embracing feel of the cashmere jacket above.  You can imagine layering it with your favorite silky pillows and layers of bedding, to get the feel and temperature just right for a good read…..

This style struck me as feeling a bit romantically vintage.  Utterly timeless and classic.  Love the way it’s all in the way the clothes drape;  otherwise a very simple, classic look.  Love the way the red rose and the gloves are all the bit of interest you need to jazz it up.

Reminds me of this timeless, classic, leather and black paisley upholstered take on a Chesterfield side chair.  Again, the coral and cream, large scale kidney pillow is all you need to “update” it.

And here she is, “White Rabbit” herself…..Shea Steele, fashion designer extraordinaire.

Do you think she could put some of her her pieces in this playful chest of drawers for me (I’m a size 0)…..?

Credits:

Photos 1, 3, 5, 7, 9:  Photos by Austin Gros for Pennyweight, on Flickr.com

Photos 2, 4, 6, 8,, 10: 

My iphone pics of furniture at Retropolitan

Happy Earth Day!  Well, the Routon Residence is finally nearing completion.  And in celebration of Earth Day, my partner, Architect David Baird and I would like to thank all of the folks who have made this beautiful, sustainable home possible – beginning with our forward-thinking clients themselves – Ed and Jan Routon!

We’d also like to thank our builder, Blair Myers of Bryan and Myers, who so diligently sourced so many of the local and recycled materials, such as the house’s limestone base and recycled brick on the house’s exterior.  And a thank you to E3 Innovate, who was our LEED rater.

Thanks to (n)Habit for providing the beautiful recycled glass veneer at the breezeway’s vaulted ceiling.

Check out (n)Habit and E3′s  booths at the Nashville Earth Day Festival in Centennial Park, and at the Living Well Sustainable Marketplace at the Nashville Convention Center, this weekend.

Thanks to A-1 Appliance for the Energystar induction cooktop…..

…..and ovens.

And a thank you to the Hearth and Grille Shop of Nashville for the high performance, energy efficient fireplace that can heat the whole living, breakfast and kitchen area.

Thanks to our forward-thinking clients, Ed and Jan again, for salvaging their fallen elm tree to make the handsome fireplace mantel.

And a thank you to Woodstock Vintage Lumber for sourcing and crafting the oak flooring, reclaimed from an century old nearby mill.

Thanks to Creekside Glass for the glass which acts as a floor on the second floor gallery…..

…..and a skylight on the first floor…..allowing borrowed light to pass through from the gallery windows above.

And a thank you to Ferguson’s for the sustainably spa bath and shower fixtures.

And for those of you who feel like they already know him – here’s the real Buddy!  Ready for his sustainably spa shower.  Happy Earth Day, Buddy

Hey Everybody,

Check out me and David and Liam’s own little house and studio being featured in Apartment Therapy’s Hot House Tour today!

Enough said.  Enjoy!

xoxo marcelle

Do you love a great porch house?

Well this is the porch house to end all porch houses.  Designed by my favorite Nashville architect, David Baird, and commissioned by some horse loving clients in Bon Aqua, Tennessee, this beautiful house in the country embraces the land it sits on.

The clients have lived on the land for several years, and they show horses.  They wanted to be able to view the horses up on the hill from the back side of the house, and enjoy the view of the low pasture from the front.

And of course, wouldn’t it be nice to just walk all the way around the house on the porch, any time you like?

And let’s not forget the screened in porch complete with fans, just off of the master bedroom, which makes this the ultimate porch house – good for enjoying the outdoors in the hot summer months.

But what’s really great about this porch house is the way the views of the land extend all the way through the house.  The great room is one big room in the middle, with porch on both sides.

Lots of doors and operable windows let the fresh air in for natural ventilation.

At the end of the living room is a glassed in sun room, for a winterized version of the screened in porch on the other side.

And of course, there is a special spot for our clients to watch their horses up the hill:  The breakfast room – a great stretch of windows above this window seat, where the clients can sit for a morning cup of joe.

If you like outdoor living, you’ll love this porch house.  Best of luck to our Bon Aqua clients in their new home construction

Recently, I picked up my Winter edition of Flower Magazine, and found this stunningly romantic photo in it….

“This is just gorgeous,” I thought.  “This reminds me of something Robert would do…..”

Then I turned the page, and saw – Robert!

“Oh my gosh - it IS Robert!”  Robert E. Smith is a family friend down in Southwest Louisiana.  He is a French antique dealer by trade, an architect by training, and a flower stylist by passion.   He regularly emails us notecards from France (where he lives part time) with gorgeous photos of floral arrangements, in sumptuous interior settings.  I’m always moved and inspired by his little “floral notes,” and often wonder, “Where does this beauty and creativity come from?”

Reading the article, I discovered “how he does it.”  And now I must now share with you!  Below are some article excerpts, which Robert has allowed me to illustrate with a few additional photos from or family files.

Robert’s earliest floral arranging impulses came from exploring the woods and shores of South Louisiana, where he first discovered his passion for collecting.  ”At age 6, I was making Lilliputian-sized flower arrangements with wildflowers in seashells…I would comb the shoreline for new treasures from the sea and little jewels from the land in the form of wildflowers…”

“…it has come to my attention that history does repeat itself.  In my dining room in Louisiana, I have a 34-inch-wide clamshell, in which I have a constantly changing array of seasonal flowers.”

“As my love for flowers has continued life-long, my approach in creating floral arrangements for my own enjoyment is still naturally that of a collector.  I find the correct choice of the container, sized for both the eventual location of the arrangement and also for the floral material it will contain, is almost half the artistic challenge in making a successful arrangement.”

“I prefer antique containers of glass, faience, porcelain, or silver.”

“The contents are also a collection of sorts.  I might use material from my shop gardens and my home gardens, as well as roadside finds and flowers from the store.  This approach ensures that my arrangements have personal, seasonal, and regional flavors.  Fruit, berries, seed pods, vines, and tree branches are all likely possibilities.”

“As time went on, my fledgling French antiques business exploded and gobbled up the space of this house, so I had an inspired and audacious plan for the construction of a second residence, made out of antique materials:  an early 18th century-styled French pavilion of five stories on a beautiful and wildly primordial lake.”

“There, my man-made gardens are reduced to six fairly small, raised masonry flower beds…”

“(prominent ones at the four corners of the masonry moat)”

“each one containing at the center a pedestal supporting a topiary citrus tree in a large, antique French vase d’Anduze.”

“(Collecting antique flower containers has been a major theme of mine with vases d’Anduze being the high point.)”

Below is Robert at one of his fabulous parties in his “18th century-styled French Pavilion”!  He’s the one with the spectacles over on the right.

If you haven’t discovered Flower Magazine yet, pick up this Winter Edition, and you will see the rest of the article on Robert.  And if you are ever in the market for a French antique, you MUST look up Robert.  He is the real deal, and his French antique finds are the real deal.  My dream would be to hook up with him in his second home of Uzes, Provence, and go on my own personal antique shopping spree!  But even if you just want a bit of France in your home, you can look him up at Au Vieux Paris Antiques, www.auvieuxparisantiques.com.

So while on a trip to L.A., for a part-family, part-business-trip, I stayed at a couple of lovely boutique hotels – the Huntley in Santa Monica…..

And the Hotel Sofitel in Beverly Hills…..

In case you couldn’t tell from my post on New Orleans, a stay at a boutique hotel can inspire and intrigue this Nashville interior designer for days…..

So the intriguing question for me was:  How do they create such marvelous coastal-nature-inspired interiors?

Well one obvious answer is – the ocean is right there…..

…..as seen peeking out from behind this beautiful woman (my sister!) at the Huntley’s penthouse restaurant.  A clean palette of white leather chairs, white paint and sheer white drapes completes the nautical resort feel…..

…..which continues a theme from the lobby:  White plaster fish serve as the backdrop for this chic furniture setting…..

But at the Sofitel Hotel restaurant lounge, real coral, seashells and other flotilla were found in the mirror-glass niches behind the seating, which at night lent an underwater effect…..

But the design inspiration didn’t stop with boutique hotels…..After all, there was the rock shop my Dad insisted on visiting – Wonders of The World…..

When I saw all of these gargantuan crystals dramatically grouped together on the counters, I realized if Dad just got out all of his gargantuan crystals he’s collected over the years, and arranged them on the coffee table – that would just make his living room totally rock…..

So imagine my surprise when I saw this very concept on display at the Mimi London showroom in the Pacific Design Center (those of you who watched Top Design will remember the PDC as the place where the contestants used to shop.  It’s also where real designers shop….. )

Love the woven rope back chair with these brown crystals above (coffee table looks a lot like Dad’s!)…..

…..Love the white crystals with this hide drum table and sculpted wood thing (is it a pipe holder?  or maybe just a nut dish?)……

And at Donghia, one of my perennial favorites, these glass base lamps evoke a stream of water or melting ice…..

But really the highlight of my trip was meeting this rock star of resort hotel (and beach house) accessorizing – including the Sofitel! – Shannon Colburn…..

There she is with one of her most popular items, a white coral…..

But these glass hurricane lamps bound with vine-like wooden strips, lit within by candles, really caught my imagination…..

More seashells, fossils and coral set against fantastic distressed wood and leather chests…..

What would it be like to decorate with shells like these?  I think I would have died and gone to heaven…..Shannon does it all the time, for resort hotels around the world – such as the one I stayed at (Hotel Sofitel).  She’s currently working on one in Maldives.  I don’t know where that is (she’s not sure either), but I’m sure I would like to go…..

Happy travels

Caroline Bryan “loves an outdoor room.”  Picture the kind you might come across on a Caribbean getaway…..

Her husband is “more of a mountain guy” who loves to grill out.

Both of them enjoy hanging out and entertaining family and good friends.

So when they decided to expand their back deck, Caroline challenged me to help her fit it all together:  Some great resort-style lounge seating, a table and chairs with a weather-hardy chandelier overhead, outdoor drapes, and – of course - the family heirloom grill!  So here is a sneak peek of what we’ve come up with…..

Starting with a lovely setting in the hills outside of Nashville…..

…Our “outdoor room” on the boards…..

…And a table and chairs, outdoor drapes, lighting and lounge furniture - on the way…..

It all should arrive just in time for a little Mid-March outdoor party (cross your fingers…..)  The Tennessee hills in bloom will make an interesting view from this spa-like outdoor setting.  And to complete the resort feel, we’ll need one more thing…..

…..a gorgeous table setting…..

Stay tuned for a visual party invite…..

1) Hermitage Bay on Antigua, via Coastal Living Magazine

2) Via Gatlinburg Cabin Rentals

3)  Bryan outdoor deck

4) &5)  Marcelle’s concept sketches

6) & 7) Furniture by Restoration Hardware.  Fabrics by Sunbrella.  Lighting by Designers Gallery, Nashville, TN.

The dream is this…

Imagine me in my new sun room addition, surrounded by my seashells collected from my travels, writing poetry in my spare time…..

The reality is this…..

…my view while upside down during yoga, trying not to get blinded by Fifi’s fur swishing by…..

I’ve always needed a home that was – forgiving…..if not downright – giving…..Can you say dusting-free?  Cat-fur-hiding?  Child-play-friendly?  Now I am a busy mom of a toddler with a career I half operate out of my home.  Before that I had two cats (I still have one).  And before that I was an art student with two cats…..

My clients are the same way!  Many of them are artists themselves…..Some of them have children who are artists…..Most of them have children or grandchildren, or hope to have them someday…..Lots of my clients do something creatively in their house – whether it’s cooking, writing songs, or painting…..

So this blog post is dedicated my clients – who inspire me so much.  And is a peek at the things I try to do for them:  Help them create homes which enable them to live their lives…..I’m calling it “relaxed living”.

The mudroom…..

…..A place where you drop off your muddy shoes, wet coat and umbrella on your way in.  A nice place to hang your coats and shopping bags, and sort recycling on its way out.  Use it as a way station for groceries and other clutter that would otherwise get all over the house.  It doesn’t have to be a literal room:  Growing up in Louisiana, which stays warm and rainy much of the year, we used a deep screened in porch with a brick floor to serve as our “mudroom”…..

The kitchen…..

Like a white kitchen?  That’s fine – just delete the all-white floors and counters from your plans…..Keep white to the vertical surfaces, thus to avoid the aggravation of footprints and food prep smears…..If you like white everywhere, consider white terrazzo floors or white marble counters with gray veining, so as to obscure the smudges…..

The living room….

Leather covered ottomans are hot, and not just for their cool effect.  They’re also great for living too!  Let your husband prop his feet up and watch TV on it.  No constantly wiping off nasty fingerprints from kids playing.  It’s soft to lean on, and yet you can still serve hors d’oeuvres on it at a party…..

The breakfast room…..

More and more, the “breakfast room” is what we have for a “dining room”.  This wooden table and bench just feel relaxed and inviting.  It’s also easy to clean – just wipe it off!  A fun decorative light fixture above the table will “dress it up”, making it a great place to serve hors d’oeuvres at a party (in addition to that great leather covered ottoman)…..

The study…..

Many people these days trade in the dining room they hardly use, for a study.  The bookshelves store not just books, but also your “artwork” and mementos found during travels.  Stow away your “home office” stuff in the cabinets below.  The table gives you a resting place for your book while reading, but it also serves as a spot to pay bills and check emails.  Mix some soft seating (window seat) in there for a place to curl up and have a cup of tea…..

The bedroom…

Lots and lots of pillows give you the flexibility to sit up and watch TV, read a book, or get comfortable in your favorite sleeping position.  A really full duvet like this pin-tuck gives you airy comfort – cool in the summer and warm in the winter.   Great bedding  creates an escape from the distractions of life…..

The bathroom…..

A great soak tub, proportioned to fit your size, can create a great spa getaway, right in your own home.   Add natural stone, spa-like glass tile, and places to perch your favorite sea shells within your view while soaking, creating an ambiance of relaxation.

The home studio…..

Okay, so I don’t have my poetry-writing sun room yet.  But I have manifested my office studio with a view of this dogwood in the Spring.  When it’s nice out, you can come out and sit in a chair and have your tea break…..

When it’s not nice out – you still have a view…..

Like any of these “mini-topics”?  Let me know about it in the comments, and I’ll expound on it in the coming year

1) Via a “dream file” of mine I’ve had so long I no longer know where it came from.  Anyone who knows the credits, please leave below in the comments.

2)  My living room/yoga room.

3)  Via The English Home, home of Ben and Emma Taylor.

4)  Via House and Garden, the home of Will and Laura Jones.  Photograph by Rory Carnegie.

5)  Via The English Home, Interior Designer Henriette von Stockhausen’s home.

6)  Another “dream file” image.  This was given to me by a friend, so I’ll never know where it’s from.  Leave in the comments the source, if you have it.

7)  Via Traditional Home, Designer Madeline Stuart, photography by Werner Straube.

7)  Via West Elm.

8)  Via Coastal Living, photographer Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn, Stylist Lynn Nesmith.

Hey Everybody!  We’ve been featured in the Tennessean! It’s all about how we’re using “technology” to support our team collaboration.  My favorite architect, David Baird, clients Ed & Jan Routon, and Erik Daugherty with E3 Innovate, our LEED for Homes Rater, are featured in it.

For the full article in the Tennessean, click here.

You saw a little bit of our “technology” in my last blog – the “computer generated models” of the Routon baths.  Even this is a fabulous “collaboration tool”.  I often email these pictures to clients and consultants in between meetings, so that we can get decisions made faster and easier.

We also pull the models up on the computer screen, and use them for work sessions with our clients.  They find it much easier to “visualize” the interior of their house, when they can “walk through” it three-dimensionally.  And we can change features in the model to try out ideas, right there on the spot.

Stay tuned for future posts on the topic of collaboration!

“Sustainable” (earth friendly) architecture brings to mind many things:  High-tech solar panels, “raw” looking building materials, and the state of Arizona in general.  Award-winning, perhaps, but not necessarily in the “beauty” category.  And not what easily fits in a Nashville neighborhood.

Surprise!  This beautiful “sustainable” home under construction resides right here in Nashville!  Commissioned by our forward-thinking clients Ed and Jan Routon, and designed by my favorite architect David Baird and yours truly, this one changes all the rules.

A lovely English Country style home, the Routon Residence is not just beautiful in form, but also truly integrated with its highly efficient energy and water systems.

For example, the baths will be luxuriously sustainable “home spas”.  The hot water is recirculated in three zones, so that each part of the house has nearly instant hot water.  The water heating comes largely natural and “for free” – coming up from naturally warm water wells (geothermal).  Below are a few other highlights, illustrated by our computer-generated models.

The Master Bath will feature long-lasting and classic (sustainable in the “old fashioned” way) marble on the floors, walls and counters.  The shower, sinks and a whirlpool tub will have low-flow faucets, and a low flow toilet, cutting water use down by over half.

…..the view from the whirlpool tub, below…..

The shower, below, will sport a super adjustable, low flow shower head, conserving water without sacrificing luxury…..

And this is Buddy…..He has the most “spa” shower of all (guest bath just off the mudroom) …..River rocks on the floor and as a decorative tile band….

Buddy’s shower has been designed just for him.  The hand-held shower has an extra long hose, set a little lower than average, for dog-washing.   Buddy’s Bath, along with all the others in the house, will sport the same water efficiencies as the Master Bath.

And here are the materials:  Marble on the left, river rocks on the right…..

Stay tuned…..

Breathe…..

Dream…..

Be restored…..

These words capture what my friend Stacy and I feel when we are in a “spa” like bedroom.  What elements combine to make a bedroom feel like a spa? Below are some of our observations.

Marcelle and Stacy:  This simple canopy bed floats in the middle of serene softness.  But the canopy itself moors you, so you can drift away cozily…..

Marcelle:  I can see lavendars and linens in this one.  Linens always seem so breezy to me.  I can just  smell the lavendar wafting in the breeze…..

Stacy:  Froo froo but I like it   This canopy bed surrounded in soft whites is clean and classic.  Clean is essential to the spa feeling…..

Marcelle:  Soft cashmere bedding in creams and pastels.  Surprisingly luxurious, but fresh.  Love the white trunk and dental block with the tea cup on it.  Feels carefree…..

Stacy:  Open, clean and simple.  Natural light coming in through the skylight.  At night I could see the stars…..

Marcelle:  So much of the “spa” look is “froo froo” like Stacy said on the feminine side.  I like this one cause it’s softness is roughed up with some masculinity…..

Marcelle and Stacy:  This one is our favorite.  Beachy without being literal – it’s in the colors.  All the elements of nature combined…..

1) Via House & Home Condos Lifts & Apartments, B&B Italia Maxalto Alcova platform bed

2)  Via Elle Decoration, Styling Helen Wiggers/Team Living, Picture Per Wadskjaer

3)  Via Veranda, interior design by David Gieseman, photography by Joel Laiter

4) Via The English Home, bedding by de Le Cuona

5) Via Dwell, designer Wonder Inc., photos by Matthew Williams

6) Via House & Garden, And So To Bed advertisement

7) Via Elle Decor, design by owners Harriet Maxwell Macdonald and Andrew Corrie, photography by William Waldrom

Simple, classic panel drapes are one of the funnest and easiest ways to add personality and pull together a room…..

…..But what if you wanted to work on a computer in here?  That’s when layering in some light-filtering shades might do the trick.  They still “let there be light” – but not too much.  Below are some really great ways I’ve found to achieve this.

This clean and crisp white roman shade preserves the clarity of the room’s overall decor.  You almost can’t see it in the picture…..

But what if you wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to make a visual statement?  That’s what I think woven wooden shades were made for…..

…..or dainty fabrics with a lacey pattern…..

But if you’re into softness, a soft roman shade in a scrunchy sheer fabric will do…..

Here is a relaxed roman which gives just a hint of visual relief at the bottom of its otherwise crisp feel…..I think I could definately write some letters in here (if I had the time)…..

I just like this one – relaxed all the way…..

Or, on another note – if you’re not into shades – you can layer in another set of sheer panels.  I especially like the way this second set hangs whimisically on another set of rods…..

1) Via windowtreatmentsdesigner.com, designer Frank Roop

2) Via Belle Maison

3) Via Coastal Living, photographer J. Savage Gibson, stylist Heather Chadduck

4) Via The English Home, interior designer Nicholas Haslam, photographer David Montgomery

5) Via washingtonspaces.com

6) Via Elle Decor, decorator Suzanne Rheinstein, photographer Roger Davies

7) Via Dragonfly Francaise, designer Cheryl Tauge

8) Via Veranda, interior designers Michael and Alexandra Misczynski, photographer Jonn Coolidge

Here’s “Part 2″ of my previous blog, on the evolution of my friends Jenn and Brandon’s new Historic East Nashville home.  After perusing some “idea starters” together, I created some options for them, using our computer 3d model of their house.  Below is the original semi-”Scandanavian” warm and woody furniture scheme, which we had used to test out the interiors during the house design phase.

And below is “option 1″ for “mixing modern with traditional styles” – a funky mix of traditional style furniture with modern.

Jenn really liked the curves in the chairs, along with the mix of color pop with neutral.  Both liked the “wallpaper” at the end of the dining room table.  They thought either a large abstract one as shown, or possibly a “map-for-wallpaper” similar to one in the last blog, could be cool.

And here is “option 2″.

They liked the furniture in this one.  Brandon really liked that sofa.  Jenn is holding out for a cool variation on the chaise lounge of her own choosing in the back corner.  Both liked the shape of the side chairs – Brandon wanted no detailing whatsoever;  Jenn wanted some fabric pattern with a cool vibe to it.  I’m sure whatever these two come up with will be worthy of note…..

The most beautiful boutique I have been to is L’Officina Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, in Florence, Italy.  A few centuries ago, the monks of Santa Maria Novella ran into financial trouble, so they started a business selling perfumes and soaps and things.  We are left with the legacy of this beautiful building down the road from the monastery, still selling their sensuous wares.  And absolute must if you’re ever in Florence.

Inside the boutique, David and I were intrigued with these gorgeous, sensual chandeliers.  When you looked up at them from below, they resembled aquatic flowers.

We identified them as Murano glass chandeliers.  Murano is in a lagoon near Venice, and the birthplace of the finest glass-blowing art tradition in the world.

If you don’t plan to be dropping into Italy any time soon, you can always import your own Murano glass chandelier into your home.  They range from sensually sedate…..

…to wildly organic…..

You can put one in your living room…..

…..or your breakfast room…..

…..or your bedroom…..

But when I win the lottery, I’m gonna commission Chihuly to create me one like this…..

1)  Marcelle Guilbeau snapshot at L’Officina Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

2)  Marcelle Guilbeau snapshot at L’Officina Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

3)  Marcelle Guilbeau napshot at L’Officina Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

4)  Murano glass chandelier available through Villa Verde Ltd, via House and Garden

5)  Murano glass sconce, via www.murano-glass-chandeliers.com

6)  Murano glass chandelier available through Vistosi, via Australia Vogue Living

7)  Murano glass chandelier available through Andromeda International

8)  Murano glass chandelier available through Villa Verde Ltd

9)  Via “Class on Class” etiquette artical, Traditional Home

10)  Murano glass chandelier available through Villa Verde Ltd

11, 12, 13)  Laguno Murano Chandelier, via the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga, TN

My friends Jenn and Brandon are going from a Nashville downtown condo to a new, custom house in Historic East Nashville (designed by my favorite architect, David Baird). He has more modern taste, and she is more traditional. They worry that this will be the inevitable married couple tug-of-war. Not me! I am very intrigued and inspired by the very idea of “mixing modern with traditional”.   Below are some very cool idea starters that I put together for them, along with some of their reactions.

Starting with more contemporary:  There is always the “Scandanavian” style furniture, which just has rich curves and lots of wood.  Feels more warm and fuzzy then your usual modern fare…..

They both liked this one.

Working in a little more traditional forms…..

Jenn loved this one.

Now adding some organic forms, but finished in rustic woods, rusts and linens…..

…old maps and leathers…..

Brandon loved the map as a wallpaper.  Both loved the leather.

Another thought:  Paint super-traditional furniture a chic dark blue-grey, set against light walls…..

Jenn loved this one.

And now for the bedroom…..

Jenn loved this one too.  Brandon was intrigued.  Stay tuned…..

(1) 3rd Uncle Design, via Condos, Lofts and Apartments

(2) Julia Edlemann and Alison Besikof, Buckingham Interior Design, via Chicago Home + Garden

(3) and (4) Gabby Deeming, via House & Garden

(5) via Elle Decoration UK

(6) Debra Cronin, via Vogue Living Australia

I think I would not be an interior designer today were it not for my childhood love affair with New Orleans.  Every summer before I was shipped off to camp, my family and I would stay at the Monteleone Hotel and have beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde.

I just wanted my parents to leave me there, so I could haunt those elegant lobbies and bathrooms forever…..I was fascinated with the hauntingly beautiful  and delicately crafted historic architecture.  I wondered loudly to myself why somewhere in the middle of the 20th century we’d as a society abandoned what seemed to have been a more civilized, slower, considered (at least in the built environment) way of life.

My friends who are eager for me to launch this blog suggested I might be irritated that Gwyneth Paltrow beat me to the punch with her recent blog on New Orleans.  On the contrary, I am thrilled that such a lovely, cool chick has the same love for my place of birth as me.   It so happens that I am covering in pics the hotel that her guest blogger, Michael Stipe, recommends.  So check out his blog entry, and I will keep my words brief.  I will only add my words from a journal entry during my own recent stay at the Soniat House.  Enjoy.

“I’m sitting at a table in the Soniat House courtyard, waiting for my tea and hot biscuits.  Got a tour of some gorgeous rooms here.  I now know why the celebrities come here.  I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such beautifully appointed hotel rooms.

But now I can see “why”.  Why it’s so beautiful. The color palettes are so refined, classic, yet up to the minute.

The drapes “stack” voluptuously and artfully, and are made of high quality textiles.

The antique chandeliers are top quality, often genuinely antique, yet chic’ly refurbished.

The historic architecture has dramatic, extremely well-proportioned tall ceilings, tall doors and windows.

The woodwork is of a level of sculptural craftsmanship which can no longer be found.

The furniture is historically appropriate, yet upholstered in the coolest cut velvets, oversized red stripes, or alligator hides.

The gridded streets of the French Quarter are utterly walkable, and impossible to get lost on.  The balconies that line the streets above afford a breezy view from any vantage point.”

( Marcelle’s “Frugal Traveler Tip”:  The smallest, still generously sized room in this courtyard getaway is around $200.  GO )