Mark Brunetz

A few years back, I contributed to an article in the Los Angeles Times on flooring stating that it may not catch your eye as quickly as furniture or artwork, but flooring influences the look and feel of an entire home.  It creates an immediate impact.  When it comes to designing a space, I always consider the floor in each space as the 6th wall; equally if not more important than the other walls.

I was in Las Vegas this week presenting at the International Design Guild Summit 12, talking about luxury design to a group of floor covering showroom owners and designers from around the country.  In preparation for event, I was recently interviewed by IDG for their newsletter and thought I’d share those Q&As here.  Enjoy! Read more…

During a recent shopping trip back east, a colleague of mine mentioned a showroom in the Flatiron District of Manhattan that fosters breakout design talent from around the world.  Since I’ve always rooted for the underdog, I myself once one; I decided to stop in and experience it for myself.

Founded by Dominic Lepere in ’06, Lepere Inc. showcases a discriminating yet palpable mix of furniture, lighting, rugs and accessories; rooted in tradition yet based in the future.  Boasting contemporary collections from around the world, the owner has exercised a well-honed artistic vision; producing a product mix that may not necessarily share a common provenance but is definitely united. Read more…

With great anticipation, the New Year is finally here!  The promise of a new adventure and all the excitement are always enough to put a little pep in my step.  But this year, I’m doing things a little different.

Typically, the ending of a year sparks a lot of lofty goals; eat less meat, plan more vacations, practice more yoga, go to bed early, save more money; my list is often long and all-encompassing.  And most likely, you have a list of your own.

Well, it’s time to get real about that list.  Instead of hitching our desires to a list of hope and promise we make in haste once a year, how about we ground them to who we consistently know ourselves to be all year long?  The idea here is simple.  Seeing our goals as an expansion of what we already know versus starting something lofty and new new will not only give you the know how to move forward, but it will provide the perfect amount of oomph to get you moving. Read more…

The holidays are in full swing!  Needless to say, it’s been a busy season of wining and dining, hoping and coping; but above all, loving and laughing.

First, I want share some of my holiday decorating tips that made their way into People Magazine’s Special Holiday Issue.

Simple, easy and affordable!  My ideas are sure to put a twinkle in your eye for no more than a swirl from your candy cane.  You know I love ornaments; designed a million of them for HSN shoppers a few years back, so the idea of studding fruit with cloves to make pomanders for the tree is right up my alley. Read more…

As a bona fide foodie, I’m always looking for ways to incorporate food into my designs.  Not the edibles themselves, but certainly the colors and textures they bring to life!  Since nature has a wonderful way of creating seasonal hues, I always heed to its magnificence with a hunger for more.

So give me 15 minutes of your time and I’ll give you a entire evening of fabulous food-inspired flame.

In less time than it takes to peel an onion, I grabbed an extra bag of lentils, an odd number of juice glasses, orange votive candles and some raffia to design this fun and flavorful centerpiece that any holiday enthusiast would enjoy.

Turns out, it was chosen as centerpiece of the month for the Special Holiday Collector’s Issue of Rachael Ray Magazine. Read more…

In getting to know a client and better understand his or her personal style, I’ve developed a series of thought-provoking questions; one of which I shared with you in an earlier post Object of My Affection.

Because so many of you chimed in with great interest, I thought sharing another question with you would be equally as useful.  So here goes…

If you could anywhere in the world tomorrow, no worries, just hop on a plane, where would you go?  Why?

Over the years I’ve learned that the way in which people describe their ideal getaway spot is similar to how they would love to describe their own place.  Therefore, the answer to this question may very well provide you with some great insight into your personal style and preferences toward silhouettes, color schemes, textures and use of space. Read more…

Art is subjective; at least in my world.  Although there are established parameters in which to appreciate and appraise art, any observer will tell you that loving or not loving a piece of art is a gut feeling; and often times hard to describe in actual words.

Whether it’s a painting, sculpture or photograph, I enjoy and employ art in a variety of ways.  As a designer, it’s the perfect way to inspire a space in the beginning of a design or to bring the entire room together in the end.  As a student of life, however, it’s a potential cue as to someone’s true self; revealing a hidden nuance longing to emerge.

One of my first pieces of original art was acquired in Soho in 1996.  Seen above, it’s called ‘Quiet Room II’ by Michael Babyak.

When I first met the struggling artist, I instantly felt a kindred spirit.  More than willing to pay $150 for an original work, only recently did I discover that Michael hails from my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio and that we both uprooted ourselves in pursuit of our artistic endeavors.  Turns out, Michael has done quite well for himself. Read more…

Despite U.S. mobility being at its lowest point since WWII, people still move an average of 12 times in their entire life.  I’ve moved 16 times in the past 25 years.  That’s a new place every 18 months.

In retrospect, I’ve moved just as many times based on pure boredom than I have based on circumstance or necessity; which means there was definitely something stirring on the inside.  Turns out, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Seen here on a recent trip to LA, my Mom is an accomplished interior designer, restaurateur, prolific collector of all things fabulous and mother of four as well as grandmother of four.  I have no idea how she does it. Read more…

According to Feng Shui, you’re not supposed to hang large mirrors in your bedroom.  Tradition has it, a mirror facing the bed directly depletes your personal energy at nighttime when your body should be repairing itself.  A mirror facing your bed is also said to bring the energy of the third party into your relationship.

If you are inclined to use mirrors in your bedroom and are Feng Shui-conscious, it’s best to use small mirrors and position them over the bed as I did here for a couple from the East Coast.

But if you’re dealing with a headboard wall with only one window (asymmetrical architecture), let me teach you a little mirror trick that will go one step further and help restore the balance to the space. Read more…

Ever wish you could post a sign on your wall that tells people exactly how to react in your house?   A while back, a young couple asked that I find a way to tell guests entering their bedroom that all noise should be kept to a minimum.

Appropriately, I found a vintage sign that in no uncertain terms lets people know: QUIET PLEASE! DO NOT DISTURB THE RESIDENTS!

Truth be told, our design speak volumes about how we live.  Written words may not be actually displayed, but because our decor evokes reactions in others, it’s a form of communication whether we like it or not.

Now for the record, I do NOT believe how you live is who you are.  MEANING:  If your house is a mess, you are not a mess.  Equally so, just ‘cuz your house is fabulous, doesn’t mean you are fabulous.  I’ve met a lot of amazing people living in dumps and a lot of not-so-amazing people living quite stylishly.  So if for a second you believe how you live is who you are, I invite you to check out Chapter 3 of my book Take the U Out of Clutter. Read more…