Posts categorized: Design

Design For A Difference has officially launched in showrooms across the country.

Brought to you by the International Design Guild, this national design contest will give one talented designer $20,000 in goods and resources to makeover a space at a local charity of choice.

Click on the logo below to watch the exclusive launch video.

In addition to the national winner, four regional winners will each be awarded $2500 in flooring for their nominated charity.  All five winners will then be flown to the Grand Prize city to be a part of the makeover process which will be professionally shot and produced to premiere on IDGdesigner.com and other on-line sites in early 2014.  And I will be there to collaborate with the team every step of the way.

Read more…

The Campaign for Wool is the brainchild of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

Bringing together a team of industry experts including fashion designers, carpet manufacturers, architects and interior designers, Prince Charles launched his grand plan in early 2010 to get the whole industry to work together to make wool fashionable again.  Turns out, I’ve been a big fan for years.

So when asked as an American designer to give an interview for The Wool Book which was released in NYC at Fashion Week; it seemed a natural fit. 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…

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…

This was my first Polynesian-inspired design appropriately done for a family in Honolulu.  It’s a play on pattern that takes a modest-sized room of 10′ x 12′ and expands it visually.  The story between the strong graphic elements and the solid colors expand the space and put down the welcome mat.

Patterns are a great way to plus size your space but they can be tricky when overused.  The rule of thumb when it comes to how much pattern vs. solids to put into a space is generally no more than 30% pattern, but who likes rules?  Some may see this space as overkill whereas others may wish there was more.  For the family of four who resides here, the overall transformation from a lifeless, lackluster storage bin to a livable, lush, island-inspired den was well-received.

The key to its success?  Choose an odd number of strong patterns, evenly distribute them throughout the space then make sure they are framed with solid colors. Read more…

In the bedroom, for every ‘Oh Yes!’ there’s always an ‘Oh No!’ especially when it comes to design.  So here are my top 6 decorating strategies designed to capture or rekindle the romance and rest assured night after night.

1. BANISH THE BEDTIME STORIES.  Under no circumstances are you to sleep on an ex’s bed.  I don’t care if it cost a fortune and you got it in your divorce.  You’ll get it in your next one if you keep that up.  Since every item in the home has a story, the last thing you want you or your mate thinking about when you crawl between the sheets is your ex.  It’s bad juju.

Being newly single, it’s important that you wipe the slate clean.  As a couple starting out, it’s even more important that you shop for a new bed together.  Not only to help each of you obtain your individual comfort levels but also maintain a little peace of mind.  The bedroom is about creating new memories; not rehashing old ones. Read more…

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.  I also had the privilege of moderating a panel of leading designers which included Susan Anthony, Sally Wilson, Emily Winters & Greg Holmes.  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…

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…

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…