My Friend is Famous!

Kristin and I met years ago while working at a design firm in Chicago and became fast friends, bouncing design ideas off of one another and using our lunch breaks for Michigan Ave power shopping instead of sandwich eating.

These days, Kristin is a white hot force on the Chicago design scene with her e-design business, Bien Living. Back in October, she was featured in Daily Candy Chicago and now she’s chatting about her business in this month’s issue of CS Interiors (article below).

She’s a wicked talented designer and I definitely recommend you enlist her services if your home needs a little pick-me-up. Her fresh design solutions will arrive directly to your email’s inbox complete with a design board and shopping list. To find out more about Bien Living’s design services, swing by Kristin’s website/blog here.

{Bien Living in CS Interiors}

{CS Interiors Cover}

Long Distance Design

Long distance relationships?...done it (it’s hard). Long distance phone calls?...yup, we do it every day. Long distance interior design services? …from your computer? Ummm what?

My dear friend, Rebecca and I met in design school in Chicago years ago. She was telling me recently about her firm’s newest venture of interactive online design called Pushpin Revolution and I knew that I had to spread the word.

Rebecca, Steve Johnson and Sarah Soler are wicked talented designers with over 20 years of design experience (check out some images of their work below). After years of working together at a hospitality design firm, they started up their own gig, Johnson/Soler, last spring. Their simple philosophy that design should be less complicated, more personal and more affordable is just what we need in this crazy long distance relationship having, phone call making world. Pushpin Revolution is their latest endeavor to bring good design to the masses in the most convenient way. I asked Rebecca to share a few words about how it works:

We think that great interiors should be available to everyone. At Pushpin Revolution, this is as simple as a click to get you on your way to the space you love.

Whether you need help picking paint colors, arranging furniture or getting the details pulled together. We offer straightforward solutions and advice to help you shape your space.

At Pushpin Revolution, we use the internet to complete this process. First, you give us some basic information about your space, your budget and your likes and dislikes. Then we use our years of professional design experience to get to work creating a design solution especially for you. Quickly and affordably. Like it should be.

We have a range of design options tailored to meet your needs. Our ‘Style Guide’ helps narrow down the choices and provide some specific direction for your individual style, and colors and materials that work for you.

Our ‘Room Remix’ provides a more comprehensive design package. Complete with a detailed room layout, custom color palette, furniture, lighting and accessory selections and a complete shopping list to help you get the job done quickly and efficiently, this package does it all.

Pushpin Revolution also offers additional services if the above packages don’t seem to fit your needs. Send us a note and we will get back to you with ideas and options that work for you.

Design really doesn’t need to be complicated. Check it out for yourself at www.pushpinrevolution.com Start YOUR revolution today!

{all images from www.johnsonsoler.com}

Let's Hear It For The Boys!

My friend, John, once told me that he thought my blog was “more for girls than guys”. So this post is dedicated to the boys!

When I design for men, I go for a look that is more bold and uncluttered, and less highly decorated and full of unnecessary furnishings. I tend to gravitate towards a comfortable, sophisticated feel with clean strong lines. Dark brooding colors with rustic and earthy accessories.

Below is a collection of some of my favorite masculine inspired interiors.

{all images from the web}

“I’ve been cheating on fashion with furniture,” -Carrie Bradshaw

Last night, Nat and I opted for a girl’s night featuring a little vino and a lot of Sex and the City 2. While the movie was fairly mediocre, the fashion and new men (HELLLLLO Samantha’s new international architect find) were fun. But the real scene stealer was the interiors of Carrie and Big’s new Manhattan apartment. I’m literally drooling over every design decision!

Check out some snapshots of Carrie and Big's new digs...

How eye catching is that backsplash tile? Its Oval from Health Ceramics. I am also loving the whimsical print on the chairs...Belgravia from Lee Jofa.

Accent pillow is Birdie Blossom by the Rug Company. Retro-inspired coffee table is Ninfea from Poltrona Frau. I love how the books are displayed upright.

Closet shot.

I love the large scale of the upholstered headboard...fabric is Velvet Gate Tuxedo from Kravet

My FAV FAV FAV part about this apartment is the dramatic wallpaper. The bedroom features Rococo Damask by Cole and Son.
The entry features Oiseau in Chocolate by Katie Ridder.

Funky French

I am in my twenties. When I think of twenty-something apartments and homes, I certainly don’t think of Louis XVI Chairs. Ornate Louis chairs seem to scream grandmother dining rooms instead of young bachelorette pad. However, I’ve been seeing (and LOVING) revamped Louis XVI inspired chairs with funky print fabric and brightly painted frames a lot lately.

If you are feeling crafty, you could definitely whip up one of these bad boys yourself. Try typing “French Chair” or “Louis XVI Furniture” into Craigslist or Ebay. You might be able to find an interesting piece at a local thrift store as well. Any piece with a French style wood frame will work well. All you need then is a fun fabric (no sewing required…just use a staple gun!), and some bright or metallic paint. Make sure that you prime the frame prior to painting to avoid chipping (lord only knows what may have been adhered on the frame in the past so don’t skip the primer…you want YOUR paint to stick). Nail head trim can add a little “bling” if you desire that look.

These sassy statement pieces can punch up any living room…belonging to young and old.

{all images from the web}