Welcome 2018!  I am shaking off the road dust from 2017 and committing to blogging more and finally getting some of my client's finished projects up on the site. Last year was BUSY but successful.  Many of my clients have entered the final stage of their projects and I am excited to share them!

For now, I have some beautiful images to share with you of Drew Scott's newly remodeled California home.  It is stunning!  I must admit I find the boys from Property Brothers a bit hokey with some of their schtick, but I have come to appreciate their style.  Hey...not sure how well Jeff Lewis would play on HGTV! Plus with the departure of Chip and Joanna on Fixer Upper, I feel like HGTV has been running nothing but Property Brothers marathons.  Okay HGTV...I will watch PB!

I put the boys' new show on my DVR and finally found some time to watch the new series "Drew's Honeymoon House".  Wow!  I came away thinking...oh snap...that is what y'all would really do with buckets of cash on your own project.  Impressive...tell me more.  

Let me set the stage for you.  Drew and his fiancée Linda have purchased a $2.3 million home in LA's tony Hancock Park/Windsor Square.  Drew then enlisted his brother Jonathan to complete a full gut and remodel in an absurd 12 week timeframe.  Spoiler Alert...Jonathan gets it done replete with outdoor living space that includes a pool and fire pit.

Truth...I started to devour each episode and walked away grabbing a number of design ideas.  The boys nailed it.  The first image, the kitchen, is an absolute beauty!  The conservatory windows (hmmm...that looks a lot like the Nate Berkus NYC kitchen) is a total show stopper and sets the stage for the masculine, high contrast vibe for the entire home.

​Pictured above, a converted front room now serves as office space that shows off some insane millwork, a rich paint color and a retro, yet mod vibe.  Oh those pocket doors!  

Details matter!  The living room above was outfitted with lovely hardwoods laid in a chevron pattern (Jonathan loved that install...not). While you might not appreciate it at first glance, the crown molding was a work of art.  The old moldings were crumbling and had to be replaced.  To keep the integrity of this almost century old home, Jonathan worked with an interior designer to create new moldings (FINALLY...they outed themselves and acknowledged that they use a designer and a team for installs).  A series of stacked wood trims were used to create the above look.  The fireplace, windows and opening to the dining room were all given a facelift as well. 

The powder room....ahhhh...that wallpaper.  Drew and Linda hung it themselves.  The bold pattern and black and white contrast is GORGEOUS! The dark crown molding and baseboards draws you into the space even more.  They went a little old school with the toilet tank, but again they were trying to stay "true" to the home's age. 

In order to achieve a full en suite bathroom, the home had an addition put on the second level that enclosed a first floor porch (later converted to the kitchen).  The addition was carried through on the second level and allowed for an incredible amount of additional space.  The above again shows a masculine style with the dark wood vanities and black soaking tub.  Love it all! 

What's a couple to do with the all the space they inherited with an addition???  Well build an in-law suite of course! Drew's fiancée has a large family that lives in Canada.  A number of her sisters were featured in the show.  Couple that with the Drew's siamese twin...I mean twin brother...and space had to be made for guests.  Jonathan did an excellent job building a casual space with a fireplace, shiplap, a four-poster bed and even a dining area.  

Drew's girl Linda went a little CRA, CRA with the wallpaper and put it in almost every room on the second level.  This pattern dressed up an otherwise sterile room.

More shots of the in-law suite bedroom.  It is worth noting that Drew is total genius and partnered with Joss & Main to style the home.  The online retailer outfitted the majority of the home with furnishings, wallpaper, lighting, hardware, outdoor furniture and more, more, more! 

As a result, all of the the "looks" from each episode are captured on the Joss & Main website.  Viewers can buy the exact same item as Drew. Well...I don't think Drew bought them as much as received the items as an endorsement for said products...(hence the genius comment).  

With the addition came a third level walkout entertaining space.  This gave the couple a phenomenal view of LA.  The new pool and fire pit with seating area, on the main level, was so inviting. The final episode shows the couple's engagement party.  Okay...I am hooked!
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Even the jack & jill bathroom and updated staircase were drool worthy! Drew obviously had a heavy hand in the design process.  The rich, dark colors and heavy contrast made this home! 

The 5 episode series is still running on HGTV.  The series is absolutely worth watching.  They did an amazing job and with the Joss & Main partnership, viewers can not only pick up design ideas but can also purchase the same products!  

Do you remember those movies where a child or even an adult gets locked in a store for the night and they do a full takeover of every department blissfully rummaging through everything from toys to bedding?  In my fantasy I would take up residence in a Restoration Hardware shop.  I would select one of their insanely gorgeous flagship stores in Boston, Atlanta or Denver...dream big=;)  

I recently stumbled onto a real estate article that profiled two properties that RH CEO Gary Friedman was selling.  The properties, of which Gary has many, are located in Beverly Hills and Napa Valley.  Well...needless to say that are stunners!!!  This man had the good fortune to have a team from RH furniture.  The designers tackled every last inch of each house.  HEAVEN!  I selected some of the most stunning images to share.  I guess this is really "Home(s) of the Week".
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The St. Helena Napa Valley dining room offers a wonderful view of a gorgeous wine fault. 
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For the Beverly Hills property the walls are limited with each room capitalizing on the beautiful views of Southern California.  The lighting above the dining table is stunning! 
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This lovely bedroom offers views of the Napa Valley property. The modern take on the four post bed with embedded artwork is perfection. the side table lighting is an interesting alternative to swing arm sconces. 
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His and hers sinks never looked so good. The lighting, vanity and art work perfectly together. 
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Well...not sure it gets better than this...  The view of Downtown LA must come alive at night.  The outdoor furniture and the view of the master bedroom is beyond inviting. 
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Yes honey...grab a bag and pack for the weekend.  We are going to head up to Napa this weekend.  I will light a fire when we arrive and we can have a glass of wine and sleep in and doing nothing this weekend... again I am dreaming out loud. 
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​I hope you enjoyed the tour!  For more lovely inspiration images, visit the attached links.

​I tend to routinely get lost on the "design" web.  It is so easy to fall down the rabbit hole. You view one design blog and you will no doubt discover an array of interesting interior designers, architects, trade resources, new products, etc.  Again...that is with ONE blog post.

As a result of the endless hours I spend viewing home interiors, I have a pretty healthy list of abodes that I absolutely love. I have decided to start profiling a "Home of the Month" that highlights some of my favorite finds.  

For the inaugural "Home of the Week" blog I am sharing a lovely NYC townhouse that anyone can rent while in the Big Apple.  Now mind you...that would take a few shekels but hey when I win the lottery, I plan on staying at this venue.  The property is referred to as "Washington Place" and is listed on One Fine Stay.  
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This Greenwich Village beauty has five bedrooms, six bathrooms and has recently undergone a restoration that has transformed this 175 year old home.  It is stunning! The exposed brick that runs through the home is an absolute thing of beauty. In this image, you can see the steps that are surrounded by glass.  The glass allows the eye to view every ounce of these gorgeous walls.

I suspect this outdoor space is simply enchanting at night with a cocktail and a perfectly lit city.  

​The serenity of the bedrooms rival a high end hotel. The bold, steel sliding doors draw your eye to the charming view that reminds you that you are in the heart of the village.

There are actually two outdoor spaces in the home.  The outdoor grill area on the main level allows for easy access to that insanely inviting main living area.

​Light the candles, grab your friends and enjoy a lovely night!  Cheers! For more beautiful rental destinations check out One Fine Stay. 
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High gloss lacquer has become a very hot design trend.  I have been amassing photos of this gorgeous application on my Pinterest site for months.  

I have been doing some research on this painting process as I would like to do a ceiling application in my dining room.  Well...while beautiful, it is not for the faint of heart. The process requires a pristine surface, a talented painter and a few benjamins.  Still one can't deny that the effect is stunning!  It absolutely changes the feel of a room.  A basic room becomes a thing of beauty.  Here is a look at some of my favorite uses of high gloss lacquer. 
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Even with traditional furniture elements in the above space the high gloss blue creates a "WOW" factor.  Let's not overlook the GORGEOUS fireplace surround! 
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Some of the most stunning applications of high glass paint have been done on kitchen cabinetry.  The above shows how a midnight blue lacquer elevated the look of a butler's pantry/ bar area.  

Ready for happy hour=;) 
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As Rachel Zoe says...."This ceiling is EVERYTHING!"  Dare to dream.  If I could execute this look I would in a heartbeat.  Alas...I live in Texas which is apparently is the land of textured walls.  
​Sigh...  I am still trying to work through if I could do a high gloss paint on a textured surface.  

In truth, even if you don't have textured walls...chances are you will need to have a painter sand and/or resurface your desired area to achieve the above look.  WORTH IT! 
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​I have seen a blogger/interior designer who successfully executed a high gloss finish on her front door. After  one failed attempted she relented and used an auto shop to get just the right application.  The hot Texas sun is a monster.  If your door is an area that is hit by the sun and/or if you deal with extreme temperatures, a DIY job on your front door isn't advisable. 
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After doing some research on lacquer, my biggest takeaway is that this application does require a true artist.  I stumbled onto the website listed above.  It shows high gloss lacquer images and  also shows a number of other paint applications for additional inspiration. 

One other website that caught my eye was Jason Bertoniere Painters / Painting by Jason.  He gives a wonderful overview of the process.  You can see more at the attached LINK.  Enjoy! 

​I recently started working with a client who is using a number of French Quarter style lanterns throughout her new build. I have long loved a gracious lantern and thought I would share some of my favorites with you.
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​An exterior gas light lantern has long been a staple of the streets of the New Orleans' French Quarter.  Over the years a number of companies have started making these lights.  Gone are the days of a gas only light.  Electric lights are now readily available and now the masses can enjoy these GORGEOUS custom made lights.  The prices points are not as high as you may think...plus many "Bevolo" type companies have opened and are offering competitive prices and endless options for exterior and interior needs. 
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