10/18/12

Holiday Homes Dress Up



Holiday Dress Up 
Removable Wall Paper 

Holidays are here --stores are teaming with all sorts of offerings.  In the next 8 weeks , we'll be celebrating 3 major holidays - opening our doors to friends and family and hoping to add a little sparkle to our  homes.  Somehow, this year - re staging and adding a few new things -- isn't going to cut it.  

I'm totally inspired by this image - and am seriously considering this kind of wall paper therapy.  Labeled removable wallpaper -- its perfect for design fools like me that need change and flexibility to live.    I have a perfect accent wall in my family entryway - 7' x 10 ' - It can totally handle a bold graphic like this - and I think the effect will be transformative!   I'll keep you posted.   Let me know if you all venture in too.    


Featured -

 SW 8EG5135 - 
see  Easy Change    






1/23/12

Dining room makeover


Okay so where does time go? Finally time to post .....

For this project my client wanted a more elegant grown- up space, seating for 8 with lots of twinkle. She was ready for a change from standard chair rail - split faux finish and a textured ceiling.

Before

2 Toned Faux finished walls with a white chair rail break up the room



Simple cased openings ( 3) and a wide window further fracture -
Ceiling texture unfortunate


Process
The design dilemna to overcome - to create height and balance in a room of 3 cased door openings and a large wall of windows. To solve, I designed wall paneling to wrap the room floor to ceiling and built up the cased openings into large columns with pediment headers. Painted out white to match rest of homes trim --the effect created loft , elegance and definition. To anchor the room, I skim coated the ceiling and painted it in a bone white --a soft defining contrast to the white walls. I then brought in a distressed wide planked walnut stained hardwood to replace the mid toned strip original flooring.

The softening - I layered a soft Oshauk rug in slate blues, ivory and aged brass. The dining room table got a face lift-- it was the client's original Duncan and Fife that had seen better days. My magician craftsman Mike Ball - built a new walnut veneer top in a high gloss and built a new leaf to support dining for 8. I dressed the windows with panels in an aged brass embroidered sheer overlaid on a silky linen colored slip. The effect allowed you to see the graphic design of the sheer for texture and interest. The center piece -- Currey and Cos amazing chandelier and companion sconces - add just the right amount of twinkle. Dining chairs from Noir La , included a pair of white linen Host chairs and distressed nail headed side chairs upholstered in a soft cotton velvet. The client's original pencil drawings from her last trip to Greece -- all matted and framed in warm gray and gold provide a personal touch and the were the springboard for the room's color palette.


After







8/19/11

Bungalow In Town


Everything Home
I am excited to partner with the Old Town Design Group on 3 new home projects in Carmel. Everything Home, LLC will be the design arm of these projects. Selecting vendors and featured products for the design center and later for clients homes all featured in the newly opened model home- Blackwell Park. In addition, its been a great chance to feature home elements exclusive to Everything Home for clients to preview.
Enjoy
Great Front Porch with Ballard Designs new Sunbrella panels
Welcome Home
Foyers - A dilemma in smaller homes where we often chose to " share " spaces without formal delineation to allow spaces to feel larger. I broke the mold , opting instead to dedicate 80 sq feet to a functional foyer with fun welcoming appointments. At the drafting stage , something tugged at me. I wanted to reveal the home more slowly while inputting a tidy space for functional needs. We worked to incorporate a coat closet, and staircase ( all hidden in this view. I fluffed the space with differentiated slate flooring, enhanced mill work and unique lighting giving the space a personality of its own.

The New Living Room

Let's not get hung up -- this is where you'll live in this home - doesn't matter to me if you call a great room - I think it is - or a dining room or a family room . But today's room must do it all -- most of us are living more honestly, no need for the annual room or the too good for kids room. I really don't think there is a demographic alive that can't relate. Live smartly, love your space, keep it clean snappy and it'll hug you right back.
Not to mention the awesome furnishings- Noir La , TLS By Design , Uttermost carry the show. Supported by Ballard Design, HSN, Home Goods, World Market & Tuesday Morning .

Master Suite
Outdoor spaces
This home is open to the public Saturdays 12-5.
302 3rd Avenue North East
Carmel , Indiana 46032

3/29/10

Latest Remodel

This project came about because of our Willows Model. The couple loved all of the features to the model home and wanted to reproduce that same atmosphere into their own home. So we did just that! It turned out to be amazing project! So happy to have worked on this project! Check out some of the before and afters...


BEFORE


AFTER



Here is a taste of Wendy's Designs...

(before this was just an unfinished basement)

Basement Bathroom

Basement Bar

Basement Nook



3/5/10

Suzanne Kasler









Easy Breezy Beautiful!


Ballard Design is one of my go to sources for inspiration and products. Hats off to them as they stay current and bring the design world to our front door. The latest flash - a Ballard Design Concept Home - head to toe Ballard- compliments of Suzanne Kasler, voted one of the top 100 designers by House Beautiful.


Many of us have chatted about the trend to create rooms with neutral backgrounds infused with splashes of color and texture. Creating a soothing effect: beachy, vintage or modern- in stark contrast to our someimes boldy painted walls. Thoughts?


Enjoy










Finito

One of the best parts of my job - working with fabulous families to bring a home dream from drafting board to beautiful living space. What a joy - here's a peek below!


My husband and I work together on this project - he the builder -drafting architect and me the designer. I jump in to advise on room flow, space planning and the finishes. Once moved in, the fun really begins, as I work to complete the spaces with all the furnishings.


This family wanted to infuse urban elegance from their pre-kids days living in downtown Chicago, yet honor today with plenty of function for kids, friends and family. We agreed on a soft contemporary concept using fabulous finds from local retail haunts, blended with custom bench made pieces and family antiques. For more - check out http://www.heartwoodhomes.com/

Open Concept


Family Room


Custom Furinshings


Slate Fireplace Wall


Casual Dining




Kitchen With Bold Curved Hood

Heartwood Design