Eye Candy: Serene

Some images don't require a description. Design by Candace Barnes.

(Image from designer's website, photographer not known)

John Matthew Moore's DC Design House Plans: Washingtonian Open House Blog

While on vacation, my post for Washingtonian's Open House Blog ran. To get a sneak peek of Matthew Moore's gorgeous plans for the home’s foyer, reception hall, and sweeping staircase with two upper landings go here. He shared lots of details, including paint colors and fabric sources. (illustrations by Matthew Moore)Our vacation to St John USVI was really wonderful. As always, it's hard adjusting back on the first day. Back later in the week with more posts.

4 Years Blogging & a Break

New Year's Eve 2011 marked my 4th anniversary blogging. This will be the first time since 2008 that I've left my blog untended for a long time, 9 days in this case. Tomorrow we're headed off for a much needed vacation to St. John USVI, our absolutely favorite place to go to relax. I pack light and don't even bring a suitcase. Needless to say there won't be a laptop or a smart phone or anything that connects to the internet packed among my t-shirts and shorts.

Hope you'll come back to my blog when I do . Meanwhile, if you're interested, here are a few posts from 2008. Hope you have a great week. Michele xoxo

post - Busted!

(Image via Blueprint Jan.08, photographer Jim Franco)

post - Kid's Bedrooms: Sweet but not Twee


Post - A Danish Bath to Envy

image via Bolig magazine


post - Liquor as a Home Accessory
Image via House Beautiful. Design by Craig Schumacher and Phillip Kirk, portrait by Arn Hansen.


post - Formal Exteriors
post - Love the Pattern on this Screen

(D Home Mar/Apr 2007, photography Danny Piassick, designer Betty Sewell)

Eye Candy: Tailored Bedroom

This tailored, chic bedroom was designed by Jennifer McGee. All the elements, from the strong geometric lines to the patterned fabrics and rug, as well as the artwork, work in concert to create such a lovely and interesting space.



Visit here to see more of this talented designer's portfolio.

2012 DC Design House: Dan Proctor of Kirk Designs

The recent announcement of the designers for the 2012 DC Design House has peaked my interest in finding out more about those whose work I wasn't acquainted with yet. First up is Dan Proctor of Kirk Designs, a Baltimore firm with 20+ years experience in creating beautiful interiors. These are just a few of the sophisticated and elegant spaces that caught my attention. (all images from the website of Kirk Designs, photographer not known.)
The blue and white ginger jars and the contemporary portrait are an unexpected and perfect pairing.
That glossy orange- red coffee table with all those curves is to die-for, love it!
A simple but incredibly restful and beautiful bedroom.
I covet those mesh metal columns. Very much looking forward to seeing their transformed room for the Design House. To see more of Kirk Designs portfolio, go here.

On another note, my second post for Washingtonian's Open House Blog is Up. Thanks so much to Annie Elliott and Maria Killam for sharing their expertise for How to Choose the "Right" White Paint.

And, thank you to everyone who tweeted about my new assignment and left comments, I very much appreciate it. xoxo Michele

DIY-AF: Framing Projects

Back in 1994, I remember being so excited to have these magnolia prints framed but now their reddish cherry stain didn't seem to work anywhere in my house or with my plans to replace the flowers with prints from the West Indies.

Inspired by Janell of Isabella and Max's use of Smart Strip I slathered up the frames and scraped off all the reddish finish. This stuff is really great! Then I used a walnut stain to get it to the color I was looking for.


Another project hanging over my head with this frame which had a long-ago discarded print in it. A card and a cover sheet torn from a book was combined with a Clarence House remnant that I've had since the mid-90's. Two notes on that: it feels great to finally do something with that and horsehair is sharp!

Here it is in my bedroom, my side.
Another remnant (still have 1 left) was used with a print from a book to hang on my husband's side. As you can see, there's still one more framing project to go. Fingers crossed that doesn't take years.

DC Design House Announces 2012 Designers!

The DC Design House has just announced the 2012 Designers:

Matthew Moore, Annette Hannon, Kelley Proxmire, Marika Meyer, Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey, Dan Proctor (Kirk Designs), Elizabeth Krial, Allie Mann (Case Design/Remodeling), Sharon Kleinman (Transitions), Sharon Munn (Ambi Design Studio), Tricia Huntley, Carolyn Wilson & Elizabeth Boland (Design in a Day), Wendy Danziger, Lorna Gross (Savant Interior Design), Susan Nelson, Christopher Patrick, Nancy Twomey (Finnian's Moon Interiors), Victoria Sanchez, Brian Van Fleet, Christopher Boutlier, Nadia Suburban (Aidan Design), Botanical Decorators Landscape Architecture, and D&A Dunlevy Landscaping.

It's an amazing group of designers - can't wait to see what they do!

Open April 14 - May 13, benefiting the Children's National Medical Center

Now Blogging for Washingtonian Magazine!

I'm very excited to share the news that I will be writing a weekly post for Washingtonian Magazine's Open House Blog, providing coverage of beautiful homes as well as inspiring ideas and helpful tips from the design community. My first post, Design Scout: Inexpensive Accent Furniture, went up yesterday and I have to admit that even though I've been writing My Notting Hill for 4 years, it was quite exciting to see my post on Washingtonian's site. Hope you will check it out!

Now, off to finish a few projects at my house so I can share them here on Monday.

Encore

Time (or lack thereof) for an encore appearance. If you didn't see this before, hope you enjoy it. If you already have, hope you think it's worth a repeat appearance.

This Rome apartment was originally featured in Marie Claire Italy, images via Verdigris Vie here.

Love the patina on this round wood table.

I Spy

I came across this image on Gretchen Opgenorth's blog where she profiled a 1970's book titled, "All About Decorating." And there, on those brown walls, were my sconces right down to the curved wire scrolling at the top! Small world. Those ones appear to have candles which makes me wonder if a previous owner of my sconces had them electrified.

Hope you have a great weekend. Michele

Tricia Huntley's Lake Geneva Part 2

Back in 2010, I did a brief post about Tricia Huntley of Huntley & Company's incredible project in Lake Geneva. I recently came across more images from this dream apartment with the million dollar view on their facebook page, so I just had to share all this luxe, chic goodness.



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