Pen to Paper: Media Console…..

Sometimes you get inspiration from the least likely of places.  I have been working with a client on his San Francisco condo for about a year now, slowly adding pieces that we think represent his urban rustic aesthetic.  He loves the mix of wood and metals but craves a touch of color in subtle ways.  In his living room, we had to contend with his beloved red overstuffed sleeper sofa.  It isn’t my first choice for seating but sometimes you have to play the hand you are dealt.  He then informed me that he wanted a place to house all of his electronics, stand alone speakers and his large flat screen TV.

So I was tasked with providing storage for his electronics and TV, incorporate color and tie in his sofa along with the more rustic elements in the space.  Common sense told me that we needed to do something custom to fit all the requirements.   I immediately set out seeking inspiration for the piece.  During my research, I ran across this image from Mondrian ……

It was instantly struck by the colors and the clean lines.  It led me to do a quick sketch of this…….

I worked with the fantastic team at Oak and Wood to bring my drawing to reality.  After a few back and forth’s with the client and myself, we agreed on this design……

See the Mondrian inspiration?  We all agreed that we could leave the speakers out of the final piece as the client would probably downsize.  However, we did create space for all his electronics in the “tower” to the left, creating a false bottom so we could place a power cord and only snake out a single plug.  The television will sit on top and the drawers will hide all those cords and things that we all seem to have.

A few months later and I could not be happier with the final piece…..

It has all the elements we needed to tie the room together but still hold true to the urban vibe the client desired.  It’s a beautiful piece and I am not saying that just because I designed it!  It is going to be the jewel in the living room and I can’t wait to get the space done!

Need design services?  Feel free to email me to inquire!  Okay I am off to a photo shoot – details to come shortly!  Have a GREAT weekend……

Check me out on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Insta.gram for more musings on design, food and just plain randomness.  You can also find me at my online shop for Joy & Revelry.  

Loving Out Loud: Serena & Lily Spruce Street Sofa…..

So you know I like to break the rules right?  Give the proverbial finger to the status quo.  Be a rebel….well a rebel that wears cable knit sweaters and Chucks……but you get the idea.  Many designers will tell you to keep your large upholstered pieces neutral and then add pattern and color through accents and accessories.  And for about 95% of the time, I totally agree with this statement – a neutral sofa or chair is an investment that will withstand the design whims of the past, present and future.

However……

That other 5% of the time, I wanna be bold.  I wanna be wild and have a little design fun.  I want an orange couch.  Strange I know but ever since seeing the Spruce Street Sofa from Serena & Lily in Saffron linen  I have been obsessed with using it in one of my designs but really, figuring out a way to sneak it into my home.  The profile of the arms is perfection – thin but not dainty and the cushions are top-notch.  So while I dream about how to wedge yet another piece of furniture into my house, I thought it would be fun to use the Spruce Street Sofa as the inspiration for a little mood board that pulled into some pieces from my Joy & Revelry shop …..

Sofa/Lamp/Tables/Rug

For the walls, I chose Clay Beige OC-11 by Benjamin Moore.  It’s a warm beige color that changes from grey to beige to at times even blue depending on the light.  It is the perfect foil to the other pieces in the space.

Now I just need to find a place to put a sofa……..

Have a great weekend!

Check me out on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Insta.gram for more musings on design, food and just plain randomness…

Joy & Revelry Launch & Contest……

If you noticed a disturbance in the “design force” yesterday, it was because we had a game changer occur……. Joy & Revelry officially opened and debuted the Style Maven Shops.

As a refresher, Joy & Revelry works with social media influencers and bloggers to create their own online retail experiences.  I was lucky enough to be asked to join the inaugural group of Style Mavens a few months ago and we have all been working hard on our respective stores sourcing products, styling photo shoots and promoting the brand.  It’s a full-time job but so rewarding to see the physical embodiment of our brands.

To give you a little better idea of the concept behind my store and Joy & Revelry here is a video we shot for the site …….

To kick off the launch, Joy & Revelry is conducting a Pin It To Win It Contest for a chance to win a $500 shopping spree on the site!

Contest Rules

• To enter you must be a member of Pinterest. To become a member of Pinterest, visit www.pinterest.com to request membership.
• To enter the Sweepstakes, Head to Pinterest & create a board titled ”Revel & Enjoy Design ”
• Pin at least 3 photos from the Joy & Revelry web site
• Add at least three additional pins to show what inspires your personal design style
• Tag your board with the hagtag #joyandrevelry
• The 5 Style Mavens + one guest judge will vote to decide the most unique and creative board showing self-expression
• Entry board per person permitted during the Sweepstakes Period (April 30 – May 14).

Later in the week I will be sharing the concept behind my Joy & Revelry collection and some of the amazing items in it!  Don’t forget to register so you can explore not only my shop but the other shops of all the other amazing Style Mavens!

So excited I just can’t stand it!

Check me out on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Insta.gram for more musings on design, food and just plain randomness…