Did you know?!?

"In the early days in Europe, people would put wreaths on their doors to identify their home in the same manner that house numbers are used today. Each house would have a different wreath made of quite exotic flowers, most likely grown by the home owner right on their own land. Today, wreaths are a common custom in New England, with a different wreath for each season." (http://www.northwoodsinspirations.com/wreath%20History1.htm, November 2010)

What more reason do you need to have your very own wreath for your space? Christmas, Seasonal, Interest-related....

Check these out!

Bedding & Paint Selection

This project was a simple sprucing up of a bedroom-- new paint, drapery and bedding. The inspiration piece is the "3 Tulip" painting. From there we look for bedding that would pull the colors out and brighten up the space. Purple had yet to make its full sweep to the residential textile market, so we used other colors in the piece- greens, golds and blues.

Mixing patterns and colors creates a full picture when coordinating bedding. Here we used different scales of prints, colors and even textures to bring it all together. The perimeter of the room is rich gold, while the headboard wall is an apple green color. The adjoining master bath brought in the airy ice blue color for the walls. It has high ceilings and plenty of light to handle the drama of the colors. Not only do these colors brighten up the space, but they also give a fresher feel to the rooms. The recessed ceiling was painted a lighter shade of the gold and was repeated in the toilet room. All of these colors can be combined thanks to the inspiration piece and bedding that tie them all together to create a fabulous master retreat.

The owner used her own art and furniture for this project. She also made the valances, but hired out the bedding. Possible more pillows to come!

Foyer Before and After

Natural Stone

White Marble Countertops...the newest trend and rightfully so...they are beautiful! practical? no.

Since my last entry, I have learned more about natural stone. Thanks to working at The Gallery at ISC Surfaces, I am now able to inform you of all the properties and differences between each stone. Here is a brief rundown...and some information on marble.

Slabs come in 3cm & 2cm thickness. The thicker slabs are used for kitchens to create a more ornate edge. The 2cm slabs are used for bathrooms and other applications: fireplaces, buffets, etc.

Kitchens: Granite, Soapstone
Bathrooms: Granite, Marble, Travertine, Limestone, Soapstone
Vertical Applications: any stone, Onyx

Despite what HGTV and many ads convey, Marble is not an acceptable stone for kitchens. Believe me, I wish it was, because Calcutta Gold-- awesome. Marble is softer than granite and porous. It will stain. It will etch. It is not acid resistant. One wrong squeeze of lemon for your iced tea and your slab is etched.

"But Lauren, it is used all over Europe?"
True. But Europeans, unlike Americans, like their materials aged with a patina look...they are ok not having it look like it was installed yesterday 30 years down the road.

If you must have marble...have it honed. Then it can't etch...but it is still not advisable.

Want more information? Visit us at the showroom.
The Gallery at ISC Surfaces
www.iscsurfaces.com

This is a party I did awhile ago. It was an engagement party for close friends and family of the bride's parents. The bride and groom LOVE penguins, so to incorporate their interest in the party and give it a touch of elegance, I went with a tuxedo concept. Using linens folded like a cumber bun and bow tie as well as buttons, candles, flowers and pictures of the couple. I also helped them space plan the party so that the traffic could flow the best through their home. Here are some pictures...enjoy!

(< this is not this gray in person, the warmer tones come through)
This week I received a great call for some help on a home remodel and approval of already selected items. Client B called to have my opinion and help. We first walked through her home to take an inventory of all she wanted done and when. After taking pictures, making notes and finding out what she and her husband were looking for, we set out to find a ceiling fan for the living room to match the pendant in the foyer, buy the backsplash and find a kitchen faucet. The day was a success. We agreed the warm tones in the granite would look nice with the tumbled travertine's warm hues. We bought the grout and the sealer and headed on our way to check out faucets. We found a Moen trasitional style in oil rubbed bronze that would look great with her chandelier and pendants that have already been selected. It was an all in one piece that we decided needed a matching undercounter soap dispenser. These items will look great with the solid surface black undermount sink. We stopped one last place to see if there were any ceiling fans with light kits for the living room to match the pendant already in the house. We found a great find, with the help of our friend Butch, we navigated the sea of incandescents and fan blades. It was perfect fan, so Client B took pictures to take back to her husband for his opinion before making the purchase...and we were on our way to a great "home-lift". Next fall-- tackle the kitchen bathroom, laundry room + storage, basement bathroom, basement living space and master suite bathroom...stay tuned!

working on the M project:
all new paint colors for the house
keep forest green carpet throughout
keep large format, gray concrete molding tile
keep orange foyer, purple kitchen & painted paneling

the rest? fair game! make it bright, tuscan, bold and dramatic...
we'll keep you posted!