KBIS 2011

So I'm back and hitting the ground running today after spending the week in Las Vegas for the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS).  I gleaned so much information and saw so many vendors that it will take me a while to sift through it all.  Simultaneously, the Window Fashions Convention was underway with its own classes and vendors that I also participated in.  Over the next week or so, I will unfold the details but for now I will be playing catch-up on all that I need to address after being gone for a few days.  I hope you enjoy your weekend!  Happy Friday!

Craziness!

I hope you all had a great Easter Weekend!  My life is very busy right now with work and starting to look for a house!  I love it all though and am really excited for the next few months to unfold.

I am literally running out the door to catch a plane to Las Vegas.  I will be spending the next few days with my designer friends attending the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (aka KBIS) and the Window Fashions convention.  I know I will return with all kinds of great info to share! 

In the meantime, I will leave you with this photo of some of the ideas going into my new commercial project of a pizza diner.  It's going to be very modern and a fun place to get pizza!  The greys and blacks wil be a perfect background to all of the great food.

Photos by Rebecca Ward.

Cool Sophistication

Here is a look at the presentation I was working on last week.  I love the color scheme and am thinking of incorporating it into my own home.  I already have a lot of red but I want to bring in more of the turquoise and charcoals.

The presentation went great and we're going full speed ahead with everything!  Can't wait to show you before and after photos!

Meanwhile, this week I am working away on my commercial project, a pizza restaurant and getting ready to leave for the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas next week.  I know I will come back with a lot of good info for you!

Got Your Bling?

If you love having a little bling in your life, you'll love what I have to show you today:  Swarovski Elements wallpaper.  This gorgeous collection is beautifully designed by Karen Beauchamp for Swarovski.  These papers would definitely add a little glamour to any room.  There's an array of rich and opulent colors and patterns available all with this state-of-the-art technology of embedded crystal elements.

 

For more patterns and colors visit their website and facebook page.  You'll see they also offer so much more than wallpaper.  I have my eye on the iphone case!

Time to dream:  Where would you install Swarovski wallpaper?

Photos via Swarovski

Guest Spot at Kalanicut Today

I have swapped guest spots with Kalani of Kalanicut blog and today she is featuring my article on "The Importance of Accessorizing."  Sometimes accessorizing quite daunting.  I give some of my best tips about where to get started.  So hop over to Kalanicut and check it out!

Also, don't forget to read Kalani's guest post here on Design R about Planning and Organizing with Shelves.  It gives great tips for leading an uncluttered life.

Photo by Rebecca Ward

Planning and Organizing Shelves

As promised, here is the fabulous guest post from Kalani of Kalanicut blog to offer great advice on Planning and organizing shelves.

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Living in a series of apartments in Los Angeles, it’s been an on-going adventure to make the most of each unique space and maximize storage. The goal of course is not only to create a more cohesive space, with more optimal storage but also that it looks great. After four years, my current apartment began to feel crowded. I went through everything a couple of times and sent lots to the thrift store, recycling and a little to the trash. I knew that in order to improve the flow and space usage of my apartment, I needed to go vertical to maximize the wall space and to limit the amount of furniture taking up valuable floor space.

I knew I could just buy some new bookcases, but instead I looked around and opened my plan up to a variety of organizational solutions. It is so stylish and fun to have a mix of furnishings from a variety of sources –it’s the best way to achieve the most personalized, charming results.  I enjoy that my home is a mix pieces from second-hand shops, hand-me-downs, national retailers and custom designers.

Here are a few ways I found to create new stylish storage and more open space at home.

1. Ikea Laiva Bookcase - I added this inexpensive, compact bookcase to an open corner of my room. The top shelves hold favorite collectibles of mine and I found that the lower shelves, since they are mostly out of view of the rest of the room are perfect for hiding my digital alarm clock, journals, and books I am reading.

2. Ikea Lack Bookcase – We weren’t planning on this purchase, but when we found it in the As-Is section it was such a steal we couldn’t pass it up – and thankfully we’d driven the car with room to carry it home. It’s a nice punch of color, adds a great amount of storage in very little floor space.  With some large baskets, magazine folders and fresh green plants this is a cheery focal point.

3. Ikea Ekby Shelves - We added four of these on one wall in the second bedroom. With a bed and secondary workspace in this room creating a more open feeling was a big help. Because this is a rental apartment and I can’t paint the walls, these shelves allowed me to camouflage the walls, adding more detail and color, and make the space more visually appealing.

4. Baskets – I scored on some great basket sets at JoAnn Fabric and Crafts for 50% off. They are perfect for hiding miscellaneous items. I was so happy to find one basket that I could store all my camera equipment in that is just above my desk. It’s quick and easy to grab my gear and it’s completely out of sight. I also use baskets to store my canvas shopping bags and other things I use frequently that no one needs to see. The baskets also visually break up book stacks nicely.

5. Elfa Workspace Shelving from The Container Store - I needed a very functional work space in a very small area – a narrow corner of my room. I did my research and had The Container Store Elfa Designers help me construct something that would meet all my needs. I fit in space for a TV, air purifier and a well-disguised printer area along with plenty of storage to put everything I need at my fingertips.

6. Accessories  -  can very powerfully take boring stacks of things on shelves and make them into visually appealing art. I started the process by arranging books and other items on shelves together in interesting and similar shapes and colors. Some books lay flat in stacks and other stand tall. Once I had my basic storage items (books, art supplies, electronics, etc.) in place it was time to layer in color, pattern and personality. I added several plants to my shelves in bright ceramic pots and earthy wood grain boxes. I added a bright blue piece of art to pop against the orange and brown color base. Including personal treasures like this Danish mailbox, a reminder of my years in Denmark, personalize the space even more. It takes some extra time to curate your organizational spaces but it pays off in usability and visual appeal.

It’s amazing how much I’ve been able to open up my apartment and create a sense of greater order. The apartment feels more stylized, organized and color-filled. You can definitely feel more personality in every room. If you’re feeling closed in, cluttered or are unable to find the things when you need them, try a variety of organizing options to create a greater sense of order, peace and personality in your home.

Links:

1. http://www.polyvore.com/laiva/thing?id=16933761

2. http://www.polyvore.com/freecycle_ikea_lack_bookcase_red/thing?id=32841061

3. http://www.polyvore.com/container_store_zebrawood_platinum_elfa/thing?id=32840749

4. http://www.polyvore.com/imagine_this_hullabaloo_medium_wicker/thing?id=32841161

5. http://www.polyvore.com/container_store_zebrawood_platinum_elfa/thing?id=32840749

6. Post Box http://www.polyvore.com/swedish_mailboxes/thing?id=32858041

Topiary http://www.polyvore.com/circle_ivy_topiary_knock_off/thing?id=32843954

Blue Art http://kalanicut.blogspot.com/2011/04/workspace-reveal-top-shelf.html

Image by Kalanicut

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Kalani is an artist at heart. Since childhood she has been styling homes, clothing and crafts. Her blog kalanicut.blogspot.com is a gathering place for all these things and the fulfillment of her dreams to combine her writing education and experience with her love of all things adventurously creative.

Thank you Kalani for your insight!  I'm definitely inspired to maximize my wall space now.

Starting With A Blank Slate

I am so glad that things have been picking up for me and keeping me busy, however, I have been finding it more difficult to find time for my blog.  But don't worry, I have some great posts lined up for you.  Tomorrow I have a guest blogger, Kalani of Kalanicut blog that you are going to love.

Here is a look at the color scheme for the next presentation I'm working on.  I am loving this scheme the more I work with it.  My client's house is pretty much a blank slate right now with all white walls and little furniture since they have recently moved in.  I am drawing from some of the pieces they do have in colors of blacks, grays and reds to create a fun and fresh palette with vibrant red, spa turquoise, light green and charcoal/slate grays. 

I'm going to have to keep this scheme in mind when we buy our own house in a few months.
As you can see, a lot will be going on this year so I'll keep you posted!

Photo by Rebecca Ward