Holiday Decor

With the holidays quickly approaching its time to start thinking about your holiday table decor and those last minute touches for your holiday parties.

Natural tones with red & white accessories at varying heights are spread across the long farmhouse dining table

Add in some rich browns or blacks along with your reds to make your space feel more intimate & inviting

Glam it up with timeless whites & golds

Keep it simple....mix accessories at various heights and keep to a max of 3 colors (i love the square wreath)

Party store paper bells are an easy fun way to punch up a space. Or bring the outdoors in by adding a white wreath to your interior to relate to the glistening snow outside - punch it up with a bit of red


Pine cones, cedar springs and bright red berries make an easy and festive centerpiece

AMAZING!!

Time, where do you go? Anyway i absolutely needed to pass along the info of an amazing new artist, KaeRae Photography to join the ETSY network. She's a great photographer with an unbelievable ability to capture so much more than the average eye can see. Oh ya, she's also my best friend (ya, I know, how lucky am I??)

Visit her shop on Esty to view more of her work and purchase your favorites!

Photo's from KaeRae Photography

Amy Butler at Bed Bath & Beyond

Strolling through Bed Bath & Beyond last night I stumbled upon the most pretty little set of towels....only to look at the tag and see they were the chic designs of Amy Butler! At $12.99 per bath towel they are steal...and a great way to brighten up your bath in the upcoming dreary months of winter!

They also carry a bedding line by her at a very reasonable price. I love the grey for a neutral bedroom....masculine in tone but the paisley pattern throws a bit of "girly girl" in there (what a compromise!) I would LOVE to see the pink & green combination in a little girls room....oh so sweet

It's been too long....

New job, new clients, NO EXCUSE! and defiantly no complaints :) But its been way too long since I posted last - and I will try to get back into the swing of things...I'll start with the stunning dining room of Sarah Jessica Parker's weekend house in Bridgehampton NY.

I love the combination of vintage chairs. Designer Eric Hughes painted them a matte black to contrast the white lacquer table. The Egyptian glass chandelier was found at a local antique shop. Great mix of airy, edgy and fresh

Before & After

Everyone loves a good before & after session....check out the one below from Canadian House & Home (aka my new favorite Domino Magazine replacement)

Goodbye Dull & Dark


Hello Contrast...

The Transformation: The cabinets were lacquered in a high gloss white to pop off the dark wood floors. Stainless steel counter tops where added & 2"x8" white subway tiles were applied to the back splash. The over the stove microwave was replaced with a contemporary hood drawing your eye up to the ceiling and giving the small space a break from the cabinetry. Color is brought it with your useful everyday accessories

Want The Look for Less: Check out IKEA's high gloss kitchen cabinets & stainless steel counter tops.

Side Note: Stainless Steel can leave lots a little finger prints! As an alternative I would suggest Caesar Stone's Cinder for a soft grey look.

Summer is for Sun Porches

I've been slacking...I know! Maybe its just the summer season that puts everything into slow motion...or maybe its that so far this summer we've only had a handful of "true summer whether"! Either way it looks like summer may have finally found its way....pour the Sangria, kick back & relax....

All In A Days Work...

From hand crafted custom furniture, to beautiful interior & exterior renovations...we "ohhh" & "awww" at the beauty of the craftsmanship...but really, we should be swooning over the talented individuals who put there creative efforts into a beautiful end result. It certainly takes time & a lot of practice to get there...but below are the top 5 power tools all inspiring craftsmen/women should have.

The Power Drill
With so many to choose from here's a key list of What to Look For:

1.Chuck Jaws (what the hell are those you ask?) Answer:The part that holds the bit. Maximum capacity of most drills is 3/8". Some 14.4v & 18 volt drills can handle a 1/2"

2.Clutch: Its basically a safety! The clutch disengages the drive shaft of the drill, making a clicking sound when a preset level of resistance is reached, essentially the motor is still running but the screwdriver bit isn't. This prevents you from stripping your screw or overdriving it once its snug. The number of clutch settings depend on the drill - better ones have up to 24 settings. The lowest number is for smaller screws and the highest number for largest screws. Most clutches also have a "Drill Setting" which allows the motor to drive the bit at full power
3.Speed Range Switch: High is for drilling & low is for driving screws - look for a drill with the widest range between them.

4.Foward/Reverse Switch: Should be in a location easily operated by your thumb & index finger.

5.Hand Grip: Texture & contour aid should aid your grip - Try Before You Buy
6.Voltage: More voltage means more power, but also added weight. A 9.6 volt drills weighs 3.5 lbs an 18 volt model weighs up to 10lbs
7.Battery: Look for a drill with the new Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) Batteries. They are smaller and run longer than the typical Nickel Cadmium battery. They also pose less of a hazard when it comes to disposal as they don't contain any Cadmium which is highly toxic

8.Trigger: Make sure your index finger fits around it comfortably. A trigger with variable speed offers the greatest control


Reciprocating Saw

What it is:

The saw that can cut through anything! From landscaping projects to interior construction & demolition. Major issue to be aware of: They offer both portable & cordless models which can be much lighter than the traditional contractors version.

Circular Saw:

"The most versatile of power saws" offering a range of applications from rip & cross cutting to cutting slats for fences & decks while being lightweight & portable. Most circular saws are meant for cutting wood but many offer adapters for cutting metal or plastic.

Miter Saw:
A must have for cutting angles on anything from crown moldings to picture frames. They come with a "miter index" which allows you to cut at any angle by changing the cut angle in one degree increments.

Finishing Sander:

For use on refinishing an old table top, or smoothing out a rough patch in your hardwood floors a finishing sander is lightweight & easy to use. The finishing sander is the most delicate in the sander family removing only a tiny bit of the surface with each pass. Many now come with an adapter that collects the dust as you go for dustless sanding - genius!

Red, White & Blue...

Have a GREAT 4th of July Weekend!

Flirting With Fuschia

We need something BRIGHT these days....why not paint your foyer walls in Benjamin Moore's "Razzle Dazzle" add in a zebra patterned stair runner...and you've got the ultimate chic pad :)











Of course we need SOME relief from this pink paradise. The master bedroom introduces a great yellow stripe on a gorgeous custom designed 4 post antique mirrored bed.


Antique mirror on the kitchen cabinet doors help make this tight kitchen appear larger. And I LOVE THE chocolate accent wall in the dining room paired with the soft blue chairs (notice the pink patterned fabric on the chair backs) Rather than adding a piece of art for the rooms focal point, Berger created a large bulletin board for this family of 6 to display everything from there children's art pieces, to work schedules.

Interior Design By: Jonathan Berger