Brown Davis Interiors: Design Talk on Projects

I think one of the reasons that I truly enjoy viewing your design projects, from an editorial point of view, is that you can successfully tap into your clients’ design loves and create a completely unique interior – regardless of style, that reflects that clients’ lifestyle. I love that your portfolio includes such a beautiful and elegant representation of a variety of design influences from traditionally styled homes to contemporary designs. One of my favorite interior design projects was a Palm Beach villa. The use of blues and the overall color palette was emotionally captivating. Just viewing the photos I could sense the tranquility and serenity. Tell me a little bit about that project.

 Living room in Palm Beach villa designed by Brown Davis Interiors, Inc.

Todd: We had designed this client’s home in Washington DC and when they decided to buy an oceanfront condo south of Palm Beach they asked us to design it. This client loved that blue color and the idea from the very beginning was to pull together something that was very soothing and calm. So Rob, who is amazing with colors, orchestrated the color palette for the project.

Brown Davis Interiors is known for its couture approach to design. Each design is custom fitted to the client from color selection to design implementation.

Todd: The color palette for the Palm Beach villa was very specific to that client, and that’s something we strive to create for all our clients. We consider our design work to be bespoke. For example if you go to Paris to have a dress made, it is made for just for you from the color to the cut to the fabric. In a sense, we create interior design couture for our clients.

With regards to your design projects for former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hilary Clinton, did you start with their home in Chappaqua or their home in Washington DC?

Todd: We did their DC home first. What happened was that we had a client, Barbara Harrison, who was a newscaster, and was friends with Hilary. Barbara said to us one day (we had done Barb’s house previously), Hilary needs a decorator, and I’m going to tell her that she needs to hire you. Around that time we had just been published in Southern Accents. So she took a copy of the magazine with her to an event at the White House that evening and she gave it to Hilary. Lo, and behold the next day we got a call and apparently, not only, had Hilary heard of us through Barbara, but she had been to the British Embassy and had seen what we had done there and she really liked it.

We then spent a lot of time with Hilary going around town looking at different places that were for sale. We found one that suited them; they bought it and we designed the interior. Bill was always a little bit iffy on us because he wasn’t quite sure what we were up to, but then he saw how well the house in DC came out and he asked us to help design their Chappaqua, New York house.

Todd: So we did the Chappaqua house and as a result Hilary asked us to design her Senate office.

Rob: It was pretty interesting in terms of, we never did, even though we were in DC, official government property- and this was a project that was tied to so much social pressure. We knew not to do anything outlandish; in fact we didn’t really order anything special it was all from the congressional inventory.

So they have a warehouse with official government purchased furniture?

Todd: Yes.

How was that- having to use “what they had on hand”? I know that you’re used to being able to source beautiful products from the very best collections, and even more recently you were able to utilize artwork from the MET that was part of a client’s impressionist collection.

Todd: You know there are some projects where the sky’s the limit and you can do whatever you want, but in reality there are few clients that will say do whatever you want. So for every single project it’s about figuring out the design parameters. I think that a lot of people can take a beautiful space or beautiful furniture and make it look great. The real talent lies in taking a really horrible space and not so nice furniture and making it look really nice. Being able to do that is a big part of the creative process – being able to create that magic. And creating that design magic doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money.

Previous: Brown Davis Interiors: Destined to Design and Brown Davis Interiors: The Creative Design Process

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Brown Davis Interior, Inc. portfolio on The Decorating Diva.

Brown Davis Interiors: The Creative Design Process

  I love your perspective on design. You apply a well-honed analytical approach to your creative process. How much of that can you attribute to your pre-design careers?

Todd: Definitely looking at design projects from a business perspective was influenced by our earlier careers. In addition to our backgrounds, we’re fortunate that we have each other to bounce ideas off of.

Can you give me an example of this synergistic approach?

Todd: Rob is really great at coming up with the inspiration and the creative concept. I will look at things architecturally and say ‘yes’ we need to do this from an architectural standpoint, and then Rob provides his input from a color and décor perspective.

When you meet with your clients do you use design boards or computer renderings to help visualize the project?

Todd: Interestingly, we don’t for our residential projects. For our commercial projects we do utilize design boards to present to various different people over a span of time. But we don’t produce lots of design boards, however we do create lots of architectural drawings with perspectives that really help tell a story.

Could you describe the process?

Todd:  We keep it kind of loose because we find that it is really an evolutionary process. We ask our clients to initially prepare a file of all their loves and hates, colors, and things they are attracted to, and that in turn gives us a storyboard that we launch from.

When we are presenting in the beginning there may be a whole house worth of decorative elements that are in front of us but we do the presentation in a very casual manner. Typically on conference tables where people can see and touch the elements. Through this process the client can narrow the selection down to what they like and want.

Many times we’ve been fortunate to meet our clients before they’ve built their house, and there is a long process in which we are involved in the architectural aspect of the project. Through this process the client is also growing and changing, and I get to see where they are headed, initially, with regards to style and color palette. But I always resist limiting the design input right then and there, and defining the project too much. It is very anxiety producing not to have it all defined at that point, to get it done and settled and get to work, but you have to have faith that the true path will reveal itself and it inevitably does.

We’ve touched on the color aspect of the designs created by Brown Davis Interiors.  Rob you’re known as a gifted colorist. How did you discover this love for color?

Rob: I think it’s just came naturally for me. I think I always noticed how color would affect my feelings about the world, myself, a room or whatever happened to be influenced by a single color or a combination of colors. I was really amazed by the effect colors had and was well aware of how powerful the use of color could be. I compare the power of color to affect mood to how a movie director directs us in what he wants us to see and feel. So I was definitely quite aware of how influential color was for setting moods and the role it plays in good design.

Now I’m more confident and experienced enough to take greater risks with the use of color. I now consider wilder things than I ever did before.

What kind of wilder things with regards to color?

Rob: Combination of colors and making bolder statements. My parents are English, and I spent a lot of time in England, and coming from a place like Washington DC and the east coast imbued me with a sense of conformity that shaped my attitude toward color. Making too bold of a statement with color was not necessarily encouraged. That was my color influence prior to moving to Miami Beach. Color wise there are no limitations here.

Was it liberating to open yourself up to a whole new world of colors?

Rob: Incredibly so.

Next in Series: Brown Davis Interiors: Design Talk on Projects ( Mark your calendars for July 9th, 2011 when we share Todd & Rob’s insider details on their various design projects.).

Previous: Brown Davis Interiors: Destined to Design

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Brown Davis Interior, Inc. portfolio on The Decorating Diva.

Brown Davis Interiors: Destined to Design

What did you do before founding Brown Davis Interiors? Interior Design was not your initial career how did you get there?

Todd Davis: I had always wanted to be an architect and was discouraged from doing that. What I wanted to do was design really beautiful homes and I was told that you’d never get to do that. That I’d just be doing the grunt work for an architect so it didn’t seem as if it was a really glamorous job.

Sounds disheartening doesn’t it?

Todd: Exactly. So I was encouraged to go to business school and then I went to John Hopkins Graduate school. Then I went to work for an aerospace firm, Martin Marietta and hated every second of it.  Rob actually always wanted to be a designer but was discouraged from it by his family. He also went to school where he got an engineering degree and also a Master’s in Business.  Our formal educations were great and they’ve helped us figure out how to run a business, but we basically ended up doing what we should be doing.

What you were destined for?

Todd: Exactly. I think so.

Tell me about the early days of your design firm, Brown Davis Interiors, Inc.

Todd: When we were in Washington DC the business grew really quickly and within four to five years our work appeared in Architectural Digest. Then we were doing design projects at the British Embassy; the Clintons hired us; and then we did a project, for the heiress to Campbell Soup, in New York.  All of these projects happened in the first four to five years of being in business, so it was really a bit overwhelming.

Was it like a dream- almost surreal?

Todd: Yes, it was little bit like that. It was totally surreal and at the same time it was something neither of us were really prepared for in terms of knowing how to manage all that, and you know, even now running an Interior Design firm is not easy because you’ve got a lot of clients and a lot of demands.

Brown Davis Interiors has offices in Miami Beach and Washington DC. How does having these two locations influence you creatively?

Todd: I really love a certain aspect of the understated sensibility to design in DC. But that’s not to say that Miami and Miami Beach in particular aren’t great also in terms of being introduced to so many new products, concepts and designs influenced by an international sensibility. We know Austrian people; we’ve worked for Russians, Americans, Germans and the thing is that everybody is bringing something style-wise from where they come. We’re sort of like sponges. In that when we are working on a project we have to absorb what the client is looking for – so that’s where going back and forth between DC and Miami is beneficial.

As a creative type you really want to focus on the creative end of your business, but is there something from a business perspective that you’ve learned along the way that has really helped your business?

Todd: I think to me a big part of it has been just not trying to grow a business because of your ego. My goal at this point is to keep the business small for two reasons: one is that it is so much more manageable and secondly more profitable. During the big recession we didn’t lay anybody off. We kept going, though a bit scary at times, because we had enough business.

How many people do you have on your staff? And how does technology factor into your business model?

Todd: When we left DC we scaled down because we didn’t want to spend all our time managing the business.  We’ve kept the staff small. We have a designer/project manager in DC and one in Miami Beach, an architect in Rhode Island, in addition to Rob and me. We have two different accounting firms; one in Washington DC and one that provides accounting services remotely for the trade – we use a cloud computing accounting application so I can work from anywhere in the world-for example I was in Rio de Janeiro recently and I was able to log in to the accounting application. We really do a lot of business activities, though we do fly around to our many different projects, remotely and that has been aided by advances in technology.

What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to those considering going into business?

Todd: Keep it true to what you want to do.

Next in Series: Brown Davis Interiors: The Creative Design Process ( Mark your calendars for July 2nd, 2011 when we share Todd & Rob’s design process and projects. ).

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Brown Davis Interior, Inc. portfolio on The Decorating Diva.

Jennifer Gilmer of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd

Tell us about your award-winning design business, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd.

The key to an award winning business is to be completely motivated by the craft itself, not by the money that it generates.  When a company  comes from this frame of mind, it feels alive and welcoming when a person walks in.  Then, through the design process, pleasing our clients through creating unique and beautiful kitchens and baths further generates this good energy.  What makes it so wonderful for me and for my designers is the collaboration with our clients.  Truly enjoying what we do and enjoying interesting people that we meet is very satisfying for us. 

Getting the word out there is also key to a company’s success.  Almost from the beginning (25 years ago), I made it a point to get my work professionally photographed, and, eventually, this perpetuated even more success.  I realized many years ago, that I had all of this great work to show but I wasn’t getting it out there.  So, I hired a marketing person, Priya Gupta, and, through her ability to make contacts and to get my work showcased, she has really been a big part of putting me and my company on the map.  The way that she’s presented JGKB in our ads and through the editorial that she’s helped to get published, it becomes apparent to the public that we, the designers, are exceptionally talented.  This is very contagious, first from a potential client looking at this published work, then coming in and meeting us and finally seeing that we share their excitement.  Throughout the entire process, our clients rest assured that we are dedicated to doing the best job possible and at the same time, they are amazed at how we can make a typically stressful process inspiring and joyful. 

Also, the follow-through is very, very important throughout the entire project and beyond.  We are big on communication and respond immediately to phone calls and emails.  If someone calls and needs some kind of service work, we get our service manager, who happens to be my husband, over to the home within 24 hours.  They see that he, too, is just as dedicated, and, they can’t believe that we do business the old fashioned way – taking care of our customers because we care .  We will provide this service as long as the client needs us, and, at no charge.  Our philosophy is that, since the client came to us and believed in us, then, it’s our job to show them that same unfailing dedication.  This word spreads like crazy so much so that I’ve had many clients tell me (through the last 13 years) that one of the reasons they decided to work with us is because they heard that we take care our clients, even years after the work is completed.

What inspired you to pursue this business? 

I am a very visual and creative person who also loves math and engineering.  I also really enjoy meeting people and helping them to realize their dream kitchen or bath.  So, all of these attributes are necessary in a business that demands the use of all of these skills.  I knew that I wanted to go into some kind of design when I was 12, discovered that I loved to draft in high school, and, through pursuing that, found out about the kitchen design business.  As soon as I landed my first job in the business, I discovered that I was a natural at it.  Starting my own business was necessary so that I could create the kind of atmosphere that felt good to me and to my clients.  I worked at great places as a training ground, but, all of the places I worked were "sales" oriented, not committed to design first, knowing that this naturally makes the sale.  It took some time, but, I eventually put together an excellent and dedicated staff .  When we had more clients then I could handle, I was blessed with finding designers who are just as talented and who share my same philosophies.  

Was owning your own design business always a dream you aspired to?

Not really, I was a little reticent to do this since I saw my two former bosses struggle with the responsibilities that come with owning a business. As it turned out, though, because I was able to put into place an excellent staff  and design team with a very stringent system of operation, the business pretty much runs itself. If so, could you briefly share with our readers your business success story?  A lot of hard, hard work and a lot of hours.  Mainly though, it’s a dedication to our clients that drive us, along with a dedication on our part to make an extra effort to make every job a beautiful one.  I noticed that a lot of other similar companies don’t make an effort to market themselves.  I spend a lot of money on photographing projects and then getting the work out there.  I found that this pays of, tremendously.  After all, what good is it to create masterpieces if you don’t share them with the world?  This may sound self aggrandizing, but, it actually took me years to realize that, as long as it’s true, there’s nothing wrong with announcing it with confidence.

It’s also very important to find a great location.   Because I grew up in Chevy Chase, MD, I realize that people from this area and further north don’t like to go downtown where parking and traffic are always a frustration.  I was invited to open a showroom at a couple of design centers downtown, but, after considering it, I came to the conclusion that the location would be a hindrance to constantly overcome.  So, the location that I found is only a mile north of Washington, D.C, right on a main road, Wisconsin Avenue.  This make it easy for those who live just outside of D.C. and also easy for those who live downtown to reach our location.  With two store front windows where the traffic jams up every morning and every evening, people have nothing to look at while sitting in traffic, so, they look into our showroom and other storefronts.  I’ve had many clients tell me that they had been admiring our displays for years and couldn’t wait for the day that they were ready to come in and start their project!

Today you are a recognized as one of the top design talents in the country -one that inspires so many other designers.

Why, thank you!

Do you have any advice for those designers who are inspired by what you have achieved and hope to someday reach your level of success?

Oh, yes.  First of all, LISTEN to your clients and RESPOND to their needs.  I’m a firm believer that I’m simply the tool that’s able to create for them that which they love.  By listening, you can meld with them, get into their head and create a space that totally reflects their inner beauty.  They may not know what they want, but, it’s my job to decipher that through our having very meaningful communication in several meetings.  Our business is a service business and I never feel put out if a client can’t make up their mind right away because that’s why they need us, to do what it takes to get them to a point where they can make decisions without any doubts. So, always be supportive and responsive without fail.  So, if you come from this frame of mind with everything you do and say, the clients will feel supported and appreciative and the work will naturally shine.  If you handle yourself as a professional in this way, the referrals will pour in, and, thus, the success will follow.

As far as skills, I can’t emphasize enough that it’s very important to learn how to hand draft.  When the designer can draw concepts – whether they be in plan view, in elevation view or a small perspective – this breeds confidence in their client. They just  know that they are in talented and capable hands. Also, the client can understand concepts that are difficult to explain, so, they feel more comfortable that they have properly interpreted the ideas that are being presented.

So, this leads me to giving out a big secret to all of the designers out there.  When I work on the design, I do this right in front of the client in the showroom.  I feel that design time behind the scenes is a waste of time.  Why not have the people you’re designing for be present as the ideas are explored.  This is a huge time saver since you’ll never spend time, going down the wrong road, most likely drafting something that they may not like.  What we do first is we focus on the mechanics of the floor plan, using tracing paper to "play" with the space.  This way, the client is there to see why I’m recommending something other than what they thought they wanted.  The client also can have input as we’re working together so that I can understand better how they use their space, and then, we can decide together if what they are asking for really works or not.  At the end of this meeting, we have a layout,and, they thoroughly understand how it evolved .  Most importantly, they are confident that it’s the best that it can possibly be for them and for how they function in their home. 

The next step is to have the plan view drafted on Autocad, which includes very simple elevations.  These drawings hardly have any detail (what I call “skeleton” elevations). In the next meeting, I use the same technique, placing tracing paper over the elevations and then work out all of the aesthetics with the client (door styles, mouldings, counter thicknesses, hoods, etc) while they watch and engage in the design details.  At the end of this appointment, I have a scroll of tracing paper with elevations of their new kitchen all hand drawn, and, on occasion, I’ll draw some perspectives to help understand a difficult concept.  This scroll makes it easy for the client to understand and imagine their new space. 

The biggest advantage of using this technique is that the client has played an active role in the creation of their kitchen and/or bath.  They feel as though they were a co-designer (which in fact, they were!!).  Most of all, they feel like the new space is a true reflection of their personality.  Now, the design is done, and, all you have to do is finish up the formal drawings.  This works like magic and makes the clients so happy that they don’t hesitate to move forward.  If you have an experience with a client who can’t make up their mind and can’t move forward, it’s because something doesn’t feel right to them with the design, but, they can’t figure out what it is.  This technique clears up any and all ambiguity.  It’s a very inspiring experience for everyone.  Even after 25 years of doing this kind of work, I still get chills and goose bumps when great ideas fly around the design table throughout the process. 

You recently launched an interesting new web-based kitchen design service, Kitchen Design Online (KDOL). What was your inspiration for creating this online service?

Throughout the years, I’ve been hearing people grumbling about not being able to afford going to an experienced designer mainly because they equate this with having to pay a higher price for better quality materials.  I’ve had clients come into me saying this after meeting with someone at a big box store, a discount cabinet store, or a lumber company.  They are always pleasantly surprised that I can offer them great design along with less expensive products.  They also are amazed at how the plan for their new kitchen is so much better then what they though they’d ever be able to have. 

How does KDOL help DIYers looking to remodel their kitchen or bath?

So, for those people who, unfortunately, don’t realize that they can work with and can afford experienced kitchen designers, I got the brainstorm to offer kitchen design on the internet at a reasonable price.  I thought that this would be a great way to bring excellent design to the masses, all over the world.  I also realized that this is the wave of the future, communicating, working and shopping on the internet in the comfort of your own home.  This site only focuses on the design and is not a place to buy cabinets.  By having a great design in hand, the client has the freedom to take these plans anywhere to be able to compare prices, and, can rest assured that whatever company eventually supplies the cabinets, the design will work, from execution to completion.

This is also a wonderful tool for other professionals in related businesses:

Design Build firms     -    These companies typically have their own sources for cabinets, so, they won’t go to a showroom since they only design if that company provides the cabinets.  They can save themselves time and money by using our service.  This is because their specialty is designing a structure, and, even though they can design a kitchen, it just isn’t something that they do on a daily basis where they have the level of knowledge and skills that kitchen designers have.  So, they either decide to design the kitchen themselves, which takes up precious time where they could be working on the bigger picture or overseeing another project -or- they could add a kitchen/interior designer to their staff, whose salary would cost the company a lot of money per year. 

Either way, many times, the client will not get the best end product possible.  There are always firms around that are exceptions to this but, I find that they are few and far between.  Many times I’ve heard people say that, while they liked working with their Design Build firm and liked the outcome, they wished that they had a kitchen designer work on the kitchen part of their project.  They say this because, in the end, they realize that the kitchen could have been better.  Clients dedicate a lot of time and spend a lot of money on their project, so, for them to have any regrets  or reservations does not reflect well on the company that they hired and relied on. 

KDOL can spend the time communicating with the client, design a kitchen that the client will inevitably love, save the Design Build firm time and money, and, along with all of this, ensure more referrals for their company.  It’s a totally win-win situation for everyone involved!

Interior Designers     -    A lot of people don’t realize that interior design is a completely different business than kitchen design.  Interior designers specialize in fabrics, furniture, wall coverings and space planning in rooms other than the kitchen.  There are exceptions to this as well where the interior designer can design a beautiful and, we hope, a functional kitchen, but, again, these designers are few and far between.  I would never try to design any other room other than the kitchen because I don’t do that every day and therefore, my lack of knowledge would be a disservice to the client.  So, KDOL can be a compliment to the interior designer, expanding this professional’s offerings in a way that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.  We offer to work with their client directly, or, to work with the designers behind the scenes so that they can have complete control of the project.  We have one designer in Canada who uses our service and chooses to work with us behind the scenes. We even add her logo to the drawings (she LOVES this).  We make her look very good, she can take the design to the cabinet supplier, get a better discount since the cabinet supplier didn’t have to do the design work, sell the cabinets to her client and make more money.  This also frees her up to be able to work on another project while we prepare the kitchen plans.

KDOL can spend the time communicating with the client and/or with the designer, save the designer time and ensure referrals to the company.  Again, a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Architects                -      I’m always amazed at how much knowledge architects are required to have about all aspects of designing and building structures.  They have to spend an enormous amount of time drawing designs, preparing a gazillion details, researching and specifying products, and keeping up with new requirements in building codes and simply staying current with their profession (that’s only the beginning of what they have to know).   Since they need to know so much, how can they also spend time being a specialist in kitchen designing?  Some are able to design beautiful and, we hope, functional kitchens, but again, this is usually the exception.  So, the benefits for Architects using KDOL’s services are very similar to how we help builders and interior designers.  We save them time so they can get other work done, or, can spend more time with the client or at their job sites.  The collaboration of working with KDOL, whether with their client or directly with them behind the scenes, always ensures a successful outcome and a happy client.  For architects, we almost always use their logo or more often, send the plans via AutoCad so that they can incorporate the plans in with all of the other house plans.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs? 

Traveling to new places is always a great inspiration, no matter where it is.  Looking at other kitchen designs or any interior design magazine can spark ideas.  Just walking around or going out to a restaurant while being aware of the surroundings will give me ideas.  Just t he other day, I was in a restaurant and was admiring the ceiling detail and the type of wood they used.  Working with other professionals opens up the door to new resources, new products or even old ones that I was never aware of before.  Working with architects and seeing the design of the house to be built, or, an existing house and it’s character.  I’m doing a kitchen in a French Normandy style home, and, we’re using the same stone as the stone walls outside as well as the brackets on the porches. and overhangs.

Tell us about a favorite home decorating or remodeling project. 

Wow, there are SO many! I have to say, however, that my favorite project is my own home.  It was through this process that I realized how important the collaboration is with other professionals.  My architect, Amy Gardner, with whom I now work with on a regular basis, was such an inspiration.  She helped me to refine the designs for my kitchen and my baths in a way that taught me more about contemporary design.  Washington D.C. had been renowned for years as a place where most people want traditional design in their traditional houses, so, I had more experience in this kind of design.  For me to learn more at this point in my career was very, very inspiring.  She, too, said that she learned a lot from me, so, the symbiotic relationship was such a joyful experience.  Being able to live in a space that we designed for me reminds me every day of how much I enjoy what I do.  This was also the first project where I was introduced to and used green products.  Amy is one of the first in her field to be a LEED certified architect, so, what better teacher could I have had!

What’s your favorite color?  I always struggle with this question because I love so many colors.  I find it interesting that trends in colors changes as time goes on.  In the ’60s it was olive green and harvest gold, in the ’70s it was brown, orange and yellow, in the ’80s it was black and mauve in the ’90s it was ochre and tomato soup red, in the 21st century it’s been dark brown and aqua and now it’s orange and gray and light ice blue.  It’s important to go with colors that speak to you rather then just going with the trends so that your home won’t be dated.  I can’t tell you how many homes I’ve been in that still have the mauve and black theme, and, I know that the last time the house was updated was back in the ’80s.  Not only is it dated, but, it reminds me of a time when design went through a very bad period, so, it has such a bad connotation for me and I’m sure it does the same for others. 

I believe that people have colors that compliment and resonate with them, like, fall colors, pastel colors, natural colors, etc.  For me, I fluctuate between natural muted colors like blue/gray (periwinkle), sea foam green or vibrant royal colors like turquoise and orange.  I find that various shades of soft green are safe colors when designing since a lot of people seem to like that color.

What are your five favorite pieces of home décor from your home or elsewhere? 

In my home I absolutely love the antiques that were handed down from my parents.  These inspired me at a young age to notice details, so, they bring back good memories for me.  They are also an excellent example of craftsmanship, something that is precious these days since it’s presence in our world today is waning.  I love the reclaimed oak floors and wood beams in my house because it has a lot of character and had been in some other structure somewhere at some time in the past, so, it has some mystery about it that intrigues me.  The same goes for the antique light fixtures that I bought for various rooms, especially the chandelier in my dining room, they feel as though they have always been in my house and have that same craftsman character that antiques tend to have.  I bought an antique bronze sculpture of Pan by a famous French sculptor, Durnot, and this is in the middle of my antique mahogany, round dining room table under my favorite chandelier.  Every day when I walk in, I admire these items and their arrangement. 

There is a certain amount of satisfaction and joy that comes from surrounding yourself with items that resonate with you and at the same time, compliment your home.  I truly believe that spaces have a certain energy which can be affected positively or negatively depending on whether it truly resonates with you and compliments the home.  This is the key to great kitchens too, they do just this, and, I often joke that my secret to great design is that I use Western Fung Shui.  Many people in the western world don’t understand this philosophy.   For us, the concept of "things" having an energy of their own and that they can affect a space based on their placement, is foreign to us.  It’s a subtle energy that feels good, so, pay attention to the next time you walk into a room that makes you feel good, and remember that this is exactly why.

What’s your favorite room at home?

Of course, my favorite room is the kitchen/family room including the butler’s pantry.  It’s a space that is open yet warm where I can cook and socialize at the same time or just settle in and be comfortable in the morning and in the evening.  It’s a space that’s filled with wonderful memories of family and friends.  It’s also a space that I’m very proud of.  It’s a reflection of my inner self, so, through admiring it, I’m admiring my own spirit.  This is what I offer to my clients, a place where they can feel inspired, feel present, feel comfortable and safe and see in it, a reflection of themselves. 

Who are your favorite designers (past and/or present)-those that have inspired you? 

I am often asked this question, and, I have a very hard time answering it.  I was never a student of other people’s work, although I studied some of them throughout school, but, I never focused on who they were and therefore could never really remember names.  All I remembered was the visual stimulation and what I got from it that I incoporate into my own work.  So, I’m funny that way, I’m kind of on my own island focusing mainly on my work.  Just the other day, someone was asking me about this designer and that artist and I didn’t know most of them, which was a little strange to this person (and a bit embarassing).  One time years ago, I went to the Interior Designer Awards in NYC, and, I hardly knew any of them.  I guess I don’t compare myself to anyone, just like my signature in design, which really is, "no signature at all" .  Every design that I work on is unique and original  and solely based on any inspiration in the moment of its creation.  I so have to say, that years ago, I was blown away by Fu Tung Cheng’s work, he’s an architect, kitchen designer and has a line of hoods that are fabulous and also sells concrete counter tops, fireplaces, walls, and other items that are simply elegant. When you look at this, you’ll see what I mean!  I also admire the work of my architect, Amy Gardner.

What’s your personal design style?

Another difficult question, since, I appreciate all design as long as it’s done well.  My personal design style tends to change based on my life experience or based on what I’m exposed to.  I have to say that I now prefer clean and warm contemporary, a preference that I can thank Amy Gardner  for, the architect for my major home renovation.  Has it evolved over time? Yes, it certainly has, and, the only way that it couldn’t have evolved is if I were either stuck in a rut or dead!  I’ve gone from leaning toward classical/traditional style to the clean and warm contemporary style. 

I believe that the absolute joy of living this life is the evolution of our spirit through our lives by being open to learn and being open to give ourselves the freedom to welcome all experiences, good , bad or different. The reason I’m getting a little deep here is because, I’ve witnessed clients, and, other professionals, who are afraid to try something different than what they are comfortable with or have been surrounded by all of their lives.  These people will say, "you know, I really love these contemporary kitchens, but, I’m afraid to do it in my own home."  I have to admit that I too, was kind of like this when I approached Amy to take charge of my renovation since my house is a very traditional bungalow. 

I honestly thought that I had no choice in the matter since the kitchen needed to compliment this very traditional American style.  She knew that I had an affinity for Asian contemporary, particularly Japanese contemporary, through our initial conversations.  When we had our first meeting to discuss the exterior of the house, I was totally and completely amazed!  I had learned through school that Japanese architecture was an inspiration for the American Bungalow style, BUT, I had forgotten about this.  Well, Amy reminded me about the history of the Bungalow style(she’s also a professor of architecture at the University of Maryland).  I was pleasantly surprised because here I have a Bungalow and I also love Japanese architecture!  So, she got out the elevations of the front of the house, and, VOILA, my bungalow was turned into a Japanese Tea House that still looked like a bungalow!  And then, she told me that the addition on the back can be contemporary, which pleased me even more.  So, Amy did for me that which I do for my clients…a sign of a true professional…she tuned into my likes and dislikes and brought out in my project that which resonated with me!  Finally, the contemporary design in the back where the new kitchen would be located, allowed us to design a contemporary kitchen and this, for me, was a Breath of Fresh Air!  So, you see, if I stayed locked into my traditional taste and didn’t allow her to explore a different style than I expected, then, I would have missed the opportunity for my style to evolve.

Many of us have a product we’ve bought for our home-that now makes us think-"what was I thinking" -  do you have one?

Yes, I certainly do, even designers make these mistakes.   I remembered a cowhide rug that my parents brought back from brazil.  I was always fond of it and thought that this type of rug would look great in my new family room.  I found a company (Kyle Bunting) that makes these rugs in all kinds of absolutely beautiful patterns and colors.  I was in awe and just had to get one, so, I did.  What I didn’t realize is that these rugs are only good to use in low traffic areas since, otherwise, they’ll eventually go bald, literally!  I made that same mistake with my Corbusier Lounger, it has pony hide on it, and, that’s balding too.  Then, the whole animal skin theme these days is really not kosher if it’s authentic.  This I realized when I brought a client over who is active in the Humane Society and is a vegetarian, and, the worst moment was when I showed her my sheep skin rug in my bedroom (made by Kyle Bunting).  It was an aha moment for me.  I justified it by saying, well, at least I’m honoring the animal by putting it’s hide to good use and admiring it.  That went over like a lead balloon!

I also… 1.  put a second dishwasher in the butler pantry, and, I never use it. 2.  put a dark cork floor in the upstairs addition and it’s fading from the sun that comes in the sliding glass door.  3.   Put a tub with a wood surround in my very large master shower and the wood isn’t treated well enough to withstand the moisture.  I assumed that if it’s made to go around a tub that they used a Durata finish which is impenetrable.  So, I should have asked. 4. Put in a prep sink with a pot filler that never gets used (was hoping my husband would make salad while I cooked…yeah, right!) 5. Oiled and waxed the reclaimed oak floors instead of polyurethane, it looks absolutely beautiful…for the pictures.  Needs to be re-waxed at least twice a year.  I was told about this, but, did it anyway.  This is a good example of form over function, and, I’d probably do it again knowing me.  We put in a stereo system, not thinking about new technology like Apple TV or similar technology. 

Describe your dream room. 

I didn’t think that I had one, but, after thinking about it, I actually do! 

I’d love to have a master bath combined with the master bedroom that is a contemporary Asian style, somewhat minimalist.  The bed and bathroom would be one big room divided by a large but very simple double faced limestone fireplace.  It will also have a glass Nana wall all along the back, the entire span of the bath and bedroom, as well as on the end of the just the bathroom which would allow the walls to be completely opened up to the outdoors on one long and one short wall.  It would have a water feature on the opposite long wall, almost the entire length of the room, that runs down a horizontally ridged granite wall so that the water would have a ripply, fairly quiet, sheet of water flow along the entire granite slab.  The water would flow under the room and then come out at the back in a troth through the deck and patio and into a medium si zed outdoor infinity pool.  There would be a beautiful garden with bamboo and fragrant flowers, like orange blossoms, when in bloom. 

Going back into the interior, the ceiling would have  dark reclaimed walnut beams that sit on square posts in various places and at the corners of the room. One of these would go between the two Nana walls that open up.  there would be another large double faced limestone fireplace, very simply done, on the back wall near where the water flows out into the troth.  There will be reclaimed wide plank walnut floors stained fairly dark.  Close to the interior fireplace will be a platform made using limestone with two very wide steps up, and, in the middle would be a recess that would contain a teak Ofuro soaking tub large enough for two, sunken down a bit with a 12" border of loose, heated, black river rocks surrounding the tub at the bottom.  The shower would have two parts to it, one part would be completely open, near the ofuro tub, and, the other part would have glass to the ceiling and would contain a steam feature.

The bedroom would have the master closet at the short end, the entire wall will have sliding, shoji-like doors, made using natural teak and frosted glass.  Behind these doors will be a very well organized master closet with a large, square, teak chest of drawers in the middle of the room and a combination of teak shelves, drawers and hanging rods around the perimeter.  The floor will be a rug that looks and feels like a tatami matt.

The furniture would be built in, a fairly low bed, recessed in the floor much like the ofuro soaking tub and built in teak tables with beautiful  rice paper hanging pendants for lighting above the end tables.  There would be a built in, low bench with a back on it and is the right size for a double futon.  This bench would be low like the bed and will have many large throw pillows on it, comfortable for lounging, napping or reading a book.  It would also be able to be adjusted up to a higher level to the correct height for massages. 

I have to go now and start drawing this room, LOL!

What are your favorite blogs or home design/improvement websites? 

I am a loyal fan of your website, you offer people informative, meaningful  and realistic information.  I have my own blog, but, am having difficulty finding time to keep up with it.  Once I have more viewers and participants, I think that will inspire me to be more loyal to keeping it updated.  The only other blog that I like is the one from one of my cabinet lines, Premier Custom Built, and the Premier CB designer’s Blog.  Their website is wonderful too.  If you’d like to see my house, and, get more inspiration checkout Amy Gardner’s projects. For lighting fixtures,  I like to go to Lighting Universe .  It’s fun to look at rugs at Kyle Bunting’s site. If you’re curious about wall systems, then go to Nana Walls.   For more inspiration, go to Cheng Designs , or my website,  Jennifer Gilmer There are so many more websites that I like to use, but, these are the ones that come to mind at the moment.

What are your favorite books, design shows and/or magazines? 

Sarah Susanka and all of her "Not So Big House" books.  She shows one of my projects in the Home by Design  book which I did in Pescadero, CA.  It’s an Asian style, of course.  I also like Fu Tung Chengs books and another designer, Mick de Guilio, has a new book out which I haven’t had a chance to read yet, but , I’m sure that it’s a good one.  I like a lot of magazines, I like Southern Living (they featured my house in this last October issue), and Trends, Trends Bathrooms, Trends Kitchens, Elle, Dwell our local publication, Home and Design I’m sure there are more that I’m not recollecting at the moment.

Do you have a kitchen or bath design or remodeling tip you’d like to share with The Decorating Diva.com readers?

Yes, use a kitchen designer, don’t DIY unless you’ve done it before on your own.  Don’t hesitate to go to a high end firm to consult about your kitchen, always bring a copy of your space to scale, or, a sketch of the space with dimensions written in.  Make sure the designer is listening to you, if not, don’t use that person and go to the next place.  If you find one who listens, then, make sure you find out if they are good at following through with details, for instance, do they call you right back or reply quickly to emails?  Ask them what other professionals work with them (architect, interior designer, contractor) since this is alone can be a good sign of their ability, but, it’s also a good idea to call that professional to inquire about who you’re selecting to work with you.   

Contact Details:

• Website: Jennifer Gilmer Kitchens
• Jennifer’s Kitchen Design Blog
• Kitchen Design Online
• Jennifer’s Column ‘Kitchen Design Secrets Revealed’ on The Decorating Diva.

Meet the Moggit Girls

Tell us a little bit about the Moggit Girls.

For more than fifteen years, design and decor experts Joy and Janet have been designing and decorating the homes of the design-challenged. With their training in design, witty personalities, and keen eye for style, this pair brings a burst of fun to the decorating world!

In early 2009, what began as a hobby was quickly transformed into a new adventure with the launch of the duo’s instant-hit design blog, moggit.com. Billed as ‘the guilty pleasure of the design world’, the blog’s refreshingly edgy take on decor and design immediately struck a nerve, allowing Joy & Janet to quickly carve a unique and entertaining niche within the vast design-blog community.

Just a few months after Moggit‘s launch, Joy & Janet’s sassy, irreverent style captured the attention of the folks at HGTV.com, resulting in the production of their first series of  “Decorating Do’s & Don’t's” webisodes, produced by Toronto-based production company RTR Media.

Joy & Janet have been featured in several media outlets, including HGTV.com, where they have most recently been tapped to be Guest Judges via HGTV’s new cross-promotional ‘Twitter Party’ platform, along with Heather Armstrong of Dooce, for Season 5 of HGTV’s hit show Design Star. They have also been featured on Canadian shelter magazine ‘Style At Home‘ website, on Canadian television’s ‘A’ Morning, as well as on several other high-profile design blogs, and in newspapers including The Toronto Star.

Tell us about your  business.

Well, we’ve been friends since kindergarten, and had always really wanted to do something together. Our kids were all finally in school full-time, and since we’d both always loved design, we got the idea that we’d start an online ‘magazine-slash-blog’ (which we so imaginatively named ‘mogg’ but ended up having to add ‘it’ at the end ‘cuz ‘Mog.com’ was already taken and that’s a long story you didn’t really need to know, but whatever.) So we launched our new, lovely baby in December of ’08 and published pages upon pages of design stuff. We showcased & talked design about we loved, we put up gorgeous photos, and even had interviews with other great women-in-design bloggers.

And guess what happened?

The only page that was really getting any decent amount of attention at all– and we mean at all– was this one little page one where we made fun of stuff– the, as we called it, ‘mogging page’. It was basically the only one besides the home page with any hits on it. So we thought ‘Why are we knocking ourselves out with all this other stuff?’ and decided to ‘streamline’ (and by that we mean we just totally gutted) the site. We re-launched a little while later in a blog format with only one main focus– poking fun at design. Nobody else was doing it, and from the immediate and copious amount of positive feedback we got, we realized we’d found ourselves a nice little online niche…

What inspired you to pursue this business?

Well, if we’re being honest… (our favorite Simon Cowell quote) it’s truly our love for design that caused us to get really involved in this business! We’d originally included that one ‘mogging page’ in our original site concept because we kind of thought the design world was beginning to take itself a bit too seriously… or if they weren’t, they certainly weren’t giving the impression that design is, can and should be fun! Everywhere we looked– magazines, television and even online, the way people were talking about and presenting design and decor ideas struck us as getting a bit, well, dull. Not that there wasn’t great design out there– because of course there was (and is!)– but it was just all so… serious (are we overusing that word?) We guess we just wanted to lighten things up a bit.

Could you share with us the worst/ugliest/most hideous designs you ladies have shined the Moggit light on?

“Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures”

“We Think it’s Safe to Surmise…”

“Listen…”

“So it’s Like This, Right?”

“To Each Their Own!”

Have the Moggit Girls received reaction from the artist/designers of décor or furniture that has been featured on Moggit Girls? If so, what’s the general reaction? Are they good sports or tantrum throwing divas?

No, truthfully we haven’t. We’ve actually gotten very few ‘haters’ commenting on anything we’ve posted. But really, when we think about it, we feel it’s due in large part to how savvy our audience is– they realize that we’re really not out to be mean or nasty or hurtful. We’re always very tongue-in-cheek about what we post; and in every interview, when this sort of question comes up, we always make sure to say that we actually like some of the things we’ve posted about. (And no– we won’t tell you which ones they are!)  What happens is that we just find a design piece or a photo that just has that ‘thing’– that thing that strikes us as funny in some way, or that has some element of the ridiculous about it, and we post about it. It’s really pretty simple and is always just meant to be a bit of fun. We’ve read a few blogs out there that can really go for the ‘design-jugular’, but we never want to be considered one of those.

Tell us about a favorite home decorating or remodeling project.

Joy: My favorite has got to be the large armoire we had custom made for our front entryway. One side functions as a closet and the other side is a wall unit.
Janet: One of my favorites is our kitchen. We were putting a two-storey addition on our house at the time, adding a new master bedroom and ensuite bath upstairs and new living/family area downstairs. We originally had no plans to do the kitchen at the time, but thought ‘While we’re at it, we might as well…’ and ended up gutting it completely and starting from scratch. It was done on a very stretched budget and doesn’t necessarily have all the bells and whistles, but it’s functional, and six years later, I still love it.

What’s your favorite color?

The one we keep coming back to over and over is our perennial fave: Cloud White from Benjamin Moore ( ). That said, we do love a couple of new paint lines that have just been launched. One is from Canadian shelter magazine ‘Style At Home’ for Beauti-Tone. It’s got some really lovely, fresh colors. The other new line that has caught our eye is for Para Paints, and it’s by HGTV designer Sarah Richardson… there are 75 hues to choose from, and they’re all gorgeous!

What are your five favorite pieces of home décor from your home or elsewhere?

Janet: I’m a huge fan of antiques and really unique pieces, so one of my favorite things in my home is my dining room set– it’s over 100 years old, the pedestal table is 60″ round, but goes to ten feet(!) with all the leaves. It also has a huge matching sideboard and a smaller sideboard, along with twelve chairs. I waited four years to get it from the dealer!

Joy: I love my over-size wooden coffee table where I can stack my fave books, magazines, display trinkets and always a vase of fresh flowers. I love unique antique pieces that really tell a story.  I love old signage for a touch of whimsy….

What’s your favorite room at home? Why is it your favorite?

Janet: : My kitchen– or as I like to call it ‘Command Central’– because I spend most of my time in there!

Joy: My kitchen – it actually doubles as a family room.  It’s open concept and that’s where everyone ends up hanging out!

Who are your favorite designers?

For a contemporary interior designer it’s always toss up– we can’t pick just one! There are so many, but a few from the short list are Nate Berkus– we love what he can do with a space; and we admire Candice Olsen’s designs– she’s just so gutsy! But we’re also  huge fans of Sarah Richardson’s work… and we like Kelly Wearstler for a that unexpected touch.  (A room always needs one!)

What’s your personal design style? Has it evolved over time?

I think we can safely say that yes, our personal design styles have evolved over time– and thank GAWD! Remember when ‘totally country’ was ‘totally cool’? Been there. Remember when peach and sea foam were all the rage? Been there. And the ‘hunter green’ phase everybody went through? Yeah. Had it on our walls.

Today, we’re similar yet different in our tastes… Janet tends to be attracted to lighter palettes and designs with a modern-yet-traditional vibe where functionality and comfort are the first considerations. For her, a room has to be livable first and gorgeous second. Joy also goes for a modern/traditional vibe, but likes to throw in a zebra rug or other eclectic element to really add some zing to a space. So in the end we both balance each other nicely when it comes to designing a room!

Many of us have a product we bought for our home-that now makes us think-”what was I thinking” -  do you have one?

Janet: Please. Too many to count. And it’s always that thing I couldn’t leave at the flea market that I got for dirt cheap…

Joy: An antique corner cabinet that is HUGE. We bought it because we loved it, but it really is too big!

Describe your dream room.

Janet: Mine is modern-traditional, it’s light, bright, has lots of windows, gorgeous trim everywhere and is chock full of gorgeous, pale-hued soft textiles and furniture pieces with a few deep, rich wood accents thrown in. And most importantly, it’s comfy!

Joy: My dream room is a bedroom designed in a modern/contemporary style. Dark hardwood floors, light walls, tall ceilings.  It would be luxe yet serene and the bed would feature the finest linens. The ‘piece de resistance’ would be a walk-in closet to die for.

What are your favorite blogs or home design/improvement websites?

Joy & Janet: That’s like asking us who our favorite child is. We. Just. Cannot. Choose.

However, these websites do help us in our search every day for great things to post about:

• Freshome
• Crib Candy
• Houzz
• Dezeen
• Design Milk

What are your favorite books, design shows and/or magazines?

• Style At Home
• Canadian House and Home
• Elle Decor
• Domino Mag (Long gone but we still love browsing thorough back issues!)

Do you have a decorating, design or remodeling tip you’d like to share with The Decorating Diva.com readers?

Janet: Yeah– never apologize.

Joy: Ditto.

Contact Details:

• Website: Moggit
• Twitter: @moggitgirls
• Facebook: : Moggit on Facebook
• HGTV.com : Moggit’s Series of fifteen ‘Do’s & Don’ts’ webisodes Including:
  • Dos & Don’ts of Home Improvement
    • Dos & Don’ts of Decorating
    • Dos and Don’ts of Color

The Decorating Diva, LLC would like to thank Joy and Janet, the Moggit Girls, for sharing their light-hearted and humorous view of the design world with our readers.

Susan Firestone of Siw Thai Silk, Inc.

Tell us about Siw Thai Silk.

In 2001, I founded Siw Thai Silk, Inc. (pronounced “Sue-Thai-Silk”). Operating under the philosophy of fair trade and eco-friendly manufacturing practices, the company’s mission is to create high design home furnishings and personal accessories using hand-woven silk and other natural fibers.

Siw Thai Silk, Inc. works with village artisans in Thailand to design and manufacture an elegant, eco-friendly line of handcrafted home and personal accessories by blending our modern aesthetic with time-honored weaving techniques, following fair trade practices. The home collection includes pillows, throws, tabletop, and wall hangings, all of which are hand-woven with silk, water hyacinth, and other natural fibers. The personal accessories collection includes hand-woven scarves and shawls.

Siw Thai Silk, Inc. is proud to be part of a global movement committed to environmental sustainability and fair trade practices. Founded on a socially responsible Triple Bottom Line philosophy – Planet, People and Profit – Siw Thai Silk adheres to three basic tenets:

1. Commitment to eco-friendly manufacturing and operations.

2. Respect and fair pay for all persons involved in Siw Thai Silk commerce.

3. Reasonable and fair distribution of the company’s net financial gains.

Siw Thai Silk honors Thailand’s ancient weaving traditions and support the local artisans’ goal to sustain self-sufficiency. With every Siw Thai Silk purchase, you will directly support and help to empower village women and their families in Thailand.

What inspired you to pursue this business?

The idea for Siw Thai Silk came to me while my daughter Rebecca was working in Thailand for the Ford Foundation. Rebecca had met a handsome Thai citizen named Ohng, who gave her some silk fabric woven by his mother in his village. It was love at first sight – not only for Rebecca and Ohng but also for me and Thai silk!

Coincidentally at that time, I was considering a departure from my 20-year career in corporate insurance and finance and wanted to start my own business. Rebecca suggested importing Thai silk. From there, the idea for Siw Thai Silk grew. And as for the relationship that sparked the business venture. Rebecca and Ohng are happily married, with a new baby, and Ohng is a key member of the Siw Thai Silk team, serving as product designer, merchandise coordinator, and in-house translator!

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

We pay close attention to design trends in the United States as well as around the world. We like designs inspired by nature and by natural materials. We love patterns, especially Ikat, but find that Americans haven’t yet readily embraced or understood the complexities and aesthetics of this patterned silk. All our designs keep in mind the skills and traditions of the producers, who live in rural villages with little or no access to any technology. We focus primarily on decorative pillows, a great way to easily add a splash of color and design to any room. We started out working only with hand woven Thai silk and have since expanded to other natural fibers, such as water hyacinth, hemp, jute, and cotton. Other products include throws, table runners, and scarves. We make limited edition wall hangings in the United States using Ikat silks.

Tell us about a favorite home decorating or remodeling project.

I run the business out of our house. In 2001, we were remodeling parts of the house, and the architect pointed out that we could have a huge room over the garage. I thought , Aha! A great place for my new business. It’s where we store most of our products and where we work with our fabrics to get inspired.

Susan dishes on her favorite things: These photos show weaving, spinning, and sewing by the groups we work with plus a photo of Silpkorn Univ which shows how the Thais combine traditional and contemporary design and a photo of the temple in Ohng’s village.

What are your five favorite pieces of home décor from your home or elsewhere?

I’m a fickle lover of things, so it keeps changing. Right now I’m loving our new Water Hyacinth Garden Party and Waterfall collections. They’re new, exciting, great colors, nothing like we’ve done before. Besides our products, I love other natural materials, like wood, pottery, anything that’s handmade with care and creativity. One of my favorite pieces in our home is a lamp my niece’s husband Shawn made from a recycled fire extinguisher.

What’s your favorite room at home? Why is it your favorite?

My favorite room is our family room/kitchen where we usually hang out and where most guests end up. It’s brightly colored with beautiful cherry cabinets in the kitchen and, of course, lots of silk pillows on the couch. Anyone who thinks that Thai silk isn’t durable should see how well these pillows have handled cats, dogs, dirty shoes, babies, food, etc!

Who are your favorite designers?

I don’t have any favorite designers. I just love to see what everyone’s doing. The International Contemporary Furniture Fair and Architectural Digest Design Show are always great fun to see what’s new. Newer shows that are focusing on green design and fair trade are also inspirational, like the upcoming Eco Friendly Expo in May in New York. There is so much fabulous design and creativity in the green world right now that it’s almost overwhelming. I also appreciate the design skills of the weavers and artisans I work with in Thailand. Many of them show their creativity in preserving the hand crafted traditions of their region while others take those traditions and experiment with new materials or cross pollinate designs from one tradition with another. They create beautiful products with recycled materials or find ways to turn problems, like the very-invasive water hyacinth plant, into useful and stunning products.

What’s your personal design style? Has it evolved over time?

I’m inspired by the places where I travel, especially Thailand but other countries as well. But I also look to Ohng and Karen, our fabulous creative director, to bring their ideas and inspirations to our design discussions. Siw Thai Silk’s design aesthetic is transitional to contemporary with a very strong focus on natural fibers.

Many of us have a product we bought for our home-that now makes us think-"what was I thinking" -  do you have one?

We product designers all tend to make mistakes with a design or color or material that we think at the time is the most fabulous thing since sliced bread but for so many reasons just doesn’t work out. That’s what the sample sales and liquidators are for!

Describe your dream room.

My dream room is my living room. It’s filled with pillows from all over the world, some we designed, some from grannies and aunties in Ohng’s village, some from friends and family who know what a textile nut I am. It also has our wonderful Steinway piano, so it’s a place of peace, beauty, and great music (depending on who’s playing the piano!).

What are your favorite blogs or home design/improvement websites?

I have to confess that I don’t spend enough time checking out blogs and websites. So much to do, so little time!

What are your favorite books, design shows and/or magazines?

I love to read so coming up with a short list is tough.

1. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
2. Naked Olympics and Roman Holiday by Tony Perottet.
3. When Everything Changed, the amazing journey of American women from 1960 to the present, by Gail Collins.

Do you have a decorating, design or remodeling tip you’d like to share with The Decorating Diva.com readers?

Pick out something you love, whether it’s already in the room, somewhere else in the house, or something you came across in your travels. Then use that piece to inspire your ideas for the rest of the room. People often tell me they have to pick out the sofa or the rug first. NO, definitely not! I designed our bedroom around a Thai triangle pillow that my daughter brought home. I loved the colors and shapes of the pillow and went from there

Contact Details:

• Website: Siw Thai Silk

• We sell wholesale to upscale boutiques and to lifestyle web stores. Email us to find local stores in your area or check us out on the following web stores: Upside Living, Kadoma Intl. We will be up on three other sites shortly, so please check Retail Locations on our website Siw Thai Silk. If you are in New York the last week of May, we will be at the Eco Friendly Expo, 7W, 7 West 34^th Street, NYC, May 26 and 27.

The Decorating Diva, LLC would like to thank Susan for sharing her fascinating story and her fabulous company- a wonderful company that creates beautiful home decor accessories that are eco friendly and manufactured with Fair Trade Practices.

Lisa Canning of Creative Consulting

Lisa Canning, Toronto-based decorator and broadcast personality, has a penchant for chic, contemporary, and personalized interiors. She specializes in designing modern interiors for both commercial and residential spaces.

Lisa transitioned from the world of fashion design (she’s a graduate of the acclaimed School of Fashion at Ryerson University) to decorating after her appearance on the popular Home and Garden Television (HGTV) series “Marriage Under Construction”.

Her decorating projects can also be seen on Slice TV’s Beautiful People, HGTV’s Green Force and Much Music’s Much 911.

Tell us about your  business.

I am a Toronto based interior decorator and blogger. Right now I’m launching two new blogs: “Condos by Canning” and “Kids by Canning”.

What inspired you to pursue this business?

I’ve always had a creative drive:I painted through high school, studied fashion in university, and worked in prop styling [all of which] naturally led to [decorating] interiors. I appreciate design in all disciplines-I’m constantly evaluating things though a design lens.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

Everywhere! A great hang tag, a cool font…sometimes, I’m inspired by the most innocuous of thing. I’m most inspired by my city, Toronto, it is eclectic, vibrant and pulsing, there’s always something going on here.

Tell us about a favorite home decorating or remodeling project.

The house I designed for the first season of HGTV’s “Marriage Under Construction”. While my design aesthetic has evolved quite a bit since then, it will always be a favorite home decorating project as it is where I got my start.

What’s your favorite color.

This is a hard one as I love color! Right now, I am in love with Benjamin Moore’s Boothbay Gray (HC-165) . It’s a light blue with a hint of gray- I just used it in a master bedroom and it is so soothing. I also love Benjamin Moore’s Bahaman Sea Blue (2055-40) an aqua which is vibrant, and exciting, a color full of energy!

What are your five favorite pieces of home décor from your home or elsewhere?

• I know it’s not an item per se, but paint is always my number one decision in a room. You can make such an impact with little investment with the right color.
• Good textiles give detail to a space- they are like great adjectives in a paragraph- they help to develop the room’s personality.
• Quality pieces mixed with bargain finds. I started my career working with clients with very limited budgets, and even then I always counseled to splurge or not compromise on one item.
• Lighting with personality. I love photography stands and gourd lamps.
• Fresh flowers. I’m not into plants as I think they can look unruly if not maintained, but a fresh bunch of flowers is such a luxury.

What’s your favorite room at home? Why is it your favorite?

My son’s nursery. I love that it feels baby, but not too baby. It’s a room he can grow into and grow up in. I based the decorating scheme around a DwellStudio bedding collection(my splurge) and painted the walls a neutral gray-beige with inexpensive curtains in a marine blue. Graphic art and eclectic frames keep the nursery hip and fresh- I could spend all day in there!

Who are your favorite designers?

Kelly Wearstler (gutsy), Jonathan Adler (whimsical), Ryan Korban (glamorous!).

What’s your personal design style? Has it evolved over time?

My personal style has definitely evolved over time. I was definitely a lot more DIY in the past-while I appreciate resourcefulness, I now also appreciate the skilled trades!

I think my clients would describe my design approach as fresh, modern, youthful and colorful. I’d say a big part of my design style is taking a personal approach. I really try to understand how my clients think, eat, play and work. It’s great if their space looks good, but if it doesn’t work with how they live it’s not a successful design.

Many of us have a product we bought for our home-that now makes us think-”what was I thinking” -  do you have one?

We bought our home not long ago so not yet!

Describe your dream room.

My dream room would be a “dream deck”. I’d love to do a huge deck complete with an outdoor kitchen and water feature. Oh, and it would include a canopy bed with white sheets.

What are your favorite blogs or home design/improvement websites?

• KITKA Design Toronto- Gorgeous photos, Scandinavian style.
• Arren Williams Design Lab- Toronto stylist always full of great insights
• The Selby – I am always inspired by how people live- this is a great website featuring homes of interesting people from around the world.

What are your favorite books, design shows and/or magazines?

• HGTV’s Marriage Under Construction (OK, I am biased, I was on it!)
• Canada’s House and Home Magazine
• Canada’s Style At Home Magazine
• The Interior Design Course by Tomris Tangas
• The Comfortable Home by Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams

Do you have a decorating, design or remodeling tip you’d like to share with The Decorating Diva.com readers?

Don’t be afraid of color. Maybe aqua walls aren’t for you, but a pillow or drapes in a saturated color can be just the thing that takes your room from blah to hurrah!

Contact Details:

• Website: Lisa Canning
• Email: info@lisacanning.ca
• Twitter: @lisa_canning
• Blog: Lisa Canning’s Blog

The Decorating Diva, LLC would like to thank Lisa for sharing her fresh and inspired designs and her terrific decorating tip on the fearless use of color with The Decorating Diva.com readers.

Tamar of Nest Pretty Things and Nest Decorating

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in New York City and graduated from Parsons School of Design then went on to work in the magazine and advertising industry as a photo stylist and style editor.   On many occasions whenever I had the time I would do an interior decorating project for clients that liked my style.

About five years ago my husband and I felt a great longing to leave the city life behind and start a new journey by moving to the country. We packed up and moved to a little village in Vermont with our three sons. We are now living a much simpler life, growing our own vegetables, decorating with many thrift finds and enjoying having more time together and with the kids.

Having left my career behind I was eager to start my own business, crafting and designing since I remember myself I started designing my own line of accessories and  jewelry, three years ago I opened my Etsy shop and started blogging, I now have two shops, my Etsy shop and my own website and I also still work as an Interior Decorator but more as a consultant since the design business became a full time job! We’ve never looked back and we love our new life!

Tell us about your  business.

My blog, Nest Decorating, is a personal journey, my everyday life here in Vermont, my designs, things I love, other designers I love and lots and lots of home decorating from scratch.

My website, Nest Pretty Things, carries my jewelry and accessory designs which are very girly, and romantic with a touch of whimsy and a vintage feel. I also have an Etsy shop.

What inspired you to pursue this business?

Both my parents are artists, my mother was a painter and my dad is an architect so I was surrounded by art and design my whole life, photo styling is very creative if I couldn’t find what I needed I used to make many of the accessories, props and jewelry pieces myself, when we decided to move to the country it was a simple choice, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  I started writing my blog because I felt I needed a bigger community and support, I love sharing my ideas with my readers, I guess it comes from working in magazines for so many years…I have an urge to write and photography is a very big part of my life.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

Inspiration is everywhere, it can be a piece of fabric, a pillow in a shop, a beautiful dress or a flower in our garden, sometimes it’s a book or a photograph and sometimes I just lie in bed in the morning and suddenly I have five new necklaces all designed and ready in my head.

Tell us about a favorite home decorating or remodeling project.

My favorite remodeling project was the kitchen, when we moved to this house the kitchen was beige Formica with wood (European Style), horrible, it took us two years before we realized we can’t and won’t be able to afford an expensive kitchen, so we decided to get an IKEA Kitchen which was the best decision ever!!! 

The kitchen is beautiful, functional, sturdy and well made, we chose to go with a simple country white look and build our own open top shelves, we also chose big slide out drawers so everything is easy to get to and the whole project including the IKEA butcher block counter tops was around $2500!!! our kitchen gets lots of wear and tear, I am an avid cook and we have three boys, we’ve had it for two years now and still looks brand new!

What’s your favorite color.

The whole house is painted a decorators white, we have one wall in the entrance that is raspberry and one wall at the end of the hallway that is orange.     

What are your five favorite pieces of home décor from your home or elsewhere?

My favorite pieces are:

• A beautiful big Suzani embroidery that is covering the sofa
• A big comfy old armchair that is slip covered in white and is my favorite place to sit.
• The hutch in the dining room, it came with the house and was a newish dark brown. I painted it white, distressed it and changed the handles to several different ones I had found at Anthropologie.
• My mom’s paintings and all the art in the house which was mostly created by family members including my artist sister as well as a few Etsy artists.
• A wonderful great big dresser originating from Mexico (which we found on sale) in the bedroom.

What’s your favorite room at home? Why is it your favorite?

My favorite room is the living room, I love the mix of colors in it, lots of white, lots of new, vintage and ethnic textiles and lots of art. It’s also full of light and very bright which is a big deal when you live in Vermont.

Who are your favorite designers?

I don’t have just one favorite, but I used to be very influenced by Rachel Ashwell and the whole Shabby Chic look.  I’ve moved on from that style influence, but I still think that Rachel Ashwell has had the most influence on my style.

What’s your personal design style? Has it evolved over time?

My style is very eclectic: I love to mix and match different styles creating tension and interest. I love lots of white using the background as a “canvas”. And I love the “thrifted” look, I would say that I was  “modern romantic meets bazaar chic”.

Many of us have a product we bought for our home-that now makes us think-”what was I thinking” -  do you have one?

I do that a lot with clothes and sometimes shoes, but not so much with decorating, and since we don’t spend a lot of money on furnishing I don’t have a lot of regrets.

Describe your dream room.

White with big windows and high ceilings with a simple white four post bed, very serene and calm….probably the opposite of my life.

What are your favorite blogs or home design/improvement websites?

My daily decor reads are:

• Decor8: Holly Becker manages to find something fresh and new every day.
• Style Files:  love the photos and inspiration.
• The Selby: A fascinating peek into artist homes.
• Katy Elliott:  A daily design journal renovating a 257-year-old house in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

What are your favorite books, design shows and/or magazines?

My monthly reads are:

• Domino Magazine (still miss Domino and own lots of the back issues….)
• Country Living (UK version )
• Living Etc (UK version)
• Elle Decoration (UK version) —- I love the Brits style!

Do you have a decorating, design or remodeling tip you’d like to share with The Decorating Diva.com readers?

Don’t be afraid of white walls.

Contact Details:

Website: Nest Pretty Things and Tamar’s Etsy shop.

Twitter: Tamar (Nest Pretty Things) on Twitter

Blog: Nest Decorating

The Decorating Diva, LLC would like to thank Tamar for sharing her beautiful and fabulous jewelry designs, home and story with The Decorating Diva.com readers.

Amy Butler

Amy Butler is a creative designer known for her sophisticated, yet relaxed modern approach to printed fabrics and products for home, fashion, and craft. Through her books, website, and patterns for sewing, Amy has helped to inspire a new generation of young women to “find their own style.”

Her uniquely fresh print-on-print design approach is apparent in all of the products under her brand, and a personal commitment to quality, creativity, and sustainability keep her international business blooming!

Amy works from her studio in Central Ohio with her husband, cats, and a small staff of amazing friends.

Tell us about your business, Amy Butler Designs.

I have a design business with my husband David, we work from our home studio in Central Ohio. I create textile designs for sewing and home decor fabrics, and I have a full collection of fun sewing patterns focused on fashion and accessories for you and your home.

Over the past four years I have slowly expanded my product mix to include wall art, organic bedding and towels, hand made rugs, stationery, craft and how-to books, home office and fashion bags. It’s been a journey, learning and growing through all of the changes in the business and I am so thankful I get to work alongside my amazing studio mates, without them, this would not be possible. One of the best parts about our business is watching everyone grow, it’s incredible, I’m so blessed.

What inspired you to pursue this business?

I’ve always been creative, I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be an artist. I learned a lot from my mom and grandmother and I have always received support from family and friends. After I met my husband, David, at design school we knew that we wanted to make our love for art and design into our livelihood. I am so grateful that I have had all of the opportunities that have come my way. Now with a full fledged business the thrill to create something new, and by hand that will touch people’s lives is very exciting.

We’re not motivated by money, it’s a hunger to stay innovative and keep making and creating. My personal creative time and business creative time are one in the same. There is a wonderful overlap in how I feel fulfilled, all of my personal interests feed into my creativity in the studio and vice a versa. I never live the same day twice so I feel fresh and alive every time I approach a new project. I know that makes a big difference and explains why I feel so satisfied with what I’m making.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

My inspirations continue to evolve; it’s interesting to see what excites me next. I’m fortunate to live with another artist who shares similar passions. I love working on my home and garden and antiquing and hunting for special finds always lights a creative fire for me. I fill my wardrobe with odd bits of clothing from vintage to affordable designer… I love looking at fashion and experimenting with my own pieces.

Nature is my never-ending resource for color and design inspiration. I love spending time in my garden in every season. I’m a plant collector and I love the intricate designs in flowers and foliage as well as the amazing color combinations.

Travel also jump starts a lot of ideas for me. I have traveled all over the world in the past few years, to many places that have been Mecca locations for me such as India and Indonesia. I’ve always been inspired by ethnic textiles, culture and colors and to actually visit places I’ve researched and dreamed about has completely enriched my life.

Tell us about a favorite decorating or remodeling project.

Ahhhh, my new kitchen! We just finished it ( well almost, we still have to add tile to the back splash ) but for the most part it’s been up and running for eight months now. The kitchen is the most important room in my house, especially now since we opened up the space so everyone can hang out with me while I’m cooking.

David designed the entire project so the room is extra special. He created gorgeous natural wood finishes and warm stone surfaces and loads of space to spread out, and put my friends to work at the cutting boards. He thought of all the little extras and used every inch of space for storage and ease of use. He also had to accommodate my ever growing dish collection.A girl can’t control her love for entertaining with fun dishes right? He’s sweet, he lets me get away with it as long as I keep cooking for him.

What’s your personal design style? Has it evolved over time?

Casual, warm, eclectic and vintage modern. It’s evolved and has also stayed the same. My heart of heart passions and visual loves never change, but the places I’ve lived, people I meet and places I’ve travelled have all influenced my creative eye and tastes.

Describe your dream room.

I’m ready to do this tomorrow! Really most homes and spaces you’d find in Australian Vogue or British Elle Decor magazine where folks combine vintage modern pieces with eclectic textiles and antiques. I totally relate to the lifestyle in Australia ( and England ); I love their perspective and wanton use of color, print and texture.. all in a very warm and sophisticated way. Right now I’m in between deep cozy violet or navy blue and or tropical greens. I’ve got a thing for Kelly green these days…. orange and hot pink too but I don’t think I can talk David into it.

Many of us have a product we bought for our home-that now makes us think-”what was I thinking” – do you have one?

Oh, many. Who doesn’t ? Ya know, most of these purchases tend to happen at IKEA. I think I get hypnotized by the fun Danish names and find myself bringing home something because it’s cute. We tend to “repurpose” these items as quickly as possible.

What’s your favorite color or paint swatch?

That changes daily! I love color and obsess about it constantly. Currently, my favorite wall color ( or one I’m toying with painting in my family room ) is a luscious deep navy-esque blue by Ralph Lauren; number: RL IB96 called “Arcadia Blue”.  It reminds me of the background color in my “Midnight Water Bouquet” fabric.

What are your five favorite pieces of home décor from your home or elsewhere?

Ooooh, fun question.

1. My new Artaissance Wall art (Art That Fits).  I had the artwork placed all over my house for a photo shoot, and I love living with it.
2. My Room and Board couches. I just recently placed them in our family room the ” tree house room ” and they are the perfect conversational couches. Great for hanging out with friends, watching TV and the cats love napping on them. Everyone wins.
3. My Eames rocking chair. I’ve always loved rocking chairs since I was a little kid. This rocker is comfy and smooth. I love turning out all the lights at night, putting on my headphones and mellowing out to music with my IPod. I usually fall asleep in the rocker, so that means it’s working…
4. My two new IKEA wicker rocking chairs. Because when it comes to rockers more is more. These rockers are a design masterpiece, and at $138 each you can’t believe the price and value. They are gorgeous. We have them placed at our big picture window wall in our tree house room where we are currently staring at wild birds and our pretty Christmas tree. We call this area the “time waster” or  “procrastination alley” It’s dangerous, I find myself there every morning wanting to sip away cup after cup of coffee. It’s beautiful.
5. Our nature collection. Dave and I have a huge collection of bits and bobs from nature. Pretty shells, stones and feathers from vacations or our backyard. We circulate them throughout the house and change them out constantly in our feature vignettes.

What’s your favorite room at home? Why is it your favorite?

It’s the room at that time with the most people and cats.  I love my house. It’s my home for life. It’s just perfect for Dave and me, and the way we live. With an open floor plan, the entire top floor feels connected and that’s where we spend most of our time. All the key living spaces are here; the kitchen, tree house room and living room with entry.

Who’s your favorite designer?

David Butler of Art of the Midwest. He also happens to be an incredible songwriter,singer, and drummer in his rock band the Black Owls. Of course, he designs all the cool band logos and graphics!  Check them out at Black Owls on MySpace. You’ll be smitten too!

Do you have a decorating design or remodeling tip you’d like to share with thedecoratingdiva.com readers?

Yes. I have to tell you about my best friend Kevin Reiner who is an incredible designer. Oh my,  you have to check out his website, Firmly Planted, it’s gorgeous! He’s such a massive talent, I’m so proud to know him. I’ve witnessed Kevin renovate and lovingly design homes for himself and clients.

The biggest tip I can offer up is one of Kevin’s. He’s so smart and organized. When he is preparing to renovate and demolish or deconstruct a home or room,he packs everything. I mean everything up and stores all of the art,home decor, kitchen and bath items in clear plastic tubs and places them in storage until the renovation is complete.

He only keeps the necessities on hand and moves out all of “life’s clutter” to both protect it and keep your living space sane while all of the construction is going on. This way you’re not on top of all your belongings that you don’t need right away and it helps you manage the dirt and stress that’s involved in this process.

The other beautiful thing that happens is that in the end, you realize you don’t need so much stuff, and you end up not missing all of the pieces and moving them on to someone else who needs them or will love them. Dave and I are saving money to finish the renovation on our home. We want to complete our bathrooms, bedroom and guest room. Our goal is to use the “Kevin technique” and make our transition a sane one.

What are your favorite blogs or home design/improvement websites- and why?

• Design Sponge – Incredible design for life can be found here, from great interiors to amazing recipes.
• Decor8 – Holly is a creative fire and I love her point of view and resources for craft and home.
• SFgirlbybay – I love Victoria’s style and beautiful photographs, plus personally, she has great taste in music.
• Ecosalon – great style with sustainability in mind.
• Enjoyco.net – An amazing new web site and blog created by my very talented friend Monique Keegan. Monique also has a beautiful shop just down the street from my house ( dangerous! ) her style is vintage. natural, earthy, modern and sophisticated… she has gorgeous taste and a personality plus to boot!

What are your favorite books?

There are too many! Here’s a few.

• Isle Crawford’s Sensual Home
• Bohemian Modern / Living in Silver Lake
• The Greater Perfection, the story of the Gardens at Les Quatre Vents
• Garden & Cosmos, The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur
• India in Words & Image

Contact Information

• Website: Amy Butler Design
• Shop Amy Butler Art: Art That Fits

All images copyright of respective owners.

The Decorating Diva LLC would like to thank Amy Butler for sharing her inspirational, joyful, creative nature, her richly patterned and beautifully colored designs from textiles to printed artwork, and her wonderful design recommendations and decorating tips.

Lisa Wilson & Alfie of The Pickled Hutch

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in Jacksonville, Florida and raised in Stockton, California. My mom was a nurse and my dad was a navy pilot.  My father was killed in the Vietnam War, so my mom raised four children on her own. She always encouraged practical career choices, like hers, to fall back on "just in case".   Practical was not my strong point as I was the artistic dreamer in the family.  But I had so much respect for what she was doing that I gave up my artistic ambitions and got a degree in psychology at the University of California (Davis).  Granted, it served me well in all the management positions I have held, but something was always missing; I would get restless, bored and dissatisfied.  Usually, satisfaction would come from home in the form of redecorating and creating. 

My happiness has always come from being creative with my environment.  From sixth grade on, my mom would come home to find whole rooms rearranged, including the wall art.  A satisfying visit with friends will many times result in a color consult, room redesign and a date on the calendar to come back and paint.  Famous words when friends would express doubt about an idea?  "Trust me!"

Tell us about your  business.

I still pinch myself everyday when I go to work.  I live that saying "to do something you love for work means never working another day in your life!"  It’s a phrase that I put on my blog to remind me of how lucky I am. 

I have owned The Pickled Hutch, a vintage home, garden and gift store, since 2005.  It was first established in San Francisco and then relocated to Pacifica in 2008 after we lost our lease on the San Francisco store.  Since the move, I have really embraced a more relaxed, coastal cottage-by-the-sea style.  The Pickled Hutch features painted and rescued furniture with a coastal palette (lots of grays, blues, greens, turquoise and cream).   Vintage chandeliers are refurbished with contemporary colors to integrate a modern touch.  We showcase handcrafted, repurposed vintage jewelry, vintage inspired handcrafted children’s accessories and altered art.  We try to blend vintage and modern pieces into timeless, classic vignettes that inspire the designer in all of us. 

What inspired you to pursue this business?

I have worked at everything from corporate trainer to telemarketing manager (don’t hate me!) to salon manager to dental office manager, and I kept ending up in management positions that ate at my soul – all the while rearranging the office furniture.  My free time was always spent redesigning my home or those of family and friends. My living room has been painted 12 times in 15 years.  Seriously!  It’s become a joke.  This business was the perfect answer.  Having this store nurtures all sides of me.  It integrates my practical business side, my creative design side, and the side of me with the huge respect for things of the past.  I have loved repurposing and up scaling forgotten and unloved pieces for years and still do.  It’s the best way to recycle, and it doesn’t entail sacrificing style or budget. In my store I can showcase all these pieces with a contemporary flair while at the same time promoting some very talented handcraft artisans. 

The blog was started after the business as a creative outlet on a more personal level, a way to reach beyond the neighborhood so to speak.  In this business, it can be like the shoemaker’s kids.  You put so much energy into your store design that the home front can be neglected.  The blog helps keep me on my toes.  My place is always evolving and changing as I move things in and out. So I share about home projects, which sometimes become store inventory, the hunt for treasures, family, friends and my poodle Alfie (He gets the most comments of anything I post). The blog has also been a wonderful venue for meeting the most amazing people.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

I find inspiration everywhere I look, from magazines to the nature around me.  The ocean has been a huge inspiration for me since moving here.  And I love Swedish/Gustavian design.  It feels timeless, fresh, relaxed and easy to live with.

The most simple vignettes can be primitive and elegant at the same time. I have come to appreciate a ‘lighter touch’ in my decorating and merchandising as a result.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my stuff! But now I have a lighter hand in what I put out and the color palette is softer, more organic.

Tell us about a favorite home decorating or remodeling project.

I absolutely love my dining room, which is not what I was saying a year ago when in the middle of the redo.  The ‘redo’ involved painting every single thing in the room.  The ceiling, the walls, the seven foot sideboard, the apothecary chest with the 28 drawers, the old distressed oak table with leaves.  It took two weeks as I was doing it all by myself but what a feeling of satisfaction. I kept the palette to a calm cream and pale blue/gray.   My sofa sits directly across from the French doors leading into the dining room. So every time I sit down I am looking directly into what is now my favorite room. A very soothing and serene atmosphere.

What’s your favorite color.

The pale blue-gray I have painted almost every room in my place, and have used many times at the store.  I don’t have the actual name anymore because I have had it color matched so many times. But I did take a picture of the formula so I would never lose it. 

Turquoise has been running a close second lately.

What are your five favorite pieces of home décor from your home or elsewhere?

• That seven foot sideboard.  It went from a dated gumwood to a fresh flax cream with a pale blue/gray interior.
• A old beat up French desk with original faded gilt paint and details.  It’s just lovely in it’s as is condition.
• All my antique gilded mirrors.  They add just the right touch of patina and reflective-ness.
• My antique Italian tole chandelier with porcelain flowers.  It looks like this huge basket with flowers spilling out.
• The six foot tall turquoise apothecary chest with 32 drawers at the store.  It is my office and craft box.  Primitive and wonderful.

What’s your favorite room at home? Why is it your favorite?

The dining room that was recently remodeled.

Who are your favorite designers?

It changes all the time depending on the latest work I have seen.  Currently: Tobi Fairley, Kelly Hoppen, Grant K. Gibson( local boy), Nate Berkus and Barbara Barry.

What’s your personal design style? Has it evolved over time?

It has changed over the years. Some of my friends would tell you from year to year. It was more classic traditional but now feels French inspired eclectic.  I like crystal chandeliers, gilded pieces, bare wood floors and painted furniture.

Many of us have a product we bought for our home-that now makes us think-"what was I thinking" -  do you have one?

I’m lucky having the store. I get to change out my mistakes before anyone sees it. What isn’t working for me will usually work for someone else.  But there was this one seven foot long cabinet that was supposed to be for the bedroom that didn’t fit through the door…

Describe your dream room.

A mix of French and Swedish design.  I love French gilded mirrors and architectural pieces and the color palette of Swedish/Gustavian design.  I think they  complement each other beautifully.  Gorgeous crystal chandelier, pale gray-washed cane backed settee with down cushion, marble fireplace, parquet floors, filmy muslin curtains on either side of French doors with view of the garden, built in bookcases with intricate molding…..sigh.

What are your favorite blogs or home design/improvement websites?

Habitually Chic, Design Sponge and Desire to Inspire can be summed up together.  They keep me up to date with fresh, sassy, modern style that is easy to incorporate with vintage.  Grant K. Gibson for easy, classic design and lifestyle. Apartment Therapy because who doesn’t like getting a peek into other peoples homes!

What are your favorite books, design shows and/or magazines?

• Jeanne D’Arc Living (just amazing inspiration)
• Elle Decor
• House Beautiful
• Domino Book of Decorating

Do you have a decorating, design or remodeling tip you’d like to share with The Decorating Diva.com readers?

I always start with color and paint.  It has the most impact of anything in the room.  And the quickest least expensive way to transform a room.  Love, love Farrow & Ball paint.  It has such great depth. Pratt and Lambert as well.

Contact Details:

• Store/Shop: The Pickled Hutch, 2021 Palmetto Avenue,Pacifica, California 94044
• Twitter: The Pickled Hutch on Twitter
• Blog: The Pickled Hutch Blog

The Decorating Diva, LLC would like to thank Lisa and her adorable poodle Alfie for gracing The Decorating Diva, LLC with their bubbly personalities and exquisite style in decor. A special thanks to Lisa for sharing her entrepreneurial journey and for never losing sight of her dreams – she serves as an inspiration to many.