The much anticipated Benjamin Moore 2019 Color of the Year was announced today and it is….drumroll…
Read MoreThe joy of slipcovers - and the secret to getting a deal!
Slipcovers are a great option for re-purposing your upholstered furniture. If you have pieces that are comfortable and have great lines but worn or dated upholstery fabric, slipcovers are a less expensive alternative to reupholstery and are potentially washable as well!
I have met many clients who immediately dismiss the idea of slipcovers because they associate them with something that looks like this…
Read MoreSeen Around Town: Fabulous Fabrics
On a recent visit to the Boston Design Center looking for fabrics for a couple of current projects, we came across these fabulous finds! I am a total sucker for anything embroidered...embroidered linen or silk makes me swoon. The textures we spied included embroidery, appliqué, and some unusual embellishments.
Read MoreHome Sweet Office
With the advent of technology and our increasingly interconnected society, the possibility and plausibility of working from home is rapidly rising. Documents can be shared and worked on cooperatively in cloud applications, and meetings and brainstorming sessions can be held via video conferencing. Even if a home office is not a primary work space for you, it is likely at least a part time work space and a location from which to manage personal finances and household activities. There are many advantages of an office at home, and let’s face it, you can’t beat the commute!
But all offices, whether at home or in a commercial setting, should be both functional and inspiring.
Read MoreLuxury Bathroom Remodeling
Create your perfect bathroom while avoiding the
"design fad" trap
You might renovate your bathrooms once in the time you live in your house…maybe twice if you stay there for more than 30 years, but in any case, whatever you do will need to have staying power. Having worked on dozens of bathrooms with clients over the last 25 years, we have the benefit of much experience. We have seen many trends come and go and have learned to discern which are fads and which are new classics.
Here are some things to consider when creating your perfect bathroom:
Read MoreSeen Around Town: Fabulous Area Rugs
Area rugs. They are the foundation for almost any room design. We recently went in search of the perfect area rug to complete a sophisticated, warm, neutral living room design. One of our favorite haunts for area rugs is
Read MoreTrade Secrets: 4 Ways to Transform your Space with Paint
Well, it's groundhog day and apparently we have 6 more weeks of winter. Honestly, no matter what the furry rodent says, we in New England KNOW that winter weather is capricious right up to (and sometimes into!) May. But spring is coming...eventually!
The good news? Trapped inside during winter is the perfect time to spruce up your house in time for the spring flurry (no pun intended) of activities. And one of the most effective ways to make changes is with paint.
There are many places where new paint will make a big difference:
Read MoreFresh Year, Fresh Start
The holiday decorations are finally all packed up until next year. And now is the time to turn our attention to organizing and freshening our homes. Here are three small changes with big impact that will breathe new life into your rooms:
Read MoreSeen Around Town: Occasional Tables
Recently, we have been investigating living room tables...that backbone of creating a functional living space...a place to put your drink, or book, or remote control, or table lamp, or whatever makes the room work for you!
We have come across an interesting variety of cocktail, end, wine, and console tables. Many have a mix of finishes that make them not only interesting pieces, but a nice opportunity to tie in other elements in the room for a more cohesive feel without the boredom of 'matched to death' suites of furniture.
Read MoreProject in Progress: A Cape Cod Retreat
Sharing a peek at a project in progress....
We are almost done with the first phase of this redecorating project at a charming vacation home in a private beach neighborhood on Cape Cod. After years of living with a "living room" space that didn't ever get used, the homeowner tasked us with creating a comfortable space that would be inviting.
Read MoreSeen Around Town: Stunning Chandeliers and Lanterns
For many of our design projects, we need to specify new lighting. Recently, we have been on the hunt for chandeliers and lanterns and wanted to share some of our finds!
Trying to avoid another fussy crystal or ubiquitous barrel stave chandelier we found these classic alternatives to be a refreshing change.
Read MoreThe Well-Designed Room
A well-designed room is alchemy…part science and part art.
Sure, we want our rooms to look good, but more importantly, we want them to be comfortable – to LIVE well. And the essence of comfort in a room is feeling good there. Comfort is about more than the cushion fill in the sofa. It also includes the convenience and functionality and welcoming FEEL of the space. Good design serves the occupants of the room, not the other way around.
Whether starting from scratch or reworking existing spaces, here are a few essential processes and principles:
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