Before

Ilove using SIMPLE SOLUTIONS in decorating. When it comes time to repaint a room, it is quite possible to spend forever trying to decide what paint colors to choose for woodwork and walls, how to fix less than perfect features, and then another eternity painting straight lines between woodwork and walls (not my favorite task). Sometimes I want a QUICK FIX and an easy answer so I can have a new color in a day (or so!).

I’ll admit it, I’m an impatient decorator. And, honestly, I am too busy to fuss over each and every decision and project in life. In order to get on with enjoying life, yet still have a beautiful home, I have to simplify.

In this space, the simple solution to giving this room a lively new look was Sherwin Williams Westminster Gold #200. Everywhere.

The secret to making this one color paint technique work is to vary the sheen…put a glossier paint on the woodwork to contrast with a satin or flat paint on the walls. That contrast will give just enough variation for interest.

The overall look is cozy, fresh, hides imperfections and lets the furniture and accessories take center stage. The background becomes an effective backdrop to a beautiful room.

And it wasn’t complicated! I like that.

PHOTO:Country Living: Keith Scott Morton

Oh the sea breeze on the Moroccan coast made her hungry and living in landlocked Marrakech, she had just one thing on her mind when in that seaside town of Essaouira ........fresh fish.  Thankfully, there were some delicious options.   

Now one could always sit family style at plastic covered picnic tables near the pier.   It was all about eating tomato and onion salad with a fork, fried fish and grilled shrimp with fingers, and washing it all down with sticky sodas sipped from straws.  It was messy and it was chaotic but somehow that was why it was so fun. 

More upscale, there was lovely Taros Cafe where one could while away the noon (or evening) hours under woven umbrellas on the roof terrace.......

Oh, there was a view of the sea at Taros Cafe......a view of which she never grew tired.......

Mmmmm.....the grilled calamari...........And a cold beer.  Perhaps the perfect meal?

And then at night in Essaouira, there was After 5  Lounge Restaurant.  The blogging girl and her best friend were partial to their stuffed crab...........

There was a well stocked bar and cool music.

After 5's atmosphere:  Chic Cavern.  (What do you mean that is not a genre, either?)  And the French owners were amusing and told the best stories.

But the Summer was over now.  Sniff.  And so goodbye Essaouira and hello again beloved Marrakech....

 Taros Cafe:  Place Moulay Hassan, Essaouira, 024-476407, www.taroscafe.com

After 5 Restaurant Lounge:  Rue Youssef El Fassi, Essaouira

Saturday I hit The East Atlanta Strut with a few friends and it was such a great festival. The temperature was below 100 degrees, it wasn’t too crowded, and most of the art was affordable. There was something for everyone, from Sweetwater Blueberry Beer to a Midway Sangria, which is basically a big glass of vodka with some berries in it. I walked out a little more poor after not being able to resist a painting from Athlone Clarke. I barely got away from snapping up items from LoveAlison, Yoshimi Hosoda, and Cuyler Hovey-King. Had some of them been able to take credit cards, the damage would have been much worse. I thought I’d share a few shots of the action with you:

I love that this artist drives his bottlecap-covered pickup to the show with the art in the back, and then uses it as his display area.

Mary’s is just so much fun - it’s a gay karaoke bar. Those two eight foot tall green dudes were ALL over the festival. Right after I took this shot, Green God #1’s aluminum bowl boob fell out onto the street.

Ah, it’s a major award, or something like that. Does a leg lamp ever go out of style?

East Atlanta is a great neighborhood chock full of 1920’s and 1930’s bungalows and sweet Victorian houses on postage stamp lots. It is a great example of “old urbanism,” because everything is walkable. The neighborhood is still somewhat affordable, has a good music scene and great bars and restaurants, and it even has a flatiron building of its very own. What’s not to like?

flatiron building photo by flickr member quincunx

Helen Amy Murray’s surface reliefs on everything from chairs to headboards to walls are just unbelievably gorgeous. The detail is just as amazing as the overall effect.

http://www.helenamymurray.com

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I think Niecy Nash is hilarious. Thus, I find myself getting sucked into the show she hosts, Clean House, all the time. This week they featured a couple who wanted a green nursery for their baby. After some soul-searching, the mother-to-be finally gave in and sold the nursery furniture at the garage sale in exchange for green nursery furniture by Oeuf. In these days of green-washing, I wanted to let you know what makes Oeuf furniture green. I will use the Oeuf Classic Crib to show you the considerations a designer takes into account when manufacturing an eco-friendly piece of furniture:

First of all, the crib can be transformed into a toddler bed with an additional kit. It’s able to transform to meet lifestyle needs and changes, thus making it a product you can use longer and in different ways. Oeuf furniture is designed to be used after a nursery is no longer necessary:

Second, The birch used in the base is from certified sustainable forests.

Third, the sides, footboard and headboard are all cut from single sheets of wood panel which is eco-friendly MDF made of recovered wood fibers - to eliminate the hazard of loosening joints.

Fourth, the lacquer used on the finished products is, of course, lead-free, non-toxic, and completely inert.In addition to being eco-friendly, non-toxic lacquer is what you want to have if your youngster decides to try to chomp his/her way out of the crib bars!

To check out the entire Oeuf line, click here.

If you have completed an eco-friendly home project, please leave a comment and tell us about it!

top two photos from the style network

I wish I could afford these pieces! Such a beautiful take on scientific glassware by Esque.

I also love the logo, which I think is new(ish)--reminds me of the logic behind Vignelli's design of the Bloomingdale's logo which takes advantage of the circular forms of the letters.

You must all know of the most wonderful blog, Mrs. Blandings by now. It is the creation of the beautiful and talented Patricia Shackelford. So, when I was having my breakfast of Shredded Wheat and Orange Juice, reading the Sacramento Bee on Saturday morning, I was instantly captured by the article by Paula Lloyd titled: "Cary Grant and Myrna Loy lived in the Fresno Home - sort of".

It seems that there are houses that have been modeled after the Mr. Blandings Dream House all over the country! Did you all know this, and I have just been out of the loop?! Apparently David O. Selznick and RKO Pictures P.R. Department cooked up a little publicity stunt. They produced copies of the original house plans created by set designer, Carroll Clark and sent them all over the country to contractors hoping to have Dream Houses built all over the place. 73 were actually built....one being in Fresno California (pictured above). The original owners allowed home tours for 25 cents back in the day. One of the funniest things was that the plans did not include closets or windows. Contractors were left to their own devices on these.

To read all about it, click here.

A fun way to start my sunny Saturday.

Back in January 2006, we wrote a post entitled Eight Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Interior Designer. The eight questions were part of an article in Home magazine and we linked to the magazine.

We like to link to an article and highlight several questions in our post, rather
than list all the questions. That way people go to the linked site and we both benefit from the traffic. One of our frustrations looking back at some of our posts is that not all articles are archived. If you click on the link above, you land on the magazine’s website, but it’s the June 2008 issue and the “Eight Questions…are gone!

It’s been awhile, so, because of inflation, we’ve come up with our own eleven questions:

1. Do I like the designer? Can I spend a lot of time with him/her? Good communication is a must. Working with an interior designer involves some give and take. You will share ideas, and the designer will contribute insights and advice based on his or her talents, knowledge and experience. Depending on the scope of the project, you could be working with your designer a couple of weeks to many, many months.

2. Do I get that he/she is trying to understand me by asking a lot of questions? The key to success is really getting to know you in the early stages and how you and your family use your home and your interests.

3. Does the scale of my project really warrant an interior designer? Even if you think you could accomplish the redesign, do you have the time and inclination? You need to be realistic about how much money you are willing to spend. Include in this estimate the cost of all raw materials, new furniture, labor for installations, and possibly a designer.

4. How do you charge for your time? Designers may charge by the hour, which can be anywhere from $35 to $300, and these costs can quickly mount up. Others may offer a free first consultation, and then quote you a flat fee on the basis of your discussions. Some may charge for the first meeting in advance and then a fee for the whole project based on the estimated hours. Some may bill you for hours used each month. Some may bill each month a level amount. Some may get a designer discount and pass some or all the savings on to you. Whatever the basis on which your interior decorator is paid, make sure you both agree on the budget.

5. Can we accomplish the redesign and stay within my budget?

6. I can’t decide if I like the design. Do I still have to pay for it? “Yes! When you decide to hire an interior design firm, you have decided to trust the design recommendations of that firm.�

7. Are you available for conversation about changes and fine tuning? A good designer knowing you may present you with several options and give you the choice of one or the other. ASID recommends: “Minimize changes to your plan. Each part of the design will affect the whole. Changes or special requests can require any number of adjustments that will add time and expenses to your project.

8. My friend doesn’t like your ideas. Why shouldn’t I listen to her/him? If you have to ask this question you should probably have hired your friend.

9. Can I go to the local Design Center? With or without you? Of course, just let them know that you are working with a designer and his/her name.

10. What if a piece of furniture comes damaged? The furniture store should inspect the furniture when it arrives. The designer should also inspect the furniture before it goes to the client. If something is missed or it breaks when it is used, the designer and the furniture store will work together with the vendor to resolve any problem.

11. How long does it take to receive things, once they are ordered? Here’s a guideline (though individual vendors may vary):
Upholstered Furniture: 10-16 weeks depending on vendor.
Casegoods – Chests, bookcases, tables, hutches, etc.: 8-12 weeks depending on vendor.
Window Treatments: 6-8 weeks depending on size of job
Accessories, Lamps, Art Prints, Silk Flowers/Plants: 4-6 weeks or less.
Rugs: If machine made, 2-4 weeks. If hand knotted, 3-4 months
Wallpaper/Fabrics: 3-5 days.

Several websites contributed to this list of questions and their answers:

Apartment Therapy LA Good Questions: Hiring an Interior Designer
ASID Working with a Designer
Nancy Werneken Interior Design Frequently Asked Questions
Lynle Ellis Designs Before You Hire an Interior Designer
NWSID Why Hire an Interior Designer?
CCIDC Frequently Asked Questions About Certified Interior Designers
Directory M articles Interior Decorator

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

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“Hillary Clinton’s biggest criticism is how harsh she is,� said Mary Lou Andre, president of Organization by Design Inc., a professional image consulting firm in Needham. “I think by wearing certain feminine colors, she will connect with voters. I think the public knows she can do the job. It’s her likability that’s the issue.�(source)

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