Confessions from a Designer

My favorite magazine is D Home. I love to look at interior design that is relevant to my favorite city - DALLAS! One section of the magazine features local designers answering  a series of commonly asked questions. Some of the designers answers are serious. Some are humorous. All, at least to me, are very interesting.

I just couldn't resist hosting my own interview -  for the sake of discovery and transparency, of course!

BIGGEST DESIGN INFLUENCE: Traveling and architecture. Studying buildings and interior design styles of different countries  and cultures deepens my abilities as a designer.

THE NEW NEUTRAL: Muddy colors! If you see a color and aren't sure what color it is: gray, tan, brown, taupe - it's the perfect neutral. Think: the color of rocks!

IF YOU WERE A DESIGNER IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, IT WOULD BE: England. The food, history, eclectic mix of just about everything and the ridiculously dry humor win me over every time I visit!

FAVORITE HOME STORE: Antiqueland in Plano. I love to find beautiful home decor with history and use it for an alternative purpose. Visiting a good antique store is like walking into an oversized treasure chest!

TO RED OR NOT TO RED: No color is taboo if used well. Why not use red?

MOST OVERUSED WORD IN THE DESIGN WORLD: Discontinued  - especially in this economy. (Ugh!!!)

FAVORITE COFFEE TABLE BOOK: The work of Fank Lloyd Wright. His use of form as it aligns with nature is completely inspiring. They're a great gift idea. (Hint! Hint!)

EVERY HOME SHOULD HAVE: Room to breathe. Clutter creates stress. Edit ruthlessly. There are too many good options for selling and donating items to live in a cluttered environmnet.

I have to go now! I think I hear the editor of D Home Magazine calling. She must have read my blog and wants to chat!

Secrets to Sweet Dreams

Nothing speaks for a room like beautiful bedding made from top quality fabrics. Silks, velvets and chenilles are just a sample of what is available. Comforters, bedskirts, pillows and throws layer the bed and build a story for the room to read to all who enter.

Take a look at bedding worthy of such high praise:

The bed is the single largest piece of furniture in a bedroom. It should be dressed as you want the room to be understood. If you want elegant and sophisticated, the bedding should reflect that emotion. Even whimsical or youthful bedroom styles can benefit from bedding made of top quality fabrics. Fabrics worthy of investment are amazing to touch and view. Luxury bedding can transform your bedroom from being simply another room in your home to becoming your FAVORITE room in your home.

CONTACT TWIN GATE DESIGNS TODAY FOR YOUR LUXURY BEDDING.

If you would like more information on this posting or to schedule a consultation with Twin Gate Designs, please contact us via email: TwinGateDesigns@verizon.net, call us 972-898-0169 or visit us on the web at http://www.twingatedesigns.com/.

Thank you to AustinHorn.com for their beautiful inspirations.

They DO Make It Like That Anymore

If you are looking for furniture, upholstery or drapery that is 100% custom and MADE IN AMERICA by true artisans, I have the resources you are looking for. There are no assembly line furniture pieces coming from this company. You might be surprised. The prices are less than you might think. If you can think of it, they can build it. Traditional, contemporary, HAND CARVED. The list goes on and on. They offer exoctic woods for high end pieces and more modest woods for moderately priced pieces. It gets even better, they let you watch the process as much as you like with their open door policy.

Here are some pictures from my trip to their workrooms this week:

This artisan is HAND CARVING this piece according to the picture

HE DREW HIMSELF as seen to the right. The pictures don't do justice to the detailing of these great chairs.

This artisan is upholstering an ottoman to go with the chair already built.

Notice the scale of this bookcase. It's "twin" has already been painted in the background of the picture to the left in cream paint. I estimated this piece to be over 4 ft wide, 24 in deep and 8 FEET TALL.

 These chairs were complete and awaiting delivery. They were hand carved from raw wood, stained and upholstered on site to the custom needs of the client.

At the showroom they offer stain and paint finish samples to select from (as seen above) or to help a client mix and match for furniture needs. Piles of sample books offer style choices and inspiration. Or, you can bring in your own photo or drawing and have them adjust the piece to fit the dimensional requirements of your room.

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If you have a project that needs a piece you are struggling to find, this may be your answer. They can make that special heirloom quality piece or fill your entire home with their amazing work. With a turn around time of 2 -4 weeks, you won't have to wait long to make the dream a reality.

Contact me today for more information: TwinGateDesigns@verizon.net or 972-898-0169.

Insider Secrets Between Designers

Have you always wanted to know the latest in design trends straight from the designers that make them so popular? Here is your chance! Check out this link to see the latest Interior Design trends for 2011 from the Las Vegas Market that took place in January:

http://www.lasvegasmarket.com/news/style-file-winter-2011-las-vegas-market

To get these trends yourself, call or email me today. I have access to all Trade Only resources. I would love to create a beautiful space to call home for YOU.

972-898-0169 or TwinGateDesigns@verizon.net

Designers Choice for Tricky Windows

I get asked all the time about window treatments. I am always looking for new and innovative ways to work with them. Window that can be the most expensive to cover are arched windows. Custom shaped rods or cornices can be expensive and take weeks to have made. My favorite choice for saving time and money is to use MEDALLIONS.

This look is created with just 3 medallions and a beautifully neutral fabric. More medallions can be used to follow the arch of the window and give the treatment a different look.

In a bay window, rods can be very expensive due to the number of rods alone. If you go the extra mile, the rod should be crafted to be continuous which can be quite costly. Medallion are a great option to breathe new life into an otherwise typical valence. Medallions keep the hardware cost down and the look is fabulous!

Medallions are also a great choice for window treatments where a standard, straight rod would be typically used.

This window could have been easily overpowered by the fabric choice. Medallions help give the eye a place to rest and give the window treatment focus.

If you are struggling with what to do with your windows, call or email me. I love "Creating Beautiful Spaces to Call Home".

Thank you to simplysewcreations.com for their pictures.

Musical Furniture

Ever since I was a kid I loved to play "Musical Furniture". I guess I have been an Interior Designer at heart since then. I just cannot leave furniture in the same place very long. It's not that furniture looks bad the way it is in a current arrangement. I genuinely enjoy mixing up configurations, trying new things and seeing how a space can look in multiple ways.

When I move furniture pieces either professionally with my business, Twin Gate Designs, or in my own home, I never consider how hard it is to move. The king size bed, couch, dining room table, computer desk or oversized armoire are all possibilities - and sometimes all at once. You may be thinking that is because I have movers at my beckon call. That is true. I do. But, that's not why I am so obsessed with my favorite game of musical furniture.

I know how easy it is to move heavy furniture. I use FURNITURE SLIDERS. Also called Magic Sliders, Mighty Movers etc. Look how easy it can be:

http://www.staples.com/Master-Caster-Mighty-Mighty-Movers-Furniture-Sliders-Beige/product_MAS87007

They come in a package as simple as this:

www.MagicSliders.com

There are sliders for soft surfaces (carpeting) like you see pictured above and newer styles with felt bottoms for hard surfaces (hardwoods, tile). I like to have multiple sets of each so I can put them under all the large furniture pieces in a room at once and tweak the placement until I'm happy.



LET THE MUSICAL FURNITURE IN YOUR SPACE BEGIN!

This post is dedicated to all the husbands out there helping their wives move furniture. Now the wives can move the furniture without you and you can go back to watching TV - unless she's moving it!

Media Solution Envy

You could be the envy of the block, the neighborhood or even the zip code! I have seen 100s of media units. Some are nice, others not so nice. This one is just plain FABULOUS! Don't stop at the first picture because it won't make sense. Take a look at the pictures below and judge for yourself - and be ready to say OMG!



First, you see a nice media cabinet, around 20 inches deep and big enough for a 52 inch flat screen TV.       But, there's more . . . . . .

The unit revolves revealing a bookcase to hide the TV!

Here's one more since you're drooling anyway:



Unfortunately, I don't expect these units to be readily available in most retail stores anytime soon. Priced at around $12,000, they are out of reach for many. I do hope they catch on and a more affordable options are manufactured. I will definately keep my eye out for them!

Homeowners could use these units in rooms where an extra TV may be desired but discretion is preferred. A bedroom or space that is used primarily for other activities is an ideal use. How about a home office or music room?

Businesses would love the versatility of this unit in a conference room. What client wouldn't be impressed when this piece is called to action? IMPRESSIVE!

One more quick pic I just had to share. This is me with some fellow Interior Design Society members. We were all just so impressed with this piece! (I'm second from the right in the coral jacket.Yes, the short one!)

These great pieces are available "To The Trade Only" to which I have access. For additional information, please contact me.

Special thanks to the Patricia Group for letting me post these beautiful units.



Time For An Upgrade

I'm dedicating this post to my dear client "Cali". Cali, you know who you are.

Does this look like your mantle, shelf or the top of a dresser?

Cali, you're not alone. I see this all the time: candlesticks balanced on either side of some super small decor item resting in dead center. Accessories are simple, clean and . . . . . . . . BORING!

I've created an example of how to go from Snoozeville to interesting. Let's go from the example above to this:

This may not be your style. But, the design principles work with any decorating style. Here the candlesticks are paired on one side with candles in different heights and a floral arrangement is added opposite to form the "frame" of a vignette. Notice the floral arrangement is a completely different size in width. It does share a similar height and gives a much needed contrast to the shine and linear quality of the candlesticks. Next, add a smaller item like the Russian box at or near the center.

The varying height and materials of all the pieces work beautifully together as they are create a visual tension in colors and texture as well as giving the collection movement as your eye is forced to move around the pieces to take in all there is to see. What also works is the way they all share varying elements such as color (golden yellow) and shapes (circles).

Don't overlook the power of 3. Vignettes always work when placed in 3s. That is not always a literal use of 3 items. Here the candlesticks serve as one item visually, creating the eye pleasing use of 3.

One last thing to note: many homes look like the first picture because they don't want the house to look cluttered. Clutter can be easily divereted by creating INTENTIONALLY RANDOM vignettes. Don't fill every space in your home with accessories! Choose where to have a collection of decor and where to keep the space completely free of stuff. Empty spaces like a portion of a bookshelf, part of the dresser's top, a cleared area on the nightstand, give the eye a place to rest and the space from looking cluttered.

Great GREEN Design Idea

I have just seen the most BEAUTIFUL wall treatment idea and have to share! It is from moiculture.com. They have taken RECYCLED PAPER and molded it into 3 dimensional wall tiles. They can be temporarily or permanently fixed to the wall depending on your decorating needs. The best part is that they can be painted in ANY color!

This is such a beautiful way to add texture and interest. I think they would look amazing done floor to ceiling in a section of a long wall to divide the space. The space would then be visually broken up in a beautiful way without using boring houseplants, a floor lamp or bookshelf. FABULOUS!

Check out their website for all the details. http://mioculture.com/paperforms.html

Take a look at this:

This look came from plain, paper tiles made from RECYCLED PAPER like this:

Here's another look that I LOVE using the same tile in an INTENTIONALLY RANDOM way:

For more beautiful ideas for your space go to my website: http://www.twingatedesigns.com/



Why Intentionally Random?

Intentionally Random is a simple yet effective design technique I use in my design work for my clients. What do I mean when I say "intentionally random"? It is the intentional placement of furniture, decor and other design elements in a way that looks as though it was placed effortlessly. Intentionally random creates a wonderful balance of design elements such as color, scale, shape and texture. Understanding how to design in an intentionally random way is essential in creating the desired emotion a room evokes.

This picture shows a collection of crosses above a fireplace. The collection is large and could easily get out of control. To hang them in a way that allows them to be viewed individually yet as one art installation is easier for the eye to accept and creates a better statement for the room. No additional accessories were used on the mantle in this room as the crosses offered plenty of visual interest.