iNSIDE

A huge thank you to Rosalind Van Tuyl whose place is featured on my site as the "Lincoln Park Photographer's Studio" and who recently featured her project on her blog (along with some very kind comments).

I can't say enough about the wonderful photos that Rosalind did for my site, which she showcases (in a much larger format) on her blog. There are also some additional 'before' photos as well as Rosalind's ever-witty commentary.

If you are in need of a wedding photographer (or know someone who is), I think you'll agree that Rosalind's work is simply stunning.

Check it out: www.rosalindweddings.com

*Even if you don't need a photographer, there's some great eye candy in here. Beautiful!

category: press_

This topic is fresh in my mind as I just saw an example of where architectural continuity wasn’t considered in a design project and it tainted what would otherwise have been a spectacular home. So, to back up a bit, as the name suggests, architectural continuity is all about reading the ‘bones’ of your space and using that as a guide for the types of furnishings and finishes you choose. A good parallel example would be choosing clothing based on your unique figure, age, style, etc. Unfortunately, we’ve all seen examples of where this has gone painfully awry. Heck, there are entire magazine columns dedicated to these mishaps: ‘muffin tops,’ middle aged moms borrowing their teens’ clothing – you get the picture.

So, the example to which I alluded was the 2006 Cottage Living magazine’s IDEA home located in Evanston. My husband and I thought it would make for a good field trip this past steamy weekend when staying indoors was the much-preferred option! Now, I must first say that the home itself is stunning. It’s a 2700 sq. ft. bungalow with wonderful flow conducive to modern family living. In my opinion, it’s new construction at its finest: smartly sized (read: not HUGE!) with modern amenities, but with the soul of an older home. Where I think it was lacking, was in the continuity. Much of the interior styling wasn’t in line with the architecture.

What does that mean? I think the most noticeable examples were the home’s lighting fixtures which were not only inconsistent from room-to-room (the main living floor had modern nickel pendants in the kitchen which opened right to the dining room that showcased a much more traditional brass lantern-like fixture), but some had finishes that weren’t in line with a Craftsman bungalow-style home. Many of the materials chosen were too ornate for a home whose style is supposed to embody simplicity and hand-wrought charm. The effect, I felt, was visual discord. Even an untrained eye would recognize that many of these pieces didn’t fit with the feel of the home. I’m all for mixing styles and periods, but when used together, they must create a feeling of harmony, especially within their setting.

How do we prevent this from happening in our own spaces? Ask yourself: what is my home’s innate style and (if applicable) period influences? Thinking back to the fashion example, is it young and fresh or mature and stately? A tomboy or a fashionista? This doesn’t mean that you can’t work outside of these constraints, it just dictates whether you should ‘dress it’ in pared down and simple vs. Louis XVI. Think of it as accentuating your home’s best features.

If only the 'muffin tops' would do the same.


So, to summarize:

1. Determine the style of your home.
2. Always keeping in mind that style, think about what pieces will accentuate the best of your home, and which ones will detract from it.
3. Feel free to mix styles WITHIN THOSE CONSTRAINTS. For example, antiques paired with modern pieces look wonderful together – BUT – choose the appropriate size and style that work with your home. Gothic Revival and Arts & Crafts are both considered antiques, but each has a radically different look.

category: tips_

While on my way to the Home Depot the other day, I discovered Galleria Concord tucked away on a side street off of Elston. Although they've been open for a year now, the store is off the beaten path a bit which is why I (and perhaps you) had not yet discovered it.

A more unique yet similarly priced alternative to the big-name furniture stores, the store carries a wonderful selection of solid wood tables, armoires, buffets and decorative accessories. All pieces are imported and most are from India. Tables range from $350-1200, armoires $1500-3500 and buffets $500-1100. The vibe is friendly and not salesy - it actually reminded me of a more affordably priced Golden Triangle and a more upscale Cost Plus World Market.

If you stop by, please shoot me an email and let me know what you thought!

Galleria Concord
1348 W. Concord Place (east of Elston, north of North Ave.)
773.489.9200
www.galleriaconcord.com

category: resources_

This one goes out to all of you homeowners who know that it is merely a matter of time - months? a year? - until you move into your next place. Unless you bought your home to ‘flip it’ or you are considering a windowless room painted floor to ceiling black, I suggest that you don’t worry so much about how the next inhabitant of your home will like your decorating decisions.

I have talked with several real estate agent friends who have all concurred that it is much more important that a room appear coherent and put together than it is for it to have the exact color scheme that will please the new owners. Even if you do decorate with these yet unknown people in mind, chances are they will end up changing the paint color and finishes anyway. So, my vote is to go with what you love for now. Unless your taste is completely off the wall or shall I say... scary, potential buyers will see your flair and will be drawn to that rather than the sea of beige you’ve chosen to underwhelm them.

category: tips_

Many thanks to Janel at Apartment Therapy for including a post on design i! To check out her comments, please click here.

category: press_

If you are like I am and would love to have a great looking outdoor space, but have had trouble finding cool-looking planters, or even cool looking plants for that matter – you have to check out Sprout Home in Ukrainian Village. A store dedicated to the ‘urban gardener,’ Sprout carries not only vessels for your foliage, but a well-edited collection of housewares by independent designers, great funky kids’ stuff and even offers on-site monthly pickup of organic veggies!

Sprout has a very laid-back vibe (even Grifter, the resident pooch, is pretty chill) and the staff is extremely helpful. Tara, the owner, walked me through their garden design services that run the gamut from in-store help to full-service on-site design. No project is too small (well, almost) and the majority of the design projects are for decks. Design fees start around $75 for container planting (vs. ground planting) and there is a minimum requirement to sign on for a project. (Basically, more than a planter or two!) But, if you are trying to come up with a cool look and want to do it yourself, you can bring in photos of your space to the store where they will graciously assist you in choosing what will work best for you. Or, you might just get all of your inspiration from the well-arranged store displays.

I always think red really pops in a garden.

If I had to narrow down the list of ‘most common design mistakes’ I see happen time and again, this one just might top my list – over lighting. Now, I have to clarify as I am very much a believer in lighting – accent light, task light, natural light, candle light ... it’s that nasty monster better-known as OVERHEAD LIGHTING to which I’m referring. Lately, I seem to see the beast rear its ugly head when I’m at cocktail or dinner parties. I hate to tell tales on my gracious hosts, but there have been a few occasions when I have been sitting beneath fluorescent lights so bright that I half expected one of my dinner companions to turn to me, shine one in my eyes and demand: where were you on the night of the twelfth?

Okay, so I exaggerate, but in my opinion, nothing equals insta-mood creator as much as wonderful accent lights. I also believe that small changes in lighting can deliver big impact with little effect on your wallet. As a rule and if possible, I like to see at least three accent lamps in a room so that there are several alternatives to the overheads. Now, admittedly, we all need those overhead lights SOME of the time. Add some dimmers to those lights, though, and you have the ability to create a completely different mood. (A little tip: dimmers in bathrooms are a great way to avoid the assault on your eyes first thing in the morning).

So, if you feel you might be guilty of gratuitous use of overhead lighting, the next time you go to flip the switch, consider a soft accent light instead. And who knows? You might just see the light.


Category: tips_