Monthly Archives: September 2011

Sep28

Madmen, The 60’S & Other Tufted Furniture

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Madmen/ AMCTV

Soaring through the skies with its premiere show, Pan Am, I sat staring in awe with curiosity at the timeless style its society, fashion & design flair exposed. Same awe-inspiring excitement hit me when watching Madmen (regardless if a piece really worked aka Betty’s “fainting couch”). The interiors of Madmen have been the love-all for many designers…maybe it’s the fascination and authenticity of seeing the 60’s come to life. Inspiring, this retro era, appears vexing to be so articulate, yet it seems just as loopy as today. What’s so endearing, to one raised in another era, about the 60’s is that it was part of many births that unknowingly pushed design to the new level we see today. Ok, I’m taking in a deep breath. Don’t want to rant on and on…just want to hit one boundless topic-the period’s historical twist on tufted upholstery; those cute little indents mainly seen on sofas & chairs. I love them all. Style today, has been tufting any which way- from leather clad buttons to deep cavernous microscopic holes; tufting is right out gorgeous. Here are a few faves that are inspiring:

When looking at these beauties…don’t you just want to say-AHHH. The Restoration Sofa below would be my take on a new “fainting sofa”…or “the party’s here” sofa…or “I really let my kids watch TV here & eat popcorn on it” sofa. This is just a multitalented, unflappable, top shelf treat!

     

Restoration Hardware

For those of us that have less of a grandeur space…ahem…like most of us…Here’s a funky way to over-do the tufting and yet make it also a go-to spot for hanging out. And who remembers “cats-n-the-cradle”? See the remarkable art piece?

Lucketts Design House

Hesitant to use a little color on the walls? How about going full blast on some furniture!

cococozy.com

sanyartspace.com

Let’s talk beds….since us humans tend to spend most of our life in and on one, why not make it the coolest thing to look forward to at the end of a long day (or night!)? Plus, still love those hotel style beds where the headboards go up-up-up.

decorpad.com

design-crisis.com

Se San Diego

Haven’t overlooked the practical….where we need these calm optical illusions of peacefulness. And what about a good place to put on our fabulous shoes-one foot at a time? Round ottomans truly rock!

decorpad.com

     

montagegalleries.com

So whether a Madmen set or a scene going through Pan Am, loving the tufted look is special treat…as long as those cute little endless buttons aren’t paired with a cute little 3 year old eating a P&J sandwich

.

Elle Decor

Have more questions? LOVE the 60’s too? LOATHE the 60″s? It’s all good!

Email me at suzy@designeyez.com

Upload your pics to our FACEBOOK too!

Enjoy!

Suzy

Sep28

Metal chairs…cold, hard & very, very cool

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DesignWatcher.com

It’s been a few years since the cool metal café chairs became a big hit…and everyone seemed to think a plane ticket to France was an adventurous idea to scour the fields of antiques for a handful of these fun new finds. Well, I’m sure it was. I missed the boat on an excuse to go to France or Paris for that matter…but c’est la vie (it’s all I know. Ok, I also know the words to THAT French song).

Anyway, in looking at OLY’s cool version of a metal chair, I got to thinking…What is out there? Are there many options for a metal chair? HA! What a dumb question I asked myself. There are TOO many crazy, funky & fun artsy metal chairs. I posted a few of course. BUT I was looking for something that is functional. Having metal legs ONLY doesn’t count (like my fave Saarinen chair) but yet, still posted one of those. Then, I came up with a few that snuck in the metal somewhere. Let me know if you have any of your own!

                     

Domino Magazine                                                        OLY STUDIO

These are BAMBOO METAL…cool & probably comfortable!

             

                 Revival home & garden

Fun & artsy BORIS BALLY creates these crazy cool chairs and other designs that are hand-fabricated out of re-purposed steel traffic signs

and steel hardware, some even with old champagne corks. Check out his SITE

          

Boris Bally                                                                         Boris Bally

Even Restoration Hardware got into the act recently with this cool world war 11 fighter plane inspired chair.

Good for reading or just tuning out? Looks kind of comfy either way.

Aviator Chair Distressed Whiskey

Restoration Hardware

Hmpf…not for sitting…I don’t think? Not new either but pretty interesting how the metal bends so seamlessly smooth.

Ron Arad, Industry Designer

Yup-I like it but may want a cool faux leather hide as a seat cushion. Yes, I said faux.

navy-chair

Here’s LEGS only…but sexy ones they are…LOVE the newspaper influence for upholstery.

Dining Furniture Warehouse

Have more questions? Email me at suzy@designeyez.com

Upload your pics to our FACEBOOK too!

Enjoy!

Suzy

Sep27

Re-defining the past

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Re-defining the past

Vitra prouvé em table
$4,275 – hivemodern.com

Artek pendant lamp a331
$995 – hivemodern.com

Sep19

What the heck is eDecorating?

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DesignEyez.com

Yup…it’s the one question we keep hearing and we know you want to get a real simple answer. Promise, once you kind-of get it…you’ll realize how cool the concept really is. And what about…why does someone do eDecorating?  So we hear what you’re asking…and we are here to answer! There are so many questions to figure out if DesignEyez & eDecorating is something for you & your home.

Let me also mention, the real confusing part can be that there are so many ways to say it & spell it. It can be eDecorating or e-decorating, or edecor, e-design or virtual design plus more I’m sure. For us, we’re just going to still call it eDecorating.

So-What is this eDecorating thingamajig already? Simply laying it out…it’s your tool for having a professional create a “designer” home for you, without the exclusive fees that are classically associated with high-end interior design. Why? Because you are joining the process that design firms usually do all themselves. eDecorating creates custom designs for your home…you help to make it happen by doing all the shopping at retail online stores. You’re saying what? Ok. You make it happen by measuring your space, uploading photos of your space, chatting with me about your space…THEN you get to shop online from the shopping list sent to you along with your new floor plan and design board (see SAMPLES). Your shopping list consists of all the items suggested for your i.e. new bedroom or your new nursery or your new entry, with the cost of each item and a link to the web site. (See HOW IT WORKS)

Is this making sense?  Probably a little but now are you wondering WHY would you want to do eDecorating and do ALL this work. The short answer-because you want the designer home you’ve been visualizing or like you saw in that magazine and hiring an interior designer is not an option. You have a budget and can totally handle a do-it-yourself project. Bingo. You get it.

On the other hand, your friend says, spend the money on better quality furniture, not eDecorating services. Ok, sounds good. If your friend can space plan and put together all the details to make your room look really terrific, then you’ve got a game plan. If not, be aware of the expensive mistakes homeowners usually make when trying to fit furniture into their home. Even sending back a sofa or dining table that doesn’t fit correctly, costs time & money.

Was this helpful? Here’s a summary if you are wondering if eDecorating is for you: You want a designer home; you don’t want it to look like everyone else’s home; you have a budget and want to be able to be in charge of what you are buying and when you buy it….BUT you need a little help with spacing the furniture correctly and pulling all the details together. SO…you work with an eDecorating site like DesignEyez; you talk about what you want in the questionnaire and we design your home for you. It’s that simple. Want to try us out? We give away a free color consult on our FACEBOOK page because we want you to see what we can do to make you love coming home.

Have more questions? Email me at suzy@designeyez.com

Enjoy!

Suzy

Sep15

Hailey Bedroom

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Hailey Bedroom

Offi Bench Box
$499 – modernnursery.com

Sticotti Desk Shelf Add On
$100 – dwr.com

Remy White Round Rug
$90 – crateandbarrel.com

Bamboo Desk Clock
$30 – momastore.org

Ballard Designs, Trellis wallpaper
$119 – ballarddesigns.com

High Flying Clock in Bird
$60 – modcloth.com

Sep15

Can My Home Office Be PINK?…And Other Colors. Design Ideas To Set Up In Your Abode

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Home office organization gone colorful.

girlypc.com

Working from home can be everyone’s dream…and everyone’s nightmare. I still debate the concept with myself today. After I had my kid’s over 10 years ago, I began to work again, from home. With two kids under 3 years old it wasn’t the break I was looking for when I thought of “going back to work”. I decided while building my business, it would be great to work for another designer, in a really cool office space, that got me out of the house,  doing what I considered important. Then my own business started to grow. I would come home from the cool office, to be with my kids, put them to bed, and work into the wee hours of the night. I was exhausted. I decided to work from home again full time. After this yo-yo diet of job considerations, I finally moved my own business out of the house. I was relieved to separate my home and work life. Now that my kids are out of the house and in school, I set up my “home office” for when I want to work from home and not go into my office. Dreary alone, I realized color and organized color is the way to perk up the spirits when you’re dabbling in tons of paperwork and sitting at a computer all day. A single hot pink wall did the trick in my tiny corner. I’m there now, writing this from home…still in my PJ’s. Guess there’s a pleasant dream of having a home office. I can take a nap when I’m done.

See these other dreamy, colorful home office and desk designs that you can use to feel that sliver of “isn’t this cool” moment when you grasp the fact; working from home isn’t such a bad idea. Enjoy!

beachbungalow8

Whether fuchsia pink, robin’s egg blue or sunset yellow…any one color on a dominant wall can help set the stage for a home office. This tranquil wall above, with the framed art taking over, creates a defined space that makes you feel important. Take the moment. Your kid is waking up from their nap soon.

    

Suzy León                                                         HGTV

Sometimes we’re stuck and have no choice in our space but to either set up a desk in our bedrooms (caution to the wind…this only works if you have no paper trail and only use a laptop) or right nearby in what we used to consider a closet. These necessary evils can work if you can really keep it neat in the bedroom (which should always be a peaceful place) or if you can truly give up an entire coat closet. Typical in urban apartments, a “closet office” works very well since you can shut the door to your mess when you are done for the day. Just still keep it fun and pull up a colorful chair when working as above.

decorista.com

Yes, that’s a changing table right next to that very well organized home office. One of you will have to move from that space eventually so I like how it is functional now for both you & baby, yet if you get booted, the shelves & desk space will be perfect for your brilliant kid to do homework.

PinkOffice First Post

chicgeek designs

For those a bit nervous to just go for the color…you can still do it in small waves. This elegant set up does have that friendly whisper of a pink painted in the back wall of the bookshelves. Love the center inspiration board area for photos and reminders, plus the simplicity of the sleek, mod glass desk.

Just love the fact that this home office is built right in to its own little corner. Probably a whole other topic the built-in, but here we can still add hints of color with file organizers and storage boxes. Maybe there is a brilliant purple chandelier hanging nearby…that would be cool.

Have you done any recent home office projects? Would love to see them! We’re thinking of adding a page for DesignEyez friends to share their projects-so let us know if you like that idea!

You can always email me with questions or post now on our facebook page. Thanks for hanging out…hope you enjoyed the read!

Best, Suzy

suzy@designeyez.com

Sep6

5 Rock Solid Shelving Ideas To Getting Organized In That Small Space

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Hot town, Summer in the City…as the Lovin’ Spoonfuls said way back when.  NYC is famously filled with 24/7 activity for those that visit and live here alike. There is history to explore, along with Broadway shows, fine dining, hanging in central park and exploring the new hottest clubs…ALL in one day. What you can’t do easily is luck out on that rare find of an apartment loaded with closet, shelving and storage space!

Hiring a professional designer or architect is typically a must when it comes to planning, planning, planning every inch of these random sized apartments.  See below the 5 most user friendly shelving & storage solutions León Design, Ltd. and other designers have “built” into their client’s home!

Enjoy!

1. Wine storage shelves:

Suzy León Design, Ltd/ DesignEyez.com

In this beautiful Upper West Side apartment, the traditional dining room was nixed and a built in corner banquette was created to make inviting many guests over a no brainer. To keep the clutter from being exposed while enjoying a good meal, cabinetry was built on either side for place settings and serving dishes (and their kids crayons). The wine storage above is not only functional, but the angles & shelves draw the attention of the eye up, making the ceiling height appear taller. The mirrors placed above each banquette also create a larger illusion of the space. This awkward corner has now become the center piece of the entertaining area.

2. Shelves around a Fireplace:

Suzy León Design, Ltd/ DesignEyez.com

A good old standby is to build shelving & storage AROUND anything that is a focal point.  Fireplaces are always a sure bet! With many random objects that these clients wanted to display, the need to utilize the entire wall became a necessity. Height was given to the room by meeting the crown molding at top. To avoid the shelves looking repetitious, the lower center cabinets bulge out to break up a flat looking line.  Added antique glass doors with an iron rod detail running across the frame on the top shelves. The hardware all around matches the antique iron look. Overall, the shelves create massive storage, height to the room, and more to look at than the pig in the fireplace.

Windows in the way? You can build just underneath as they did in the HGTV space and highlight the area with a rich, bold color. OR you can continue up around the windows as well.

3. Shelves flanking a sofa:

   

Suzy León Design, Ltd/ DesignEyez.com

Same concept different space. The cabinetry was built around the main “sitting” area for quiet reading and watching TV with the family. The shelves aren’t packed, simply displaying a few contained pieces. Yet the room suddenly expanded with the height of the shelving. A neutral color on the wood work is used to blend into the background. Closed doors hide all the other clutter.

4. Shelves flanking a doorway:

GAP Interiors/Yvonne Oswald

LOVE this for any size space. Any chance I can get I always design shelving around a doorway. Here there are two doorways and a fireplace so it’s almost like I’m drooling over this one! The designer’s not only fit to every inch these beautiful architectural panels and details in the main living room but extended the design into the hallway. I’m in heaven. It’s just BEAUTIFUL. Even if you don’t have a large book collection as these folks do…shelves as you know can be used for anything. Fitting nicely decorated boxes (IKEA is good for that) and decorative mementos will open up your space and free yourself of clutter.

5. Shelves flanking a window:

designmanifest.com

Much larger than most NYC apartments, this quietly calm and serene living room shows off that great idea to build around the windows!  To gain attention, the clients interesting collection is displayed in every shelf built around the windows. With most apartments, cabinetry is built around every window possible. It is usually dead space so instead of collecting dust it’s showing off your favorite possessions.

Had to do it….

unclutterer.com

OK-this is a BONUS one! Love the idea of building in shelves around your home but your budget is on hold? Have that unused fireplace? Cram it up! Put your books, or magazines or even those cool decorative boxes from IKEA in the center. That’s it. You’re done! Just make sure you do some cool colors in your space and de-clutter the rest of the room. Otherwise it would look like a pack-rat moved in.

Do you have any cool shelving ideas of your own?

Have any photos to share?

We’d love to hear from you! Post on our Facebook page or email us directly!