Southern Roots Of Mid-Century Modern

The Gregg Museum on the campus of NC State

Raleigh, North Carolina

is exhibiting some wonderful examples of mid-century

modern furniture, textiles, ceramics and design of vignettes of the

modernist home and how the modernist movement made it to 

North Carolina.

Exhibit from August 19 - December 18

 2010

That Cutie Pie - Nate Berkus Has A New Show

Did you see his visit to Elizabeth Edwards shop in Chapel Hill?

Check your local tv listings on NBC weekdays for his show.

A Reminder that John Derian is @ Target......

.... for a short time.

I found this, appropriate, don't you think?

Considering what I do for a living-

It is a perfect little gift.  

I am piling it with cupcakes for a birthday present.

You should go and see if there is anything left!

Have a FABULOUS week!

Do Something That Makes You Smile.........

................ And Have A Happy Happy Weekend!

Do You Know What A Gobber Is?

It is a piece that you reach for in your closet all of the time and
basically wear it ALOT!
I learned about this from Blue Hydragea Blog.


Mine is a white shirt.
I collect them.


Jenna Lyons the President and Executive Creative Director at J. Crew (who
has helped grow the J. Crew brand into serious fashion magic) likes her
striped t.

What is YOURS????Hummmm?

 I know you have one.

Happy 1st day of Fall!!!!

The Premiere Issue Of Rue Magazine Is Here!

Click rue mag and enjoy your first day of fall!


I forgot to put this on yesterday and I love this song so
much that I am putting it on today.
So, do you remember the 21st day of September?

Bringing Attention To The Importance Of Good Design

The following article was written by Steve Nobel for Inspired.Talk.  It begins a discussion that will be continued in my blog on the importance of hiring a professional designer.  That is a designer that has a degree in design, passed the NCIDQ or working toward passing the NCIDQ, which is signified by the appellation, ASID, following the designers name.

INSPIRED.Why A Designer?

Over the last few months, the Decorative Furnishings Association has made preparations to take the next big steps toward its mission: creating more consumers of design. DFA just unveiled the concept for its new advertising campaign: “Why a Designer,” which addresses the concerns affluent consumers have about using an interior designer.

The ads feature a practicing interior designer successfully interacting with a client in a well-designed living room where children are playing. The image is all about the happy, satisfying and rewarding relationship between designer and client. Below the image, statements of ‘myth’ vs. ‘reality’ will be listed:

“It's too expensive” – “We met our budget”

“I’d lose control” – “We worked as a team”

“It’s not practical” – “We love the results”

“It’s out of my budget” – “We nailed the budget”

“It’s not my style” – “It’s so us!”

It's the first campaign of this nature to be presented in the industry and is expected to launch in House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Veranda, Luxe Interiors + Design and Elle Décor in January issues. Editor at Large gave it an initial thumbs up.

I have had a role in this, so naturally I am quite excited about the creative theme that centers on the delightful relationship between client and designer.

How do you answer the question, why a designer? Research shows that among affluent households that can afford an interior designer, only 15% actually use one. The campaign's goal is targeted towards the 85% who could be or should be using professional design services.

“We must sharpen our message about why working with a designer has so many benefits, and how designers can market their businesses accordingly,” said Cary Kravet, acting President of DFA and President of Kravet, “The DFA serves as a forum for industry to communicate a vision and plan for revitalizing the market.”

Momentum for the campaign is growing through a series of Town Hall Meetings sponsored by media outlets and design centers throughout the country. They are intended to expand awareness of, support for and participation in addressing challenges facing the design ecosystem throughout the country. The organized and open discussion also provides for all voices representing all segments of the community to be heard.

Inspired? Talk. Tell me in a few words ‘why a designer’? We will open the ideas for all our readers to share.

 Steve Noble

For those of you that subscribe to any of the shelter magazines listed above, I hope that you will take note and let me know what you think.


For me......
The health, welfare and safety are the foundation of what my design is based on.  The final project should reflect these things in addition to the needs and personality of the client....the personal part that
makes them feel comfortable in their space.  That is why I want to use my design ideas to provide an amazing experience for my client-during the process and long long after its completion.

Now This Is A Garage

The top closes completely!

In a few days (4 days to be exact)- SUMMER will be over....

.......So, soak it up with a biscuit girl!

Escape and have a fun weekend!!!

See you on Monday.

Add A "Punctuation Mark" To Your Room! , . : ? ; !!!

These would be perfect to curl up under as the nights start getting cooler and wonderful just to add some color to the room.  If you squint, they have a Missoni look, don't you think? www.echodesign.com multicolored stripe throw Inspired by one of Echo's most successful scarfs, this beautiful, multi colored stripe throw is super soft and a great way to accessorize your home. Made of 100% soft acrylic. 50" x 70" Style #: 345T66 Price: $60

The Old Fashion CUT AND PASTE

I saw some of these sweet little collages by Denise Fiedler in this

months House Beautiful.  Her new venture that she established last year is a new and creative slant of collage art. Her inspiration came when she discovered a box filled with vintage books.

Click on her website www.pastesf.com and

see some of her other goodies.

I love the dogs.

Click on comments and tell me what you think

What Are VOC's?

Something that you really need to know about!

Green paints can vary quite a bit.  VOC's are volatile organic compounds that are released into the air for years after the paint has dried.  VOC's, under Green Seal Certification, are considered methane and benzene, both of which are greenhouse gases and highly toxic.  While all low or zero VOC paints do not have methane and benzene evaporating into the air, many low/zero VOC's contain ammonia, formaldehyde, fungicides, and other chemicals to make the paint harden faster, cure faster, create a mold resistant barrier, and other properties.  These chemicals are highly toxic and many are carcinogens that pose serious health risks if applied in the home.  FreshAire, Harmony and Aura lines made by the big paint companies are some of the green paints that contain some or all of these chemicals.  While these paints are low or zero VOC on the label, they are not true green paints due to their chemical composition.  Every product must have a Material Safety Data Sheet, which lists the actual chemical ingredients of the paint, stain or sealer. 

There are three paint companies that make paint products that do not contain ammonia and formaldehyde.  These companies are AFM Safecoat products, Bioshield and Yolo Colorhouse.  AFM Safecoat is a company that was started thirty years ago to make paint products, stains, and sealers for people with chemical intolerances to VOC's and other chemicals found in paint. 

From www.bgreentoday.com




Listed below are non VOC and low VOC paints on the market today-

Benjamin Moore Pristine EcoSpec Paint: contains less than 10 grams of VOC's per liter. Low odor, low VOC, 100% acrylic latex paint that comes in flat, egg-shell and semi gloss. You buy Eco-Spec as a base white and then get it mixed to color, which includes off-whites and neutrals, but does not include the darker and brighter colors.

Bioshield Clay and Casein paints: natural raw ingredient paints; just add water to ready-to-mix powder. Be sure to check out their closeouts section (we like the Mandarin Milk Paint).

Yolo Colorhouse: water-based, Green Seal certified, and zero-VOC paint created by Portland, Oregon-based artists, Janie Young and Virginia Lowe. Available in a palette of 40 hues are specifically designed for interiors and categorized by nature's spectrum of air, grain, leaf, water, stone, clay and the bright hued petal range. Love their packaging!

Harmony Interior Latex: A Good Housekeeping choice, the Harmony line uses sustainable raw materials, like soy and sunflower oil in their formulation to keep solvent content low and VOCs in the zero-VOC range. Advertised as mildew and bacteria resistant.

Green Planet Paints: Soy-based resins with clay formulations and mineral pigments keep this line of paint as organic as your farmer's market produce. We like that disclose all ingredients in their paint formulas right there on the can.

Homestead House Paint Company: a 100% acrylic paint formulated to perform well ontop of existing previous applications and has the appearance of milkpaint.

Dunn-Edwards EcoShield: an MPI Green Performance Standard rated product, the low odor EcoShield line was created initially for use in schools, hospitals, hotels, homes and other closed-ventilation buildings, and is ethylene glycol free.

Devoe Wonder Pure Interior Latex Odor-Free Paints: available in flat, eggshell and semi-gloss, the Devoe Wonder-Pure line is advertised as odour free and can be applied without sanding.

Olympic Premium: A Green Seal Certification "Class A" paint also awarded the Home Safety Council's Commendation Awards for Product Innovation for Consumer Safety.

Anna Sova Latex Wall Paint: the eco-branded Healthy Wall Finish contains 99% food grade ingredients, making this non-VOC paint a good choice for interior with children and pregnant women.

Originally posted by Gregory on AT:LA.

Love This Vignette!

I hope you had a nice weekend.

Here is a pretty way to start the week and maybe

inspire you to try something new.  Even if it is just

a different color of flowers....napkins....notepaper.....writing a 

note to a friend with a new color ink or several different colors.....

You get where I'm going, RIGHT?

I spied this on Splendidwillow.

Something For All Of Us To Contemplate .....

.........and stop complaining about.

Have a Happy Happy Weekend!!!!!!!!

Today- Working with my Lighting Magician ......

.... Louise Gaskill. 

 We collaborated on the chandelier with be blue glass that will be going in the 

sunroom of a client that lives on the inter-coastal waterway.

Mixing finishes, bobesches, different size and shape lead crystal drops and colored glass makes

this wonderful piece- a one of a kind! 

This is just the building stage to get the right shapes and proportions for the room that I am using this in.  I will

send the pictures to my customer on the 3 different ideas that we came up with and get their go ahead so the piece can be made.

I would love to help you with a special piece of lighting by Louise.

I can't tell you how much that detail adds to a room.

Once the piece is completed and installed I will share it with you.

A Digital Shelter Magazine......

........for those new to nesting.

Peruse issue four and see if you can find something inspiring at nestingnewbies.com/magazine/issuefour.

What Do YOU Think Of The Redesign Of The Oval Office?

Michael Smith is a well known designer that was chosen

by the Obama's to redesign rooms in the White House.

What are your thoughts on the NEW Oval Office?

I love the idea of the rug.  I would be interested in knowing 

what the constraints of the project were so I could 

understand the result better.

Unlike the Official State Rooms, the residence of the Presidents

family can be whatever fits their style and has no restrictions.

Since the Kennedy Administration there was a mandate passed that

nothing could be thrown away.  So each administration has a warehouse

of things available as well as what is brought in.  The budget for this high profile

job is said to be $100,000.00.  

Not a big budget for the 24 rooms in the White House. 

What do you think?

HAPPY HAPPY Birthday Kyle!!!

My son Kyle and his baby boy, Colston.

Can you say ADORABLE???

I hope that you getting your favorite birthday cookie cake or

at least a version of it!

Click for the recipe thats so yummy.com

The cast iron pan is what makes this magic!

Life Is Art......

I Believe This.

Have a happy weekend!

Word for the day.....Organized!

You know how you feel when people start talking about fleas and bedbugs? 

 Muummmm Hummmm!  You can't help but itching all over.

Well, see if you feel you need to do some organizing after looking at "Mah tha's" kitchen in this month's "Martha Stewart Living"  
Seeing things really organized makes me want to label and organize.
Sort of another crazy itch I get.

Are you inspired?