A Passion For Home

Page Palmer...

When I stepped into the girl's bedroom at the DC Design House, it gave me a strong desire to return to my youth.  To have a bedroom adorned with subtle influences of flowered patterns with shades of white, lavender, yellow and green can make a woman feel young again.  

Photo by Gordon Beall 

The Murano Bloom chandelier is a brilliant accent to the space, adding a feminine touch that interior designer  Page Palmer has created.  

I understand Ms. Palmer had the chandelier's metal painted in order for the tone to flow nicely with the rest of the space.  It hangs so elegantly over the bed.

Incorporating an acrylic writing table/desk was ingenious too as it doesn't weigh the room down and you are able to view the beautiful drapery panels where the table sits in front of.

If you had seen my bedroom, which I shared with my sister, during our "young girl" days, there were posters of teen heartthrobs all over our walls.  The wall decor worked so well with my Peanuts bedsheets and psychedelic flower comforter. 

The great design work of Page Palmer with this space is a much classier setting for a young girl.  Oh, to be that young girl again. 

A Southern Style Show House in our future...

To see interior designers congregate under one house filled with their designs is an exciting opportunity for design enthusiasts, including myself.  And tonight, I share some incredibly exciting news that there is a Southern Style Show House in our future.  

Yes, it's true.  Richmond, Virginia will experience excitement of the design-kind very soon.  The Richmond Symphony Orchestra League's 2010 Designer House will debut September 13, 2010.  It will be unlike any other show house.

Photo by Jami Carlton

Mary Douglas Drysdale, well-known DC-based Interior Designer with roots from Charlottesville, Virginia, will participate in the show house.  As the only designer invited outside Richmond's city limits, I'm hearing she proposed it reflect the spirit of the South and got other designers onboard to help add to the Southern Style and Design theme.  

 The design elements in this room bring a cohesive look to a design period I am fascinated with.

I have followed Ms. Drysdale's design work since the early 90's.  It was at a time when I wasn't sure what direction I wanted to go with the design of our home.  When I took one look at the pages of Traditional Home and Veranda featuring her work, it was then I realized how much I admire neoclassicism.  

 A vignette that celebrates shape, design and beauty.

The mix of chair styles and the wall color makes an eye-catching impact to my eyes.

It is because of Ms. Drysdale that I have always longed for the infamous Baker sunburst mirror.

  

I love how I can follow her work in print as well as Facebook and Twitter.  Technology only gets better and better.

Other designers include Tobi Fairley, who hails from Arkansas with a design aesthetic that pleases both the traditional and contemporary design connoisseurs.

House Beautiful March 2010 cover featuring Tobi Fairley Designs

 

A very chic vignette by Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Not only is she a great designer, what I admire about Ms. Fairley is how savvy she is with social media. She's active on Facebook, Twitter and hosts her own blog.  Connecting with your peers as well as those who admire your work is a wonderful thing.  It is another venue, in addition to print media which I wholeheartedly support, to stay abreast of the latest and greatest in their world of design.  

Contemporary yet Tradtional by Tobi Fairley Interior Design

 

It is thanks to my interest in Ms. Fairley's design work that I now subscribe to ay Magazine, local to Arkansas.  I love to view the design styles of all regions of our world, including Arkansas.

Textile designer, Sandra Jordan, joins this fabulous mix of southern designers with her line of Prima Alpaca fabrics which I featured here previously.

Soft to the touch, Ms. Jordan offers an array of colors and designs, including plaids.   

The fabric is sumptuous and offers subtle texture that can set off a sensuous vibe.  

The fabric of choice for a throw at the ongoing DC Design House by designer Michael Hampton only proves how versatile Prima Alpaca is.

Lighting is a favorite design element of mine.  If you want to invest money into your home, invest in good and decorative lighting that suits your style.  So when I heard that Julie Neill, famed lighting designer from New Orleans is going to be a part of the Richmond Orchestra Symphony League's Design House, I couldn't be more excited and intrigued by the possibilities.  

Photo by Michael Terranova

My introduction to Ms. Neill's work came via well-known blog, Things that Inspire when she featured her entryway with custom-made sconces by Ms. Neill.  Stunning, to say the least.  I have been a fan of her work ever since.  She also designs furniture.

McCullum Vanity by Julie Neill Designs

 

This only makes me more eager to see what she has in store for the design house.

Having made reference to social media earlier in this post, let me add that Ms. Neill also hosts a Facebook fan page as well as a blog named the Bayou Contessa.  

A true southern designer through and through is Phoebe Howard.  She rounds-out the 5 sorority sisters of Southern Style at this design house.  I couldn't be more thrilled.  As a long-time fan, Mrs. Howard's style of traditionalism is what I crave.  

The home she shares with her husband in the Hamptons was featured in a recent issue of Town & Country Magazine.  I savored every photo and every detail in that article.  (My favorites in the above photo are the headboard quilt, artwork depicting the American flag and the framed intaglios above the bed.)

Brown tones are what I'm into right now, so you can imagine how much this entryway of Mrs. Howard's Hamptons home resonates with my home's goals.

Mrs. Howard also has a blog, hosted by Leah Kennelly, as well as a Facebook fan page.   I must not forget Twitter too.

There are a number of interior designers, local to Richmond and Virginia that are included in the design house which I will gladly elaborate on as I learn more.  

So hold onto your hats, Richmond, as design enthusiasts invade your town in the Fall!

Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey...

Through the front entrance of the DC Design House, I step into the entry and stair hall and my eyes did not know where to begin.  One glance was not enough.  I needed to inspect every inch of what laid ahead of me.  The designer, Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey gave a thorough explanation of where each piece in the entry and stair hall came from.  Her DC metropolitan area spirit shined as well with the majority of the pieces, including artwork, are local to this area.  

The vases DC by Design featured on their blog recently from the design house will delight your eyes even more so in person.  

I do not think I have ever been more fascinated by potted ferns until my visit.  The potted pair are enormous yet ideal for the size space they adorn.

I could not take my eyes off the pair of Niermann Weeks chandeliers.

They truly light up a room.  

The artwork Ms. Cavin-Winfrey selected are captivating.  The pair, by artist Ruth Bolduan, flanking the entry way into the library are a true contrast to the rest of the space because they are gold in tone among a grey-toned setting.  

After visiting Ms. Cavin-Winfrey's design website, I learned she participated in the 2009 DC Design House as well.  

I celebrate artists of every genre.  Since my focus is on interior design, I now realize how helpful it would be to dedicate a category to Interior Designers.  They are the source of my inspiration, now including Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey.

Victoria Sanchez...

The library at the DC Design House evokes peacefulness and serenity.  The colors soothe the eyes until you open the lovely drapery panels and see the gorgeous garden and pool outside.  It's scenery that will perk you up with beauty and fun surroundings.

 
Taking in every nook and cranny of this space designed by Victoria Sanchez was an extreme delight, gratifying the design enthusiast spirit within me.  And it was such a pleasure to meet the designer behind the work I was fawning over.

The rent table by David Iatesta is a downright stunning piece of furniture.  I admire how Ms. Sanchez placed this table in the room.

Coffered ceilings are on my wish list for our own home, so to see how much architectural appeal they can add to room reaffirmed my wish.

With this introduction to Ms. Sanchez's work, I have become a fan of hers and taken some time to view an online portfolio and press clippings on her design website.  What an inspiration the discovery has been for me.  
 

Sally Steponkus...

Meeting Sally Steponkus at the DC Design House was like meeting a great friend for lunch.  We spent a lot of time in the master bedroom she designed.  The first observation we made is how serene the space is with a palette of neutral tones.  There was a time when I experimented with bold color in the bedroom and quickly learned how much it overstimulated my eyes and the restlessness I felt.  

As we entered the master bedroom at the design house, I noticed a Wedgwood Jasperware plaque on display in the built-in bookcase.  It was the focal point among all the lovely antique books on the shelves.  The series of books were all similar in a washed rose-like color tone.  This may sound strange but I felt such a sense of calm staring at them.

The built-in cabinets with decorative hand-painted doors by Billet Collins gave an impression that they were carved into the wood.  And in the corner is a table with a carved base by Barry Dixon with curves to delight our eyes with. 

In my opinion, Ms. Steponkus' plans are ideal for a master bedroom.  The bedding, upholstered pieces, casegoods and accessories were all in perfect harmony amongst each other.  Her enthusiasm is contagious as she happily answered our questions.

I am enjoying getting to know the design work of Sally Steponkus and spent time reading the press clippings and blog posts by those who admire her work.  There is also a fan page on Facebook. 

Bravo to Ms. Steponkus for taking a room with red painted walls and turning it into a restfully stylish retreat.

Michael Hampton...

On Saturday my girlfriends and I spent the day touring the DC Design House where we savored nearly every detail of design by the talented designers themselves.  I'll start with Michael Hampton. 

The guest room he designed took my breath away.

by Michael Hampton

You can get a taste of the cowhide rug in the video by Jura Koncius with The Washington Post in my previous post, but to see it in person can inspire you in many more ways.  

My favorites include the walls with decorative trim around the perimeter, a prima alpaca throw by Sandra Jordan (please see my previous post on alpaca, if you'd like to learn more), the contemporary wall sconces and David Iatesta bed that add a nice mix to the traditional setting.

I was also inspired by the artwork, including the framed busts.

You can see a preview of Mr. Hampton's design work at this house on DC by Design's blog on Bare Bones Day.

Mr. Hampton's style resonates with a time period I admire tremendously, neoclassicism.  His taste is impeccable.  I also learned from reading a recent post by DC by Design that he is an artist with an emphasis on architectural watercolors.

I am a huge admirer of architecture as well as topiaries. It is no wonder I love the above watercolor by Mr. Hampton himself.  What an artist!  And he's a blogger too.

As I was researching Mr. Hampton's work, I came across an article on Apartment Therapy's blog featuring a house tour of his home.  It is even more evident how much his style is in line with what I favor.  

And his bio confirms his design background is top-notch, having worked with well-known designers and experience working with large-scale projects.  

It was with great pleasure that my girlfriends and I got to meet Mr. Hampton in person.  He kindly shared his inspiration and resources with us with the friendliest demeanor that we found comforting.  

In my next post, I will share our intake of the master bedroom designed by the ever-so-friendly, Sally Steponkus.

DC Design House...

Today's Washington Post features a preview of the DC Design House which opens to the public this Saturday. (Photo by Gordon Beall, Interior Design by Frank Babb Randolph)

If you are not able to see it in person, here's a video hosted by The Washington Post's Jura Koncius with a tour of the house.

There are blog entries by Jennifer Sergent of DC by Design and My Notting Hill where two posts were dedicated to the house:  downstairs and upstairs.

I enjoyed seeing the variety of angles and each one's take on the design house.  The details that bring sheer delight to our very own eyes.  And living vicariously through the person behind the lens as well as their words.

Please visit the DC Design House website for more information and if you'd like to visit this inspirational house yourself.

After viewing all the wonderful photos, I now have an urge to lacquer our ceiling thanks to Barry Dixon's room in the design house, the Conservatory. 

May you take pleasure in viewing the great works of talented interior designers in our neighborhood.

Inspiration today...

There are a few things that inspire me right now, and if I may, I'd like to share them with visitors of this blog:

Harmony and Home's blog entry on the latest issue of Architectural Digest magazine featuring Gerard Butler's flat in New York City.  I am in awe over this project by interior designer, Elvis R.

I am fascinated by interior design that caters to a masculine style.  My husband is very opinionated when it comes to the decor of our home so I try to implement a masculine vibe here and there.

The Skirted Roundtable has introduced me to a number of interior designers, of which I have enjoyed exploring and learning more about their projects.  It is how I've come to know Grant K. Gibson and Scot Meacham Wood (this week's feature).  

Both these designers have their own blog (Grant is here and Scot is here).  Coincidentally, they are both based in San Francisco.

Reading Suzanne Kasler's interview by 1st Dibs was very inspiring.  And I loved her 1st Dibs picks.

Discovering Blalock Interiors has been such an inspirational journey for me.  When you go to Ms. Blalock's webiste, look at Gallery 3 where there is an American flag in a gold star-embossed frame.  I LOVE it as well as her work.  I feel fortunate to be surrounded by great interior designers in the DC metro area.

Photo credit

These are the type of inspirations that keep me up late at night, trying to absorb it all.  I hope you enjoy these new discoveries as much as I do.