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Design Blogger Series: What Would You Do? #9

It’s been awhile, but the What Would You Do? series is back!
I’m so excited to have four fabulous bloggers that share a passion for home organizing and design. Jen {I heart Organizing},  Arianna {Arianna Belle Organized Interiors}, Morgan {Pepper Design Blog} and  Leanne {Organize & Decorate Everything} all have amazing blogs and I’m thrilled that they are participating in the 9th series.
stylish_bench_upholstered_cushion
For these bloggers, I couldn’t help myself in selecting an item that has multiple functions including streamlining storage! So for this series, each was asked to design a space using the Campaign Storage Bench from Serena & Lily. The color and pattern of the upholstered cushion was up to them.
design_blogger_heart_organizing
 “I envisioned the bench in a bright and playful entry. I went with the white bench/green diamond cushion combo. I love Amy Butler’s Lacework wallpaper in Ocean. I would do a simple board and batten wall treatment paired with some glass hooks to the lower level {for coats and totes}, and pop the whimsical wallpaper above. For all sorts of entryway goodies, like pet and children supplies, some simple baskets would keep all of those necessities concealed. A striped neutral indoor/outdoor rug will act as a nice balance to the vibrant wall treatment and pretty diamond patterned cushion, and also have durability to handle entryway traffic. The super fun white glossy mirror adds visual interest and will bounce light coming from lovely star shaped chandler hanging above.” – Jen {I Heart Organizing}
* Simplified Bee’s favorites thing about Jen’s design: I love the way Jen mixed pattern – diamonds, stripes and a geometric floral. It’s bold and it works. Beautiful!
organized_interiors_blog
“This bench would work perfectly in an entryway. I love that it has space below for storage bins. I’d use three Pandan Bins in Carrot -one in each cubby. Above the bench I’d hang a mirror – a necessity in any entry. The Golden Rays mirror from Neiman Marcus would add warmth and tie in beautifully with the color of the bins. To add lighting, I’d place a sconce on each side of the mirror. For impact, I’d use a wallpaper in a large pattern like the Dusa from Osborne and Little.” – Arianna {Arianna Belle Organized Interiors}
* Simplified Bee’s favorites thing about Arianna’s design: I love the serene, elegant feel of this entry. Adding a punch of color in the woven baskets is just the right touch.
design_blogger_mood_board_entry
“I love the design-friendly versatility of the Campaign storage bench by Serena & Lily. I can imagine easily incorporating it into a nursery space, a guest bedroom or as a storage solution to reign in spare blankets in the living room. When I saw this bench I was immediately inspired to create a hallway/mudroom where guests can comfortably pull off rain boots and hang coats. I built this inspiration board around this whimsical blue wallpaper, what an excellent way for your home to greet you when coming in every day! I would pair that with a jute runner, a warm and earthy pendant chandelier,  a few complimentary throw pillows in this fabric, a side chair for draping scarves and sweaters and above it all I’d hang a stunning mirror that compliments the white color of the bench.” – Morgan {Pepper Design Blog}
* Simplified Bee’s favorites thing about Morgan’s design: The mirror covered in beautiful natural white cowhide is my favorite design element, but I also love how she added in some stylish rain boots!
design_blogger_organize_decorate_everything
“My first thought was to use the storage bench in an entry or mud room, then I came across these adorable bird pillows and knew the bench would fit perfectly in a bright and cheery nursery. I wanted to draw all the colors of the room together so this striped rug was perfect for the space and gives baby a soft place to play. I added canvas bins to the bench for storage to hold toys and books. I imagine the bench sitting under a window so I chose solid white curtains to frame the area for a nice place to sit and read. I added a glider off to the side of the bench for a sweet spot to hold and snuggle baby and I couldn’t resist placing this fun tangerine pillow on the glider for added color and softness. The pendant light is simple and chic, but has just the perfect amount of detail. Of course, there still needs to be a crib and dresser, but I imagine those things have already been purchased for the nursery and these are some sweet updates.” – Leanne {Organize & Decorate Everything}
* Simplified Bee’s favorites thing about Leanne’s design: The playful, striped rug is fantastic. It anchors the space and adds so much wonderful color. Love!

A big thank you to Jen, Arianna, Morgan and Leanne for participating in this series!

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Read full story By on February 22, 2012 in design blogger series, foyers, home organization, interior design

Interview with Interior Designer Doryn Wallach

Before going out on her own, New York based interior designer Doryn Wallach, worked for several design firms. Her successful design career includes both residential and commercial projects. Doryn has also been a contributor on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. She has a new passion and gig too that she will share at the end of this interview!
doryn wallach designer interview
Simplified Bee: When did you know you wanted to be an interior designer?

Doryn Wallach: My great-grandparents were antiquarians and while I didn’t know them, my mother was always involved in interior design. I used to go shopping with her when she would go on shopping trips with her interior designer but my Mom really did the majority of the designing. She was very talented but never turned it into a career. I really had no aspirations to be a designer and kind of stumbled on the major in college and it clicked for me. I love all kinds of design and style is important to my aesthetic.
white benches and zig zag run entry
SB: How would you describe your personal style?

DW: I have very eclectic taste. I could really design any space in any style depending on what was needed.   I appreciate most design styles. Because of this, in my own home, my taste is diverse, but somehow it just works together. I love a touch of glamour for every room, even if it’s the bathroom.   I love mixing textures and punches of color and creating style in unexpected places.
stylish entry table mirror console
SB: Who would you most like to collaborate with on a project?

DW: Steven Gambrel and Kelly Wearstler. I feel almost cliché saying Kelly Wearstler because I feel like she is “trendy” at the moment, but I have watched her for a while.  She isn’t afraid to take chances on her style, and really goes for it in some of her spaces, but in her hotel spaces, the vibe is toned-down.  The Viceroy in  Santa Monica  and The Viceroy in  Anguilla  are two of my favorite hotel spaces. Steven Gambrel is someone whose work I have followed for a while and I really love his simple style, and yet he pays special attention to detail.   Details are what really makes a home, and a lot of designers and consumers don’t realize this

SB: Do you have “go to” paint colors? If so, which ones?

DW: I don’t really. I go by the elements/colors in the space and then choose a paint color. Even if I use a white on a trim and there’s a dominant color in the space, I use the lightest possible hue of that color which  appears white,  but really ties the space together.
green white elephant wallpaper bathroom
SB: Which of today’s interior design trends are here to stay and which ones will we see fade away?

DW: I am really loving how wallpaper has come back in style and not just your typical “grandma paper”. There are so many amazing papers out there today–beaded, suede, fabric backed, shell, metallic. It’s such an interesting way to add texture to a wall or ceiling and a great way to put a punch of something different in a bland space like a plain powder room. I would like to see Ikat prints fade FAR away. I think they’re on their way out…hopefully.
doryn wallach design sofa green pillows
SB: Where do you recommend clients splurge versus save?

DW: Splurge on the items you will use the most. Your sofa, your mattress and your kitchen. Save on things like accessories, throw pillows, dinner plates and glasses. Light fixtures can go either way for me. I think having one amazing light fixture somewhere in your home is always a good investment because it will make you happy every time you turn it on and go from home to home with you no matter where you go! My best piece of advice is splurge on classic pieces you know you’ll never grow sick of and can work in either a modern or traditional space, because BELIEVE ME, your taste will change a gazillion times in the next few years, for me, it’s about every 5 years!
vintage pinball machines art wall playroom
SB:  It seems you are embracing social media. You are on Facebook, Twitter and write a blog. Do you prefer one over the other? What is your advice to other interior designers who are timid about trying social media marketing outlets?

DW: Ha! This is a great question because to be honest, I am not a big fan of ANY of them!   But,  it’s a must today for any business.  Facebook, for me, is the easiest way to communicate,  and I wish it would merge with Twitter. Blogging is something I started in 2005 and loved doing solely because of the connection with people  I made.  Now,  blogging is more about  business now. I am not a writer, never claimed to be a writer and frankly, dislike writing. It is HARD for me to get blog posts out, I would prefer to speak to people over the radio or in person if I could. Twitter, don’t get me started. Twitter gives me anxiety!! I feel like if I am away from it for a few hours I have missed tons of opportunities and then I get stressed. The people that tweet non-stop, I just can’t understand how they do it! BUT, again…it’s a great way to market your product or business and you meet lots of great people along the way. I have made TONS of business connections through Twitter. It blows me away! My advice to other interior designers…HIRE someone to do it for you 🙂
doryn wallach gray bedroom designer
SB: Fill in the blank. No room is complete without…

DW: Something personal that warms you inside and brings a smile to your face when you look at it. Every room in a house should have something that you have a personal connection to, picked up in your travels,  bought because it was quirky and expresses some part of your personality, a picture or piece of artwork, just a color that makes you feel good. These are the things that make a room look like your room and not a showroom or retail store.
kitchen stove backsplash tin
SB: What’s next for Doryn Wallach Design?

DW: I have really been examining this a lot lately. My heart is really, truly not in residential design, though I just finished my home, which took about a year.  Possibly a hotel.   I do enjoy suggesting quirky, fun, not obvious products to people.  I can be very resourceful and I guess that’s how Doryn’s Dish came to be. It’s fun to me, but I would prefer to do it in person some how as an “expert”. I am also very interested in being on the radio.   I had a radio show in  Connecticut  a few years ago.  My idea for a new show would be: the “Psychology of Interior Design”– all the issues that come with it.   “How to Renovate With Out Divorcing” or “How to Merge His Things With Yours” and other non-couple related ideas. I’m also considering designing a lower-to-moderately priced wallpaper line that can be used for both kids’ and adults’ rooms. However, beauty may be my first love—it is just another way to approach design and style.   I lived in  London  a few years ago and wasn’t able to work because of visa issues  (was there for my husband’s job).   I wrote a ton of beauty/spa and beauty product reviews on Doryn’s Dish and pursued something I always wanted to do which was makeup and hair styling. I LOVED every second of my classes but never really did much with it because we moved back and I was pregnant with my daughter. However, just recently, I have partnered with an amazing mascara product called LashControl that I recommend daily to friends and family and I couldn’t be more excited to be on board. I am working on the creative development and marketing and it is FUN! It’s a dream come true and it’s going to be HUGE. As I get older, I realize that as a creative person, it is difficult to limit yourself to just one creative field. We are typically able to do many different things which is both wonderful and difficult at times because we can’t sit still. But I think deep inside me there’s a much hipper, cooler Martha Stewart waiting to be born. 🙂

SB: All of these images are of Doryn’s home she recently complete. The spaces are eclectic, inviting and fresh. I also this candid, down-to-earth interview with Doryn. Most importantly I am so glad she is following her heart and doing what she loves. Life’s just too short! Thanks Doryn for your time!

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Read full story By on September 26, 2011 in bathrooms, foyers, interior design, interview

Design Blogger Series: What Would You Do? #8

This is the eighth Design Blogger Series: What Would You Do? and I am thrilled to have four incredibly talented interior designers and bloggers participating in this series today.   





Tobi Fairley {Tobi’s Blog}, Ashlina Kaposta {The Decorista}, Camilla Pavone {Effortless Style} and Lisa {Hamptontoes} were asked to design a space around the chic & worldly Aleppo Inlay Side Table from Serena & Lily. You are going to love what they came up with!




Tobi Fairley inspiration board bedroom

“I love the inlay of this piece by Serena and Lily, it creates such a Marrakech vibe that I wanted to embrace in my design.  Pairing it with the shaped headboard, the great patterned rug, and the framed textile all pay homage to this same essence but without being overly matched or coordinated. To round out the design and really play off the popular pink and navy palette, I threw in the great Mottega gourd lamp and some graphic pillows for a chic look.” – Tobi Fairley, Tobi Fairley Interior Designs
* Simplified Bee’s favorite thing about Tobi’s design: Hands down, I love the framed  vintage “Feathers” textile  by the French engraver, painter and textile artist Paule Marrot.
the decorista entry design inspiration
“So, I love love love fabulous entryways and this perfect little ivory table is a great starting point. Throw in a pair of oversized blue and white urns from Taigan on either side. Top the sweet little table off with fashion books and a beautifully shaped double gourded lamp in a bright pop of color! I also love the geometric feel of this mirror from Zgallerie. So incredibly stylish and chic….Voila, a fabulous entryway!” – Ashlina Kaposta, The Decorista

* Simplified Bee’s favorite thing about Ashlina’s design: The pair of oversized blue & white urns are gorgeous and add great color to this chic entry.
 
effortless style bedroom design inspiration board

“So happy to be participating in this series. I always love seeing everyone’s take on the featured item. I’ve been obsessed with decorating a dream beach house that I am no where near having, but it’s free to dream!” – Camilla Pavone, Effortless Style

1. Since it’s a beach house we’ll need a little touch of coral and this chandelier has always been a favorite. 2. I would cover all of the walls in this orange grasscloth wallpaper.I love all of the different shades of orange featured in it. 3. Yummy marigold lamp with lucite base to place on top of nightstand. 4.Our bed needs a little toss pillow pattern play. I picked out some colors from the rug and went with a diamond patterned pillow and blue ikat pillow. 5. Had to go with my go-to chic & cheap bed vendor and I picked out a arc notched bed. 6. Inlay table that I am using as a nightstand. 7. The dreamy rug that made everything come together!

* Simplified Bee’s favorites thing about Camilla’s design: The ikat rug is fantastic. I love how it pulls the color palette together. Love!

 

“I’m thrilled to be participating in your What Would You Do? series, and especially alongside a savvy group of bloggers. Per your suggestion to use retail items, I created a space for a little girl whose parents desired a traditional room with a modern day feel for their young daughter.

The Alepoo side table will serve as her bedside table for where she can rest her books, including Just Being Audrey. The Dwell wallcovering will give her small room a jewel box feel, creating a wonderful “wow” statement when entering the space. Her Serena and Lilly headboard paired with her Pottery Barn Kids bedding are clean and classic, two elements that give the space a timeless essence. The Madame Alexander Fancy Nancy doll sitting on her bed caters this little girls love of dolls, playing and using her imagination. Posh Tots is always a sure bet to find something special, including this rug. And because every jewelry box needs a special gem, this Worlds Away chic yellow lighting fixture adds a punch of unexpected yet complimentary color, which can be purchased through Maddie Designs.” – Lisa, Hamptontoes
* Simplified Bee’s favorite thing about Lisa’s design: Loving the unexpected  pop of yellow color in the flowering light pendant Lisa adds to this sweet little girl’s bedroom!

Don’t you just love what these designers have created? I found a couple common threads: Three of the four designed bedrooms using the side table and all used light fixtures to deliver accent colors. What similarities or differences do see?


Also, a big thank you to Tobi, Ashlina, Camilla and Lisa for participating in this series!

xo,
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Read full story By on September 19, 2011 in bedrooms, design blogger series, foyers, interior design, lighting

Home Tour: Eco-friendly, Healthy Home Design

Building healthier, more energy-efficient homes is in no way a passing fad. And if you think green homes are just ho-hum, take a look at the Concord Green Healthy Home.

all-american green home design
Interior design and owner, Lisa Kauffman Tharp and architect Stephanie Horowitz of Zero Energy designed the beautiful eco-friendly Concord, Massachusetts home.

all-american front porch green
all-american home front door white
eco-friendly home entryway slate floor
eco-friendly white designer kitchen
eco-friend home kitchen nook bench
eco-friendly designer home
eco-friendly designer living room
map wallpaper office
eco-friendly design bath sink lighting


Isn’t green beautiful? For more details and gorgeous pictures of this home, please visit Houzz.

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Read full story By on September 6, 2011 in bathrooms, breakfast nooks, foyers, green design, interior design, kitchens, living rooms