Material Girls

Vintage Remix + Rummage

 I recently had the pleasure of attending a book launch event at Los Angeles based interior designer & showroom owner, Kishani Perera’s chic shop, Rummage.

The event was hosted by model/actress Molly Sims (along with a surprise appearance by actor Gary Oldman!) For proof, just check out this pic of Erika from Small Shop Studio with actor Gary Oldman!

An interior view of Kishani’s cute and chic shop, Rummage, from the upstairs mezzanine (where she also has her very cool studio space!).

Kishani’s book, Vintage Remix, is a must have!

I managed to get a copy of the book – and when I sat down to flip through it, I was awe inspired! Page after page of inspiring interiors, including Kishani’s projects and design philosophy. I really enjoyed seeing her own work space which is feautured in the book as well.

Kishani with Christian of Maison21 at her book launch event.

Another interior pic of Rummage, from near the front entrance.

Stylish vignettes and yummy desserts at the party!

If you’re in LA, defintely go visit Rummage!

All photos by Jill Seidner Interior Design

And a very special Happy Birthday to Kishani – as today is her birthday!

The Latest from B I+D!

Things have been very busy around BID headquarters!  We have several fab additions to our team, Jessica-previous assistant to the hugely talented artist Francine Turk, Brenna-mostly recently from the Bradley Hughes Showroom (one of my favorite resources) at the Mart, and Caroline-newly handling the BID Showroom and our 1stdibs foray. We also have our hands full with a variety of amazing new projects both here and around the country. I am secretly loving the travel until tonight-as am stranded at the New Orleans Airport indefinitely. The upside is that I scored some one of a kind treasures from this town of special haunts and secret antique venues.

 One of my most recently completed projects is a North Shore home for a family transplanted to Chicago from Michigan-outside of Detroit.  This lovely family of 6 wanted to completely change the look and feel of this old home to reflect their sophisticated, chic- yet comfortable and family friendly aesthetic.  We did a complete overhaul throughout the entire house, including new paint colors both inside and outside, all new light fixtures, modifying the kitchen finishes and providing furnishings throughout the whole house with custom pieces and spectacular fabrics and materials-for both furniture, wall coverings and window treatments. Special art for each room, accessories,rugs and spectacular artifacts add  to the finishing touches.

We are in the process of finishing up and photographing many more projects, so stay tuned for upcoming info and photos from all things B I+D! There is nothing like the feeling of sharing a new project…..Thanks go out all the way around for those people who have helped me create some design magic.

All photography courtesy of Buckingham Interiors + Design and shot by Eric Hausman.  All floral design by Julia Buckingham Edelmann.

Drexel Heritage & Thomasville Showroom Tours at High Point

While attending High Point Market last month, I also had the opportunity to visit both the Drexel Heritage and Thomasville Showrooms located in the International Home Furnishings Center (IHFC).  If you happen to be in High Point – be sure to check out the IHFC and visit both showrooms which are located directly across from each other. Until then – here’s a preview of what you might see!

The entrance to the Drexel Heritage showroom.

Cassandra from Coco + Kelley tests out a fun chair in a bright yellow fabric.

One of my favorites, this tie-dyed nail-head console.

Another spectacular piece, this statement headboard upholstered in a fun bug fabric!

The fabric room at Drexel Heritage – so well stocked and organized, with an inventory of just about anything you could possibly be looking for!

There’s also an abundance of finish assortments to choose from, including many options in wood tones and paint colors.

An entire section is dedicated to dining room furnishings, including bar stools, counter stools, and a counter stool banquette – as modeled by Cassie.

For the more traditional, an upholstered headboard and foot bench make for great classics.

Among the room vignettes are lots of great accent pieces, such as this Moroccan inspired nail-head upsholstered side table.

The entrance to the two story Thomasville showroom at IHFC.

There are some fabulous headboards in their collection, like this tufted scalloped version.

All shapes & sizes, and can be customized in many fabric options.

Cute little chair, in equally cute fabric! (I saw a picture of this chair go by on Twitter as the perfect chair for “tweeting” – true!)

My infamous “Chair model Cassie” testing out a glam chair she eyed.

All photos by Jill Seidner Interior Design

Thank you to Drexel Heritage and Thomasville for the extensive tours and inviting us to come visit the showrooms during High Point Market! Thank you to Lisa Hanly for coordinating our showroom tours for High Point Market!

High Point Hickory Chair Showroom Tour

Last week while attending High Point Spring Market, I had the opportunity to tour the Hickory Chair showroom in North Carolina. Hickory recently celebrated their 100 year anniversary – quite an impression, and a lasting one – so happy to know the longevity of a company, with it’s furnishings made right in our country, hand made, and built to last. I could not be more supportive of that!

Here’s a glimpse into the Hickory Chair showroom – only a fraction of what is to be seen as the rooms are packed full of amazing goods. I highly recommend a visit if you happen to be in High Point, NC – but here’s a start!

Off the main entry are steps that lead to room vignette after room vignette, including spaces dedicated to Hickory Chair’s exclusive designers, including: Alexa Hampton, Mariette Himes Gomez, Suzanne Kasler, Thomas O’Brien, & more!

One of my favorite rooms was the inspiration room by Hable Construction, featuring the latest Hable Textiles. Loved how creative the display was, inspiring indeed – and really loved all the textiles!

Just something really different – textiles from Hable Construction.

And in blue too!

More from the Hable Construction inspiration room!

Another highlight of our showroom tour was meeting some of the interior designer’s in their actual spaces at Hickory Chair! Here is my friend Sheena with interior designer Alexa Hampton. (The introductions went something like this, “Hi, I’m Sheena, your summer intern.”) Alexa is also very humourous by the way, I think we all had a good laugh talking with her.

Just part of Alexa Hampton’s room vignette – the wall color is an amazing, dramatic glossy navy blue.

In the next room over, we met interior designer Mariette Himes Gomez and her daughter Brooke. It was neat to engage with them and hear their stories. Nevermind meeting them in person!

An upholstered bed designed by Mariette Himes Gomez. I like that it’s not too feminine, yet not too masculine either.

A fun, girly room designed by Suzanne Kasler. (Of course, Cassandra from Coco + Kelley immediately declared this was Ashlina from The Decorista’s future girl’s bedroom – and had to text her to tell her!)

And then ALL the girls wanted their picture taken in the room (they fit in so well!). Here’s Ashlina of The Decorista, Crystal of Rue Magazine, & Cassie from Coco + Kelley.

Another fun surprise was seeing fellow blogger and designer Tobi Fairley’s furnishings at Hickory Chair. I really think they greatly reflect Tobi’s design aesthetics!

Love this chair by Tobi too!

Also saw some interesting pieces of furniture, and lots of pretty colors too – like with this chest!

And this fun, colorul zig zag print fabric!

Pretty colors on this ottoman bench and sofa fabric and pillows, as seen at Hickory Chair.

Perfectly pretty side table as seen in a bedroom vignette.

All photos by Jill Seidner Interior Design

A special thank you to Hickory Chair for inviting me to tour the showroom and experience High Point. Many thanks to Laura Holland at Hickory Chair for her expertise and knowledgeable showroom tour. 

New from Melanie Turner

Or new to me.  This living room designed by Melanie Turner perfectly sums up my aesthetic and I’m loving it!  It’s fun to find a room you haven’t designed that you could move right into!

Blush pink curtain panels, fuschia velvet pillows, white slips, and a mirrored coffee table – yes, yes, yes!

Perfect Accessorizing

All About Exteriors

Recently, I have been working on a couple of projects where we are focusing on the exteriors…with Spring here and Summer around the corner, time to fix up the outdoors! Here’s some inspiring outdoor spaces!

Love a graveled courtyard.

How charming is this guest house!

A lush garden.

Love these steps!

Such a cozy, intimate space.

How fun is this!

Amazingly elegant!

Dreamy!

All images from here and here on Pinterest.

The Wallpapered Bathroom

Wallpaper in a powder room or bathroom adds flair and character…take a look at these wallpapered spaces!

Light and pretty, works great above the wainscoting!

Bright and cherry, with lots of pattern!

Simple fixtures…with bold pattern.

An elegant powder room.

A retreat of a bathroom, that is sunny and light filled with a graphic pattern.

A very narrow powder room with a bold trellis wallpaper.

Black and white stripes, so classic!

Stunning with navy blue grasslcoth above the patterned/textured wainscoting.

Another classic striped wallcovering, reminds me of men’s suiting material, for the masculine.

And a bit of whimsy!

{All images via here on Pinterest}

The Compact Kitchen

For many undertaking a kitchen remodel, the goal is typically to expand an already compact kitchen. However, the reality is often times some spaces cannot be enlarged or expanded by increasing the square footage. Instead maximizing a compact kitchen space and aesthetically improving it’s design and style is the most ideal way to turn a small space into a big improvement!

Modern and minimalist, this kitchen epitomizes the aesthetics of a compact kitchen.

Super space saver and super sophisticated – sometimes putting the best into a small space is great on the return.

This compact kitchen has a more expansive feel by it’s use of open shelving, mirrors, and pass-thru counter / bar height seating. Maximizing space to it’s fullest it includes a built-in banquette dining area.

This is a layout I have done for many small kitchens – incorpoating an island with seating and storage, prep sink optional, makes for a functional compact kitchen.

Classic and contemporary, sink side feels open with windows and cabinets are best placed to maximize storage.

A model (pun intended) example of a compact kitchen, this one in a Manhattan loft, where even the narrowest of islands provides functionality.

Light, bright, and airy – a tiny kitchen that feels very open and even includes a little counter seating area by incorporating a tiny ledge of surface area.

Another kitchen with an island and bar height seating, not to mention a full height cabinet help to make this compact kitchen feel more open.

Taking cabinets full height (to the ceiling) is a great idea to make any kitchen feel larger, whether or not it’s compact.

Images via Pinterest and Elle Decor.

More on Merida

I spent most of my afternoon at the Soho House visiting with the Merida girls who gave us the inside scoop on the textile design process from concept to creation.   The creativity and detail that goes into each design convinced me that I need to take a trip to Boston to see their design studio and get a tour of the weaving mill – so that’s the plan.  I’m hoping to make my way up this Fall with my friends from Tilton Fenwick who are both former Boston girls (BC and Tufts), as am I.  Until then, I leave you with this; some beautiful images from Merida’s website so you can see a glimpse of their beautiful collection.

A design by Barclay Butera via Merida Meridian

Another Design by Barclay

The viewpoint wool collection

Celerie Kemble’s collection which there will be more of this summer!

Waffle Weave

Felted Cable design

Diamond sisal from their Broadway collection

Thanks again to the team (Catherine, Roxanne, Nicola, Maegan, Siobhan, Whitney) at Merida for having us today and showing us such a beautiful collection.  Each and every member of the team was so welcoming and talented.  I can’t wait to see you all in Boston soon!

I Am Not Over Valentine’s Day!!!!!

Decor Pad

I confess…it is not over for me.  I love the heartfelt messages from my oldest brother, our daughters, and hearing that our son liked his edible fruit bouquet. I thought that he would mock but he and his roommates dug in. Healthy choice, no?.  Thank you boyfriend’s of my girlz that you provided amazing flowers and dinners and gifts:)

What better way to perpetuate and  to celebrate the holiday of love than by featuring red and pink interiors?  As seen from the photos below, red and pink can be used in virtually any space, from a small scale to a large scale.  Floors, walls, doors…you name it, red and pink have got it covered. Did I mention that my gift of choice was a bevy of Lush bath bombs? I am addicted!

Pairing red and pink with white or black are traditional combinations, but I love the unexpected color combinations- pink + gold, red + yellow, red + light blue, pink + blue, pink + yellow.

Take a look at some of my Valentine’s Day inspired picks below! I am hoping that we can keep the day going for awhile here…..

Pinterest

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Decor Pad

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My very own kitchen.  Images from Rue Magazine .

Photographer Werner Straube

Twice as Nice

Exterior of this North Shore home

All of my projects are special and unique in some way, but one particular project was unlike anything I’d done before. Well, it was exactly like what I’d done before…it was the same house, but a different client!  I had designed this particular North Shore home for lovely clients back in 2008, but they sold the home a few years later to an equally lovely couple, who wanted me to overhaul the home and take it in a completely different direction than I had done for the previous homeowner.  Make no mistake- they loved the home as it was designed before and fell in love with it “as was.”  It was a surprise to see their home on my website after being referred by a mutual friend. I like this kind of surprise

Although they did keep some of the same features and fixtures as the previous homeowner, their design aesthetic was driven towards a more colorful and layered feel. I knew that we were moving away the “French” feel after several consultations and Merchandise Mart visits with them proved. The look of the home under the previous homeowner had been very “French Country”, but my new clients wanted more of a modern, eclectic feel.  Very different, but equally as fun!  This is a wonderful home, and I am so glad that it has had such loving homeowners!  Welcome fabulous art that we sourced in New York together.  A nod to Indian and Chinese influences.

Take a look at the “then” and “now” photos…keep an eye out for the new owners pup making a cameo

Photographs courtesy of Buckingham Interiors + Design.

Living room 2012

Living Room 2012

Living Room 2012

Living Room 2008

Dining Room 2012

Dining Room 2012

Dining Room 2008

Hallway 2012

Hallway 2008

Stairway 2012

Stairway 2008

Kitchen 2012

Kitchen 2008

Master Bedroom 2012

Master Bedroom 2008

Family Room 2012

Den 2012

Indoor Pool 2012

Backyard of house

Designer 911

It’s been one of those weeks where I’ve been stretching myself so thin, I feel as though there’s got to be a more efficient way to get things done.  I’m meeting with clients, painters, contractors, architects, shopping, returning, cleaning up after a painter (i’m not above it), pinning, blogging, creating contracts, putting out fires (not literally), billing, creating, scheming and the list goes on.  Wouldn’t it be nice to hire some help to get you through the busier weeks but not pay for full-time help?  Well, wake up NYC – Designer Attache has arrived and they’re here to help only when you need them.  I like to call them designer 911 but their real names are Brittany and Nicole.  These two design extraoidinaires have started a business that offers assistant design services to interior designers by the hour or for a flat fee by project.  If you’re like me and you can use an extra hand or two, give them a call.  They’re ready to save you!

Brittany and Nicole

Lighten Up!

Occasionally it’s refreshing to see interiors that are airy, light, and bright. While dark colors can be exciting and dramatic, lighter colors tend to be more soothing. Often times, clients request warm colors for the sake of having some richness to their rooms. Yet, this past week I did a paint color consultation for a client’s new home where we went with “barely there colors” – paint colors almost devoid of anything but a hint of color.  Sometimes it’s nice to “lighten up!”

{image via Hometown Girl}

Tone on tone, whites and creams.

Benjamin Moore Elmira White HC-84

{image via Pinterest}

A crisp white, bright entry!

Benjamin Moore Decorator White 1-04

{image via Home-Styling}

Light with a subtle hint of pink.

Benjamin Moore Mirage White 2116-70

{image via House & Home}

Cool blues and grays.

Benjamin Moore Wales Gray 1585

{image via Pinterest}

Off-whites and grays.

Benjamin Moore Owl Gray 2137-60

{image via Pinterest}

Cabinets painted in greige with a soft white contrast.

Benjamin Moore Ozark Shadow AC-26

{image via Pinterest}

A tone on tone affect with a hint of warmth.

Benjamin Moore Lancaster Whitewash HC-174

{*for E.}

Rumor Mill

Is it true that Lonny magazine has closed it’s digital doors or will it live on under the supervision of Meredith Corporation?  Check out Curbed.com for the full story and see what the talk around town is.. . I, for one, want the real 411.  Michelle Adams, editor in chief of Lonny Magazine, has an exciting announcement to make.  Let’s just hope it means Lonny will stay afloat in some form – we need these younger, fresher, hipper magazines to thrive so that we can continue to gather inspiration from innovative ideas and sources.  Plus, it’s much better for us decorators to have more places to display our work once we’ve completed a project.  wink.

Pinterest Inspiration

Browsing Pinterest is like a great day of window shopping, except from the comfort of my own home or office (shhhhh)!  I open Pinterest and vow to only spend a few minutes for inspiration gathering.  However, those 5 minutes somehow turn into an hour.  This evening’s visit to Pinterest, per usual, produced many inspirational images that I want to share with MG readers-heck the editing process took at least an hour.  Check out my latest finds on one of my favorite sites.  Follow me so that I can see what your favorites are!