Finally, It's Time!!

The time has finally arrived. The National Harbor, Washington, DC episode of HGTV's "Showhouse Showdown" will air tomorrow at 2:30PM EST. In this show I compete against another professional interior designer to build and decorate a show house. The homes are matching except they have opposite floor plans. We are both given a budget and a certain amount of time to get everything together. The houses are then judged at an Open House event by the public. The event as well as the "reveal" is taped for the show. Approximately 500 people attended the open house in September 2011 to decide who will win the show. Tomorrow the process of putting the show house together and all the bumps and curves I had to take will be revealed, as will the winner. I am looking forward to it. Please join me!

Heart of Bronze.

I stumbled upon this lamp today. As soon as I saw it my heartbeat quickened and I grew flush with excitement. I think it is whimsical, fun, completely unique and the perfect jewel piece for the right space. It's not typical. It's totally unexpected and it is cast in bronze. Which is cool. It is not possible to break this heart. The "Kardia" lamp from Carbonell Design Studio, has a lamp foundation made of bronze with the human heart painted in either antique gold or antique nickel. I believe I even saw a version of the lamp on the Carbonell Design Studio that had the cord that ascends from the heart in red. This is not a mass produced lamp. It is beautifully handmade in the United States. I want one.

Everyone is watching you!

Wallpaper detail, (above)

Just the other day I was explaining to a client how I like to install wallpaper in a powder room. BOLD wallpaper. FUN wallpaper. UNIQUE wallpaper. The reason being that the powder room is typically a small, special gem of a room that is off, out of the way from the main rooms in a house and it does not necessarily have to match the decor of the surrounding spaces. When you escape to the powder room make arrive in the room a surprise, a shock or a non-stop laughing storm, Trove is a company that creates wallpaper that all carry out my message. Shown here is their "Fuoco" wallpaper. Use of this wall covering may sing to the visitor it's own song It may carry it's own tune or deliver some kind of message or be just be plain quirky. Bright colored wallpaper, a delicious floral, hot pink and black stripes with white bathroom accessories amidst adjoining rooms that are all painted in a neutral color palette is a swift departure from the rest of a home. This wallpaper is printed withe balconies towering in a theater. Hundreds of people are watching your "performance". A quick touch up of lipstick might gain a standing ovation. If you tend to be a bit "pee shy" in public, this wallpaper may keep you center row orchestra watching the complete production of the "Mahabharata" on their smart phone. So...Be bold. Be unique. Be fun. Make others happy. This is one of the benchmarks of tasteful and outstanding interior design. Guests who exclaim that there is a flock of crows flying through your bathroom have received a message of your design individuality and good sense!

Wallpaper panel from "Trove"

Do something wonderful with this extra day...

Help! I Have Problems.

Nifty. Fun. Whimsical. I really like the packaging for Help Remedies line of effective medications and treatments for many common everyday ailments. Try some ibuprofen pills for a body ache. Maybe a bandage would come in handy if you cut yourself. And I know nothing is a sure bet as some diphenhydramine for helping to fall asleep. These spiffy remedies are available for purchase in packs of four or try the entire "I have problems" kit with an assortment of all the potions, pills and fixes.