THE HOME I GREW UP IN

I was at my Dad's house tonight and we were going through some old photos. "Do you want to see pictures of our house when you were a baby?" Um, yes!!

And that's when I saw these gems. My home looked almost exactly the same until I was 17 years old. That's right - we had a mirror wall, rock accent wall, and brass fireplace with the metal mesh on it until the year 2000. Way too long, and yet I love the antique vibe in my home and seeing these pictures reminded me why I have a thing for Asian pottery, brass, and grasscloth wallpaper.

The only interior photos he had were of our living/dining room. I wish he had more! But enjoy these retro beauties:)

I broke that lamp on the side table - my parents bought it in China. It's safe to say my Mom was pretty devastated about the loss of that lamp and I was grounded because of it. The pillows on the sofa were beautiful embroidered pillows also from China. (My parents went to China for 3 weeks when I was 6 months old - a trip for work that was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them.)

Call me crazy, but I kind of love the fireplace design even though it's really retro. And look at the lines on both of the sofas - so great! I wish I had the foresight to ask for those sofas when they were giving them away!

This picture must have been taken on a day they were having a party at the house. We only put chairs like that out on the patio when we were having family or friends over. Loving the wicker chairs on the patio and the bamboo chair in the corner.

I never liked that triangular window. But I'm guessing it was a cool design back then because I have torn quite a few of these windows out of homes we remodel - more than I wish ever existed. But the Asian screen could be very cool even today, right?! My sister gave it to someone and I'm kicking myself I didn't ask for it. It was hand painted and quite pretty.

I'm so grateful to have these pictures. Even though it seems a bit trivial, everyone should take pictures of their home. These pictures bring back more memories than other photos of specific events because they remind me of my everyday life in my home. They remind me of the details of my childhood. How I would sometimes sleep on the yellow sofa and how I told my sister on that sofa about my first kiss. Or how I hit the corner of the rock wall and got stitches. And how every Christmas morning we would come get our stockings that were hanging over this fireplace at 4 am because we were too excited to sleep. Looking at these photos has also helped me understand where my design influence has come from. As a designer, I really appreciate that.

If you don't have photos of your home for your kids, do it now. They will definitely appreciate it one day. There are so many details we forget!

BLUE VELVET SOFA FOR SALE!

Do you remember this post that Jamie did on BLUE VELVET? Do you remember this beautiful couch from Jonathan Adler that we are loving?

Well it just so happened that I had a garage sale going on that Saturday up the street from me and I spotted a fantastic mid-century sofa for only $50 and knew it needed me to give it a new life again (even though I didn't need it or have anywhere to put it!) The lines on the sofa were somewhat similar to the Jonathan Adler sofa and I had an idea...

So I called my good friend Brian @ Rocky Mountain Upholstery and had him come pick up the couch to reupholster it, and give it new cushions (because this couch really did live in the mid-century!)

I searched and searched for the perfect blue velvet, that wasn't crazy expensive (velvets tend to be) and found this fantastic Duralee velvet in Ocean. It was tricky finding a blue velvet because they can look a little purple or some were dull. I wanted it to have dimension but be a true deep navy blue velvet and I couldn't be happier with the fabric. It is 100% Cotton, but it will wear fabulously and if you protect it with a Scotch Guard you should be good to go!

SO here is the reupholstered blue velvet sofa! And unfortunately for me I think I need to sell it even though I love it in my office. This beauty is for sale for $1550 (local pick up only, unless we can figure out a way to ship it!)

The velvet color in this photo is a better representation of the color in person.

It sits very comfortably, although probably not the sofa you want to go in your basement for watching football games. It's a perfect front-room/living room/family room/office sofa. Think of the possibilities!

You can create an eclectic graphic look by adding bold patterned pillows mixed with vintage furniture and a large fun print.

Or add a pop of yellow paired with a traditional rug in an office to create a more "Mad Men" look.

I love the idea of putting a vintage velvet sofa in a traditional home with a large graphic print overhead. This has been a long-time favorite of mine. (must add brass accents!)

Or add some silky Asian-inspired pillows and floral prints to give it a girly glam look.

That coral pom pom looks amazing next to the blue velvet - add some coral accents (pillows, vases, a lamp or even a pom like this photo) to make your blue velvet sofa look like a jewel!

How beautiful is this room?! Love the blue velvet sofa with the camel-colored leather chesterfield sofa! (Notice how this blue velvet sofa has the white wood below like my sofa!)

Or style it like Emily Henderson with a very cool graphic canvas and a cow hide rug (Ikea has a great one).

Can you see the many possibilities! Send me an email if you are interested!

HOTEL TOUR - WASHINGTON SCHOOL HOUSE, PARK CITY

If you live in Utah and you have picked up a design magazine in the last year you will have seen photos of the Washington School House Hotel in Park City, but the other day I picked up my Traditional Home Magazine and saw a feature on the hotel in there and I remembered how much I love this hotel. For my next birthday or anniversary I am going to put a weekend stay at this hotel on my list, for sure!

The design of this hotel is almost EXACTLY how I would want to design a hotel if ever I had the chance. It is a wintery dreamland filled with antique furniture and velvet sofas.

The hotel was designed by Paul and Shannon Wehsener of Paul Allen Design based out of California. Here are some photos from the hotel's website. Check out their photo gallery for more (I know I can't get enough!)

Amazing, right?! Hope you enjoyed these photos of this hotel as much as I did! Happy Monday!

MY DESIGN BFF - DARRYL CARTER

This is a picture of my best-friend, Darryl Carter. OKAY, he doesn't know he's my best-friend, but I'm pretty sure we would be if we ever met! Or maybe not, but I do LOVE his style. Oh, do I love his style, and let me count the ways...

1) He loves white as much as I do. (take a look at all off his interiors - all white walls!)

2) He has a minimalist approach to design. (I too think less is more)

3) He has a definite American vibe. (I lean more American than anything else)

4) His designs are so classic, meaningful and unique! (you all know how much I believe in meaningful design)

5) He uses a lot of American antiques. (I LOVE a great American antique, but antiques need to be balanced with modern, or the less-is-more approach)

6) He is based out of Washington D.C. and has a very "D.C. style" (My design aesthetic came from loving my grandparents style, which is very D.C., because they lived in Washington D.C.. It's where my Mom was born and raised and where half of my family was born)

Mr. Carter is a self-taught designer who happened to be an attorney before he became one of the great American designers. Because I too am a "self-taught" designer I always love to hear the success stories of other people who did not go to school. 

And now for Darryl Carter's greatest-hits. And Darryl, if you happen by this post, call me! 

all images via pinterest

 Let's start with my long-time favorite...

A lamp on the floor?! Kind of like it in this space.

Love all the white w the black accents.

A very unconventional dining area - so cool.

That zebra chaise is ah-mazing!

Loving all the white + the glass shelves that see through to the kitchen.

Warm whites.

Super cool kitchen - look at that antique table turned into an island!

Beautiful bedroom with more white + black + zebra

Shelving genius + I love the white painted floor.

Antiques in the bathroom + the chevron floor.

Love this classic bathroom

Antiques but in a modern, eclectic set-up.

I'm a sucker for a kilim/antique rug in a kitchen

Wainscot + white + wood

Beautiful designed round table setting

More zebra! And I'm loving the piano decor.

He used the trendy chalk-board idea in a more modern + classy way

Maybe the only thing by BFF is missing is some gold in his designs. Or he could start a new design firm called White + Black next to my design firm White + Gold! What do you think?

Also, as you look at his work you definitely see a lot of repeats (zebra rugs, black accents, traditional sconces, white sofas). As a designer I have this fear of people thinking I'm a one-note designer, but in a way my friend Darryl has a little of that going on and I don't mind it one bit. What do you think? Is it good to have such a definite style that defines you, or is a more creative approach better?