Yesterday was quite an exciting day for me, as I was invited to attend a reception for world-renowned designer, Barbara Barry. Ms. Barry is known for her elegant and extensive line of products, including furnishings, textiles, lighting and tile. She was at the Henredon Showroom to display her latest line of furniture, speak to the local designers, and answer all of our burning questions.

With her soft color palettes, subtle, curving lines, and impeccable tailoring, the Barbara Barry brand has become synonymous with sophistication. By ushering in this refined, new sense of glamor, Barbara has become a true stylemaker and an icon for designers like me. She has an authenticity about her and it is evident in everything she does. After admiring her work and the unique style she exudes, I was so delighted to hear that I would actually get the chance to meet and speak with Barbara herself.

During her speech to the 50 or so designers present, Barbara spoke of her travels, where she finds inspiration, and what she finds beautiful. She described to us how she pays attention to the simpler things, focusing on lines and shapes more than any trend or fad. She told us to always consider how everything will relate together, combining old and new and always adding a soul to your space. While she was speaking, I really loved how she related to all of us as peers and had a real, heartfelt sentiment to everything she was saying.

After her speech was over, she went around the room meeting with designers individually, taking pictures, and signing autographs. When my turn came, I told her that I was just starting out as a new designer and thanked her being an inspiration to me. Before I even had the chance to ask for advice, she grasped my hands and told me to always be confident in my decisions. She said I need to dress myself in that confidence and always carry myself that way. Barbara exuded a sincerity and warmth that was so lovely, and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to speak with her. I have taken all of her advice to heart and I am just so thankful for the brief words of wisdom she imparted on me. I won't soon forget this experience and all that I learned from it.

To end this entry, I thought I'd share with you one quote of hers from yesterday that really stuck with me. She was describing how in our industry, it can be hard to know if you're succeeding, with various awards and egos, it's difficult to define success. Here's how Barbara defined it:

"If you enjoy what you're doing, then you are successful."

So simply put and honest...I loved that.

Lately I've been working with a client to add the finishing touches to her master suite. She was looking to warm up the walls with a new paint color, add extra lighting, bring in new drapery & pillow fabrics, and add colorful accessories.

Our initial step was to select a paint color to coordinate with her existing bedding. We went with a warm, creamy netural, Carrington Beige, from Benjamin Moore.

 To add more lighting we decided to bring in a pair of double-arm wall sconces. These sconces will flank a dresser to provide more adequate lighting and make a timeless decorative statement as well.

While in the process of selecting fabrics, we went to a variety of showrooms at the Design Center as well as our local JoAnn Fabrics store. We were looking for fabrics to work with the soft creme and gold color palette in her existing bedding, as well as fabrics with a soft gray-blue accent color to tie in with the blue in the master bath. We were able to find fabrics we liked at both places, but as in any design project, we had some setbacks. Our first choice fabrics were either too expensive or out of stock, so we had to do a little extra research, but ended up with a mix of fabrics from both the low and high-end vendors that really work beautifully together.

Since making all of our selections, we've placed our fabric and light fixture orders, and are now awaiting their arrival. After the walls are painted, the sconces are installed, and the drapes and pillows sewn, all that's left to do is accessorize! I'm excited to see this project come to life and to help create a beautiful, restful and timeless space for my client to enjoy.

Stay tuned for more details and photos once our project is complete!