One of the fun, new projects I’m working on right now is a bedroom makeover for a good friend of mine from high school. She hasn’t had her bedroom furniture or décor updated since she was just a little girl, so with her recent graduation from college, her mom thought it was about time to give her room a more modern, grown up look to reflect her new, grown up life.

We started this process by looking for furniture and defining our color palette. After pulling a few inspiration fabrics from the design center, she was drawn to a palette of black and white with a pop of aqua blue. With our new color scheme in mind, we then decided to have our furniture pieces act as our black and white and let the paint, throw pillows and table lamps be our accents of blue. In addition, we decided to incorporate accessories with silver mercury finishes to add a modern touch.

Next week we’ll be making our final decisions and begin placing orders, so I will keep you all updated on how the project is looking once we things get started. Until then I thought I’d share some images of the pieces we’re considering to get a better idea of the look we’re going for.

I’m very excited to be working on this project and help make this new bedroom a reality for a wonderful friend of mine. This should be one fun makeover!

Side Note: For followers of my most recent post, the laundry room project is nearly finished! We’re just waiting on artwork to be framed, so as soon as we get that in I’ll be putting pictures up for all of you to see the complete transformation!

One of the current projects I'm working on is the remodel of a laundry room. We’re looking to update the existing appliances and materials to make this a more clean, modern and organized space.

First we’ll be replacing the outdated washer and dryer with new, energy-efficient, front-loading units. Next, we’ll give the floor a face-lift by removing the existing linoleum with new 13” ceramic tiles in a variation of light neutral tones.  After the tile is in place we plan to paint the walls a light, pale yellow with new white trim woodwork to make this small space a little brighter.

The other additions we’ll be making to this room will be a foldout ironing board wall unit, a closet shelf system organizer, semi-flush mount light fixture and a roman shade for the window. The ironing board wall unit will be a great space saver and will eliminate the bulky collapsible ironing board currently being used. The new closet system organizer will have adjustable shelving to allow enough space for mops, brooms and vacuums to be stored upright, with smaller shelves for cleaning products running alongside. Having this new shelving system will be a great way to stay organized and ensure plenty of room for all necessary items. The new light fixture will be a semi-flush mount, dropping down a little bit lower than the existing fixture, to bring in an updated look and give added interest. Lastly, the new roman shade will provide a more modern window treatment and will help bring out our white and yellow color scheme. We plan on using a small-scale striped fabric that will look clean and tailored.

After all additions are in place we’ll plan on accessorizing with a linen fabric tack board, wire storage baskets, a small watercolor painting and some potted plants. Most of our project is already underway, with the new appliances, flooring, and paint job already complete. Once the project is finished I’ll be sure to post the “after” pictures. Stay tuned!

Ever since I started blogging, I've been wanting to do a "Favorite Things" blog as a way to share a glimpse of my personal style and the furnishings I love. With the holidays right around the corner, I thought now might be a fun time to show you some of my favorite pieces... a little "wish list" if you will :) The furnishings I've selected exemplify an "updated traditional" style, a cross between modern and traditional that I've come to love.

While researching pieces for this entry, I have to say that I got a little overexcited and couldn't manage to fit them all on here, so you can look forward to more "Favorite Things" entries to come. Next up, I plan to explore fabrics & wallcoverings, but take a look at my first favorite findings...enjoy!

Chairs: from Lee Furniture, these chairs feature earth-friendly upholstery in organic fabrics. I'm a huge fan of this company for the range of styles they carry and their ecological conscious through their construction and materials.

Stools: from Global Views and Wisteria, these occasional pieces are the perfect accent for a bedroom or living room. The upholstered stools provide extra, accessible seating while the drum stool offers a stylish resting spot for books or accessories.

Lamps: from Shades of Light, these lamps are a great way to instantly add personality to any room. Keep your lamp shades simple, then add a punch of color through ceramic bases or  texture through a metal-woven base.

Mirrors: from Ballard Designs and West Elm, these mirrors are a fun way to fill your walls,  make a decorative statement, and reflect extra light into your space.

Vases: from Global Views these ceramic pieces work beautifully in a small groupings to provide accents for a kitchen or dining room. Placed along a buffet or displayed on shelves, these vases make for a beautiful collection.

Dishes/Bowls: from Global Views, these items are more great display pieces. The ceramic, magnolia plates and metallic dishes can be grouped hanging on a wall or placed on tables to hold colorful fruit or candies. Use the larger tourines and trophy bowls to house floral arrangements or seasonal items. All of these can be used interchangeably in many different rooms.

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!

I recently attended a seminar, hosted by Sherwin Williams and Robert Allen, to get myself prepped on the upcoming color trends for the year. Through a presentation by Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin Williams, I was introduced to 24 new and inspiring shades. These influential colors were grouped into 4 different palettes: Rooted, Simplified, Treasured & Refreshed. The collections cover a broad spectrum of colors to suite just about any style and taste.

Here is a more in-depth description from some of my presentation notes to get your color wheel spinning:

Rooted provides a natural palette of colors indigenous to the earth. Drawing inspiration from African, Aboriginal and Native American tribes, these pigments offer a reflection of rich elements and culture.

Simplified is a collection for the clean and sophisticated aesthetic. These ethereal shades create a mood all their own, providing a sheer palette for any modern design.

Treasured is full of muted and aged hues that give way to the new design movement, "Rough Luxe." By juxtaposing all things worn and weathered with new, contemporary pieces, a true look of originality is created. This palette of rusty and pale shades provides the base for a design full of vintage spirit.

Refreshed offers a bold splash of color for the young or young at heart. Looking to brighten up a space? Think of "Pucci" print throw pillows, patterned lamp shades, mosaic tiles and fun accessories. This palette of colors provides you with the perfect backdrop for a cheery, new space.

So if you're looking to update a room and don't know where to start, look to these collections for inspiration and find the colors that will speak to you. From the sleek and elegant to cozy and comfortable, these various palettes are a great way to get your design off to the right start.

Photos courtesy of Sherwin-Williams. Please visit their website for more information.

For my first blog I thought I'd start out by sharing with you a wonderful event that took place a week ago. Since founding TGI back in July, I decided that a goal of mine would be to have a launch party once all of my initial business proceedings had been completed. I would use it as a way to celebrate the start of my new company as well an opportunity to spread the word. So finally after weeks of preparation, the day finally arrived last weekend and it turned out to be a wonderful occasion with family and friends.

The party also ended up being a great way to show off some of my latest finds from the Michigan Design Center. I had fabrics and wall coverings on display to illustrate the trends for the upcoming season, and it was so much fun to share these new samples with the guests. I have to say the wallpapers were the biggest hit, as most people weren't expecting to like wallpaper again. But the latest wallpapers with textured, iridescent tones and subtle prints really opened their eyes to the new finishes that are now available. I plan on devoting another whole blog to design trends as well, so stay tuned!

During the middle of the party I then gave a presentation for the guests to further explain my story and the packages I offer. I wanted to share with everyone the journey I've had since graduation and the passion I have to be in this business. I also drew a raffle for one lucky winner who won a service of her choice.

With the sun shining in, a delicious spread of brunch and design talk in the air, it was a great day and a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of my career.