Where has Susan gone??? Oh yes, and Pantone 2013 Color of the Year!!!

Well as you can tell, when I'm a busy working woman, in addition to those other areas of my life...mom, wife, girlfriend... my posts go out the window. Not complaining, being busy in my field is a good thing (thank you Martha).  Not that I don't have anything to write about either.  In fact, topics pop into my mind numerous times a day, in addition to the little birdie sitting on my shoulder saying, "When you get home, sit down, and make it short and sweet." Yes, well a lot of good that birdie did for me.  Thank goodness it's flown south for the winter.

The number one issue I HAVE to talk about is the new 2013 Pantone color of the year -- #17-5641 Emerald.  I love it!  But I'm biased since green, and all of its variations, has always been my favorite color.

Let's look at some of my favorite Emerald Green room designs, shall we?

 Infamous Stark Carpet advertisement

 Photograph by Michael Eastman

Interior design by Tobi Fairley

 Interior design by Jamie Drake

 Soft mint green in this front room, but notice the stunning emerald green square, not the whole wall, behind the shelving in the distant room.  Interior design by Jamie Drake

Image from The Decorista

 Interior design by Kelly Wearstler

I use a lot of chartreuse (more of a yellow green) in my interiors, but not a lot of Emerald Green.  That's my goal for 2013!

On to Oz!  Susan

Inviting Office Spaces

I recently read how bringing nature into your office space creates a more attractive and relaxed environment for your visitors by invoking familiar memories of their childhood days exploring nature (ok well at least MY generation!)  I am currently working on a commercial space where the company is very eco, green, earthy, multicultural and hip.  I am soooo excited about this project and I'm having so much fun creating an environment unlike the typical commercial environment.  With that said, enjoy these commercial surroundings that I think are unique solutions.

The reclaimed wood really warms up this otherwise white space.

Need a boost of energy?  Complementary colors are always your best bet!

TBWA Hakuhodo Japanese advertising company.  I've always loved bringing the outside in!

Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Slovenia -- YES, that's right...a government office!

Google Zurich -- This wasn't the only office space I saw with a slide.  Love that!

Really like all the stripes directing your eye to the middle of the room.  It draws you in.  AND the beverage cooler.  While you're waiting, help yourself to a cold one!

Vertical greens juxtaposed with horizontal reds.  Contrast and complement!

Ideapaint -- Brainstorm time!

Think Outside the Box -- Always!!

Susan

Eclectic Vintage Color, Part 1 -- the Kitchen

Hi All!

Time for after pics!! This post is focused on a kitchen from a multi-room first floor project.  I'm calling this project Eclectic Vintage Color because those are three adjectives the homeowner really wanted to incorporate into the finished designs.  The entire project included the kitchen, laundry room, powder room, family room, living room, and dining room.  I think I'll do different posts for each room.  How's that sound? First up -- is the kitchen -- which probably isn't as vintage, eclectic or colorful as the other rooms.  After all, we did need function here.  I posted before pics of the below kitchen here and did progress posts as we were selecting finishes, etc. here and here.  So now, drumroll please...check it out!

Eclectic Vintage Color

Maple cabinetry, granite countertops, mosaic style backsplash with glass, stone, and marble, stainless fixtures, stainless breakfast table, vinyl chairs

I absolutely adore the backsplash/granite combo.  The swirl of the granite combined with the structure of the tile is just divine!

I really like all of the coordinating textures in this image, particularly the charming basket shelf.

In addition to the island, there is a large peninsula -- see the three pendants -- with three stools for additional seating or to watch TV in the family room.

Didn't my client do a fabulous job finding baskets for the shelf with the perfect shade of grays and cream liner to tie in with all of the varying colors we brought into the kitchen?

A little personalization with knob icons for the four family members:  grapes, baseball, books, and butterfly

But wait, we can't forget about the adorable family dog, Milo!  He gets a personalized knob too...

I know, not the best pic, but it's a dog head knob identical to Milo's breed.  How fab!

And of course he also gets his own little eating/food storage station!

Stay tuned for Room #2!

Susan

It's Only a Hollywood Metal Bed Frame

We have been living with a low profile style bed frame for quite a few years now, not by choice, mind you.  Personally, I don't like beds that are low to the ground.  A couple of years ago, we had just purchased a king size mattress but didn't have the base yet. I was so busy at work, I could not think of what type of bed, frame, headboard, etc. I wanted. A client of mine was getting rid of this king low profile bed frame to be replaced by the stunning new upholstered bed I had designed for her.  I grabbed the loft bed frame thinking it was temporary, and now at least, I wouldn't have to sleep on the floor.  I make a habit out of not grabbing my client's old belongings...I don't know, something just feels a bit strange about it, but this was short-term, right?

John Malick & Assoc

Well, two years later!  I've decided I don't want a complete frame, just a decorative headboard, with a basic metal Hollywood frame to hold the mattress and box spring.  What is a Hollywood bed frame, and why do they call it that?  So glad you asked!

"Hollywood is actually the brand name of a metal frame system that has legs where you can place a box spring in and attach a headboard as well. The Hollywood Bed Frame Co. began creating solid angle-iron framing systems used for box springs in the year 1925. In the same way that facial tissue is synonymous to the brand Kleenex, box spring frames are also synonymous with Hollywood since they are known as Hollywood frames. "

I was sick of shin high bruises from the wood frame, and with allergies, upholstered was not a good choice, and it would be easier to make the bed.  Lifting a king size mattress up, even slightly, out of a wood frame is no easy task!  I knew I wanted a nice metal frame, no flimsy sliding contraption.  My bedroom has all hardwood floors, so no wheels.  Those locking devices never last.  So, I searched the internet and found the style I wanted.  Not being a bed frame aficionado, it truly is impossible to tell what you are getting on line, so decided I needed to see it in person.

Willey Design

Did you know there is basically one company who monopolizes the metal Hollywood bed frame industry?  Since I wanted a nice one, I decided to call the most high end retail furniture store so it would be decent quality. No, all they had were the ones that were on wheels, basic, not heavy duty...and not in stock. Ugh. Feeling frustrated, after all, this is a basic bed accessory, right?  My husband said just get the basic one, and we'll take the wheels off.  OK, yeah I guess we can finagle that to work.  I ran up to the low end furniture store merely 2 miles away, and they had exactly what I wanted AND in stock!  No wheels, state of the art design, heavy duty! Unbelievable!  Is there a moral to this story? How about...Keep Your Options Open!

Enjoy a few more beautiful bedrooms with "headboard only" style beds:

Tobi Fairley

Tobi Fairley

Tobi Fairley

Nighty-nite!  

Foyer in RED

Hello! I'm super excited about the foyer progress in my foyer/dining room/living room project.  There is still quite a fair amount to do in here, but I had to share with you how fabulous the new wallpaper, ceiling, and chandelier look!  The foyer is not large, but very tall, with a "racetrack" style relief pattern on the ceiling.  My goal was to emphasize both assets.  With the vines crawling up the walls, your eyes follow up, up, up to the sparkle of the chandelier and the red ceiling accent. I think it looks grand! As the husband said, "It's like walking into a Christmas present." (And I believe that was a positive compliment! :)

 Clarence House Flowering Quince wallpaper and Crystorama Solaris pendant

The stained wood handrails, only, will be painted a glossy black enamel. The white stays. The Crystorama star shaped sconce will get two red chandelier shades.  Love finishing touches!

 The front door is to the left with a long skinny window next and the coat closet to your right.  The long skinny window will be getting iron hardware and a pulled back drapery.  So great to watch it all come together!!

Toodles for now!!  Susan

Football Colors on HOUZZ

Fall is here...almost!  This has been an incredibly busy, busy summer for me, and for many people I know.  There must be some weird karma energy in the air uniting the emotional and hectic vibes.  Unfortunately, it has not been all positive.  Some events this summer have been exciting, some tragic, some nervewracking, and some just plain "yeah, ok, whatever".  Maybe that's why it's felt so busy...the emotions have been nothing short of a whirlwind!  Nonetheless, a lack of writing has certainly prevailed!  Hear, hear!!  With that statement, I feel like I should be in a medieval village courtyard listening to the angry crowd yell!  OK, back to design...  Getting excited for the football season?!  Well check out this article by Houzz.com writer Lisa Frederick where they featured one of my designs to represent the West Virginia Mountaineers colors of blue and gold!!

Show Your Team Spirit With Colors

Announce your football allegiance with something subtler than a shout: rooms dressed in color palettes to match your team!

In Alabama, where I live, sports — especially college football — are king. Almost every conversation eventually turns to how (insert team here) looks at spring practice, or how they'll fare in the upcoming season, or how they blew it in the big game last weekend. So it goes without saying that folks here aren't shy about putting their fandom on display at home, inside and out.   ~~click here to continue reading and see images~~

About Lisa Frederick:

Location:

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

 / 

About me:

Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.

 / 

My favorite style:

I'm essentially a traditionalist, but I love mixing things up with elements of the unexpected. I believe the pieces that fill a home should have meaning and resonate on a personal level, rather than being chosen simply to fill a space.

 / 

My next house project:

I'm itching to remodel my tiny master bath - a mishmash of '80s brass fixtures, seafoam-green wallpaper and chocolate-brown cabinetry.

Hut, hut, hut...(that is what the quarterback says, right?)  ~Susan~

Purple

If someone were to ask me if I like the color purple, I would say, "it's ok".  Nothing too enthusiastic.  Yet, when I look at my house, what do I see...purple, when I look at my gardens, what do I see...purple!  I think the term purple gets a bad rap, don't you?  My first instinct is to think of an ugly, intense Minnesota Vikings purple -- eeek!  Do you think that too?  What is it about the Vikings color that makes me wrinkle up my nose?  I guess if I look more closely, the colors I am surrounded by are more lavender, desaturated and dusty purple, fuchsia, etc. With every color, there are so many variations that I think it is truly difficult to say you "hate" a color.  Oh really, you say, even Vikings purple...yes, even Vikings purple.  We all have our favorites that truly speak to us, and mesh with our "color comfort zone".  Honestly, there are no colors I hate, as long as they are used appropriately whether that be the proportion, the environment, the combinations, the application (not a football jersey), etc.  Every color deserves 15 minutes of fame!!!

Let's look at some rooms where purple, and variations of the hue, really reign (pun totally intended)!

Designers Guild

Susan E. Brown

Urban Outfitters

Pinterest

Susan E. Brown

Pinterest

Mr. Peacock Style blog

Susan E. Brown

photo by Per Gunnarsson

Pinterest

Pinterest - I know, not a room, but how stunning!

Susan E. Brown

Materials Girl Blog

  

Susan E. Brown

Coastal Living

Yikes!  Purple Passion galore!

Susan