COMPLETED Arts & Crafts Inspired Living Room!

OK, so remember that movie with all of the single 20 and 30 year olds...yeah I know, that's like half of the movies out in the last 5 years, right?  I believe it's called He's Just Not That Into You.  I never saw it, but I did see the trailers, and I remember Drew Barrymore stating something about how she and her boyfriend were trying to connect to break up, and she tried texting, email, Facebook, phone, twitter, etc. and after trying "7 different portals of communication", she still didn't succeed!  Or something like that...Short story long -- that's how I feel sometimes when I want to share some of my design work.  Hmmm, should I write a blog, and then through Networked Blogs it will go to FB personal and FB business and Twitter, but I don't have the time to write and put it together how I want, but I want to share, so maybe I should just post pics quickly to FB business and 'share' with FB personal and LinkIn, but some people aren't on FB, and just signed up via email to My Blog, people who I know really would want to see the new pics, but...and...but...and...  SO if you've seen these new pictures already on Facebook, well, you'll just have to enjoy them again!  And please...do enjoy!!

Bench seat we installed in an unused nook near the fireplace.  Fabricut bench seat fabric.  Lee Industries fabric for back.  Custom front rosette pillow.  Green ombre' pillows from Pier 1.  Grey pillow came with the sofa.

One of my favorite pieces in this ensemble is the modern wing chair with a linen slipcover by Lee and it swivels!  Custom designed cocktail table with antique Turkish copper plate, leather/faux mohair studded sofa.

My client found the wonderful charcoal grey/green vines fabric and made two pillows for the living room sofa.  Aren't they perfect?!  And the print is slightly raised, which gives an additional sensory element.  A Lee linen blend swivel chair, this time with a more decorative pattern.

Another view...

Seating vignette with Lee chair, client's Stickley side table.  She had two that I thought would be fabulous in the room and help to tie the room into the Arts & Crafts architecture.  Iron "bust" floor lamp.

Another view... antique Chinese grain scoop from Zachary Ltd.

Behind the sofa...antique storytelling bench from Zachary Ltd., client's antique Schells wood box, Surya bamboo throw from Jon Hampton.

3-D gold iron stars from Zachary.  Grey washed candle lanterns from Jon Hampton...I was so excited when I found these.  We placed two above the TV cabinet, and one by the fireplace.  The washed color goes with the grey faux mohair on the couch perfectly in addition to the inspiration tiles on the fireplace.  Plus I didn't want something solid because I wanted the light to make its way into the room.

Custom dogwood/moss arrangement in black metal container.  I put this arrangement together for my client on her large kitchen island, which was a perfect work spot; however, you would not have believed the mess in her kitchen from the dried goods...unless you've done that type of stuff before, then yes, you would!  But it turned out to be just what we wanted...and messes are cleanable...

Another view...coming in from the front door.  Client's own Stickley cabinet which again we wanted to have in the space.  Accent lamp with stone shade--gorgeous when lit!

Well, what do you think?  I think the environment is very serene and inviting, but lively with the punch of bright green!

*** Susan ***

Arts and Crafts Dining Room Completed!

A little add on to the last post...being it is the same house and all!  We also completed the dining room in the Arts and Crafts house where we redid the living room and made the cocktail table with the 19th century Turkish platter.  Below is the finished design.  My client already had the table and chairs, chandelier, and corner buffet.  We added window treatments and a focal point to the table.  We also added small turquoise glass tealights from Pier 1 on the plate rail for ambience during dinner parties.

Isn't it warm and welcoming?  We made absolutely stunning table runners from a Cowtan & Tout embroidered fabric called Castello in Celadon/Toffee.

 Close up of the stunning Cowtan & Tout fabric.  The fabric was not cheap, but the colors and design could not have been more perfect.  We both knew it had to be!

My client wanted a centerpiece that she could keep on the table during entertaining, would not block dinner guests from seeing each other, but would also look good for an everyday table centerpiece.  (Sorry didn't light the candles as they were brand new!  Thought I'd save that for her!)  The Chinese antique wood tray is from Zachary, and the mosaic/crackle glass hurricanes are from Pier 1.

Beautiful silk draperies using Pollack's Silk Route in Teak.

Fabricut's Quatrefoil trim adorns three sides of the drapery.  Sorry for the blurry pic.  The trim has a tad of blue in it to tie in with the table runners.

It makes for a very lovely dining experience!!  Don't you think?  I'm getting hungry already!

❖❖❖❖❖ Susan ❖❖❖❖❖

Stillwater project finished!

Cheers!  I have recently finished, so to speak, a whole house project in Stillwater.  Are we really, as designers, ever finished?!  I know it's so hard for some people to understand the innate quality of being an interior designer.  There is no "off" button~~which is fine with me--it's my passion.  I am moved and enthralled by exciting environments and fun, funky, and unique designed products.


We are still working on a few small finishing touches in this residence, but for the most part, the main vibe of the place is intact!  We, as in myself, Hagstrom Builder, and Denny Claridge, the architect, designed this lovely new home in an open floor plan style for ease of having many grandchildren and family members visit as well as to accommodate a disabled homeowner.  The intention was to create intimate and inviting areas within a French Country style space with a nod to Asian.  Below are some of the pics of the living room, dining room, and kitchen.  If you've already seen the pics on other sites (website, FB, Linkedin, etc.), well, enjoy again!  Other room pics to come in the future!

 Dining Room

We used the client's existing dining table, chairs, and buffet, but made new cushions for the chairs.  The wall is blue grasscloth by Thibaut, drapery fabric by Ralph Lauren, hardware by Orion, and the chandelier is by Cyan Design.

 Living Room

In the living room, we purchased all new except for the two creamy white bergere chairs which we reupholstered in a Kravet chair fabric and the rug, which was our inspiration for the room's colors.  Because we had a large TV on one side of the fireplace and watercolor art on the other, we didn't want yet another image, or similar size piece, over the fireplace.  I hired Kelly Ludeking, a fabulous metal artist, to make custom bronze candlesticks, which are stunning!  The hand manipulated bronze and hand rubbed finish is truly incredible!  Kelly has done many wonderful pieces for me in the past including a Pool Changing Room vanity and a pendant light.  See here.

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The drapery fabric is Fabricut and the console bronze sculpture is my client's.  Sofas are by Lee.  The stunning two color, distressed console as well as the cocktail table are by Sterling.  The two ottomans under the console are custom and I had them upholstered in the coolest fabric from Pollack, one of my fave fabric manufacturers.  It is a vinyl that gives the appearance of silk.  I have seen it on a tufted king size headboard as well, which is initially where I became aware of it.  I thought for sure it was silk until I went up to touch it!  One of the best illusions around!  See the close up below, which still doesn't do the fabric justice!

 Living Room

~Sterling Collection cocktail table, rug client's own, Kravet chair fabric, Sunbrella sofa fabric, Fabricut pillow fabric, pottery bowl by local MN potter Lee Love

 Living Room and corner of Kitchen

Kitchen/partial Sun Room

Cabinetry by Preferred Kitchens in White Bear Lake, MN.  Peek into the sunroom where we had a custom sofa and chair made.  Stool fabric by Sunbrella.

Well?  What do you think?  Questions, comments...???!!!