via this is colossal (Great example of graphic, interior, furniture design)

Recently, I have been asked the question quizzically "what exactly DO you do?"...Hmmm, sometimes I ask myself the SAME question! my answer usually goes something like this

  "Well, I am a freelance graphic designer by trade...so I am translating that talent into the Interior World....a dream of mine...melding the two together....I basically have been designing most of my life." (not the best elevator pitch, but it will do for now!)

Which has made me think, what makes Graphic Design "translate" into Interior Design?  I know there are some guiding principles that overlap.  So I got out my design books and started looking into it...I might innately know the principles, but I thought it might be fun to delve into it and really look at the correlation.

 And over the next month I am going to show you why Graphic Design a predominantly 2D world translates into Interiors a 3D world....with a few guiding principles.  I bet I will learn something along the way too!

Class is in session!

SERVICES!

If you notice I have added a couple of new links across the header.  Including a services button. With all that has been going on,  I thought I should probably just fling open the doors full force....I have a couple of projects under my belt, a little design space, and a bit more confidence....and I want to help others have the confidence to design their spaces too.

Sooooo, if anyone is looking to update their spaces, move some furniture around, get some color advice, OR chat about a design dilemma over coffee....I am your girl!  I kind of LOVE all of it.

Oh, and if you have a piece of furniture that needs re-purposing, or want to FIND  a piece of furniture I bet I could help you with that too....I know some people:)

Have a great week!

I woke up blushing this morning...The secret is finally out...for those of you wondering about my Guest for coffee the other week.   I had an article written about me in a local weekly magazine called the FreeTimes, in the online section Abode.  You can read about it here.  (they are having a little technical difficulties with the images) so if you haven't seen them already you can see them here and here.

Got TONS of things to do today...spending lots of time arranging and rearranging the house, fluffing, froufing, stepping back fluffing some more.

Just had to share why I might be walking around with a little glow today!

Here is some perfectly blushspiration...

via glamour junkie

feeling like I have some shoes to fill.

via the neotraditionalist

via eclectic interiors

Have a great Thursday, my dear friends!

Elevations, inspiration, lighting scheme.  All on tracing paper.  I LOVE tracing paper...and how it makes my hands black (and sometimes my nose too!)

inspiration, my client loves these cabinets.

Very similar in layout to the kitchen I am designing.

THIS is what makes me happy (aside from my family, friends, health...etc:)  I am in it, in it deep, and loving every minute of it...YES, I am talking about my client's kitchen renovation.  We are down to the studs....one of the most exciting times in renovating...although my client just says, "Put it back together, PALEEASE!!!"

This is when the house 'speaks to you'...tells you what needs to be done....like we HAVE to have coffered ceilings now...bummer:)  Or that we gained 6 inches on one wall (that we needed badly, because of where the coffers will lay out)....Marc (the cabinet guy) and I both just looked at each other and said "knew we would find it somehow!)

I created elevations about a month ago,  things have been tweeked a little bit, but are coming together quite nicely.

The stove wall, 2nd iteration....measurements have been tweeked.

I have been working with the cabinet builder, Marc, which is so much fun.   I mean he is on it....with his Ipad, CAD  and everything...talk about loving to work with someone in the twenty first century. We literally sat on the phone (while I was driving to my parent's house on Friday) and hashed out the design, one cabinet at a time.  I have found that I have my Dad's analytical mind (measurements and all), and had a snapshot of it in my head and just designed and tweeked while driving, pulling measurements from my head.... can we say multitasking!  Normally, I am on the other side, at the computer while some one else dictates what will be changed....kind of fun having the tables turned:):)

This is when I hit my magazines and the internet.  Seeing how others have solved a problem.   Yesterday, I was looking at only coffered ceilings and how they meet up with the cabinets...did you know there are so many ways to make this happen.  A picture really is worth a thousand words, and really helps the client and the contractor visualize what you were thinking.  (have I mentioned before I LOVE my magazines). 

just one example....without the decoration. This photo is from a kitchen's magazine from 2 years ago!

We also came up with the lighting plan....this always makes me sweat a little bit....hands shake.  I think it is a little bit of nervous and a little bit of excitement.   We have had to do away with a window to make more room, so lighting is incredibly important....I have also found a way to maximize the window that we have.  So excited about this one...but, that my friends is for another post....gotta keep you interested!



Have a wonderful day...it is just gorgeous here!

An SC girl in the March issue of House Beautiful!!!  Once I saw that she was from Charleston...Of course I had to cyber stalk:) and found out that Angie Hnranowsky is a fellow graphic designer/interior designer.   She is incredibly talented. She has been launched onto the National Scene over the past few years (starting her business in 2005) being featured in House Beautiful a few times, Met Home, and Domino to name a few.  I can see why.  YAY for color, and bold use of pattern!  You can see how her graphic design skills creep into her interiors.

Here are a few more of her designs.  Enjoy.

via House Beautiful

via House Beautiful

A girl after my own heart she loves letterpress too!

cool floor, really like the chair, the metal on the turned leg desk...hmmmm...notice anything?

My mother in law did her Magazine drop off yesterday on their way thru town.  (I am lucky that she gives me many of her old issues to peruse) I was happy to find a Martha Stewart with "The Ultimate Home Office" as the cover. Since my home office/guest bedroom is another room that I am in great need of decorating.

I have a desk in the kitchen where I do most of my day to day work...but when I need to spread out, I have all of my STUFF in the guest bedroom.  With my recent discovery of how I like to draw and sketch, I have been thinking that I need to make the room a a bit better...more functional.

Back to the magazine cover...do you notice anything?  I was really happy to find a cover with "The Ultimate Home Office" on the cover, and have always been a fan of Martha's Ideas. (although rarely implemented in my house:)  I was immediately drawn to the cupboard above the desk, and the desk itself....but it seemed a bit clutterered...WHY?  Hmmmm, 'funny, they have a vintage computer on the desk I thought to myself.'  Who would do that???  Is that the new trend?   Then I realized I was looking at a magazine from November 1993!!!!  Almost 20 YEARS ago, I was still in high school!!!...Some good design never changes.  Just goes to show, Vintage NEVER goes out of style....Martha was really on to something:)

Here are the other photos from the spread.  Enjoy the blast from the past.

Nice shelving design...thank goodness our computers are now smaller!

Oh look, this person is super lucky with a LAPTOP!  Vintage chairs, desks, fresh flowes NEVER go out of style!

Look at that nailhead desk...I think I have seen one of those recently....

Just in Southern Living this past month....Heather Chadduck's Restful retreat.  Maybe she has been perusing the old magazines for inspiration too:)  Oh, and the fabric...that is Victoria Hagan too!  Much better with out that honker of a computer on the desk...no?

via Country Living

Country Living is not one of my normal "go to" magazines, but when my mother-in-law left the October 2010 issue  behind on a recent visit, I took a look. (not one to pass up any magazine, especially one that is free!)  Anyway, I don't know if they have changed editors, but this issue was just chock full of great inspiration.  I especially liked this article on a family in Vermont...maybe,

do you notice that old stove in the corner...there is a really touching story that goes along with it.

This Ikat sofa and chair are soooo great....AND green!

I just might be adding Country Living to my repertoire of Magazines.

Have a great Wednesday.