Hey! Where'd you get that?

It seems like all of the buzz lately is focused around our food and where it comes from. There's a definite shift back towards locally grown food. While it may be true that it's more expensive to eat "farm to table" all of the time; it's also true that it's better for us, and quite frankly, better tasting! So why don't we do it 100% of the time? Well, convenience is one reason, but cost is another. But if the old saying is true, "You get what you pay for.", then why are we selling ourselves short?

Just like my food, I like to know where my furnishings come from as well! There's a different kind of connection; a different feeling you get when there's a personal connection that comes along with it.

I'm talking about something deeper than just knowing a product is American made. Don't get me wrong, American made furnishings are my favorite! But I like to go farther than that...It's creating a personal connection with the company I purchase from. It's when you dial the number and actually get to speak with the owner! It's where you'll find that the custom work and craftsmanship is of much better quality.

One such company whom I adore is J. Redmond Design Furnishings. The products I order from them are each beautifully handcrafted with an incredible attention to detail. Custom work at just a little more than the mass produced.

Transitional Living Room by High Point Furniture & Accessories j.redmond designs

Working closely with our business partners has other benefits too.

* The quality of work and craftsmanship is much better.
* You can create a custom look that reflects only your style, not that of everyone else ordering from those popular catalogs!
*  If it's an artist you are working with, you walk away with a one-of-a-kind piece!

While you may end up paying slightly more, the reward is worth the money!

There are too many business partners whom I adore working with, so we decided we would feature one or two of them every so often.

In addition to J. Redmond Designs, I also admire the works of Tracy Glover. Her lighting and hardware are interchangeable so that you can literally design your own unique piece. And she works with her clients to create something special, just for their own home.

So, the next time you are about to buy something for your home, ask yourself, "How am I connected to this? Or am I connected to it at all?". Why would you want something in your life that doesn't have meaning, doesn't speak to you and reflect on who you are?

Stay tuned for lots of other featured business whom I feel have a high level of customer service and go way out of their way to make their clients feel like royalty and to ensure that what their clients purchase is special to them!

Be well,

Renee

Tempted to try a little wallpaper?

 

Welcome to Part 2 of our wallpaper series. If last weeks blog wasn't convincing enough that wallpaper is in, this weeks surely will. It's no surprise that there are possibilities galore! No matter what your personality or taste, there is a wallpaper design out there for you!

Because I am such a visual person (think picture books!), I thought it'd be fun to share with you some of my favorite wallpaper designs. These are just a few, because let's face it, I could spend all day doing this! But it's a good start and hopefully a bit of inspiration for you!


For the non-committal type:
Listen, I get it. You're still not sure you want to do this wallpaper thing. Well, I've got the answer for you! Retailers have smartened up and realized that there are lots and lots of people like you out there, who love the idea of trying something new with wallpaper, but don't want to be stuck with it for the next decade (or longer...gasp!). Voila! Along comes temporary wallpaper! And trust me, you won't be sacrificing design or quality by going with removable paper. It's just as lovely...it just may not stick around as long (no pun intended!).



www.designyourwall.com

www.tempaper.com

 

www.westelm.com

www.westelm.com

P.S. I love this temporary chalkboard wallpaper...thinking I might have to put this in my new office!



www.wallsneedlove.com

My son would never have left his room if I put this paper on the walls....hhmmm, why didn't I think of that years ago?!



www.wallsneedlove.com

www.swagpaper.com

If you're looking for a funky, industrial vibe: Check out what Deborah Bowness has to offer. www.deborahbowness.com.  Whether it's faux bookshelves or a bit of swag to draw your eye up, or maybe something more subtle, like a faux tile print...whatever it is Deborah has got it! Her one of a kind wallpaper are beautiful and function pieces of art.



www.deborahbowness.com

www.deborahbowness.com



www.deborahbowness.com





www.paperscissorsglue.com

Tricked ya! This isn't tile! It's wallpaper! You can get a faux tile, wood, brick, concrete...whatever you can imagine...in wallpaper! (same look as the real stuff, minus the huge expense)

Graham & Brown brick wallpaper found at Urban Outfitters

www.spoonflower.com

For the artist in you: For those of you out there who posses your own talent and vision, guess what?! You can actually design and create your own custom wallpaper! Check out www.spoonflower.com!



The only challenge I have now (at least when it comes to wallpaper) is containing my excitement! Be sure to also check out my Pinterest page! You'll find lots and lots of inspiration there! Click here to check it out!

Warmly,

Renee


New Year's design resolutions!

Resolutions...we all have them. Mine are aplenty, trust me! If one of your happens to be to finally get your home looking fabulous, here are some simple tips and tools that can help you reach your goal!


1. Create a Pinterest Board: Not that long ago, I would tell my clients to cut out pictures from magazines of rooms they liked or elements they wanted to incorporate into their room design. That way I could have a visual understanding of what they liked and envisioned in their home. Then, along came Pinterest! If you haven't joined Pinterest yet, I highly recommend that you do, especially if you are planning on starting a new project at home. Create a board specific to your project and pin away! You can share your board or keep it private. Either way, it's an incredible visual tool that will help you hone in on your design wants and needs. Here are a few of my favorite boards: 

http://www.pinterest.com/reneebcarman/dream-bathrooms/

http://www.pinterest.com/reneebcarman/pool-patio-design/

2. Check out Houzz: Similar to Pinterest, Houzz is a visual playground. You can spend hours perusing 100's of thousands of beautiful photos. If you are looking to redo your kitchen or bath Houzz is especially helpful. You can search by your design style and then create your own "Ideabook". Bam! Once again you have a great visual library of what you see your own project looking like!

http://www.houzz.com/projects/532090/small-spaces-big-design-under-700-sq-ft-maine-cottages

3. Get organized: Everyone knows this is the first thing you should do to start a new project, but often times it's the last! I suggest making a wish list and prioritizing your projects. List them in order of importance to you. It might not be the biggest, most expensive project that is most important to you, but you won't really know until you put it on paper, and really think about it!

4. Focus on one room at a time: We all want our whole house to look great, but that can sometimes be overwhelming to think about when you are redesigning. And aren't we all a little guilty of not finishing our projects completely?!  That was the old Renee, now I focus on one room, start to finish, before I move on to the next. Of course, I always have a plan in mind for my next room, but I love the feeling of a finished room.

5. Hire a professional: It's truly helpful to have another set of eyes look at your room and talk to you about what your needs are; does the room need to be kid friendly? do you need lots of storage? what about the furry pets in your life? An interior designer has an eye for all of these things and they have an abundance of resources at their fingertips that are not necessarily available to you. So if you want your home to be a bit more special to you, and to look just like the house next door, call in an designer! You'll be happy you did!

Hopefully these tips get you started in the right direction for the new year. If you are still struggling a bit to get on track, give me a call! Together we can resolve to create a stunning home for you and your family!

Happy New Year!
Renee

10 Years of Interior Design

It's hard for me to believe it's been 10 years since I took my first big step towards my career in interior design. Those 10 years have been nothing short of exciting and fulfilling in more ways than I could have possibly imagined.

"I always tell new designers that there is nothing like working for free to really love your work. Ten years ago I answered a Kitchen Designer challenge at a local teen center.

I'm guessing I had a little more time on my hands than the other designers as I had never had a client, but that didn't seem to bother them. And how grateful I was that they took a chance on me.

What an adventure! I worked with most talented, generous, and hardworking group of volunteers anyone could imagine. From utility closet to gourmet kitchen in a month and for some, the first time they had a kitchen of their own.

Through the years we have designed everything from 50's diners to family-centered kitchens; 10,000 sq foot clubhouses to cozy cottages; barns, romantic bedrooms, sexy bathrooms, and outdoor oasis'. The diversity would make Lewis Carroll proud!



10,000 sq. ft. clubhouse at Seaglass Village, ME



One of my favorite, sexy bathrooms...complete with an Ecosmart fireplace! Dreamy!

There's nothing like designing a stunning backyard oasis like this one!

One of the many cozy cottages I have designed over the years!
 

A spiral staircase from the 1850's barn renovation I designed. One of my all-time favorite projects!

And through it all the shining star has always been you.

You make everyday a "get to".  A passion, a love, and a pleasure.
 

I am eternally grateful to have the best clients on earth. And I look forward to many more decades of curious, thoughtful, and energetic designs, inspired by your wildest dreams."

Cheers!

Renee

Who doesn't like a good "BEFORE & AFTER"?

There is nothing more exciting for a designer than to see a room transform into something fresh, new and beautiful. Sometimes though, we are so entrenched in the details that we forget how far along a room has come!

Nothing speaks volumes like a good "Before & After" shot. It's like when you finally decide to color your hair a different shade, or go for that new style, and you walk out of the salon and everyone says "Wow, you look fabulous!" It's not that you didn't look great before, it's more likely that your new 'do freshens up your look and makes you look even better.

I highly recommend that before you embark on any interior design project you take lots of "before" pictures to show your friends just how far you've come! And of course, you'll need to take lots of "after" pictures too! 

Take a look at these BEFORE pictures of a bathroom remodel I recently completed. You will be shocked at how we transformed this bath into a stunning oasis.

BEFORE

Nice shower area, just needed a little updating.





Does this remind you of a bathroom in your house?

Now take a look at our AFTER pictures and you will wonder how my clients even get out of the house in the morning! With a  bathroom like that, I'd want to stay all day....turn the fireplace on, read a good book while luxuriating in the beautiful soaking tub...but I digress..!!

AFTER

It can sometimes be shocking what new paint and flooring can do for a room! But the addition of this tub and the fireplace really make this bath something special.

I love adding a piece of furniture to a bath. It's a bit unexpected, but looks lovely while offering additional storage for the homeowner.

So long fiberglass shower! Hello, gorgeous tile! A special thanks to G & N Flooring for showing us just how fun tile can be! I love the mix of styles and colors chosen here.

All photos of the newly renovated bath were taken by Nat Rea

Talk about storage! I was lucky enough to collaborate with my good friends at PK Surroundings to design these gorgeous cabinets. They are so functional yet so beautiful at the same time!

 When it comes to bathroom renovations, the possibilities are endless. Style and function CAN work together! 

Until next week,

Renee 







Small Space, Big Design

I often hear friends and clients say they don't want to hire a designer for their small living room, or guest bath because of it's small size in comparison to the remaining rooms in the house. However, designing a small space is equally as challenging as designing a large open space.

Many homeowners don't know where to begin and find themselves buying the wrong furniture or artwork, or whatever it may be. And they are left scratching their head trying to figure out where they went wrong...the space either feels too cluttered or like the furniture just doesn't fit.

Trust me, it certainly takes practice, skill and a little leap of faith to design a small room. Just because it's small, doesn't mean that it can't be stylish, functional and serve a useful purpose!

+1 Kindesign posted 51 Inspiring small living rooms using available space. Be sure to check it out. The photos you will see will just about prove that everything you were doing to decorate your small room is all wrong! These beautifully designed rooms use all available space without making you feel claustrophobic!

Here are a few tips I like to keep in mind when designing a smaller room for my clients.

Embrace the space!
While your room may be small, it does have it's benefits too...I won't begin to mention the cost savings in heating, lighting etc. What I'm talking about is it's coziness. A room full of intimacy and charm.

Think about how you will use the space.
It's always best to plan ahead, especially in this case. Think about the functionality of the room before you begin your design. How are you going to use the space? Do you need seating areas, or is it a small bedroom? Do you need storage? If so, how much?

Furniture and Lighting.
You don't need to buy mini pieces because you are designing a mini space. But you do need to make sure your furniture is appropriately compact and that it 100% serves the function you need it to. Think of pieces that can perform double duty, like an ottoman that can also be storage. And clear furniture (i.e. coffee table) can work wonders! I used a clear table in this small cottage and I think it looks fabulous!



As for lighting....think lots of it! In a small room you really need to maximize the lighting because shadows and dark corners can work against you and make the space feel smaller. Think of multiple light sources and lots of lamps!

Paint and Color:
Don't be afraid to be "loud and proud"! Often times clients hesitate to use a bold color in a small space, but I say "Go for it!" As long as there is unity in your color scheme, a high impact color can work well. Use a glossy finish so that the light will reflect off the walls. Artwork is another way to add a statement. I tell clients that "bigger, is most often better when it comes to artwork" It will actually make the space feel bigger, where smaller pieces have the opposite effect and will tend to make your space feel smaller.

Wallpaper is another great way to make an impact and trick the eye into thinking the space is much larger than you think!

If you need more inspiration check out this post from +Style Motivation with great ideas for small bedrooms! Click here! They also did a great piece on functional and creative design for small apartments

You can also see some more of my design work for small spaces on Pinterest!

And remember small space CAN mean big design!

Until next week,

Renee