Sisal is a natural fiber cultivated from the Agave plant, the same plant used to create tequila. But unlike tequila, sisal’s benefits are long-term! Sisal is highly durable and strong, and has been used in the making of twine and rope since the beginning of civilization. And the use of sisal rugs can be traced back as far as ancient Egypt.

This rich history comes with good reason. Sisal is naturally stain resistant, fire-retardant and doesn’t build up static electricity like synthetic materials. The fiber also does not compress or show wear patterns like modern wall-to-wall carpeting. And sisal is much stronger than most other natural fibers found in rugs, such as flax, jute and hemp. Can you tell I’m a fan?

Here are some fabulous finds in sisal to add to your home.

Kerman Sisal Area Rug. Priced from $115.00; www.naturalhomerugs.com.

Chandra Bay Modern/Contemporay Hand Woven Rug. Priced from $47.25; www.barbaragilbertinteriors.com.

Safavieh Natural Fiber Multi/Purple Rug. Priced from $59.38; www.wayfair.com.

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So let’s have a little fun! Take a look at these gorgeous rooms and see if you agree with the flowers that I think inspired them.

The Sunflower. With its maple and black cabinetry and warm yellow walls, this kitchen has “sunflower” written all over it. Black pots are even suspended in the middle of the yellow room, invoking the center of the flower. And is there any flower more fitting to inspire a warm and inviting space?

 The Lilac. Purple is arguably one of nature’s most stunning and serene hues, and the color’s charm is most evident in the lilac. Both lush and regal, the flower is simply captivating. And who doesn’t want a captivating bedroom? This room’s color scheme and design could only be inspired by one flower: the lilac.

The Calla Lily. A headboard with flowing, artistic curves serves as the focal point of this nearly all-white bedroom with pops of yellow. The graceful calla lily, with its sensuous curves, is brought to mind. The room is simple, yet intricate, like the flower itself.

The Geranium. Cheerful shades of cranberry pink and emerald green bring vibrant life to this breakfast nook. Add in festive patterns and an unexpected, red lantern and a field of geraniums springs to mind. Geraniums have long been a gardener’s favorite, and a designer’s muse.

If you could design a room inspired by any flower, which would you choose?

Source of flower images: Better Homes & Gardens.

Other images: 1) HGTV, 2) House Beautiful, 3) Google Images, 4) DecorPad.

With Jamie Beckwith at Renaissance Tile & Bath

Her collection of tiles, the Jamie Beckwith Collection, has revolutionized the use of wood in surface treatments. Her hardwood tile series can be used virtually anywhere and adds exquisite detail, texture and warmth to the most unexpected places. Walls, floors and ceilings are now the canvases for intricate wood patterns and designs.

Wood tiles in the Hive pattern serve as backsplash and wall treatment.

Never one to shy away from an opportunity, I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Jamie and discuss her work. And I must say, she was as charming and intriguing as her designs suggest!

Her collection of tiles are produced and manufactured in Nashville, Tennessee, and I would love to use them in an upcoming project! They are so unique, not to mention durable. They add instant interest to a room and are simply stunning.

The Sextant pattern from the Enigma Floor/Wall collection.

If you’re interested, give me a call and let’s start designing!

Image sources: 2) & 3) www.jamiebeckwithcollection.com.

Catching up with Stephanie Haney, www.themovemagicians.com

CASA of Collin County recently held their annual gala to benefit abused and neglected children, and the night was a huge success! The event is the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year and always receives tremendous local support.

Held at the exquisite Hotel InterContinental Dallas, Clarice Tinsley, an Emmy-award winning broadcast journalist, opened the program and Jay Alexander wowed the crowd with his comedy and magic. But the purpose of the event was at the heart of every activity. The life changing work of CASA remained the focus and was highlighted by the night’s moving and inspirational message.

Amy Armstrong and fiance Adam Guess

As a mother and grandmother, I felt particularly honored to be asked to help decorate the event. Stephanie Haney, Managing Partner of The Move Magicians, and Amy Armstrong, Assistant Designer at Barbara Gilbert Interiors, joined my on the decorating committee. It’s always a pleasure to work with these talented and amazing ladies, and this event was no exception.

The night’s theme was “The Roaring Twenties” and dancers in festive, flapper dresses took to the dance floor. Elegant black tablecloths, flower-filled glass cylinders, candles and pearls adorned the tables.

The event was truly a night to be remembered and one of my most rewarding experiences.

Selecting fabrics and putting together a design color board for clients is one of my favorite things to do. It’s almost like being a child creating the perfect ice cream sundae…picking the right flavors, adding sprinkles, syrups, whip cream and then finishing it all off with a cherry on top. Of course, instead of ice cream and confections, it’s luxurious fabrics, rugs and furnishings. A smile is spreading across my face just thinking about it!

We recently created this color board for a client and it represents my design philosophy so well – neutral with a pop!

Anyone who knows me knows I love color, but I like to design with neutral furnishings and add color through accessories. Designing around neutrals helps insure timeless design, instead of design based on trends.

Neutral fabrics also ground a room and let artwork and accents take center stage. But best of all, when a client desires a change, accessories can be quickly and inexpensively changed out to create an entirely new room!

Take this color board for example. A simple change in throws and pillows from yellows to reds would transform the room. And the depth of browns and grays in the design creates a rich and luxurious room that never bores.

The sofa with throw pillows shown is representative of the style to be used only. A custom sofa with pillows will be created using the fabric swatches shown. The custom palette includes even the smallest details, like the chair welt and base tape trim.

The current design’s pops of sunset yellow will invigorate the space and breathe life into room. I love the Tibetan hand-knotted rug in a silk and wool blend. It’s subtle, but gorgeous! What’s your favorite piece?

Prior to the twentieth century, the cooking of food and heating of the home had to be done by coal or wood burning stoves. The soot and smoke from the stoves blackened walls, dirtied drapes and carpets along with everything else in the house. This required constant cleaning which was naturally more difficult during the cold winter months when windows were kept shut and stoves were burned more often.

Spring was a welcome reprieve from the soot and stuffy confines of a closed home. Warm weather was also essential for the washing and drying of linens throughout the house. Naturally, people took full advantage of this time of the year by giving their homes a thorough cleaning.

So now that the coal burners are gone and washers and dryers are readily available, what does spring cleaning mean for those of us living in modern times? Thanks to increased sunlight and warmer weather, we still feel a biological need to clean. “Out with the old and in with the new” seems to be a mantra coursing through our veins once spring arrives.

You can try and defy the impulse, but if you can’t escape it, here are the basics to freshen and renew your home.

1) Get organized. Pick up and eliminate clutter in each room before you begin cleaning.

2) Clean your windows using a sponge and rubber-edged squeegee along with a bucket of warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap.

3) Wash your blinds. Clean wooden blinds with a few drops of gentle wood cleaner and a nearly dry sponge. Aluminum blinds can be scrubbed with water and a noncorrosive cleaner. Dry them thoroughly with a towel to prevent rust.

4) Clean baseboards and door frames with a sponge and a squirt of mild dish soap mixed in a bucket of warm water.

5) Dust and clean all light fixtures and ceiling fans with a microfiber or lint-free cloth.

6) Dust and clean all art and photographs on the walls with a microfiber or lint-free cloth.

7) Deep-clean carpets and rugs with a carpet steamer or hire professional cleaners.

8) Gently vacuum all curtains using an upholstery attachment.

9) Vacuum under all furniture cushions using an upholstery attachment.

10) Wash and update bed linens if necessary.

11) Clean out the refrigerator. Wash all shelves and wiped down the walls inside and out.

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling tired already! Have any tips of your own? Please share them. I’d love to hear from you!

Image sources: 1) & 2) Google Images, 3) Renewal by Anderson, 4) Best Maid Service,

5) HGTV.

My husband and I visited Venice about 12 years ago and I fell madly in love with Murano Glass. The colors are so vivid, the craftsmanship is exquisite and I am still in awe of the hard work and skill that goes into glass blowing.  So when Amy, my assistant mentioned that she was going to ask David Gappa of Vetro Glass  to donate a piece of glass for the CASA silent auction, where we are both volunteers, I was elated and off to Grapevine we went!

Vetro Glass, Grapevine, Tx

When I walked in the front door my heart started racing at the sight of all of the beautiful hand blown glass, I felt like I was right back in Italy and it brought back some wonderful memories!  A funny thing is that my maiden name is Vetri which means glass in Italian and the name of the shop is Vetro which also means glass in Italian, the spelling changes depending on the region in Italy.

As we walked around the shop we spotted a Rondel which is a bowl that can also be hung as artwork, it was the perfect color for a Master Bath remodel we were just finishing and we were looking for some original “art work”.  I took a picture and sent it to my client who approved it immediately.  Once it was hung, we liked it so much that we commissioned a vase in the same colors.

David was kind enough to give us a tour of the studio where they do the glass blowing, I must say it’s a good thing that it wasn’t summer, the ovens are over 2000 degrees and needless to say it was hot!

I love these pendent lights and can’t wait to use them in a client’s home. I really get excited about one of a kind things, I love the idea that this is something that nobody else will have, even if it is made exactly the same, the same shape, the same colors, it will still be different because it’s hand made.

The Rondell has been hung, the vase has been placed and they both look amazing. The Bathroom will be professionally photographed soon and a blog will be written and more pictures will follow.

If you have an opportunity to visit a glass blowing studio, do so, you won’t be disappointed!

Ikat started the recent trend and quickly spread everywhere, from fashion to interiors. It is one of the oldest forms of textile decoration and is a weaving style common to many world cultures. The word ikat (pronounced ee-KAHT) comes from the Malay-Indonesian word mengikat which means to tie or bind.

Ikat is known for its elaborate, multicolored patterns and “mirror-image” symmetry.  Whatever pattern or design is woven on the right is duplicated on the left in reverse order or at regular intervals. Beautiful blurs in coloration are also frequently present.

Suzani (pronounced su-zan- ná) has recently joined ikat as a popular tribal pattern, and is a type of embroidered textile made in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries. Suzanis usually have a cotton or silk fabric base which is often lightly dyed to produce a soft beige tint, or “tea wash.” Design motifs often featured include sun and mood disks, flowers, leaves, vines, fruits and sometimes fish and birds.

It’s also interesting to note that suzanis were traditionally made by Central Asian brides as part of their dowry, which was presented to the groom on the wedding day.

Lastly, kilim-influenced textiles are now appearing throughout the market place. The term kilim (pronounced kE-’lEm) originates from the Persian gelīm , which means to spread roughly. Kilims are flat tapestry-woven rugs produced in North Africa, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia and China. They are weaved to produce a flat surface with no pile and the patterns are predominantly geometric. Colors vary greatly, but the beauty is synonymous.

So what do you think? Are you feeling tribal? As always, I’d love to hear from you!

Image sources: 1) Gucci, 2) Jayson Home and Garden, 3) Google Images.

Not only is the artistry of the house simply stunning, but at over 14,000 square feet, the design possibilities are almost limitless. I could go on and on, but it’s truly pictures and not words that are the star of this show. Take a look and see if you agree!

I’ll start with every woman’s dream: the master bathroom and closet. From vaulted ceilings to Italian marble, the space is opulent to say the least. I can already see the shelves filled with fabulous shoes and a purse for every occasion.

But it was the wallpaper in the master bath that really captured my eye. Wallpaper has experienced a resurgence in recent years, but this is not your grandmother’s wallpaper! Today’s coverings offer amazing textures, from gold leaf to embroidery, and even jewel embellishments.

I was also captivated by the kitchen’s design. I love the detail and pale colors of the cabinetry, which contrast beautifully with the dark wood trim and ceiling beams. Select cabinet doors are also adorned with mirrors, reflecting light throughout the space and adding an unexpected surface to the room.

The kitchen’s ceiling treatment is carried into the living room, but altered with an elegant arch. Dark wood trimwork surrounds the stately hearth, and opens to views of the outdoors.

Of course, it’s often the “small” details that make a space memorable and this home’s design is a case in point. Tile inlays, lavish wallpaper, a demilune vanity and glass sink basin create a show stopping powder room. Additional mirrors and wall sconces frame the space beautifully.

Simply put, the home is fit for a king. Or, more importantly, a queen!

Smith & Hawken Cream Curved Wood Wreath; 21.25″. Priced at $33.99; www.target.com.

Red Foil Ceramic Bowl. Priced at $34.95; www.pier1.com.

Go Home Venice Candlesticks; pack of two. Priced at $99.99; www.barbaragilbertinteriors.com.

Paper Flowers – Red Rose; set of 12. Priced at $36.00; www.westelm.com.

Jane Jeweled Frame. Priced at $19.89; www.zgallerie.com.