dana's design studio

I have moved

2010-03-28T20:03:00.006-05:00

It's been a fun run, but I am on to the next thing.

I am packing the bags, figuratively, settling in, for real, to a new gig with a new look and new content all with moving pictures that talk! It's the next wave in blogging...

...it's VVVVVVVVVlllllloging. Or webivision, or webcasting or something like that. I really don't know, but I am sure to find out.

Find me at: www.SeeDanaDo.com

Kelvin's place -- my first ever vlog

2010-02-21T14:37:00.015-06:00

So here is my first attempt to capture, on film, what I do. This is Kelvin's place that I just finished working with my design-buddy Paul Pagano.

I shot video on my iphone, not the best quality, I know...but starting with what I have.

My purpose here was to: 1) learn how to create composition with the camera, 2)see how lighting affected the views and 3) see how I could get my subjects (people) to respond.

Thanks Kelvin and Katherine for helping out!

I didn't have to talk them into it which surprised me. It shouldn't have. Kelvin is experienced in PR, so he gets it. Katherine loves to talk and is so personable. I should know that many friends will want to join in.

Katherine asked that I not focus on her face because she didn't have her makeup on.

I get that.

So I artfully (at least I think it is artful...thoughts?) shot her from the back and side in silhouette form. You see her camera in the film and get the idea she is examining the space for the shoot, which is why we were there in the first place. Katherine Bish shoots most of my portfolio shots.

OK, so how do I shoot windows without it making my view all dark. I know that you aren't suppose to shoot into windows but how can I show the window treatments then?

Really, I was tickled at how I could manipulate the shots to capture what I want. Film is like playing with clay. Never occurred to me before. I really like this medium of expression. I think I am catching the bug... a little excited, for a moment...but I feel so amateur and limited, scared again.

It's a beginning, right?

Kelvin is a doll, a great client (all my clients are wonderful in different ways). Kelvin is a great communicator and set the design objective early in our first meeting. His goal was to redesign his masculine bachelor pad to be more inviting for his female friends. He talks about some of the things that made a difference.

I wish I could string these videos together, put in music, cool graphics, my commentary...etc. I will learn. I am determined to master technology I find totally scary.

Let me know what you think of the videos...any tips are welcome.

Giving birth to my vlog and beyond

2010-02-21T11:10:00.018-06:00

I am thinking -- actually "committed", but that is too scary to put down in words -- of starting a video blog (vlog). It will likely move from this blog to another to chronicle my journey in the making of film including all the spills, chills, thrills,triumphs and defeats. What can I say, I've been watching the Olympics.

I am totally frustrated that photos don't tell the whole story -- my story and others. So this may be a new venture for me. At least my husband and Whitney have dared me to try.

I think Dan -- my husband -- is tired of my wondering when/if HGTV will call. I am not obsessed, though I think he believes I am.

Dan woke me up one morning -- a morning I was trying to sleep in. "I think you need to start a vlog."

Me: "I have a blog"

Dan: "No, a vvvvvvvvvlog, video, post video of what you do."

What? He wants me to have another project? Is he crazy? He knows what a commitment that will be for him, let alone me.

To be honest, I have never given this serious thought. But his waking me up out of a deep sleep prompted my taking this idea very seriously. And opening my mouth to Whitney made me commit.

I am my own worst enemy.

Dan just wants me to move on, keep going...

I do think a lot about what should happen next.

You see, HGTV's Design Star has not called. I sent my application in about a month ago. They might still call, but I am not one to wait around. And if reality TV is not the path to share my voice, then I need to keep forging ahead until I find the right way.

Maybe, hmmmmm....: I start my own production company (The forest); post videos on the web via the various outlets (the trees); produce my own webivision show (lots of trees); create my vlog (planting the trees); gain a working knowledge of film making (pruning the trees); ...or help others to edit their vlogs (multiple trees and forests).

Or maybe it's all that.

Where to begin? The dream, the forest...that is where I always start, the end goal in mind, which is to have a media platform to share my voice and my friends' voices in the creative ways we approach lifestyle subjects (people and topics).

Think "Oprah".

I am dreaming of the Forest, then, but I need to start and grow where I am planted, which for the moment means I need to cut down some trees.

I am money-challenged (husband is unemployed -- four months, but who is counting?) and time-challenged (I am over-employed). I can't do much about limitations I can't control.

I am tired and over-weight. I can control that. Sleep more and eat less.

Sure.

I am highly technologically challenged. I can do something about that. I learned how to blog afterall.

I hate, really hate, learning technology, but I will try to learn and to geekify myself if needs be.

That is how determined I am. And scared.

So I start here, with my iphone -- the only technological device I am in love with -- that is my only video camera, a supportive husband and tons of supportive friends. These are my resources...this is where I start.

Not sure where this is going...but I am sure it is going, which is a relief (read "whew"!!!) to me because I just don't stand still.

Stillness makes me crazy.

And maybe that is why I am drawn to video/film.

It moves. Can move with me.

In truth, I probably move faster.

Upward and onward and beyoooooooond!

Back to earth...What will I share?

Anything and everything related to topics I love: family, home, design, raising children, gardens (only marginally interested in gardens, but I have lots of friends who are and do cool stuff where things grow.), cooking (I am only interested in 30 SECOND meals for my grab-and-go lifestyle)...etc.

It won't star me alone. THAT would be nauseating, watching and editing myself, yuk, cough, gag...yuk. But it will include my friends...and friends of friends...etc.

First friend: Paul Pagano, designer friend also seeking a media platform.

I'll focus on where I live -- wonderful St. Louis, my home of 11 years -- and on what I know, some home and family topics of relevance to the world.

Yep, I can handle that.

My journey will be supported by my family, friends, media-mentor friends, PR professional friends...and anyone interested in this journey. Yes, I saw Julie and Julia .

Please, please come along for the ride!

Tell me what you like, what you don't...help me and others develop our video skills.

Send me your videos, send examples of videos...on the lifestyle topics I/we love.

Whitney told me to give myself a homework assignment each day. So tomorrow I will start, just start. I will post videos and muse about what I learned...and want to learn.

How's that for starters?

Angela Adams

2010-02-06T22:19:00.009-06:00

I am a sucker for amazing area rugs...I think they can make a room and be a great starting point. How about these Angela Adam rugs.

Meet George Jetson -- Katherine's office

2010-01-29T21:59:00.012-06:00

I have had so much fun designing Katherine Bish's office. She is my photographer and good friend. Katherine is turning her dining room into a home office.
She wanted her office to be totally different from any other room in the house. The room is closed off by two doors, so we don't have to coordinate the look with the rest of the home. When the door closes behind it's like we enter a star ship enterprise.

Well, sort-of. It's just cool and fun to imagine.

Katherine wanted seating for two to face a large screen TV where she can display her work. The desk will have lighting under and along the desk top, also under and along the shelves above. So the whole work area will glow. Other features of the room are her collection of old cameras and display of her photographs.
What's next? I am sending these renderings to fabricators to solicit bids for the built-in desk. Other furnishings will be purchased at Phillips Furniture where I lead the in-home design program.

I have proposed two different chairs...I favor the turquoise ones. They swivel and and harmonize with the curvilinear lines of the desk. I love the pop of color.

Which chairs are your favorite?

A big thanks to Jeff Hangartner who did the rendering. He understood the concept and my back-of-the-napkin sketches perfectly.

Stay tuned...I will post updates and the finished room.

designHop at Amy's house

2010-01-12T14:37:00.011-06:00

Here is a follow-up to the designHop meeting at Amy Larson's home.
Paul Pagano joined us for the fun. He lent his expertise in mid-century modern inspired design for the make-over.In this video he examines the layout and explains why we needed to switch the china hutch and buffet. Immediately we were struck by how open the space felt.

Amy was at a loss for what to put in her china hutch. We raided her kitchen and found typical plates and bowls in her favorite blue colors. To give them a more retro look we flipped the bowls over and put another bowl on top to create this fun atomic-inspired shape. So simple!

We left Amy with a space to fill for artwork, but gave her a lot of good ideas. Paul shared his favorite artist Jenn Ski.

Phillips Furniture -- one table, four ways

2009-12-27T21:35:00.011-06:00

I am having so much fun in the very fashion-forward Phillips Furniture store in Kirkwood, Missouri, where I've opened the in-home design program that offers affordable design services.

Our store is where "life meets style", as the tag line says.

True to life, a client gave me design challenge. She loves the above very cool guitar-pick table by Sitcom. She wants to replace the stools for chairs that provide a supportive back for her child's booster seat.

Can life meet style?

Ha, you bet!

I found three stylish options to support a booster seat:

So which is your favorite?
Come visit me at Phillip's Furniture to learn more about the in-home design program, because YOU deserve a designer! 314-966-0047

Gift Wrapped Dinner Table

2009-12-24T20:08:00.007-06:00

Merry Christmas! It's been a while since I posted. I have been so busy with exciting projects I will share later.

These are photos of our Christmas Eve dinner table. I pulled this together in about 20 minutes, all the time I had before guests arrived. I used wrapping paper -- used in place of a table cloth -- and bows, paper goods I bought on the way home from work and a few candles I found in my closet. I had literally no time to pull out usual table linens and iron them, unpack holiday dishes...etc, I had to go with simple and easy. Thankfully my husband made the dinner!

The wrapping paper had a slight coating on one side and so it kept the table clean of spills. But I would recommend using a table cloth or table pad under the paper.

I love the challenge of designing on a dime and no time. It forces me, in a good way, to think of solutions I would never consider if I had all the time and money in the world. And there is so much satisfaction found in being resourceful.

Heather's piano room -- bold, happy color!

2009-11-29T06:20:00.012-06:00

Friend Kara recently shot photos of Heather and Tom's piano/living room for my portfolio. I am preparing my Design Star application and I plan to include these photos.

So where is the piano? On the other side of the room, but the fantastic chandelier to go above it is not yet installed. This is just a preview of things to come.

My husband said, "I am impressed with your work, but even more impressed by Heather, that she would be so fearless."

There is NO fear in this interior. Heather has embraced color and pattern in her wardrobe for years. We just took her wardrobe and splashed it around the room...it says "Heather" all over it!

What about Tom? Well, let's just say this room is a monument to a husband's love for his wife.

Rate it on Rate My Space.

Meet my friend Paul

2009-11-04T08:44:00.009-06:00

So for months now my friend Paul Pagano has been saying he needs to start a blog.

He did it!

Kudos to Paul. Please encourage him by visiting his site -- click here -- and leave a comment.

Paul is an interior designer of the Ty Pennington variety, very hands-on projects involving creative construction, destruction, re purposing, painting and unique finishes. His faux concrete counter tops are his own unique invention and I am sure you'll see them on his blog soon.

Paul's background is strong in vintage restoration projects, but his heart is a mix of mid-century modern and vintage. His unique, fun style is featured at the Crestwood Plaza (see above photo) where he shares a space with like minded artist and furniture repurposer (my word) Elizabeth Maxson.

Paul and I partner on some jobs. He is currently doing a commissioned painting for my clients and I'll share that soon.

I love featuring design collaborations and I am so proud of my friend Paul.

my tree & me

2009-11-04T08:26:00.003-06:00

Check out my tree & me for contemporary family history charts. I have been looking for something like this for a long time. I think I'll get the above "Birds of a Feather" print.

Every home should have a family tree, do you agree?

I found this resource on design*sponge.

Rate Me on Rate My Space

2009-11-02T20:24:00.007-06:00

I am having fun reading comments to my portfolio at Rate My Space (RMS). It's a great online community and place to bounce off ideas and gain feedback to your work.

If you are not a part of it, you might consider. It doesn't' matter if your space is a work-of-art or a work-in-progress. The community supports your efforts. It's like having designers and neighbors at your fingertips giving you feedback and encouragement.

Top-rated right now is the remodeled kitchen I did for Annette and John in Ladue, Missouri. I have posted a photo above...see more by viewing the slide show at Rate My Space, click here.

Super Cool Skateboard Room -- Ashley Furniture

2009-11-01T23:19:00.012-06:00

I am always on the look out for ways people have used Ashley Furniture in their homes.

Here is the I-Zone youth loft bed in a skateboard-themed room. Super cool!

I found this example at Rate-My-Space. Click here to see more photos. Super cool mom explains how she designed it.

The brick wall is actually wallpaper.

designHop this Tuesday

2009-10-23T19:04:00.010-05:00

Amy Larson is having the designHop club over this Tuesday -- October 27th -- to tackle her decorating dilemma. What to do with blank dining room walls?

Amy says:

"I am reupholstering the chairs this weekend, and hanging the rod and sheers, so the pictures show a very bare room. As you can see, the furniture is definitely retro. I love the retro style, but I also want to put a modern twist on it. I was even thinking about a texture (maybe tiles--kind of like ceiling tiles--of some sort) on one wall in white. I just don't know. That is why I need everyone's ideas! I am buying a lot of accessories for us to consider and then will take back what we don't use. I'm so excited! Thanks again, Dana."

Amy just got her groovy furniture from T.F.A. (Tomorrows Future Antiques) -- a St.Louis favorite for mid-century modern.

We plan to paint patterns on the wall and each member of the group has been asked to bring any paints and brushes to share. Everyone has been given homework to research mid-century designs and bring their favorites found in magazines, books or online.

Amy is partial to hexagons as seen in her dining chair fabric (above)

The meeting's agenda: 1) We will talk pattern and study the retro designs each person brings to the meeting. 2) Then we'll get to work on that blank wall and anything else Amy wants.

We are meeting at 7 p.m. If you live in the St. Louis area and would like to join the group, please leave a comment with your contact information or call me at 314-276-1129.

Stay tuned...I will post the reveal!

I am in love with Marimekko

2009-10-07T22:04:00.006-05:00

I am having a hard time deciding which Marimekko bedding I want to inspire my bedroom.

Help me decide and tell me your favorite. I could take any of them. Bright, bold, graphic...it's me!

When given the full range of the crayon box and permission to let go...I can do wild and fun. It's just happy.

I have two places I want to visit in New York: Marimekko concept store and the MOMA.

Book me a ticket!

Katherine's Zen inspired family room

2009-09-03T14:08:00.016-05:00

Katherine Bish, photographer, has been taking a whole lot of photos for my updated website (reveal coming soon). Katherine is not only my friend and photographer, but she is also a client. This is her family room.

The room BEFORE -- above -- a basic box. We painted the mantel white so it would contrast with the dark marble surround and pull together with the punches of white in the room.
My favorite element in the room is the area rug. Who says an Asian room has to have an Asian rug? We chose a contemporary rug.

The circles remind me of the Japanese word Enso, meaning circle, a concept associated with Zen and symbolizes Enlightenment.

Cozy at home give-away -- pot holders in Heather Bailey fabric

2009-08-24T00:42:00.000-05:00

My dear friend Elizabeth has opened an Etsy shop.

Yippee!

To celebrate she has a giveaway going on. Visit her site -- click here -- to win these darling pot holders made from Heather Bailey's fabric.

Happy Birthday to Whitney and my blog!

2009-08-22T00:06:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to Whitney Johnson, Dare-to-Dreamer who dared me to start this blog two years ago. Wow, time flies and I really didn't think I'd stick with it. But here I am in bloggerland and contemplating twittering and other social media. Yikes.

This blog was Whitney's birthday present, but I think the present has really been for me.

Here is what I have gained from blogging:

1) An opportunity to develop my design voice.
2) Ability to share my design voice with the media.
3) New friends and networks.
4) Confidence that I can indeed manage technology.
5) Improved writing skills.
6) A way to look back, a journal for keeping design notes.
7) An active way to share my portfolio, beyond my website.
8) Joy in sharing.

...and probably a whole lot more. I never imagined all these things would happen.

Thank you Whitney!

Please help me celebrate by visiting Whitney's blog -- Dare to Dream -- and tell her your dream.

Painting Crisp Lines

2009-08-20T23:56:00.003-05:00

Here is a little trick I learned to keep paint from bleeding through your tape.

Candlestick find in Melissa's home

2009-08-19T22:08:00.010-05:00

Today I helped Melissa put the final touches on her room. We accessorized with items found around her home. I pulled this cool looking pea green candlestick she had hidden.

Melissa asked if I knew what it was made from. No clue.

Look close and see if you can tell.

Look closer. Does the shape resemble anything you know?

Clue: If you have a baby, you might get it.

Do you see it?

Baby food jars. Yep, those are baby food jars. Clever, clever.

Melissa's mother-in-law made this candlestick back in the 60s. Retro and green all in one.

I don't have the instructions, but I am pretty sure it involves gluing the jars together. The bottom and tops are plates that felt like metal. The whole thing was painted and must have several layers of polyurethane because there was not a chip or scratch on the thing.

The baby food candle stick looks right at home amongst the turned-wood variety.

Melissa's new mantel with our final touches -- all found objects from around her home. Melissa joked that she's been decorating this room for ten years, that's how long she's been married and collecting things.

My favorite among her things?

The baby food jar candlestick.

Have it: Jonathan Adler's book

2009-08-16T08:25:00.008-05:00

I just love Jonathan Adler's design voice that inspires us to have "happy" interiors, so I added his book -- My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living. --to my design library: Check it out.

Johnathan Adler from his website:

If you don’t have one, get one. Nothing inspires me more than when someone tells me I can’t do something. Get up close and personal with somebody who is wildly unsupportive. My mother is the greatest person on earth and I absolutely love her. Truly. But, she is pathologically risk-averse and whenever I tell her about some new venture I’m embarking on I know that if she screeches that it’s a terrible idea and that I’ve lost my mind then it’s a sure-fire smash. If she says nay, I say yay.

LOVE HIM!

And check out St. Louis AT HOME magazine to learn how Jonathan Adler inspired local St. Louis couple to decorate their home in the "happy chic" style.

See more design voices, check out my design library found in the column on the left.

Glass Installation -- my place!

2009-08-09T23:35:00.011-05:00

Here is an exciting preview of the Chihuly-inspired glass installation above my fireplace. Jana from Gringo Jones came to install the glass. The plates and pods (curly objects) are individual pieces of recycled glass made in Mexico. Together we sculpted the shape.

Jana put brackets on the wall and wired them in place. Earlier in the week I painted my wall the turquoise color with one inch wide stripes -- still in progress, I grab the paint roller whenever I have an hour or two. I love how the layers of pattern and color play off each other.

Thanks Jana, it was a fun collaboration!

Stay tuned for more exciting layers of color and pattern to be revealed in my home. Yummy!

designHop club makes a difference at Etanim's home

2009-08-01T22:14:00.026-05:00

See videos and photos to follow the latest redesign by the designHop club.

Dear Dana,

Please pass on to the designHop group a very sincere thank you from our little household. You can only imagine what peace it brings to now have such a lovely living room. We are still so very excited about it. Please thank everyone who came (in spirit or in person) for their wonderful contributions. We are most grateful.

Sincerely, Chantal, Etanim, and Mario

Etanim and son Mario live in a beautiful home they share with Chantal, their housemate and friend. Etamin is a single mom and works hard to keep a home nice for her son. Recently she received furnishings from St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Store in St. Louis. She got wind of our designHop group and invited us to use her newly acquired furnishings to create a warm and inviting living room.

Nine amazing women, Mario, and two darling babies completed the transformation in just four hours.

We pulled the covers off of beautiful furniture hiding from view. Etanim thought two fabic chairs did not work together with the sofas, so she hid the offending chairs. We told her they are beautiful, keep them uncovered! An area rug stored in my basement was re-purposed to the room and helped pull the furniture together.

Ann Brown donated the oops paint -- cheap, but very nice paint at Home Depot. Check them out. For just $25 Ann bought five gallons of Behr brand paint in a perfect buttery cream and one gallon in a warm sage green. The buttery cream paint is enough for Etamin to continue painting the stairway and halls. We used the sage paint on the fireplace wall.

While most of the group painted, Julie Koch and Christie Hutchins settled in the dining room where they kept two sewing machines humming to make window treatments. They created the simple, easy pattern on-the-spot. Way to go ladies! Throw pillows will be made later by Etanim and I'll post follow up photos.

The whole evening came off with minimal planning. The only instructions that went out were photos of the room and a call for donations of paint. We executed with whatever came together: paint, sewing machines, fabrics and talented women fueled by Etanim's tasty homemade salsa and treats.

Thanks to Kara Johnson for the videos!

The living room BEFORE:

The living room AFTER the designHop ladies did their magic:

See more photos of the group on Chantal's blog post -- click here.
So whose house do we hop to next?

Great Look for Less -- Planters

2009-07-06T11:13:00.008-05:00

Look at these great pots sitting between my neighbor's door and mine. They were bought at Ashley Furniture, where I work, in Kirkwood, Missouri. The orb (round) pot was bought for $88. Compare to the DWR Gratia orb planter that is priced at $520.00 on sale. I think we achieve the same look for a lot less.

AT HOME St. Louis Magazine's Habitat for Humanity project -- Sherrel's room

2009-06-14T23:12:00.027-05:00

It's been fun working again with AT HOME St. Louis Magazine on yet another successful community project, this time with Habitat for Humanity. You may remember last year's project with Haven of Grace.

I was teamed up with designers Ellen Alvey and Becky Noelker. What a blast working with these talented women. We decorated Sherrel's top attic bedroom.

Sherrel gave us only one direction, blue walls with black and white accents and fabric. We loved the idea! All we added to the design plan were the pops of red.

All items were donated by generous area vendors and subscribers to the magazine. I donated the Ashley Furniture lamp to the right of the bed. The artwork was donated by a St. Louis favorite, Laura Gunn.

Sherrel and her friends helped paint the room. They also assisted us in painting the furniture.

See photos below with captions that tell the story.

Above, we laid out all the fabrics and a fun lamp shade for Sherrel to view and approve.

Above, old chest found in basement.

Above, after a bit of paint. We accentuated the lines already in the piece. The hardware is the same, original flower shaped knobs. We just spray painted them white and then dipped the edges in black. So cute! the scroll pattern on the top drawer was inspired by an are rug in the room.

Above, room before.

Above, room after.

Above, we slip covered this grandma chair in a fashion-forward pop of polka dots! Not your grandma's polka dots, but big ones. The red pillow was a bonus, made of found scrap fabric. Could not have planned that if we had tried.

Above, the three musketeers, left to right, Becky Noelker, Ellen Alvey, and me.

Artist Laura Gunn with her paintings.

Above, I can't resist this photo of Paul Pagano, designer, who worked on the basement of the home. He would drop by our room and entertain us. Watch it now, don't split your pants!

Sherrel thinks her room is hot!