::Surroundings::

Seeking solace

2013-05-21T21:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a terrible week. Really, it's been a terrible few months.

Newtown. Boston. Moore.

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles." ― Anne Frank

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” - Rachel Carson

“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in its roar. I love not man the less, but Nature more” - George Gordon Byron

In looking for a little peace today, I stopped at my favorite beach and watched the fog roll in and smell the salt air. The irony isn't lost on me that this gentle Nature has a terrible flip side.

My thoughts and prayers go out to our friends in Oklahoma.

Posted with Blogsy

Bathroom Makeover Project

2013-05-20T07:30:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a nice weekend. As I mentioned on Friday, I am starting a little makeover of my Mom's main bathroom. I thought I'd share where I'm starting from and what my plans are.

As you can see above, the bathroom is not very big and is pretty bland and outdated. The vinyl floor was actually covered with a rug until I finally pulled it up recently. Kind of gross to have a rug in the bathroom, but my Mom has a big fear of cold feet. The rug was blue, the walls and trim white, and the window treatment and shower curtain a blue and white shell pattern. Luckily, the trim is all in good condition, my Dad painted it years ago and it's still perfect. I need to touch up the baseboard moldings since his cane, then walker and on occasion wheelchair left their marks.

I'd love to be able to really do up the bathroom for my Mom like these above. So fresh and pretty. But it's not in the cards right now, so a cosmetic makeover it is.

This is primarily a one-story house and the dining room, which Michael Lee shot for my 2011 Holiday issue of ::Surroundings:: magazine, shares a hall with the bedrooms and bathroom. The gorgeous wallpaper, which we believe is an old Schumacher paper designed by William Haines, is the featured element. I never really understood why the bathroom wasn't better coordinated with the hall, especially since the color palette is so pretty. Oh well, the time and come!

And so, I'll be using the striped fabric above for the window treatment, as well as banding around the solid fabric shower curtain. The walls will be painted Benjamin Moore's Palladian Blue. There is already a new toilet and Toto is proving the Wyeth faucet. I'll be painting the natural wood cabinet front and mirror frame white (gone will be the knotty pine!!) and doing something with the light fixture. I'll be painting the vinyl floor gloss white or beige, and will be adding a custom cut seagrass rug. I wish I could swing a new tile or wood floor, but this is a cheap and cheerful project!

So, that's what I'll be up to the next few weekends. Stay tuned for the after pics!

Posted with Blogsy

Toto - People Centered Design and a bathroom sneak peek

2013-05-17T11:32:00.001-04:00

I wanted to share a neat little video from Toto - sort of their "Highlights from KBIS" reel. It's all about People Centered Design for them.

And some of my photos from their booth:

Toma, the Antiques Diva herself, just hanging around a tub in heels... as you do

Totally loving my teeny tiny Toto toilet flashlight.

And a big thank to Toto for the gift of the Wyeth faucet to all BlogTourNola members. It's going to make a beautiful addition to the small facelift I'm giving my mother's master bathroom!

And here's a sneak peek of the color palette and window/shower curtains that will be going up. As soon as I repaint the white trim, the floor, the walls, the mirror frame and vanity fronts, and do something with the seriously outdated lighting fixture... Guess I know my weekend plans!

Have a good one!

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

A Little Friday Pretty from Osborne & Little

2013-05-17T10:49:00.000-04:00

Gosh, how did it get to be Friday already?? I've had a super busy week I guess!

Anyway, wanted to share this pretty new collection of Osborne and Little fabrics and wallpaper.

See the entire Persian Garden line of fabrics and wallpapers. O&L fabrics and wallpapers are sold primarily through stockists and to the trade. If you don't have an account but would like purchase information, please be in touch.

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

DRAWING TODAY!! May Giveaway! A handmade serving board from 60Nobscot Home

2013-05-13T12:54:00.002-04:00

TODAY IS YOUR LAST DAY TO ENTER!!

I'm thrilled to be able to offer as a giveaway this beautiful handmade latter that would be great as a cheese tray, sushi platter or for any other food presentation. This unique, minimalist serving board is made from re-purposed remnants of domestic New England hardwoods.

Ray and I at the IFDA New England Member's Dinner in 2010

Ray Bachand's furniture design is guided by the unique character and temperament of each piece of wood. The uniqueness of the grain patterns, the shape and size, the color variations etc. all contribute to how a board will be used. Often defects become attributes and sections that might otherwise be cut out or discarded become spectacular. This allows that each finished piece is indeed unique and can truly be considered one of a kind.   A mostly self-taught artisan he has attended workshops at The North Bennett Street School and Chair Making Workshops in New Hampshire. He has a background in music with a BA in percussion performance from San Jose State University and has done graduate work at UCLA. His performances ranged from The San Francisco Opera to Dave Brubeck to Frank Zappa and he was a faculty member of The Berklee College of Music.

After founding, running and then selling a music software company Ray became impassioned with wood and has never looked back. He is now the proprietor of 60nobscot Home a showroom & gallery featuring custom furniture, unique art & handcrafted home goods in the restored barns at the historic Mahoney Farm in historic Sudbury Massachusetts.

Here's a few examples of Ray's work:

Modern Home Office by Sudbury Furniture And Accessories 60nobscot Home

Eclectic Furniture by Sudbury Furniture And Accessories 60nobscot Home

Eclectic Side Tables And Accent Tables by Sudbury Furniture And Accessories 60nobscot Home

I think this piece would work in so many settings and decor styles and thank Ray for offering this piece to a ::Surroundings:: friend and reader.

In order to win, please visit Ray's website and Houzz pages and come back and post here to tell us which piece is your favorite. Extra chances to win if you also "Like" Ray's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/60nobscot and mine here: https://www.facebook.com/LindaMerrillDecorativeSurroundings

Email addresses must be included in order to win - if you use yours to sign into disqus, then that's okay for the purposes of entry, or include in your post, or email it to me separately after you've commented and reference your comment. Only continental US mailing addresses, please. Let me know if you have any questions. Random drawing to be held on May 12th.

NOTE:When I moved the post to day, the previous comments didn't come with the post, but not to fear - I do have all the comments noted separately! Thank you!

And, we have a winner! Congrats to Patrick Madden!! Please note again that some of the entries didn't copy over when I reposted this post to today. However, I had a record of each comment posted to the prior blog post, plus each like on FB, etc. I wrote each name on a slip of paper (1 per comment, 1 per each like on Ray and my FB pages) and drew out of the pile of paper slips.

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

Happy Mother's Day!

2013-05-12T19:59:00.001-04:00

Here's to you and all your Moms from me and mine!

Posted with Blogsy

BlogTourNola Sponsor Spotlight: Blanco Sinks and Faucets - It's all in the details

2013-05-10T13:02:00.002-04:00

A longtime BlogTour sponsor is BLANCO, the German manufacturer of finely crafted sinks and faucets, brings style and quality to a new level with their latest collection of faucets.

“Our latest collection of faucets offer livable style,” stated Tim Maicher, Director of Marketing for BLANCO. “When we say livable style, we are referencing style that leads trends while integrating into any kitchen design. At the same time, we are talking about the faucets’ functionality. Faucets

are the jewelry of the kitchen. They must be attractive, but they are also the most abused fixtures in the kitchen. That’s why we engineer BLANCO faucets to last, to use less water, to provide unmatched cleaning and to be as easy to use as they are to maintain.”

BLANCO was one of the hosts of our final dinner together on BlogTourNola at the beautiful Nordic Kitchens & Baths showroom in Metairie, LA. They put together a fun video from the evening, which was also hosted by Poggenpohl and Silestone. Keep your eyes peeled for a quick pic of yours truly.

From BLANCO's newly released product lineup, I am loving the ALTA compact faucet (which is admittedly a little modern for my usual tastes, but I love the simplicity of this one) and the Napa faucet which is a beautiful piece of sculpture.

ALTA compact faucet comes in wide range of SILGRANIT® II colors and metal finishes and is just the right size for smaller spaces. Features a 128° swivel spout, dual pull-out spray.

For more traditional tastes, there is the Napa faucet which is sinuous and sleek at the same time - it has gentle curving lines, but with durability built in. Dual spray available in polished chrome and satin nickel.

One of my favorite products from BLANCO is the beautiful Fireclay apron front sink. The newest material in luxury is actually centuries old. Made of authentic fireclay, the exclusive BLANCO CERANA™ is durable, beautiful, and versatile. This is a reversible sink is a perfect fit for both traditional and contemporary kitchens. Above is the more traditional rounded "farmhouse" style sink and below is the more integrated modern look. Two in one - a great idea! Boston blogger Erin Gates just showed her BLANCO Gerana sink in her new kitchen remodel. It's a great look. And I'm thinking this is going to make a great addition to my virtual Dream House design project as well.

A huge thanks again to BLANCO for sponsoring BlogTourNola - it's been a great experience getting to know everyone involved!

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

BlogTourNola Sponsor Spotlight: A Steamy Situation with Mr. Steam

2013-05-10T12:16:00.000-04:00

First, a little entertainment:

So, it was pretty hot and steamy for part of our New Orleans adventure and I'll admit, the thought of a hot steam wasn't too overly appealing. Until I got home to New England and was reminded why the joys of a steamy experience would be well warranted for most of the year here!

First, a big thank you to Mr. Steam - and the effervescent Martha Orellana (aka Mrs. Steam) and Dan Reinert for hosting our amazing dinner at Chef Susan Spicer's Bayona Restaurant. The food, and the company, were amazing.

Mr. Steam, aka The Feel Good Company, is a premier source of upscale, and high quality steam products including towel warmers, shower speakers, shower seats, aromasteam and chromasteam™ systems. Their advanced technology, engineering, and design provides equipment that enhances lifestyles worldwide. The company has refined — and redefined — value and reliability, assuring the highest level of quality. In addition to providing private luxury enhancements for residential use, from smaller homes to estates, their products service a large roster of hotels, resorts, health clubs, spas, and professional team headquarters.

Plus, they enjoy a good time.

Mr.Steam© residential steambaths transform your shower into a personal home spa retreat.

Adding Mr.Steam Aromasteam™ oils, Chromasteam® lights and MusicTherapy sounds to your steam shower will enhance your steam bathing experience. Steam may help relieve tired muscles as warmth penetrates the body. Warm moisture opens the pores of your skin, leaving it softer and more supple. Perspiration during steambathing may remove impurities from your body. Improved breathing and a sense of cleanliness contribute to a feeling of wellness and fitness.

iSteam© is a new home steam shower experience that marks a new era in bathroom remodeling options. As easy to use as a smart phone, the beautiful grapics of the iSteam touch panel are unprecedented in steam controls. "We set out of create the best possibler user experience, integrating all the benefits of steam bathring and accessories into one highly intuitive control" says Mike Pinkus, Mr. Steam president and the lead industrial designer behind iSteam. "With swipe-touch simplicity, iSteam creates a near-magical transformation of your shower"
MrSteam: iSteam Control from Mr.Steam on Vimeo.

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

East or West: Home is Best

2013-05-09T16:05:00.001-04:00

Contrary to what many of us realize, many residents who lost their homes in New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina - which was in 2005! - are still struggling to rebuild. Our BlogTourNola trip a couple of weeks ago wasn't all about beignet's and bubby, we were on a mission to learn more about all of New Orleans, not just the fancy parts.

As a wrap up to our trip to New Orleans, we're holding a tweetday TODAY at 4:00EST to talk about the trends and themes we saw in New Orleans, the Kitchen & Bath Industry show, and most importantly, our meetings with the homeowners affected by the storms and where they are today. To view the chat, please click here.

Brad Pitt's Make it Right Foundation is the largest LEED Platinum building project in the world. To date 90 homes have been built, with 5 more currently in construction. Pitt selected the Lower Ninth Ward for his project, one of the most devastated during the storm. These new houses are environmentally friendly, yet seek to maintain the local "front porch" culture of the area. Homeowners have a choice of design plan, color schemes and finishes. Those who wish to participate are provided with the tools for financial planning and the team to make their new homes a reality.

Grassroots organizations are still on the ground working hard with their neighbors to get them back in their homes. We visited three homes and met the homeowners, volunteers and donors who are still working tirelessly (okay, they must be tired, they're human after all!) to get their lives back.

Meet Joe and Gloria:

Joe and Gloria Robert of New Orleans were newlyweds looking forward to a bright future together when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August 2005.

Residing in their new house for just one month before Katrina slammed the city, the couple lost everything when the levee behind their house was destroyed - one of 53 levees in the city breached by the storm surge – and canal water swallowed the home. The Roberts evacuated the city, staying with various friends and relatives. When the flood waters receded weeks later, Joe and Gloria moved into a pop-up camper in their driveway for a while, but they’ve also been staying with Joe’s daughter from a previous marriage.

Nearly eight years later, Joe and Gloria’s house is still uninhabitable. While a new house has been framed out, the building lacks essentials including electrical, drywall, flooring and plumbing. Because Joe is a contractor by trade, he has the skills to work on his house, but he has generously donated much of his free time to volunteering with St. Paul’s Homecoming Center helping to rebuild other people’s houses.

Joe works on his home little by little, but is often derailed by setbacks such as having his house broken into and his tools stolen. Even though Joe was forced to save up until he could replenish his tool supply, he has not lost his faith in humanity.

Fortunately, Joe and Gloria received some good news recently when Storehouse of World Vision selected the couple and their house for a rehab project. A few weeks ago Storehouse joined forces with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and St. Paul’s Homecoming Center to help rehab kitchens and baths in three houses as a lead-in to NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) held April 19-21 in New Orleans.

While Storehouse and NKBA partners have donated materials, appliances and labor for a new kitchen and bath in the Robert’s house, the rest of the unfinished home still needs lots of TLC.

Learn More and Donate Here

Join me on Twitter!

BlogTourNola Sponsor: Silestone by Cosentino and an important message

2013-05-07T17:44:00.001-04:00

BlogTourNola sponsor Silestone by Cosentino showcased some gorgeous new quartz surfaces at KBIS and I am just in love - and I'm not just saying that because they are super nice people, sponsored our trip and treated us to delicious food! In other words, my thoughts and opinions are my own!

The above montage shows some of my favorite new product releases. I have to say that I am pretty sick and tire of the ubiquitous granite countertop. Are they "over"? No, not over. But there are many natural stone alternatives that are both unique and beautiful. And, unlike many earlier iterations of quartz countertops that had very regular and repetitive patterning, they are now able to vary the surface patterns to look even more like natural stone as its removed from the earth.

Nebula

Suede

White Zeus Extreme

For more detail, visit Silestone.

Photo of Eco by Cosentino countertop by Linda Merrill at a Make It Right Foundation house, Lower 9th Ward, New Orleans.

The folks at Silestone's sister brand Eco by Cosentino have also been heavily involved in the rebuilding of New Orleans, providing the countertops to Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation. ECO by Cosentino, an innovative line of eco-friendly surfaces made of 75 percent recycled materials, was specified for the kitchens and bathrooms of the Make It Right homes based upon its unique green attributes, C2C (Cradle to Cradle) and GREENGUARD certifications.

And, breaking news! Tune in on Thursday, May 9th, for a tweetchat #Blogtournola as we all chat about our experiences in New Orleans and in particular the people and places we visited in the zones affected by Hurricane Katrina. Big headline news stories come and go, but that doesn't mean that the story is over. Many, many people are still struggling to rebuild their homes and lives, even while helping others in need. One such hero is Mr. Joe Roberts.

Nearly eight years later, Joe and Gloria’s house is still uninhabitable. While a new house has been framed out, the building lacks essentials including electrical, drywall, flooring and plumbing. Because Joe is a contractor by trade, he has the skills to work on his house, but he has generously donated much of his free time to volunteering with St. Paul’s Homecoming Center helping to rebuild other people’s houses.

Joe works on his home little by little, but is often derailed by setbacks such as having his house broken into and his tools stolen. Even though Joe was forced to save up until he could replenish his tool supply, he has not lost his faith in humanity. Fortunately, Joe and Gloria received some good news recently when Storehouse of World Vision selected the couple and their house for a rehab project. A few weeks ago Storehouse joined forces with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and St. Paul’s Homecoming Center to help rehab kitchens and baths in three houses as a lead-in to NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) held April 19-21 in New Orleans.

While Storehouse and NKBA partners have donated materials, appliances and labor for a new kitchen and bath in the Robert’s house, the rest of the unfinished home still needs lots of TLC.

Above - Joe and Gloria Roberts house, April 2013.

Joe speaking with us in another home he is rebuilding for the St. Paul's Homecoming Center.

Doves released at a building site in Gentilly, New Orleans.

We're holding a fundraiser, so please visit this link http://www.worldvision.org/nolaprojects to learn more. (It should be live later today). There are many worthwhile places for our money in this world, but these people have been working hard for eight years, it would be nice to see their labors rewarded and for them to know that they are not forgotten.

Thank you.

Posted with Blogsy

BlogTourNola: Antiquing on Magazine Street, New Orleans

2013-05-02T13:35:00.000-04:00

After our walkabout in the Garden District of New Orleans, out BlogTourNola group was treated to a guided tour of a few select shops on the famous, and very long, Magazine Street. Our host was up and coming designer Shaun Smith who owns his own sweet little shop as well. Below are some of my favorite things and links to the shops we visited:

Petricia Thompson Antiques / Antiqueties d'Europe

Empire Antiques

Malachite Home

Gerrie Bremermann Designs - Ms. Bremermann is one of the Grande Dames of New Orleans design and her shop was just filled with exquisite finds both old and new. Her entire staff was lovely, as was she. My Skirted Roundtable co-host Joni listed Ms. Bremermann as one of her Top Ten Interior designers. Read Joni's excellent profile here. I actually will admit that I wished I had done so before I visited her shop, which is right next door to our tour guide Shaun Smith's store.

Shaun Smith Home - a huge thanks to Shaun for putting together our little tour of his Magazine Street neighborhood and for the tasty luncheon! His own shop is imbued with his fresh, young style and filled with pieces that mix both old and new.

Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to visit all the shops I'd wanted to. I would have loved to visit Brian Batt's Hazelnut, Perch and Julie Niell's lighting shop and factory. Julie and I had been emailing about me stopping by, but aside from a quick hello on the sidewalk outside her enticing shop, we had a schedule and couldn't stop in. Some other time, Julie, aka the Bayou Contessa!! So nice to meet you!

And I wanted to send a quick hello to the nice lady from Denver who recognized me from The Skirted Roundtable in Shaun's shop. I'm afraid I forgot to ask your name, but thank you for saying hi! I was plopped down in a chair, sfitzing from the high-80's heat and humidity, sunburnt and feeling a little bedraggled, so you were a nice pick-me-up!

After a quick shower back at the hotel, we headed over to the Odgen Museum for a talk given by Miles Redd about his career and new book The Big Book of Chic. We chatted with Miles at The Skirted Roundtable last fall and this talk included much of what we had spoken with him about. I've met or chatted with Miles a few times now and he's always the epitome of Southern graciousness. Afterwards, we headed over to Chef Susan Spicer's restaurant Bayona. BlogTourSponsor Mr. Steam, or more precisely Mr. Steam VP Martha Orellana (aka Mrs. Steam) was our hostess with the mostest for this wonderful dinner.

I dined on grilled hanger steak, fingerling potatoes and green beans in an amazing bordelaise sauce. Seriously, plate licking good.

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

BlogTourNola: Bevolo Gas & Electric

2013-04-30T22:15:00.001-04:00

Among all the treats of New Orleans, one of the standouts was a visit to the Bevolo Gas & Electric company. One of the first things I noticed in New Orleans was the prevalence of gas lanterns in both commercial and residential settings. It's funny, Boston is an old city filled with original brick buildings, older even than New Orleans, and traditional gas lanterns would certainly look great here, but I can't recall seeing any.

The gas lanterns are so elegant and romantic. Nestled in the heart of the French Quarter, Bevolo's store, showroom and factory space is gorgeous, rustic and inviting. It's a great, crusty unfinished space that wonderfully sets off their lighting fixtures.

Enjoying a breakfast coffee was our fearless leader Veronika Miller of Modenus and interior designer Barbara Elza Hirsch. Note the architecture of the doors in the background - gorgeous.

Out the back door is a charming back alley where you will feel transported into another world.

Part of the job description for the craftsman must include showman skills. Or, at least, the ability to tune out the bloggerazzi. All Bevolo's lighting is made by hand on site. They warrantee their glasses for life, for any reason, regardless of how many times the lanterns have changed hands, regardless of how it got broken, Bevolo will replace the glass for free. They care that much about the integrity of their products. In fact, they don't even sell their products through distributors. Buyers and designers must deal directly with the factory. They say this is because they can't manage the sales and service aspects of the business remotely to the level they wish.

The courtyard space between the showroom and factory. Love the patina. As a Catholic, I have to share that I love all the religious iconography throughout the city. It's both beautiful and evocative of the history of the city and it's deep roots in France and religious mysticism.

On the subject of the environment, according to the Bevolo folks, the gas lanterns, which do run 24/7, use less energy than many electric light fixtures

Something a little different. Cute!

Bevolo is a multi-generational family owned business founded in 1945 by Andrew Bevolo, Sr. The Italian chandelier above hangs in homage to their Italian roots.

A huge thanks to Bevolo Gas & Electric for the fantastic tour and breakfast beignets and coffee!

Now, all I have to find is a Boston client willing to go gas!

All photos by Linda Merrill.

Posted with Blogsy

BlogTourNola: New Orleans Garden District Walkabout

2013-04-29T23:33:00.001-04:00

I can't believe it's already been two weeks since we were walking and gawking in the gorgeous Garden District in New Orleans. Our first full day at BlogTourNola started with an amazing breakfast at Chef John Besh's Lüke Restaurant. A big thanks to KBIS for being our gracious hosts. After a hearty breakfast of beignet's and chocolate, omelettes and french fries (yup!), we posed for a quick group shot and headed over to the Charles St. Streetcar for a quick ride over to the historic Garden District.

(photo credit: Modenus)

Come walk with me...

ETA: Just found out that this is the childhood home of Eli and Payton Manning. Probably the most pristine property in the neighborhood. Nary a blade of grass out of place. Thanks to my friends at Feia Construction for the update!

The house above is "Interview With The Vampire" author Anne Rice's former house.

Seriously, right? House after gorgeous house. We were like a swarm of moths to too many flames.

This Garden District walk ended at the famous Lafayette Cemetary #1.

Now, let me share that it was in the high 80's and very humid that day - in fact the first really hot day of the season in Nola and a good 40 degrees warmer than what I am used to in April. By the time we got to the cemetery, Antiques Diva Toma Haines and I were ready for a sit down and not so much a walk amidst the mausoleams, luckily there was a tree with a fantastic root system handily waiting for us. (photo taken by Kelli Morisseau)

As we headed out of the Garden District towards the wonderful shopping on Magazine, with a stop for a very cold beverage in a highly air conditioned coffee shop, we ran into a true local celebrity Mr. Okra. We'd all been sent a link to a recent documentary short film made about him, so running into him turned us into a gaggle of crazed paparazzi. You'd have thought he was Miles Redd (whom we met that evening) or Brad Pitt (whose "Make It Right" houses were were seeing the next day). He must have thought we were nuts. And no, I'm pretty sure the baby wasn't doing the driving. If I can find the link to the video again, I'll post it here. Meanwhile, BlogTour and Brizo19 friend Gloria Graham-Sollicito got a closeup!

I'll post some of my favorite Magazine Street finds from our little tour, hosted by Shaun Smith, soon.

A big, big thanks to Veronika Miller, founder of Modenus and BlogTour for putting together such an amazing, eye opening and well-run tour. Impressed barely covers how I feel about her abilities. And also to our sponsors for making it all possible!

All photos by Linda Merrill, except where noted.

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

NH Farmhouse - Wallpaper update

2013-04-26T12:42:00.001-04:00

A couple of months ago, I posted about choosing the wallpaper for the new bathroom in my New Hampshire farmhouse project. Choices were from Osborne & Little, Designer's Guild and Graham & Brown. Your comments showed a rang of opinion and I wanted to share a quick peek at how it all came out!

The Graham & Brown paper won the day with my clients and I have to say, it was my choice as well:

And here I was yesterday in the final product. It's a tiny bathroom so a wide-shot was not possible on my i-Pad, but it gives you an idea.

If you follow me on Instagram, I posted a bunch of sneaks yesterday: http://instagram.com/linda_merrill/#

I have a lot to post about my trip to New Orleans, so stay tuned for all of that. Have a great weekend!!

If you would like my help on your farmhouse or townhouse project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

To the Trade Only: Understanding Your Competition

2013-04-23T16:18:00.000-04:00

Read on here.

Posted with Blogsy

BlogTourNola Sponsor: DuVerre Hardware

2013-04-23T01:10:00.001-04:00

DuVerre Hardware is a leader in quality and original design for cabinet hardware. Working with highly respected designers, they have created a uniquely design-driven collection of knobs and pulls. DuVerre creates beautiful die cast hardware that is made entirely from recycled aluminum - an environmentally friendly choice that is compatible with LEED objectives. All their pieces are finished by hand which results in a naturally fluctuating patina that only enhances the beauty of their products. Here are some of my favorites:

JEFF GOODMAN by Jeff Goodman

RIO by Gina Lubin

RISE by Christopher Smith

STACKED by Clodagh

OFFSET by Erin Adams

FORGED 2 by Heinz Pfleger

LOTUS by William Harvey

DuVerre Hardware products are readily available across the country in stores and I have to say, I've rarely seen more beautiful and original designs in cabinet hardware. The natural quality of these miniature sculptures lends itself to many decorating styles from traditional to modern. I think my personal favorite is the LOTUS Collection by Wiliam Harvey which is one of their first designs. These pieces are the embodiment of elegant simplicity.

It's obvious by looking at DuVerre Hardware's designs that their designers are greatly influenced by organic shapes and sculptural elements. In this sprit, they have asked all the BlogTourNola participants to pull together a Pinterest board of our favorite sculptural elements from New Orleans. Who knows, one of us may inspire a future hardware style! Please visit my board here and take a minute to click like or repin your favorites to your own boards. With your help, I might win an iPad Mini!

Thank you to DuVerre Hardware for your sponsorship of BlogTourNola - your support is greatly appreciated!

Website - Facebook - Twitter

Posted with Blogsy

New Orleans Snapshot

2013-04-22T00:05:00.001-04:00

I had a spectacular week last week in New Orleans and there will be many posts to come on the sights, sounds (jazz baby) and tastes of the amazing week spent with BlogTourNola. While I'm organizing my many, many photos (nearly 200!) I wanted to share a little bit of my week.

But first, I wanted to say that while I was having a great time, my heart was in Boston. I have never been more proud to be from Massachusetts as I was this week. My heart is so heavy for the unimaginable pain that those who lost family members are feeling right now. And for the nearly 200 injured whose lives have been changed forever, I cannot imagine their pain. But I have so much pride at how our city rallied around the victims and each other, and how well all the law enforcement officials and first responders pulled together to make the captures so quickly; it is a real testament to their professionalism. At 2:50pm on Monday, we'll all be participating in a moment of silence.

I spent my week in New Orleans with a great group of interior designers and kitchen designers and have come away with lots of inspiration that will undoubtedly help my design business. We visited the famed Garden district to admire the gorgeous architecture, strolled Magazine Street antiques shops, visited some of the hardest hit areas from Hurricane Katrina and met some truly inspirational people who are still working hard to rebuild their lives. We finished the week at KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath show, and were wowed by some beautiful products.

Meanwhile, take a peak at some of my favorite textures and colors seen over the week. DuVerre Hardware, one of our tour sponsors, has asked us to put together a Pinterest board of sculptural elements, lighting and textures that we found inspirational. Click here a check out some of what I saw and loved. And I'd love it if you would click the like or repin your favorite images a there's an iPad mini on the line!

Posted with Blogsy

New Orleans: The French Quarter, A Street Car, Garden District, Shopping and Food

2013-04-17T08:30:00.000-04:00

Well, the title about sums up today's #BlogTourNola adventure!

BlogTour is all about great design, local culture, a lot of walking and plenty of sustenance to keep us going! We're starting today with an amazing champagne brunch at Lüke, Chef John Besh's restaurant.

Lüke is Chef Besh's homage "to the grand old Franco-German brasseries that once reigned in New Orleans". Check out the sample menu here. Yum. Speaking of yum, so is Chef Besh:

Our hosts for this breakfast is KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, which starts on Friday. KBIS is the world's largest international trade event dedicated to the kitchen and bath industry. It showcases the latest products and most innovative design ideas that change the industry to meet the needs of the marketplace. This captivating event features the largest array of product displays and demonstrations, professional development courses, keynote & session speeches, interactive roundtable events and the opportunity to network with thousands of industry professionals. The show attracts key decision makers from national and international markets and targets dealers, designers, distributors, retailers, home centers and more. I'll be extensively covering the show here later on in the week and likely in the weeks that follow. As an interior designer, I'm always excited to bring to my clients the latest in great design, technology and finishes. I'm also going to be gathering ideas for my Dream House project as well.

After our hearty breakfast, we'll be taking the St. Charles St. Street Car for a scenic tour of the Garden District and then walking through the Antebellum splendor to the famous Magazine Street which is filled with design shops for miles.

We'll be headed to Shaun Smith Home where the designer himself will lead us in a tour of great design and antiques shops on the street.

We'll return to Shaun's adorable shop for some much needed refreshments (hopefully something long and cool - it's gonna be a bit warm there!)

We have a couple of hours break to do some more sight-seeing/shopping and head back to the hotel to freshen up for what is going to be a spectacular evening which includes a meet and greet at the Odgen Museum with the amazing designer Miles Redd!

The Ogden Museum, which is part of the University of New Orleans, was one of the first museums to focus solely on Southern art, helping to identify and define the genre. Ogden's collection helped to revive the forgotten works of great Southern artists and preserved an important aspect of Southern culture.

I interviewed Miles Redd at The Skirted Roundtable last Fall when his fabulous new book Big Book of Chic came out. I actually have the electronic version of the book, not a printed copy. I wonder if he would sign the cover if I just printed it out... tacky? Maybe, but much lighter in the luggage

After the Miles event, we'll be headed over to Chef Susan Spicer's Bayona Restaurant, taking in some music at Lafayette Square on the way.

Boy, I do hope we're sitting outside for dinner! After our long New England winter, this looks pretty amazing!

Although the inside doesn't look bad either! (images via Bayona's Facebook Page)

This certain to be delicious dinner is hosted by Mr. Steam, a premier source of upscale, and high quality steam products including towel warmers, shower speakers, shower seats, aromasteam and chromasteam™ systems. Their advanced technology, engineering, and design provides equipment that enhances lifestyles worldwide. The company has refined — and redefined — value and reliability, assuring the highest level of quality. In addition to providing private luxury enhancements for residential use, from smaller homes to estates, our products service a large roster of hotels, resorts, health clubs, spas, and professional team headquarters.

Ahh.... While I think New Orleans provides its own steam quite nicely (humidity frizz, here I come!) Mr. Steam seems just about right for a cold New England winter (well, fall and spring too, to be honest!).

This is going to be a great day! And tomorrow, we're headed out to Gentilly to tour some of the homes that have been rebuilt after the devastation of Katrina. We're not just focused on the sparkling gems of New Orleans, but also the real-life aspects of this amazing city as well.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

If you would like my help on your dream house project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

Travel Tuesday: Renaissance Arts Hotel in New Orleans

2013-04-16T15:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've done a Travel Tuesday post and since I am traveling today, I though it was appropriate to showcase the beautiful hotel that will be our homebase during BlogTourNola. The Renaissance Arts Hotel is situated in the Warehouse District of New Orleans and features a world class collection of art, including sculptural chandeliers by glass artist Dale Chihuly.

"From the flowing, asymmetrical Dale Chihuly chandeliers that greet you in the lobby to the visually stunning John Scott paintings and sculptures placed throughout the hotel, you will find your senses are both satisfied and stimulated." (via website)

This bedroom will be a fun and perky way to start each morning!

Hospitality suite.

The Rene Bistrot Bar where the BlogTourNola gang will convene the week of amazing events.

Lovely rooftop pool area - though based on our schedule, we're not likely to spend much time here!

Though I do hope they stay open late!

But first, we'll be heading off to the French Quarter for the first of what will be many amazing meals. Dinner will be at SoBou Restaurant, which is owned by the Brennan family of the venerable Commander's Palace and Brennan's Restaurant, and others.

Per their website: "SoBou is inspired by our family's colorful time at the Absinthe House, as well as by the great barkeeps as far back as the inventor of the Sazerac in New Orleans, Antoine Peychaud, all the way to today's King Cocktail Dale DeGroff. Our reverence for a well-run tavern where the food makes your eyes roll back in your head and the showmanship of the bartender pales next to the beauty in the glass - that's the kind of joint we imagined. Classic but current, not weighted down by the past, but fueled by it, professional but unserious; an entire spirited restaurant where everyone seems to have an "I just did something slightly naughty" perpetual grin on their face like BarBar, our elephant. BarBar has that SoBou style - he's debonair, but always up to something. He has plans and you can join him at any point along the way."

Main Dining Room

The Apothecary at SoBou

The Beer Garden at SoBou

I don't know what's in store for our dinner, but this looks pretty tasty!

Tomorrow we're hitting up the Garden District with all it's amazing architecture and a day of shopping on Magazine street, plus more meals. More on that tomorrow.

You can follow everyone's tweets at Twitter #BlogTourNola and you can follow my NOLA Style Pinterest Board here.

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

Boston

2013-04-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

It's a sad, dark day here in Boston. I was going to start today with a bright and cheery post about my heading off to New Orleans, but felt I wanted to send my heartfelt prayers and best wishes to all those directly affected by this unknown attack. I lived in Boston for several years and am in town on a regular basis. I shot the image above just last week, looking towards Beacon Hill and the State House - our fair "City on a Hill". I consider it my home. And my home was attacked. Like everyone here, I spent the day glued to the television, like we all did on 9/11.

And, once again, we saw our amazing First Responders run towards the flames so that others could run away. I don't know who took this amazing photo above, but I would expect it to become one of the iconic images of the day. It's an amazing shot that not only captures our city's finest officers in action - running towards the flames - but it also includes many world flags standing at attention - showing we're all really one. The runner on the ground is reportedly a 78 year old man who has previously run the marathon; he is okay. I'd also like to point out that the officer on the far left is a woman. Girl power!

And I'd like to give a warm shoutout to my high school classmate Eric McDevitt, a long time Boston EMT. We knew from an earlier FB post that he was on duty and had prophetically wondered how busy the day would be. I was relieved when he showed up on television, looking very hale and hearty, and very much in control of the situation. We love you Eric. My mother (who was friendly with his late Mom) said she knows how proud his mother would have been of him today.

As Mr. Rogers famously said:

Thank you to the helpers. And thank you Lord for looking over my friends and family who were there and keeping them safe, and for welcoming those who don't make it into your loving embrace.

New Orleans Bound!

2013-04-14T00:19:00.001-04:00

Top row, L-R: Erica Islas @EMIIntDesign, Carmen Natschke @DecoratingDiva, Arne Salveson @ArneSalvesen
2nd row: Tamara Matthews @nestnestnest, Linda Merrill@Surroundings, Jennifer Mehditash @decaporter
3rd row: Rebecca Reynolds @RRKitchenDesign, Leslie Fine@lesliefineint, Gloria Graham Sollicito @Kitchens4living, Barbara Elza Hirsh @elzabdesign
4th row: Patricia Davis @patriciadavisbr, Cynthia Bogart @thedailybasics, Toma Clark Haines @TheAntiquesDiva, Kelly Morisseau @Kitchen_Sync

I'm getting ready to pack my little bags and head out to New Orleans to spend an amazing week with all the lovely folks pictured above, and oh, pretty much everyone who is anyone in the kitchen, bath and window treatment industries. Over the last two years or so, BlogTour, The World Designed produced by Modenus, has brought together over 80 designer bloggers (see below) who have not only toured major international industry events in New York, London, Cologne and now New Orleans, but have also delved into the local cultures of these amazing cities. It's truly a holistic view on the world of design.

It's an honor for me to have been included in this week of amazing culture, food and design. New Orleans is like no place else in the US, perhaps the world. It's probably got the best the US has to offer, and the worst, all stirred up in a literal gumbo of great food, music, architecture, celebration and pathos.

Throughout the coming week, I will be sharing daily updates on all the amazing things I'll be doing and those who have made it possible, and I can assure that there will be lots of pictures and stories to tell!

Design highlights will include a streetcar ride through the Garden District, shopping on the famed Magazine Street with Shaun Smith, a factory tour of Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights, and a meet and greet with the amazing Miles Redd at the Ogden Museum. And finally, there is the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and all the amazing treats in store there.

Speaking of treats - there will be, no doubt, several opportunities to munch on delectable beignets, though apparently we've been warned not to wear black at the Cafe du Monde - uh oh. We'll also be enjoying a champagne brunch at Chef John Besh's Lüke Restaurant, eating at Sobu which is part of the Commander's Palace family of restaurants, and many other treats and surprises along the way.

All this wining and dining aside, we never forget that our industry is about one of the most fundamental aspects of human existence - a place to call home. Whether it's posh or puny - our homes bring us together, provide shelter and offer comfort. They can speak of who we are today, who we want to be and where we come from. But sometimes, our homes are not enough to protect us from the storms that can rage - whether they are natural or man made. Few of us get through life without being tested by the fires and the citizens of New Orleans have certainly had more than their share.

I suspect one of the most memorable parts of this amazing week will be on Thursday when we have the opportunity to tour some of the hardest hit areas since 2005's Hurricane Katrina and meet with homeowner's who are still rebuilding their homes and lives. We'll be touring houses built by Brad Pitt's Make it Right Organization which has been building LEED certified homes in the hardest hit areas of the city. We will also be meeting with a couple who are one of three families who are being helped with their rebuilding by The Storehouse of World Vision project and KBIS. The Storehouse of World Vision, is a network of six storehouses which supply donated goods such as building materials, school supplies, personal care items, and clothing from corporate partners to more than 2.2 million people annually in low-income communities.

Since 2005, many people have lost their homes due to floods and other natural disasters, financial troubles and the fiasco of the mortgage meltdown. I am one of those people and so, in fact is my friend and fellow BlogTour member Toma who's Berlin apartment burned along with all of their belongings just last fall. Whether it happens in dramatic fashion with the whole world and Anderson Cooper watching, or more privately, losing one's home is devastating and can at times feel impossible to rebound from. So, I am looking to this part of our New Orleans adventure with great anticipation.

So, stay tuned for daily updates and follow along at Twitter #BlogTourNola. It's expected that we will make more than 1 MILLION impressions across all aspects of social media. Our Tweet Chat last Monday trended to the top of the Twitter hot list and we even pushed the passing of the Iron Lady herself off the top. There's power in them there tweets!

This gorgeous photo is by Heather Green of Briole Photography and can be purchased here.

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

The Skirted Roundtable: Chatting with Carolyne Roehm

2013-04-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

Over at The Skirted Roundtable we have a wonderful chat with Carolyne Roehm about her life and her gorgeous (seriously, lifelike gorgeous) and HUGE new book Flowers

How stunning is this portrait of Carolyne by James Childs done in 1991? So perfect with her latest book!

Have a listen here!

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

New Orleans memories

2013-04-07T17:24:00.001-04:00

The Cathedral/Basilica of St. Louis in Jackson Square is the oldest Catholic Cathedral in continual use in the United States, having been established as a parish in 1720.

I am getting very excited for my upcoming trip to New Orleans with Modenus' BlogTourNOLA to visit KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) and to take in the local flavor.

I was last in New Orleans in 1996 on a business trip when I worked for WGBH in Boston. We didn't have much time to sight see or take photos, but I got a little in around the general area of the famous Jackson Square, which is anchored by the St. Louis Cathedral on one side and lots of shops and restaurants.

I don't recall at all what time of day I took this photo of the Cathedral - no one was walking around? I didn't get to go into the church on that trip and I'm not sure if I will this time either. My travel timing doesn't work out for me to attend Mass there, though I would like to.

Jackson Square, New Orleans, a wood engraving drawn by W. P. Snyder and published in Harper's Weekly, January 1885.

New Orleans, 1842. View of Chartres Street at Jackson Square, looking down river, with St. Louis Cathedral at left. Lithograph based on daguerreotype, by Jules Lion. Tiles “La Cathedrale” or "View of Chartres Street".

Jackson Square, New Orleans, ca. 1900. Courtesy of the Library of Congress

I believe this is the corner of Chartres St. and St. Anne - which is just past the Cathedral to the left. You can see it in the older images above. I recall just loving this mime - and of course being a little weirded out by him.

How beautiful is the pink stucco building with green shutters and the wonderful wrought iron railings? My favorite aspect of Nola architecture are all the amazing railings!

Travel wear and big hair, circa 1996. I recall loving those pants - they were super wide leg and very comfy in the warm weather.

No idea where this image was taken - but more wrought iron!

And this was my work colleague Ildi and I, enjoying a chicory coffee and beignets at the famous Cafe du Monde - which must be on the schedule next week, it just must!! Then I recall we went shopping in the French Market and wandered around till we found a local lunch joint for some yummy po' boys. We also went to a jazz club to hear Ellis Marsalis for a set or two, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville for dinner and wandered down Bourbon Street enjoying a Hurricane (just one!) and the sights. We also went out to either Brennan's or The Court of Two Sisters for a fabulous dinner, as guests of our colleagues from PBS. I cannot remember which restaurant it was, but am pretty sure it was one of these two iconic New Orleans establishments.I know we also took a street car through the Garden District - but I apparently didn't take photos. Hopefully I will be able to rectify that this time!

Speaking of beignets - if you're planning on attending either KBIS or Visions, please join us at Beignets & Bubbly meetup at KBIS Design Studios on Friday April 19th at 10:30CST. All the #BlogTourNola participants will be there, along with designers Susan Serra, Meredith Heron, Andie Day, Corey Klassen, Tyler Wisler, Cheryl Clendenon, Carmen Christensen and Lori Gilder who are featured designers for KBIS Design Studios powered by QueX. Thanks to sponsors Mr. Steam and Blanco. Click here to register to attend - I hope to see you there! If you won't be in town, you can follow the tweets at hashtag #bandb

And finally, join me MONDAY, April 8, between 4-5 where the blog tour sponsors and participants will be chatting on Twitter about the upcoming trip. Just follow Twitter hashtag #BlogTourNola

Have you been to New Orleans - would love your recommendations for great places to visit! BTW, for additional Nola goodness, designer and blogger Courtney Price has been sharing some great photos (she grew up there) and tips on the best design shops. Check out her posts here.

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

Culianary innovations

2013-04-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

As a member of the Brizo Blogger 19 group, I often receive sneak peeks of new products and innovations that they are cooking up. A couple of weeks ago, the folks at Brizo, the luxury faucet company, shared a wonderful video with us of a chat between Boston chef and former Chopped champion Jamie Bissonnette, who along with Chef Ken Oringer, is chef/owner of Coppa Restaurant in the So. End and Brizo lead industrial designer Seth Fritz. This is part of a new partnership between Brizo and Bon Appetit to highlight different perspectives on culinary innovation.

Through the video, we learn that Chef Bissonnette thinks about his cooking the same way that the Brizo industrial design team thinks about faucets. Enjoy!

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

Linda's Dream House: Window Seats and How Green is my World

2013-04-05T14:00:00.004-04:00

Who doesn't love a window seat? They're so cute and cozy. They offer a chance for unabashed romance, comfort, sensuality and femininity - well, the good ones, anyway. They can be tucked out of the way, or play a prominent role in a room. So, of course, my [virtual] Dream House has to have at lease one window seat.

I'm a sucker for black and white toile - which may come in and out of fashion, but is always in style. Excellent "punch of color" with the red poppy.

Love the hidden quality of this space.

A modern library window seat - which would have been perfect with a more substantial single cushion.

A little surprise in the upstairs back hall. Great use of fabric patterns to accent the space.

This is one of my absolute favorite window seats, though it could have been deeper. But the gorgeous knife edge tufted seat cushion that looks to be 5" deep is a total winner.

Another tufted knife edge cushion. Great use of color with the chartreuse pillows in the black room. Love the offset chandelier.

A cute little rustic hidey-hole. Plus, love the hidden shelves.

This image really set my heart going for the perfect window seat - deep, luxe with great shelves. Love the pendent inside.

I loved Lauren Liess' window seat in her room for the Washington DC Showhouse last year. Gorgeous mix of fabrics - which she's known for. Love the stacked French mattresses.

(All details and credits for window seats pictured above are here)

And so, I now have added a bay window bumpout to from the parlor on the left side of the house to accommodate a window seat.

And here is the view from the front hall. In essence, my Dream House has been divided into the formal left side (parlor, library/formal dining room, home office) and the informal right side (kitchen, eating area, family room/lounge)

Okay, so my passion for green is long-lived and well documented. The front parlor in my "house" is actually quite small - 12'x10'. It's truly meant to harken back to the era of these old New England houses with formal parlors where one greeted guests. I also love the idea of it being very "gardeny" in order to continue the "outside in" feeling from the green entry and muraled foyer. Okay, I know I shouldn't be decorating before I've designed the entire house, but I just cannot help myself! But, pay little attention to what's on the walls, just place holders for now. I'm not even sure of the paint color I'd want - this is Ben Moore's White Dove with Castleton Mist on the ceiling and in the window seat.

And the view from inside the window seat. I envision a deep apple green velvet cushion and upholstered back walls (comfy!) with lots of pretty pillows.

Speaking of pretty - how insanely gorgeous is Lauren Liess' Queen Anne's Bouquet fabric??? This would probably be the basis for my entire design of this room. It hits all the right buttons for me. It's green (of course), feminine and it's a pattern whose layout creates a larger symmetrical pattern - perfection. So, it's now on some throw pillows and the window treatments.

And as you can see - there is a handy little book shelf built into one of the side walls of the window seat.

And looking back towards the front hall from the window seat perch. The little desk on the back wall represents my actual green desk - the beginnings of my "all green is good" world view.

My father bought this little antique desk at a barn sale when I was in elementary school and refinished it for me. It would certainly have a place of honor in any home, including my dream house. There is also a matching display shelf that hangs above it.

Here's the view from the middle of the house looking forward into the parlor out the front windows.

And another view - tea and cookies anyone?

And here we're looking back towards the rest of the house. The middle room will be the library (envision lots of shelves and millwork), books and a beautiful table and chairs for more formal, but intimate, dinner parties, in front of the fireplace. And beyond that would be my home office which has its own entry from the side of the house. My thought is that I could meet with clients in the office, or in the library if we needed more space or were going to have coffee or a meal.

And here's the exterior of the side of the house with the bay window in the front parlor and the matching bumpout for a nice private entry to the home office in the rear. (Window placements in the second floor and attic are placeholders and subject to change).

I hope you're enjoying following along as I design my dream home as much as I am designing it. It may not be a reality at this moment, but it might be someday. And feel free to comment and make suggestions - there's always something to learn.

Have a great weekend friends!

If you would like my help on your dream home project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::