WoW!

Pops of color for Spring!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Porter-Braun) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 18:54:00 +0000

We've hit that strange shoulder season in the Northeast between winter and spring when we can get 60 degree swings in temperature in a 24 hour period. It results in both some very confused bulbs and some lifted and thawed out spirits. But at this time every year, I get this uncontrollable itch to add bright pops of new color to every room. It feels something like I'm waking up my house after hibernation. So, here are a few items that caught my eye in the past week or so. Enjoy!

I Love, love, love this poster by Andy Wharhol. It comes in a couple of colors and brings in a BIG color pop.

I'm loving Ballard Designs new Serena Bench that comes in both white and black bases and hundreds of colors - place it in an entry, in front of your fireplace, or at the foot of your bed.

And, of course when looking for pops of color, one must see what Jonathan Addler has cooked up, like these new little pouches in jute with fun silk screened silhouettes...for carrying along, or hanging in your mudroom to house small clutter.

Throw Pillows are always an easy and relatively affordable way to update any decor. Here are several ideas for subtle color accents to big POW! Enjoy.

Surya's St-052

Floral Pillow cover (20x 20) from Etsy shop Maria Vargas Designs

Chevron Pillow covers from Etsy shop: Festive Home Decor

Outdoor Kaeden Pillow from Pier One Imports

Spring On the Way

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Porter-Braun) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:40:00 +0000

I'm back! I haven't blogged for almost 2 years - frightening. But the past two years have been busy and fluid and blogging just fell low on the priority list. But I'm making a new commitment - certainly not daily, maybe not weekly, likely monthly - to bring you what I'm seeing in the world of decorating and living a beautiful life. So for starters, I thought I'd post my personal Manifesto. Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

I believe in the incredible power of our surroundings

I believe you should have dessert for dinner once a week, M&Ms in the office at ALL times, and a glass of good wine at night

I believe decorating should be fun

I believe love & music give a home its life, and laughter restores the soul

I believe every room should have an element of surprise

I believe you should get intoxicated by the beauty of France, Italy, and South Africa at least once in your life

I believe in children and pets - they are live-in comedy

I believe your style is uniquely yours

I believe happiness and style come from finding, embracing & expressing yourself loudly

I believe your home should be your oasis & sanctuary - where you are honest, real, & yourself

I believe in fairness, integrity, dignity, and kindness - ALWAYS

I believe simplicity is the essence of elegance...(ala Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O, Albert Nippon, Lillian August)

...and applaud Jonathan Adler's whimsical approach to decorating & life

I believe in the power of fuscia, the timelessness of patent leather, the clean order of fretwork, & the irreverent luxury of all things that "Bling" - think Dorothy Draper meets Kate Spade

I believe great decorating happens over time & doesn't require a bank heist (though it sure wouldn't hurt!)

I believe that beauty is important, especially from the inside out.

Out of hibernation...HELLO SPRING!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Porter-Braun) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 23:09:00 +0000

Spring has arrived here in the Northeast in its typical abrupt and noncommital manner. We had enough rain two weeks ago to last us all year, dried out with 90+ degrees Wednesday, and by tomorrow we'll be back into the 40s...but at least it's sunny. Crazy, but I'll take it - the trees are blooming, the bulbs are flowering, the tourists have arrived, and...Johnathan Adler's new store on Newburry Street is open to all! Life is good.

I just love everything Jonathan Adler - who doesn't? His manifesto is a message of required happiness with a dash of frivolity -- just walking into the store is enough to lift someone from deep despair to giddiness in a manner of seconds. It's a welcome message and feeling after the dark cloud we've all been living under for a few years now. If you live in the Boston area, be sure to stop by - they're even having a sale right now! And be sure to pick up a copy of his book - My Prescription for Antidepressive Living - great Pictures. Powerful ideas for life

In keeping with the themes of this blog - affordable GOOD design - Adler has a wonderful line of sofas that come in both apartment and standard sizes and start at
only $2,200. Fabulous, affordable, good design. They've got this one in the store in light blue linen - simply gorgeous, and the right scale for our more petite city dwellings (it also comes in a larger size for those with more space). If you don't live in Boston, Miami, New York, or L.A., you can see his lineup on his website - full of fun and frivolity. Worth a visit.
Happy Spring!
Sarah

Creating Designer Rooms with a Real World Bank Account

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Porter-Braun) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:49:00 +0000

I've taken a little break between posts (sorry!), but I've been looking for the perfect picture to start a series of postings on creating designer-done rooms on real-world budgets (RWB). At this point the perfection seems to have become the enemy of the good - so I've settled on a living room designed by one of my favorite designers, Phoebe Howard, to demonstrate. Granted, you don't have Phoebe Howard's incredible eye or assistance, but it's still possible.

Suppose you wanted this look and feel. What makes it hang together is the consistency of the dark wood, blue/white theme, the balanced (but not matchy-matchy) tables, matching lamps, and texture variation (subtle but there). Here's how you could achieve this on a RWB:

1. Light blue rug - large - make sure you fill the floor. If you live in the NE, head over to Building 19 (an old warehouse shopping experience for sure, but great rugs for the price!) and pick one up for $150 or less (you may need to visit more than one store to get just the right one).

2. A blue couch can be ordered with custom or stock fabric from Ballard Designs for $1200 or less including delivery, and depending on fabric choice - Husdon Upholstered Setee w/Spa Blue fabric - with foam-core, down wrapped pillows.

3. Two matching low-slung arm chairs with complimentary fabric - $900 each such as this one from Hooker Furniture:

4. Try to find an antique Amish or Shaker style chair, but if you're in a hurry, you can get a new one for $208 at oakdiningtables.com

5. Accent Tables - pick two similar sized tables up at a used furniture shop, flea market, or your parents' attic. One round, one square-ish. Depending on your spacial requirements, you should aim for tables that are about 24" - 36" across. You should be able to get both for $100. If you're in a hurry, go to your local unfinished furniture store, and have them stained.

6. Lamps - You can find any number of affordable table lamps that are similiar to the one shown in this picture. LampsPlus.com is one source (search under ceramic table lamps) and you'll find many that are similar. You may be able to pick a great set up at your local Home Goods Store.

7. Window coverings - While you don't always need to spend a fortune on window coverings, when trying to ecomomize, this is NOT the pace to do it. That said to get this particular look, you needn't break the bank. You can find these cotton/linen panels at places such as Pottery Barn, but you should also check out availability at Halfpricedrapes.com (one of my favorite destinations for well-made, affordable drapes, window coverings, and hardware). For the straw roller shade, you can find affordable options at Ikea, or Budget Blinds. Be sure to get the black or ebony curtain rod and finials. Details matter.

8. Accessorize with a plant, a stack of magazines, and a small group (3) of vases on the table and you're all set.

Item	Cost
Rug	$ 150.00
Settee/Couch	$1,200.00
2 Chairs	$ 1800.00
Shaker Chair	$ 208.00
Accent Tables	$ 100.00
Table lamps	$ 400.00
Window Pannels	$ 300.00
Straw Blind	$ 200.00
Coffee Table	$ 600.00
Accessories	$ 100.00
TOTAL	$ 5058.00

In the end, you've created a designer-style living room for $5K!

Would love to hear your comments, suggestions, requests. Send me a picture, and I'll try to find affordable sources for you....your custom shopping list!

'Till Later..

Exceptional Interiors

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Porter-Braun) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:35:00 +0000

I just received an updated blog posting from Hibitually Chic that highlights designer Veere Grenney's London flat - which is the personification of GREAT design... click the link above and take a look at the great pictures!

Next time I'll talk about how one achieves this level of 'greatness' on a RWB (Real World Budget)...

Sarah

Cornerstones of Great Interiors

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Porter-Braun) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:22:00 +0000

Regardless of style preferences, I think great interiors should be both functional and beautiful. They should help facilitate your life and serve as your cocoon, helping you to feel your best.

Whether your style preference is traditional, transitional, or modern (or other), there are some common threads that run through all of them.

Beautiful, comfortable interiors:

are free of clutter
are balanced
have a focal point
employ a simple color scheme
have appropriate and sufficient light

This room by Phoebe Howard, one of my favorite designers, is a great example of these principles.

Another more modern example...

And kids rooms...

What's your definition of exceptional interiors?

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Porter-Braun) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:52:00 +0000

I was meeting with a client yesterday and we got to discussing budgets. She wanted to know what a "Real World" budget is. Good question, so I thought we could discuss this on the blog.

In so many of the design magazines, we see beautiful pictures of rooms where there was no budget at all, or cost $30,000 to decorate. That's simply not the reality for most of us. But, more often than not, you can achieve similar results of beauty on a fraction of that budget.

So what is a "Real World" Budget? Of course it depends on the room, but lets use a living room for example. You should be able to decorate a living room for $7,000 - $10,000. Here's how I'd break it out:

Paint/Wall paper $500.00
Rug / Flooring $1,000.00
Couch $2,800.00
2 Chairs $800.00
Ottoman or Coffee Table $600.00
Side Tables $300.00
Lighting $700.00

Table/Floor
Sconce/Picture

Art & Accessories $400.00
Window Coverings $1,200.00
Design & assistance $1,200.00
TOTAL $9,400.00

Certainly there are many ways you could pare down this cost, but this can serve as a realistic guide that could result in a beautiful room.

Let us know your thoughts and what questions you have that I can help answer.

Til' Later
Sarah

Goodbye 2009, Hello World!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Porter-Braun) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:30:00 +0000

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to WoW!, a new blog focusing on real-world approaches to fabulous, outstanding decorating.

I hope you've got great plans to celebrate the onset of a new year and some fun decorating plans for 2010. Over the course of the coming year, I hope to collect some WoW! decorating sights and moments - with your help. When we close 2010 YOU will vote on the top 12 WoW! Moments which we'll publish for all. So what might be a WoW! Moment, you ask?

It's up for refinement (share your thoughts!), but for the outset, a WoW! Moment is an interior design/decorating sight or design that is approachable by the "average Joe/Sue". Let's salute and be inspired by the many talented designers who decorate the homes of the wealthy. But let's also salute those who are able to achieve similarly effective results on average budgets. Let's help beautiful homes be available to everyone! Welcome to a new era of beautiful living on your terms - whatever they are.

As we close 2009, I look back on some wonderful developments:

1. For me personally, my business (Topiary Interiors) was successfully launched, is gaining traction, and receiving a good response.

2. Jan Showers published my new favorite design book, Glamorous Rooms; and I found Jan Flowers' blog (Jan's Notebook) - sadly for me, it's been up for about a year, but I suppose I can excuse myself for being under the "launch a business rock", and THANK Jackie von Tobel's blog (Jackie Blue Home) for the alert! Check out both for amazing design inspiration - and certainly Jackie's two books The Design Directory of Bedding and The Design Director of Window Treatments.

3. Our societal values have shifted away from conspicuous and material consumption, and people seem to be placing greater value on their personal connections, meaningful relationships, and passions. All good.

4. Our economic conditions seem to be turning a corner and confidence is returning -albeit cautiously (also good).

5. The era of "overstuffed" everything and excess is out, and clean, streamlined, refined sophistication is in. Hoooorrraaayyy!

6. Lucite still reigns, and is still comfortable with about every style. Who doesn't continue to love Starck's Louis Ghost Chair? honestly.

7. Our concern for the environment is close to mainstream, and increasing numbers of materials are "green" while there is a renewed interest in re-use over 'buy new'. All good.

8. City, urban lifestyles are back in vogue bringing with them a trend back to smaller scale, more refined and elegant furnishings. Think Audrey Hepburn returns.

Please sign up for my blog and suggest it to your friends, participate in the conversation - we'll laugh, smile, think, chat, possibly cry (but not for long). Mostly we'll just enjoy our love of design and find ways to make GREAT design available to more.

'Til later,
Sarah