Lisa Mende Design

Brizo and Elle Decor Pinterest Contest

2013-05-21T17:32:00.001-04:00

Did you know that Brizo and Elle Decor are sponsoring a contest over at Pinterest. Two fabulous companies coming together to sponsor a contest and you can win!!!

Brizo and Elle Decor

Would you like to win a Brizo SmartTouch Technology kitchen faucet and $2,500.00 to work on your Dream Kitchen. If so, click here for all the details! I will warn you, I signed up and made my own board, so I'm gunning to win! Just kidding! But seriously, who wouldn't want to win?

Jamie Bissonnette, Chef and owner of Coppa and Toro

Even as a child, Bissonnette was drawn to the kitchen eschewing cartoons for cooking shows on the Discovery Channel. With this early start, he earned his Culinary Arts degree from The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale by the young age of 19 and spent his early 20s eating and cooking his way through Paris, San Francisco, New York and Phoenix. These early experiences fed his culinary drive, teaching him expression through his daily-changing menus.

VISIT TORO »VISIT COPPA »

JUDD LORD, Director of Industrial Design, Brizo

A part of the Brizo team since its inception, Judd took over the reins of the industrial design team in 2000. His work has received hundreds of design patents and awards. He designed many of the Brizo brand's most successful product lines and was instrumental in laying out the groundwork for the Brizo brand portfolio.

VISIT BRIZO »

Amy Preiser, Web Editor, ELLE DECOR

Amy Preiser is the Web Editor at ELLE DECOR, where she translates the magazine's gorgeous content to the web, and writes and edits original online stories. She also manages ELLE DECORs social profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and Instagram, and hosts ELLE DECOR panels on how interior designers can make the Web their most creative tool (next - June 19th at ADAC!).

FOLLOW ELLE DECOR »

Anne Sage, Blogger at City Sage and Co-founder of RUE Magazine

Anne Sage is San Francisco-based stylist, blogger and editor. In 2008, she founded The City Sage, a blog that features daily inspiration for fashion and interior design. The City Sage was named in the September 2010 issue of Martha Stewart Living as a Site to Bookmark, and it has been identified as one of the Top 15 Design Blogs in the World by Cote Maison France.

Make sure you Click Here to Enter Today!!!

Are You Ready for Memorial Day?

2013-05-21T01:46:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you but Memorial Day snuck up on me this year. We always

spend this weekend at the beach which means I have to plan ahead to have

everything I need for the weekend. I thought I had another week and realized over the

weekend that I didn't, so I have been mentally preparing. Do you decorate?

We generally pull out all the flags, light, and anything else we can find to decorate!

We typically have a family dinner sometime over the weekend, so I have been

gathering my thoughts about what to serve and how to decorate. Here are a few things

I found. Thought you might like to see too!

Directions on how to make these great colored sand candle holders click here

What's Memorial Day Picnics without cupcakes? Click Here

for some great recipes!

Pretty Ice cream cone & Waffle bowl set from Pottery Barn

Love these star studded napkins from Pottery Barn

Grandin Road has bunting & other decorations

I'll leave you with a couple of my favorite red, white and blue rooms

Lindsey Coral Harper in House Beautiful

Design by Tobi Fairely & Photographed by John Magor

What ever you have planned for this weekend, I hope it will be spent with those you love!

Happy Planning!!!

Taking Time....

2013-05-20T23:29:00.000-04:00

To Pause in Respect...

Praying hands at Oral Roberts University

Yesterday, people's lives were changed forever. Out of no where a tornado took the lives of fifty one people, twenty of them were children and possibly more will be found in Oklahoma. Unless you have lost a loved one, had everything you owned reduced to rubble in the blink of an eye or watched while your community is totally devastated, there is no way to imagine what the residents of Moore, Oklahoma are feeling right now. I know from personal experience, when you are in the middle of tragedy, you can't comprehend how others can continue to go about their lives like nothing is wrong. They deserve for us to pause to show respect to those devastated. Won't you join me in pausing to remember those who are suffering in the path of this terrible tragedy. We need to do what we can, send what we can and continue to pray for these people.

Mary On Monday...

2013-05-20T15:20:00.003-04:00

One of my all time favorite designers is Mary McDonald so you can imagine my surprise when I got an email that my question had been included in questions answered by Mary on the Schumacher website column "Ask Mary". I thought all you "Mary" lovers out there would enjoy the article if you haven't seen it already.

1. Christine Conte: When you have a blank canvas of a room, where do you get your inspiration from? Do you consider nearby rooms, a clients particular like or request or is it instinct?

Generally it is all three. First and foremost and contrary to popular belief, we actually do have to listen to some sort of client request even if it is as simple as “I love pastels.” Rarely do we get 100% “Just surprise me.” Even Carte Blanche has some parameters. In the case where I am lucky enough to do whatever I want, I usually look at the architecture and surroundings first. If I have to match an already complete nearby room, I don’t really want the job unless someone like Nancy Lancaster or Jaques Garcia had a hand in it. I like to look at the overall picture of architecture, surroundings, geographic location and client’s preferences. Once I have mulled that over, I usually just get a vibe for the house. It kind of speaks to me, and I usually see a color palette in one or two specific areas which start to set a tone. For me being inspired is never a problem. Inspiration is about 10% of the work. It is the execution that demands your all and the refining and editing after you have been inspired. Just because you are inspired to do a lavender rough hewn organic beach house does not mean that all of that exists visually or technically. So to recap the answer to your question, it would be client first, architecture and surroundings second (including existing- yet only fab rooms) and thirdly every little thing on the planet can inspire me after I have considered the first two. A button on a shirt, a strip of wood or a fanciful ice cream scoop can be the start of an entire room for me.

2. @InteriorCanvas1 : Which is one of your design “golden rules”?

Don’t turn back after you have committed to your style plan. Commit Commit Commit. If you are going for 70’s chic don’t turn back when you go to your friend’s cottage and bring home a pine table.. There are VERY talented collected and curated interiors of that nature but you had better have been touched by the design Gods to do it… as for the average person, just commit. If you don’t, you end up with the equivalent of a Marchesa dress with gladiator sandals.

3. Leslie Devito: What is your favorite thing to do (at home) when you are NOT working?

I like to cook. I also like to sit and read fancy cookbooks “pretending” I am going to cook all of these 20 part recipes. By the time I finish reading it all I’m exhausted and feel like I did it. The French cookbooks really get you in the (see recipe) department.

4. Krista Nye Schwartz: What is your favorite room in a house to decorate and why?

I actually like the challenge of any room I can make dramatic and layer. Having said that I love over the top vestibules, really formal living rooms and as it might be apparent the “come hither bedroom”. I can really sink my teeth into fashion-y feminine layering and no room allows you to do that like a bedroom.

Let’s just say bedroom, if I had to boil it down.

5. Emily Nickell Vanderputten: In your opinion, in terms of execution, how much of design is ‘learned’ and much of it is instinct (having an eye for scale, composition, color, and layering patterns etc)?

There are many successful talentless people out there that have gone to school. Their talent is in business and networking and being efficient but not necessarily in anything more visual than the next person. That is actually a talent too, which is why many artistically talented people never really make it but are filled with natural talent. You cannot teach someone style. One can learn to mimic styles and be a good executor becoming successful but they never really had intrinsic style and still don’t. They are copying in a paint by numbers way and have made an effort to learn why scales technically work together and how the business of design works. There are truly stylish talented designers and one can never teach that intrinsic gift. Everyone can learn how pieces fit in a room but not necessarily with cohesion unless you are a tented copier. In both cases, one always learns and trains their eye and grows as whichever type of designer one is and obviously the truly talented will grow 10 fold.

6. @Kenpasadena: Which is your absolute favorite accessory: ( A ) ginger pot ( B ) pagoda( C) Foo Dogs?

For me personally a pagoda by far, but for the client in general the most easily used and versatile is definitely a ginger pot.

7. Juliana Posess: What is the most seemingly-random early job/internship experience you had that actually proves to be extremely useful in your life as a designer now?

I was such a terrible assistant intern type that I really can’t remember anything except feeling sorry for the people that hired me. So I guess to answer your question, I can see my teen type coming now and know they won’t work out if I hired them.

8. Jenn Gallagher Maher: What is your best strategy for handling clients with poor taste?

I validate what they like and possibly what type of home that it could work in and then explain that is not what we are trying to do in theirs. Sometimes people’s bad taste is just a lack of editing and discernment as to what works together. Those people tend to like absolutely everything which never works together but might have a significance separately.

9. Lisa Mende Design: Loved this interview! Bravo! I would like to ask her who her all time favorite client was? Thanks!

I kind of have so many that I can’t honestly choose one (or tell who a few are), but I loved working with Glee creator Ryan Murphy because his mind is really as quick and sharp and completely bizarre as the work he creates. He is somewhat genius in so many ways.

10. Andrew Skipper: Do you set goals and then go after them or do you do your own thing and let opportunities come to you?

I am more of the latter. Goals too huge or too far away get me confused. I try to look at the year ahead and then some. Besides so many things come your way when you think they are going to go another way that you have to be willing to see the opportunities that suddenly present themselves. I admire those big goal people, but it freaks me out. My advice is to set your goals and be willing to shift them as different opportunities present themselves along the way.

"Room To Bloom"

Greeted by beautiful flowers at Charlotte Country Club

I had the opportunity to hear Mary McDonald speak recently at Charlotte's Mint Museum

"Room to Bloom." Mary was as candid and frank as with the answers above which I loved.

She is quite beautiful in person

She had a sense of humor and didn't mind laughing at herself.

She also reminded us that she has the same issues as all designers

that being a celebrity designer doesn't change things.

She talked about her new collection with Schumacher. You can see the panels

and trim in the background are made of her fabric and the podium is

upholstered in it as well.

Her remote for the power point wasn't working to her liking so after what seemed like an eternity, she promptly said "little remote , you're fired" to which, we all broke out in laughter.

She shared pictures of her own home and office such as the one from above that we all know and loved. She told us that the office has been redone because everyone who entered put their hands on those chairs and they got so dirty she had to make a change.
(See even glamourous designers have to succumb to practicality sometimes)

She entertained us with some of her favorite projects like this playroom above. It was a sitting room for the lady of the house complete with a little play area for her daughter so she could entertain guests.

After Mary spoke we had a delightful lunch!

What day that begins with flowers and ends in dessert with a little "Mary" in the middle can be all bad? Catherine Austin and her committees did a fabulous job!

Scot Meacham Wood - Fabulous Friend on Friday

2013-05-17T10:39:00.002-04:00

Meet the fabulous Scot Meacham Wood. I really dont' need to say a thing about this guy, the picture says it all. Fun, colorful and decidedly dapper, this guy really knows how to live an intentionally stylish life! Scot hails from California, but has a southern upbringing which was evident to me the first time I met him. I'm not quite sure where that meeting occurred, because I feel as though I have always known him. He has a gift of making you feel like an old friend the minute you meet him.[...]

How to Decorate on a Budget, Fast, Cheap and Easy!

2013-05-16T13:00:00.001-04:00

Now that I have your attention....

Let's face it, not everyone has Donald Trump's bank account. We all want a great looking home, but not everyone can have a professionally designed home outfitted in the latest and greatest high end resources. What's a design lover to do? I find one of the best ways to get the look without spending the moolah is to shop vintage, thrift, yard sales, Craigslist or stores like Goodwill. There my friend, you can often find great pieces with great bones, that only require a coat of paint and a little love.

I posted earlier in the week about Amy Howard's new paint line. Take Amy's products and apply
to a thrift store piece and you have something fab!

I won't lie, I am not the biggest DIY-er you'll ever meet. I'm the "good intentions" girl.
In reality, tend to follow more of the HIY path (hire it yourself), but I have been known to tackle
a few little projects myself. More often than not, my so called "DIY projects" get grouped in my garage
for a rainy day that never comes!

Here is a link to my Pinterest DIY project board in case you are interested in what I would like to do if I were DIY-ing.. As you can see I have been busy "pinning" away projects for the future. I jokingly told my friend and fellow designer, Holly Hollingsworth Phillips, I was going to start a weekly blog feature called "Don't DIY" where I would feature reasons "not to try it yourself" and show the receipts of items I had purchased, never used or used and how I had ruined perfectly good pieces. Could be really entertaining, I think. It's true you know, not everyone is meant to be a DIY-er, even though Pinterest gives us the false hope we can conquer anything. Often with me, it's after I have spent $$$, boat loads of time and effort only to have the project fail, do I realize it would have been cheaper for me to hire it done. Not sure if my issues are short attention span, perfectionism or just plain lack of time but I'll typically leave it to the pros. That being said, I do appreciate admire that ability in others. I think it takes talent to be the successful DIY-er. That's why I am writing this post!

If you live in the Charlotte area, you need to keep reading and make plans to come out
to the Restore Restyle Event. You just might get some great ideas for your own home!
Traci Zeller and I have teamed up once again, this time to be judges at Restore Restyle Event tomorrow night. There are eight teams who have accepted the challenge.

Add caption

The ReStore ReStyle Design Challenge is an annual fundraiser held at the Mooresville ReStore whose purpose is to highlight the ReStores and their impact on the community through creative repurposing. Local designers are challenged to decorate 10’x10’ rooms utilizing only donated product available from the Mooresville & Cornelius ReStores. Each room will demonstrate how items found in the ReStores can be “ReStyled.”

The 3rd Annual ReStore ReStyle Design Challenge will be held on tomorrow night,

Friday, May 17th, 2013 at the Mooresville ReStore.

To purchase your tickets to the 2013 ReStore ReStyle Design Challenge Click Here!

Tickets are $15 and include two drink tickets and heavy hors d'ouevres.

Each team can only use items from the Cornelius and Mooresville ReStore locations for their designs. They will be given two gallons of paint, and items costing no more than $100 each to design a 10' x10" room.They are allowed to bring in anything to include in their room as long as it fits in a standard size file box. Yep, you heard me right! It's the ultimate challenge! I'm sure there is lots of planning, speculating and brainstorming going on with these designers as they think through what they might be able to cook up to use in their designs. I'm sure it will be inspiring and amazing to see the finial results.

MEET THE DESIGNERS

Crystal Clark: Girl's Room: The Weekend Homemaker

I'm a home decor and craft blogger atThe Weekend Homemakerwho is inspired to create, repurpose and recycle in order to decorate my home on a budget. I love shopping the restore, thrift stores, and garage sales to find items that just need a little love to give them a new life. I turned my unused "formal" dining room into a home office for two and was featured in the July 2012 issue of Better Homes and Gardens.

Andrea Hartley: Wedding Reception Room

I am a stay at home mom, co-owner with my husband of an electrical company, a volunteer for the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, and third generation treasure hunter.What I am most passionate about is art, design, and creating (on a budget.) I have been sorting and sifting and digging through dusty shelves, bins, and boxes to find that little forgotten and discarded treasure to restore or repurpose for as long as I can remember with my mother and grandmother. My three year old son is quite at home at our local Restore in Mooresville and often can be found napping in the back of the shopping cart. I love the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction achieved by spending $20 and an afternoon to create a truly one of a kind piece that looks like I spent hundreds of dollars. I hope that I can pass as much fun and memories onto my son as I have experienced in my life with my mom.

Trevor & Kerri Morrical: Family Play Room: Morr Creations, LLC

We are a husband and wife team that loves the creation, building and design process. We enjoy antiques, shopping second-hand and refurbishing items to give them new purpose and function. We are excited to have been chosen to participate in the ReStore Restyle Design Challenge 2013 to display our creativity and give back to our community. We look forward to the challenge and welcome this opportunity as a motivation to start our new Renovation-Design Business.

Anna Miller: Nursery

My name is Anna Miller; I am 29 years old, born and raised in Mooresville NC. I recently completed my Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Gardner Webb University. I work as a professor at Mitchell Community College teaching a course on developmental disabilities. For the past 10 years I have also worked with special needs children in the Mooresville area as a Behavioral Technician. My newest and most exciting job is working as a counselor in Statesville. I work with opiate/chemical dependent individuals and I love every second of it. I consider myself a creative person, doing everything from scrap booking, making dog collars, dog costumes, jewelry, and hair bows. This is my first time ever designing a room; I have a little experience re-purposing small items for my own home, but I LOVE A CHALLENGE. The last challenge that I was given was to create two dresses for Charlotte Fashion week for the Recyclable portion of the week-long event. For this; I was asked to create one dress from camera film for shutter legends photography, and the other from Society Charlotte magazine. This was the first time that I had ever designed clothing; they turned out extremely well for someone with no experience in this area. With that said, I have a hard time explaining what inspires me... Because to be honest, EVERYTHING inspires me.

Kerrie Boys: Man Cave: Kerrie.Can

Make things out of things. That is what I do.
There is a certain curiosity that comes with objects that have lived a previous life. With that curiosity, in my hands, comes a "second chance" as they say. I see things that aren't there, visions of what could be. Bringing that vision to life feeds my soul. My process mirrors what Habitat for Humanity is all about. These committed people have a calling, and with donations and skills, they help families who need a second chance "see" what could be. Together, with creative hearts and rugged hands we can help more families realize the dream of a having a home.

Karen Adams: Office

I have always been blessed with great artistic ability, being able to draw, paint, sculpt, craft, and everything else in between. My favorite thing to do is re-purpose old tired items and give them a new lease on life. This was originally introduced to me by my mother-in-law who encouraged me to redo a tired old kitchen rack. I loved doing it so much that it is now something I do almost daily. I also specialize in creating high end styled decor for weddings and events that are low on budget but high in elegance. Recently I started working with Van Buren Consignment and have been able to use my talents in creating unique custom furnishings.

Gretchen Earnshaw: Patio Space

Gretchen has been repurposing and redesigning since she was old enough to move furniture around her bedroom in her parent’s house. A true designer at heart, Gretchen specializes in using the items already in the space in new and different ways to bring life to a room. Finding the right balance of old and new is the key to a comfortable, functional and beautiful design. Sometimes we need to step back and look at our homes with fresh eyes to see the possibilities within. Gretchen’s favorite style could be described as coastal cottage but she believes there should always be an element of surprise and a touch of whimsy in every design.

Also during the event will be another exciting fundraiser:

Chair-i-ty: (noun)

A fundraising event where youth and community members in the Lake Norman area "ReStyle" Habitat ReStore chairs to be auctioned off at the ReStore ReStyle 2013 Design Challenge. Proceeds benefit Our Towns Habitat Youth United program.

Chairs from the Chair-ity event are on auction now at the Mooresville ReStore. The bidding will end on May 17th at 7:45pm during the 2013 ReStore ReStyle Design Challenge. Please visit the Mooresville ReStore during this time period to place your bid. To order tickets to the event please click here.

Follow Restore Pinterest Board Here

If you are in the Charlotte area follow their Facebook Here

Follow the blog here for helpful tips and offerings in the store

It's like our very own HGTV "White Box" Challenge!!!

I know it will be a ton of fun!

Won't you Join Us?

A Visit to Moore Councill Show Room!

2013-05-15T01:25:00.001-04:00

One of my absolute favorite show rooms at High Point Market is Moore Councill. I'm not sure if it is because their beautiful show room is chocked full of great furniture, or because everyone there is so nice especially the owner and CEO, Moore Councill himself. In Oct of 2011, Moore Council moved to an expanded showroom at 200 North Hamilton in High Point.

Their new showroom is so inviting. I especially like the unique ways they choose to display the furniture. Gone are the typical arrangements seen in furniture galleries. This show room makes you feel like you are in a high end shop. The collection consists of interesting statement pieces and they have chosen equally interesting ways to display them like the chair gallery above. The show room is open year around for retails and designers. They welcome designers to bring clients as well. Moore Councill isn't a newcomer to the furniture industry. His family has been creating beautiful furniture for two generations. The products are sourced in Vietnam and then stored in High Point. [...]

Paint Stripes on Hardwood Floors - Tuesday Tips

2013-05-13T23:41:00.000-04:00

I'm sure by this point most of you have seen the Gentleman's dressing room that Traci Zeller and I designed for the Junior League of Greensboro/Traditional Homes Show House.

Click the Header to read the entire story!

On Trend - Lacquer Furniture & Amy Howard Paints

2013-05-13T05:29:00.003-04:00

Photo Credit: Anual Design

Photo Credit: Kelly Wearstler

Click Header to Read the Entire Post....

Happy Mother's Day

2013-05-12T20:34:00.001-04:00

Its been a wonderful weekend filled with family. Today, I would like to give thanks to my Mom and Mother-In-Law. My Mom lives four hours from me so we don't get to spend much time together. We basically see each other at Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and in the summer when we are at the beach. Most of my family live close together and gather often which I am really envious I dont' get to do. I grew up in a large family so being with family is important to me. Thank goodness my in-laws come over almost every week for dinner. We have so much to be thankful for. This weekend we celebrated Rebekah's graduation from NC State University with my family. Today we had lunch with Bryant's family. I included the picture of my mom with my dad, because it is rare you see one without the other.
Bryant's Dad is 91 and his mother is 89. She still takes water aerobics twice a week. He ran until he was 85, so they are proof that exercise keeps you young. We are very lucky to have our parents. My heart goes out to everyone who don't have a mom to celebrate with or are too far to be with them today. I ache for those who have wanted to be a mom and haven't been successful. Life is hard and holidays can be lonely if you don't have a "Hallmark" family. Here's hoping all of you have found happy moments in your day whether you have been with your loved ones or not. My mom's favorite saying is below. I'd like share it with you in honor of her.

One thing true about being parents.....

If you don't own this book, I highly recommend you buy it and read
it to your children. It's a favorite of ours!

Parenting is hard work....

There aren't any perfect parents but that's ok....

Happy Mother's Day to Everyone!

Saturday Sillies - As a Blogger What is #1 Read Post?

2013-05-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last June while in Little Rock for my first Mastermind Group Meeting with Tobi Fairley, I was anxiously trying to come up with a post for the blog in 2 seconds or less when I happened upon a picture on Pinterest of a "Penny Ball". What is a penny ball you asked?

Well, if you are the only one in America who didn't read the post, (kidding)

you can go here to read it. It was one of those 5 minute thoughts I had that has gone virual.

I get daily emails from people asking me which glue is the best to use to how to do it to is it considered defacing money? (even though it states it all right there in that pitiful post). To date, my penny ball post has gotten approx 10,000 views.

I dont' know what happened, but dang...

So again, I ask "A Penny for your Thoughts"

What has been your most read blog post? Was it something weird like mine" which I gave no thought to and wrote in 5 minutes or was it the post that you crafted for hours?

Should I be doing what the experts tell us and embracing my highly sought out niche?

Do Tell! My blogger friends all have similar stories of weird posts that have gone viral, but typically it is related to their topic. I think this is the only "garden related" themed post I have ever done. Should i be posting DIY's?

I leave you with a picture of a penny ball and thoughts, WTH?

So in closing, I'm asking...should I be posting more DIY's and less thoughts from the heart?

Should I write a post about earthworms and their value?

Here's Hoping Your Saturday is filled with all the things you love!
Hopefully, I made you chuckle!
We are off to see our daughter graduate from North Carolina State University! I'm so incredibly proud of her! She is not only smart and kind but incredibly wise!
Happy Graduation Becks! Your Mom loves you very much and is so proud of you, but you knew that already, didn't you? I can't wait to see what you do with your wildly amazing life.

I know you are all grown up but in my eyes you will always look like this:

You might be wondering why I decided to congratulate my daughter at the bottom of my silly post...it's because if I had featured her she would have killed me! She doesn't like to be in the spot light!

Mad for Madcap Cottage -Fabulous Friends on Friday!

2013-05-10T12:27:00.000-04:00

Credit John Bessler Photography

mad·cap (mdkp)

adj.

Behaving or acting impulsively or rashly; wild.

When I looked up the word madcap in the dictionary, that was the definition I found used to describe madcap. I find it amusingly perfect for today's Fabulous Friends on Friday, Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke! Actually their design business is called "Madcap Cottage" and they are "wildly" talented, so the name fits them to a tee. The guys themselves are the epitome of southern Gentleman. Not sure how they ended up in New York, but we are working hard to get them to move south!

Click Here read the entire post!

Adamsleigh Show House...Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow!

2013-05-09T17:44:00.001-04:00

Credit PVE Design

10 Ways to Make the Most of Small Spaces

2013-05-09T01:49:00.001-04:00

Downsizing is a current trend not only in homes, but also in furniture scale. Americans are looking for ways their smaller homes can meet their needs. It is more important than ever to utilize every inch of your home. Let's talk about some ways you can have your cake and eat it too in a smaller space.

1. Mini-office. The popularity of wall mounted flatscreens, has reduced the need for the television cabinets of the 1990's. Why not recycle one into a mini office. Perfect for the neat neck who likes to keep their messes behind closed doors. No need for an office to take up an entire room. This piece will play nicely in almost any room of the house.

Photo by Roberto Caruso

2. Unused spaces: Look for niches to create built in storage like under stairs

3. Build book cases on wall that would otherwise not be worthy of use.

4. Hidden Options: Look for clever ways to add storage

5. Vertical Storage: Make use of vertical space when possible

6. Space saving Furniture - Incorporate furniture that saves space or has smaller lines

7. smaller scale furniture - especially furniture with no arms or slight arms. Takes up less space visually and physically.

Via New Traditionalists

8. Think outside of the box. You don't have to have a sofa at all. Four chairs in a radius will give you the same seating for conversation that two sofas do with a lot less room being eaten up by the furniture.

via

9. Look for dual functionality in your rooms by creating space within a space such as this room with the murphy bed.

Murphy Bed by Custom Made

10. Take advantage of vertical space - Anytime you can get it off the floor do!

Via

Every house has more storage options if we just think about the space and utilize every inch.

Hopefully you will look at yours a little differently now that we have talked about a few options. The key to making your home work for you is to identify your needs first, then find ways to meet those needs. Often times we are junking up valuable real estate with things we dont' use. Donate those old books you've already read and won't read again. Tear the pages out of the magazine and recycle the rest of it. Don't hang on to those smaller sized pants in hopes you are going to lose 5 lbs. It's time to re-evaluate, purge and regroup!
Let's see how creative we can be! I'm walking around my house right now with a notepad.
Can't wait to tell you what I'm up to!!

http://lisamende.blogspot.com/pinterest-ec3aa.html

How to Trim a Room with Grosgrain Ribbon and Nail head Trim

2013-05-07T00:12:00.001-04:00

Via Elle Decor

I adore a room trimmed in grosgrain ribbon and nail heads. When Traci Zeller and I first started batting around ideas for our Adamsleigh show house room, it was amazing how many of the ideas we came up with simultaneously. We were so simpatico during the entire process. Once of the details we agreed upon early on was the addition of grosgrain ribbon and nail heads to trim our gentlemen's dressing room and bath. We decided we wanted to only trim the doorways, baseboards and the ceiling. We took swift measurements and rounded up all the emerald green grosgrain we could find. We went online to find a tutorial about how to tackle this project, but there were none to be find. I did find one blogger who had attached ribbon to her nursery wall using Ailene's Original Tacky Glue, so off I went to Michael's to find this product. Every project is different you are the only one who can decide what size ribbon and nail heads look best for your product. We decided to go with ribbon that was 1" wide and 1" nailheads in french natural finish from D'Kei. I think it is fair to say you could use 5/8" and 5/8" nail heads, but probably not smaller unless you are going for that French upholstery look.

There was only one problem with our walls....they were concrete and steel with a skim coat of plaster! Yeah, you heard me...next best thing to breaking into Alcatraz. Enter our handy, dandy installer, Mike Barclift. Little did Mike know at the time...he came to install our window treatment and was quickly named "the nail head installer" for this project once we figured out it required a drill and Traci or I have ever donned a drill. This particular project involved masonry bits and a lot of them, since they kept breaking. In regular sheetrock walls all you would need is a rubber malt. I do think drilling the holes even in regular sheetrock would make the job go faster and keep the heads of the nails heads from unnecessary dents.

As you can see from the photograph, the first thing we did glue the ribbon down
where we wanted it around the room.

We used painters blue tape to hold the ribbon in place while the glue was drying.

Here is our ceiling before we added the ribbon and trim.

Here is a picture once we had added the ribbon, but not the nail heads.

Ribbon staying in place with painters tape. I need to find a pic of the finished doorway.

Finished edges

We weren't crazy about how the original wallpaper was wrapped around the corner of the rounded door frame, so we created our own and painted it to match the trim in the room which gave the illusion of trim around the door when really it was a 3" strip painted around the door way.

Next we trimmed with the ribbon and lastly the nail heads.

Did I fail to tell you that Mike had to drill a hole for each nail head and hammer

it in? Yes, he's a good man Charlie Brown!

Halfway around the room and he's still speaking to us. That's always a

good sign!

You may notice that our nail heads are further apart than what they recommend with

the scale, but we felt it was the right call for our room since our room was small and
we used 1" ribbon and 1" nail heads which are both large themselves for a small room.

This is a handle little tool to help with spacing your nail heads, if you are spacing them widths that work for the tool size, unfortunately ours were much wider apart.

Here is the chart with some great options. They have many more. You can

go online and see all the options. I think the one we ordered was HPM50

if you want nail heads close together, then your best bet might be to buy a chain of nail heads like the one above which only has a real nail head to be hammer every 5th
nail head. Once it is properly attached, it looks as though you hammered each one separately!

Here is a picture of an application that may have used the continual string of nail heads.
It's great for trimming out things like picture frames, cabinets, etc.

Would probably be great for doors as well, but I'm betting Miles Redd had each one of
these babies hand attached.

_________________________

Supplies Needed For Grosgrain/Nail head Trim

1 rubber mallet

Nail head spacer if the distance works for your project if not make your own like we did
with a piece of cardboard

Ailene's Original Super Tacky Glue (get a couple of these if you are doing an entire room)
Nail heads 1/2", 5/8" or 1" depending on the look you want

Ribbon - Again you can use ribbon 1/2" -1" but 1" gives you a bigger bang for your buck

Blue painter's tape to hold ribbon while drying

Sponge brush to brush the glue onto the ribbon back

Tips:

-Start on the least noticeable corner of the room and work your way around the room.
Typically that is the corner behind you when you enter a room.

-Measure your areas and cut your ribbon prior to starting, it makes it so much easier.

-Make sure you leave about 1/2'" - 1" for turning under so you have a clean edge on the ends when you finish.

-Be consistent about which ribbon goes on top when going around door frames. Start and end the same way. In other words, if you start on one side of the door with the vertical ribbon on top of the baseboard ribbon then end the same way on the other side of the door. If you don't your eye will notice it and it will look inconsistent.

-Use Petersham ribbon when possible. You will have to order online but it is more pliable and great for curved areas. It's a little more refined looking than grosgrain.

-Dont' use a hammer unless you want dented nail heads, always use a rubber mallet

____________________________

Send me a link if you decide to tackle a nail head project! I would love to see what you make. If you want you can follow my nail head board on Pinterest here!

If you live in Charlotte,NC or the surrounding area and need a good installer, Mike is the best! He hangs art, installs window treatments, nail head trim, etc. I think he can do just about anything. Email me if you want his number! lisa@lisamende.com

Have Fun!!!!

The Southern C Summit Unveiled

2013-05-05T23:40:00.001-04:00

If you aren't familiar with The Southern Coterie you need to pop over immediately and get with the program! Whether you are southerner or just want to learn about the south, this is the place for you! Founded in 2011, The Southern Coterie is touted as "The Southern Network of the South." It's a place to celebrate all things southern!

When I first found out Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long, founders of the Southern C were holding a Summit on Jekyll Island, I was intrigued to say the least. I had attended Alt Summit and Design Bloggers Conference already this year, so I wasn't too sure my hubby was going to agree for me to travel to my third blog conference of the year, but once I luckily won an admissions ticket on twitter there was no argument. It was on the calendar!

Part 2

2013-05-05T15:02:00.004-04:00

I've had a lot of emails, calls and comments about what I wrote yesterday about the last day I saw my son, Walker. It's true that you can't go back and change life but sometimes the takeaway is worth revisiting, especially if it is a good message to those around you. Life rushes by so fast, it's hard to capture the true essence of what we are suppose to gleam from the moments that flicker through our minds and days. I've come to grips with Walker's last words to me and those words have served to remind me to slow down, enjoy what I have, so that's a good thing. Yes, it still hurts to think of those stinging words as the last he spoke to me face to face, but as my friend, Lisa reminded me today, "he would be ticked" if he thought that was the legacy he left behind.

In fairness to Walker, the legacy he left me was to enjoy life, embrace the bumps, scraps and bruises, that this world deals to you and move on. Am I bitter that I was dealt this terrible blow? Not totally. "For it is in the valley that the richest growth occurs". Do I see the world through rose colored glasses? No. The glasses have been traded for a very clear vision of what is real and honest in life. I see situations and people very differently. I know what is real and who is real. I see pain and I see vulnerability. I see the takers and the givers. I can be honest and real. I don't worry about what others think of me. I do what I think is right because I know at the end of the day I have myself reflecting back at me in the mirror.

The loss I feel is self pity. It's not for my son, because he is totally happy, that I'm sure.

Would I give a million dollars to see my son right now? Why, yes! Do I regret that I have to live my last days on earth without him? Never got to see his wedding, children or watch him grow into the man I knew he would one day be?

Yes and no.... you see, when my children were first born, my continual prayer has been to guide them with their faith in hopes they would someday reach Heaven and eternal life. Guess what...I got my wish. You see, when you lose a child, God provides a way for you to know without a doubt that your child is in Heaven, right where you always wish they would be. Some people may read this and think I have lost my mind, but given my choices this is what I would chose. Unthinkable, right? Well, it goes a little like this...If God gave me the chance to go first and leave my children on earth, I would say no! This old world is too horrible for children to be left without parents. Take my child because then I know they would be living more gloriously than ever on Earth. The reality is no one would ever what to chose that option but once the choice is made for you, it's simple to see which is the more optional result. Earth is hard. It's always throwing you curveballs. Heaven isn't like that.

As I said before, once you have a tragedy like I have experienced, God makes you privy to things you would otherwise never know about. There have been some amazing things that have happened leading up to, during and after Walker's accident. I am trying to record all the incidences so others can read about them in hopes of helping others see just how amazingly our lives are planned. There are no accidents. We waltz through life thinking we are in control. We think we keep our children safe and that we are totally in control of our fate, but I argue otherwise. Do we get to exercise "freewill"? I think so as far as it comes to picking out what we are wearing for the day, the color of our car, or what we decide to do with our day, but the ultimate plan is not ours. Relax, enjoy your life, watch for the signs, they are all in place. Experiencing death be it your child, husband or friend opens your awareness to the life that is just over the bend. Earth is just a dress rehearsal.

"The wound is the place where the Light enters you." - Rumi

Brackish Bowties for Your Man...

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

The Guinea $120

Jive Turkey $98

Phunky Pheasant $110

Carolina Copper $89

Have you been introduced to Brackish Bow Ties? Well, if not...let me be the first to introduce you! Ben Ross created these handsome works of art for his groomsmen and turned the men's formal wear scene upside down! Here's how it started! Let's face it, not all men enjoy dressing up in a tux or sportcoat for formal events. Enter the Brackish Bow Tie...the manly man's way of accessorizing his formal attire. It is a custom handcrafted feather bow tie. Guys and girls alike love them for their unique look! If you have a great outdoorsman in your family, that loves to hunt, these may be a favorite for Father's Day, graduation or birthdays!

I called and told Ben I wanted a Brackish Bow Tie for my show house room and he sent one so quick it made my head spin! I was so impressed with the way it was packaged and presented. Guess what I'm giving for Father's Day! Your guy will love you for buying him something that gets compliments whenever he wears it.
Order yours today!

Follow Brackish Bow ties on:
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Brackish Bow Ties
(843) 276-0075

All photographs courtesy of Brackish Bow Ties
(This was not a paid post)

What If You Knew Today Would Be The Last Day You Would Ever See Your Child?

2013-05-04T11:42:00.000-04:00

Walker and Sally May 2, 2009

I'm venturing away from my normal interior design related posts today to talk about a subject near and dear to my heart. It's not a subject that any mother wants to think about, but "what if today was the last day you would ever get to see your child face to face"? Unthinkable, right? Well, four years ago, on this Saturday, our family was happily preparing for my niece, CharlesAnna's wedding. I started the day around 6 am by rushing over to the tents being dressed on the grounds of my childhood home in preparation for the big event. It was a long, hot day but we worked with excitement to get everything done. Our big family weddings are always so much fun. I grew up in a large family so family gatherings are part of my DNA.

My son Walker and his girlfriend Sally were driving in from Auburn for the big event. They arrived at my mom's, while I was over at the tents working. It was a crazy busy day for me. I left the tents after getting everything just the way it was suppose to be and ran over to my mom's to dress for the wedding. I only had 15 mins. to shower, dress, fix hair and drive to the church in time to sit with the family before the ceremony. When I arrived at Mom's, Walker and Sally were there waiting for me. It was my first time meeting Sally. I quickly exchanges pleasantries and scrambled to dress. We all flew to the church and were seated seconds before the trumpeter sounded and the mother's enter the ceremony. The wedding went off without a hitch and before we knew it we were all back at the tents, where I had spent the day working. I have to admit by that point, I was too tired to be very engaging, but wanted to visit and thank our friends who had driven to be part of the event. Walker and Sally were sitting at a table behind me. I never went and sat with them. My plans were to visit with them once the wedding was over at mom's later that night. What I didn't know was that their plans were to leave that night and drive to our beach house. I was sitting with friends chatting and Walker walked up and said we are leaving. I said what? He said I spilled cocktail sauce on my tux shirt and we are leaving. I said, "well, I'll see you back at mom's and he said, "no we are leaving and going to the beach house". I said what? I didn't get to even visit with you and Sally. He said well, "Mom, you are just too busy". Those words still sting to this day. I hear them all the time ringing in my ears. Lately, when I have been so busy with the show house, clients, travel, market and all the other things that I have been involved in, I hear those words. So that is legacy that my son left to me the week before Mother's Day. The last time I ever saw him face to face. "Mom, your are too busy".

If you knew today was the last day to see someone you love, what would your day look like? I'll bet we would all make different choices, wouldn't we? Don't do what I did, and miss the chance to seize the moment. You never get the chance to go back and make things right. If we could, do you know what I would have done? Instead of talking to friends that night or worrying about the candles that wouldn't light or cleaning off tables for guests that weren't getting cleared fast enough for my liking, I would have gone and sat with my son and asked him about his week, taken the chance to get to know his sweet girlfriend and lapped up every word that came out of his mouth. I would have looked in his eyes and tried to memorize every feature on his face.

Today, I am "not going to be busy" Instead, I am going to spend quality time with my family. I will think about Walker and all the happiness he brought to my life. I will cherish the memories because that is what I have left. If you have lost a child or loved one, you know what I'm talking about. But my friend, if you still have your beautiful child, make sure you take today to stare in their eyes or listen to their voice. It is a true gift from God and one that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Via

The Southern Coterie Summit

2013-05-03T23:18:00.001-04:00

I just returned from the inaugural "Southern Coterie Summit held at Jekyll Island the past three days. What Whitney Long and Cheri Leavy have created is nothing short of genius. The was my third blog conference this year, but the first where I felt the genuine hospitality of the hostesses. Of course that could be because this was the first one held in the south! You know we southerners like to entertain and take care of our guest. I think that i taught at birth here. I didn't know Whitney or Cheri prior to attending the event, other than online. I now feel like we are all old friends. The quality and content of what I learned over the past three days have my me rethinking my approach to my blog and investigating now options. I can't wait to share everything I experience but honestly it is too for one post. To be fair to the conference my coverage of it will be broken down into several posts.

Don't Miss This Curated Sale From Design Pro - Denise McGaha

2013-05-02T09:26:00.000-04:00

When I first saw this kitchen online I nearly flipped! It was fresh, fun and fabulous! The icing on the cake was the ingenious backsplash which sported Trina Turk fabric covered by removable glass panels, that offers the option of changing out the fabric with the snap of a finger. I had to find out who designed this incredible space which led me to an intense online search. The internet Gods were good and delivered me to the exact spot of creation and the beginning of a friendship with an incredible woman...the fabulous Denise McGaha! Not only is Denise beautiful, talented and driven, she also processes a beautiful heart! My friendship with Denise has been a bright spot on my road back to my design business. I look to Denise often when I am in a search for clients, so it's only natural that I would direct all of you to her curated Joss & Main Sale which is currently happening! Make sure you pop over and check out the expertly curated collection she has created just for you!

Here's a few of my favorites from the sale but there is much, much more!

High Point Market Trends I Spotted April 2013

2013-04-29T13:59:00.003-04:00

Some of my Style Spotter Picks from Above and Why I chose them!

1) Mix of wood with metal finishes/Hollywood Glam like this table and furry poufs from Emporium Home. Love this new resource especially the lighting!
2) Blue and White Ceramics were everywhere but I especially liked this grouping from Stanley Show room! Jamie Rummerfield and Ron Woodson outdid themselves here!
3) Chevron and aqua still around. This piece from Article 24 in the J. Douglas Showroom
had a happy mix of both trends! Love the clean lines!
4) Teal is moving onto the scene and geometrics fabrics are still around shown here on a chair from Lazy Boy Industries. No longer just known for recliners.
5) Recyle was big at market, I liked this beautiful lamp from Dira. More on them later!
6) Mirrored furniture is still around and lacquer is bigger than ever, shown here in this beautiful piece from The Moore Council Showroom called the "Lisa Console"
7) Upcycling was a player in the trend world too. I like this beautiful blue velvet sofa in the
Stanley Showroom by Parker Kennedy.
8) CR Lane vignette with bright over scale pattern on sofa and over scale botanical art with coral,green and blue as the all trendy color scheme now!
9) Brushed Gold finishes are big like shown on this gracefully glam chair from Caracole,
gold was everywhere and brass is back for sure!!!!

If you haven't gone over to the Style Spotter page, make sure to go over there now and see all the things that were spotted as trends! While there make sure you "pin" and "like" items, I can't win because I won last year but the other people on the panel are in a contest to win their next market trip for free! Here is the link!

What Where The Trends Spotted At High Point Market 2013?

2013-04-28T14:46:00.001-04:00

One of the best ways to find out what the trends are for 2013 is to check out the Pinterest boards for the High Point Market Style Spotters April 13 Marketing Guru, someone I admire, and VP for High Point Market, Cheminne Taylor-Smith each market curates a group of well known designers, bloggers and stylist who are named to the "Style Spotters" panel. This years panel was a star studded cast of characters. Make sure to go the the Pinterest board and see all the goodies they found. While there please pin and repin your favorites. These stylish folks are in a contest and the one with the most "repins" and "likes" will win a free trip to High Point Market in October. So please help out your favs!

Meet me back here tomorrow where we will discuss the trends and my favs!

Also, if you haven't visited the Junior League of Greensboro/Traditional Homes Show House make plans to attend this week. It closed on Sat. May 5 so this is it!! The house will be featured in the October Traditional Homes Issue, so go today so you can pick the issue up in Oct and say "I was there!" As well, as see how differently things look in person and photographed for magazines!

Stacey Bewkes

Kelly Kole

Lisa Mende

Holly Hollingsworth Phillips & Lori Dennis On Joss & Main

2013-04-20T09:45:00.000-04:00

My dear friend and fab designer, Holly Hollingsworth Phillips of "The English Room" fame is a talented designer and curator of style! She has curated a sale on Joss & Main and today is the last day to scoop up these fab items she has chosen just for you! If you wanted the latest and greatest in home decor items to freshen up your stale interiors pop over and give it a look! I'm sure you will find some must haves at great prices! Remember you only have until this evening to buy! Don't miss out! These sought after items won't be this low priced again! Here are some of my favorites that are still available!

There's tons more to see! Pop over and find something to add to your decor for a fresh new look that's on trend! While you are there check out my friend and talented designer, Lori Dennis' curated collection too! She has some fab looks for outdoor living which can also be used indoors as well. See for yourself...

"From starring in HGTV’s The Real Designing Women to authoring a best-selling book to co-founding the professional decorating summit Design Camp, celebrity interior designerLori Dennis celebrates West Coast style and eco-friendly living. Bring her laid-back aesthetic to your decor with summer-ready finds from her Camp collection—curated exclusively for Joss & Main. Featuring patio-perfect benches, on-the-go totes, chic cruiser bicycles, and more, these fresh selections burst with sunny flair."

- Joss & Main

I dont' know about you but I'm definitely picking up a few of these items before the sales end then I am heading out the door to High Point Furniture Market. I am late for my appoint with the fabulous Holly Blalock of CR Laine, who made our beautiful chair in our show house room! Can't wait to share what Holly has been creating! She is another very talented lady! The show house gala was last night and was fabulous. I regret I didn't take any photos. I drove in the pouring rain and was exhausted when I got there. The Greensboro Junior League hosted a lovely event. I enjoyed meeting so many people. I will share about that later. I am sure someone was more together than I and got photos! Today is going to be a busy day. I speak on Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis' Design Camp panel at 3:30 so if you are market please come by to hear out Mini Design Camp Presentation! It's going to be fun! It's located in Market Square Antique and Design Lecture Room MS G6 then from 7-9pm "Taste of Design Camp" in the Courtyard of Market Square, complete with cocktails, gourmet hotdogs, and s'more! Industry leaders and the panel of Camp Counselors will be there which include Leslie Newsom Rascoe, Lisa Newsom, Ronda Carman, Bill Indursky, Kelli and Lori and many others! It was be a market must not miss event!!! If you haven't picked up Ronda Carman or Lisa Newsom's new books now is your chance. If you aren't attending, make sure to go online and order both asap! "Designers at Home" by Ronda Rice Carman and "The House of Veranda" by Lisa Newsom

Have a fabulous weekend!!!

Adamsleigh Show House Inspiration

2013-04-19T09:14:00.000-04:00

Here is a little sneak peek of elements in our Junior League of Greensboro/Traditional Homes Show House Room which is scheduled to open tomorrow April 20th. The inspiration for our design was the original homeowner himself, Mr John Hampton Adams. Mr. Adams retained noted architect, Luther Lashmit to design his 15,000 sq ft home in 1929. When Traci and I saw the original drawings we knew we wanted to create custom wallpaper from them. We toyed with using design elements, and finally decided we liked the elevations tightly overlapping creating a modern twist on a toile effect pattern. Our custom wallpaper designers, Sarah and Ruby Studios from California, worked fabulously with us in creating this custom feature. It was the first time Traci and I had created custom wallpaper. Sarah and Ruby really made our job pleasant. We are so happy with the final results. We decided rather than go with the current trend of oversized designs, we would pay homage to the fact this house is steeped with history and keep the designs traditional in nature so it is timeless. Our room is a mere 9' x 10' so we feel the scale is perfect for a small room. We chose instead to have oversized bold horizontal stripes on the floor and a larger window pane Thibault wallpaper for the ceilings. We then trimmed out the entire space with emerald green grosgrain ribbon and 1" nailheads. (Can't wait to share how we did that, since there are no tutorials currently online!)

Here is a close up of the wallpaper. We chose graphite designs with a white background to keep the space crisp and graphic. The room only has one window, so by keeping the wall background white, this keeps the room from being so dark.

When Hamp Adams first moved to Greensboro and went to work at Millis Hoisery Company he produced 200 black hosiery/socks a day, hence "Adamsleigh" has the casual monicker "The Mansion that socks built", so Traci and I thought it would be fun to have custom wallpaper created for the closet! We love the end product Sarah and Ruby created for us!

In keeping with our ode to Hamp Adams our room will remind you of all the finer details of a gentleman's fine bespoke suit! Noted items in our room include a 1930's Art Deco Pendant valued at $45,000 from Modernaire, original owner's black crocodile luggage in the closet, beautiful Century Malachite Chest, Circa lighting, Christopher Spitzmiller lamps, CR Laine Chair, Restoration Hardware sink, Leontine Linens custom monogrammed in John Hampton Adams personal monogram, Thibault wallpaper, Kathryn McCoy accessories, C2 paint, and NDI arrangement. We also have many take away ideas you can use in our own home!

We hope you will come to see the house! Every room is fab!

Click Here for more info and to purchase tickets!

Show House runs from April 20th - May 5th!

The Gala is tonight so I am off to get my hair and nails done!