Over the last year, we've been posting our newest interior design projects to a great website called Houzz (except for a few exclusive shots that will be in Mary Cook's new book, of course). If you've never heard of the site before and love looking at and learning from inspiring home decor photos, it's definitely worth checking out. Liza Hausman, VP of the Houzz community, describes the site as "the top choice for homeowners seeking residential remodeling and design services, providing an in-depth, 360-degree view of each professional through images of their work, reviews and an opportunity to interact with them directly." 

Even better, yesterday we got word that Mary Cook Associates was the winner of a Best of Houzz 2013 award! Photos of our work have been among the top watched this year, and it's a great honor to be chosen from among the thousands of designers who use the site. Click here to see Mary Cook Associates' Houzz profile, or scroll down to see the winners in our category.

1) Create a retreat. Men and women sleep differently, with men falling asleep faster and sleeping deeper than women, who tend to wake more easily. Adding kids, snoring, or environmental issues like too much light or noise to the mix can mean days without quality sleep. Make a space to get away and catch a nap, whether it's a full second bedroom or just a comfy corner of the home office.

2) Limit electronics. Not only do phones, computers, tablets, TVs and radios have the irritating ability to keep us awake for just "one more" song, video, or game, they also emit EMF radiation, which has been directly linked to insomnia and melatonin depletion. In addition, it has been shown that the backlit screens on electronics like iPads can lead to sleep difficulties. If you're susceptible to sleepless nights, make your bedroom an electronics-free zone and see what happens.

3) Share smarter. A recent study showed that the optimimum amount of bed space to be shared between two people should be 71", just under the size of a traditional king sized mattress. This allows about an arm's distance, with room to shift and turn and get comfy without infringing on the other person's space. John Dittami, author of "Sleeping Better Together," also suggests that if your loved one routinely steals half of the covers in the middle of the night, it might be more prudent to follow the European tradition of having individual comforters. 

4) Color Yourself Sleepy. By now you all know how instrumental color can be in affecting our mood and mental outlook. Choosing neutrals and cool, calming shades for your main sleeping space can help to subtly guide your mind and body to begin letting go of stress. Don't overlook the power of nice textures, either. Avoid scratchy, unyeilding fabrics and find sheets with higher thread counts to ease into sleep luxuriously. If you're worried about the expense, try looking in the bedding section of home discount stores like Marshall's or HomeGoods, which often carry high quality bedding at a steal.

5) Kids Need Sleep, Too. That boundless energy and creativity has to come from somewhere! Sleep not only helps give our bodies time to repair and replenish, it's also been proven that sleep is essential to enhancing and protecting memory. Just like adults, when kids are tired, they have a more difficult time learning, storing, and recalling information. Doctors advise 12 to 14 hours of sleep for kids between one and three years old, 10 to 12 hours for kids between three and six, 10 to 11 hours for kids from seven to twelve years old, and an average of 9 hours a day for teenagers.

Are you a Pinterest fanatic yet? If you haven't been introduced to the joys of pinning, here's a little background on why USA Today is calling it one of the top 10 social media sites of 2012, and why you're guaranteed to love it.

Pinterest is a social media site in which users collect pictures during their online travels and 'pin' them on digital 'boards'. If you've ever created an inspiration board using photos from magazines, it's the same basic concept. The only big differences are that the process of collecting and pinning a photo takes seconds (and no glue), and since the internet is basically unlimited, so are your options for pinning photos to create the perfect board. 

After enrolling in the site, users are given access to code to add a browser button that allows them to instantly clip and save any picture they see anywhere on line. In addition to getting to save photos you run across in your travels, you can also browse other Pinterest users' pins and collect (or re-pin) them for your own boards. Pins also retain a hyperlink back to the site where they were found, so if you find a great sofa on West Elm that you want to add to your board, you can always click back through the image to get to where you found it originally. This is great if you're planning to redecorate a space or throw a party, and need to keep track of all of the ideas as they roll in.

Since the site premiered in late 2009, it's been growing in leaps and bounds, with thousands of users pinning photos of all kinds, including home decor, architecture, photography, clothing, art, design...you name it, it's there. Several of the designers at Mary Cook & Associates have their own Pinterest accounts, where they pin inspirational ideas for new interior design projects. The company also just began pinning...and it's so addictive, we don't plan to stop any time soon!

Visit MCA on Pinterest, and please click 'Follow' - we would love to follow back and see your favorite beautiful images and trends!

If you weren't able to catch Mary Cook live last week on WGN news, here's your chance for a do-over. In this short "Midday Fix" segment, Mary shares tips on how to incorporate The Art of Space in any home. By using the seven fundamentals (Objective, Function & Livability, Scale & Proportion, Light, Color, Pattern & Texture, and Significant & Relevant Ornament) any person can easily transform a troubled space into a balanced interior that elevates moods and enhances lives. Watch the video for details, and for more tips, make sure to visit our last post on Using the Art of Space in Your Home.

Have you ever entered a room and felt an almost instant change in mood? When a space is designed with the end results in mind, using the 7 fundamental principles that make up what Mary Cook calls The Art of Space, the final design enriches the lives of all who experience it. The beauty of this formula is that it can be used by anyone, in any space. It has nothing to do with using a particular style, color, or price point; you only have to be willing to put in some effort and keep the 7 fundamentals in mind:

1. Objective - What is your goal in designing or redesigning this space? Whether your objective is to create a place of solitude, increase your energy levels, or enhance family interaction, this first step dictates your next moves, so take time to think of what you really want out of your space.

2. Function - This applies to both the space and the items in it. What is the space meant for, what would you like to be doing in it, and how do your furnishings help you achieve this goal? This is a very important thing to keep in mind, especially if you have a room that needs to serve multiple functions, like a guest bedroom that is also a home office, or a kitchen that becomes an entertaining hub when you have friends over.

3. Scale & Proportion - These aspects add grace and balance to a room, and involve choosing furniture, furnishings, and decorative details that are the right size and shape for the area they 'live' in.

4. Color - Everyone loves color! The key is to use it wisely. In the right situations, color can add impact, create interest, and add richness to a space.  Color is one of the easiest 'fixes' to use when updating a space, and the most affordable.

5. Pattern & Texture - Along with color, these are also easy ways to add new life to an old space. Integrating these two carefully help to create dimension and interest, and can be as simple as adding a throw pillow or a new rug.

6. Light & Lighting - It's important to consider both natural, existing light, as well as lighting that you'll add to the space. Light fixtures, lamps, and mirrors can all help support the space's function while strengthening color, pattern and texture.

7. Significant and Relevant Ornament - Make sure to add in art and accessories that express who you are and what you want the space to be about. This is the last perfect touch to delight the senses and create a feeling of completeness in the space.

In today's news segment on WGN Chicago, Mary Cook spoke about the 7 fundamentals that comprise The Art of Space, and also shared tips for incorporating this into your living room. For more information on the furniture that Mary used, including several gorgeous pieces from Rowe Furniture, Lite Source, Tufenkian Carpets, and Nadeau Furniture, visit us on Facebook.

We're lucky to have a few of the photos taken by Chicago Home + Garden photographer Chaud D. Vo, and wanted to share memories of the event with those of you who weren't able to be there.

Chicago Home + Garden gave guests at the presentation a taste of their stylish magazine...

...as well as their fantastic new book, Chicago Spaces: Inspiring Interiors.

Mary liked the book so much that she bought her own copy.

Mary with Jan Parr, editor-in-chief of Chicago Home + Garden Magazine.

Mary presenting ideas for maximizing versatility in small spaces.

When all of the fundamentals of The Art of Space are present, it's impossible not to have a harmonious living space that enriches your life.

Mary always inspires crowds with her easily adoptable interior design concepts and infectious enthusiasm.

#1. The MCA Home Page now incorporates new graphic elements, as well as a modified side navigation bar that gets you where you want to go, faster than ever. It also includes two new easy-to-find ways to access our ever-expanding Press page. View our inspiring interior design articles and videos by either by clicking 'Press' on the left side of the page in the navigation bar, or by clicking 'Read More' in the 'In The Press' section at the bottom left hand corner. 

#2. Have you ever wondered more about the people behind the design? Have you talked to MCA via phone and email, but never met in person? Come meet Our Team! Here's a place for you to put a name and a face together, and to find out a little more about our executive staff.  

#3. With a search function to quickly find the exact story or subject you're looking for and the ability to share with one click via a wide selection of social media options, our Press Page is better than ever. Best of all, this upgrade has allowed us to streamline the way users view each press piece, allowing articles to open effortlessly as crisp and attractive online PDFs, like this recent story from Chicago Collection.

#4. Share your favorite projects from the Mary Cook & Associates design Portfolio! It's so much easier now, with one click access to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogger, Google+, email and many more options via social media buttons just below each project. Now you have no excuse not to tell your friends about the great interior design photos you saw on the Mary Cook & Associates website. 

There's another huge change to the MCA website that we're very excited to share with you, but this one doesn't need a photo to explain. Here's a hint:  it's something that you can only do in one particular place on our site. Maybe you've already seen it, at the bottom of this page?

Tell you what - leave us a comment when you've figured it out. We look forward to hearing from you!

Are you struggling with designing a difficult small space in your home? Tired of trying to figure out how to get your 'home office' off of the couch and into its own place? Are you stumped with trying to squeeze a dining area into an open plan living space? Do you just want to make room for entertaining AND sleeping in your tiny studio? Have no fear - there are smart solutions!

Join Mary Cook of Mary Cook & Associates and Jan Parr of Chicago Home + Garden Magazine as they share valuable tips and tricks for turning your cantankerous small space into the most popular spot in the house.  This free event, sponsored by Hafele America Co. and co-sponsored by M&R Custom Millwork, will be held in downtown Chicago at the Hafele Showroom on Monday, October 10th from 5:30pm to 7pm. Food and drinks will be provided, and space is limited.

For more information, directions, and to sign up for your free ticket, visit the Eventbrite listing for Smart Solutions for Small Spaces.

A cameraman takes a sweeping shot of our set for a 'teaser' segment at the beginning of the 11am news.  We shared the set space with a faux kitchen (and a real box of red velvet cupcakes that the ABC crew graciously shared with us). Notice Deanne Daneck, our fabulous publicist from Zapwater Communications, standing just to Mary's left.

The Caren Settee by Rowe Furniture is an excellent choice for small space dining, as it can transition easily from a wall-hugging banquette to additional seating with ease.  The Relaxar Arc Lamp by Lite Source is a simple and elegant lighting solution for one or multiple spaces.

Mary showed viewers how to transform a home work space into a bar cart with the handsome Guilford Saw Horse Desk by Bassett Furniture.  A special shout-out to Dan Hinker, our unflappable Installation Manager, who assembled and moved all of the furniture and accessories for us on the day of the shoot.

With just a couple of minutes to prepare, the anchors entered the set for the first time, met Mary, and brushed up on the segment topic.  What a whirlwind!

Mary, sharing ideas on how to easily convert a desk into the centerpiece of a party just by switching out accessories.  Here she's created a bar cart by adding liquor and ingredients for mojitos, a set of crystal barware, rustic lanterns, and a multi-level serving tray.

That's a wrap! The segment successfully taped, Mary takes a minute to pose with news anchors Linda Yu and Sylvia Perez.

Did you miss the segment when it aired?  No problem, you can still view it online here.

With everything from the Mad Men-era very in right now (in fact, I even went to a Mad Men- themed New Year’s Eve party this year) bar carts are back, big, and loads of fun! Creating a great luxury bar cart can be simple with a little imagination, and converting a cool vintage piece into a bar cart can create a striking addition to your home environment. 

I have seen antique chests, console tables, vintage radio consoles, and dining room buffets converted to bar carts with tons of character.  I have also seen old TV armoires converted to bars by mirroring the back and changing out the shelves to glass.  Surfaces should be suitable for spillage or protected for the temporary set up.  Whether moveable or stationary, it is essential to find a piece measuring between 30” and 36" in height, giving the mixologist a comfortable place to work.  In addition, a surface that includes varied heights for displaying bottles and barware can make quite an impact. 

To incorporate an attention-grabbing bar cart in your home, convert a one-of-a-kind character piece.  In most home settings, it is best to stick with a stationary, ‘walk-up-to’ scenario versus a circulating cart, which may take too much space and cause accidents. Placing the cart up against a wall gives opportunity to vary heights nicely, making room for bottles, shakers, glasses, stirrers, ice and garnishes. Glasses can also be stored below on an open shelf above if space is limited on top of the cart. As with any design focal point, consider color, scale, proportion, and texture to create interest and beauty.  

When seeking out the perfect bar cart for your home, look for a piece with great character that fits the style of your room, with plenty of storage, counter top work space, and great visual interest. 

Christopher Donovan at The House of Glunz, Chicago’s oldest wine & spirits shop, also offered us his recommendations for the perfectly stocked bar cart:

• Gin:  Cap Rock Organic Gin from Colorado
• Vodka:  Hangar One “Straight” made with viognier grapes
• Bourbon:  Noah’s Mill Bourbon, one of the last truly small production whiskies made in Kentucky
• Scotch:  House of Glunz Bin #821 Blended Pure Malt Scotch
• Rye:  VanWinkle 13 Years Old Rye
• Tequila/Mezcal:  Herradura Anejo & Del Maguey Pechuga
• Bitters:  Among the many bitters required for making great cocktails, Angostura Aromatic Bitters, required for making the perfect Manhattan, are the most important.
• Sweet Vermouth:  Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, the world’s greatest, made by the company that invented sweet vermouth in 1786.

For more info on the units and amenities at Van Buren Lofts, click here.

It takes a lot of equipment to film a movie (even a short one).

Director Dan Fischer helps us decide on speaking points for the next scene.

Going over the project plans one last time to brush up on each unit's unique design story.

Action!

Be the first to know when our new video goes live!  Follow Mary Cook & Associates on Twitter and Facebook.

Coach Kandace handed this list to girls who were moving on to play at the high school level, but I think the rules apply for those of us who have moved on to ‘play’ at the corporate level, too:

1. Appreciate how LUCKY you are!  There is nothing like working hard, being prepared, and being able to show the world the results of that effort.
2. Enjoy the whole experience regardless of what confronts you.  That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so bring on the struggles and embrace them. 
3. If you are not where you want to be, work harder and stay positive.  Your unique journey is your destiny – fight for what you want with a good attitude and determination!
4. Enjoy your teammates, and don’t let the experience be only about your performance or winning and losing.
5. Be a leader.  Know the way, go the way, and show the way.
6. Have fun!  Everyone plays better when they’re relaxed.
7. Wear your uniform with class and dignity – there is nothing like representing your team.

So thanks, Coach, for the words of wisdom, and go Team MCA!

Talk about impecable table manners!

The night begins to rock with an opening act...

Things really start to get interesting when Black Cards, Pete Wentz' new band, takes the stage...

After the show, Pete, Mary, Tim and Briana enjoy the lights on the Red Carpet.

We always knew she was a troublemaker!

The whole scene reminded me yet again that the ever faster pace at which we are forced to function is clearly impacting quality of life.  How did things get to be this way?  It seems to me that it happened gradually at first, and then, aided by advances in technology, increased in pace quite rapidly over the last few years.  However it happened, this addiction to instantaneousness is impacting all of us, in many different ways.  Sometimes this can be a good thing, but most of the time, I fear it is not so benign. 

Take, for instance, the professional (and not always so professional) worlds of interior design.  None of the degreed and experienced designers I know watch those reality TV interior design/makeover shows on TV.  One colleague even described her first time seeing one of those shows as “the ultimate degrading experience”.  The genre is popular with consumers, ever obsessed with feathering their nests.  However, shows like that are chock-full of unrealistic ideas (“Let’s build and decorate a house in a week!”), unsustainable solutions (“Let’s cut this door apart and make it into a crib for Little Susie!”), and fake applause (“OMG! I love this new family room; too bad I’ll have to replace it in a year when it falls apart!”).  In my opinion, shows like this are quite possibly one of the biggest contributors to future landfill. They should come with a warning - DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.  And all of this for what, entertainment?  

Unfortunately these nonsensical, unrealistic shows leave consumers thinking that this is how design is achieved.  I think it’s time to shed some light on how an actual, quality, meant-to-last interior comes together out here in the real world.  To begin with, the people in charge are trained professionals, not TV personalities with a good sales pitch.  Here at MCA, entry-level, degreed designers apprentice under the supervision of a senior project manager between two and four years before being given their first project to manage on their own.  In addition, they must have executed at least four projects completely, with all benchmarks achieved.  Benchmarks include achieving excellence in overall design, budget management, timing and execution, and client relations.  

Meanwhile, as the designer is designing, he or she is supported by a full administrative staff which places and tracks all orders, pays bills, creates drawings and schedules in AutoCAD, receives and inspects deliveries, consolidates and stores all items prior to installation, coordinates and executes the installation of all items including art and drapery, handles damage and freight claims, oversees all marketing and PR efforts, and manages human relations, insurance, and banking, among a myriad of other smaller tasks. 

Most importantly to the design process, the administrative staff keeps the design team surrounded by accurate and up to date design resources.  At MCA, our library includes over 1500 lineal feet of samples, including fabric, carpet, wallcovering, paint, trim, finishes, and product imagery.  Additionally, it is mandatory for the designers to attend and participate in several interior design markets each year in order to continuously source new and cool things at the best possible pricing.  You can already see that design in the real world is much more intense, carefully considered, and strongly supported than anything you’ll see on TV.  In reality, though, these are just the most basic of the wonderful benefits that you will never see given to those poor design show victims. 

I’ve briefly described the structure that needs to be in place to allow designers the room and resources to start designing.  The next step is to form a clear understanding of our client’s overall objective, time lines, and budget.  At this point, a critical path for project completion is put in place to manage the various trades or subcontractors, as well as our client’s expectations, and it is from here that all aspects of the project are directed. With this structure and team in place, the time line for completion ranges from as short as eight weeks for a model home whose construction is already near completion, to 18 to 24 months for a full scale renovation in which demolition and construction of an all new facility are to take place. 

With almost 30 years of lessons learned through experience, I’ve learned that the faster you go and the fewer resources you have to consider, the more mistakes you make and the more apt you are to duplicate chain store solutions.  I certainly hope that consumers don’t try at home the nonsense that is acted out on TV design shows in an effort to create pleasing and sustainable, quality environments which will enhance their lives.  It’s simply not possible with the examples available on today’s cable channels. 

How about a show instead which teaches and demonstrates the real time, consideration, expertise, and resources that go into creating timeless, personalized interiors that are made to help a household thrive?  Imagine consumers, whether or not they planned to design for themselves or direct a professional designer, empowered by valuable lessons and real life examples.  I, for one, would love to watch a show where a little common sense was finally back on the menu.  

A well-skilled groom with many years of experience caring for horses in England and Argentina, when Pamela’s husband passed away she had decided it was time to move.  Since she had no place to live and very few resources, she came to live with me for about six months, working in the stables to earn her keep.  We became friends, and I loved to hear her stories. 

After about a month of living in the US, she said to me “You Americans are always running around trying to ‘save time’.  Tell me - what do you do with all of the time you’ve saved?” 

Back then, I couldn’t give her an answer.  Today, the answer is quite clear to me, that the more we race around, the more we dilute life’s authenticity.  We replace togetherness at the dinner table with catching a quick meal at a drive thru, watching our girths grow as our conversation skills diminish.  We become extreme multitaskers, even though it’s scientifically proven that multitasking produces less viable product and severely impacts workplace and personal creativity.  It’s time to slow down, take a step back, and take stock. 

Deliberateness is absolutely key in creating viable and sustainable design - whether you’re designing an interior or a life.  This holiday season, join us in taking the time to be deliberate in thought, thankful in action, and joyous at heart.  Mary Cook & Associates wishes you a very Happy Thanksgiving.