My Latest Project

You might not know it from these photos but this was one of 10 model homes in a master-planned Active Adult community down in Tucson. As with many model home projects, this one had a theme and my particular house was the "Pottery Barn" model.

Most of the furniture in a Pottery Barn catalog leans toward the traditional side but is usually cleaned up a bit for a more modern take. So you will typically see some curves in the table legs, maybe rolled arms on the sofas or comfy-looking sectionals with slipcovers. You can easily make this a very formal look but it can certainly go more casual (which is what this particular client was seeking) with a few changes.

For a more sophisticated room, simply remove the slipcover from the sofa and change out the wooden cocktail table for one with a glass top & shiny, brushed nickel legs. Is ultra-casual & family-friendly more your style? If so, try an upholstered, cocktail ottoman instead.

This project was a really satisfying one to work on. I love the Pottery Barn style, the color pallete of slate blue and mocha brown is just beautiful and so soothing. This client absolutely loves great fabrics, which made designing the pillows, bedding & window treatments a real treat.

Overall, I would label this one of my all-time favorite projects. Hopefully there are many more in my future and I'll soon have an opportunity to top it!

I Love Lamp!

Not only are they functional, but lighting fixtures can be works of art in their own right. Take the photos above for example. Now these fixtures have some personality! (How sassy is that little red lamp?!)

If you're looking for a quick way to add some real interest to a room, take another look at your current lighting fixtures. If you've still got the builder's standard chandelier hanging over your dining table and those horrible hollywood glamour bulbs above your bathroom vanity, get out there and find something you really love.

Dig a little deeper than the local home improvement store. Go online or check out some local antique shops and flea markets for something truly one-of-a-kind. If a brand new chandelier isn't in your budget right now, try refinishing your existing one with a can of glossy spray paint. Dress up your existing lamps with a new, more modern lampshade with a fun color or pattern. Start looking at your lighting fixtures not as purely functional but as opportunities to add impact.