Monday, June 29, 2015

Quirky Spaces Can Function

  
This little corner sits between the kitchen and living room and begged to be finished and functional. Our requirements were linen storage and light. 


A tall linen chest that supports a slick based lamp was placed to conceal vents and provide the necessary storage. When the space calls for larger gatherings, more comfortable pull-up seating is readily available.  



Monday, June 22, 2015

Coming in for a Soft Landing


Our homeowners wanted to turn the area near their kitchen door into a comfortable spot for day-to-day comings and goings.


The right bench was the perfect solution for style as well as function.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Blushing Bridal Flowers


Emma selected a light champagne hue for her wedding held at the Fountains Ballroom in Glenwood, Iowa. Soft colored blooms with a bit of edgy color  to create contrast were combined for her bridal bouquet.

Patio pots of annuals escorted our bride down the aisle. They were later used at mom's pool and the bride and groom's front porch of their new home together; a great way to create lasting memories of their wedding day.


Weighted urns with the right blooms were chosen for a very windy outdoor venue, there are many behind the scenes considerations when planning an outdoor wedding with Midwestern weather conditions.




Emma made her guests feel a part of nature at this venue with a touch of glamour. The look was accomplished with silver urns of  graceful manzanita branches and mercury bowls, embracing the gentle pallette of stock and hydrangeas.





Monday, June 1, 2015

Scarcely Filled Wall Gets Function and Style



The homeowners knew something was needed in this space with under scaled art, but had functioning issues that needed to be addressed as well.  This was a "drop zone" coming in from the garage that shared space with the kitchen. We needed a surface on which to set mail, keys, etc. and it needed to be beautiful to look at.


"Contemporary and not an image" was the request for art. Our job was to coordinate finishes and scale it accordingly. This mixed metals composition did the trick.
The buffet was brought in to house a few drop zone essentials and a place for extra lighting. We framed the entire wall's composition by picking a lamp with a contemporary curve that speaks to the art but completes the whole frame.
A large scaled ceramic tray with silver fruits reveals the simple clean line message the clients wanted for their existing space.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Kitchen Collection Part 2



A wood tray was filled with pomegranates, artichokes and soft grasses to make a focal point in a kitchen/hearth room. All the finishes were considered; such as the wood table, iron chandelier and fabric covered chairs before picking the materials for this custom design.

                                                  

Monday, May 18, 2015

Kitchen Collection Part 1


There is musicality in designing above kitchen cabinets; a delicate balance between filling the entire space and not filling it out enough. A certain rhythm must be achieved with the right accessories to achieve a great composition.


A pair of large scale jugs were brought in for proportion and color. Larger plates and a new position for the grasses make for the beat we were looking for. A Mackinzie-Childs tea kettle was given a few red blooms for a final touch.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Coffee Table Talk 2


Coffee table accessories follow my general rule (not broken this time) of making the best of the rule of threes. I usually, but not always, like three different objects on a surface.


I try to vary the heights and bring color at the same time. In this case, the soft fern juxtaposes the hard slick surface of the glass bowl and knot sculpture, which relates to the glass top surface of the table. All of these elements compliment the wall behind the sofa, which was crying for one large piece of colorful art. Just a few new pieces made for a transitional and alive living room.