Yummy Turquoise Bedroom

I just had to share this deliciously cozy bedroom with you. It was designed by LA local, Betsy Burnham.

"The room above seems to personify the season of winter itself, with a huge white shag rug that we'd imagine like walking on a polar bear's back and ice-vibrant turquoise striping up and across the ceiling. Cool, but definitely not cold." I want to curl up in it!

Fun & Funky Wall Decals

My #1 designer tip: Go Big Or Go Home! When I dress the walls of a room, I look for big and bold artwork or a bunch of smaller bold pieces that I can group together. A fabulously dressed wall beckons your guests to 'come in and look at me!'. This can get expensive. A good alternative is wall decals which have come a long way from corny quotes and a million tiny vinyl butterflies. I really dig the over sized abstract decals. It is a simple way to create a focal point for under $50. For a dramatic dining room paint the walls a rusty orange or a red and use an over sized tree shadow in black; or to create a soothing airy feeling guest room, paint it a turquoise and add a Dandelion blowing in the wind in white. Check out www.dezignwithaz.com for a huge assortment of decals like this. They also have cute chalkboard ones for kid spaces. www.secure.wonderfulgraffiti.com is another great place to get inspired.

-decadently yours, Shoshana

Modern Basement Office Makeover

I would like to share with you an office re-design I just completed. I had so much fun turning this basement office into one that is now fresh, modern, sleek and works over time. I have included a rundown of the changes made so you can try any of them yourself.

BEFORE

AFTER

1. Choose A Desk That is HOT
Large bulky traditional desks are so yesterday. There is a new wave of desk options that take up less space. They are called Laptop Desks but can be used with a CPU as well. The desk above in this room is a brand new line by Riverside. It feels weightless. I love the clean lines and the way it is illuminated with the chrome oval pulls.
2. Tangy Modish Color Palette
To keep with the industrial theme the color pallet is kept neutral (Ancient Marble by Sherwin Williams)with a jolt of a tangy green (Shawgreen by Sherwin Williams) on one wall.
3. Choose A Few Large Bold Art Pieces
We added just a few choice art pieces based on my clients love of old heating/cooling units and modern design.

4. Break Up the Room Into Zones
I split this room into three zones: a computer/writing area, conference area, and storage and electrical device area. I didn’t waste any space.
5. Include Lighting That Works For Each Zone
There are recessed ceiling lights, an adjustable desk lamp, movable track lighting for built-in, and stand up lamp for conference table.
6. New Flooring
We found a rug that was very wearable, yet still felt good under foot because it is a home office. We chose a golden toned color with a slight design to feel warm and give it depth.
7. Turn Your Closet Into More Work Space
We turned a useless closet into a built-in that included floor cabinets, a counter side wall shelves for books.
8. Creative Window Treatment For Small Window
This was the only window in the office. Rather than covering it up and losing the light, or trying to figure out how to make it look larger, I worked with it the way it was. My modern solution was to use it as natural lighting to illuminate sculpted bottles.

9. Add Drama To The Ceiling
We switched out the old tiles in the drop down ceiling with funky bold ones (www.ceilume.com has a great selection).

Decadently Yours,

Shoshana

The Soundtrack of Life

Remember this scene in Twilight when Edward says 'Hold on spider monkey'? I remember the song that went along with it. Every great moment in life should share an unforgettable song. Those songs turn into the soundtrack of our lives. It inspires us to do great things. Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight, let songs move her to write her famous books (If you get a chance click on her name above and read how she wrote her book and published it-it is a Cinderella story). She says she ‘can’t write without music’. And I can see why. My heart speeds up every time I hear Supermassive Black Hole by Muse and Tremble For My Beloved by Collective Soul (who got me through my early 20s living on nothing but fun on the upper east side of NYC).

I could not begin to design without music. Every project, whether for a client or just me, has a sound track behind it. For one of my latest, a home based office for a gentleman, I needed to find a song that left the fluff behind, didn’t require any pretense, and just felt good to work in. I went back to the beginning. With a pencil and sketch pad, I kicked my shoes off, sat back and scrolled through my iPod for something that moved me. There it was: Abraham. Written and sung by The Kin, it was composed without the fluff, and is raw and beautiful. I have shared the link to a video of them singing it without any filler (including a microphone). Check it out by clicking here. The Kin are one of the few bands that can play with anyone, and for anyone. My next blog entry will feature the finished office.

I have a list of favorite artists under my profile. Do you like any of these? What music moves you? I would love to download some more good artists out there.

Decadently Yours,

Shoshana

A Hot Look for 2009

This photo above taken from www.furnitureseen.com is a perfect example of today’s fresh and fab décor look. It is chic without being stuffy. It is a place that is peaceful and I love it. It encompasses all the trends we are seeing: serene wall colors with bold elements illuminating through like these moss green sheers. The furniture is built to be comfortable, upholstered with less fussy fabrics without the overstuffed pillow look. The track arm, that skinny little contemporary thing you push your elbow into, is seen as more attractive than the big fat oversized roll arm. And my fave fave fave element in the room are the oversized lamps. Since my motto has always been ‘go big or go home’ you can imagine how happy I feel to see this.

Speaking of BIG, I want to marry this amazing Minka Kovacs Arc Floor Lamp you see to the right. The photo shows how it looks in a room (I copied it from a Family Circle article called 'A Lofty Ideal: Creating a Stylish, Eco-Friendly Home'. You can see it at www.parents.com.) It is stainless steel, marble and GEORGOUS!! It is overwhelmingly large. It is pricey but makes a huge statement. I have seen it often in designer publications. I am waiting for it to ask me out. Call me Minka!!

A few months ago I presented a design plan with these elements, including the Arc lamp, to the sweetest couple who have impeccable contemporary taste. This pair fell in love with a 100 year old home that has a lot of history and needed a LOT of work. They are rolling up their sleeves and creating their dream home. And thoughtfully documenting it all. I hope to share the end result with you when they finish. It will give you another example of this fresh and fab look we are seeing more and more of. Brian, I am talking about you my friend.

A Day As An Interior Decorator

Today I turned into an unruly Rock Star. No one realizes just how hazardous an Interior Decorator’s job can be. It’s not all ‘pops’ and ‘panache’ all the time. After suffering a knee injury trying to shut my trunk full of too many good buys for a client, I hit myself in the eye with my i-phone. Blind and limping, I met my contractor at a Granite store. Within the first five minutes there, I managed to lock myself in the bathroom. The door was ridiculously stuck. I pushed, pulled, and grunted for quite some time but even my rock-hard muscles were no match for the strength of this 3’ pocket door. I had to stand on the sink to get a signal on my cell phone and call for help. Don’t worry, this story has a happy ending- I was saved (although everyone laughed at me).

I spent the rest of the day getting lost in Phillipsburg, stuck in traffic in Easton, and after painstakingly shining, wrapping and hauling fifteen perfect vases, I broke one. I even endured a nasty paper cut while designing a bathroom on graph paper. All for the love of what I do best (drum roll please!)….. Interior Decorating!!

Hope you all are enjoying this blog! I am having fun writing on it.

Decadently Yours,
Shoshana