BEFORE & AFTER: Ruth & Gavin

I can't believe we are already into the end of June, this year has been crazy for Sam Kate Design which means I've fallen behind on sharing what I've been working on.

Completed earlier this year, Ruth, Gavin and their 2 lively children called on me to liven up their decor on their 1955 ranch that had already been nicely updated before they moved in, but they were ready to finish it out with paint, new furniture and accessories.

The savvy client sold all of her husbands bachelor furniture and family hand-me-downs on Craigslist in preparation for all of the great new goodies. We finished out each room with custom art, hand picked light fixture and so many personal details.

Spacious sitting room with Ruth's favorite accent color, turquoise!

A glass-top dining table opens up this small dining area.

Mixed-media art by local Dallas artist, Sunny Sliger

Kids art displayed at the kitchen table, easily changed and updated daily.

Lounge space abounds for all day movie marathons.

Plenty of display space in this great room for personalized touches.

Old, broken shutters were replaced with custom roman shades, a darker accent color helped interesting accessories pop.

A fun and restful grown-up retreat.

A boy's room mature enough to grow into.

Room to study and display trophies and photos.

This lucky girl enjoys a custom painted puppy, monogrammed art and hand dip-dyed curtains. Her pink painted ceiling adds nearly 2 feet of visual height and modern fixture brings extra light.

Simple accessories, art and a fresh coat of paint were all this shared bath called for.

Special thanks to Kate Love Photography

PERFECT SPRING PILLOWS

Spring has sprung, even though it was 48° here in Dallas, in late April. For most, spring means Spring Cleaning, but for designers and decorators it means time to brighten up you favorite living spaces.

In my opinion, the quickest and easiest way to liven up a space is with pillows and blankets. Try bright colors, bold patterns, stripes, geometric or florals like these in all different price points for every budget. Turns out this post is more about the new line by Jonathan Adler for JCP at affordable prices. Don't you just love him? Here's a fun challenge, see how many you can find at your local JCP!

1. Jonathan Adler for JCP - 2. Ikea - 3. J. Adler for JCP - 4. Modern Flower HSN.com - 5. Wisteria.com - 6. Jonathan Adler for JCP - 7. Pier 1 - 8. Crate & Barrel -  9. JCP

TRADE SHOWROOMS

I had a chance this week to visit the newly combined and renovated Lee Jofa, Kravet, and Brunschwig & Fils. The space is huge, and colorful and beautiful. I encourage everyone to pop in to see the beautiful textiles and furniture!

WHAT'S YOUR STYLE?

As a designer, I spend a lot of time helping clients reign-in and define their personal style. But hard as it is to find another person's style, it can be even more difficult for a designer herself to define. Being aware of the trends that come and go as well as the new products and applications a designer is privy to, no wonder a designer's home is never finished. As the saying goes "the cobbler's son has no shoes."

When my special Celebrity Edition of Architectural digest found itself in my mailbox, I tore through the pages like a box of mixed variety chocolates stopping to taste the delectable New York home of Brook Shields. This apartment reflects my style almost perfectly.

Beautiful gray-blue walls with Louis XVI style side chairs with a pop of green on this perfectly neutral palette.
Image: Architectural Digest

 Traditional furniture pieces accented with quirky art by Hunt Slonem and pops of coral on pillows and a single side-bench.

 Image: Architectural Digest

 

Traditional French, made modern again with a bold chandelier and Zuber’s Les Lointains wallpaper.  

Image: Architectural Digest

 

I love reclaimed details including this dining table with a marble top and a set of white-lacquered antique-style chairs. 

Image: Architectural Digest

 

This master suite is so light and luxurious with light greys and fresh blues, and who can resist marble!

Image: Architectural Digest

A cozy home office with green accents and vintage motifs.
Image: Architectural Digest

One can never go wrong with a Louis Vuitton trunk and a zebra hide rug to complete a space. 
 Image: Architectural Digest

A design  style does not have to fit into one category, it can combine a few or incorporate many. Just be sure to make it your own and your home will undoubtedly be a comfortable place that you love.

Still not sure? Take this quiz from HGTV 

Here's what HGTV says about my Personal Design Style.

Sophisticated

Your design style is mixed. Call it traditional elegance meets modern lines. In your home, sophisticated looks contrast perfectly with updated twists. For example, "You might find the classic lines of a Louis XV chair in a dining room set with a modern textured fabric," suggests Julie Rackley, an interior designer in Bellevue, Washington.
The best color palettes for your look include dark browns and soothing neutrals. Rich accent colors complete the mixed antique modern look: tapestry blues, muted blue-greens, champagne and warm peachy tones. Your style includes a range of fabrics from silk to mohair to linen to velvet.
Your style isn't the only thing with a combination approach: your space is perfect for anything from entertaining friends and family to intimate gatherings around the kitchen table.

Design Tips for Sophisticated
To add a touch of elegance to your home décor by investing in just one luxurious item to contrast against a more modern backdrop – a crystal lamp in your bedroom, a Persian run in the front entry, an antique cherry desk in your office or perhaps a deep red velvet chair with carved wood armrests and feet by the living room fireplace.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

 Happy Valentines Day! I hope you all have a wonderfully enchanted day. XOXO 

BRIGHT IDEAS

It's a new year, what better time to spruce up your home decor with the bright, fresh colors of the season. This doesn't mean you have to break the bank painting the whole house from top to bottom, there are easier and more cost effective ways to add fresh color, less commitment too.

If you like to garage sale as much as I do, hunt for inexpensive side chairs to place in an empty corner or a full set to replace your out of date dining set. Try repainting them with Sherwin WIlliams, Lakeshore, for a pop of turquoise.

Bring new life to those forgotten objects in your donate box. Spray paint a pair of old candlesticks or an old vase glossy white and fill with yellow roses, or turn an old Ikea dresser into a campaign chest with Sherwin Williams, Exuberant Pink, adding gold brackets and pulls.

Brighten up your bedroom with a brightly colored wool throw at the end of the bed or a new glossy, coral colored lamp on your nightstand with coordinating ikat toss pillows. My sure-fire accessory shops, Homegoods-Park Lane, Marshalls-Preston Center, Z Galleria-Alpha Road, World Market-Old Towne.

Lastly, the most classic and convenient way to add color, fresh floral. My favorites, blue or green hydrangeas on the dining table or orange tulips in the kitchen. Don't try to get overly complicated with mixed floral arrangements, keep it simple, most bunches can be purchased for under $10.

Adding color to your space is easy, be fearless and remember that nothing is permanent