Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Pants? No Way........

Happy Hump Day!


Earlier this month when of the world's most recognized fashion designers stepped on the Red Carpet of the Met Gala, wearing pants no less, it left some people scratching their heads. The Met Gala is the Oscars of the Fashion World where gowns reign supreme...right? See our previous post to reminisce.

Stella, Alicia and Janelle decided to buck tradition and wear pants..well maybe not Janelle, since I can't say I have ever seen her in a dress....have you?

Stella McCartney Stella McCartney walks the red carpet at the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.
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So it comes as no surprise that one of this year's wedding trends is pants/pants suits for brides.  Personally, I think it has been a long time coming.


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I can just imagine my mother having a (S.E.E) "Serious Emotional Event",  if  I decided to wear pants on my wedding day down the aisle.  Do you think this is a trend that will fade out like MC Hammer pants (don't lie, you know you had a pair of those) or do you think it might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship?


xoxo
Debbie B.

Monday, May 28, 2012

In Memory of our Troops

Many years ago, when I wrote for the Miami Herald, I was sent to Cedar Key, Florida, to report on the death of the Marine Lance Cpl. Brian Rory Buesing, the first soldier from Florida to be killed in the war in Iraq. Buesing was just 20, a young man who followed in his father's and grandfather's footsteps and joined the marines. It was a somber experience. This is a small town in northern Florida, and so everyone knew him and his family. A memorial service was held at the high school auditorium and it overflowed with classmates and loved ones. The memory of seeing the innocence of early adulthood erased by death, has forever haunted me. I've thought often of Buesing, especially on this day. So today, as we scramble around and enjoy the day off, I hope we pause for a minute to honor the many men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us all. 

Friday, May 25, 2012

D.C Bound...

We're off to Washington D.C this weekend for the christening of lil Xavier.
He'll be christened at the very church his dad was, so we're all excited.
And so is he, since there is a baby boom among my husband's friends and there are LOTS of playmates for Xavi to meet.
I'm a huge fan of our nation's capital for many reasons and can't wait to sneak in some shopping (YAY!) and to stop by some of my favorite DC locales.
Here's a peak:
First up, my favorite DC restaurant: Founding Farmers. AMAZING food and service. I just have to think it and the waiter appears! Love that place.



Then there's the amazing Newseum, for the news junkies among us. You name it, they've got it covered here, newspapers from around the world, even pieces of the Berlin wall.  



Then there's the super cool Busboys and Poets, where you can grab a bite, read a great book, listen to poets and hear live music. 


And OMG, can there NOT be a long line of people waiting at Ben's Chili Bowl so I can finally get a taste of their deliciousness please?


Then of course we'll cruise by the White House


And hope for a sneak peak at the first family, because I'm pretty sure Michelle and the fam would love to meet my lil Man on this his first visit to the Capital. I'm just saying...


Have you made it to the nation's capital? What's your favorite place to visit when you're in DC?

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

We're on Houzz!

Stop the presses!
One of our very own designs is being featured on the popular design site, Houzz. We love Houzz for it's amazing photographs of design work, and for being such a great space for designers and design aficionados to meet and just shoot the breeze. The Miami Heat inspired room we designed two years ago for Miami teenager, Eric, is included in a feature on designing rooms with the bold color red. We loved adding pops of Eric's favorite color throughout that space, and we're thrilled the good people at Houzz loved it as well. Check out the other amazing rooms featured and enjoy!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Powder Room - From Inspiration to Reality

Today we launch a new series - Inspiration to Reality - to show you how we take the inspiration room we pitch to clients, to what the room looks like when it's finally done.
They are very rarely exact, remember it's an inspiration, but it's always fun to see how the journey unfolds. Product guides are also listed.

Our client's powder room started off like this.

One sad and lonely toilet with some bland walls to stare at all day.


No charm here with these builder grade products. And did I mention the noisy fan? Why isn't there a law requiring that those fans be silent?

Then we came up with this inspiration board. We knew we wanted to use a grass cloth wallpaper for that bold, wow factor. While a pedestal sink is the go-to sink in small powder rooms, I always prefer a vanity that offers some amount of storage for everyday essentials. Definitely wanted to ditch the horrible lighting as well, and I always love the charm of sconces.

The final result?

Bold wallpaper as promised. Dramatic artwork but in red, our client's favorite color. Yep, the lonely toilet now has some swanky friends.



There's that vanity with storage, with a contemporary vessel sink. We added extra surface area by using two zebra-striped nesting tables. There are those sconces we pitched in the inspiration board as well. Yay for swanky lighting!

This personalized touch was a last-minute idea. Saw the towels at West Elm and couldn't resist. And they fit perfectly atop a black ladder we got for free from her parents house.


And there you have it. Inspiration to Reality.
What's been your biggest challenge when renovating a bathroom?
Your biggest triumph?

Want The Look?

Vessel Sink: Home Depot
Vanity: Home Depot
 Mirror and Sconces: Home Depot
 Faucet: Home Depot
Nesting Tables: HomeGoods
Wallpaper: Sherwin Williams
Towels, Rug: West Elm


 

Monday, May 21, 2012

Pink.....Not just for little girls....

Happy Monday!!!!

Yes, you guessed it, I've already had two cups of coffee and I just popped the top off my first Redbull. Yes I said first...I'm having a four pack today. It's been one of those weekends.

While Pin-Stalking on Pinterest...I swear that thing is fabulously addictive...
I came across this divine pink pants suit...

That got me thinking about a Hello Kitty room we did with pink walls, and how I'm secretly hoping we get an opportunity to do a "grown up" room in pink.



Pink is finally getting the respect it's due. It's not just for "little girls" anymore.


    
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Even Brad Pitt and "Chuck Bass" are getting in on the "Pink" action.


Interior Designers are incorporating Pink in varying degrees with breathtaking results.

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Pink pool table...need one now...wait...I don't have the space....sigh. 
Maybe I can talk Nikki into getting one.




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Are you ready to join the Pink Movement? Or are you okay with sitting this one out? 

Friday, May 18, 2012

E-Designs At Last!

For years, friends who do not have the luxury of living in Miami, have asked me to offer design help from afar.
I'm happy to report that their wish is now our command.
We're finally launching our E-Design services, and to get it started, we're offering half off our regular pricing.

In my world, That = A Steal!
We can't Wait. And neither should you.
Here's a sample of what's in store.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

A Birthday Filled With Gratitude

I'm grateful for many things on this amazing day of celebration, my birthday.
The unconditional love of my son, Xavier.
My amazing husband and friend, Patrick.
My mother Joan, and her decision to remain steadfast, even as a scared teenage mother.
My mother-in-law Sonja for raising an amazing son, and loving me like the daughter she never had.My aunt Maureen who stepped in to help nurture me, and exposed me to the joys of travel and so much more. 
My grandmothers, Enid and Mavis, who inspire me to look as youthful as they do when I hit that 80-year mark.
My amazing siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles who've managed to equally drive me insane, and keep me sane over the years.
To Debbie for sharing in this fascinating blog journey.
To have have been blessed to have had Simone as a dear friend during her short stay on this earth.
And to the many other dear friends I've made during this journey of 30-plus years, your love and support have been one of the best gifts a young Jamaican girl with a dream could have ever wished for.


The Back Statement

I think when most brides finally chose their wedding dress, a huge deciding factor is the look they envision on the groom's face when they walk down the aisle.  But what is also becoming a dominant factor on making that decision is the back of the dress.  Brides - much like many of our red carpet favorites -are now making a "Back Statement", be it embellished, embossed, or just plain backless. Their dresses are picture perfect ready from any angle.

Blue Wedding Dress {Details} | Austin Wedding Blog
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My pick for dress of the week.
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These red carpet divas have no qualms about showcasing their backs. 


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Now, I'm all for a sexy back, especially after months of doing pull-ups, supermans, and hours of Pilates to achieve it.  But I think Granny would definitely have a mini heart attack if your dress was as low as Maria's or Hilary's....don't you?
Will you go for a simple back or will your try to make a "back statement" on your special day?

xoxo 
Debbie B.





Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Mommy Day is Everyday for Moi...

My first Mother's Day was indeed as amazing as I could have hoped for. My little man (with the help of Daddy of course) made me a card thanking me for keeping him safe and warm for 37 weeks, and for being the best mom he could ask for. OH, THE JOY OF READING THAT CARD!  
I had a rough weekend with an epic disaster of an installation - a post on that experience is forthcoming - so it was an amazing treat to receive that homemade card, flowers from hubby, a breakfast treat of the hubbies famous waffles, and a fabulous new Michael Kors bag from Grammy and Xavi (my little man already knows one of mommy's favorite designers), and to spend the day with the people who matter the most. Thank you little man, for making me one of the happiest mommies all year long.  
Xavier rocking his favorite hat at dinner on Mother's Day. Can I tell you he is a mini celebrity? So many strangers stopped by to get his baby autograph and he loved it!


Sure I'll sign your napkin!


 Yay, mommy! I think our table is finally ready.

Cheers to all the mommies, aunties, grandmas and godmothers who celebrate the joys of loving a child all year long!

Monday, May 14, 2012

A Touch of Gold


I hope everyone had a fabulous Mother's Day.  I know Nikki was on Cloud 9 celebrating her first Mother's Day with one of the cutest kids on the planet.
Speaking of mothers, I remember the first piece of jewelry I ever gave my mom: a gold bracelet. She wore that bracelet everywhere. Her outfits - even when she wore just jeans and a T-Shirt - sparkled whenever she wore that bracelet.
I know silver and brushed nickel typically dominate the design world, but the vintage girl in me still thinks that a touch of gold just adds that extra bit of glitz. Don't you agree?  


living rooms - Madeline Weinrib Atelier Black & White Buche Rug French table chairs gold detailing art gallery gold leaf gallery frames  Beautiful
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Ok, maybe Trump's penthouse is pushing the gold envelope just a tad too far. This is just a little too much gold for me.
Pssst, Mr. Trump, just a "little" touch of gold adds that bit of glamour. 
How golden are you? Where/how have you used gold in your designs lately?  


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