It Always Seems Impossible Until It's Done.....Nelson Mandela

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Last week the world lost Nelson Mandela, a man whose passion for life, equality and justice made him withstand 27 years in prison. His crime? The audacity to demand that he and every black South African be treated equally, including being allowed to vote.

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I was teenager when Mandela visited Jamaica, among the countries he toured to celebrate his release from prison and the collapse of apartheid. 
It was the calmest day I have ever experienced but as a pressed my face against the fence to see his motorcade drive by a powerful wind suddenly appeared, as if nature too needed to acknowledge the force of Mandela. I have never forgotten that day, that moment, and am blessed to have at least had the privilege of seeing him.

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From prisoner to president. RIP Mr. Mandela. Thank you for all you did to create a better world.

Closet Crush - A Stunning Girl Cave

 

One of the things I love most about Instagram - hands down my favorite form of social media - is how quickly, yet intimately I can connect with complete strangers. 
This is exactly what happened when I came across designer Saudah Saleem. She'd "liked" a lot of my work so as I often do, I decided to check out her profile to see who she was. 
That's when I stumbled on that insanely fabulous photo you see above. 
That my lovelies, is the space where this lady displays her mammoth shoe/clothing collection (140 pairs to be exact but who's counting?). It's also the space in which she whips up designs, usually late at night once her four kids have gone to bed. You read right. Four. Did I mention that like moi, she juggles design projects and a regular 9 to 5 job? Lordy. Only furthers my argument that women are a force to be reckoned with.
Anywho, let's take a look at this room in all it's glory.

Saudah calls this space a labor of love: "The room actually used to be my master bedroom.  I live in an older home with almost no closet space. That combined with the fact that I'm a bit of a shopaholic (clothes and shoes were always everywhere) was what prompted my need for major storage. "



Sick of the chaos of her ever expanding shoe and clothing collection, her husband agreed to do the unthinkable: they've move into the guestroom and make the master bedroom Saudah's sanctuary. I think this is where I hear women everywhere asking if her husband has a twin or a few like-minded cousins they could meet?

Campaign nightstand houses Saudah's jewelry collection

The space was pulled together with DIY projects and loads of thrift store shopping.  For starters, Saudah found the black/brown IKEA PAX wardrobe units on Craigslist.  She then rented a UHAUL truck and drove from Baltimore to DC to pick them up. "Once we arrived, I saw that they had been disassembled so they had to be reassembled when we got back to Baltimore." The shoes are stored on IKEA Billy bookcases.  She added an extension unit on top of each bookcases since her ceilings are so tall: "I thought it would give it a more built-in feel,'' she said. 



Two of the most stunning items in the space are the settee/matching chair which she scored at a local thrift store, years before even envisioning that they would be used in this space. The chair is soft and cozy and also doubles as her work chair. The second stunner, is that graphic rug from designer Nate Berkus' HSN line.  It's insanely bold, but it breaks up the softer yellow fabrics and wood tones of the furniture.



A bit of an organizer, she then lined the drawers of the campaign nightstand (also scored at a thrift shop) with houndstooth paper and used pinch bowls (the kind chefs use to prep their ingredrients) which she sourced at her local Odd Lot (similar bowls can be found at Walmart and Bed Bath and Beyond). 
Why bowls? "I just like the way the jewelry pops against the clean white ceramic bowls,'' she says.

Fabric remnants and trim are scattered throughout the office. The yellow Greek Key trim was used on the lamp shade below.

One of the most beautiful things about this space is that is layered with pieces that are unique to her. A key element of good design is that a room should reflect your personality, and here we of course know that this is a woman who loves fashion, appreciates the details of classic furniture, embraces bold/rich colors, with just a hint of modern sprinkled in to the mix.

I also love that clutch used as an accessory on the sofa. Kinda genius especially since it's clustered with pillows of varied textures. 

Some of her favorite reads/inspiration. All photos were taken by  Antar Hanif of Iamshooter

Saudah does see clients in this space, but only when the rest of the house is clean, she says. "Converting a bedroom into a dressing room/lounge/office is definitely a bold move.  The reaction is always complete amazement.  After seeing the room, clients know, that as a designer, I'm totally capable of seeing the potential of a space and making it work to fulfill a given need." Client faves?  "Everyone loves the settee!" 

To read even more details on this transformation see Saudah's four page feature over at House of Fifty. You can also visit her blog, which she knows is in need of some major updating! And her give a shout-out on Instagram. 

So happy to have "met" her and to be inspired.

My Fabric Store Exploits

I once spent an entire day at a fabric store. From open to close, the bff and I scoured the store from top to bottom for various projects and had plenty of wine with the owner, a crazy Trinidadian named Jam, who has since moved back to Trini. It was a riot. Suffice it to say, I love me a fabric store. I hadn't spent much time in fabric stores this year since most of our projects have been kitchens and baths. But in recent weeks I've had some projects that require some fabric flair so I headed to my trusted favorites.

These selections are from perhaps my very fave, Designer Discount Fabrics in Dania Beach. I've had my share of wine and some yummy baked treats here and the ladies, especially Nita and Jackie (and Julian, the one gent) know how to make their clients feel special. I can call ahead for something and have it ready. Or I can chill there for hours gathering samples for various projects and they simply let you do your thing or jump in to suggest you add just the right trim to turn a tufted chair into a showstopper. I loves this place.
Their fabric stole the show in this recent project.

This outdoor fabric from DDF now adorns the cushion on an amazing chaise I once owned, but recently sold to a client.

When the budget is squeezed, I take my talents further south to Arnolds Fabric N Trim  in North Miami. I mean, this place is bananas. I'm talking fabric that starts at $1 a yard and costs no more than $10. Suffice it to say, it's a fave among the DIY set. It's often a zoo here with men and women fighting over the latest fabric being rolled in. The only drawback here is that once it's gone, it's gone. Aint no reordering of anything so if you're unsure about how much yards you'll need for something, then just get a few extra so you're not left standing outside on the street corner wailing to your mama as you bemoan the fact that aint no more of that fabric left to finish out a chair or God forbid, a freaking outfit.

I shopped here for fabric for the Obama event Asanyah and I did earlier this year.

And this Wingback chair in my office - which I rescued from the freaking trash! - was reupholstered with fabric from Armolds that cost $2 a yard. 

That's it peeps. Now you know the story behind my fabric store jaunts frequently chronicled over on Instagram. Do you have a fabric store fave in South Florida that I need to check out? Or just a fave in your neck of the woods that you need to share with us? Holla, holla, holla!

Hola Barcelona?

"Cheers to the freakin' weekend, I'll drink to that yeah yeah..." 
I can feel Nikki rolling her eyes all the way from over here, since it's a known fact that I get wasted just on wine coolers...hehe
Last Friday I shared with you my dream of living in Paris for at least a year....well after Sophia (Nikki's partner in crime at her day job) brought to my attention that the South of France is a can't miss, I'm thinking it's looking more like a three year visit. I figured since I will be on that side of the world, I might as well check out Barcelona as well, that other city that Sophia has also been raving about. Plus with Arcadian Lighting's nod to Spanish Colonial style in their guest post yesterday, I'm seeing that as a sign. 

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Since, this will be once in a lifetime trip, I figure why not start out with a bang...how S I C K is this? And I thought the airplane on Sex and the City 2 was just a movie set....and no, that's not Sophia in the pic....lol
I'm hoping to wrangle an invite from interior designer Lorenzo Castillo to crash at his Madrid apartment located in a building that was constructed in the 17th century and once was a convent. We can take a bus to Barcelona from there...right?


The apartment oozes old world charm with exciting modern touches. How awesome is that rubik's cube type sculpture in the sitting room.



















The Victorian Porter's chair is to die for.



I call first dibs on this room...do you think it will fit in my suitcase?



                          Images of Loreno Castillo's apartment

Or I can trade for this, I wouldn't mind passing out in this courtyard after traipsing around the city.
And if all else fails, I guess I can always stay at this swanky spot that's located on the famed La Barceloneta boardwalk....



Can you guess the name of this hotel? Stop by next Friday for the reveal. But either way it's looking like a win win for me....lol. 
Wherever your travels may take you this weekend, make it a safe and exciting one.

xoxo 

Debbie.

Wedding Inspiration From This Year's Met Gala

So, fashion's Oscar night - The Met Gala - was held Monday night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Since it's the place where the rock stars of the fashion world share the red carpet with the heavyweights of film, television and music, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed, and for the most part I wasn't.


Claire Daines in a J. Mendel Gown.  Via
I think this would be the perfect gown for a very intimate sunset wedding.


Camilla Bell in Ralph Lauren Via
New York Chic, Art Deco Themed wedding


Ashley Green in Donna Karan Via


Leighton Meester in Marchesa Via


Amy Adams in Giambattista Valli Via
This dress reminds me of Katharine Hepburn in Philadelphia Story 

The night was also bursting with the vibrant colors of Spring

Emma Roberts in Escada Via


Julianne Hough in Carolina Herrera Via


Ginnifer Goodwin in Monique Lhullier Via

I'm not a big fan of the shoe choice - what was her stylist thinking - but you guys know I'm a sucker for the color orange, so for me this was the best look of the night. Hair and makeup flawless.

What were your favorite looks of the night? Would you be bold enough buck tradition, your mom and your MIL-to-be and choose a colored wedding dress?

One Order of Sunshine Please?

We had some crappy weather here in South Florida for almost two weeks. We had a slight break last Saturday evening, so Nikki, Sophia, Sandra and I took advantage of the opportunity to head over to Pubbelly for a Girl's Night Out. If you are ever in Miami and LOVE pork belly, you have to give them a try. The pork belly was AMAZING!

I can't wait to go back.  So after that Top Chef dining experience, I invited myself to brunch at Yardbird (another one of Miami's awesome restaurants) on Sunday with Nikki and the fam. Sadly, the rain had other plans and the highly anticipated outing was postponed. 
Since the rainy weather has messed with my plans, I decided to find some inspiration from the West Coast. I think we all could use a healthy dose of  sunshine right now and that's exactly what designer Emily Summer's California desert retreat offers, and then some.  

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Her design really lets the sunshine in and brings the outdoors in. 

Did it give you that pick me you needed for the weekend? 
I think I'm also clairvoyant because the sun appeared late this week and will be around all weekend. Hooray for that. Here's to an amazing weekend.