Summer's Close

Labor Day always marks summers official end.  As everyone rushes to don their favorite fall fashions (you will have MORE than enough time to do that, don't rush it, please!), I find myself reminiscing of all my favorite things and memories that the hot summer of 2011 brought, be it in design, fashion or travel. 

I hate saying farewell to the bright neon colors that I embraced this summer.  A tasteful tribute to those summers I spent clad in these colors during the 80's as a child. Above: McQueen clutch, Trina Turk throw pillows, Tom Binns earrings, Madeline Winerib fabric upholstered chair, Madeline Winerib green Ikat fabric.

The gorgeous serene lake house of one of my dearest friends (thanks Kel!) tucked in the mountains of North Carolina where I spent the 4th of July living the PERFECT summer life.

The stunning Nantucket sunset we watched on our back patio each night.  In fact, these hues and feel inspired my work-in-progress guest room...

 Enchanting pathway in ACK that I spied while on a run and had to go back and take a photo of... 

I suppose it is time that I give in and (slowly) usher in the start of fall.  You will not catch me clad in sweaters or scarves until absolutely necessary later into the season.  I am from Boston, afterall, and I remember all too well how anxious I was last March to pack away those sweaters and jackets.  However, I do happen to love fall and am excited about that crispness in the air, the changing foliage, football tailgates, apple picking, I could go on...

xx
C (&M)

My Ever-Changing Canvas

Today I found myself staging and playing around with various pieces and accessories that I love in my living room in color and sepia ... I love the way a photographic setting can completely change the view of a space.  Today I was feeling the vintage, 'hipsamatic' vibe from this room and thought the sepia toned photos juxtaposed the vibrant turquoises and yellows well...

I wanted to point out some of my most beloved items in this space:
*the antique polished nickel standing lamp that I purchased in Boston, to die for.
*the pair of chrome occasional tables I have used as a place to displace magazines/books or place a cocktail, they are like 2 little pieces of jewelry in the center
*the delicate little turqoise quatrefoil side table with cloche (i am obsessed with these) sitting atop
*the colorful silk woven prayer rug with it' fantasticly vibrant hues of pinks, blues and greens, I am on the hunt for a larger sized rug but in the meantime this little guy just makes me smile
*pair of vintage cane and chrome chairs that I purchased at Miss Pixies in D.C. and just had reupholstered in a sumptuous charcoal suede



What stands out to you?  I love to hear your feedback!  My own home is a constant work in progress and I am constantly changing and experimenting with new things. 

More soon,

C (&M)

Social Media Tools

Social media is obviously a huge part of today's culture and is one of the best 'free' marketing tools out there, in my opinion.  I have been kept away from blogging as often as I should by all of the social media channels I have delved into and am trying to keep up with. 

Facebook has long been a part of my life.  I remember being invited to this site back in 2003 while I was still at Duke University, even though I didn't actively start checking it until probably a year later.  I have a page for C&M Designs on Facebook that you can check out at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/CM-Designs-LLC/151013204943860

Twitter is something I resisted against until the other day when I gave in and joined after speaking to friend of mine who is a social media guru (I think this may actually be her job title).  After explaining how it works and how many people you can engage and connect with, I decided to give it a try.  I must admit it is rather addicting.  Follow me: @CollMothander

Pinterest is another site introduced to me by my social media expert friend (thank you @DanaSchwartz).  I absolutely adore this site and have found quite a bit of inspiration for a plethora of things, not just design related.  Whether it be needing some inspiration for what dish to cook for dinner, a creative craft project for the kids, what color to paint a wall, finding an amazing bath tub (see right for my absolute favorite), you can find it at Pinterest.  This website allows you to create your own pinboards and label them according to what you put on them.  You can upload some of your own photos or link from websites that you find or you can re-pin things you find on other user's boards.  Then you can follow other people.  I get excited everytime I post something that others "like", "repin", or when the "follow" my boards.  It is a great place to store things you love and that inspire you so you can come back and refresh your memory anytime you need a little creative boost.  Check out my pins: http://pinterest.com/candmdesignsllc/

"Add" me, "Like" me, "Follow" me!
More soon,
C(&M)

Back at it

Springtime brought with it a hectic (in a good way) work schedule as well as social calendar and blogging unfortunately took a back seat.  Not to worry, now that things have settled down a bit and I am not travelling so much I am back to the blog! 

I have updated my website http://www.candmdesignsllc.com/  with a new layout and some updated client photos to peruse so check it out!  I am in the process of getting some professional photos done and will update as soon as I do so.  I met a fantastic photographer through a friend of mine who I plan on working with to photograph my future finished interior projects.  Check her out at: http://keatswebb.com/

I have added this new addition in my own home that I am loving and using as inspiration for the rest of the space.  I think of it as a piece of jewelry that sparkles and lights up (literally) the rest of my room.  The hue of light it gives off as it filters through the tall turquoise bobeche.  I have a slight (okay major) thing for unique and attention grabbing chandeliers and this one certainly does it for me.  This photo truly does not do it justice.

More soon!

C (&M)

Spring Market

For the first time this year I attended the High Point Market in High Point, North Carolina to see all of the latest and greatest furniture and accessory lines.  I attended with several interior designer friends and made a few days of it.  I rarely get back to the state of North Carolina since the 4 years I spent in Durham during college, and it was a treat.  Although, I can't imagine spending time in High Point, NC if Market was not going on.  In fact, we spoke to a "waiter" at one of the restaurants who said that he is a lawyer by trade but during the week of Market, he takes time off to moonlight as a server because that is how much money he makes. 

Anyway, I found this trip to be extremely worthwhile and even managed to have quite a bit of fun in the process!  I found some great pieces and new resources for clients.  I am including a bunch of photos I took from various showrooms we visited.  Enjoy!

Loving the turquoise

Loving the miniature furniture at Oly

Fun with silhouette art outside of the Christopher Guy showroom with my travelling companions and fellow designers, Meredith and Gillian

Little fun/quirky/pretty things that caught my eye that I just couldn't resist snapping photos of...

Too cute with the little duck feet!

Totally bizarre but certainly a conversation piece...

Fun silver garden stools, great as end tables!

My nautical obsession drew me to these hooks.  Great for a beach house mud room...

Love this side table!

Love the shape of this chair back

What a fun gift for a teacher, love these bizarre little brass apple scuptures

Great for indoor or outdoor on a table, maybe filled with succulents...

Just a little overview of some of what I saw at Market this year.  Looking forward to the next Market in the fall and meeting up with all of the friends I made this time around.

Have a great weekend!

C (&M)

POP

I have always had a slight obsession with the work of famous American pop artist, Roy Lichtenstein.  His influence from popular advertising and comic style fascinates me.  He described Pop Art as, "not 'American' painting but actually industrial painting" (Coplans, John (1972). Roy Lichtenstein. Interviews, p55, 30, 31).  There is something about the composition and the colors he uses in his paintings, sculptures and prints that gets me.  Clearly, I am not the only one.  Last year, his 1964 painting "Ohhh . . . Alright . . ." was auctioned and sold for over $42million.  

His work is something I often look to for inspiration in the interiors I design.  I adore the clean distinct lines, his incorporation of text and the eye catching pops of color.  

I often look to works by my favorite artists for inspiration, particularly at the start of new projects.  Each time I revisit a piece, different things about it strike me and often spark new ideas/concepts that I can bring to my work.  I am including some items that I found/saw/photographed/created that make me think of Roy Lichtenstein's work for me at the moment...

A photo I took of a killer view of the sun setting on St. Mark's in East Village with that orange pop of the sun that I have enlarged and framed

Today when I was looking at Lichtenstein's work, I was particularly struck by the yellow.  He used bright yellow so beautifully in his art and I also think that this color can be so effective when incorporated into spaces.  Yellow is a color that when used in a formal space can add just the right amount of playfulness and always adds a great pop, especially amongst cool neutrals.  I love these bright yellow Chinese tea boxes  to be used together in front of  a sofa or pair of chairs as coffee tables.




 

I snapped this photo in a NYC outdoor parking lot.  So much I love about this sign...  the aged industrial look, the yellow, the cartoon caption-ish text font, and most of all how it oozes with New York attitude.  Having been born and raised in Manhattan, I think Roy, too, may have liked this. 

A painting I did for a dear friend of mine, who has an amazing apartment in Chelsea (NYC) where this paining fits in just perfectly. 

 

 Find your inspiration where you can get it!

C(&M)

Interior Designers in Film

I watched the new Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (corny sequel title, I know) this weekend on Netflix and then followed it up with the original Wall Street movie, which I had never seen.  After getting past the ridiculous, egotistical one-liners spewing out of both Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen's mouths (reminiscent of Charlie's recent quips, see: http://www.livethesheendream.com/) in the original, I couldn't help but get caught up by Darryl Hannah's character, Darien Taylor.  Caught up, not because of her acting or design prowess, those were both quite terrible, but because she played an interior designer and being one myself, I got to thinking how rarely interior designers are portreyed in major motion pictures.  In this particular movies she revamped Charlie Sheen's Manhattan apartment with all of the 80's flair that people have been ripping out of their residences ever since.  I must admit it was fun watching this movie just to gag and poke fun at the decor.  Sorry Darrien... I mean Darryl.

And the Oscar for Best Actress goes to... Sandra Bullock for playing (interior designer) Leigh Anne Tuohy in the 2009 semi-biographical sports drama, The Blind Side.  In the movie, Leigh Anne is portreyed as being the stereotypical overly decorated, traditional Southern (Tennessee) designer.  However, in a quote from the real Leigh Anne on Brent Wood Homepage, she said, “You think I would have drapes like that in my own house?  Those are the ugliest drapes I have ever seen.”  (Pictured below) I have to agree with you there, Leigh Ann...

Regardless of how I may criticize the set designs, I must admit that I enjoy watching on-screen portreyals of what I do for a living day in and day out.  I find it is often either glamorized (of course, this is Hollywood afterall) or trivialized as a perfect side job for the lady who lunches.  If only my job were that easy! Not really, though, I love it just the way it is...MOST days anyway ;)

C(&M)

Sailing Into Spring

For those of you who know me, you know that I have a penchant for most things nautical...anchors, stripes, navy blue, knots, I could go on.  That said, when it comes to where I live, you will only see tiny glimpses of this nautical passion of mine.  Rightfully so, I mean who wants to live in a room decorated to look like the inside of a boat?  I'll leave that for when I actually decorate the inside of a yacht...preferably my own.

We have been having such a wonderful preview of spring weather here in the Northern Virginia area and it got me craving those long hot summer afternoons sitting on the deck of a boat and thus the reason for this blog.  I am including some of my favorite things, be it housewares, furniture, jewelry, bags, etc.  It's just one big compilation of nautical things that strike my fancy...



Love the naval uniform inspiration on the leading edge of these curtain panels! Simply Gorgeous! (As seen in Elle Decor)

      

Antique metal painted set of drawers



Striped Chanel cuff bracelet that I would love to own and my vintage Chanel earrings, gold with navy blue leather woven through chain that I adore.  Does Chanel ever get it wrong?

 


Melamine plates with creatures of the sea.  Perfect for a mid-summer lobster bake on the beach




My husband's CG cover... this love for things nautical runs pretty deep




Tom Ford tanning goggles.  Pretty ridiculous and I love them. 





Louis Vuitton rope bracelets that are fabulous.  I want these clanking on my wrists right now!



I officially have spring fever and am praying this warm weather sticks around!  I have a feeling funky patterns and bright colors will be featured in my upcoming blogs...

C(&M)

Punch Up Your Powder Room!

 You have heard of beating up the beat, how about punching up the powder room?!  When we moved into our house I had quite a few things on the list ahead of re-doing the powder room, however it was one of the projects I looked forward to most. 

I think of the powder room as a little jewel box within a home.  This is a place to show a some personality and pizazz because it is such a small space and a place where your guests are sure to visit.  Instead of putting a lot of money into this space with tile or stone, I decided to pump it up with a fantastic shade of an orangish red, called Geranium by Benjamin Moore in my favorite high gloss.  Reds can be tough when it comes to achieving the right shade, but this shade with orange undertones keep the hue a little more modern and warm and stays away from that typical dining room red that I find boring.  Blazer by Farrow + Ball is also a great color!

The bronze colored fixtures tied in an existing mirror I had, made of capiz shell.  This bronze color also gave me a nook to finally put this cupped hand sculpture that I have been dying to display. 

Bronze cupped hand sculpture to serve as a decorative place to tuck our monogrammed soap

This wall color glows when the door is left ajar, especially then the light is left on.  It makes me smile everytime I catch a glimpse of my powder room, ah what a few coats of glossy paint will do!  Since this bathroom is right off the kitchen, it also helps tie in the mosaic tile that frames out the island in my kitchen, which has a deep terra cotta color stone mixed in.  I also plan on painting this color on the back wall of my 2 pantries so when these doors are open, a fun hue will glow from within.  The curtains in the kitchen also tie in this shade of reddish orange as well as the gray...

Enough about my house already! New topics to follow...

C(&M)