Nice Knockers

Today I came across a folder of photos from my fall trip to Europe and started reminiscing about the beauty I saw just walking down the street. 

Living in a such a young city really makes you appreciate the little details that are prevalent in other cities. 

Now I know that everyone travels to Europe and takes pictures of doors and I really wasn't going to do it. But once we started walking the streets, I just couldn't help myself.

And now I can't wait to use these designs for inspiration in our future projects.

Inhabit Design is a Las Vegas Interior Design firm specializing in high end residential and commercial interiors. Contact us for your own spine - tingling interior.

The Beauty is in the Details

This weekend I finally got around to doing one or two things that have been on my to do list for what seems like FOREVER. One of those things was ordering a new bedskirt for my bed. I previously had a cheapo version from Target that I dyed a custom color to match some of the fabrics in our bedroom. I definitely got what I paid for and once I ripped the carpet out of our bedroom, the bedskirt really looked like a bad pair of flood pants!

Cut to today when I put the new and improved version of my bedskirt on the bed, with the help of my husband. As soon as he saw it, he remarked that I was definitely going to like the old one better. "WHAT?" I yelled incredulously, "THAT PIECE OF CRAP?" while the mattress was precariously balanced on my head as I draped the new bedskirt onto the box spring. He then made some comment about a dark brown bedskirt with blonde dog and cat hairs all over it. And at that moment, the mattress dropped, the new skirt was on and beautiful and...ALREADY COVERED IN BLONDE ANIMAL HAIR!!!!!

Why does my husband have to tell me these things? I am an INTERIOR DESIGNER, for Pete's sake! I should know all and above everything else, I should definitely think of these things for myself, (the perfect client) right? Wrong. It's like everything else, the shoemaker's children with no shoes, blah blah blah.

So the point of this blog is this: The details are EVERYTHING. Many of you don't have an interior designer, but you have me to tell you; think about these things before you make your home interior purchases.

Do you have pets with black hair? You might want to re-think that white rug/carpet/light colored wood flooring.

Does your baby like to spit up or drool on every available surface? Then make all of those surfaces easy to clean. Crypton, Ultra-Suede and Scotchgard are your friends, my friend.

Do you love those gorgeous mirrored furniture pieces that are everywhere these days?

Think twice or even three times, before purchasing these pieces. The fingerprints are irritating and everywhere. If you do choose one of these pieces, make it something that is more of a decorative piece and out of the way. Not your cocktail table. Unless you have someone cleaning for you - then you can have 25 mirrored pieces! Who cares!?!

Do you love dark brown furniture and wood finishes? Las Vegas is a very dusty area. I bought ebony stained furniture for my master bedroom and between the pet hair and Las Vegas dust and construction residue, I have to dust 3-4 times PER WEEK! Perhaps more of a walnut toned furniture piece will work a bit better for you.

Modern chrome faucets are amazing

but if people are actually using them and touching them all the time, the fingerprint issue is out of control. Sorry, I know I'm totally Debbie Downer at this point, but you will thank me in the long run.

We don't want to be slaves to our interiors. Our homes need to be a place where we are comforted and can relax. Not where we look around and are irritated or dismayed by the wear and tear of everything around us. Do yourself a favor and be somewhat practical when making your interior purchases.

tooth and nail...head

Shine Home



Hello all. I've got some delicious eye candy for you today. I don't want to bore any of you with a lengthy post about an obscure interior design subject. Since we are all mourning the end of summer, let's get cheered up by looking at some juicy photos with one of my favorite design details: NAILHEAD!!!!

sohaute.typepad.com

I love this banquette/sofa/loungey-chair thing. The large nailhead adds a great finishing touch to the piece.

Pattern on top of pattern - a very hot look this season in both interiors and fashion. It used to be that interior trends would follow fashion trends. Today it is more reciprocal - both worlds feed off of each other. But that's another day, another topic, another post.

This picture is somewhat difficult to see, but the nailhead on these chairs really accentuates the curve on the side and back of the chair. What a sassy combination of nailhead, fabric and unique furniture piece.



The use of nailhead is not limited to upholstery pieces. Look at it on this wall - the detail is very subtle, but it adds a wonderful touch of intricacy.




Many people see nailhead and immediately think of a large, worn leather chair in a lawyer's office. Nailhead can be used in many different settings and design genres. This picture successfully illustrates the concept of mixing traditional pieces with modern.




O.K., so maybe you don't want to nailhead everything in one room, but this sweet photo from Martha shows they myriad of possibilities when using nailhead.

Shine Home is a delightful home furnishings company that is SO creative with its use of nailhead. Check it out:

Aren't their pieces wonderful?



West Elm is even getting in on the action. Here are some of their recently released drapery panels:







The nailhead is on what is called the "leading edge" of the drapery, or the edge that leads into the window. I won't even charge you for that little tidbit of design vocabulary!

I hope these pictures have provided you with some inspiration. Nailhead is a detail that you can add in your own home - to the edge of your window treatments, along the arms of your sofa, even on a chair rail running around your dining room. Have fun with it, but be careful because those suckas are sharp!

It's All in the Details.....

Last week Heather and I attended the Las Vegas Parade of Homes. While touring some of these ginormous homes, there were some that were breathtaking while others just seemed like they missed the mark. When I asked Heather what was missing, she said that she thought it was the attention to detail. I realized that she was right (by the way, this really is the story of our everyday life together – she says something, I tell her I think that it is wrong, she doesn’t really disagree with me and then later I have to tell her that she was right originally.)
It is those little details that really do make the difference in creating that WOW factor. These are the details that make us shake our heads in disbelief, the ones that demonstrate ingenuity and creativity, and the willingness to think outside the box.

There are so many ways that you can add this "extra something" to your own home. Larson Juhl recently published an ad that featured framed art with metal braces on each corner.

(photo courtesy of stylebeat.blogspot.com)

This is a small detail that really can pack a lot of punch, especially when added to a few framed pieces within a large grouping of photos or art.
While flipping through the latest issue of Domino magazine, I spotted a divine lampshade detail.

Isn't it fun? It is such a subtle detail, but it really adds personality to a part of the lamp that most people would overlook - the boring white shade. I am a true believer that nailhead makes everything better, but that's a post for another time. This is such an easy detail to reproduce and the result is a sweet looking shade.

Drawer pulls and knobs are another fabulous way to add detail while dressing up your cabinets - sort of like adding jewelry to your kitchen, bathroom or laundry room.

Charles Edwards offers some lovely and unique pieces.

There are so many options and so many ways to give your home that special, one-of-a-kind touch. Open your eyes to the possibilities of creating these kinds of details and soon people will be wanting to parade through your home.