I'd like to give a chout out...

image courtesy of Velvet and Linen

Just a couple of quick notes tonight, we'll be posting more this week on our recent trip to the Sub-Zero and Wolf factories. Sounds like a yawn? You'll be surprised, so tune in later this week.

Our new favorite blog that you must check out: Velvet and Linen. The photos are sumptuous and the designs are well-executed, luxurious and timeless. You'll love it!

While in Madison, we were in a building with some incredible artwork. Like I said, we'll be sharing more about this place later in the week but I want to post this piece because I thought it was SO amazing.

This painting is called "Bus Stop" and you MUST go to the artist's website to see it in full scale - this picture is way too small and too pixelated to be appreciated. His name is Paul Giovanopoulos and he has some wonderful pieces. According to the handout we were given regarding this canvas, "Bus Stop" is an acrylic on canvas painting of artists, people painted in the style of famous artists or geographical influences in art history. How many artists can you identify? This piece was chosen by Jamie Drake, a super fabulous and super famous interior designer. You can see his work here. Enjoy!

We love you, we really love you

image courtesy of the mogg blogg

Today while I was looking through my Google reader, trying to get some inspiration, I caught up on one of my favorite blogs and wanted to share. Please go here immediately and laugh out loud like we do. xoxo, Inhabit.

Domo Arigato

One of our most recent challenges was to design a Japanes- themed room for one of our client's teenage daughters. Their house is Spanish influenced and Mom and Dad do NOT like anything remotely Asian influenced. They had come to the conclusion that this was not a stage that their daughter was going through; it was something she expressed interest in for the last five years. Mom and Dad finally gave in and decided to give her the room that she wanted, but with some strict parameters for us. They asked for a subtle Japanese look and we told them we could definitely deliver. Easy for us to say.

After hitting a few design stumbling blocks, this is what we came up with:

We had her desk chair custom embroidered with her name in Japanese on the back

This is the view across from her desk - we designed an art installation above

the bed composed of parasols of different colors and arranged at different depths. It truly is striking in person and makes the room come to life. It accomplished the Japanese-light look we were trying to create.


Here are some of the pieces that we used in the room:

A platinum-finished etagere from Arteriors

A white lacquered jewelry box from West Elm

Some nightstands from Pottery Barn. These are very versatile and can work with so many different design styles

These lamps are from one of our favorite sources - Worlds Away.

We chose this mirror as her floor-length dressing mirror, also from Arteriors

Mom, Dad and teenager were all extremely happy with the end result. Look for more professional pictures of the finished product on our website in the not-so-distant future!

Something Old Is New Again

Image courtesy of alkemie.blogspot.com

Today we wanted to write a quick post to brag about our new chairs to illustrate how dramatically you can change a piece of furniture with just a little bit of fabric and imagination. Throw in a fabulous upholsterer and you have the recipe for some fantastic "new" furniture.

This is one of two chairs that I inherited from my Grandmother when she passed away. The fabric definitely doesn't go with any of my decor, but fit perfectly in her living room, where noone was really allowed to sit unless it was a special occasion. Needless to say, the chairs were in almost perfect condition.

I wanted to do something a little bit funky and somewhat bold. I chose three different fabrics: one for the outside and sides of the chair, a varying-width stripe for the inside back and cushion, and a turquoise snakeskin for the stripe down the middle and the welt.

Here are the after pictures:

I also asked my upholsterer to paint the wood more of an espresso color







The texture of the snakeskin doesn't really translate in the photo, but trust me - it is DELICIOUS in person. Doesn't it look like a completely different chair? I'm so excited that I was actually able to reinvent these chairs - everytime I look at them I think of my darling Grandmother and how happy she would be to see that I'm actually using them.

It's a lovefest in here....

We wanted to send a big kiss and a shout out to LMS Design Group this week and thank them for naming us their "Design Divas" for the month of June. For those of you that don't know, LMS is one of the trade-only design showrooms in Las Vegas. We love to use their showroom and they treat us like gold. We LOVE you ladies and are honored that you thought of us.

Check out their blog here:

http://lmsdesigngroup.blogspot.com/

Vegas Has Perks

One of the great things about living in Vegas are the fantastic trade shows and award ceremonies that are held here. The CLIO Awards is one of the world’s most recognized award competitions for advertising.The Hard Rock hosted this swanky 3 day event with hip and edgy style.

Inhabit was lucky enough to win an all-access pass to the CLIOs and it was a fun break from interiors for a day. Check out some of our favorite ads.

Can you imagine the sale!?!

Campaign for Harvey Nichols Winter Sale

"When did you know?"

Campaign for Fuel brand sportsware

"Uncomfortable clothes can make a baby ugly"

Campaign for Helianthus babywear

It Takes a Certain Someone

During a recent search for a fabulous cocktail table we came upon some...uh... unique designs that literally made us laugh out loud!

So, for a short comedy break check out these beauties!

Now how did this dolphin manage to get stuck in a giant wisdom tooth?

Anyone feeling patriotic?

Is this for a mature child or an adult that never grew out of children's toys?

The hunchback of bad designland... and you thought Chuckie was scary.

This is never OK, even if it is smaller in a side table option. never.