It's coming together

Just taking a five second break before I drown in details and purchase orders. Soon enough the dining porch in Napa will be complete. It's an amazing space surrounded by windows, built to look like a once wrap around porch that has been enclosed. Here are my boards. It's the broad view. Followed by the minutia that no one but a fellow designer can appreciate. Working out little things like this is where the magic really brews.

And the minutia… Putting this document together for my workroom to execute the footstools was arduous but so necessary. The devil is in the details. For anyone who has ever asked their designers, why everything takes so long…

Looking forward to the weekend. 

Happy Easter!

Design Soulmate-Mark D. Sikes

Ever see a shelter spread and think, "Wait, is that my house?" Whether it's the house of your dreams or your reality. That's exactly how I felt when I saw this Lonny spread. Jennifer at Belclairehouse, felt the same way I did. She called it "decorating soulmates." Behold the work of Mark D. Sikes ...

For months I've had this dining room shot (along with many others of his) on boards behind my desk. I love it more every day. I actually just discovered that I've had much of his work pinned in boards and didn't know it was his. Funny to see the same spaces shot by different photographers, isn't it. Really shows you how crucial light is to the overall essence of a space.

The whole space is filled with all the things I love: Blue and White pottery, French check--especially in camel and cream, chinoiserie, and lots and lots of greenery! A must.

This is exactly how I used to accessorize my giant island in our old house. Blue and white + herb topiaries. (My hurricanes were a ZGallerie steal. I bought out the entire stock.)

Okay, anti-brass client who shall remained unnamed, this shot is bringing my heart back to the polished nickel. Mark is clearly a big fan of Mr. Michael S. Smith, as am I. As is anyone and everyone, I suppose.

And (real-world) friends, doesn't this remind you of my garden? Black and white striped fabrics, boxwoods and white icebergs. Nothing unique, I know. But why reinvent the classics? I think my soulmate Mark D. Sikes would agree.