Do You Have An Extra Room?

Here in New Orleans, where many of us live in homes that are one hundred years (plus) old, there is one thing missing. Closets!!!! Back in the day a closet was taxed as an extra room, so many homes simply did not have them. Armoires and linen presses and cupboards ruled the day.

Turn a spare room into a closet and dressing room

When we moved in to our house seven years ago, one of the first "improvements" we made was to turn an extra bedroom right next to what we chose as the master bedroom, into a closet/dressing room.

My closet carved out of an extra bedroom - photo by Sara Essex Bradley

It was nothing fancy. Alberto (with the help of our friend Jessica) installed wire shelves from Lowes or Home Depot. I added a vanity and organized our clothes. I also hung a chandelier. It is not fancy, it is functional.

This is how it really looks! Not very photo worthy ha ha

This is another side of our shotgun house, so a second stairway is in this room that goes up to the camelback. You can see our bedroom through the door. At the other end of the closet is our bathroom, so the three small rooms make a nice "suite". I hung my collection of "Lady Saints" portraits in this room.

These photos in my dressing room are of my mother who was also a dancer - I have a few racks of dance shoes

Fugly but functional - The room is large enough for an old TV armoire that Alberto fitted with shelves - It makes a great linen press now - There also room for a piece of exercise equipment

Tricked out for a photo shoot ha ha

The first photo shoot many years ago

Yet when most people see it they love it. I think not so much for the decor (which is clearly not there), but for the luxury of having a room dedicated to a closet and dressing room. It is not that much of a luxury considering it is really the only closet we have.

This is not my closet ha ha, though I have the same elements

Another pretty room turned into a closet

Simple and effective and very pretty

A hanging rack and a mirror can turn a room into a closet

So if you have the space, why not make yourself a dressing room and closet. You can use rolling racks, or any closet system that hangs on a wall. Add a vanity and some cute seating, a mirror, and a pretty light fixture, and there you have it!

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Hazel And Robert Petril

I recently saw a couch I really liked. What's so special about that? Well, I see hundreds of them while looking for just that perfect one for a client. The hardest thing is to find is a couch that combines a stylish modern and traditional silhouette. You can always do a custom piece, but sometimes you just want to get something off the showroom floor.

I think I found the perfect couch designed by Robert Petril. I like it so much that I asked Robert to tell us how the design came about.

Hazel by Robert Petril for Lazar

from Robert..
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"I originally designed this sofa over five years ago. It was part of a huge collection of 30 upholstery designs I had created as the first "Simon Li Collection". A Danish company manufacturing in China that wanted to break into the American furniture business in a big way. There were doing some business with one very large retailer in the U.S. with one or two models."

Modern modular seating designed by Robert Petril

"These models were very commercial three piece sofa/loveseat/chair leather groups. I managed to convince them to take the path of style and create a new brand. I took some of their leather sofas and paired them with cool fabric chairs. I created many of the other designs you can find on my blog by clicking the "Mini Portfolio" tab. The original "Hazel" was one of them, although slightly different. I also designed the leg that's now on it back then as well. It's funny because the inspiration came from a decorative incense burner I had in the center of my Tatami tearoom in Shanghai."

The leg on Hazel inspired by an incense burner

"Well, that first High Point Market, the one BIG customer came in, and saw a completely different company and said, 'what the hell is this?', and walked out! The Danish guys went to the back and spoke Danish for what seemed like an eternity, and I was standing in the middle of the showroom thinking...Uh oh! The collection was very forward for that time, and they forced me to go a bit more commercial for the next market. So, the original 'Hazel' design got overlooked and fell by the wayside.

I always believed in this design and my vision for it. So, from the moment I went freelance back in 2008, I was trying to find a way to get it made. Finally, when Lazar approached me for some new designs, I found the right place and opportunity to make it happen.

Lazar gave it the name 'Hazel', and I got the awesome opportunity to work with Debra Venti the merchandiser and fabric buyer for the company. I send her color boards and briefs on the vision, and she goes out and works her magic and found the perfect covers."

The yummy fabric backed linen - I would upholster Hazel in velvet, in a vibrant, rich color

"In High Point, it was shown covered in a super soft and yummy fabric backed linen, and accessorized with some really fun accent pillow covers. I love the Bird fabric that Debra found."

Robert Petril and Debra Venti at High Point

"I'm proud to say that Hazel was not overlooked at all this past High Point Market. Multiple retailers including some big ones placed orders for it. And, the Lazar sales teams are now chasing down more commitments on it as well. I feel very excited and grateful this design finally found success.

Here are some useful links. I hope this story wasn't too long and boring. For me, it was a long journey, and one I'm proud of. Because I just didn't give up on it."

https://www.facebook.com/debra.venti,   https://www.facebook.com/LazarInd, http://robertpetril.blogspot.com/p/portfolio.html,    http://www.lazarind.com/dealers

from Valorie:

Not only do I love Hazel the sofa, I love Robert the man who designed it. His personal story is very interesting. His father was a very successful salesman in a furniture company, and Robert followed in his footsreps. He too, was very successful at sales and marketing. 

One day Robert asked the principal designer of the Italian furniture company he was working for if he could try out an idea for a sofa. He took it from visualization to production, to actual sales. Robert says (in his fascinating bio) "I've never looked back. I took off my loafers, business suits, and my ties. I rolled up my sleeve to proudly display my tattoo, and began to follow my real dreams. I've been designing ever since."

Robert Petril Designer

So my fellow visual vamps, do follow your dreams...

PS In New Orleans you can order Hazel from Scandinavia Furniture 

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Million Dollar Decorators Season 2 - Live, Love, And Decorate!

They are back!  And once again so entertaining. Martyn name drops and stresses out over a 3000 lb. dining table, and getting stiffed for ten grand by a fireplace guy. Mary McDonald suffers spoiled rich absent minded clients. JAM and Ross got drunk in the wine cellar. Kathryn took Jacqueline on a overnight girls trip wine tasting. Are you watching?

Go to Bravo to get all the clips and photos.

Only Martyn Bullard could hang black patent leather drapes in a 30 million dollar apartment - The client loved her new dining room and quipped that it "Looks a little Scarface" (Scarface chic?). The chevron rug is pieced cowhide and the custom marble table weighs 3000 lbs. and had to be hoisted up five floors with a crane - no furniture rearranging in this room!

Mary McDonald turned a guest house into a bland hotel suite - She seemed unhappy working with neutral colors, a forgetful client, and the client's dog Monty who had a say in the choices

Martyn did a kids room too - Somehow a loft bed just doesn't do it for me

From Martyn's blog:

"All in all the volume has been turned way up this season. The design is hot, the dollars are in the millions, the clients are bigger than life, the decorators are crazy, and the results are super glam glam!
Enjoy and remember always -- 'live, love, and decorate'!"

"Live, love, and decorate!"

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Case Study Little Girls Rooms

I have a project to do a little girl's room. I asked Jenny Andrews from MFAMB Home what little girls like these days. She assured me that a canopy is a sure fire object of affection. And yes I think she's right. I remember wanting one when I was a little girl.

The house is a gorgeous modern home. Nothing shabby chic or trad about it. I've been engaged to add a mix and warmth.

Here are some images Jenny sent me, and some I gathered myself as a boiling point for thought bubbles. The little girl loves pink (of course), and her parents are partial to aqua and turquoise.

This bed from Anthrolpogie is one she can grow up with - We are going to use a queen size bed

This iron bed from Anthropologie is an all time fave of mine - the canopy comes off if she ever get tired of it, and I think the trad lines would be great for the ox on a mod house

This would work in the house - Pink accessories would make it little girl perfect

Love the  global mix the Novogratz did for this little girls room - I know just where to get a bed like one of these

This simple canopy idea could work with any upholstered headboard

Love this room - Painting the ceiling pink is sophisticated

Melissa Rufty did this room for her daughter - wallpaper is actually  a hand painted wall

Love the wallpaper, and some pink Moroccan poufs are definitely in order

Another Novogratz room - I would use Flavor Paper wallpaper in another pattern

A bit Preppy, but I like the rug

Jenny sent me this one and I love it

Jonathan Adler did an uber big couch bed for this little girl

These are the colors the whole family loves

I love the simple mix and warm feeling of this room

Love the idea of "adult" artwork in a kids room

I am so getting Susanna Salk's book today for more ideas

I am doing an adjoining sitting/playroom too

 

I want to add a disco ball - The whole house has recessed lighting and no ceiling hook-ups for chandeliers - I think a disco ball will add fun and ceiling interest in a very easy way - I prefer the gold disco ball

 

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Arched Window Mirrors

For a long time I have loved the large leaning arched window mirror. It's a way to add an instant architectural detail and reflective light to any room. They also make great headboards. I found a few of my favorites online. Just before the holidays we all get the urge to do some last minute decorating updating, and this couldn't be more simple or beautiful.

Arch mirror - Jane Aldridge

Grand Palais Arch Mirror from Ballard Designs

Grand Chateau arch mirror from Ballard Design

Grand Chateau used as a headboard

Villaine mirror opens up your room and fills it with reflected light. At just under 7 feet tall, this huge and dramatic mirror

Enhance your home with the Amiel Arch leaner mirror -  Sixteen antiqued mirror panes are framed in hand forged metal that is finished in a heavy maple wash with gold highlights and burnished details. - It stands almost 7 feet tall

Cathedral floor mirror from Wayfair (a terrific all purpose shopping site)

I love the way Jane Aldridge used two arch window mirrors in her living room

And so does Rue Magazine which featured her home in the issue dedicated to Texas

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Why I Love Southern Women

I am sure many of you have already seen this, but it's still fun to watch again.

Go HERE to see what they have to say

Now will someone please do one for Yankee (California, New York, etc.) women?

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