Smart Design for Your Home

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Low Lounger by Low Lin Kiat

Tuesday, 26 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- Designer Low Lin Kiat created this low lounger as a new approach to home decorating. Shaped like single flower petals the lounger can be arranged singularly or if space permits, you can have and entire set of them placed around a center table. Shaped like a saucer, the lounger allows you easy space but [...]

Furniture that Doubles as Comfy Hideaways for your Pets

Tuesday, 26 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- For those of you who really love your pet, but you don’t want an ugly metal cage in your living room or bedroom to keep your pet inside here is a very good solution. DenHaus designs little homes for pets, and not any homes, they design a smart collection of furniture that doubles as comfy [...]

Peel Seating, Convertible Furniture by Khodi Feiz

Tuesday, 26 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- We all love convertible furniture and designer Khodi Feiz created a piece that you might like. The simple conversion mechanism that takes Peel from vertical to horizontal is on display in this study in minimal elegance. When the headrest of the chic Peel lounger is lowered, it doubles up as a trendy divan. Upholstered in [...]

Hanged Floor Light

Tuesday, 26 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- The “Always Wanted to be a Chandelier” is what you might called a “failed” lighting design. An inanimate object so dejected and depressed with its lot in life that it has become suicidal! Perhaps we should be more thoughtful and considerate to our furniture for who knew they had feelings? This quirky design is the [...]

Sperm Wallpaper by Nina Levett

Tuesday, 26 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- See Nina Levett’s dress? It is printed with the same design as the wallpaper behind her. If they vaguely look biological to you, then you are right! These are her sperm wallpaper designs. Nina Levett is an Austrian based designer whose creative approach is both original and humorous. Her series of sperm wallpaper began because [...]

Travel Tuesday: Château de Chenonceau and Chambord Castles

Tuesday, 26 August 2008 SURROUNDINGS -- I was going through some old files on my computer this weekend and came across these pics from my January 2003 trip to Paris. My friend Rob and I did a day trip to the Loire Valley to the Chambord and Chenonceau castles. The weather was gray and cold, a little misty, but the trip was well worth it. Even better, we were the only ones on the guided tour that also included a visit to Leondardo da Vinci's manor house Le Clos Luce in Amboise. I didn't get photos, unfortunately. We had lunch in a little restaurant nearby that was very tasty!

This first is the Chambord Castle (note, the following two images are not mine).

Built in the 16th century, the Chambord Castle is the largest in the Loire Valley. Read more here. The architecture was completely awe inspiring - it was hard not to take a million photos.




The Chambord Castle is famous for it's double helix staircases.

Some pretty spectacular bedding.
Ahh... the lovely parquet floors!


The long view looking out the rear of the castle.
Looking back towards the caste.


The Chateau de Chenonceau is much smaller (though hardly small!) and more charming of the two. According to the website "Château des Dames as recorded in the French history books, Chenonceau owes a large part of its charm to women: it was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, then made even more attractive by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, and saved from the rigours of the French Revolution by Mrs Dupin.

The lovely surroundings, the formal garden and the park surrounding it add to the impression of delicate grace emanating from the castle."

Yup - it's all about the ladies! Read more here.

Being from New England, I am constantly amazed at how green the grass is in January in France. The weather may be cold and raw, but the grass stays nice a green!



The leaded windows are just gorgoeus.

I remember the green velvet on this carved chair was so lovely. And the flowers throughout the castle were just luscious.
I was really struck by how the white marble and black marble have worn differently.The white marble seemed much more worn down. I also recall standing there and really feeling the souls of all those who had walked this hall over the hundreds of years.

Catherine de Medici's bedroom. She was the wife of King Henry II.
Some more Renaissance furniture and another spectacular floral arrangement.

The romace of these castles is palpable, but so is the unrelenting cold that permeates the rooms. It must have been lovely in the summer, but the winters must have been long and cold!

Have you been?

(all images, except where noted, by Linda Merrill)

Choosing a Greener Refrigerator

Monday, 25 August 2008 SURROUNDINGS -- Everyone wants to save energy and live greener. According to BobVila.com, the first place to look when trying to save energy is the kitchen’s biggest guzzler: the refrigerator. If your fridge was purchased before 1993, it uses twice as much energy as today’s Energy Star rated models. Here are some tips to get green and save some green.

How to buy an energy efficient refrigerator
“Consumers who want a greener refrigerator should first look for an Energy Star® model,” states Matthew Kueny. Senior Product Manager for Miele. “Unlike other product categories, there are relatively few refrigerators that qualify for Energy Star®. Secondly, and more importantly, to make a real impact, they should not keep their old units in the basement or garage. Since refrigerators run regardless of their contents, maintaining a second unit erases any energy savings achieved with the new unit. The DOE (Department of Energy) is running a recycling program (www.recyclemyoldfridge.com) to combat this epidemic. It’s important to keep in mind that an Energy Star® refrigerator uses at least 20% less energy than one that is not qualified and uses 40% less energy than refrigerators sold in 2001,” advises Kueny.

Energy Star rates the Miele Independence™ 30” bottom mount (models 1811 and 1801) as the most energy-efficient, proving 33% more efficient than the current federal standard.

Energy Star qualified products use high-performance dual compressors, improved insulation and more precise temperature and defrost technology to boost efficiency.

Other Green Features
- Look for fast cooling features, such as Miele, Liebherr and Bosch refrigerators have, to help cool a fridge quickly after you load your groceries.
- Top or bottom freezer styles are more energy efficient than side-by-sides.
- Buy quality - longer life cycles means less waste.
- Keeping the door closed saves the most energy. Look for models with door alarms to remind you when the door doesn’t close all the way.





Contributed by: Lori Dolnick
ldolnick (at) mac.com .

DIY Weekend: Upholstering a settee

Sunday, 24 August 2008 SURROUNDINGS -- Last week I blogged about a trip to a local second hand furniture shop, Elite Repeat. I wasn't actually in the market to buy anything, but these two pieces - the french cane back settee (above) and the upholstered arm chair (below) really had captured my imagination. I don't have a lot of room and didn't really need either, but the prices were great and I really wanted one. But which? The settee was $109.00 and the chair $69. I was leaning towards the chair and stopped back to take a second look. It was structurally sound, but the fabric was disintegrating (not to mention the wrong color!) and would need immediate professional reupholstering, which I estimated would cost $400-$500 or so. The settee, on the other hand, was a good DIY project candidate and would take a very small amount of fabric - which I have plenty of at home. I also realized that I could use the settee to replace two dining room chairs, which I've been wanting to replace. SOLD!


I scooped up the settee yesterday afternoon (the chair was gone anyway) and stopped by a local fabric store for gimp and also picked up a 36" x 8" down/feather bolster pillow form, which would add softness to the hard bench seat.

The next question - which fabric to use. I've had a couple of small pieces of this floral - which I love. So bright and cheery! I don't actually know the maker as it was in a scrap pile. I also liked that it introduces different colors - blues and yellows - into my space.

The other choice is this Waverly cabana stripe, which I just used to make a floor length table cloth for my dining room table.


While this fabric is very pretty and fits well with everything else in the room, it felt very safe. The floral fabric just makes me happy to look at it - although it wasn't a perfect fit with the table cloth fabric. I finally decided that a) I should go with the fabric that makes me happy and b) stripes are much harder to work with - there is an expectation that they will be, um, straight. Since I've never done a job like this before, it made much more sense to go with a more forgiving overall floral pattern.


My dining room doubles as my sewing/craft space. This is one reason why I need table cloths for the table - I've completely destroyed the top of the table with my various projects. Not to mention a certain fire that started one New Years Eve. But, that's a differnt story. The nice thing is that now that I've accepted that the table is toast, I am much freer to use it as needed. Watch the chandelier!


Using needle nose pliers, I started stripping off the existing gimp. I decided to upholster over the existing fabric, rather than remove that. It was a little stained, but in good shape and, not knowing what was underneath, it felt safer to leave it on. But, had the fabric been dark or patterned, I would have removed it so it didn't peek through the new fabric.


I laid the fabric over the seat and pulled through the back, lining the edge up with the edge of the existing upholstery. Since I had such a small amount of fabric and wanted to make the bolster pillow as well, I was very careful with waste.

I pinned and then stapled the edges, starting from the center back, working towards the sides. I then moved around to the front of the piece and did the same, leaving the sides loose.


Working around the arms was the tricky part. You have to know where to make a cutout for the post. I've watched my upholsterer do this with the ease of someone who's done it a million times. It's not actually that easy the first time! I did okay, but it took a lot of trial and error. I used a butter knife (not likely to scratch the wood or rip the fabric) to press the ends in between the cushion and post.

Once the whole piece of fabric was stapled in place, I hot glued gimp around each post.

And then glued the gimp around the whole piece.

For the arm pieces, I decided to go with a contrast fabric. I had a discontinued memo sample of a pink and green stripe that I thought worked well. Again, I stapled the fabric on top of the existing material, and covered the raw edges and staples with gimp.


I made a simple bolster pillow from the floral fabric with a striped inset.



I'm just in love with this piece! It's not perfect - there are some puckers and the seat cushion fabric is a little looser in spots than I would like, but I think not bad for a first attempt. The whole thing cost me about $125.00 and took less than three hours from start to finish.

The view from across the table...

Ultra Modern House on Australia Gold Coast

Sunday, 24 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- This ultra contemporary house is located in the Paradise Point suburb of Australia’s Gold Coast. I love how this house looks from the outside, but I don’t know why the interior reminds me of a shopping mall, huge …with so little things in it. The 14-room house is thoughtfully planned to offer open-concept social spaces [...]

The Cabbage Chair

Sunday, 24 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- Personally I don’t consider this a design, for me this is just something considered a design and made by someone who was very bored. The cabbage chair is created by peeling away the layers of a roll of pleated paper one layer at a time. The designer Nendo made this chair for the XXIst Century [...]

Giant Hand-Knitted Carpet by Sebastian Schoenheit

Sunday, 24 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- Have you ever had to gently refuse your mother’s or grandmother’s old-fashioned hand knitted work? However much you appreciated their skill, knitted accessories just won’t do for the trendy, modern look you’re trying to achieve for your home? Perhaps you might change your mind after seeing the “300 Knitted Carpet” created by German [...]

Lampshades You Can Peel Off and On!

Sunday, 24 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- There is something to commend about the bare light bulb. It could give you the extreme minimalism look you desire or be simply a poignant remember of impoverished student days. Either way, these great peel able light bulb covers should brighten up that naked light bulb in your home. They’re called Bulbcaps and are made from [...]

Patchwork Furniture from Recycled Wood Waste

Sunday, 24 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- The wood waste and off-cuts from factories are being put to good use by designer Amy Hunting. She has created a furniture and accessory line which includes a chair, a book box and 12 lamps. The wood waste was collected from factories in Denmark and glued together prior to being made into her distinctive eco-friendly [...]

Top Design Season 2: Getting to know Kerry Howard

Friday, 22 August 2008 SURROUNDINGS --
Kerry (a.k.a. "Big Daddy"),40, lives in Atlanta, GA and is a true southern boy at heart. Raised in the small town of Easley, South Carolina, he always dreamt of becoming a designer. After graduating from high school and working in several non-design related jobs, Kerry realized it was time to make his dream a reality, and in 1995 enrolled in Anderson University, where he earned a B.A. in Art with a concentration in Interior Design. Kerry soon accepted a job with Broyhill Furniture Industries as an Upholstery Design Manager where he traveled the country designing showrooms. In 2003, he made the move to North Atlanta, where he currently resides and owns and operates Howard House Interiors. Kerry describes his style of design as eclectic, with a mix of traditional and contemporary. He is focused primarily on residential design work, although he continues to do showroom work on occasion. He believes, if not for his family's love and encouragement he would not be the successful designer that he is today.

I haven't found Kerry's website yet, but here are a couple of images credited to Kerry's firm, Howard House Interiors, on HGTV's site:




More ways to learn about Kerry:

BravoTV
Blogging Top Design



Read all my Top Design posts here.

Top Design Season 2: Getting to know Jennifer Newsom

Friday, 22 August 2008 SURROUNDINGS --


Jennifer Newsom, 28, is originally from Minneapolis, MN and now resides in New York City.
Jennifer always looking for her next challenge. Not only is she a former track star, but she's also a double Yale graduate with a Masters degree. While at Yale, she organized a symposium on architecture and race and wrote an encyclopedia entry on the history of black architects. Her work has been profiled in Metropolis magazine, The Architect's Newspaper, and The New York Times. Jennifer believes that good design transcends cultural boundaries. She is passionate about design and architecture and is known for clean lines and a modern sensibility. Jennifer has worked at firms as illustrious and varied as Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Adjaye/Associates, Cooper Robertson & Partners, and Deborah Berke and Partners Architects, designing high-end residential projects. She believes that one quality that makes her a great designer is that she can listen to a client's needs and translate it into a spatial idea. She also likes to keep the process fun. Jennifer is inspired by context, sentiment and history. Her friends describe her as "tall" (she stands at 6'), and she is also known as a fly dancer and party-starter. Jennifer currently resides in Brooklyn where she and her husband (an artist and architect) are renovating their apartment.

No pics yet of Jennifer's design work, but here is a link to her Metropolis article Does African-American Architecture Exist?. Well written and thoughtful, a worthy and eye-opening read.

More ways to learn about Jennifer:


BravoTV
Blogging Top Design



Read all my Top Design posts here.

Introducing ::Surroundings:: Contributor Lori Dolnick

Friday, 22 August 2008 SURROUNDINGS --
I am thrilled to introduce Lori Dolnick as a new regular contributor to ::Surroundings::!

Lori is a 20-year marketing and communications professional who has strategically planned and executed programs in the kitchen and bath industry for over 13 years as a Vice President for Frank Advertising. She has been quoted as an industry expert on appliances and design in the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and Boston Globe. She also appears frequently on HGTV as well as regional radio home improvement shows. Lori edits and writes award-winning newsletters on design for several of her clients. Her articles have appeared in American Dream Homes, European Homes & Gardens and Kitchen + Bath Business. You can email Lori at ldolnick (at) mac.com.

On Monday, Lori has a piece on what to look for when selecting a new refrigerator and just how much energy is being sucked down the drain by older models. Makes me want to run right out to my local appliance store!

I'm also excited to announce that along with Lori, I have several other incredible professionals lined up to add their expertise and experience to ::Surroundings:: So, stay tuned!

Unique Bedroom Idea Using Stained Glass and Stainless Steel

Thursday, 21 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- If you want a really unique piece to sleep on, then you should take a look at this innovative model named the Hot Bed. This bed is hand crafted with stained glass and stainless steel and can be bought with or without headboard. The price for this bed is for the super rich …$10,500.00, but [...]

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The Bird’s Nest Chair : X_Lounger

Thursday, 21 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- With the world’s attention and probably yours glued to the television coverage of the Beijing Olympics, few could have failed to notice the spectacular Bird’s Nest Stadium where the opening ceremony took place. Well, here is seating that looks just like the stadium. The X_Lounger is a modern bean bag of a chair where [...]

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A Microsoft Window for Your Home?

Thursday, 21 August 2008 DRESSYOURNEST -- The internet and computing has changed our lives so much so that many of us now spend hours and hours on our computers. We often forget what it is like outside. So why not get a window that looks just like Microsoft Windows, the operating system that most of us use? John Nouanesing, [...]

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