Slocum Street Style 2010

Slocum Street Style is a once a year evening event where Slocum Street closes off its street from vehicles and showrooms open their doors to the general public, where they can enjoy food, drink and music as they shop from showroom to showroom along Slocum Street. This year over 25 showrooms participated in this event put on by Design Guide, Delivery Limited and Slocum Street Antiques and Design Association. One could not ask for better weather. I was on a mission to find new showrooms, meet new people and absorb as much design visual stimulation one can in three hours. These were the participating showrooms as well as pictures from my first Slocum Street Style Adventure! I do have my favorites and will be returning!

Waterworks Vignette Display

Love this backsplash! I love the woven mesh look between tile and metal. It reminds me of the Tiffany's Mesh Ring!

Beautiful bathroom at The Kitchen Source. I really like how they went they finished out this area to meet ADA requirements while in keeping with the overall design.

Tile Vignette from Waterworks displaying a variety of tiles. I read that animal print is coming back I'm starting to see it coming around like the tile above.

Pretty floral arrangements in ceramic vases.

LDF Silk arrangement in planter.

Jan Showers showroom. In love with the accents pillows!

Showroom party at B. Gover Ltd.

Organic bedding.

Accessorizing display. Great ideas for staging retail displays or at home in an armoire
to organize an decorate at the same time.

Photo Gallery- Kaleidoscope of Homes 2010

~ Casa Montecito ~

Simmons Estate Homes

Winner "Best of Show"

Spanish Colonial

This was in the front patio to the left of the entry. I like the idea of using both front and back yard.


This the wall off the game room which is mirrored by the beautiful tiled fountain outside the guest suite.


Here is the beautiful and tranquil fountain as you approach the guest suite.


Another pool view of the guest suite on the back side of the residence.

The architecture of the house and the layout of the pool is so intricate and well thought out, allowing access from three areas; Master, indoor/outdoor dining and Guest Suite.

Beautiful Master bath with free standing tub, surrounded by luxurious sheer draperies and urns makes you feel like you're in a Roman Bath!

Another level of amenities when you purchase custom, these screens not only block sun but also bugs! They retract into the ceiling above the archways.

The Master closet has it's very own cedar closet.

Huge his and hers Master Closet.

This was a bedroom turned craft room. I like how they changed it up with wallpaper on the ceiling and the large black drum pendant over the work table.

Vaulted ceilings and archways in the hallway with pendant lighting take the idea of a hallway to a different level.

Love the light fixture and the geometric pattern on the drapery. When the drapery is hung that high it gives the illusion or the exaggeration of volume making the space feel taller.

I LOVE the horizontal banding in the bathroom it gives it personality and again gives the bathroom the "illusion" that is more spacious than it really is.

I like the idea of using an eye catching chandelier in this room rather than a ceiling fan but when it come down to it function over beauty, ceiling fan always wins.

This was the teenagers suite. The different night stands are a great way to experiment with using different pieces without always matching. The focal wall also displays a way to do wall art without doing your typical framed art. By having the ceramic magnolia plates hung combined with the painted details in oposing corners of the room give it a sense of cohesion and individuality.

Kaleidoscope of Homes- Premiere Event 2010

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to attend the Kaleidoscope of Homes Premiere Realtor Event in Southlake, TX. Realtors and home building industry professionals got a sneak peek of four luxurious $2-3 million-dollar homes in the exclusive neighborhood of Shady Oaks. All four houses were open to tour with the assistance of greeters, product specialist and if you were lucky enough you could catch the actual builder in his respective home to answer any questions.

As I toured the homes I noticed one major trend that is making a name for itself, retractable window walls. I have seen this trend in Commercial applications mostly Hospitality and now in Residential environments. (I just specified this application in a restaurant going in Downtown Dallas January 2011). There are a variety of manufactures that produce this type of application, Nana Wall is the most well known but with this trend emerging others will be following suit. In the custom homes I toured there were several slightly different variations used, one had a collapsible window wall while another had accordion style and the third and final, my personal preference, was the retractable window wall that pockets into the wall creating the illusion of one open and cohesive indoor/outdoor space. Each application used though functioning differently still gave the appearance of indoor and outdoor spaces that were intertwined. This is a trend that I believe will become a necessity in custom homes in warm weather climates giving the homeowner the opportunity to take advantage of the nice weather almost all year round.

Check out the link below to see more about the custom homes and their amenties. I've also added some pictures from the tour! Lots of great ideas!

http://www.thekaleidoscopeofhomes.com/about-the-homes.html

Fall is here!

Fall is officially here! The leaves are falling, there is a crisp coolness in the air and everywhere you look there is an abundance of fall decor! I love getting inspired by going to stores like Pottery Barn and seeing how they create their seasonal displays, then come home and recreate with items I have around the house. It's a great way to stretch your mind creatively and save money. Retail stores aren't the only place to shop for fall accessories to place as focal pieces around the house. This past weekend I went to the local pumpkin patch and found the mother load of fall decor! Pumpkins, gourds and corn stalks for great prices plus you're helping your local farmer!