64 Magic Numbers

I know...I know. It has been 6 weeks since my last post! Things have really picked up around here - and I cannot wait to share with you what I've been working on.  I am behind on my magazine reading, my nightly Pinterestfest has come to a halt (considering I bought the ipad for my husband's use, I'm sure he's happy it is back in his possession each night) and as you can see this sad sad neglected blog has been the least of my priorities.  sigh.  Wait - I'm not sighing, I'm leaping with glee because I am working on some really great projects!

That's not what I logged in to tell you about. 

While patiently waiting for my English Breakfast to steep, I used that opportunity to snag the latest issue of This Old House and give it a quick look.  I had 4 minutes. Ready...GO! This is probably one of my favorite issues I have read in months.  Partially because of the great article I am getting ready to share with you, and partly because there are so many great tips to get ready for SPRIIIIIING!  There were three additional articles that I doggie-eared for hubs to see because they are on our my list for the weeks to come - hydrangea planting, vegetable garden creating, and rain barrel making! I strongly encourage you to grab a copy if any of these interest you because each article is fantastic and worth the few dollars at the newsstand.  Ok on to an article that I hope you ALL will print and save in your "misc home info" file.  We all have one or two file...or binders full - right? 

 

64 Important Numbers Every Homeowner Should Know - This Old House April 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uhhh hello! How many times do you think to yourself, whats the appropriate height for this new bathroom sconce? or I want to replace my island counter with one that has an overhang for stools.  But how far out from the cabinet should it extend? Wonder no more!  As a designer, I often reference a 30lb industry standard reference book but boy is this handy to have in the file drawer right behind me!  I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I have, but remember that each house is different because each homeowner is different.  Use this as a starting place and make the adjustments that fit you!



Gifts for a Valentine

Can you believe tomorrow is February?! You know what that means...two more weeks until Valentines Day. So just in case you need to snag a prezzie for your Mom, Sis, or BFF one of these is sure to be the perfect gift!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C Wonder Love Me Knot Earrings   C Wonder LOVE Belt Buckle  Kate Spade Alexandria Top  Oomph Zizi Pillow  Paper Source Grapefruite Candle   Serena and Lily Feather Rug


Have a wonderful weekend!

Local Living: The Nest Egg





Yesterday I headed out to the Fair Oaks area of Fairfax to meet with a new client.  On my way back to the office I made a detour (really it was awfully convenient) to check out a locally owned home furnishings boutique, The Nest Egg.  It has been on my to-do list for several months now but with the move then Christmas and getting settled I had to put it on the back burner.  I wish I hadn't waited so long - it is ah.maz.ing.  I obsess over boutiques filled with furniture and accessories 1) because that's my job and 2) it's my 5 year plan...   10 year plan...   dream to own one myself. While I was there chatting with one of the shopkeepers (probably taking up way too much of her time), I told her that what I love about home décor boutiques is that every shop owner has a different vision for their store.  Although some may carry some of the same vendors, each and every store is different and tells a different story.  I love it!! The Nest Egg carries so many of my favorite vendors but of course they had so many more that were new to me - I can't wait to start visiting more regularly!  They are filling the shop with new pieces each week and bringing in new discoveries from market so be sure to pop by soon! 

 

The Nest Egg

11940 Grand Commons Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22030

 

 

 

 

 I loved the attention to detail on this skirt! Adding fabric, not only as a band on the skirt but the invert of the pleat is beautiful!

 Grab a throw...or two...to take the chill off your bones!

 Loved their pillow display.

 

 Like the look of an upholstered ottoman AND  tray? Voila!

 Remember my tips on adding a bit of pizzaz in the entry of your rented home? They carry Tempaper - a removable wallpaper! See...told you it's a great idea!

 They have the most amazing stock of oversized art.  Have a giant wall that needs to be filled? They are bound to have something that suits your taste.

 

 

Thanks Nest Egg for accommodating my drop by visit! Look forward to shopping again with you soon!

Wisteria Sale!

Wisteria is having a great sale on their stools & side tables.  I often recommend their products to my Bundled Room clients because most of their pieces are trend resistant, which is how I tend to decorate.  Since they are one of my go-to retailers, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites.



HARD AS STEEL: METAL

  

SUBTLE STATEMENT: GLASS OR ACRYLIC

 

  

 

A BOLD ACCENT: COLOR

 

  

Tips for Renters in the Post's Express!

This morning I received the best text from my husband. "Um you were written up in the express paper." Rewind to two weeks ago...I received an email from a freelance writer of the Express asking if I could share some tips with her about an article she was writing.  Of course I was happy to do so but didn't know if she was actually going to use the info I gave her.  Hubs rides the metro to work everyday so he usually picks up the paper on his way downtown.  Well boy am I glad he snagged it this morning! I'll let you read it for yourself!  Ready To Rent (pages 17 and 19)

 

 

Huge thanks to my friend Amy Rutherford of Red Barn Mercantile, who is also quoted in this article and who I wrote about here.

 

Have a great weekend!

New Year, New Location, New Goals

Happy New Year! I can still say that...right? I'm so excited to be writing from my new office! Our studio is located in my home, which used to be a 700sf condo in Alexandria.  My husband and I found our #countryhouseinthecity (follow me on Instagram!) in Annandale, just barely inside the beltway.  We fell in love with this house because of the lot - heavily wooded and half an acre (which if you live in the DC area you know that is hard to come by).  The house is a 1957 American Rambler which I intend to turn into a 1957 American Farmhouse.  It has solid bones (literally...our floor beams are made of concrete...not wood) and a great layout, best of all a huge wood burning fireplace which was a must for the Pennos.  Ok scratch that.  Best of all I have an amazing office.  I now have room for samples and a work table to spread out and brainstorm! It is still a work in progress so photos will be posted once a little more getting settled is done.

My New Goal (professionally) for this year is plain and simple.  I don't have a list of ten or even five things I want to do.  Just one.  I want to perfect sketching like this:

Steve Giannetti



Steve Giannetti - you may know the name from the very popular Velvet & Linen blog is a very talented architect and I drool over his homes...not to mention, his actual home.  Brooke, his wife, is the author of Velvet & Linen.  Brooke is a very talented decorator and often posts many of Steve's projects, including his sketches.  I used to free hand sketch a lot more when I worked for Custom Design Concepts because aside from interior design I also produced interior architecture drawings which often came from sketching to help work through the interior of a home.  I feel very strongly that this is a lost art.  Students now learn to draw in 3D using computer programs like Sketchup but you lose all emotion when looking at a computer drawing.  So by the end of 2014 I am going to get back to the drawing board (literally) and start sketching again.  If you were my client, wouldn't you love to receive a drawing like this to help visualize your home? I would!

Design Library: New WDC Design Center!

For those that are not aware the Washington DC design community has a love/hate relationship with  our WDC Design Center.  Currently located next to the Federal Center SW metro station the Design Center is the mecca for our area's interior designers with seven floors of fabric and furniture showrooms sold "to the trade".  That's the love part.  What's the hate? The D & 3rd Street area is not very exciting.  Surrounded by government offices, the building is older than old with no windows (ok maybe 5) no places to grab a bite to eat after you've spent your $14 on parking.  Did I mention it's uuuuugly?  Least to say I am excited to pick up and move to the hustle and bustle of 14th & K.  That's more like it - right?

On Wednesday the showrooms who are making the move (more on that later) hosted an open house at the new location for a tour of what's to come.  With floor plans in hand and on easels for easy viewing, we mingled and got the inside scoop on what each showroom was doing to prepare for their move in the Spring...or Summer...depending on who you talk to. 

The shared atrium is filled with natural light - a huge change to the current conditions on D Street. Natural light? What's that?

 

Although most of the showrooms we are already familiar and acquainted with from the current location, I am excited for two new showrooms to join the DC community.  Madeline Mitchell who we know from her years at other showrooms in the Design Center, is now the Design Director at the newest location of Doris Leslie Blau .  Romo fabrics who has a entire family of fabric lines, will also make their debut. 

Here I am with Madeline, displaying beautiful rugs from DLB.

 

The new Design Center is going from 7 to 3 floors of showrooms.  Some of the best are sticking together but unfortunately others have decided to move on to other locations in the DC area.  One of the floors was open for us to walk around and use our designer's skills of imagination while in bare bones. 

 

 

 

Looking forward to the opening of the newly located WDC Design Center in March...April...or June...!

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend!!