2013 Highlight Reel!

As we start counting down the hours to the new year, I thought it would be fun to highlight some of my favorite moments of 2013.  Thank you to everyone who made this year full of fun and laughs, happiness, bliss, and sunshine, challenges and accomplishments, and most of all, warmth and love!

Every picture brings the best smile to my face and a beautiful memory to my heart!  

One of my favorite pictures with one of my favorite people :)

My sister and her family on her birthday!

The Faja and the newest member of our family. 

My friend Susan and I stopping in the blue bonnets on our way home from Round Top.  

My nephew all giggles taking a bath.

Seeing the Book of Mormon.

Brother Travis running the Chicago Marathon.

Old friends coming to Houston!

Stephanie and I after a fabulous Houston wedding.

Man's paradise, finally complete. 

Cousins Joey and Katie goofing around with some selfies.  

Old teammates Lindsey and Cassie along with Coach Kelly.

Travis and I.

Pregger friends Susan and Danielle. 

Blue-eyed beauties Travis and niece. 

My favorite photographer, Brad, doing whatever he has to to get the perfect shot. 

Houston's Best Award Winner for whole house remodel!

Wild lilies in the U.P.

Nephew Brenner :)

Stachtastic!

Glacier National Park, Whitefish, Montana. 

Montana wedding magic with Evan's folks.

Catching and hanging on to an assistant :)

Finally.... all of the beautiful ladies of By Design together in one photo :)

One of my favorite dining room projects!

Beautiful town home project. 

Meghan's wedding with coaches Sean and Kelly. Wayno!

You never really grow up....

Capturing pure joy and a little bit of fear :)

Meeting Tomater :)

Learning the lay of  the land at Disney.

Spa-like master bathroom.

Celebrating my sister's baby #3!

Diaper Party! Greg, Rico, and Travis!

Brother Adam and nephew on the Disneyland train :)

Celebrating my birthday at Rainbow Lodge. 

Scrumptious salad from Rainbow Lodge.

Glacier National Park 

Here's to all the wonderful memories and wishing everyone a 

Happy New Year!

High Point Market Highlights: Chairs!

With Christmas just around the corner, life has been running full speed with work, parties, family in town, and a few little projects of my own.  I will try as best I can to keep up the blog during the holidays but I can't make any promises :)  

I will, however, share some of my favorite finds from High Point Market from October.  There is never any shortage of inspiration at High Point and over 1300 photos later, I think I have plenty to share!  Some blogs, I'll cover styling or how showrooms put their vignettes together including amazing color combinations, mixing of styles, and current trends.  

Other blogs, like this one, I'll highlight specific products I found to be beautiful and unique. Chairs are fairly important to interiors and we'd be hard-pressed to find a space that didn't have one.  While they are one of the most common elements in an interior space, they also have a wide variety of functions: Am I going to relax and read in this chair? am I going to be doing my makeup? paying bills? eating dinner? etc. 

So, here are some of my favorite chairs and links to where you can find them.  As always, every item can be purchased through By Design Interiors... so happy designing!

Hickory White, as always, had a beautiful showroom and two of my favorite chairs from Market. This one above is an Exposed Wood Chair with a beautiful design on the sides.  This chair was shown in several different upholstery options on the showroom floor and it completely changed looks depending on what it was upholstered in: very masculine and linear in leather, and softer in a fabric. 

This Pull-Up Chair from Hickory White was awesome! and surprisingly comfortable.  It could look more traditional upholstered in a linen-like material or more contemporary in a bright funky leather.

Palecek's use of natural materials is always breathtaking. This wood and rattan chair always catches my eye. 

I love the simplicity of this farmhouse dining chair by Furniture Classics.  Great for growing families where sticky fingers might ruin an upholstered seat.  This chair is made from recycled wood and comes in a couple different colors.

Hands-down.... the Eames Lounger is a classic and personal favorite.  My grandparents have a second edition in their living room that makes me smile every time I see it (and them :)  Dovetail has this great little knock-off in a dark cherry leather.

Regina Andrew is one of my favorite stops on my Market tour; their items are funky and unique and can add that touch of unexpected to any space. 

Please visit Bernhardt's website to see this chair upholstered in another fabulous colored leather!  This awesome little guy has so many possibilities. He can live in an entry, side by side with his counterpart, or in a cozy little library. 

I've kept a lot of the fru-fru out of this list, but I have to include at least one that will make you go, 'awww!'  This cute little Kensington Chair from Currey and Company is dainty and beautiful.

And the chair that wins most creative upholstery goes to Hickory Chair's Chippendale Dining Chair.  The upholstery workers picked up a bunch of scrap fabrics from previous projects and sewed them together to create those beautiful stripes!  

Townhouse Project Unveiling!!!

Back in October, I met with a potential client named Robin.  She was incredibly kind and kicking the crap out of cancer! Her and her husband had bought a townhome and needed some new furniture.  While going through Robin's inspiration images, my heart nearly stopped.... "Robin! I have been waiting for a client like you my entire life!" I finally blurted out.

Here are some images of Robin's new townhome!

Formal Dining Room

Hickory Chair table with custom host and hostess chairs made here in Houston.  The Drexel Heritage side chairs are upholstered in a striped fabric that ties in all the colors from Robin's husband's beautiful artwork.

Stationary drapery panels are trimmed in the same fabric as the side chairs and help open with Swarofski crystal encrusted tiebacks from Robert Allen. 

Living Room

You can find Robin and her husband enjoying their breakfast at this seating vignette almost every morning... which I've the joy of witnessing myself! The table was an antique Robin found with custom upholstered chairs in the prettiest blue fabric.  A floral crewel fabric frames their beautiful view.

Powder Bath

Powder baths are my favorite places to add some spunk. After painting the walls a celery green, this room became bright and cheerful. 

Guest Room

Over 15 years ago, Robin had purchased some fabric with intentions of making some custom curtains and bedding.  Making her dream a reality, we adorned her guest room with her favorite fabrics. 

Guest Room Bed

Now, her master bedroom is a sight to see... but you'll have to wait until it's photographed :)  Hint: it's a room fit for a princess!