McKinney Large Island Kitchen Makeover

I just finished up a kitchen renovation this past week.  The client wanted to enlarge their island so it was more functional for their busy family.

They wanted to keep the existing floor as well as the cabinet color.   I am alwasys happy to work around a budget because sometimes it just isn't affordable to totally gut a kitchen and start over.  I'm know as the designer that can work within the clients budget and pull it all together beautifully.

BEFORE

AFTER

We took out the old island and had a new one made for them.  We added storage to the side of it and some great column legs. We painted the island a nice blue/green color from Sherwin Williams to  make it the center of attention.

 We chose a creamy white quartz countertop and made sure it worked with the cabinet color. We chose beautifully.

I just love the new legs!  They really add some charm to the kitchen.

We added crystal knobs to the island.  They are brushed bronze like the rest of the cabinets but the crystal makes the island unique.

We added 3 new pendant lights and painted the wall too.

BEFORE AND AFTER

They had a built in desk area that wasn't used too often, other than a dumping ground for clutter.  We turned it into a coffee/wine bar.  We added glass shelving and lighting so we could display some pretty glasses and mugs.  Painting the bottom half darker really made it stand out and gave it a sophisticated, classy look.

We changed the backsplsh in the entire kitchen.  The honeycomb marble backsplash is to die for and makes the floor we couldn't change work.  There is a touch of the floor color in the marble.

I'm always on the hunt for unique accessories.  I found the above wooden antique pastry press and it adds a touch o whimsy to this bar area.

I accessorized the kitchen for them to add some color and texture.

I love adding baskets to my decor.  They add such beautiful texture, especially up against white or cream.

I'm so in love with this Tassel  Loloi Rug that I found!  Totally makes the kitchen come alive.

Hope you enjoyed the tour.

Blush, Gray and Navy Girls Bedroom

My oldest daughter just got accepted into nursing school!!!  She is extremely excited and we are so proud of her.

For her 20th birthday, we decided we would redo her bedroom for her since she will living at home next semester while she attends nursing school.

She is not one for change and has had her bedroom this hot pink for years. We sold her bunk beds and started from scratch.  Bittersweet but she was finally ready for change and mama was excited!!

She knew she wanted blush and navy but had no idea what else she wanted.

So, I decided to treat her like a client and put together a design collage. That way she could get a visual of what direction I was heading with the design.

AFTER

We decided to do a navy and blush stripe on the headboard wall and it turned out so beautifully.  It took a lot of patience for my painter, but he managed and still like me!

I took these photos with my iPhone so they are not as good as I'd like but they are still so pretty.

I purchased the rose pillow cases from Pottery Barn and the duvet cover from Target. The headboard was purchased from Wayfair.

She is elated with her new room and so am I! Excited to have her back home again after two years of her being gone!

Peek into our Dwell with Dignity Thrift Studio 2017

We have been working hard on our Dwell with Dignity Thrift Studio space. It has been a joy to do this vignette in memory of Dot Greenlee.

Swirl artwork was by Jennifer Ayyed and light blue glass rock artwork by Latoya Jones. Acrylic bases done by E&D Plastics.

Thank you to IDS Dallas Chapter for selecting me, along with Barbara Gilbert and Nicole Arnold to honor Dot in this way.

Artwork by Christi Meril

Dot was known for her use of bright colors, specifically pink.

Art by Artist Mary Howe

We wanted our space to be bright and happy, just like Dot.

Thank you to our main sponsors Robert Allen, Kisabeth Furniture and Nomads Loom. The stunning floral arrangements were donated by Curate Florals (Linda Baker, IDS President).

After we finished the space, the designers that knew her well said the space is a great representation of what she loved.

The lighting in our vignette is spectacular and I want every single light fixture for  my home.  The above fixture is from Currey and Company and it gave our installers fits. Very heavy and lots of sharp edges.  It is the star of the show in our vignette.

One of IDS Members, Josh with Stal Timber donated these unique side tables made from 100 year old beams. They are spectacular!  Paired with the rug from Nomads Loom and the navy velvet chair and sofa donated by Kisabeth Furniture, they are just gorgeous.

Follow me on Instagram to see more behind the scenes clips of our vignette and the event itself.

Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek.  This Charity event will be held on April 5th, just in time for my 50th birthday!  You can purchase tickets at https://www.dwellwithdignity.com. It is the event of the year, I promise!

If you can't make it to the party, Thrift Studio 2017 will be open to the public, starting April 6th and will be open for a month.

Stay tuned for more photos after the event is over.  Hope to see you there!

High Point Market Design Bloggers Spring Tour 2017

I just returned home from sunny Los Angeles! I attended the Design Bloggers Conference! It is my favorite conference because I get to spend time with my designer friends and get to meet new designers and bloggers as well.

When you own your own business, it is really hard to make time to get away for conferences like this. What I have learned is that it is crucial that you take time away from your every day work life so you can be inspired, encouraged, and filled up. This conference is that for me.

Dwell by Cheryl and Artful Interiors are two of those great friends that I have made through this conference.

I also got to spend an evening with a few Dallas Designers, which was a treat.

Brooke Giannetti with Velvet and Linen was one of the speakers, and she was so fantastic. Brooke was one of the first blogs that I started following when blogs were just beginning. I latched on to every word she said when I first started blogging and learned so much from her.

She was a true example of a great designer with a casual spirit that connected with her audience. If you haven't had a chance to read her story, do it! Her husband is an architect and they are so lovely together and so incredibly gifted. They are extra special because they too have chickens, just like us!

Another of my favorite speakers was Lord Spencer, Lady Diana's brother. He spoke about his 13 Acre estate in England and it was fascinating to hear his stories!

I got to eat on the patio at the Beverly Hills Hotel and we got a glimpse of Kim Kardashian. Of course, we only got a quick glimpse of her but it was still a fun movie star sighting. Can you believe these gorgeous flowers in their lobby?

One of the awesome things that was announced while I was at the conference was that I was selected to be on the High Point Market Design Bloggers Spring Tour along with these wonderful designers!

Visit High Point Market Design Bloggers Spring Tour 2017 to see each participant.

I am so excited about this because it is yet another opportunity for me to connect with new designers. I also look forward to being introduced to new vendors and contacts during market.

These are the wonderful bloggers I will be on the tour with:

Courtney Allison, www.frenchcountrycottage.net

Margot Austin, www.thedesigneditblog.com

Elle Cole, www.ellecoleblog.com

Nina Magon, www.livestylishdaily.com

Lisa Mende, www.lisamendedesign.blogspot.com

Michiel Perry, www.blacksouthernbelle.com

Me, Jana Platina Phipps, www.trimqueen.com

Ruthie Staalsen, www.ruthiestaalsen.com

Laura Umansky, www.laurauinteriordesign.com

Rhoda Vickers, www.southernhospitalityblog.com

Our sponsors for the tour?

Meet the sponsoring companies and showrooms we will be touring.  Thank you sponsors for this opportunity!  See you there!

Dwell with Dignity Thrift Studio & IDS DFW

Dwell with Dignity’s Thrift Studio event is a fundraiser like no other! Thrift Studio is a 30-day pop-up shop created to provide financial viability and fundraising for Dwell with Dignity by selling donated furniture, housewares, accessories and high-end designer finds to the public. Since the concept launched in Dallas in 2011, the event has grown into a highly anticipated and can’t-miss event for DWD supporters, the interior design community and the general public looking for a fabulous deal on home furnishings.

Thrift Studio kicks off with a Preview Party which is a ticketed event where guests can shop the pop-up shop before it opens to the general public. Inside, Thrift Studio shoppers find stunning vignettes created by leading designers, showrooms and retailers featuring donated high-end home decor items sold at significant discounts with 100% of sales benefitting Dwell with Dignity’s mission.

Thrift Studio provides one-third of the operating revenue that allows Dwell with Dignity to change lives through design by bringing good design to those who can afford it the least. In 2016 Dwell with Dignity will complete 22 projects providing fresh starts for 20 families and 2 community partners.

Their approach of one household at a time allows them to be integral to breaking the cycle of poverty. They provide the stability, comfort and pride needed to change the course of the lives of the families they help. See above photos.

They cannot do it without the support of their largest fundraiser, Thrift Studio.

I am incredibly honored to have been chosen as one of the leading designers for this years Thrift Studio event. I am involved in the Dallas IDS chapter (Interior Design Society) and 3 designers were selected to create a vignette in memory of Dot Greenlee. Dot was a member of IDS for years and very loved in the design community. I am honored to work alongside two very talented designers,  Barbara Gilbert and Nicole Arnold for this event.  It has been a wonderful process so far and we are excited about what we have put together for our vignette.

If you are a designer and you are not a part of IDS, you should be! http://www.idsdfw.com/

We are thankful for our sponsors:  Kisabeth Furniture, Nomads Loom and Robert Allen

We would love it if you would come out to this event and support Dwell with Dignity!

SAVE THE DATE; This years thrift studio will take place on April 5th.

    If you would like to see more about Thrift Studio, follow my Instagram and Facebook Page so you can watch the behind the scenes process and get final details once the event gets closer.

Hope the rest of your weekend is fabulous!