Ikea Blog 2When we left off last week we were at the Ikea store, unattractively gaping at the impossibly gargantuan number of options in the furnishings warehouse.(Recap – Beasley & Henley Interior Design has been tapped by Lennar Homes to create 2 unique model home using IKEA furnishings only. This has never been done in a regular single family home! This Blog is our second entry about how we are going to make these IKEA homes happen! Click here to read the previous week’s Beasley & Henley/Ikea/Lennar adventure!) 
We find Sam, who it turns out, didn’t sneak off. She is actually elbows deep in huge blue bin searching for coordinating sofa pillows.Let’s stop a moment. This is good time to dispel some of the delusional dreams about the glamorous life of an interior designer. It certainly has its glam-moments, but more often than not you’re elbows deep in a blue bin full of pillows.But anyway…We leave IKEA, exhausted, and head back to the Beasley & Henley design studio. Sam is already diciphering the notes and measurments she wrote on the floor plan and trying to make sense of it all. Was that the Karlstad corner sofa or the Ektorp sectional? Is that number a 3 or an 8?Back at the office Amanda, Sam's assistant on this project, helps sort out all the details, and there are a lot! Along with Sam, Amanda searches the IKEA site for product images, double checks measurements, jots down pricing and slowly begins to put the presentation together for Lennar.
At this point Kim, interior detailer, enters the room looking for the furnishings dimensions so she can lay all the pieces into the CAD floor plan with proper sizes and details. Amanda hands over all she has, and not missing a beat, gets right back to the website and her fledgling presentation.According to Lennar Homes, the idea of the IKEA home is to tell propestive homeowners- You can furnish you home in IKEA only and look how great it can look! Not just that, but this is how much it will cost. You can afford that!Of course, it's our job to make it look great, and we will.Amanda hands the pricing list over to Leah, the new assistant. She's quick on excel and soon her fingers are flying across the key board and the pricing begins.
A few minutes later I wander over to Amanda and Leah to ask how it's going. When I get a muffled group response of, "It'g going" and no one looks up from their computer screen, I know that means it's a good time to back away and let them do what they do.As I leave I can't help but look at the presentation as it nears completion. OMG this is going to be great!_________________________________________________The phone rings and my Lennar contact is on the other end. She is so excited the thrills are just dripping from her voice.“When will you be ready to show us the ideas for the two models?” she asks. I know she’s trying to be calm, but she’s really revved up to see how we are doing.“Tuesday!” I volunteer hopefully. I’m not sure where Sam and her team are in the process, but I’m pretty sure it can happen. I figure we’ll be ready on Monday, but Mondays are bad for client presentations. What if something goes wrong late in the process or someone gets sick and you can’t finish properly? On a Monday there is not much you can do to fix it, but by Tuesday, well, we figure it out!So Tuesday it is. I let the team know. The response is clear as eyebrows are silently raised in my direction. Their pace picks up and I back out of the room.One more time, selections are checked to make sure they coordinated in color and style with the ‘backgrounds’ in the home (ie the flooring, countertop, cabinetry etc). Each piece of furniture is properly sized for each room. Furnishings are scrutinized again with the end user in mind. Do they match the demographics? Are the rooms family-friendly? Does each bedroom have a unique personality? Colors are coordinated. Artwork is selected. Last minute reselections are made where needed. Double check. Triple check.It’s Tuesday. Sam has her water and her game-face on. We load the car with the presentation boards and print outs and head off to the Lennar office.It’s go time!
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Brass, gold and copper have been steadily creeping into our homes for sometime now and we are loving it! Metals are in all places, from wallpaper to flooring, furniture and accessories. Using metal is hardly a new concept. Our early ancestors discovered that copper was impressionable and could be fashioned into weapons, tools, ornaments. They discovered metal was easier to manipulate than stone, thus changed humanity forever. It was the first step out of the Stone Age into the Bronze and Iron Ages.
Should you run out and replace all your home's hardware to brass? Should every piece of furniture have a metal element to it? An overflow of metal's can give off a super-rich ostentatious look. I'm not sure that's necessarily the answer for all, but a subtle introduction can be the ticket. Metal finishes are obtainable for additional materials such as wood. The mixture of the two makes the appearance of metal achievable, without the additional cost. If you fall head over heals with a metal accessory, cabinet pull, light fixture or piece of furniture, I say have fun and go for it! Don't be afraid to mix and match. Blending metals like brass, chrome and gold is an expanding trend. The warmth of metals like bronze and gold have shifted from silver over the past years.
If your looking for ways to incorporate metal into your own home décor while keeping the look modernistic and fresh? From accessories to furniture, here are a few of my favorites.
Bite Table Lamp Photo courtesy of: http://www.phillipscollection.com/ 
We are so excited! Beasley & Henley has been tapped by home builder Lennar Homes to create an entirely new find of model home: the IKEA HOMES. This will be an entirely new thing in the design of model homes. It is really exciting to be the design firm making it happen! While IKEA furnishings are sometimes featured in small home design or apartments, the Beasley & Henley Lennar models will be full sized, single family homes for sale in Central Florida.
The Rio at Summerlake is a 2634 square foot home with 6 bedrooms and 3 baths. The price for Rio is in the low $300,000s. The Asheville at Harmony is a 4 bedroom, 2.5 Bath home with 2515 square feet, priced in the low $200,000s. The ubiquity and reasonable price point of IKEA’s furnishings led Lennar to champion this innovative design idea. Everyone buys IKEA furnishings, especially when it’s your first home, so why not figure out how to do the entire thing in IKEA? We think it’s great! We are figuring some things out as we move through the process since there is not a ’road map’ in place for this kind of furnishings and installation format.
The homes are expected to be open to the public in November 2015. We will continue to send updates out throughout the next few weeks on the design decisions and the process they create as they begin this approach to model home designs. We're excited about the process and look forward to sharing the final results in a few months.
The days of sun kissed skin and pool side cocktails are becoming a distant memory, as we embrace the first week of Fall. Today we welcome dewy mornings and colorful landscapes with a verse from the talented poet, John Clare; "And I do love the varied hue, And I do love the browning plain:; And I do love each scene to view, That's mark'd with beauties of her reign." This particular verse inspired me to look deeper into the colors of Fall and how they can be incorporated into your home décor. I'd like to show you how to echo the blaze of colors that comes with Fall. The rich layers of orange, brown, and green can be part of our homes story. Whether they play the leading roll or stand quietly as an extra, their presence can be felt.
Bits of Fall's colors can be placed throughout your home with the use of a table lamp, throw blanket or accent pillow. It's easy to bring in natural elements such as a wooden stool, coffee table or occasional chair. If your feeling a bit bold, an accent wall of bright green is an excellent way to bring Fall into your home. Bring the colors of fall into your space with a vibrant oil painting.It can add just the right amount of warmth your home needs.
Blog Orange elements
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Blog Natural elements wood
Photo: http://www.uttermost.com
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WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY?
Back by popular demand we are reposting our "What Designers Really Do" blog today. We found a deep interest in our design process and are happy to share it with you again.
I recently met with an intelligent reporter who focuses on architecture and engineering in the media. We had a good conversation that eventually came around to the subject of interior designers.
Turns out that this well-meaning woman had almost no idea what interior designers actually do. She knew about furniture and fabrics, which is great, but little else.As interior designers, we live and breathe our work, so it is always a surprise to us when people assume we spend every day picking paint colors and sofa fabrics.Most of our projects go on for more than a year. The important ‘furnishings and fabrics’ part takes place in the last 3-6 months of job. So what could we possibly be doing the rest of the time? Here is a glimpse into a ‘day in the life’!1. The first stop for any project is a review of the architect’s Floor Plan. 
We work with good architects so we are always thrilled to get their good floor plans. But designers and architect’s don’t look at spaces with the same eyes. We start with a general furniture layout using typical features or even specifics (like, a client may say I need room for my Baby Grand or I have a huge collection of antique books). We make sure things fit and that the floor plan flows per the furniture plan. We make sure the doors swings won’t hit the furniture, the windows are aligned to the furniture layout, the walls make sense and are long enough for the client’s fantastic huge sofa or California King bed. We also look at the bathrooms and often make suggestions for changes there as well.
TIP: The sooner we are involved in the floor plan the better. It is a lot cheaper for the client to change things on paper and make sure they are built right, then to change things in the field where every alteration costs money and time. Cha-Ching!2. Lighting and Electrical. We receive the lighting plan from the architect and make sure it works for what the client told us and how the house flows. Again is easier to work out problems on paper then with the electrician standing there, waiting for decisions, charging by the hour. Lately, there is often an additional expert, the lighting consultant, on the project.3. Reflected Ceiling Plan (RCP). 
The RCP is the project’s ceiling details, beams, coffers and other interesting details. Usually the architect gives us the RCP with very little on it. They know we will create the designs to match the other aspects of the interiors. This is a huge part of the project and when we create it, we are also consulting with the mechanical, electrical, engineering and HVAC specialists, plus we make sure the new lighting plan works as well.
4. Flooring Details. We determine what flooring will go where, like carpet, tile wood, etc. It may not be the exact tile, but at the early stages we determine the concept of what the material will be. These are decisions that need to be made very early, even before the slab is poured, because the final flooring material will affect the thickness of the slab the builder needs. And believe it or not, the Flooring Plan goes with the Electrical Plan, because floor outlet locations have to be decided before slab is poured to avoid a loud guy with a huge saw cutting concrete months later.
5. Wall Elevations and Details. At the same time the other design work is being done, we are also creating the details for the walls; creating special detailed features, niches, making sure walls meet up with proper, trim, baseboards, fireplace design and all built-ins and media centers.
6. MEP (Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing). We also consult with the Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing professionals to make sure things like AC chases and mechanical closets are detailed in. If not, we re-draw the plan and make them work.7.Wall textures and base paints. Walls that are to be painted need a different treatment than those that will get wallpaper or faux or decorative treatments. All these details go on a spreadsheet and are sent to the builder and painter.8. Then comes the ‘Specifications’. Such as, the exact plumbing fixtures in the project including toilets, showers, faucets etc.; the exact flooring materials and detailed patterns for them all drawn out so the installers can follow the plans; cabinetry and hardware in kitchens and baths are determined or custom designed; countertops decided on often after visits to the marble yard to select exact slabs; lighting fixtures, paint colors, wall textures, faux or decorative treatments; wall paper, etc etc, all set up on detailed spreadsheets for the builder, the client and anyone else who needs a copy.9. During all this, an introductory color and furniture plan is presented to the client. This way we know the colors and general style of the home. All the details, ‘specs’ and drawing are all geared toward the meshing with the final vision.10. Then we do furniture. :)THAT is what all the fuss is about. That is why only a talented interior design firm with dedicated resources and a talented team of professionals aimed at completing all these important steps should touch your design project!And that, is what we do all day!
Wallpaper, dear wallpaper how you have evolved over the years. Your fragile nature and influence has blossomed into an air of validity. Today's wallpaper can play a vital role in design and influencing the style of a room. It has the power to control the furnishings and overall feel of a room. It's the king to the castle, the drummer to the band, the lyrics to my favorite song. Wallpaper can be an excellent conversation starter to your dinner party or can help you project an air of confidence you've longed to acquire. Wallpaper can be used in small doses for a big design impact or in an entire room.
I have been on a quest to find a few of my favorite designs and I'd like to share a few with you today. Some are bold and unapologetic. In small doses they can be used in a powder bath, ceiling or the underside of a staircase. Covering a large wall or an entire room can certainly make a immense impact. Regardless how you may use them, they are fun, make strong statements and are captivating in their own right. Wallpaper is no longer passé, it's back with a vengeance and I love it!
Pucker Up Buttercup by: York Wall Covering
The vintage portraits of women's faces transcends time and style. A touch of red against a white backdrop enhances each alluring face . It's feminine, fun and a perfect blend of traditional and modern. I love the artists pen-and- ink style.
Anemone-Shell by: Astek Wallcovering
The handmade designs are inspired by the sea and it's movement of the tides. Astek gives its clients a glimpse at life beneath the waves. I find their Submerged collection to be calming, tropical and fresh. They bring a sense of serenity and vastness to a space.
Montauk by: Schumacher
The craftsmanship has elevated when they created this wall covering. This luxurious textured wallpaper is crafted entirely by hand using humanely gathered natural feathers. I can see how the love for this wallpaper may scare you, but used in the correct setting and home,it can be spectacular!
Magnetic Woodland's by: Sian Zeng
If I had a daughter her bedroom walls would have been draped in Sian's wallpaper. It embodies the look and feel of sweet innocence, tutus and rosy cheeks. This playful wallpaper allows children to create their own mythical stories. It encourages them to use their imaginations amongst the trees using an array of wondrous magnetic creatures and write-on speech bubbles. It can act as an ever changing piece of art as the magnetic buildings, flowers and characters are moved around by your loved ones in the most in magical of ways.
A summer's day is like a canopy of fiery blue above the marbled sunlight of emerald grass. It's a season where we spend more time outdoors. I always rejoice in summers unique ability to rejuvenate and breathe life into our tedious daily routines we have grown accustomed to. Our everyday life doesn't allow for monthly vacations, well at least mine doesn't, so the thought of exceptional outdoor loungers have peeked my interest. When I think of organic, innovative and highly functional loungers that bring you to your favorite summertime vacation destination, I think of Dedon. Their aesthetically pleasing, weather resistant outdoor furniture pieces are perfectly tailored to the look and feel of luxury. Their captivating appeal brings warmth to any outdoor space. I'm a fan of all their pieces, but I'd like to highlight a few of my favorite.
The hanging pod was named Nestrest by its innovator creators, Daniel Pouzet and Fred Frety. The suspended lounger instantly creates a haven of reflection and relaxation. With a gentle rock, this architectural piece of art brings a warm breeze of ease we all crave. Similar to how birds nests are built, these large bird houses take the cake.
The Dala lounger designed by Stephen Burks has a power-coated frame of expanded aluminum mesh. Mr. Burks has been quoted for saying "If design is your passion it flows through everything you do". I couldn't agree with him more. Not only beautifully crafted the Dala lounger can be transported easily due to its lightweight construction. Better yet, the interlocking ribbons are made of 60 percent recycled food and drink packaging materials!
This whimsical basket like bed is called Swingrest, designed by Daniel Pouzet. Its purity and simplicity allows this ultimate hanging lounger to be the perfect addition to your terrace or veranda. I can see ending a long days work in one of these generously proportioned loungers. I can see it taking me to a place of relaxation and comfort the moment my head hits the pillow.
1. YOU WILL HAVE HIRED A JACK OF ALL TRADES
Your designer will act as the liaison between you and your architect, vendors, contractor and spouse. While building a strong bridge between you and everyone else, designers have a trained eye and are always a head of the game. They address issues before problems arise and think about things that may have been overlooked.
2. RESALE VALUE
If you choose to sell your home the benefit to hiring an interior designer is two-fold. Not only will you have a faster turn-around, but it will bring more money to your pocket. An interior designer will add an increased appeal and beauty to your home that will attract your future buyer. They are trained to show your home in the best possible light.
3. YOU WILL HAVE AVOIDED COSTLY MISTAKES
Scale and proportion can be a difficult subject for amateur decorators. Purchasing furniture that does not fit can be extremely costly. Things like plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, flooring, wall color and window treatments are just a few selections carefully thought out with the space and design in mind.
4. YOU WILL HAVE AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO CHOOSE FROM:
Your designer has access to a vast variety of furnishings, fabrics, fixtures and accessories that’s only available to them. The look and feel to your home won’t be cookie cutter and will wow your friends and family!
Hello There Beautiful... Is That Really You?
Drum roll please……..It’s been 43 days, six hours, seven minutes, 3 seconds (but who’s counting) since we started out kitchen remodel. With great relief and gratitude, I can finally say our kitchen is complete! I’ve earned my remodel wings this morning and will wear this pocket-sized badge of honor with pride. A ballerina’s pirouette has an uncanny similarity to this installation. It’s been a delicate dance of patience, dedication, balance and grace. I have to admit, the absence of a contractor was difficult and my graceful tactics may have wondered a bit, but the learning experience was priceless.
Kitchen Before
Kitchen After
The cool and calming effects of our kitchen have somehow placed all the trials and tribulations in a box, wrapped in a little red bow, far from my mind. (Except for the darn coffee pot debacle that continues to jump out of the box, from time to time.) As I walk through our kitchen I am elated with our tile selections and foyer layout. It makes a statement and reads our personalities in a desired fashion we were striving for, thanks to Troy Beasley. The decorative tiles delicate mixture of marble and stone mosaics serve as a stunning focal point. Did I mention it was fabricated in Italy? Why is it that I am naturally drawn to anything made in Italy?
Foyer Before
Foyer After
Adding square footage was not an option, so we opted for the removal of the soffits and the installation of white countertops. The combination created a magical illusion of statuesque ceilings and a feeling of openness our little galley-style kitchen has yearned for, all these years.
Kitchen Before
Kitchen After
The interplay of light and shadow reflects the profound depth of our iridescent glass backsplash tiles. Their reflective properties are brought to their highest level with the help of our under cabinet lighting. Their bowtie like qualities and wall space in which they lay, are a match made in heaven.
It was important for me to incorporate a pendant light into our kitchen design. This little piece of art brings a pop of color and dazzling charm to the space. The first time it was turned on I instantly fell in love! 
Finding the Lock Ness Monster has nothing on trying to find two banquets and a table to fit our small space. With that said, we asked our cabinet fabricators to custom make them. The tones and fabric choices were selected with the idea of bringing warmth to the space. I adore the idea of being able to sit and read the morning paper in a comfy, but very stylish space. The custom banquette, table and cabinetry were fabricated by JC Restorations. 
I have learned a lot during this remodel. As for my next remodel I raise my right hand and swear to:
1: Ask the cost of any tile being imported from Italy, before the order is placed.
2: Be as specific as possible when telling my workmen what I want. Sometimes I felt as though we were speaking two different languages. Having them repeat it back to me, may not be the worst idea
3: Be more present during the install. A lot more gets done when you are there.
4: Remember installation costs are always more than you think.
5. Remember to practice patience.
6: Not to make judgments until the project is finished. It was a slow process, but totally worth the wait!
7: Never make quick decisions without fully thinking it through. Design takes time and a lot of thought.
8: Think of marriage counseling before the next remodel, or have Troy Beasley continue to help us with any disagreements.
9: Be more resourceful during a remodel. Eating out 43 days in a row was tumultuous.
10: Never make coffee in my bathroom again. That was a really bad idea!
Till We Meet Again…
Winters's icy grip has loosened, releasing it's hold of plants and flowers. Trees preparing to place on their spring dresses of emerald. I have always looked forward to Springs wardrobe of vibrant colors of beauty and romance. A rebirth of the awaking eye that brings a familiar feeling of joy. The many scents of Spring bring familiar memories that only Spring can bring.
My many perceptions of Spring have brought me to write this particular blog. It's a beautiful season that can be gracefully translated into your home décor. The many colors of Spring can pop up in your pillows, area rugs, accessories, bedding and wallpaper. It doesn't have to overpower a room, but like the ever so delicate orchid it can place a smile on your space.
Painting your foyer a vibrant, but welcoming color can create that dramatic entrance you've been looking for. I love the spirited pink foyer below, which comes from the ever evolving and inspirational House Beautiful magazine.
The beauty of botanical pieces of art are appealing to me. I am a huge fan of super realism, which is a painting that resembles a high resolution photograph. Owning this type of painting can lift a room in the most gorgeous way. It says "Spring I am here" all year long.
The flower below is painted by the very talented Polish Canadian artist, Grazyna Wolski. The beauty of her work reflects her deep emotional connection with flowers. Grazyna is a story teller, a speaker of joy and memories. She has been quoted saying "they are my infinite source of inspiration standing as a metaphor for how I feel about life and people." She sees the beauty in nature and I am a huge fan of her work!
A spring time arrangement ushers the season into a lively living space. It's a fast and easy pick me up that can be placed on a rotation of delight. Nothing says luxury like fresh flowers and can be placed in any room.
This unique bouquet below is called the "Bento Box". It's a unique interpretation of a spring arrangement. It has a modern spring time feel that I am really enjoying.
Inject color into your home décor by adding a brightly colored throw pillow, vase or area rug that brim with juicy citrus colors.
