What I have been up to

Hi, guys - it has been a crazy work week. Things are going great at the new job and so much else is going on...

These awesome Nate Berkus pillows landed in my house. They are so textural and boho - and only $30!

I have been cooking like crazy! I am 37 this year and that is the age at which Julia Child started cooking...I keep telling myself that in hopes I will be a good cook! I have made pork chops with mushroom sauce and dirty rice, sausage and green chile quiche, and shortrib cassoulet. This week I am going to do pesto burgers and fries. I just need to take prettier pictures of my results!

My client and friend got the Mouille knockoff that I have been wanting, but in white. It looks amazing over her dining table - excuse the dark photo! I recommend this light to everyone I know. It absolutely works EVERYWHERE!

Finally, I painted my bathroom in anticipation of the Susan Dory painting I got for Christmas! My bestie Leslie, who owns an art gallery, gave me this amazing painting by Susan, and Susan agreed to gift it to me. It looks like poured melted candy - photos do not do it justice! I will post before and after pics of the bathroom when I get the painting hung... it is the one on the right in this pic.

Hope you are having as great a week as I am! Talk soon...
E

exciting news

You guys, I have some exciting news! I got a dreamy job in a furniture showroom here in San Diego. It is called Sofa Designers on Miramar Road. I will be creating custom upholstery for people and also going to homes as an Interior Designer to help clients create their perfect pieces. I am so thrilled to be back in my comfort zone with design, since this is exactly what I was doing in New Orleans for the past seven years. I also cannot be more excited about the wonderful people I will be working with - they are the best! I thought it might take up to six months to get a design job in SD, and it took four - the perfect Christmas present for me!

In other design news, I had this amazing stump and zinc table custom made for a New Orleans client, and it is on its way to her as we speak:

This table is really large so I cannot wait to see it in person when I am in New Orleans in a couple of weeks. I will also be shopping for a funky bohemian mirror for my San Diego client. When we started she already had the sofa, chair and pillows, and didn't like any of it.

We have added a stone and wood coffee table, white cowhide, fig tree, white side table and green glass lamp, and beautiful abstract painting.

It is already a million times warmer, but we need a huge mirror, colorful pillows, a floor pouf and throw blanket for more impact. They spent good money on the sectional and chair and unfortunately it is all just the same color as the walls, so we have to create some texture and interest.

I hope you are all having an amazing holiday season. I am looking forward to lots more design work and blog posts in the New Year as I begin working here in San Diego. Have a great week!
E

projects smojects

Well things are really moving along. This was the last week on the Birmingham Fam build (aka my sister's house), and they close this morning! Here is a little more progress with paint, etc... I am so obsessed with my nephew's shower - have always wanted to do the white subway with dark grout!

And in a wildly different look, my client finally got her mirrors and rugs in! The matching chandelier will be in front of this mirror so the two rooms will echo each other, and I will do black shades on the chandeliers, I think. Chairs are being ordered now - we are hoping to have these two rooms done by Christmas!

Happy weekend!
E

What a slow process

Wow - for people who have never decorated a space from scratch, let me tell you - it takes forever! The second home of my clients is coming along nicely... the tv is being moved over this fireplace today - but there is still tons of furniture and accessories to come. Also, the bedrooms and back house which is a super traditional space, have yet to be completed construction wise, so we just put in furniture where we can to make the space enjoyable for quick weekends. I really cannot wait for this final product. Hopefully only around six more months to go... I know it seems very stark with the white upholstery, but it is Sunbrella so easy to care for!
E

tv equipment piece, accessories and art to go here

still have leather/ebony french chairs coming

large velvet tufted ottoman going under piano

Shop til you drop

The last two weeks of my life have been a constant shopping blur. Between Christmas and trying to get things for my clients before the holidays, I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off!

I found this faux stingray leather, pearl gray channel tufted headboard that I wanted for myself but it is a king. Way too big for my room, but perfect for my French Quarter client's modern master bedroom...

And my other friend/client was inspired by the Pedro Friedeberg hand chairs in the Ashley Stark apartment from Elle Decor and asked me to get a price on one for her. Side note: when I lived in Mexico (where Pedro is from) in the late 90's, I worked at a store that sold these for 2k. No one wanted them then, and today when I called Craig Van den Brulle in New York for a price, I was told $30,000 NET! Shocker!

Also found these twin beds in the back of an antique store and they will be perfect painted in a french blue chalk paint for the back guest house of another client...score! Can't wait to see them painted...

Last but not least I picked up this suzani for myself. It is not the style that I am doing now, but when you see a steal that is big and gorgeous and cheap you just grab it, right??

Will store it away to one day make a headboard, or a chair, or a bench seat on a sofa, or pillows.... Happy shopping, friends!
E