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Archive for the ‘Designs From Merlin Drive’ Category

I was at Denise Maurer Interiors on Wednesday and a colleague,  Besty Mattice was doing an interview on ceilings for a local paper. She came into the office where we were sitting and said “What is the color of the Year?”,  Denise says “Tangerine!” and I thought okay, lets talk about the color of the year Pantone says its called Tango Tangerine.

Exotic and Sultry Tango Tangerine is Color of the Year

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Jackie Jordan who is Sherwin Williams color expert always puts together a 2012 palette although her forecast seems to always be inspired by “Mother Earth” this is what she said this year about Reds “You were the first pigments we brushed on the cave wall, ground from the earth, an ancient hand print, a hunter’s arrow still chasing its target. You precede the words we’re left with to describe you: aboriginal, neolithic, blood and fire, danger and victory. You’re our past made suddenly present and the warm heat of the transformation: the V on a Masai warrior’s chest, the kiss left by a Hollywood starlet. We’ll never solve your eternal mystery: how the easiest pigment to make remains the hardest to forget, from the images our young eyes first imagined flickering in the firelight to the walls that now warm this room.” In her pallet of Reds, she lists a color named “Daredevil” sw 6882, this  spirited orangey Red is a high impact hue that would energize and add spice to any room.

This color manages to fuse happy-go-lucky warmth with sultry exoticism!( Pillow fabric, Trina Turk Santorini Persimmon $96.00 Per yd)

Dura Lee Fabric Walton Collection book # 2765
Pattern/Color: 20994-107, TERRACOTTA

I would like to say, this great color can quickly get out of control, I would tread lightly at first.  Start small, this color has a lot of energy, pair it with neutrals like grey’s and taupe’s, add in some great patterns!

I love this color in Fashion also,  this rich color goes on anything! Loved the OPI nail color as well as the lip colors that are out this year,  spring is a great time to pop some color into your wardrobe! A little inspiration for you….

Celebrity Fashion in this energetic bright!!

My Cousin Donna always says ” Accessorize, your outfit is never complete without it”

This group of accessories really shows all the options for this color, Love the chunky bracelet and earings!

This room was done by a client of mine and the shade is a flat roman I sold to her on Etsy!!

 

 

So there is our color choice for 2012, Pantone’s official color for 2012, “Tango Tangerine,” is a much brighter and more cheerful shade of orange than last year’s reigning “Honeysuckle,” but its coronation confirms that the vibrant hue—already a cosmetics mainstay—has been fully embraced throughout the worlds of fashion and design. Stimulating to the senses and considered to have an uplifting effect, tangerine is also highly valued for its invigorating scent. And in terms of color cosmetics, it is more flattering on a larger variety of skin-tones and also serves as a great transitional shade from the vibrant reds or pinks that have been so popular recently.

 

As always stay tuned…..

 

XOXO

M

 

 

 

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Spring and summer are great times to do outdoor entertaining, some of our best memories have happened right in our own back yard. I absolutely adore outdoor rooms—-and I do mean rooms—-rugs, lamps, accessories, plenty of magazines–the works. Of course, it helps if you have a roof or awning over the area. We don’t have a covered deck at our house in New York, so when we are having friends over, I place the lamps, flowers and accessories out that day and bring them in the next, I also have a EZ UP canopy that covers the upper level of my deck so if the weather looks suspect we have a place to gather despite some droplets of rain. Look at some of these exquisite outdoor spaces….

Summer living!!!

This is a great space to enjoy your morning coffee, read the paper or gather with your family and friends! The space is tied together with a great rug!! I think spaces that don’t have rugs somehow feel incomplete. Rugs seem to ground the space and give it cohesiveness. This collection of accessories makes me want to curl up in this picture! What a cozy ensemble!

                                                                                                                         The animal print rug is an eye catching addition to this space, it brings this all together!

Accessories, pillows in pops of green make this sitting area warm and inviting.

Pops of Pink are so inviting in this roof top outdoor room.

With all the bright colors it really pulls this space together.

Great Times with Family and Friends, at my home!

This was my deck, on the 4th of July, with my friends and family these are the best times of our lives!!! Enjoy the outdoors, create a space on your deck or veranda this year that will bring you outside whenever you have a moment!

 

As Always stay tuned……..

 

M

 

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Loving this post, this is so true, being married for so many years I wanted to share this thought, this is how life unfolds itself when you find your partner in life. It made me reflect on the things that we do together (my husband and I), please enjoy!!!

SHE’S THE ZIG TO HIS ZAG

When i went across this article, my yearning for this kind of love and commitment intensified..It further nurtured my optimism that what i desire really exists. “Needle in the haystack” nga lang, but i know it will be worth it.

“What My Parents Taught Me About Love” [Marnell Jameson]
Mom’s in the hospital. Nothing huge in the scheme of mortality, just a knee replacement. She’s 78, same age as Dad, and the joint has just plumb worn out. But our small family frets. Out matriarch is down, and we worry about the small odds that something might go seriously wrong, which some day will happen, but we hope not just now.
After the folks in blue wheeled her into surgery, Dad and I headed to the hospital lobby. “How are you doing?” I asked him, trying to jump-start a conversation. “Lousy”, he said. “The union’s at stake.” I knew we weren’t talking about the Civil War. “We have a routine,” he continued. “I slice the banana. She pours the cereal. I gather the laundry, but she runs the washing machine. I don’t know what kind of soap to put in.”
All this time I’d been worried about Mom, but at that moment I realized Dad was in the hospital, too. The laundry soap was just the beginning. He was alluding to their daily dance, finely tuned after 53 years of marriage. She makes the plans. He drives. She cooks. He gardens. He turns the bed down. She makes it up. He starts the coffee. If the roles were reversed, she’d feel the same desperate way. What happened to their independence?
I imagine it was a slow surrender. As in most marriages, couples either wear each other out or break each other in. It happens by degrees. You have to give to gain. Intimacy requires dependency, which requires vulnerability. It’s a package deal. And the deeper the love, the greater the risk. I’m glad my parents and their marriage have endured so I could see how scary and beautiful this is.
He continued talking, then drifted off, lost, not in confusion but in terror. He’d brought himself to the brink of his fear and caught a glimpse of how much he needs her. He vacuums. She dusts. She’s the zig to his zag.
When we’re young, we often look at our parent’s relationship and think: Ugh, how dull. We naively compare it to adolescent love, with its erratic pitches of hope, headiness and heartbreak. As a teen, the feelings seemed very real to me in a way that my parents’ love didn’t. I confused intensity with genuineness. Genuineness takes time.
Mature love picks up where romantic love leaves off, and while very different, it’s also in many ways better. Yes, the sun sets, taking its flames, but the moon, more magical, rises. Romantic love delights in novelty, while mature love revels in consistency. Dad knew the two things Mom would most want when she woke up from surgery were her glasses and lipstick, so he had them there for her.
Mature love is the payoff for investing in romantic love-which we all know doesn’t always pay-and for doing the work of mature love, the giving to gain. My parents are no longer beautiful, though they are in their day. But they’re clearly beautiful to each other.
“I miss her,” Dad tells me a couple days after her surgery. Though he sees her every day, I know he means he misses her beside him in the bed they’ve shared for half a century. He misses their routine, the zig to his zag. And I know, after she has recovered, after he’s once again slicing the bananas while she pours the cereal, that as a result of all this, they will have moved closer yet one more degree.
I will close here, this time I will heed my own advice and stay tuned to our story, our love story…….

XOXO

M

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Bright colors or mellow hues, color is the key to kick spring into gear!! From rooms in your home to pieces of furniture you want add as an accent, color goes a long way. This is a before and after of my 2010  show house  room.

This is a sad old buffet that my brother-in-law brought to me and said “Wow” isn’t this just great? I was a bit unsure but once it was finished I thought “Wow” this is a great little piece!!!

I primed and painted it blue, sprayed the hardware white and Wella!! My niece Stefanie, is expecting and will use this as her baby’s dresser, we will make a top section for a changing pad and this will be repurposed into a nursery piece, transformed with color!!

A little bit of imagination and elbow grease goes a long way, here is another way to transform a piece of furniture with color.

I recently visited a client who had a corner cabinet. I loved it but it looked a little dated. I immediately thought a quick coat of paint and wrapping paper in the back. This is a great example! What a great background for this cabinet.

One more shot of the same cabinet with a blue quatre foil paper!! Such a different look. What ideas do you have? The possibilities are endless, you can use paint, paper or fabric. Just a little imagination and you too can transform your home for spring!

As Always stay tuned for more color ideas for spring!!

XOXO

M

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So I’m officially a Certapro blog Junkie, and my friend Ed Mattingly has joined the team as their faux expert. I met Ed a few years back when I did some work for Sherwin Williams. He’s such a great guy and extremely knowledgeable when it comes to decorative finishes and Sherwin Williams Faux products. I enjoyed attending a workshop Ed hosted, he was introducing the new Faux  line of Products from Sherwin Williams. We really had fun working with some of the newer products especially the smooth metallic and venitian plaster!! So easy to apply and great results!

This post was  written  for me, I  love to relate colors to food (who would guess this little italian girl would do that!).  This take on color from our Certapro blog inspired me, so here we go… which is your favorite group?? I’m loving the Berry Rich!

XOXO

M

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Design legend Elsie de Wolfe

Elsie de Wolf was an american actress and interior decorator, in 1913 she wrote an influential book “The House in Good Taste”according to some the interior design profession was invented by Elsie de Wolfe. Among her clients were, Anne Vanderbilt, Anne Morgan, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor to name few. Though dead for half a century, Elsie de Wolfe remains an  icon to this day, revered as America’s first decorator. The key elements of her  style are as fresh as ever, and the aura of celebrity she brought to her  profession has been passed on from one to another of her successors.

Read more: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architects/legends/archive/dewolfe_article_012000

Bunny Williams

This is dedicated to the Great Ladies of decorating. Two years ago I had the great privilege of hearing Bunny Williams speak at the D&D building in New York City. It was Market Week, October 6, 2010. My friend Mary Korzinski (another incredible Design Diva) and I took the ride down to spend a couple of days scoping out what was new on the design scene. Up on the fifteenth floor in the Vaughn Lighting hear Bunny . Her book Bunny’s Scrapbook for Living was on sale and being signed.

We enjoyed the event, I have always admired her, she truly is one of the current pioneers of the Interior Design world.

Dorothy Draper

A quote from the late Dorothy Draper “It is just as disastrous to have the wrong accessories in your room as it is to wear sport shoes with an evening dress.” her designs were filled with upper crust refinement. She was truly and iconic designer.

Dorothy Draper was to decorating,” says interior designer Carleton Varney, “what  Chanel was to fashion. The woman was a genius; there’d be no professional  decorating business without her.
Read more: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architects/legends/archive/draper_article_052006#ixzz1pepInrvZ

Eleanor Brown

Design legend Eleanor Brown, the founder of McMillen Inc.

Eleanor's Oval Dining Room

The famed New York design firm that was established in 1924 and is still in business today. Brown achieved recognition by designing the most prestigious homes in the country. She operated out of her townhouse at 148 East 55th Street in New York City, selling 18th century furniture sent to her from Europe by William Odom, who was then the head of the Paris Atelier of the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts.

Forever in Vogue is the neoclassical oval diningroom that brightens Eleanor’s Manhattan apartment.

I would like to just mention a few other pioneers that have made our industry what it is today, Ruby Ross Wood (Atlanta’s Swan House), Madeleine Castaing, Sister Parish, Rose Cumming, Marian Hall and Nancy Lancaster. I know, I know there are so many others worth mentioning!!!
I am so grateful to all these great women who have inspired the interior design world and given me an insider’s  perspective. As we continue to navigate thru these economic dog days, relaxing moments for me are created in the interiors of homes we continue to create!! As always stay tuned……
XOXO
M

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Hey friends, just a quick post to tell you how impressed I am with the talented people who share their passion for Lighting design with the world around them. I have always loved the way it creates our surroundings, lighting is an intricate part of design.

Illumination is the ephemeral partner of architecture. Light is invisible until it strikes an object or surface. And it is controlling this difficult, transitory medium that gives the lighting “artist” the ability to create hierarchies, dynamics and mood. Lighting design has become a creative extension of architectural design, improving visibility and complementing form, program and color.

Niskayuna New York, which is where I live has GE Research and Development and RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)  close by, they are two of the leading Lighting research and development centers in the World!

Cylinder shades are still the rage this year and metallic finishes, mercury glass, brushed nickel, acrylic and glass are so prevalent, here are some of my favorites.

Linda Allen Design

 

Linda Allen sees an electric future for wireless lighting. A future where stylish, battery-powered lamps can be moved wherever they’re needed, whether from room to room or out of doors. A future where practical, solar-powered lamps bring artificial light to parts of the globe where it’s never been available before.

 

 

Here is another design from Linda, this room not only had great lighting but superb design, the use of color and pattern in this room shows how talented this designer is.

 

One last lovely lighting design that I wanted to share with you, the exterior of this building is so beautiful, I know that this will enlighten you as to the importance of lighting in your design.

 

As always stay tuned…

XOXO

 

M

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Spring is the perfect time to give your home a fresh look. From serene shades to vivid hues, I have 5 color schemes you’ll want to try this season. Turquoise and tomato red according to some design experts are new hues for this season. I know turquoise??? red????? haven’t these colors been popular for a while?? Well, yes but it is definitely the HUE, that so subtle difference in color that creates new trends, and also the way we pair colors together that creates news. Here is a great example of the new pair that was a color faux pas in the past, pink and red.

Red and Pink spring color pallette

Pink and Red???

Don’t shy away from color this season. Designer Erinn Valencich pairs classic red with hot pink for a bold bedroom design. By using gold and cream in the bedding and wallpaper, she keeps the vibrant shades from overpowering the space.

Clean and Crisp!

Spring hues are ideal for a girl’s bedroom. Using a polka-dot pillow as inspiration, this designer uses a focal wall to set off the room.

Damask fabric in apple green complements the vivid pink wall, while a white headboard and bedding give the space a crisp, fresh look.  I just love Damask, its one of my favorite patterns.

Having two girls of my own, pink is a color that has adorned their rooms for many years, it is always in style for girls, from nursery to teens and beyond.

Bright colors

One of the most appealing shades of spring is the deep blue found in this bedspread. It’s combined with other favorite hues, like tomato red, turquoise and apple green, to create an energetic and bright design.

The mix of patterns here is just exquisite, when pairing patterns small and bold always work with a linear stripe. The pop of white in this headboard again keeps that crisp sharp feeling in the room.

Blue and Yellow

The classic blue and yellow combo is always a favorite. While white is often paired with this palette to keep it light and airy, black accents to create a richer, more sophisticated atmosphere.

Serene Green

Pairing together a calming relaxing green with neutrals are a safer choice and using deeper hues of the same shades as accents, create a great space and inviting atmosphere.

Yellow and Grey

This trend is so popular I have added two pictures for you!! Loving the fresh bright sunshiny yellow paired with the subtle grey!!

Neutrals continue to flourish, as companions for brighter hues or as standalone, monochromatic color schemes.

Which neutral might just surpass brown as the favorite? Gray. And it covers a wide range of hues, which span soft gray to charcoal to hematite, and gain interest from metallic and pearlescent accents.

Green continues to gain strength from its association with the growing shift toward eco-consciousness. It will show up in everything from fabrics to accessories to countertops.

I hope you have enjoyed my forecast on whats new and upcoming in color!! As always stay tuned…..

XOXO

M

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From the moment I started working on a design for my home I knew that this was something I was passionate about. I enjoyed exploring ideas, letting my imagination take over, no limits to what I could create in my mind. Of course my husband (who has been in construction for 30 years) is a great source of information for me. He always listens to my ideas and with his background in engineering and construction helps me bring my ideas to life!

I could only imagine…. That is how every design has started for me. My husband and I are soul mates, we dreamed of the home where we wanted to grow our family and somehow we were able to bring it from our mind to fruition. This was by far my biggest accomplishment in design, both my husband and I still sit every day in awe of what we have created.

Recently I have been working with Ted and Terri Gargano. They are a young couple who own a franchise called Certa Pro Painters, I was pleased when they asked me to come aboard as their interior design consultant. I have worked with them in the past and I appreciated their offer to use my talents to grow both Certapro Painters and my own deisign business. I love Envision Magazine, a publication that Certapro Painters puts out to inspire you, and also their blog, here is one of my favorite entries:

Colors for Fashionistas

Whether your home is a castle or condo, you can raise your status with these high society paint colors. Pamper yourself in decadent colors like Exclusive Plum or Gala Pink. Indulge in hues of Daring, or treat yourself to Champagne and Caviar- paint colors that is. What better way to live the dream than surrounding yourself with the colors of success.

CertaPro Painters is your home painting expert

We are professional painting contractors with an outstanding customer satisfaction and referral rating. That means our future is on display every day — in how we paint every type of house and building: interior, exterior, residential, commercial, office, and condominium.

Call 1-800-689-7271 for a FREE in-home house painting estimate.

I am so very excited to be associated with this great company!! We are now offering decorating services, from color consultations to room planning, we offer window treatments and all your design needs. Call if you would like to have us help with your project. Our office number locally in Albany is (518) 631-4116 or you can reach us at (518) 852-4185. Call today for an appointment!!

As always stay tuned…..

XOXO

M

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What an exciting time!!! My beautiful daughter Giovanna is going to PROM!!! This is a right of passage, maybe one of the few times in life you truly feel like a princess!!  Today, we don’t wear gowns for many occasions other than our own wedding. This is one of the only other times as a young woman you get to walk out and feel utterly beautiful!!! Isn’t she Amazing, I know whatever she does in her life she will be amazing at it.

We found the perfect gown….(after trying on 100 or so),  we spent a family day and all went to Massachusetts. We decided before we left the house to see what shops were on our way and that we would start to look for a dress. This was a great idea!! We stopped at a place called Special Day at Deirdre’s. My husband was so patient I was impressed, he sat for close to 2 hours (thank the Lord for his blackberry and emails that needed to be answered), I was so please with the service and selection at Deirdre’s. The owner Deirdre herself and another women were so helpful, I am so thankful for both of them. This is the gown we are ordering, Giovanna chose blue. It also came in hot pink and orchid. This really looked so wonderful on her, we ordered it this week.  Here is a look at the back of the gown:

 Well many more pictures to come on the day of the prom. I can’t wait, what a wonderful and enchanting time in her life. I am so proud of my daughter and the woman she has become. I was so happy to spend some quality time with my teenage daughter. We went out one other day after our family ride to MA, just locally to Saratoga but we made it to three other stores: Danielle’s, Rockabella and The Shoppe. We had a great day, this was a girls day, we took my niece Adrianna with us and had so much fun. Adrianna tried some dresses on too. We shopped all day and went out to dinner together. I loved it, just seeing her in all those beautiful gowns, I was so taken with how beautiful she has become.

Well as always stay tuned for more on this great event coming up!!!

XOXO

M

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