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Clearly Modern

Posted in Designs From Merlin Drive, tagged Albany NY Window Treatments Roman Shades, Certa Pro Painters, Designs by Michele Schenectady NY, home decor, House Beautiful, housewares, IInterior decorating, Interior Decorating Service Albany NY, Interior Design Albany, Interior Design East Greenbush NY Home Decorating, Interior Design Saratoga Springs, Interior Design Service, Interior Design Service Albany NY, Interior Design Service Saratoga Springs NY, Michele Conti, NY, NY Interior Decorating, NY Sherwin Williams, Pottery Barn, Schenectady on September 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Transitional and modern decor has been so appealing to me because, this decor has the ability to generate a stunning energy that’s all its own. Transitional style can range from influences as varied as country, Asian, Cosmopolitan-formal, industrial and retro. My college Denise Maurer has influenced my attitude toward this style of decorating, this is her mantra, her designs are always clean and crisp, and pulling every look together is one overriding theme: the liberating quality of open airy spaces, allowing fresh style to be on full view.

A large round mirror suspended low like a rising sun, the use of pattern to conjour up a decadent design, grey tones turning fabrics into something sensuous. Without question these rooms are sleek and light filled, the feel is gloriously spacious.

The tall, strong lines of this Shaker inspired bed take on drama in dark expresso wood and the addition of the canopy rails brings balance to the bed and the room, The mirrored nightstand is a contemporary counterpoint to the Shaker-style bed bridging that transition. Framed by the bed, the swing arm sconces become a focal point in this room.

Delightfully sophisticated that’s the view, start to finish. This look speaks to anyone who takes pleasure in being enveloped in a tailored, formal glamour. The geometric mirrors mingling with transitional contemporary pieces make this space urbane, cosmopolitan, contemporary and exciting. Pairing formal and contemporary pieces is the start to this glamorous look, mirrors add glitz, the art deco inspired chairs mixing with the neoclassical curvaceous lines in the fireplace layer this room and put it simply, over the top.

This is definitely a different turn in design for me, but one I embrace whole heartedly. I have always immersed myself in eclectic furnishings and design, but I seem to be stream lining my own taste to a more casual but elegant style. Now if I can just find the time to transform my home to where my heart already resides, I will achieve my own goal of a stylishly elegant yet comfortable home.

As always stay tuned for more Adventures in Style Land!!

XOXO

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Exquisite Kitchens and Baths

Posted in Designs From Merlin Drive, Uncategorized, tagged Bath Design, candice olson, Chrystle Chandelier, Clive Christian, Designs by Michele Schenectady NY, french door refridgerator, home design, House Beautiful, housewares, Kitchen Design, Kohler, KraftMaid, lighting, Refridgerator, Showhouse, Traditional Home, Wall ovens, Wood Mode Kitchen Cabinets on August 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »

From the moment a designer first starts sketching a new space, she will give thought to the materials you would like to use, and make sure the design is the right fit for you and your home. But what designers really create is pure art and beauty to inspire your home! Recently, I decided to do some research and found some great pictures of Kitchens and Baths that take design to a new level, of course there are a few of my favorites thrown in as well hope you enjoy these:

Shaker style began a rise in popularity in 2009 and gained momentum in 2010. By the end of the year, Shaker has supplanted Contemporary as the second most popular style used by designers, while Traditional remains the most popular style. Cottage was the only other style to garner at least 20% of the market.  Dark natural finishes overtook medium natural, glazed, and white-painted finishes to become the most specified type of finish toward the end of 2010.

Chris Novak Berry Brooksberry and Associates

While medium natural cabinet finishes fell from being used, dark natural finishes rose from 42 to 51%. Light natural and colored painted finishes remained fairly common and distressed finishes dropped significantly.

Cabinetry options also changed recently, Wine with everything.  While the incorporation of wine refrigerators seems to be on the decline (below), unchilled wine storage is growing in popularity. Other types of cabinetry options are on the decline, including tall pantries, lazy Susans , and pull-out racks. Appliance garages also seem to be falling out of favor, as their use declined from the end of 2009 to 2012.

Four doors,  the French door refrigerator has strengthened its position as the type specified most often by designers. While freezer-top refrigerators were always used by designers, as 2010 drew to a close, freezer-bottom models began to gain popularity. Side by side refrigerators have made a good showing, still being used in many designs.

This Kitchen was created by my friend and colleague Denise Maurer of Denise Maurer Interiors, It was featured in June 2012 Country Living Magazine! Love the Soap Stone carved sink with whale motif! The owners are Bonnie and Bill Daggett’s this is their Massachusetts beach house. This is just a little excerpt from the article:

“My theme was ‘sun, sea, and sand,’ and I love painted furniture,” Bonnie says. She envisioned lobster-red Adirondack chairs, gray-blue night stands, and a melon-bright coffee table, but choosing the right shades proved difficult. The yellow she originally picked for the kitchen morphed into something “too ugly to describe,” says her friend and interior designer Denise Maurer, who recommended white wall tiles and Celadon cabinets instead. “The natural light in Chatham is different than in most places,” Bonnie explains, since the water shifts from gray to cerulean throughout the day. “Artists come here because of the way color is reflected and perceived.”Read more: Green Kitchen Cabinet – Colorful Beach House Decorating Ideas – Country Living .

Now for some of Clive Christian’s gorgeous kitchens, sumptuous baths from Candice Olsen and a few other favorites: