Thank you

Pretty much without exception, a design resource I use and well as recommend to my all my clients is the website houzz.com.  Helping the client visualize a concept, a color scheme, a lighting affect, you name it, helps move the project forward with confidence and comfort.  Additionally, in reverse,  clients can use Houzz.com as a tool to demonstrate their likes and vision.   Pictures really are a thousand words when it comes to expressing what is in our mind's eye.

Yesterday Houzz announced their 2017 designer award recipients; Carlisle Design has been selected  "Best of 2017 - Customer Service"!

“We’re so pleased to award Best of Houzz 2017 to this incredible group of talented and customer-focused professionals, including Carlisle Design,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “Each of these businesses was singled out for recognition by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for helping to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”

This award means so much as  I strongly believe that customer service and communication go hand in hand with the design itself to ensure the overall experience is successful.

Thank you to everyone who works with me!  There is not one project, big or small, where I don't rely on the expertise and experience of the professionals that I utilize to complete a project.  I am thankful for their craftsmanship, communication and dedication.  Without my contractors, workrooms and  suppliers my ideas would never come to life! 

Additionally, without question I want to thank my clients as well.  I appreciate your trust in Carlisle Design and your willingness to walk through the design journey together.  I always see it as a partnership as that unquestionably produces the best end result. 

I am very fortunate to work, doing what I enjoy, but it is the professionals along side me as well as my clients that make the difference!  Thank you to all!

Light is Beauty: Artificial vs Natural Lighting

 "There is one fundamental fact about lighting: Where there is no light, there is no beauty."

-Billy Baldwin, Ruby Ross Wood

Often the perfect chandelier or pendant comes to mind when lighting comes into the discussion of your home. This nightstand light (Image 1) adds personality and functionality to your bedtime routine and these cool rod iron bulbs (Image 2)add lots of style to your room. However, don’t forget that natural lighting can often create more beauty than any cool light fixture. Due to large windows, this kitchen (Image 3) is perfectly lit without a single turned on, and this window seat (Image 4) is the perfect cozy cove complimented by lots of sun light shining through the adjacent window.

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

Image 4

The Power of Color

As the leaves change color, a sense of warmth envelopes me as I think of warm soups, the smell of apple pie and fires in the fireplace while watching a Sunday afternoon football game.  What emotions do the colors of Fall bring to you?  With what colors do you like to surround yourself and do you know why?

The Bar Stool

When completing your bar area or kitchen, don't forget that your selection of a bar stool makes a big difference in terms of both design and comfort.  We all picture people relaxing, having great conversations at our kitchen islands so why not take the time to select a bar stool that invites the guest to sit down with eye catching design as well as begs him to stay with its relaxing quality.  The choices are endless!

Organization

I have walked through the spaces of a new commercial redesign job a number of times now and have consistently drawn the same conclusion.  Creative, exciting and well thought out design is wonderful, but if the space is in need of purging, organization and streamlining, the new design elements lose their impact.  As much as we are inclined to move forward, it can be equally important to take a step or two back in order to achieve the best possible end product.  Sometimes this organizing step can be either too personal or so dauntingly large that it can be quite beneficial to hire a professional organizer.  Truthfully, this type of service can actually save you money in the end as the design is not working around items that just don't need to be there or be there is such abundance.  Today I met with Karen from Details by Karen to review just such a project.  Her experience and ideas will surely play an important role in this design project.  Our conversation reinforced my belief that both minimizing and purposeful placement of household items, office items, etc. can dramatically affect the long term enjoyment of a space. Organization and design truly go hand in hand!

It is hard to believe that it has been since April that I last wrote, but I guess with summer, work, kids and travel I shouldn't be so surprised.  Inspiration returned when I saw this project board that one of my daughters created for a geometry class assignment.  The students were asked to show how geometry is part of our every day world.  Interior design is the connection my daughter made with the above board as her proof.  In past years I have spoken to students for career days, emphasizing how math plays such a large role in what I do every day.  Obviously it includes addition, subtraction and multiplication, but geometry is really a core part of interior design as it is used not just in the space planning but in the visual appeal of a room.  The balance of angles and curves is what gives a room a sense of structure and movement.  Geometry is absolutely an essential part of the overall success of a room design.  My daughter's project is a clear example of how many aspects of design go into the large picture of a room and most cerainly the design of the individual pieces themselves.  It was exciting for me to think my career inspired her to complete this school assignment but the bigger truth is that once again my kids have inspired me.