It's hot out there, and so are the outdoor fabric options!

I just got back from the pool, again... As that seems to be the routine this summer, especially because it's been such a scorcher...  I'm so glad though that in the world of interiors, the fabric manufacturers finally figured out that outdoor/all weather fabric should look just as fabulous as it's interior counterparts.  I remember just a few years ago, there were no options, and everything out there was a solid or stripe on fabric that wasn't rough, but wasn't too many steps above a canvas drop cloth.

There are two manufacturers out there that have got the such a great eye for bringing color, pattern and texture outside.  Here are just a few of the amazing fabrics presented by Missoni Home... Just so vibrant and happy, as things should be while you're lounging those warm summer days away...

Next on my list of favorites is Trina Turk Outdoor for Schumacher... So gorgeous with it's colorways and patterns.  I love the sophistication of the graphics.

So the next time you're in the market for outdoor furniture, just remember the cushions absolutely do not need to be bland...  Go bold, go graphic and make your outdoor space HAPPY!!!

Episode 3, Christina Scano's house

Hey there!...  So what are we all thinking of Design Star so far?!...  I'm still there, so that's obviously a good thing.  Episode 3 just aired, so let's recap a bit...

This was our first challenge for a real homeowner, which is obviously the most gratifying, but also pretty damn stressful, knowing already how the game is played, the constraints with time and budget, and needing to produce a phenomenal project for our client...

Meg and I again paired up because of circumstances, which worked out delightfully...  Going another round with Meg was actually much easier than the first challenge.  By this time we had a better sense of how things are done, and how much time should be spent with certain things.  Our personalities did mesh quite well, as we both have definite opinions, but both are willing to take chances and listen to each other as partners, so I was very happy to be working with her again, as opposed to the chaos going on in the adjacent room where Bret, Karl and Cathy were... Yikes!

The lovely Christina Scano wanted a space to entertain her multiple family members while having a BBQ whether it be rain or shine, so Meg and I can up with the idea of making it very beachy, Hamptons-y, Cape Cod-y... You know.  It worked out so perfectly with the division of the room and responsibilities for each of us to take on.

The editing again of a television show is so funny since there were so many elements not mentioned about our room which is puzzling to me.  For instance there was a table that I had refinished that belonged to Christina that the judges LOVED, but not a mention of it.  If I'm not mistaken they loved that more than my wall, but the wall is what got the air time. Oh well, I'm not questioning it, I'm just glad that Christina's reaction to our space was so overwhelmingly positive, that's all Meg and I set out to do...

In terms of the critiques I received from the judging panel, the only thing I can say is, "I agree".  Our space was very pretty and showroom like, which is one of the happy comments Christina actually gave when she walked in, beaming that she was going to show it off to her family.  I know there weren't any personal touches in there, as Meg and I had no personal touches to interject in the space.  Unlike the Callegaris's house, there were no personal trinkets, items or photos anywhere in our space, and we weren't about to go rifling through her drawers upstairs to find things.  The personalization is an easy thing that Christina could do by adding some photos in the frames we purchased, and adding her favorite scented candles or something simple.  Not a big deal...

 

I'm very satisfied, Meg and I had a game plan and stuck to it producing one of the best before and after rooms for this challenge, and again, most importantly, the client was thrilled!!! 

(All photos from HGTV.com)

The Reality of "Reality" TV

Okay folks, so we've now had two episodes of Design Star air and there's so many questions that I get hit with the very next day or even the very moment something is being shown...  There's a lot of craziness that goes on in front of and behind the camera, so here's a couple of things to ponder...

First I got immediately following our first camera challenge a half dozen texts saying, "Why'd they cut you?"  To that I have to say, "I don't know..."  There are 12 finalists, we each did a 30 second challenge, that alone would've been 6 minutes of uniterupted, run on challenge.  That's a lot to take in, a lot of air time, and probably fairly boring after the first 2 minutes.  I don't know why, but I just wasn't shown...

Next popular topic of discussion was about the second episode, The White Box Challenge!  Yay, a good one right?  Well I do have to say first of all that Mark was a deserving winner of that challenge.  I had no idea how my room would be taken, so it was a total gamble on my part to take it to that level, but I'm glad I did.  Everyone has been wondering how I ever came up with the idea, and to be completely honest I don't really remember!  That sounds like a total cop out, but I don't.  I would venture to say that I think it was actually in the van going to the restaurant supply store.  We were all given maps of the store since it was a gigantic warehouse setting and I think I saw the H2O aisle labeled and thought I could fashion something out of the bottles, playing off the fact that structurally they are pretty rigid, but also that they are transparent and the light can pass through...  What never got on air is all the other stuff I purchased.  I did get a hell of a lot of water, but I also stocked up on pizza peels, stainless bowls, metal grilles, and a ton of other stuff.  I even bought food coloring thinking I'd dye the water in the bottles.  But in the end, I edited what I felt I could do in the time given and what I felt would have the strongest impact... Successful though, I think... :)

I think the biggest question everyone has is how "real" is it all?... It's ALL real and ALL surreal at the same time.  We honestly worked our butts off... All the finalists were hustling like I don't think we've ever hustled before.  Our biggest priority amongst all of us was to just make sure that our voices were heard as desigers and we put our best efforts and work forward.  What's not real though is waking up at 4:30am to be camera ready in a van at 6:00am nearly everyday.  Doing my hair and makeup became routine, along with immediately getting a mic put on, but it was still me... I was not a character of myself and I don't think any of my fellow designers were.

In watching the episodes it's strange to see myself on the screen because it's such a strange out of body experience.  I know it's me, I know I lived it, but it's still me watching myself, where I was once living, breathing and doing, I can now experience myself working through these challenges from a new perspective... Make sense?  If it does to you that's awesome, because I'm honestly still trying to figure it all out...  Editing was always the biggest worry that I had about the show, but one of the producers said you'd be surprised at how you really will come across as you.  I see that in watching the shows.  Everyone of the designers is really basically who they were in real life, and I'm liking that, and I'm liking myself... Thankfully...

Let's see what next week's episode does to me though!!!... Hehehe :)

I hope you're all watching and voting for your Fan Favorite!

Love and thanks to all the support and kind words from everyone!

(All photos from HGTV.com)

Supporting artists, supports everyone!...

Happy Fourth everyone!  I hope everyone is enjoying a cold beer and a juicy burger right about now...  I just wanted to show off show interesting hand painted pillows I just learned about from an email I received.  I think they're lovely, and just wanted to show some support for this artist.  She reached out to me showing off her work, and I'd love nothing more than to support the creative community...

 

Wonderful execution and colors, not to mention each one is individually signed, which I think is a great way to pop a room with a custom piece of art, that is also useful!  Check out Josie Pinkcombe's website... Don't you just LOVE her name too!