Beach Cottage Re-Design

Recently a friend came to me for design advice... She desperately wanted to either sell her house or fix it up so that she would fall back in love with the house she purchased years ago. Her taste is very fun and eclectic, which is why we based the design around an old restaurant sign. Here are the before and after renderings...

I decided to paint the wood planks to lighten up the space, but maintain the original character. Isn't it amazing how different the space looks with a coat (or three) of paint!!
The new furniture is an eclectic mixture of styles, materials, and finishes and is arranged in a way that enhances the openness of the space. I added a lot of built-ins for storage and additional cabinetry in the kitchen. The kitchen layout was re-worked to maximize the functionality of the space.

Liberty Fabrics

While blog hunting today, I came across this European company with vintage inspired fabrics. Check it.

http://www.liberty.co.uk/fcp/departmenthome/dept/fabrics?resetFilters=true

Yacht Interior Design

As most of you probably already know, my full time job is with a naval architecture and marine engineering firm, where I provide interior design services for yachts. Before working here, I had never even been inside of a YACHT (small boat, yes...yacht, no) and had NO clue how different they were to design than architecture. My first day of work, people were using words that literally sounded like another language.... sheer, chine, keel, leeward, windward, amidships, athwartships...blablabla. Anywho, after a long lesson on boat vocab and a few courses on Marine Interior Design, I began to feel more comfortable with my career choice. (and with all of my newfound boat knowledge, I am now able to impress the deckhands at the marina ;)

The owners of these super expensive vessels opt for the most luxurious and over-the-top designs, most of which end up being huge engineering and architectural feats because of all of the restrictions and challenges of working on a moving space. Here are some of my favorite yacht interiors!

LOVE this head (yes, on a boat, its the head). The tiles look like scales, the space looks clean and exciting.

This definitely reminds me of a residential bathroom. Very architectural and clean looking.

Playful and casual...

City chic, sophisticated loft...

Cool, clean-lined modern simplicity...

Classic, warm, and inviting...

You likey?

Wedding Tablescapes

This past weekend, I spent hours of my life perusing Style Me Pretty, a wedding and event design blog. This blog compiles some of the best images compiled by photographers and wedding planners all over the world. The following pictures are some of my favorite table scape designs. I am 100% confident that I would LOVE to moonlight as a wedding planner, and will hopefully get that second opportunity (after my own wedding) very soon because SO many of my friends are getting married!!

Starting off with my absolute favorite...a chic table design perfect for a sophisticated city wedding. The chair skirts are flirty and add a sense of softness to a space that balances out the concrete floors. The hanging candleholders and chandelier add dimension without creating a distraction from the overall clean design of the table.

This one comes in at a very close second. It reminds me of the book and movie 'Secret Garden.' This earthy and mysterious design is another example of keeping the decor monochromatic so that the venue, people, and surroundings are what really stand out.

Again, monochromatic...but this time the use of candles adds drama and movement, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.




At this point you probably think that I hate color....


Branches are an awesome natural element to include because their individual complexities are visually stimulating. The branches on this centerpiece were spray painted white to achieve a softer look and as a result, the small pops of color from the flowers stands out.

Ahhhhh....color. Regal purple and it's contrasting partner on the color wheel, green. This is a very popular color combination that is enhanced by using the peacock feather as inspiration. The feathers bring in additional colors, such as gold, brown, and blue, that are great as accents with the green and purple scheme.

This tablescape screams February to me....could it be the colors that remind me of Valentine's day?!

I love the mixture of all different berry colors...it creates an overall feeling that resists being "matchy-matchy." The lace tablecloth, plate design, and retro style candlesticks scream vintage charm and the names written on apples is an adorable idea for a place setting.

This color scheme is the same as the previous image, and it even uses candles with vintage style candleholders....however, this design is a lot cleaner and modern feeling.

Green is a very popular spring and summer color for weddings. The use of flowering branches is playful and adds dimension to the space. The grass accents are also very modern and add a great pop of color to the tabletop.

This final image reminds me of a California Vineyard....and makes me thirsty.

The natural green and sky blue color in combination with a sandy floor surface creates a soothing and relaxing atmosphere, perfect for any party!!

For more information on wedding design services, please contact me via materialgirldesign@gmail.com

Heavenly Headboard Ideas

I'm starting this post off completely contradicting the title... honestly though, who needs a headboard when your bedframe is this delicious!!! This is the Louis Four Poster bed by John Reeves for Heals, and yes, I would like you to spend $2,400 and buy it for me. Thanks :)

A great do-it-yourself idea: cover unfinished wood (MDF, OSB, whatever...) with complimentary fabrics from your local fabric store, wrap it around the wood, and staple it to the back. If you want the tufted look, stuff it evenly around the front before stapling.

This amazing antique look was created by layering different objects that were all finished with the same technique. You can find the mantle and old mirrors at antique stores or flea markets and the shells are FREEEEE from your local beach ;)

As you all know, i'm kind of a smart-ass. This "headboard" idea is a sassy way of designing as expected in a bedroom.

Putting something sculptural on the wall behind the bed anchors the bed to the wall visually. It goes to show that you don't need a traditional headboard to get the headboard feeling.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this headboard. The wood has the natural feel of something that has been sitting on the ocean floor for years, adds a great deal of drama to the room, creates amazing shadows, and acts as a partition between two areas of the room. What more could you ask for?

Finally, hanging artwork behind the bed is another option to create a headboard. I chose this image because they used the same color as the wall, creating shadows and adding depth to the wall.

Until next time...

Invitation Indecision

I LOVE graphic design so much that I often go overboard and create too many options. Case in point: my wedding invitations. After narrowing down the options to my favorite two, I am leaving it up to you guys to help me decide! Leave your vote in the comments section or on the facebook page...

Option 1

Option 2