Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Before and After - Adamsleigh Manor and a Winner of the Barr-Co Products!!!!!

 

Remember the gentleman's dressing room Traci Zeller and I
 designed for the "Adamsleigh"  Traditional Home Showhouse. 


 I was reorganizing my photos and found the before shots we took

of the room and thought it would be fun to share. 

We all love a good before and after don't we?  HGTV has spoiled the consumer into thinking that those transformations happen magically which simply isn't true.   This room is a result of detailed planning, great craftsmanship, beautiful products and complete supervision by a couple of designers who take pride in keeping tight timelines so that
things go as smoothly as possible. 

Click here to continue on to see the before and afters...

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Denise McGaha "What's In Your Bag" ????



Today's guest on "What's in Your Bag" is my friend
 and fellow interior designer, Denise McGaha. 
 You may recognize Denise as the
 Currey & Co Ambassador.  Denise is known as the 
"Design on a Deadline" girl! Her thriving design firm is
 based in Dallas, Texas.  She is a girl on the go!

Let's go see what's
in Denise's travel bag and where
 she is off to these days!   

1.    Where are You off to Travel? 
I am so excited to be traveling to Spain in September with Cosentino





I am heading to Madrid and Barcelona with five other Silestone Trendspotters from across the US and Canada as we work on the new countertop designs for 2016 for Silestone.  These great design minds will all be adding our market trends to the design teams samples of new countertops and we can’t wait to show the world what great designs we have come up with to inspire the Cosentino Design Team.

2.    Do you have a favorite bag?



I bought this great Givenchy bag at Bergdorf Goodman on a trip to NY last year.  I was shopping with my BFF and it was an impulse purchase.  It was the last one left and everyone always asks about it.  I love that it is basic black, large enough to hold my laptop and many other things for travel, and also looks really great with a suit or jeans.

3.  What are the necessities in your bag? 
Red lipstick, iphone 6 Plus (for the camera), Trident cinnamon gum, chargers, lavender hand sanitizer and flats.

    4.  Clothes to wear?
I love jeans or black pants with a v-neck tee and a long cardigan or jacket.  I am becoming more and more a creature of habit and have found I have 8 pairs of white jeans that are my uniform for summer.  I have traded in my high heels for low-heeled boots and flats as well, so an ankle length jean is my go to.  When I heard skinny jeans were out, I ignored that fashion edict and you will be seeing narrow pant legs on this girl for a while.  I also love leather riding pants tucked into riding boots and a long jacket or cardigan.  You may see a fringed jacket in the mix for Fall but I am really working hard to have a uniform that makes packing and getting dressed each day on my travels so much easier.  My ultimate goal is to travel with a carry-on only and not check any bags.  I’m not there yet……

 5.  Favorite shoes for walking?

I love a short flat-heeled boot like this Valentino and also Sam Edelman flats.  They mold to my feet and I can pack at least 6 pairs without taking up hardly any precious suitcase space. 

6.  Do you like to wear a hat?  If so, what brand? 

I am Fedora gal and I really like the ones offered by Rag and Bone.  My favorite one for Fall is this one! 

7.  Favorite shops?

I would love to tell you that I have so much time to shop on my travels, but most of the time I am working.  When in Dallas though I love Forty Five Ten (www.fortyfiveten.com) and Neiman Marcus .   I was a buyer for Neiman’s in my twenties, I am still very loyal to their stores and their brand.  I buy most of my shoes there (I'm a huge Stuart Weitzman and YSL fan) and order almost everything online since I know how all of my favorite brands fit.  I often shop for major purchases mainland and pick up accessories and shoes while traveling.

8.    Favorite place to stay?

I have never been to Spain and since our trip is orchestrated by Cosentino, I’m not quite sure yet where we will be staying.  However, I look forward to enjoying the hotel restaurants and bars of Madrid and Barcelona and I hear the views from the Mandarin Oriental in Barcelona are the best.


9. Favorite restaurant for dinner?

I am dying to try out one of the rooftop restaurants while in Barcelona to enjoy a meal with friends and views of the city.  Some of my plans also inclue visiting Hotel Duquesa De Cardona.  

 10.  Favorite street side lunch spot?  

I plan to enjoy the tasty tapas and gastro bars in Madrid and haveSergiArola http://www.sergiarola.es/on my list of places to make reservations.  I'll report back once I visit and let you know what I loved on my blog so make sure you check out my blog in September after my trip!  

11.      Favorite drink   

My Favorite drink is a  Caipirinha

12.      Favorite off the beaten path spot? 

 I can’t wait to shop the markets and plan to bring home canned meats and local delicacies I can’t find in Texas.  I'm really great at finding the hidden gems in every city.  I do my homework and travel fully prepared to find the hot spots only the locals know about.

13.      Favorite souvenirs to bring home?

Shoes, Shoes and More Shoes.  And olive oil and sherry
 vinegar for my favorite chef – Mr. M.

14.      Any other interesting activities or things you
 find special about this place you would like to share? 

The architecture is one of the greatest draws and I plan to experience every ounce of Gaudi I can.

Thank you Denise McGaha for sharing with us today!  Have a great trip!
We cannot wait to hear all about it!

Make sure to visit Denise's blog "Design on a Deadline" in September after her trip where she will dish on all the fun she had in Spain!  I'm so jealous!  I plan to live vicarously through Denise's trip with Consentino. 

Follow Denise on her social channels

twitter, Pinterestinstagram 
Facebook 

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

"Lisa Loves" Barr-Co. Products from Perry Clark Home!!!


I get asked daily to promote products for companies.  So much so, that I have decided to start a new series called "Lisa's Loves" where I will be posting about products I have tried and loved.  I get requests to post about thousands of products and don't.  Let's get one thing clear, if I post about a product it is because I find it worthy.  The products I post about will not always be items that have been sent to me by companies, sometimes my post will be about products I have found while shopping either locally or online.  

   Recently, I received a box from Perry Clark Home of Barr-Co. Apothecary Products. The handsome grey box arrived carefully wrapped in satin ribbon perfect for gift giving.  Inside the box, were three products from the Barr-Co. original scent collection.  The items were a diffuser, pure vegetable hand soap and shea butter lotion.  I immediately liked the look of the vintage style packaging.  As a designer, the way a product looks as equally as important as the quality of the product.  Call me extravagant, but I don't typically go for the grocery style style brands.  Who wants a bright green labeled product that doesn't match your home decor, right?  Barr-Co products are so pretty, I would happily display them in my home or in the home of a client.  I will also be sending out some of these products for future gifts.  


Barr
-Co. Hand Soap, Lotion & Diffuser
: The natural liquid hand soap is created with plant extracts, soothing botanicals, and oatmeal extract to create a gentle and moisturizing soap to cleanse and lightly scent the skin. The body lotion is made with aloe, shea butter, cucumber and colloidal oatmeal to soothe the skin while creating a protective barrier
 that helps retain moisture. Thick river reeds absorb the infused oil and thoroughly disperse the dreamy scent of milk, oatmeal, vanilla and vetiver. 8 oz. $110


The pure vegetable hand soap and the shea butter lotion come in a cute little wire basket perfect for sitting beside a sink. 


 Here's a close up of the attractive vintage style labels 
on the apothecary goods. 


The Barr-Co. Original Scent Reed Diffuser includes a reusable glass bottle with thick river redds that gently and thorougly disperse the clean scent of the classic original scent.  Handcrafted in small batches in the U.S.A. 8oz



My sink isn't large enough to display the products in the basket, so I simply sat them on either side of the sink.  Arent' they attractive?

I truly loved these products and think you will as well.  Barr-Co apothecary from Perry Clark Home will be a consideration for Christmas gifts, birthday gifts and other times I want to remember someone special!

"Would you like to Win" the Hand soap and shea butter lotion in wire basket?  Simply leave a comment below!  One lucky winner will receive these beautiful products.  It's that simple!  If you want to add to your chances, follow PerryClarkHome and Lisa Mende Design on instagram or twitter, and leave in the comments below!

Enter to win your own Barr-Co Products Today!!!

Winner will be announced on Friday, August 21, 2015

Pop over to Perry Clark Home to see their full line of beautiful products!  You will be glad you did!  

About Perry Clark Home:
Launched in late 2014 by Chicago native and former digital media executive, Christine Clark, Perry Clark Home is a meticulously curated e-boutique for inspired living and giving featuring the finest in home goods. Perry Clark Home is comprised of quality lifestyle curations such as hand-made furniture, remarkable seasonal discoveries, kitchen treasures and hand-selected tableware from vetted brands and trusted artisans. For more information, to discover more about our artisans, or to shop the collection visit www.perryclarkhome.com.



If You have products you would like me to blog about, there are several requirements that must be met before I will agree to write about your products on the blog.

1) I don't promote any product without trying the product myself, so first you must send the product being considered to me for consideration.  Email a description of your product with photos to Lisa@lisamende.com

2) I only accept products pertaining to subjects I write about on the blog, which are interior design, house & home, fashion, travel or products that make our life better.  

3) The products must be of highest quality.

4) Products must be able to be purchased online. 

5) The company must supply an extra product for a giveaway.

6) Not all products reviewed will be featured on Lisa Mende Design



Saturday, August 15, 2015

Thibaut's New Collection is Fabulous!


 

 Thibaut's New "Trade Routes" Collection has just been released!

"Choosing the road well traveled, Thibaut presents the Trade Routes collection of coordinating wallpaper, print and embroidered fabrics. Patterns were inspired by handcrafted and primitive techniques from faraway places."

I was doing a little online research tonight for a client and discovered Thibaut's latest collection called "Trade Routes".  I literally was 
stopped in my tracks at how beautiful these papers are.   The entire
 book is fabulous, but I couldn't name every pattern so I'm 
sharing my favorites with you.


Thursday, August 13, 2015

Photo Styling for Traditional Home Magazine!


This week been an exciting week for me.  As a designer, it was
a different kind of excitement than I usually receive.  I'm usually
the one hoping one of my projects gets picked up by a 
magazine, but this time my role in the project was different.
I was working as the photo stylist, not the designer.  Sometimes
magazines hire photo stylist to come in to assist the photographer.
This project was one of those times.  This closet wasn't an ordinary closet.  It was an entire room with beautiful features.  My job wasn't to change anything the designer had done but rather to enhance the
room with flowers and objects to further tell the story.  

I have done photo styling for myself and for other designers,
but this was the first time a major shelter magazine had hired me to photo style for one of their projects.  Krissa Rossbund was the producer of the project, so I followed Krissa's direction in styling the project.  She is a pro at what she does and so nice.  The day of the shoot, I worked along with photographer, Dustin Peck whom I have worked with for the past few years, so it was a very comfortable working situation.   I love working with Dustin, not only is he is an extremely talented photographer, but he has a gentle nature and a dry wit.  He always makes me laugh.  He never gets upset if I say, "can we reshoot so I can move that drapery panel 1/8" of a nano inch.  The designer, Gray Walker, was a pleasure to met.
She works right here in the same city I do, but we had never met.

If you have never done a photo shoot, you cannot comprehend the
tediousness of getting the right angles to explain best a room for
publication.  If you have done shoots, you know what I mean.  The right angle or right light can make a room dull or spectacular.  Dustin is
a true artist as what he does so working with him is sheer joy.  
The day we finished shooting I came home to my husband asked "what did you do today" and I said "I photo styled a closet" for a magazine. 
"A closet," he asked?  I said "yes, but this isn't just any closet, it is a
mega closet."  

Imagine my delight, when I got a message from Krissa Rossbund, of Traditional Home, that Gray's closet had made the cover!  I was so excited for her and thrilled that Dustin and I had gotten a shot worthy of the cover. 

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Huff Harrington, "What's In Your Travel Bag?"



Today's guests for "What's in Your Bag"  gives us double delight and moves the series into Fall. With Summer almost over, it's time to move forward with travel bags from other places, so who better to do that than the dynamic duo from Huff Harrington!  Have you met these ladies?  Do you know about their amazing store in Atlanta and their fabulous buying excursions to Paris?  If not, you need to take a minute and visit their website at the end of this post.

Meet Ann Huff and Meg Harrington!  

If you can't wait to see what these ladies do, go ahead and click over to their website now then read the post or read the post and click over but either way, don't miss out on what Huff Harrington has to offer.

I'm beyond excited I won a Buying Trip at the Design Bloggers Conference to France next March with this fun pair of design treasure hunters!   Don't you want to join us?  I can promise we will have a ball and find some amazing furniture and accessories along the way.  Rumour has it there will be a little French champagne involved as well!  I'll give you links at the bottom of the post in case you are interested in the details but for now....Let's go see what's in these ladies well-packed travel bags.

click here to read more....

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Cast Your Vote for Lisa Mende Design for Amara Interior Blog Awards #IBA15

I am honored to report that 
Lisa Mende Design Blog
was nominated for the 
Amara Interior Blog Awards #IBA15
in the category of

Best Interior Blog in the US

I have some pretty stiff competition therefore I need YOUR HELP!
You may Vote now through Sept. 18, 2015.  


I really appreciate Your Vote!  There are 111 blogs in my category and many really well known bloggers!

If you have already voted, thank you and if you haven't voted yet,
 the voting ends on Sept. 18th, so there is still time!
 Thanks in advance for your support!  I appreciate it!

Also, make sure to pop over to Amara and check out their site!
They have really beautiful products!


Monday, August 10, 2015

Lisa Mende Design Featured in Southern Cottages Magazine



On Newsstands Now!!!

 The current Southern Cottages Magazine Special Edition Summer/Fall edition is featuring my Chapel Hill Project!  If you haven't seen this magazine, I highly recommend you purchase it.  Southern Cottage is a beautiful magazine!  I am honored to be in their new issue. My friend, Tobi Fairley's work in on the cover and also featured in the magazine along with many other fantastic design projects. I bought copies at Barnes & Noble, but it can be shipped directly to you by ordering here! Southern Cottages is a relatively new magazine.  It is chalked full of interesting articles and beautiful photography.  

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Stop and Smell The Roses

Print Available on Etsy by Katie Daisy
I typically try to blog daily, but between getting ready for my trip to Nevis, being in Nevis and then returning to chaos, I haven't had time to blog.  I apologize to all of you who enjoy my daily musings and thank you for being loyal readers. I will warn you now that this is a wordy post, and it is possible you won't find it uplifting, but I'll try to bury some nuggets of wisdom in my thoughts. .
(Click to continue reading....)

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Top 10 Showrooms To Check Out At Las Vegas Market 2015



It's Las Vegas Market Week!  It's also Las Vegas Market's 10th Year Anniversary! I'm so sad I can't be there to take part in all the fun, but work here prevented me from attending!  I have been checking out the instagram feeds of my favorite showrooms and have curated a list of the top places I would hit if I were attending market this week.

If you are at Las Vegas Market, make sure you visit these showrooms to see these fabulous new products and more! Please tell them I sent you!








1. Global Views newly expanded showroom is stunning from what I am hearing!  Located in A1 Central West Lobby of the Las Vegas Design Center. Encompassing more than 100 products, the new Julia Buckingham for Global Views Collection celebrates the journey of design and encourages people to not just decorate, but to curate their spaces in a personal and meaningful way. The collection includes a selection of furniture, lighting, rugs, tabletop and home accessories by the Chicago-based designer. 

A special “Meet and Greet.” 

with Julia Buckingham

 is scheduled for 

Monday, August 3 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

in the Global Views showroom. 

I'm also loving the new introductions by the Williamsburg Brand for Global Views.  The "Richmond" marbelized pillows, pots and platters are amazing!

(click here to find out who the other 9 showroom fav's are....)

Monday, August 3, 2015

Happy National Watermelon Day!


Isla Bonita Print from Defoe Studios

I love the print above from Devoe Studios on etsy.  Isn't Bonita a goddess?  What's better than being a goddess & watermelon?
I guess it is the "southern" in me, but I couldn' t pass up a chance to talk about one of my favorite fruits!
Did you know it's National Watermelon Day!  Do you love watermelon as much as I do?  I grew up eating watermelons from my Granddaddy's farm so I guess you could say I've taken watermelon for granted.  It was always available to me during the summer months.  I never really thought about the history of the watermelon or the long track it took to be in my Granddaddy's garden.  

Orignally, it was thought the melons came from southern Africa, where they were found growing in the wild, but there was evidence that the fruit was found in the Nile Valley from the second millennium BC.  Watermelon seeds were found in Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb and on other Twelth Dynasty sites.  The ancient Israelites ate watermelon when they were in bondage according to the Bible.  The watermelon reached India in the 7th Century and China in the 10th Century. Today China is the leading producer of watermelons in the world.  The watermelon didn't arrive in the US until 1576 when it was introduced by the Spanish settlers in Florida.I'm happy it found its way here!  I adore the sweet taste of the beautiful red fruit.

 My fondness for the bright red, juicy melons also spills over into other areas such as art, fashion, beauty products and home decor.   I like watermelon prints, but I also like the color watermelon because it conjures up fond childhood memories of sharing a slice of goodness with my family.

I don't know about you, but it is so hot in Charlotte,NC I am looking for any possible way to cool off.  What could be better than a nice cold watermelon or a watermelon drink?  I've included some of my favorite watermelon items and a couple of delish recipes at the end!  Enjoy!
NARS Watermelon Lip Gloss
Combining Christopher Kane's modern aesthetic and NARS' flawless formulas, the 'Neoneutral' makeup collection is inspired by the bold appeal of neon colors. Enriched with nourishing ingredients, this glossy lacquer coats lips in a high-shine shade of watermelon-pink and is easy to apply thanks to the precision applicator.

Watermelon Pouch
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzou

ISSA Dress 60%off!

Ramy Brook Paris Blouse ON SALE!

Boys Watermelon Bow Tie
Ted Baker Bow Tie in Watermelon
Halston Heritage Caftan

Watermelon Dress on Etsy

Summer isn't over yet, how cute is this watermelon dress on etsy?

Photo Courtesy via

Vodka & Watermelon Cooler

YIELD: 
Makes 6 drinks

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 pounds watermelon, rind and seedsdiscarded and the flesh cut into pieces,plus thin slices of watermelon for garnish
  • 1/2 cup vodka
  • 1/4 cup Triple Sec
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

PREPARATION

In a blender purée the watermelon pieces and strain the purée through a very fine sieve set over a pitcher, discarding the solids. (There should be about 2-1/3 cups juice). Stir in the vodka, the Triple Sec, and the lime juice, pour the cooler into long-stemmed glasses filled with ice cubes, and garnish each drink with a watermelon slice.

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke

Grilled Grouper with Watermelon Salsa



(4-oz.) grouper fillets
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon salt, divided
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 
2 cups chopped seedless watermelon 
1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
1/2 English cucumber, chopped 
small jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons minced red onion
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

Preparation

1. Preheat grill to 350º to 400º (medium-high) heat. Sprinkle grouper with pepper and 1/2 tsp. salt. Drizzle with 2 Tbsp. olive oil.
2. Grill fish, covered with grill lid, 3 to 4 minutes on each side or just until fish begins to flake when poked with the tip of a sharp knife and is opaque in center.
3. Combine chopped watermelon, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Serve with grilled fish.





Watermelon Salad from Huffington Post

This salad is light and sweet, with a perfect balance between fruit and vegetables. Not only is it delicious, but it also features two extremely hydrating foods -- watermelon and cucumber -- making it perfect for the summer. Serve it up at barbecues or throw it together at lunchtime. Either way, you're sure to impress whoever you're feeding.
When choosing the watermelon, pick one with a bright color. You can even vary red and yellow varieties to create an even more colorful salad.
As far as the herbs, freshness is key. If you don't have mint on hand, you can easily substitute basil, for a dish that will be just as delicious. Just be sure that whatever you use is organic -- herbs are some of the most heavily treated plants, so organic herbs are of the utmost importance!
Watermelon and Feta Salad with Cucumber and Mint
Serves 2
Ingredients
1/4 watermelon, diced into bite-sized chunks
1/2 cucumber, diced into bite-sized chunks
2 ounces feta, crumbled
1 lime
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
4-5 fresh mint leaves, chiffonnade
freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Toss the watermelon and cucumber together in a large bowl. Sprinkle the cheese on top and season with olive oil, lime juice and black pepper. Sprinkle the chiffonnade of mint leaves over the top of the salad as a garnish.
The colors of the salad look best before tossing, so if you're making this for company, I recommend serving like this and tossing at the table. Alternatively, you can toss the watermelon and cucumber with the oil, lime juice, salt and pepper and then add the cheese and mint at the end.
Image: Emily Monaco

Watermelon Smoothie Recipes from
Watermelon-Banana Smoothie
2 cups seedless watermelon
1 whole banana
2 cups fresh baby spinach (or other leafy green)
1/2 cup water if needed
Calories: 223 | Fat: 0.4g (grams) | Protein: 4.4g | Carbs: 45.6g | Calcium: 10% | Vitamin A: 99% | Vitamin C: 81%
Watermelon-Strawberry Smoothie 
2 cups seedless watermelon
1 cup whole strawberries
2 cups fresh baby spinach (or other leafy green)
½ vine tomatoes (optional)
1/2 cup water if needed
Calories: 162 | Fat: 0.5g (grams) | Protein: 4.6g | Carbs: 26.6g | Calcium: 12% | Vitamin A: 105% | Vitamin C: 226%
Happy Watermelon Day!