Girl Crush: Interview with Rivers Spencer for Tritter Feefer Home Collection

Located at 3909 Magazine Street in the heart of the design district of New Orleans is Rivers Spencer Interiors.  Home to Rivers Spencer Interiors is a double shotgun style house  skillfully converted into a premier designer showroom that touts well-known brands such as Verellen, Hickory Chair, Visual Comforts and now includes Rivers own
Furniture Collection with Tritter Feefer Home Collection.   

Recently celebrating her 30th birthday, this young designer has already accomplished more in the design world than designers twice her age.  River's proudly claims her southern upbringing as the foundation for her classic, timeless design where charm and elegance serve as keynotes.  One visit to this design maven's website will reveal a designer with talent, ambition and love for history and fine art.

Click to continue reading....

Before and After Traditional Home "Terry" Showhouse Powder Room by Margaret Fisher

photo by Peter Rymwid via Traditional Home

I am so excited about this month's issue of Traditional Home Magazine.  If you haven't picked up the October issue, do so before they disappear.

Traditional Home magazine never disappoints, but this month's issue is extra special to me,as it features the Randall B Terry High Point showhouse kitchen, breakfast room and mudroom I designed and includes the designs of many of my friends who also designed rooms in the showhouse.  Every designer did such an incredible job!   

Today kicks off a series of posts featuring rooms in the 

 Traditional Home and Junior League of High Point "Randall B Terry" Showhouse.  When we look at the photographs in the magazine we see beautiful rooms, but when we have the privilege of seeing the before pictures, the transformation is even more impressive.  I thought it would be fun to share the "before" photos along with the "after" photos to truly appreciate the amazing vision these talented designers had for their rooms.  Follow along and let me know what you think!

First up is the beautiful powder room designed by Margaret Fisher   Margaret Fisher Interiors is a full-service interior design firm located right here in my hometown of Charlotte.   In the powder room transformation, whimsical wallpaper by Christian Lacroix for Designer's Guild called "Butterfly Parade"  was used by Margaret.  The silver metallic wallpaper and magenta Pratt & Lambert paint provides a showstopping response from this small space.  Margaret added the perfect compliments to her room with the Aerin Lauder "Jacqueline" Chandelier from Circa Lighting and beautiful marble flooring.  The original merlot colored toilet and sink were replaced by an updated sculptural Kohler white toilet and pedestal sink.

click here to see the before.....

Decorating with Non-Traditional Things & Holiday Decorating Tip #1

Studio 202 featuring Piper Collection Pillows, Saturn Table by

Taylor-Burke Home, Chair by Wesley Hall, Painting by

Harrison Blackford Art, Carpet by Stark and Drapery

 Fabric by Thibaut

It's that time of year where we have gone from struggling to complete

the daily lists, to suddenly adding tasks of holiday decorating, gift buying,

 baking and busy social calendars.   What a person to do?

 How do you decorate?  Are you an "all in the Christmas Spirit" kind

 of person or do you hang a wreath, stick candles in the windows, 

decorate a tree and call it a day?  I find the older I become the more I

 really like less.  Less of everything.  I prefer well edited decorations

 as well as well edited rooms.  I also get more excited about

 interesting holiday items and color palettes that enhance a room.  

Don't get me wrong, I like red and green at Christmas as much as anyone, 

but I find unusual color palettes intriguing.  

Take for instance the antler pillows above from Piper Collection.  Aren't

these pillows stunning?  I don't know if you can tell from my photo,

but the fabric has a little metallic finish, which really takes these pillows

up a notch.  I love that these pillows can be used anytime you want to add

a little masculine touch to your decor.  I recently used them in a gentleman's

game room.  Yesterday, when I was straightening up the studio,  I thought about

 how fab these pillows would be for the holidays which then led me to popped

 over to Piper Collection to see what else in the collection would be nice for what

 I call "upscale holiday decor". Look at the goodies I found!

 Blitzen  12" x 18"

.  Can you see the sparkle?   

 

Blitzen 16" x 24"

Same style in a larger pillow in sesame.

Blitzen 16" x 24"

Also in orange if you like to add a pop of color to your decor.

 

Prancer 12" x18"

Speaking of color, who likes pink during the holidays?  I know I do!  It's a sister to red

so I find it works great if you prefer a little brighter palette for holiday decor. 

 Mr. Moose 22" x 22"

This is a big guy!  He would look great on a sofa or on your bed!

Matty 22" x 22"

Why not add a little fur for texture.  I love to mix fur pillows in for accent. 

Mary 22" x 22"

If you are traditional and like to stick with the red and green palette, but want to

 shake up your Christmas decor a bit, how about this gorgeous chevron velvet pillow?

Did you like what I found?  Decorating for Christmas doesn't have to be Santa pillows 

 drug out for a couple of weeks once a year.  Why not invest in something 

that can be use long after the holidays are gone?  

Want a custom look for your home?  Need to pull your look together

 or freshen up your decor for the holidays?

Call me today! I can help you put together a plan for a custom

 look for your home or holiday party!  Only a couple consults left! 

Want to see more of the Piper Collection pillows?  Click Here to visit 

Piper Collection website to see the complete line of offerings, then call

Studio 202 to order!  Get your order in fast, the holidays are here! 

P.S.   My first decorating tip for the season:
Your neighbors will thank me for this one....

For Heaven's sake, save the blow up Christmas toys for your backyard

  I know your kids like them, but would you put toys on your front yard during the 

regular year?  Come on people! 

Now booking for 2015!  Want to start out the New Year with a New Look?

Call today!  (704) 561-1466.

And.....We Have a Winner!!!!! CarpetOne "Welcome A Cure" Mat Designed by Lisa Mende

And the Winner is.......Dana Helms!

Yay for Dana!!!

Carpet One partnered with twelve interior designers and stylists to create a

 new series of their pink ribbon welcome mats and I was lucky enough to be
 asked to participate!

About The "Welcome A Cure" Project

Collaboration with CarpetOne :

 The rug I designed above features my former logo designed by the talented
 graphic artist, the talented Jill Seale.   The blue on the sides,  is the tab
 from the Carpet One scroll bar.  The rug colors are grey, green and black.
 I am so happy to announce I  partnered with Carpet One Floor and Home
 to design one of their  Pink Ribbon  durable indoor-outdoor mat to
 support breast cancer research.  On December 1st, I'll give away one
 of my custom designed door mats to one of you! (may be more!)

 Carpet One Floor & Home's exclusive pink ribbon welcome mats raise

 funds to  support breast cancer research and awareness as part of their

Carpet OneFloor & Home Welcomes Your Support campaign. 

The campaign has raised  nearly 1 million dollars for breast cancer research in

 the past 10 years and currently supports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

 (BCRF). For each welcome mat sold, 25% of the purchase
 price is donated to the BCRF.

 Pink ribbon welcome mats are available year round at
 various Carpet One Floor & Home stores for 
approximately $24.99US/$34.99CDN

  

  25% of each sale will be donated directly to 

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

  The mats are tough, functional and, depending on your choice, fun, 

whimsical, and stylish! For the past 10 years, through its

 Pink Ribbon Mat project, Carpet One

 Floor & Home has raised almost a million dollars to support

 breast cancer research.

These durable pink ribbon welcome mats are suitable for use both indoors

 and out and are machine-washable. Purchasing a welcome mat contributes

 directly to raising funds for breast cancer research in both the US & Canada

 and the search for a cure. Sold only in stores

Breast cancer awareness doesn't just last for the month of October so the

 welcome mats are available all year long in Carpet One Home stores throughout

 the U.S.  Click here to find one in your area.  They retail for approximately $24.99

 and feature a sturdy rubber backing and a pink ribbon to remind people of the

 cause it supports.  They measure 2'x3', are stain, water resistant

 and machine washable.

Would you like your own CarpetOne "Welcome a Cure" Rug?

Go to CarpetOne Website here and find a dealer near you!

12 Tips for Travel & 10 Favorite Carry-On Bags

Credit

Let's face it, those of us who travel during the holidays, will soon be packing for our holiday visits with family and friends.  Our family holiday destination is only a car ride away, which

makes packing a little easier, but for those who must fly, your trip requires a little more planning.  I travel so much with work these days, I've learned great tips I wanted to share with you.  Hopefully these tips will make your travel a little easier.  If you are a frequent business or holiday traveler and have a tip of your own to add please leave comment with your tip.  

We can always benefit from learning from each other.  

Travel Tips

Let's start with preparations at home:

1. Pick a Good Seat On The Plane -  Use seatguru.com to pick your choice seat. 

1. Don't over pack.  Airlines are charging premium fees for baggage these days, so pack as lightly as you can.  The best way to pack lightly is to plan ahead.  I wrote some tips about packing in this post.  Look at your trip schedule and plan your wardrobe accordingly.  I always start with basic pieces and add scarves and accessories to change the outfit up.  Did you know there is an FREE app called Packpoint creates a packing list for your trip?  All you do is input your information of destination, length of stay and activities.  Packpoint takes into account the weather too.  Rumor has it that all airlines are going to start charging for any bags even take on bags, some airlines already do.

2.  Pack Smart! I wrote a post on one of my favorite ways to pack when I went to China here.  Since that trip, I have found packing cubes like these and love to use those too.  The point of both is to easily see find what is in your luggage.  Cubes are especially great for packing as a family.  Each person can have their own cubes and all the cubes can be packed together so this eliminates tons of luggage.  That being said, it is nice to have each person in charge of their own luggage if traveling as a group. The packing cubes or zip locks prevent your unmentionables from landing on the airport floor when a TSA agent decides to search through your luggage.  I find that a cube for underwear, shirts, and larger items is about all you need for a 5 day trip. The clothes stay neat and organized. Ziplocks are good for children because you can pack by days, so they know what they are wearing each day and feel independent pulling out that day's ziplock and dressing themselves.  If you didn't read my post about zip locks refer back here so you know what I'm talking about. 

3.  Print Out Boarding passes the 24 hrs before leaving for airport or if you prefer have mobile boarding passes emailed to you.  If you choose mobile boarding passes make sure you take a screen shot of your mobile pass.  If you are a nervous Nelly do both!  I got to my gate once and my mobile boarding pass wouldn't load.  Can you imagine?  They told me to go to the desk to get a printed one.  The desk traffic was a mile long.  I learned from that incident to always screen shot my boarding pass.  This can save major headaches if for some reason, your internet suddenly won't access like mine did.  Not every airport offers mobile passes so if printing out boarding passes, make sure to print a couple, one for inside a safe place and one for easy access, that way if you happen to lose your pass you have another easy to access.  Have handy boarding pass & ID ready for agent at TSA.

4. Dress for TSA - Please don't show up at the airport with gobs of jewelry, belts, or anything else you must take off to pass through TSA.  Put these things in your carry on and adorn yourself after TSA, if you must.  Wear slip on shoes for easy removal.  Have toiletries in designated ziplock bag in approved size bottles.  NO WATER BOTTLES!! It is so frustrating to get behind someone who has to continually remove items multiple times before getting the green light with TSA.  

5. Pack Light - Wear your heaviest coat on the plane, not only will it keep you warm, but it will lighten the suitcase and help prevent overweight charges at checkin.

6. Make sure to check flight details when you get to the airport. Flights change all the time.  If you get to the gate and find out your flight has changed often there isn't time to get to the new gate prior to takeoff hence missing your flight.  Always check gate and flight info upon arrival at airport!

7.  Sign Up for Global Entry - Global Entry really takes the hassle out of travel. You don't have time to get this before the holidays but if you travel a good bit, it really takes the hassle out of getting through TSA.  

8. Ship with Luggage Free. Send your luggage, golf clubs, bike or other things on ahead of you.  Have you heard of Luggage Free?  This service allows you to have things picked up from your door and delivered to your destination.  It is a luxury service so be prepared for the fees but in many cases it isn't much more than paying the overage at the airlines and you get to travel without the worry and hassle of dragging luggage through the airport and worry if it will reach your destination with you.  Another benefit of Luggage free is when you need to have the entire car for passengers. I would still recommend taking a small carry on bag for safety.

The sooner you ship your luggage ahead of your trip, allowing more days for delivery, the cheaper it is to ship with Luggage Free.  Luggage Free offers an international service and domestic services.

9. Don't Wrap Gifts  TSA agents will unwrap every time!  Take flat wrapping paper and ribbon and wrap your gifts once you arrive or ship wrapped gifts ahead. 

10. Plan You Arrival to Pick You Up at the Least Busy Airport Areas - Don't plan your ride to pick you up at airport arrival points or taxi stands, unless you are using a taxi.  When a plane lands these areas are mass confusion.  Instead, have your ride pick you up at check in which is much faster. 

11. Uber Smarts - Have you ever used Uber?  I highly recommend Uber!  It is so convenient and the cars are always clean. Sign up here if you aren't an Uber member.  Everything is charge on your credit card used at sign up.  Your tip is figured in so you don't have to have any money for tips at drop off plus you know exactly how long your wait is.  No more long taxi stand lines with Uber!  Note: If you are summoning an Uber follow my advice in #10, because the Uber cannot go near the taxi stand.  Another word about taking Uber, Make sure you go to where you want the Uber to pick you up before requesting a ride.  Uber tracks your pickup location based on satellite, so If you summon an Uber and then walk to another area, the Uber will go to the point where you summoned them.  To advoid mass confusion for you and the Uber Driver walk to your pick up point of choice, then summon your Uber!

12.  Favorite Carry on bags: I also wanted to share some of my favorite, chic travel carry-on bags from Nordstrom, Zappos and a couple other online sites below:

10 Favorite Carry On Bags

Top Row: L to R: Hershel Camo bag / Bric's Milano  / Victorinox Werks / Tumi Vapor/ Lipault

2nd Row: L to R: Visionaire Podpal / Thule  /  Genuispack /  Tumi T-Tech   / Rimowa 


What is your favorite carry on bag or travel tip?  Do share!