Dorm Room Design 101

For college students everywhere - I know it may seem like you just took your final examinations, but it's that time of year again.  Time to gear up for the fall semester.  Many students will be heading to their college campuses for the first time and calling their dorm rooms their first "home away from home".  I remember my first dorm room, and although I was an upperclassman by the time I moved on campus at Virginia Commonwealth University, I was still super excited about moving into my dorm apartment at Gladding Residence Center - or GRC to those of us who attended VCU.  My parents probably spent a small fortune on me as we went from store to store to make my dorm room feel more like a room and less like........a box.  But today there are many decor options available at less expensive prices that will allow you to dress up any dorm room with style and within a budget.  Here are a few suggestion rooms to get you started:

The total cost of all of the items for this room was $489.75.

The total cost of all of the items for this room was $723.55.

Not to leave the guys out, the total cost of all of the items for this room was $627.90.

Of course these rooms were put together with the assumption that the most important item - a desk - would already be in the room - smile.  If you are a student, or you have a college-bound student getting ready to go back to campus, and you would like last minute assistance pulling together a dorm room look, contact me at latoya@panachedesign.co and let's create a stylish dorm room solution for you within your budget. 

La Toya Michelle
~You are only limited by your own imagination

Creating the Perfect Fireplace Focal Point

These days, even new construction apartment homes will have a fireplace in the main living space.  Surprisingly, most clients would prefer to downplay the fireplace as a design feature in the space as opposed to drawing attention it.  Some clients opt to play up a magnificent outdoor view, but depending on the nature of that outdoor view, i.e., if it isn't a city view, when it gets dark - they have now lost the focal point of their space.  The most basic purpose of a fireplace is to, of course, provide physical warmth in the cold weather months.  But a fireplace can also provide warmth to a space in a figurative sense as well.  Take a look at the ways in which the design of these spaces utilize the fireplace as the focal point of the room.

modern family room design by san francisco architect modern house architects

The floating fireplace - a freestanding fireplace built into a recessed wall.

eclectic living room design by kansas city media and blogs Michelle Edwards

During the warmer months, fill the fireplace with unexpected objects and change them out frequently to keep the focal point interesting.

modern family room design by philadelphia showroom usona

Keep it simple! This basic fireplace, even with no mantle and illuminated with a fire is a focal point all its own.

modern media room design by indianapolis general contractor Wrightworks, LLC

Add a textural wall - such as this one by Modular Arts.

modern family room design by philadelphia showroom usona

In an architectural twist - here is a fireplace wrapped around a corner.

modern living room design by austin architect Webber + Studio, Architects

Or go with a fireplace that is both sculptural AND functional.


With all of the options for incorporating the fireplace into the main decor scheme of a space, even if you do have a gorgeous outside view - the fireplace should never be totally overlooked.

Do you have a fireplace that you need help incorporating into your space??  Contact me and I will help you turn it into a stunning focal point.

La Toya Michelle
~You are only limited by your own imagination

Groom's Cakes Are Making a Comeback!

Groom's cakes are making a strong comeback as brides are once again surprising their soon-to-be husbands or newly minted groom's with the cake in their honor.  The groom's cake was traditionally a single layer chocolate or fruit cake and was presented at the wedding reception.  It was then sliced up, placed into packages, and given to guests as favors when they depart. Single women at the wedding would take their pieces of cake home and sleep with it under their pillows in hopes of dreaming of their future husbands.  Today these cakes can take on any shape or size, and although we may not follow the tradition of the grooms cake to the letter, I would guess that any groom would be surprised at receiving any of these creative cakes!

Is your guy a baseball fan? I bet he'd love this.....

Does he have a day job that he loves? Why not turn his job into his cake?

Or maybe he has a favorite hobby....

Or maybe he just likes to kick back and relax.....

Groom's cakes can be as creative as you want them to be and can be an incredibly special gift to the unsuspecting groom.  If you are currently planning your wedding, why not consider surprising your hubby-to-be with a cake in his honor?

La Toya Michelle
~You are only limited by your own imagination

Happy 4th of July!!

Hoping that everyone is having an enjoyable, fun-filled, and safe 4th of July! 

La Toya Michelle

~ You are only limited by your own imagination!

NEW SERVICE!! E-Design - Interior Design services delievered to your inbox

Lately, I have been receiving a lot of inquiries from people that do not live in the Washington, D.C. area that were wondering if I could assist them with a room in their home.  So.... I thought of this service especially for you :o)  The e-design interior design service is designed to assist the needs of the client that may know what they want, are having trouble pulling it all together, but are confident in their ability to be able to do so if given the right tools.  After a consultation either in person, via Skype, or by phone, I will create a customized design plan for you that will include product selections (including furniture, accessories, art, fabrics, window treatments, flooring options, and lighting solutions), a floor plan, a rendered perspective drawing, and a shopping guide—all of which will all be submitted to you via email, overnight mail, or (if you live in the Washington, D.C. Metro area or in the Richmond, VA area and you prefer) personally delivered to your door.  The design plan serves as your road map because it takes all of the guess work out of the design of the space.  With this service you can shop at your convenience and you will have unlimited access to me to ask questions about your design plan for two weeks at no additional cost to you.

Here is an example of a design plan that would be delivered to you:

E-design services can cover any room in your home and you would receive the same elements.  You tell me what the budget is and I will get to work creating a e-design plan for you based on your criteria and within your stated budget.  In addition to the e-design plan above, the shopping list would tell you where to get each item, and the accompanying floor plan and perspective drawing would tell you exactly where all of these pieces should go in your room, making for a very simple way for me to assist you in a room makeover - no matter how far away you are!

More new services to be announced soon!

La Toya Michelle
~You are only limited by your own imagination!

The Return of White Cabinetry?

It seems that in a lot of the homes I'm entering or designing recently, that white kitchen cabinetry is making a strong comeback.  I really wasn't sure when white cabinetry totally fell out of favor in kitchen design and swung toward darker hues, but I welcome the return of white for its ability make a small kitchen seem more spacious as well as its ability to give a kitchen simple clean lines to work with.  The addition of white cabinetry also creates a cool, clean, and modern look to any kitchen space. 

traditional kitchen design by portland interior designer Jenny Baines, Jennifer Baines Interiors

contemporary kitchen design by los angeles kitchen and bath Mal Corboy Design

contemporary kitchen design by london interior designer Celia James

traditional kitchen design by boston architect Joseph Tatone & Associates, LLC

If you are considering a kitchen update, why not consider white cabinetry to help transform your space?

La Toya Michelle

~You are only limited by your imagination!

The Dizzy Designer

Ok....I admit it.....  I have a huge problem.  INDECISIVENESS!!  I think that most designers find themselves in this same situation from time to time in that it seems nearly impossible to to feel as if you have truly finished a project - be it your room, your event, or in my current case - MY WEBSITE!!  I know my website designer would probably like to wring my neck right about now due to my indecision, but I can't help it!  Maybe I have adult onset ADD, or perhaps it's just a serious case of wanting to make sure that every little detail is perfect before launch.  But ever since I was little, when it came to my own space, I've been notorious for design indecision.  My favorite past time when I was younger was changing the color of a room - and then re-changing it.  My childhood bedroom went from pale green, to hot pink, to pale yellow, to peanut butter - all in the course of one year.  I know my Daddy wanted to wring my neck due to my indecision back then too, especially since he was the one that had to foot the bill for the paint, move all of my furniture, and then paint my bedroom!  But being the Daddy that he is, he allowed me to creatively express myself through my color choices - or more appropriately, my color indecision.

Today, my husband will find me moving heavy furniture around, or unloading heavy bags and goods from my car by myself that I bought on an unexpected (by him, anyway) trip to the "Red Dot Boutique" (aka "Target") or Home Goods to redesign a room in our home.  "Why didn't you ask me to help you?" or "why didn't you wait for me to get home so that I could move the heavy chest instead of you pushing it across the floor with your legs?" he always asks.  My answer is always the same, well, because - sigh - 1) I needed the workout (you'd be amazed at how effective moving furniture around a few times can be as an upper and lower body workout) and 2) because I truly didn't want to have to simultaneously explain to you WHY I'm changing the room......AGAIN.  Although my hubby is a sport, I know it can be quite frustrating at times living with a dizzy designer that never feels any room in our home is totally finished.  Not limited to just our home, even our wedding fell victim to it.  When I planned our wedding, the morning before the event I was still thinking of and looking for additional elements that could be added to our simple October garden wedding until my husband said "enough Babe.  Everything is perfect the way you have it."  And you know, it was :o) 

It's funny how those feelings arise.  You work hard as a designer to pull a space or an event together and on the surface it looks great.  You stand back and mull over each detail and fuss with each throw pillow.  Everyone says that your project is wonderful, the client is pleased, and you feel that your work is done.  But be that as it may, it never completely erases the feeling that just one more decor item for an event, or just one more accessory for a room was all that was needed to fill the void - regardless of if there was truly a void there or not.  Hence the cycle of the dizzy designer begins again.....  Anyone else out there suffering from the same problem?? 

modern living room design by new york interior designer Amy Lau Design


La Toya Michelle

~You are only limited by your imagination!