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!

Adding Color to Walls when Painting is Not an Option!

For all apartment dwellers who may be prohibited from painting - who says you have to live with bare white walls?  Why not consider your white walls as a blank canvas and create something beautiful out of them! Paint some picture frames in colors that are represented in your space and hang them on the wall in a huge collage such as in this photo by interior designer Marcelo Brito.  It will instantly bring color to your walls and break up the starkness of the white.  What do you think??

La Toya Michelle

~You are only limited by your imagination!

Beautiful New Wedding Color Combos!

As spring is nearing a close and summer quickly approaches - if you are contemplating a color scheme for your wedding, consider these options.  All photos courtesy of The Knot.


1) Aqua and Chartreuse - the mix of these two colors is so fun and vibrant, perfect for an outdoor event.

2)  Blush and Mauve - simple and understated! 

4) Garnet and Tangerine - a crisp color combination - seems perfect for September when Autumn is in the air.

4) Lavendar + Cream + Chocolate - another gorgeous combination that would be great for a formal September wedding!!!

5) Fuchsia and Navy - perfect for those who love bold colors!

6) Lemon and Celadon - another beautiful combination that would be perfect for an outdoor summer wedding.

7) Blush + Ebony + Pewter - a very romantic color scheme!

8) Cloud + Cream + Platinum - this combination would be a perfect choice for a more formal celebration.

Which one would be your choice??

La Toya Michelle

~You are only limited by your own imagination

Define your style!

Blending homes as a newlywed couple can be a monumental task at times.  Sometimes you are trying to combine households and blend two different syles and the majority of the time - it just doesn't seem to "click" as much as you would like it to.  Most couples that I know that have been married for years are still going through the same thing and their stories are the same.  At first, they were blending two homes and their design styles didn't mesh, but they figured that once they got a larger home, everything would fit appropriately and magically things would start to fall into place.  When they got the larger home, they were faced with having a lot more space and all of a sudden the urgency to fill that space - with anything - crept in.  Now they have large spaces filled with odds and ends that although are gorgeous to look at, do not truly reflect their design styles.  Although I can help you determine your design style once you find yourself in this place, it's a lot easier to do so at the very beginning!!

Are you a newlywed or a first time homebuyer with empty space to fill in your home?  Steer clear of the discount section and resist the urge to spend impulsively on trendy items!!  Embrace the empty space, and take time to define your design style before you make any purchases.  Consider making timeless purchases such as these that will be with you forever and will always be in style.

Avalon Black Extension Dining Table
www.crateandbarrel.com
A traditional table with a modern finish - this table can grow with your family - extending to 65"

Cole Chair
www.RoomandBoard.com
This classic design can blend in with a myriad of other styles - from traditional to eclectic.  So even if your style changes down the road, this comfy chair will still fit right in.

Midas/by Autumn Rose
www.UGallery.com
Selecting original artwork is the easiest way to create your own unique style.  Visit some galleries and support your local artists.  You never know - you might end up purchasing the work of a great artist in their early years!

Sarouk
www.ABCCarpet.com
Purchasing a Persian, Turkish, or Oriental rug may require a hefty upfront investment, but it is money well spent and so worth it!  Even after years of wear and tear, you just can not beat the handcraftsmanship of these pieces.  They actually look BETTER the more they age!

Nailhead Upholstered Headboard
www.WestElm.com
A staple such as this will give your bedroom a polished look in an instant!

Tesana Lamp
www.mottega.com
Whether it is placed on a console table, a nightstand, or in a reading nook, this classic and versatile lamp is a keeper!

Before you make your next design purchase - consider whether the piece truly lives within your design style.  If it does - great!!!  If it doesn't - step away from the cash register.  Purchasing pieces that fall within your design style and that you truly love are the best way to pull your home together.  Regardless of how long you have to "embrace the empty space" :o)

La Toya Michelle

~You are only limited by your own imagination!

Custom Window Treatments......from the store?????

Window treatments are a lot like shoes – they can make or break a room.  Sometimes all that is needed to turn a room around are nice window treatments.  Believe it or not, there are still great window treatments available for purchase that can be made fabulous with a little bit of additional creativity. 

I always start with a panel that has a lining on the back.  This will keep your room insulated while simultaneously creating a uniform look from the outside of your home.  Please try to keep the colors on the inside – you don’t want everyone in the neighborhood to know that you have red window treatments in your living room :o)  To embellish your store bought panel, look for trim such as a braid or a tassel, and then you can start to very easily customize your window treatment.

For this project, you will need:

A panel window treatment – from your favorite store

Fabric glue – can be found at Jo-Ann or any fabric store (or a sewing machine)

Window Hardware – Lowes or Home Depot

Pinking Shears (or Scissors that will cut through the trim)    

Instructions:

1. Make sure to measure your window from top to bottom to determine the appropriate size of the drapery.  Most windows can use the standard 84” panel.
2. Purchase the draperies and then decide on an appropriate and a coordinating trim.
3. Determine where you want your trim to be placed.  Do you want to line your trim along the bottom of your panel – or do you want to go for the WOW! factor and trim the panel along the leading edge of the panel (the inside edge of the drapery where you handle the drapery to pull them open and then back closed).
4. Lay the drapery flat and measure the trim corresponding to where you want the trim to be placed (bottom edge or leading edge).
5. Cut the trim, ensuring that you leave some extra on both sides.
6. Bottom edge or leading edge, glue the trim, in sections, to the stitch on the draperies making sure to press the trim firmly to the drapery as you go.  If you opt to use a sewing machine, which I personally do and recommend, omit the glue and stitch the trim in place.
7. Tuck the extra trim remaining on each side of the draperies to the back of the panel and glue to secure.  With the sewing machine, omit the glue and stitch the trim in place to secure it in place.
8. Let the glue dry for 24 hours and then hang the panel.  If you have used a sewing machine, the panel can be hung immediately.

 

 

A brown velvet Pottey Barn panel very simply embellished with a bottom edge tassel trim. 



Easy enough, right?? 

La Toya Michelle

~You are only limited by your own imagination!