Creating The Space...

The Guest Bedroom


The holidays are just far enough behind us to consider having guests again....and for me they seem to be knocking down the door. I decided to re-vamp my Guest Bedroom and have been giving some thought as to what I want them to experience in my home. I started off by sleeping in my own guest room to see what the experience was like. I packed my bag and "moved in"....here is what I've learned! Joyous Decorating! ASHLEIGH

Space is Tantamount
Guests come with lots of "things", so keeping yours to a minimum is imperitive! A few very well placed pieces create all the atmosphere they need and the room for them to lay down their own necessities. On the bed side table I like to proved a water carafe and glass, a great reading lamp and a poesy of lightly scented flowers. An easy to operate alarm clock is a bonus. I like traditional clocks rather than digital because they tend to be smaller and do not glare at you when you are trying to fall asleep in a strange place.

Is It A Guest Bedroom or Your Local Storage
Keep the closet free and clear of all of your clutter. If you are desperate for space, try risers for the bed and plastic under bed storage bins for your pack rat habits. The Container Store offers a myriad of options and if a total clean out of your closet is just not possible, make it very organized with their Elfa System!

Home away from Home
Create a relaxing space that your guest can really relax----hey, they are on vacation!

• Keep an extra blanket and pillow at the top of the closet and an iron at the bottom.


• Leave local information like TimeOut, Zagat Guide and public transportation info accessible and up to date


• A lovely place to sit in the sun, snuggle in a chair or lounge leaves a private place for your guest to relax on their vacation---leave some of your favorite books, magazines or the daily newspaper in a place that they would likely take a moment to themselves!

Most likely you know your guest very well, so take 10 minutes to think of the things that they love and try to incorporate them into their new space within your own! Whether that is leaving them some of their favorite snacks, a lovely cream or a little present they can take home with them---make it special!

Before and After

I love before and after posts, when you are in the midst of a project its often easy to forget what a transformation you can make in peoples homes. This is a project that I finished recently, the picture on the right is the before shot, its what the Bedroom looked like when my clients bought the house, nice enough. I decided that the window was the perfect spot for a little sitting area, and to help proportion the windows a bit better I layered drapery with matchstick shades.

The area really needed a big light fixture, but I went with a very inexpensive Chinese paper shade instead of a chandelier, the effect is to just lighten the look and stop it from being too serious.

I hope you enjoy

Art can change the way you see the world

I was lucky enough, this holiday season to rent a house in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Aside from being really cold, it was an absolutely beautiful place to spend a week. One of the things that made it so interesting was the huge selection of art galleries. I had heard of the art scene here, but had always expected to see lots of Indian inspired pieces, and bad "coyote art". Nothing could be further from the truth! There was a terrific selection of work, both traditional and modern, so it really was a great place to check out a lot of things in a short period of time.

I ended up buying the above piece by an artist Aristides Ruiz from the Klaudia Marr Gallery. It is part of a series he did of portraits done in ball point pen. I think it's stunning and its a great addition to the pieces I already have at home. But the piece made me think more broadly about what makes good art, and the art viewing experience. For me, I want pieces that make me look at the world in a different way. The fact that this is done in such a modest medium (ball point pen), but is so finely executed, and the subject so humble, it is really inspiring.

So I hope that when you are looking for art, look for things that leave you thinking of the world in a different sort of way, that is successful art, well at least in my mind.

Inspiration for Tile Designs

I am always a fan of the slightly out of the norm, and unexpected. That's why, when I design bathrooms, I am always looking for something a bit out of the ordinary. One place I look for inspiration is fabric designs. The way fabric is made (with weft and warp) makes it a great resource for creating patterns for tile.

In the children's bathroom above, I used Gingham fabric as my source, when you study the design it is actually pretty easy to recreate in tile. A bit more complicated, but just as interesting would be a plaid design, or if you are a bit less, ambitious, a stripe would be great too.

I think it would be cool to use the real fabric as the shower curtain, and then recreate the same design in tile....now that will impress your friends!

One of my Favorite Photo's

This is one of my favorite photo's of our work. The photographer is not only very talented but also a close friend, his name is John Ellis, and if you click on his name it will take you to his website, and you can check out even more of his work.

The reason I like this particular image, is because it embodies a lot of my design philosophies. Here are some things that are typical of our work, and ideas that anyone can use to create a sophisticated, casual look:

• VERY simple color palette
• Mixing up of textures, chenille on the sofa, with woven leather pillows. Reclaimed wood end table with glass table lamp.
• Abstract modern art, set against primitive African Pieces.

The Philosophy is about great objects work with other great pieces, and try not to have too many things clamoring for attention.

Ashleigh's Favorite Design Books

I grew up in the US Virgin Islands & Lake Forest IL---two very different styles pervade both of these very beautiful and amazing places and much of my taste and sense of style stems from the homes of both iconic places. Here are two design books which I feel relate that same sense of graceful style, Regency and Classicism.

Caribbean Elegance
This book provides a true perspective of how different ruling countries style affected local tastes across islands as well as the influence of African design on furniture and architecture. I love the open feeling of these homes which is so valid here in California where weather permits outdoor living much of the year.

Classic Country Estates of Lake Forest: Architecture and Landscape Design, 1856-1940

On the shore of Lake Michigan, north of Chicago IL, lies the historic town of Lake Forest----a virtual intersection of affluence, architecture, interior and landscape design which has continued since its founding 201 years ago. The Wrigley's (of gum fame), Mr Marshall Fields (synonymous with the department stores) and even Mr T have made their mark on this verdant town known as the Beverly Hills of the Midwest. Although this book only covers the country estates, many of which still exist, up until the 1940s, the design aesthetic within is worth perusing. I look forward to a more modern review of the many homes which have been built in Lake Forest since the 1940s which encompass every style and size imaginable!

Rugs--The Tough Buy

There are many pieces of the puzzle when creating a room but, for me, one of the most important is an Area Rug. Nothing is more central to creating warmth, style, and color. And quite often, nothing is more complicated to purchase. There are so many choices that I thought I would give you some basics to start your search~ Ashleigh

Construction Methods
Rugs can be made in many ways with a myriad of fabrics and textures, yielding a variety of looks.

Hand Knotted is an ancient skill consisting of tying thousands to tiny knots to the weft threads on a loom which are then secured by the warp threads. It requires great skill, patience and artistry and yields a one of a kind and long lasting investment. Machine loomed versions can resemble the unique look and longevity of handmade at a fraction of the cost.

Tufted rugs are produced by pushing yarn up though a mesh foundation with a needle or a gun, glue backed. The yarn is either cut, creating a cut pile rug or left intact called a looped or hooked pile rug. Machine made tufted rugs are the norm and rarely can be distinguished from handmade.

Flat Woven rugs have no pile as they consist of only weft and warp threads---they are literally flat but can be very soft when made of thicker fibers like wool felt. Because of their construction method, flat rugs do not hide debris, wear more quickly than others and slip unless one puts a pad underneath. Nevertheless, their relative inexpensive nature lets you replace them with little or no (financial) guilt!

Materials
There are five major categories of materials from which rugs are made from. They vary in price, durability, style, texture, eco-impact, and appropriateness of use in certain climates. The Rugmark Foundation is an global non profit organization devoted to ending child labor in the handmade carpet industry. From their website you can find a retailer of certified rugs by designer or style.

Wool rugs come in an enormous variety of colors, all of the construction methods and resilience to last a lifetime. The most desirable wool comes from Tibet and New Zealand---the colder climate causes the sheep to produce more lanolin, which enhances the fiber's strength, texture and stain resistance qualities. While being relatively soft, wool rugs are water, stain and soil resistant and also is mold and mildew resistant. All of these wonderful qualities do lead to higher prices---you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 for a 6x9 machine made rug to upwards of $20 000 for a handmade designer rugs. If your budget can withstand the hit, a wool rug is an investment which can stand the test of time.
Michaelian & Kohlberg is a trusted vendor that carries both modern and traditional handmade rugs and they have a closeout section (web based) which gives great value for money.

Cotton rugs are lightweight, inexpensive and casual. They are most commonly found in a flat weave but cut pile rugs have been coming out in the market in a wonderful array of colors. If you are looking for a rug to imbue texture and color without wearing out your wallet, cotton is an environmental and economical choice. Smaller rugs can be put in the washing machine or hosed down & scrubbed, treated with common household detergents and they are biodegradable so when your mood, finances or whims change, So Can Your Rug!
I particularly love the color and vibrancy that several of these rugs woven or tufted rugs from Anthropologie provides.

Natural Fiber rugs are anything and everything from sisal (agave leaves), jute (stalks of corchorus herbs), seagrass (from the stems of tall marsh plants), coir (coconut husks), hemp (stalks of cannabis plant), abaca (from the leaves and stems of banana plants) and even paper! The construction methods are becoming more varied from the standard flat weave and interesting patterns and textures come onto the market all of the time. As a neutral ground, natural fiber rugs provide a great backdrop for both modern and antique furniture and are often used as a "summer" option, giving your heavier rug a rest. This fiber can be rough under foot so are best used in places where one does not stand for long periods of time (like in front of the sink!). Additionally, jute and seagrass cannot be used in humid parts of the country, as they absorb moisture and can develop mold and mildew. For all the reasons why not to buy a natural fiber rug, there are many wonderful reasons why this material is a great choice--they are inexpensive, ecologically sound, and their natural tones mean that they can be used in just about every room in the house!
I just installed this rug in a home that Mark decorated; it is amazing for both the color and the texture---and a steal! Crate & Barrel

Synthetic fiber rugs can mimic the highest price of natural materials and still provide affordability, style and durability. Unfortunately, the amount of energy required to make them, their relatively unbiodegradable nature and the fact that they are generally made of petroleum products make them a no go for many devotees of the new environmental movement. They are cheap, readily available in just about every style and there is no wait to suffer once you have made your choice.
I really like the versatility of FLOR rugs but they can only be used on a hard surface so don't make the mistake of laying them over your existing wall to wall carpet.

Finally, Silk rugs make up for a extraordinarily small proportion of the number of rugs sold in the market but in terms of prestige and price, it is a power house! Most rugs are handmade and consist of mostly silk with a bit of wool for elasticity and durability. The beauty of these rugs cannot be surpassed, both for the amazing look of the material in addition to the undeniably rich feeling you get underfoot. Many people choose to hang these rugs as art, as walking all over ones investment of thousands of dollars leaves both footprints, wear and tear and cleaning these beauties is neigh on impossible.
Purchasing a silk rug is highly advisable if you are visiting India, Turkey or Egypt. Notwithstanding that, The Rug Company has beautiful offerings and can make any of their designs in Silk, just for you!

The Size of It
So once you are sure of the material and construction of the rug of your dreams, be sure that the size you are looking for really works in your space. However your furniture is arranged in your room, keep this in mind---Your rug should be large enough to go under the front legs of all large pieces or, if you want to show off your beautiful floor, then it should be small enough that NONE of the furniture legs sit on it...and don't forget a rug pad!