Designer Insight

July 12, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Describe your idea or memory of the perfect summer place. Has anything about that special place in time provided inspiration for your work?

My family farm in central Illinois has been our homestead for 130 years. I had many private childhood times exploring the structure, textures and sounds from within the vast space of an old picturesque hip roof barn that stood proudly in the pasture. As I think back, my use of rustic, rough-hewn timber echoes those old pegged beams that rose to the rafters. Memories of textures from straw and barn-siding have sprung to life as decorative finishes and artwork throughout my designs. These early visuals definitely had an impact on my juxtaposing earthy and grounded texture with a modern aesthetic. --Doug Wilson

March 5, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (3)

I asked our design panelists to imagine: it's 3 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2009, the phone rings, and the call is from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The new president is inviting you to oversee a redecoration of the White House, including a complete makeover of the First Family’s private living quarters. Political preferences aside, which candidate would you most like to have as a client, and what would you do? Their responses appear here, and in our March 2008 issue. --Susan Dickenson

Doug Wilson -- Why can’t our “royal” families have a little fun and put true personality into the digs that they’ll inhabit for four to eight years? Hillary Clinton was in charge of her domain during the Bill years, but now just might be the time to ...Read More

January 12, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (21)

November 24, 2007 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Both wallpaper and metallics have ruled the decorating trends of 2007. The gradual pull away from the modern white walls, floating shelves and the unfortunate framed posters has given way to the reintegration of wallpaper in the home. The new wave of wallpapers out there is boldly patterned, big, and beautiful with a focus on sophisticated prints. I especially liked the trend of gilded wallpapers which have followed the lead from fashion and furniture. Metallics are dramatic and whether I use it in shiny paint, gleaming wallpaper, home accessories or my own accessories, it is one of my favorite ways of adding a touch of elegance. The company Graham & Brown is one of t...Read More

September 17, 2007 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Many industries, especially in design, have quickly adopted the environmental cause and taken on the challenge of creating new eco-friendly alternatives. We can now buy Zero-VOC house paints, energy-saving appliances, eco-chic furniture made from reclaimed and recycled materials and everything in between. Clients are expressing their desire for eco-friendly goods at an unprecedented rate. With new construction occurring in tandem with the new baby boom, parents are more conscientious of the environment they are providing for their children.

All in all, there has been a long-awaited awakening to the needs of the planet as well as to our personal well-being. It is easy to make these changes in one’s own life, especially as we become more educated and have more choices in green products, which is why I am developing my own line o...Read More