Berkshire Estate: Family Room + Patio

Outdoor patios of yesteryear use to be the last space to be designed in a home.  Most people would buy a matching patio set (usually made of wrought iron), add an outdoor umbrella and call it good.

Today's patios are more like outdoor family spaces, with soft weather resistant fabrics,

 pillows, sofas, end tables, etc.  Take a look at the

BERKSHIRE'S FAMILY ROOM + PATIO,

and how similar the indoor/outdoor spaces are!

The fire pit was custom built by the same concrete company that made all the counter tops.  

You can also buy similar fire pits at Restoration Hardware. 

Recognize the brick on the fireplace? It's the same brick we used on the exterior.  Using the brick was a great way to add a sense of age to the newly built space as well as consistency to the home. 

We needed a  16x16 rug in the family room, so Flor tile came to our rescue again! 

Tomorrow we'll wrap up the remaining spaces, including the guest suite, 

the 2nd kitchen and family room, and a couple more bathrooms.

Whew! Almost done with the Berkshire Estate, then on to Canyon Crest!

{Interior Design by Brooke Jones Designs, Photography by Jylare Smith}

Marble Infinity Sink Design Board

Nothing is more timeless than Carrara marble. If it was good enough for 

Michelangelo to sculpt the David out of, 

it's good enough for our modern homes, right?

Here is a classic bathroom designed around the 

CARRARA MARBLE INFINITY SINK.

 The REACH FAUCET 

is from offered at ChicVesselSink.com, as well, in chrome, nickel or oil-rubbed bronze.

Tres chic, don't you think?

1. Restoration Hardware Pivot Mirror

2. Thomas O'Brien Hicks Pendant

3. Chic Vessel Chic Reach Faucet in Chrome

4. Ann Sacks Beveled Subway Tile

5. Carrara Marble Infinity Sink

Perfect Pair: Back to School Fashions + Youth Room Decor

It's that time of year again- time to head back to class.  I always loved this time of year growing up.  The anxiety-ridden wait to find what friends are going to be in your class, the new books, pens, folders, and, most importantly, the new clothes!  Call me crazy, as modern as my tastes are, I love using traditional fabrics and silhouettes in both YOUTH FASHIONS & ROOM DECOR.

"Back to school, back to school, back to prove that I'm no fool." 

 -Billy Madison

(My husband and I decided this adorable girl is what our little girl will look like one day. Fingers crossed!) 

(I DIE over those suspenders!)

Doesn't this time of year make you want to be a kid again? Sigh... They have it made.

Who's ready to go back to school?

{images via Pinterest, Zara, Scotch & Soda, Restoration Hardware & Stockholm Street Style}

Jones Living Room Design Board

Remember this post after I sold my living room chairs to make room for a desk? Well, like most of my projects, as soon as I changed one thing, the project snowballed into changing 2... 3... 7...  items and now it's almost a complete redo.  Whoops! I'm absolutely loving it, though.  Here's my game plan:

I already own half of these pieces, thank goodness.  The sofa in the board is not an exact match, but is close to my black velvet sofa I designed when I worked at Bassett Furniture.  I've had a love/hate relationship with the fabric but as it's nylon and black it wears like nailes and cleans like a dream!  The mirrored end tables I bought at Target years ago, I think for $40 a piece-- such a steal!  The nickel and glass coffee table is another memento from my Bassett days (originally it was $1200+, but add in my employee discount on top of the clearance price and I walked out with it for less than $200.  Awesome.).   The lead crystal floor lamp is from Restoration Hardware and retails at about $600+.  I found mine at a scratch-and-dent store (anyone else in UT love DownEast Home?) and it was mis-tagged for only $25.  I asked the sale associate about it and she said she's honor the price. CHA-CHING!!! $575 savings for me! And believe me, it's a quality lamp, 'cause that thing is heav-VY.

Here's where the new stuff comes in.  I had dove grey velvet curtains in my head for my large picture window but in Texas I visited a Restoration Hardware OUTLET.  They accepted my designer discount on top of their prices. I picked up a pair of charcoal grey Belgium twill grommet panels for less than $100 (they were more than that a piece originally). DONE! If you live anywhere near San Marcos, Texas you must visit the outlets-- Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn/West Elm/William-Sonoma, Crate and Barrel, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, etc. etc.  It was a shopping paradise. 

Last week I stopped by a different location of the same scratch-and-dent store where I got my lamp.  In all honesty, I went shopping for a client but ended up buying something for me.  Surprisingly, that doesn't happen as often as you would think.  Anyway, I came across a desk that looked a LOT like this:

Be still my heart...

...except the top portion of the DownEast desk is french blue.  

Upon a little inquiring, I found out that the polished nickel trestle bases are the real deal from William-Sonoma but the top, though it looks the exact same as the WS original besides for the hardware and ...ahem... blue finish, use to have wooden legs that were freight damaged.  With a savings of about $1575, I took the soon-to-be-gorgeous 'Frankenstein-ed' desk (I'm currently in the process of researching who could paint the top white.  The blue has got to go.).  

Next on my shopping list is this little beauty, as seen from Pieces Inc:

I didn't spend $1850 on the William-Sonoma desk, so there's no way I'm going to spend that on a chair.   The chair is from the late 1960's-70's designed by Anton Lorenz.  I have found a few vintage ones on etsy and eBay in pretty good shape but all are in need of some hair-on-hide re-upholstery.  Since hair-on-hide can get spendy, I'm holding out until I can find this chair for less than $100.  If you see one in your local Craigslist, LET ME KNOW!!!

After my pocket book recovers from there, I will invest in a custom-made credenza for my television (have I ever written about how much I HATE media credenzas these days? I don't mind seeing the TV, but do we have to see the cable box and X Box too?).  I'm thinking something that completely closes off the components, in white lacquer, inspired by the 1920's or maybe the 1970's.  

As far as the rest of the accessories, well, I think I'm going to save that for tomorrow.  I think I may need your help on that part...

Not too bad for a savings of $3850+ and counting!

{images via WS Home & Pieces Inc}

Design Crush: Ron Marvin

This home made my jaw drop. I am a HUGE contrast nut and I have not seen a designer master the art of contrast quite like Ron Marvin did for this home.  From the layered art and accessories to the mix of traditional and modern pieces, Mr. Marvin's work is perfection.

Do you think this room was inspired by the moody Ralph Lauren bedroom, as seen in this post?

Le Corbusier's Pony Chaise could possibly by the sexiest chair that has ever existed. Grrr....

You too can achieve this chic and masculine look.  Mr. Marvin used more budget-friendly sources like Restoration Hardware and Ralph Lauren Home.  Check out my best picks to get add a little contrast to your home...

(items listed clockwise from top left)

1. Hickory Chair's Hallings Secretary

2. Restoration Hardware's Solid Ribbed Tibetan Rug

3. Ralph Lauren's Limited Edition Photography (Paul Newman, Audrey Hepburn, Louis Armstrong)

4. Arterior's Silver Tray

5. Circa Lighting's Caged Lantern

6. Le Corbusier's Pony Chaise

7. Z Gallerie's Faux Coral

8. Chinchilla Faux Fur Throw

9. Arterior's Ice Bucket

10. Eduardo Garza's Stone and Lucite Box

11. Benjamin Moore Paint Classic Brown #2109-10 and Edgecomb Gray #HC-173

12. Quadrille Fabric's Aga Reverse in Brown on Tint

13. Circa Lighting's Stacked 3 Ball Lamp in Quartz

Check out more of this fabulous home in the premiere issue of TradHome!

Look for Less: Urban Home

Are you like me and have champagne tastes on a root beer budget? Well we are not alone. Though I always stress "buy the best quality you can afford," sometimes the budget calls for some compromises (ok, EVERYONE'S budget calls for compromises, even the rich and famous, I've come to learn).  That's why I was so happy to come across this amazing source!  Check out these looks for less from Urban Home. 

 {Urban Home's Lauren Chair vs. Crate&Barrel's Colette Chair}

A savings of $350 a chair!

{Urban Home's Devonshire Day Bed vs. Crate&Barrel's Simone Daybed}

A savings of $620!

 {Urban Home's Entice Mist Ottoman vs. Global Views' Poof Ottoman}

A savings of $600!

{Urban Home's Entice Mist Sofa vs. Z Gallerie's Pauline Sofa}

A savings of $400! 

I would actually recommend the Z Gallerie version, if you could afford it.  Upholstery is not an area you want to cut corners.  But then again, if you have to, Urban's Home's version isn't too bad!  Just change those pillows. Please.

{Urban Home's Chesapeake Side Table vs. Pottery Barn's Stratton Bedside Table}
A savings of $110!

{ Urban Homes' Ray Table vs. West Elm's Parson's Table}
A savings of $200!

{Urban Home's Havana Bed vs. Restoration Hardware's Camden Arch Bed}

Choosing the bed on the the left would save you a wopping $1500!!!

Not to shabby, if I do say so myself.  There really are many more "copy cat" pieces at Urban Home, but instead of having an endless post, just know, if you like something on this site, there is probably a more expensive version out there and you are getting a steal!  

And The Chandelier of Choice Is....

A few days ago I posted this room inspired by an editorial image from Elle France.

I asked you, my readers, to help me with the lighting by giving you three fixture options to choose from.  I'm glad to announce we have a winner!  To my happy surprise the winning fixture was......

Option #3, Restoration Hardware's Foucault's Iron Orb Chandelier!!!

This piece was inspired by a nineteenth century physicist, Leon Foucault, and his gyroscope.  Makes you want to watch The Big Bang Theory, right?

 I say I was happily surprised because I thought most people would go for the more traditional fixtures.  Option #2 was close to being the winner...

...but then my fabulous sister made the comment that it looks like a naked lady oil lamp my chic Grandmother use to own...

Sadly, this lamp has a special place in my heart, though this may be one item from the 70's we shouldn't try to resurrect.  After a little research, I found out these lamps were popular in the 70's, along with disco and fondue.  Needless to say, this reference may have killed #2's chance of being the winner.

Thanks again for your participation!  I may have to take poles more often!

See the orginial post and comments here.

Can This Be Made Into A Room? Elle France

As I've said before, I'm a boot-aholic.  Nothing is more stylish, flattering, and not to mention functional in these cold winter months.  When I came across this image from the December 2010 issue of Elle France, I knew I had to turn it into a room! 

I love the mix of the light and feminine against the rich and masculine materials.   The outfit has a Spanish flair to it, kind of like a modern-day flamenco dancer turned equestrian.  I started my room by pairing handsomely tailored Spanish Baroque-style leather wing chairs (vintage, 1stDibs) with a modern-day leather day bed (William-SonomaHome).  Aren't these pieces what you picture when you hear the word 'masculine'?  Just me? Maybe I'm the only one who thinks of the world in terms of furniture...

Anywho, here is the design tip of the day.  Always mix an unexpected element into a room.  An easy way to do this is to add a modern piece, like the daybed, into a traditional room and vise-versa. Now, this can be tricky.  At least once a week I see clients trying to mix modern and traditional together, but if it's not done the correct way, it just looks hodge-podge.  Make sure there is some consistency between the two styles, like the chocolate leather and clean silhouettes of both chairs and day bed.  By mixing periods, you get a more 'collected' look, rather than 'I-bought-the-vignette-off-the-showroom-floor' look.  Much more chic. 

To ground the room I would add a large Persian rug and make sure at least 6" of the chairs and daybed are either on or off the rug (I highly recommend on. Remember this tip?).  I would then dress all the windows in tapestry panels with solid almond-colored sheers, reminiscent of our model's brocade jacket over the lacy blouse.  Windows are always a great place to layer!  For a little more femininity, I would add bunches of down pillows with flamenco ruffles, paisley patterns, and accented in tassels.  Add an elegant Spanish side table from the 1920's (1stDibs) and accessorize it with a regal horse statue (RestorationHardware) for a little more Spanish charm. 

Doesn't it seem like there's a certain something missing?  If you were wondering where all the lighting went, you have a designer's eye!  I'd love to have your opinion on what style of general lighting you'd like to see in this room.  Here are three choices, so leave me a comment to let me know your favorite!

Option 1:

1920's Wrought Iron Spanish Chandelier via 1st Dibs

Option 2:

Classic 1920's Iron and Mica Pendant Fixture via 1st Dibs
(I would use either two side by side, or use three in a grouping all hung at different lengths.)



Option 3:

Foucault's Iron Orb Chandelier via Restoration Hardware



I can't wait to hear what you think! I'll announce the results on Monday, so stay tuned!!