Love the high-end look but not the price tag?  I thought I would put my skills to the test and custom design a living room for under $5,000.  This modern/casual living room has all the basic elements you need with most of your budget going to investment pieces such as uphsoltered furniture, rugs and artwork.  I am open to suggestions for future posts, so lay it on me!

The Rundown:

1. Bellacor Pebble Table Lamp  - Made of shapely ceramic in a pebble finish, this table lamp exudes charm. It is crowned by a paper bag hardback drum shade. - $120
2. “Call” Acrylic Painting from the Artful Home - Created by Amy Bouse - One of a Kind - $350
3. Orange Cased Bowl from Bellacor - $43
4. Martine Sofa from Crate & Barrel - Fabric:  Como-Olive - Eco-Friendly construction - 76.5″Wx36″Dx34.75″H- $1,499
5. Slab Coffee Table from Z Gallerie- Chamcha wood, sourced from the trunks of naturally felled trees in Northern Thailand - 50” x 27-29” x 16.5”H - $549
6. Cira Silk Pillow - Aqua - Shimmering dupioni and mulberry silk combine in a beautiful accent pillow with self-welt finishing - Feather Down Insert - 2@$49.95 each - $99.90
7. Jasper Chair from Room & Board- Dorien/Oatmeal fabric - pre-washed 100% cotton microweave - $799
8. Dandelion Persimmon Rug from Company C - A soft, modern look with incredible texture. Hooked yarns accentuate this tufted rug to create a landscape of color you can actually feel. 100% wool, tufted - 6′x9′ - $1,125
9. Galerie Side Table from Crate & Barrel - Three tiered round side table in Espresso Stain - 23.75″dia.x23.75″H - $199

The Grand Total: $4,783.90

Did you enter our Free Giveaway today?

Hi everyone! 

Lorrie was kind enough to pass over the reigns to me today so that I could introduce you to Benjamin Heinrich, a friend of mine that creates beautiful, custom-made modern furniture.  Benjamin resides in Berlin, Germany and translates his love of shapes and forms into fantasic, sculputural pieces made of exotic woods, high gloss finishes, stainless steel and LED lighting.  The effect translates into graceful forms that are truly amazing and very unique.

I hope you enjoy these pieces as much as I do.  If you would like to see more of Benjamin’s work, please visit his website, which is in German.  There is no need to worry if you can’t read German, there are plenty of photos that speak volumes.

Enjoy!

~ Tim

Modern furnishings add simple sophistication and interest to any room. The clean lines, fresh colors and simple details are very pleasing to the eye.  In recent years we have seen very heavy traditional looks emerge from the major furniture manufacturers.  I feel that the Modern style is a welcome change. 

Today I am going to highlight some of the great modern pieces I have spotted in My Secret Database as well as give you some guidelines on how to add the Modern Style to your own home.

1. Jump In- Select one modern piece that appeals to you and you will be on your way.  Don’t be intimidated by mixing traditional with modern.  Think of it as a piece of artwork that is an accent in your room.
2. Look for Quality - Some people may think that buying modern furniture is going to cost them less money because the pieces are not as intricate or heavy.  This is simply not so.  Because the pieces are simpler, flaws are harder to hide.  Make sure the pieces have a high quality finish, hardwood elements(nothing is made of fiberboard - like drawer bottoms or the back of the piece) and that nothing creaks or wobbles when you sit on it.
3. Seek Antiques - Most people do not think of antiques when they think of modern furniture, yet there are many mid-century modern pieces that are very popular these days.  From newly made reproductions to antiques on eBay and 1st Dibs, you can discover a high-quality piece and start your own collection.
4. Start with Art, Lighting or Accessories- Test the waters with something small but noticeable.  In my home, the most modern element is the artwork and I really love it.  Modern paintings and photos with simple black frames add a bold accent to your room.

So whether you have always been a fan of the Modern style or if you are considering your first piece, I am confident that with a keen eye and the tips above you will find the perfect addition to your home.

Search My Secret Database for Modern Style furnishings!

Perhaps you have seen the names Charles and Ray Eames when flipping through a Design Within Reach catalog and wondered who they were.  This immensely talented couple were responsible for major contributions in the world of furniture design, industrial design, art, graphic design, film and architecture.   The pair married in 1941 and lived their lives in Los Angeles where each of them used their particular talents to form a dynamic duo. 

Charles’ early background lie primarily in architecture; though his talents ran the gammat.  Ray was an artist and filmaker with a keen eye.  Together they are best known to the wider population as the designers of timeless, beatiful mid-century furniture pieces whose original designs and reproductions are still in demand.  Originally the furniture companies and catalogs only gave Charles credit for the designs but eventually it became clear that Ray contributed equally.  Many of the fabric designs on the pieces were her exclusive designs. 

In honor of this amazing couple, I thought I would do a little shopping on Ebay to see if I could spot a few of their original pieces and others inspired by them.  Personally, I think their partnership worked so well because they had complimentary talents and respected each other.  They were forward thinking, socially responsible and upbeat.  Plus, he listened to her

I hope you enjoy the eBay slide show.  Also, please write to me and let me know if there are any particular topics you would like to see more of.  I have lots of design secrets, just let me know what you need!

Thank you for your tremendously positive response to the fabulous bathroom makeover last week.  My friend Amy is now a celebrity in the most prestigious circles of New Jersey!  I hope that you will be able to use my valuable tips for your own project.  Now I am back with more insider guidance to take you every step of the way in designing a beautiful living room.

Today I am featuring a project I completed on a very tight schedule.  Normally, after carefully considering my client’s wants and needs, I order custom furnishings that take at least 3-4 months to be fabricated and delivered.  In this instance, my client needed to move into the apartment within 2 months and he wanted a Modern look.  With a little ingenuity and a lot hard work, the project was successfully completed in 2 months flat, from start to finish.  For 90% of the project I used the very same retail sources that you have access to in My Secret Database.

Here’s an easy way to successfully furnish a fantastic living room:

1. Have a clear vision of the look you are after.  Look through magazines and at photos online.  Be honest with yourself.  Trends are tempting; but will you still love the look a few years from now?  Keep these photos with you at all times as a guide.
2. Look at the bones of your project.  In this project the carpeting and the walls were drab.  We changed the carpeting from a flecked Berber to a solid one and then choose a warm celery color for the walls that was used throughout the whole apartment.  A small space feels larger and more unified with one color.
3. Furniture first - the rest later.  You might be inspired by a pillow, but that should not be your first purchase.  Select your furniture and then move on to pillows, window treatments and accessories.  They are the icing on the cake.
4. Be patient - If you you find a sofa and chairs you love at a great price, but you have to wait a couple of months for delivery, then wait it out.  So many people will drive themselves crazy for the next two months looking for a replacement that can be delivered immediately, only to come back to the original choice in the end.
5. Great design is in the details.  This project is 3 years old, but you would never know it.  Here are some affordable tips to get the designer look.

• The custom-made draperies shown are white cotton panels with silver grommets.  Lately I have seen many low-cost imitations at JCPenney, Restoration Hardware and Linens-N-Things.
• One of my great designer secrets is that Crate and Barrel has a phenomenal selection of pillows with down fillers at great prices. 
• The lamp shown is quite expensive, but I wrote a post in January showing an affordable replacement.

I hope this inspires you to start your project and to move forward with confidence.  Explore My Secret Database to quickly find the treasures you seek!

I call it “Mod-tique”.  Combining timeless beauty with a fresh new twist.  A classic sofa with a contemporary fabric.  A loft decked out in ultra-modern furnishings with a reclaimed wood floor.  State of the art kitchen cabinets with rustic, hand-hewn knobs.  These are choices that are the hallmark of professional designers.  The ability to select items that combine timeless beauty with a bold new look.  It lends an air of sophistication to your design that takes it to a whole new level.

Here are a few items that fall into the “Mod-tique” look.  Check out the colors, finishes and shapes and you will start to see the light.

Create your own Mod-tique look by searching My Secret Database!

I am not talking about a dog but rather something that could make your home just as warm and inviting.  Stray Dog Designs carries a stellar selection of home furnishings and they have a unique back-story.  Bill Pritchard and Jane Gray were newly-weds in Mexico in 1994 “figuring it out” when they came upon a small, sad looking pup that needed a good home.  They took La Princessa in as their first joint project and things just took off from there.  They started importing pottery to the States and that soon evolved into having a tinsmith bring Jane’s artistic visions to life in the form of lamps, mirrors, urns and other cool stuff.  In 1995 they were very warmly received at the Atlanta Gift Show and the rest, as they say, is history. 

They now live on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee with 3 kids and a houseful of pets which of course includes a former Stray Dog (a Great Dane named Big Girl).  They carry accessories, lighting, furniture and cool holiday stuff.  I would say their style has a Dr. Seusslike quality to it but with a bit of modern polish.  In their words: “Stray Dog Designs’ core design principles are simple: all items are handmade with careful construction from quality and recycled materials, melding quirky charm and true artistry, and providing fair wages for local workers.”  The vivid colors and whimsical shapes are the product of two people who run a company with a lot of heart and soul.

Come Visit Stray Dog Designs on My Design Secrets!

You put your personal spin on home decorating by choosing colors and patterns that create the mood you love.  But no matter how hard you try, there’s no denying that the products and colors that are available to us are influenced by extensive research and forecasting.  I always encourage you to go with your gut on what colors appeal to you; but that doesn’t mean you cannot appreciate and utilize the new shades, tones and palettes that have been carefully orchestrated by the color forecasting teams at the large paint companies.  They present new points of view on old favorites and totally new colors are being formulated as a result of improved technology in the paint industry.

Trends in home design make a couple of stops before they wind their way to your doorstep.  We often see patterns and colors starting a trend in the world of fashion.  The following year you will see these colors start to infuse the world of custom interior design.  Finally these palettes arrive in the retail home decorating world in large retail furniture and fabric collections.  These are the colors that reflect our communal thoughts about what’s going on in the world and what colors feel like “home” to us.  There is some fantastic inspiration out there and I see some common themes popping up:  Organic, Comfort, Modern, Tranquil, Opulent, Natural, Classic & Getaway.  Start with what you have and add something refreshing and new!

Shop for Paint and Wall Finishes in My Secret Database! 

Boutique hotels provide wonderful interior design inspiration.  Unlike large, chain hotels, the interior designers are often encouraged to focus on ambiance above all else and make the guests feel they are enveloped in luxury.  Occasionally I will show you some great hotel interiors that deserve your attention and give you some insight as to why the design works and how they pull it together.

The photo above is from the Setai in South Beach, Miami.  Their motto is “Be embraced by Serenity”; and you can certainly see they live up to this promise.  This bedroom creates a wonderful mood and achieves a delicate balance.  Let’s start at the bottom and make our way up.  The flooring is a combination of teak and slate.  The combination of flooring gives you a nice balance of warmth and coolness as well defining the spaces.  The simple linens on the bed are graceful and crisp.  This is a look that it is easy to create in your own bedroom.  The wall color is creamy and warm.  Nothing too bold to take away from the beautiful wood.  Lighting, now this is critical.  They have used 3 different types of lighting in this room.  An overall light from the ceiling that highlights the bed and could be used for reading.  The sconces add drama and ambiance along with the floor lamps which are a good idea for a small spaces where nightstands are a squeeze.  All lights are controlled from switches beside the bed.  There are a lot of straight lines in this room but the central focus is on the soft, light colored bed that softens the space and balances the feel.   Overall a great design.

Make sure to explore the Exotic Style in My Secret Database!

Amazing.  Innovative. Inspirational.

That’s Ann Sacks tile.  Never before I have seen such an effective translation of art into tile.  There are new collections appearing all the time.  They craft some very traditional styles and patterns, but I smile every time I see an ad for one of her fresh new collections.  Back in 1980, while some of us were sporting big hair, Ann was looking for the perfect wedding dress and saw a box of Mexican tile being sold as trivets.  It inspired her.  She first worked with hand-glazed Mexican tile, then she started a line to coordinate with Kohler fixtures.  Next came a stone collection.  Eventually the  company started embracing a more modern look and feel.  Ann sold the company to Kohler in the early 1990’s, but she continues to contribute to the line.

I have purchased quite a bit of of tile from Ann Sacks for my clients.  Their customer service is top notch and they offer tile at many price points to fit your imagination and your budget!

Visit Ann Sacks on My Design Secrets!