Contemporary Life

When I think of contemporary design and ideas I think updated... new.... a different way to do what we've always done. In design and housing it can be updated building materials, new ways to stylize a fixture. Contemporary is always a more linear look... less is more, everything in it's place. That's my perspective. Here are a few takes on design I call Contemporary Life.

Euro-mobile kitchen- great for condo living

What an inspiring home office

A sleek Italian designed kitchen

Linear designed kitchen storage keeps everything in it's place...it's just what I need

In a highly contemporary dining room add traditional chairs for a twist

New trends in a small space... mount the sink and faucet from the wall

Don't you just love this highly stylized sofa interpretation?...Mumba

French Style in America

French influence in American interior design is everywhere... from the foyer to the bedroom, and everywhere in between. Even the vocabulary of design is saturated with French, my favorite being... chandelier and armoire... don't we all value antiques? Everyone already knows how I feel about toile from my previous post. Americans have always felt more sophisticated and fashionable with what comes out of France. After all Paris is still viewed as the fashion capitol of the world. As America developed it's interior design aesthetic it's no different.... All roads led from France....It's tres chic?

18th Century Walnut Armoire

Toile fabric on chair and drapes

image: Traditional Home

Country French daybed

Country French inspired kitchen

Cotton canvas covered settee

Musicians go green

When Weekly photographer Danielle Vernon and I saw this low-hanging branch on a tree behind the Bus Barn Theatre in Los Altos, we knew it would be a perfect place to photograph our interview subjects, kids' musicians Doctor Noize and Andy Z. The guys were all for it, and even gave us an impromptu concert. Is it Arbor Day already?

Cutstom Window Treatments-Online

Roman shade-flat

Raman shade-waterfall

Roman shade-flat with black band

Green pinch pleats

Pinch pleats

Roman shade-waterfall

I love designing window treatments for projects I'm working on but don't do it nearly enough. With years of knowledge working with fabrics, and putting rooms together I'm exploring offering custom window treatments online. What I want to offer are drapes but I'm also considering Roman shades. What's popular on windows now is a relaxed but finished treatment...nothing that resembles your grandmother's drapes. I'm in the process of selecting vendors and fabrics... styles and working with a workroom to have the work done here in Virginia. I'll be able to exercise high quality control standards over the finished product. I've seen too many offshore inferior constructed products in the market place at prices that are too high for what you're getting. Red River Interiors producs will be " Made In America".

I like classic pinch pleats, inverted box pleats, goblet pleats and relaxed shades....My goal is a well designed and constructed product...lined and interlined in poly/cotton or 100% cotton. A high quality product at a reasonable price point is what I'm after:...let me know what you think... what would you like to see on your windows?

Toile

Toile is an especially versatile print. It's origins are 1800 French. I like toile because it has staying power...It never goes out of style. Toile depicts scenes from peasant life and usually has a cream or white background. When creating rooms with softness or romance in mind such as a child's room or a bedroom toile drapes or bedding are a great choice. There are an abundance of color pallets available so there is a print out there that will work with most accessories. In 2006 New York interior designer Sheila Bridges brought toile fashion forward with a line of fabrics and wallpapers depicting early African American life.

Where I want to be... Where I am...

Have you ever played that game with yourself... This is where I want to be... This is where I am? Well, if you haven't. I have. I do it all the time. Even when it seems as though the points between the two are insurmountable.
Currently, I'm running that drill through my head as I think about my backyard!! On this issue I, and my DH are in this together. I've committed myself and him to changing the complexion of our smallish townhouse backyard into something that's more than a wish. I'm not ashamed to let my blogger friends know...This is where I am....deer running through my unfenced yard eating the tops off my multicolored day lilies. I have a beautiful deep purple butterfly bush, day lilies, Shasta daisies and a few other perennials. This is the spring to make sense of this yard and add structure to it....but first, I better add that fence... Take this journey with me as we turn our yard into an extension of our lives. In my minds eye I can see entertaining in a well planned and planted deck and yard. Ok, the challenge is out there to myself... Come back and check out updates as I travel to... where I want to be.

This is Where I Want to Be

images: Traditional Home

This is Where I am

Great Chairs

I love chairs... all types of chairs... skirted, slipped, tufted, in leather, cotton, velvet... all kinds of fabrics....florals, stripes, damask, and natural organic cotton. I love a great feminine desk chair....a comfy reading chair with an ottoman... a vintage living room chair. I like the idea of using upholstered chairs at the dining table. When extra seating is needed for the living room just pull chairs from the dining room and enjoy after dinner coffee with family and friends. Check out a few of my favorites...which one captivates you?

Arhaus

Traditional Home (vintage inspired)

Arhaus

Le Petit Cabinet de Couriositas

Australian Vogue Living

Arhaus

Thibaut

Traditional Home

Cow Boy Chair-Arhaus