Wednesday, October 31, 2007

My Top 10 Design Requests

So, I've recently focused on my own design favorites; now I want to list the top ten things clients are clamoring for:

10. 8-10 feet shower curtains - Taller ceiling heights in today's homes require longer shower curtains to keep water from splashing over and causing paint to peel.
9. Unique home products the neighbor/friend/mom/boyfriend/or stylish co-worker doesn't have yet.
8. Eco-friendly materials - From carpet to pre-mixed, low odor paint.
7. Stylish storage solutions - having an organized home is oh so stylish!
6. Custom cabinet knobs - So many choices, not enough cabinetry to use them all...
5. Designer Doggy Beds - Something to blend into the room but with stylish stain and rip-resistant fabrics.
4. Quality architectural details in smaller square footage (think "Inside the Not So Big House")
3. Tied for #3 are two items: Girls Only Rooms - This could be anything from small tea rooms to a dressing room complete with a platform & Man Caves - This consists of two requirements - leather and multiple screens, because one screen is never enough.
2. Durable-yet-fashionable fabrics that work both inside and outside; and...
1. The number one request is a space that is comfortable and can be used for multiple purposes.

What are your clients clamoring for?

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

My Top 10 Design Requests
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 9:56 AM

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

My Bag of Design Tricks

Have you seen the design show where the designer pulls out this huge bag with all sorts of interior design goodies? The contents vary, but I've seen her with metal finish samples, stain colors, fabric and paint swatches. Don't quote me, but I think I've seen her spill out the contents from what looks like a basket. Ok, I'm not sure who lugs that basket around for her - but I guess if you're using this to haul your design samples, it really helps to have design assistants on staff!

So, I thought I'd share the current contents of my well-organized design bag of tricks.

Today, my bag contains:

• Pretty hardware, assorted colors
• Wallpaper swatches
• Small tools (hammer, tape measure, small hack saw blades)
• Paint samples
• Cans of resin for custom cabinetry and buttons.

My bag can get pretty heavy too and since my husband isn't always available for assistance, I have come to adore the Canvas Designer's Rolling Sample Duffle Bag. It happily contains my growing collection of design samples and makes it easy to move around without having to call for help! How heavy is your design bag?

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

My Bag of Design Tricks
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 1:33 PM

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Design List Favorites

I am happy to share the first list of favorite (hard-to-find) design elements sent to me from Jennifer & Kitty O'Neil.

We were reading your CanvasCorp blog and loved "My Favorite Design List." We love apothecary jars too! Here are some of our favorite design elements:

• Oversized Casters
• Hand-Carved Wooden Appliques
• Metal-Edged Label Holders For Drawers And Bins
• Large Scale Stencils
• Flocking

We are especially in love with flocking right now. We've been seeing it everywhere from lampshades to fabric to stationery. It turns out it is as easy to flock something as it is to glitter. So we've been adding the velvet touch to note cards, picture mats, and even an ornate mirror frame!

Remember to send me your lists so that we can share them with all of our readers. And if your list makes our list you will win a special gift from us!

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

Design List Favorites
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 9:29 AM

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

What Inspires Christine Meier...

I had a conversation with Christine Meier who is the co-founder of Canvas Corp and an amazing visionary. She sees things in such a fresh way that I wanted to know who influenced and inspired her while she was creating the Canvas Home Basics Line. I thought you'd be interested in a bit of what she shared with me:

"I had the opportunity to meet and work with Kelly Hoppen an amazing interior designer based in London. I spent time in her studio, traveling to suppliers and trades shows with Kelly and her team, and gained a very clear picture of interior design at its best. Krista Lewis, ASID, is based in Little Rock, Arkansas and was instrumental in helping us build our home from the ground up, and was a true inspiration for the design of the product line. I also have studied the work of numerous other interior designers to gain a clearer understanding of things of importance, their attention to detail, their interest in listening and understanding their client's unique needs, and their focus on adding special touching and detailing to their projects, separating themselves from designers that work in a very standard design structure. Interior design today is a reflection of the individual and the designers that are embracing that concept were my biggest inspiration, including Sheila Bridges, Nate Burkus, Genevieve Gorder, Candice Olson, Vern Yip and a host of other designers."

Kudos to Christine for encapsulating that design vision in a very cool product line!

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

What Inspires Christine Meier...
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 11:58 AM

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Holiday Gifts for My Clients

Ok, did I already mention that you need to give your clients a Homespacing kit for the holidays? You do. It's just that simple. I have a few clients that really need this, but I decided that I am giving them all Homespacing kits for three reasons:

First, once the Homespacing design board is complete, my client can take the Homespacing design board with her on independent shopping excursions and not send me photos of random pillows on my iPhone to see if the color will work in the room. Yes, she'll be empowered.

Second, it makes the whole design process very interactive. I can move a sofa on the board and immediately let her know what I am thinking. It is a great idea generation tool and she won't have to wonder if she's on the same page with me or not.

And finally, I want my clients to have fun and be creative. I think using the Homespacing kits are very much like making a dream board for their home. And the Homespacing design boards are not nearly as involved as what we learned in design school but they have all the visual design, presentation, and organization benefits.

And with that one holiday gift, I will be the person who gives my clients all they didn't know they wanted, but won't be able to live without.

Hmmm... I wonder what they're getting me?

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

Holiday Gifts for My Clients
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 9:28 AM

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Haven or Play Space - I Can't Decide

My husband is getting quotes on sheetrock for the attic. The attic will be my space to do whatever I want with. So naturally with four kids, my thoughts turned to creating a haven of my own. A kind of girly place of escape, full of pillows, candles, bookshelves, comfy seating, soft music, and great views of the garden. Yeah - right... snap out of it woman! This is great in theory - but my kids would invade pretty quickly and I would end up leaving them to play amongst the pillows in what was supposed to be my haven.

Now normally, at this stage in my decision making I'd be sinking into frustration. Not because I know I won't have privacy for another 18 years; (well that too...) but because I'd still be sketching several layouts and end up choosing the closest to final when I went off to shop. But since I am lucky enough to have a sample Homespacing kit in my office, I've been playing around with several other configurations for my attic. Ok, I have used design boards before, but I quite love the very stylish stickers, that I can move around and create the room of my (and my kids) dreams.

Gotta love that!

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

Haven or Play Space - I Can't Decide
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 9:31 AM

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

My Favorite Design List

I have a personal list of design favorites. Here's a small part of my "must have" list:

• Vintage English sink faucets
• Soapstone countertops
• Beadboard wainscoting
• Clean lined cabinetry
• Apothecary jars
• Zinc planters
• Stained concrete
• Copper hardware with a beautiful verdigris finish
• Handmade tile
• Luxurious bedding

I can find most of the items on my list from various sources. But I also make it tough on myself by searching for that slightly unusual jar, a perfectly restored vintage faucet, handmade hardware from Mexico, or those three oversized storage baskets with a flat back perfect for hanging on the wall with an open weave... Ah - there's that persnickety trait of mine! So some items, though you'd think they were easy to snag, are only found after a bit of a search; by paying a premium; or waiting longer than normal. And oh, the finishing touches - like beautifully scented French milled soap to store in the apothecary jar, or the perfect stationery to send to my clients - It's a never ending search for just right detail or finishing touch. So, tell me, what's on your must-have-but-difficult-to-find list?

If you send me an email with a list of your five hard-to-find design elements we'll share them on our blog. If your list makes it onto our list of favorites you'll win a special gift from us.

Good luck!

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

My Favorite Design List
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 1:10 PM

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

What I'm Reading

If you've read anything I've written over the past several years, you'll know that I am an avid reader. My reading choices usually lean towards non-fiction books, design books and magazines, and a variety of trade and business publications. So, in conversation and in blog posts, I can't help but talk about what I'm reading.

Ok, so I just breezed through the October Domino magazine. It features an inside peek at the big black book of best design options for renovating kitchens, bathrooms, etc., as chosen by a few notable designers/builders. First, I love that they were able to pare down the selections for the world; but hate that the client doesn't get the chance to dance around the showroom for a while looking at ALL of the options that are out there. We know the choices are breathtaking and dazzling, and well, maybe a bit overwhelming. But I can't help but want to encourage a bit of client daydreaming and design play.

Also reading the October/November issue of Home Companion and I have to say I'm not really into the whole Texas cottage thing. Ok, and not just because I have this well-noted fear of spiders hiding under outdoor pillows and ruffled fabrics, but because, well... really that's the reason. I just could not sit out on that porch and feel relaxed knowing a spider could pounce. I did however enjoy the Halloween decorating ideas, which have prompted me to think about how to dress my own front porch for this holiday and fall season - using faux and maybe beaded spiders of course.

So, what are you reading?

© 2007, CanvasCorp LLC.
www.CanvasCorp.com

What I'm Reading
posted by CanvasCorp LLC on 12:58 PM