We hope you and yours are soaking up the last moments of summer today!
Catch up on Labor day history here
Be inspired by these gorgeous all white ensembles (We love Kate Middleton) and wear white head to toe!
Prep your picnic or cookout with these dishes
Embrace white as a wall color option! See Elle Decor’s Ten Hottest white Take a look at Elle Decor’s 10 of the best all white rooms
A large empty bookcase can be intimidating. What combination of books and objects should you use to make it look its best? The Chancellor’s house at NCState is a great case study in how to make your shelves look amazing.
In the Chancellor’s Study, we used a combination of books, small framed artwork, and decorative objects to create a sophisticated display worthy of a distinguished university. The photographs of native plant species were taken from the University’s archive, and reference the Chancellor’s own background in botanical science.
Books in warm tans and browns were chosen to complement the masculine palette of the room. We tried to make the bookcase look natural and organic, but without totally eschewing symmetry. We also placed books in other places around the room for continuity and interest.
In the family room, we were looking for something more graphic, so we chose a different palette. Bright red books and colorful glass art punctuate the white bookshelves. In this room, the shelves are arranged in square cubbies, which are great for displaying individual works of art.
We took a different approach to the books in this room, stacking them both vertically and horizontally to add some interest. In some cases, we even turned the books around, hiding their binding at the back, and giving a whole different look.
What’s your favorite trick for arranging bookcases?
-Robert
Images: 1 3 & 6. DLL 2 , 4 & 5 – Photography by Dustin Peck Photography Images courtesy NC State University. All rights reserved.
Hey Readers,
As your kids and those new backpacks head back to school this week, we’ll be back to blogging with frequency. We’ve been busy enjoying the summer, and thought we’d share with you what we’ve been up to:
Ashley enjoyed a wonderful week long vacation at Wrightsville Beach with her husband and adorable daughter, Sophia.
Molly: “Our 2012 summer was not very relaxing or restful – but I did manage to grab a few “aaahhhhh” moments here at our beach place on the sound in Morehead city, NC. The banks of the property are lined with old oak trees – they provide a beautiful setting that welcomes our family whenever we can get away. I treasure and feel very blessed to have this in our lives.”
Lauren: “After moving into our new house, my husband and I spent the beginning of the summer unpacking and getting settled. We flew to Denver, CO for a friend’s wedding, took several trips to the beach, and celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary! After all that traveling, I finally found the perfect rug for my living room.”
Katerina’s collection of snaps from her Coney Island Adventure, complete with the unique people watching experience.
Hilaire and Judy went to Texas and spent the 4th of July with family. The incredible view from the dock.
Rob spent some time in Chicago and enjoyed a game of shuffleboard at the Jersey Shore in Sea Isle City, New Jersey.
Ever the hostess, Judy was surprised by a birthday party at her own house- planned secretly by Hilaire. Below, Judy blows out the candle on her gorgeous and delicious Lemon cake from the Cupcake Shoppe.
Brittany: “I went on a roadtrip to my central Illinois hometown and watched the beautiful Scandinavian designed windmills at a local windfarm. I also got the chance to spend a lot of quality time with my goofy little brother.”
Around the studio, we’ve enjoyed ice cream sandwich breaks, installations at the beach, dressing in bright summer colors, and fresh roses from Katerina’s rose garden…
What have you been up to this summer?
-Design Lines
Rob, Katerina, Lauren and I attended an exciting preview party at the new West Elm store in Durham last night. We, along with numerous other excited party goers had a marvelous time experiencing their products L-I-V-E rather than just drooling over the catalog. A DJ was spinning tunes and we noshed on food and local drinks while selecting our must have home items!
Above- their living green wall we’re obsessing over, and the gorgeous invitation to the event printed on wood veneer.
Above- A few favorite items from the store.
Go check out the new Bull City store for yourself!
What West Elm products can you not live without?
I’m a huge fan of their Parsons desks and consoles- I have one in my room and the lacquered finish still looks new! -Brittany
I’m dreaming about this multi-faceted “Honeycomb” pendant light by Marjorie Skouras.
–Robert
Plastic often means cheap, temporary, or less than desirable. But the Swedish design company Pappelina turned that definition on its head, creating high quality outdoor rugs that are also beautiful. They weave rugs out of plastic filaments, using a traditional loom to make gorgeous geometric compositions. Prices start around $90 for a 2 by 3 foot rug.
-Robert
The Plumen Light Bulb changed my mind about compact fluorescents. Now they can be as stylish as they are efficient. The Plumen Bulb comes in 3 different shapes and costs about $30. Go green and get yours today.
–Robert
I am in the process of finishing up my personal kitchen remodeling project and recently discovered Allan and Eric from Surface Doctors, who applied Granite Shield’s sealing process to my new Honed Carrera Marble countertops. I was first introduced to them by Laura at Rock ‘interiors who fabricated the countertops.
Our before and after kitchen transformation, I have to say, is amazing!! Now, I am just waiting on the final component to be installed – the tile backsplash!
Countertops are a worthwhile investment to your home and for us; we wanted the marble to withstand life’s little accidents in the kitchen with acidic juices, red wine and vinegar.
(Above) Allen and Eric applying the sealer, and then buffing the surface with a cotton cloth to ensure the sealer is properly applied. Overall this is a 4 step process that takes about an hour and half.
Care and maintenance is another part to maintaining your investment. Allen and Eric were great in providing us with two natural stone cleaners recommended by Granite Shield.
Curious about natural stone on the surface areas of your home give us a call. Be sure to also check DLL’s previous blog post Lauren wrote about marble countertops.
I’ll keep you posted on the final result of our kitchen–so stay tuned!
Hilaire
Images: DLL
