Spring has officially arrived! What inspires you this Spring?
images: Sailboats, White Outdoor Furniture, Water Bottle, Trina Turk Fabric, Pool Side Picture, Scotch Naturals Fingernail Polish, Orange Asscessories
Springtime Drinks for Your Weekend!
Warmer temperatures and the gift of an extra hour of sunshine from Daylight Savings time has led to all kinds of excuses to plan a picnic or play hostess to a weekend soiree. With that, we’ll share some of our favorite recipes for springtime sipping! Even round up the kids, as these are easy and fun to make together.
Brittany’s Cucumber Punch is a favorite from College
Ingredients
2 liters of Sprite
One can of limeade concentrate
One large cucumber, sliced
Directions
Mix together and allow to sit for 45 minutes before serving.
Lauren made this delicious Peach Punch for a baby shower she recently hosted.
Ingredients
White peach juice
One package of raspberries frozen (to serve as ice cubes)
Ginger ale to taste
Hilaire found this tart Ginger Grapefruit Lime juice post and we can’t wait to make it!
Ingredients
1 1/2 tablespoons Truvia (zero calorie sweetener) – or use regular sugar
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled then grated
1 cup water
1/2 cup fresh lime juice – about 3 limes
1 1/2 cups fresh grapefruit juice – 4 grapefruits
Directions
In a small saucepan, on medium heat, mix together sugar, ginger, and water. Simmer for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a glass cup or bowl – place in the fridge or freezer to cool.
In a pitcher, combine grapefruit and lime juices. Remove the ginger mixture from the fridge/freezer and strain into the grapefruit juices. If you don’t want pulp, you can strain the grapefruit juices. I like the pulp. Stir the ingredients and taste. Feel free to add more sugar or juices. I like it strong and ginergy so this was perfect for me. Serve chilled with ice or add sparkling water to give it some bubbles.
Makes about 2 cups of juice.
Which one will you try this weekend?
images & recipes: 1. The Kitchn 2. Freedom Tree Farms 3. With Style & Grace
A Closer Look: Diego Giacometti
You may have heard of the Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti, one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century (above). But you may not have heard of his younger brother, Diego.
The works of the two brothers bear a striking resemblance to each other, but while Giacometti is known for his sculptures, Diego is regarded for his decorative furniture. Diego used the same material as his brother – bronze – to create delicate, elegant and whimsical objects ranging from chandeliers to tables. His fascination with animals is tied to the mythological and dream-like world he imagined as a child.
I especially love Diego’s light fixtures and chandeliers. This one makes an incredible statement as the centerpiece of a room by De La Torre Design. Can you imagine a piece by Giacometti in your space?
-Robert
image 1: New York Times, image 2: Fine Art Inc., image 3: De La Torre Design
St. Patricks Day Inspiration
May the Irish luck be with you this St. Patrick’s Day!
images: 1.2.3. – House Beautiful 4. Seahorse – Kim Johnson via Nesting Newbies 5. Georgetown Cupcake 6. Little Brown Pen 7. The Meadowbrook Blog
Living the Mission Award for March
A year has passed since we first established the Living the Mission award at Design Lines. Can you believe it?! Each month this award goes to a deserving staff member for various accomplishments that represent the Design Lines mission. We share these successes with our blog readers not in an effort to boast but to celebrate the all the hard work that goes on at Design Lines.
In Feburary Brittany received the award from Hilaire. “2011 is off to a great start for Brittany. She has done a wonderful job in managing her time within the office and also with clients. Keep it up!” says Hilaire.
And just yesterday at staff meeting, Brittany passed the award on to Molly. “Molly receives this award because of her execllence in institutional and corporate projects. She has brought diversity to our portfolio recently and we are excited to share with you the projects in the coming months,” says Brittany.
Thanks Brittany and Molly for all that you do!
A Closer Look: Jeremy Kerman At Craven Allen Gallery
Art inspires the way we live, see and understand the world. It certainly inspires the work we do at Design Lines so much so, that Rob has created a new blog series called “A Closer Look.” Every Friday he will take you a journey through art, design, and the intersection of the two. So take it away Rob!
Last week, I was excited to see Jeremy Kerman’s show “Find myself a City to Live In” at Craven Allen Gallery in Durham. I originally saw his collage paintings in Watt’s Grocery, a restaurant just a few doors away, and I was immediately hooked. Using scraps of photos and paint on paper, he casts local Durham landmarks in a new light.
Worked over surfaces, hastily joined paper, and a fanciful juxtaposition of scales give these paintings the feeling that they were created intuitively, despite the artist’s formal education in art. It is this freshness and honesty that draws me to Kerman’s work. But what keeps me interested are the fascinating urban spaces he creates within – places that are as familiar as they are fanciful. Can you recognize any of them?
Jeremy Kerman’s work is up through the end of the month. Craven Allen Gallery is located at 1106½ Broad Street in Durham, North Carolina. (919) 286-4837
-Robert
images: Craven Allen Gallery
Mardi Gras Inspiration
I wonder if the Mardi Gras crowd is still partying in the French Quarters?! Anyhow, here’s some design inspiration for your Wednesday. Hope your day is a good one!
images: (left to right) Urban Electric, Sycamorestreet Press, Rue Magazine 2011 Jan-Feb. Issue, Elle Decor – Stephen Stills, Elle Decor, Duralee Fabrics
Get Hooked: March Forecast
It seems the month of March is all about replacing the old with the new and getting ready for Spring. Kitchen remodels are popping up everywhere on our blog and this month is no exception. We’ve got some more before and afters plus a few other spaces to show you, that I think you’ll like.
Break out some green, purple, and gold for Mardi Gras and that leprechaun green for St. Patrick’s Day as we continue to highlight some room inspiration. Are you eager to ask a designer for some advice on your home? Well now is your chance on March 31st, viewers have the chance to ask Judy their questions on “Ask Judy” a My Carolina Today TV segment. Stay tuned we will bring you the behind-scenes footage and the actual segment towards the end of the month.
This is an exciting month for Design Lines, so grab some lemonade and lets start the month of March!
image: Southern Living Feb 2011 issue
Current Projects: A “Timeless” Kitchen Remodel in Raleigh
When I began with my clients, they started with a traditional kitchen with stained wood cabinets that closed in the room and made the space feel dark. The client really wanted an updated kitchen but not the “farmhouse” feel that the rest of the house took on. What we did not want to do is create a kitchen that did not blend with the other portions of the house. My goal as the interior designer was to create a classic and timeless kitchen but incorporate details such as the faucet design and sink layout typical of a “farmhouse” kitchen.
We started with the layout of the kitchen. Being that the kitchen was a small space we used the painted white custom cabinetry to allow visually for the space to feel larger. The beautiful contrast between the hardwood floor finish, the perimeter white cabinetry, and the darker wood stained island really added character to the room. As an interior designer, I wanted the kitchen to flow well for the client; so not only was I working to create an amazing kitchen aesthetically but also functionally.
What I love about this kitchen is that we used a polished Calcutta Marble back-splash and paired it with a leathered granite. The old vs. new contrast really works for this style kitchen. I also love the contrast between the bridge faucet in the polished nickel and the darker leathered granite. Leathered granite can really give you a sense of “old” feeling and is very durable for a counter-top surface.
Because there was not a true “window” that the sink could go under, we created this amazing trim detail to offset the sink. This also became a place to really showcase the Calcutta Marble back-splash.
This kitchen is a show stopper to me. I can only say “wow” when I step back and look at it. Even though the space was small we created such a breathtaking kitchen that visually feels larger.
All of the appliances, the faucet, and the sink were purchased at Fergusons. The back-splash came from Triangle Tile and Stone. The counter-tops were fabricated through Rockin ‘teriors and all the contracting was done by Rob Taylor.
I really enjoyed designing this kitchen and hope that the client really appreciates all of the design elements.
Ashley
Current Projects: A Kitchen Transformation That Will Knock Your Socks Off
2011’s only just begun- though Judy & I are pretty confident that as far as dramatic transformations go- this kitchen in Chapel Hill takes the cake.
The project first began years ago, our clients purchased this home and began this makeover themselves by tearing out some peninsula cabinets and painting the white walls of the kitchen orange. An improvement to be sure, but the finishes – laminate countertops and dark walnut paneled walls weren’t the only thing needing a change. The actual footprint of the space wasn’t servicing the clients needs. A formal dining room housing the scared to scratch it table top was used just a few times a year. After many iterations of drawings, discussions, and forming a partnership with a contractor- the floor plan was finalized.
The space expanded. Knocking down a wall, we captured the square footage of the rarely used formal dining room. The charming angled bay window with a window seat in the nook was changed to become a functional floor to ceiling box bay window with the best view of our client’s gorgeous pond outside.
Inset cabinetry in white now extends to the ceiling and a tile backsplash featuring subway tile with carrera marble compliment the stone counter-top. The stone slabs were handpicked by our clients on a trip to Virginia and are well lit with both recessed cans (for task lighting) as well as under cabinetry lighting (for ambience).
The sink features instant hot & cold filtered water and a foot pedal for water control offers a chef with full hands ease at the sink.This hands-free feature is my favorite of the new space-each time I go over I want to turn on the sink.
Below, wood panels disguise the refrigerator.
The classic farmhouse style sink basin marries well with the polished nickel cup-pull hardware fits to acheive a look that’s timeless and feels right at home in Chapel Hill. 
Is the footprint of your kitchen working for you? Besides the finishes and furniture, does the layout fit your needs? Consider reimagining your kitchen.
-Brittany