Wednesday, June 11, 2014

New Trend {Asian Influence}

Wow! We had to take some time off of blogging to focus on all of our wonderful new clients, and now spring has turned into summer. It's HOT here in Charleston, y'all…almost as hot as this new trend: ASIAN INFLUENCE!  Everywhere we looked at High Point market, we saw bold colors, lacquered furniture, chinoiserie fabrics, etc. This is a fresh take on a traditional aesthetic, and a little goes a long way. Right now, you can add one or two pieces with this asian influenced-look into any room, and inject some high-style that is very on-trend. Enjoy!



Photo credits to Shay from High Point Market

Thursday, May 8, 2014

New Trends {Week 3: Agate}

This week's trend highlights the diverse uses of Agate, which is a semi-precious gemstone that is usually striped and/or multi-colored. All things "precious" are in high style, which takes luxury to an all-new level. {sigh…}





Photo credits to Shay from High Point Market 

Thursday, May 1, 2014

High Point Market Report

What a week we had at High Point market! We are still gushing over the fabulous new items we saw.  We will feature some of our favorite trends and steller finds in the weeks to come. Until then...here is a preview of some pictures we snapped throughout the week--enjoy!

















Photo credits Shay and Jennifer 

Thursday, April 10, 2014

New Trends {Week 2: Spring Color Watch}

As Spring (finally) arrives, we look at some of the fabulous colors popping up this time of year! 


Lilac:
Paired with creamy neutrals or cool grays, this pale purple adds an elegant pop of color to any room. We love that it suits traditional or modern settings and looks great with almost any color.





Citron:

This fun, bright color is perfection when paired with grays. It is also the perfect color to mix in with a rustic setting for the adventerous color seeker.




Mint:
We can not say enough about this color! If you've grown tired of aqua but still love bluish greens, this is your fresh new accent color. Use it as a wall color for a gorgeous backdrop for golds, blues, neutrals...you name it. As upholstery, mint is a timeless and soothing color choice. 





Bright Pink:
The hottest color of 2014, bright pink will add some fun to any room. We love to accent with this color in artwork, lamps, pillows... Or for the daring pink lover, your neutral furniture is sure to stand out against pink walls!

{all pictures from Pinterest}



















Thursday, April 3, 2014

New Trends {Week 1: Watercolor Fabrics}

What fabric trend are we seeing right now? Watercolor prints! These are gorgeous fabrics that are printed in a way that look they've been painted with watercolors. Enjoy!


Jim Thompson No.9: "Funny Fish" in color 2110/01





Duralee: "Fontana Print Collection" pattern 42358-619 in Seaglass





Jim Thompson No.9: "Butterfly House" in color 2144/03





 Vervain: "Amiliana" in color Poppy

Friday, March 28, 2014

March Focus: Kitchens {Week 4: Finishing Touches}

In this last week of March, we explore some great ways to finish off your kitchen's unique style! 


Pendants over the Island:
Everything else in your Kitchen can be classic and streamlined, and oversized or unusual pendants add a huge dose of style.
photo via Pinterest credit Home Beautiful Magazine

photo via Pinterest




Decorative Hoods:
This stainless steel hood is the star of the show! The white cabinets, gorgeous marble, elegant backsplash, and simple pendants are all beautiful on their own, but the hood really is what makes this kitchen spectacular.
photo via Pinterest





Window Treatments: 
Patterned roman shades, like those shown here, or as an alternative, woven grass shades, are the perfect way to add a design element that also adds some softness to any kitchen.
photo via Pinterest



Cabinet Hardware:
This is a change you can make to your existing kitchen that gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Cabinet hardware does not have to match the plumbing or door hardware. A mix of pulls and knobs add interest, and the longer bar pulls (shown just below) always look up-to-date.
 photo via Pinterest credit House Beautiful Magazine

 photo via Pinterest 

photo via Pinterest 




Furniture & Fabrics & Patterns:
So many homes have open floor plans now, and that means you have living and dining spaces that are adjacent to your kitchen. This gives you a great opportunity to add style, color, and panache to your kitchen by association.  
photo via Pinterest 

photo via Pinterest credit New England Home

photo via Pinterest 


Tuesday, March 18, 2014

March Focus: Kitchens {Week 3: Countertops & Tile}

Let us inspire you this week with three timeless countertop choices as well as great uses of backsplash tile in the kitchen.



Black Honed Granite Countertop:


Butcher Block countertop (shown in a natural finish but available in many wood species, colors/finishes, and edge profiles):


White Marble Countertop:

 Inset Tile above Cooktop (classic white hand-made subway tile for the perimeter, and blue/green glass tile inset with brown glass border):


 Tile Backsplash (gorgeous pale blue ceramic in a moroccan shape):


Tile to the ceiling:

Friday, March 14, 2014

March Focus: Kitchens {Week 2: Plumbing}

This week's post is all about some of our favorite plumbing options. From farmhouse sinks to bridge faucets we break down what you should consider when building or renovating your dreamy new kitchen! 


Sinks:



Rohl RC3018
 
Your kitchen sink is something use more than anything else in your house. Everyone has their "dish washing style" so you need to find a size and shape to fit your needs. 
A farmhouse sink (picture 1) is a great way to add some old school flair to any kitchen whether it be modern, traditional, or cottage-style. Rohl white fireclay is the gold standard (http://www.rohlhome.com/Kitchen/Products.aspx?CollectionName='Sinks') and one of our favorites to use. White fireclay is the most common finish/material, however more modern stainless farmhouse sinks are available as well. 
The most common type of kitchen sink is an undermount sink (picture 2). These are available in a variety of materials but our favorite is a heavy gauge stainless steel. 
Whether farmhouse or undermount, single bowl sinks are more commonly used now than double bowl sinks. One large bowl suits both large and small dishes and have proved to be very functional. Also very popular and easy to use are double bowl sinks with a lower "smart divide" between bowls. This gives you the functionality of two bowls with the added ability to fill both bowls up totally. This essentially turns your two bowls into a single bowl that will fit a cookie sheet or long-handled pan. 
No matter the finish, we recommend a grid strainer for the bottom (picture 3) for more efficient rinsing and added protection from big heavy pots. 
Faucets: 
 
Again, your kitchen faucet is something you use more than any other faucet in your house. You need to not only love the way it looks but how it functions as well. Often the kitchen sink and faucet are major focal points of your Kitchen; for example, they always look pretty centered on your island or under a window. In this case we prefer a more decorative faucet such as a bridge faucet (picture 1). This Rohl faucet is our all time favorite and suits almost any style kitchen. The hot and cold levers are separate and you need a separate hole for a pull out spray. An alternative is a single hole faucet with a pull down spray (picture 2). These tend to be more common, less expensive, and very functional. It has everything you need all in a streamlined look. There are many faucets on the market now that have "touch" technology, which is great if you always find your hands are covered in something!



Prep Sink:

 
For larger kitchens, we like to add a small prep sink in a location that suits the chef and/or entertaining needs. Typically this is across the kitchen from the main sink and provides a place for tasks such as rinsing fresh vegetables or fixing a drink.



Pot Filler:

 
A pot filler is a nice feature for filling your pots directly on the cooktop. Mounted on the wall, potfillers typically have a bendable arm and should reach all of the burners on your stove. Gone are the days when you fill up a big pot in the sink and have to carefully walk across the kitchen without sloshing water on the floor! We recommend this luxury for large kitchens where the main sink is not in close proximity to the cooktop or for the crab, lobster or Low Country boil (or Frogmore Stew as we call it in Charleston) enthusiast!