"Everything old is new again"...and this is particularly true of the Murphy Bed, our first design pick.  The Murphy Bed was patented around 1900 as a bed that was built into the wall and was pulled down whenever needed.

It was popular through the 20s and 30s when space in the home was at a premium.

Fast forward to 2009 and history (and economics) is repeating itself.  The need for flexible living space has introduced the Murphy Bed to a new market.  A newly patented design featuring updated mechanisms and ease of operation combines with versatile cabinetry and wall units (accommodating a standard mattress of all sizes).  Once again, owners of apartments and multi-purpose spaces in a residential home, have another option when making the most of their limited floor space.

Next, Lutron, a leader in the lighting industry, has taken the drapery industry in a new direction.  The innovative Kirbe' Vertical Drapery System pulls a drapery up and completely out of the way at a touch of a button.  The system features a distinctive pleat style, similar to a ripplefold.

Lifting the fabric up eliminates the "stack back" (the drapery panels to the left and right of the window trim) and stores it underneath a cornice at the top of the window.  The system provides the privacy of draperies...or not.

Finally, new design products can also be found in the smallest details.  When up-scale hotels introduced their clientele to the curved shower rod this architectural detail created six more inches of "elbow room" in the shower.  Now, residential bathroom rods are available. They can be retrofitted with ease and provide an up-dated look to the shower/bathtub. 

Is your home one of the 62% of American households with at least one pet in the family?  If so, you've probably learned the hard way what items you should not use to decorate your home --- glass table tops, silk fabrics, sheer curtains, breakable ornaments on the lower half of the Christmas tree --- just to name a few.

Many of our clients have pets that are considered integral members of their families.  These special family members require special consideration when it comes to designing and decorating their homes.  Here are a few pet-friendly design ideas we've used for our clients that might work for you as well.

One of our favorite clients has a small, very active dog that likes to jump up on the dining room table to bark at passersby he can see out the window. To protect their beautiful new Stickley table, they ordered a pad specifically made to fit their table. We designed a tablecloth out of a durable fabric with boxed edges to help it stay put and protect the table from little claws when neighbors walk by.

Wondering where to hide that unsightly dog crate?  Small or mid-sized dogs can find refuge in a wooden dog "crate" that doubles as a living room side table. The crates can be made in any design style, in many types of wood, can be stained or painted to fit your decor, and includes a custom dog bed covered in a coordinating, dog-friendly fabric.

A dutch door in the laundry room or mudroom keeps dogs away from the main living area; but when the top half of the door is left open, they can still hear what is going on.  This prevents barking, whining or scratching on the door.

For dogs that like to swim or roll in the mud, consider adding a tiled dog shower for larger dogs or an extra-deep laundry tub with a hand-held sprayer in the laundry room, mudroom, or garage.

When building or renovating, cat owners might want to install extra deep window sills for "lounging."  Also, add a litter box cabinet in the laundry room that includes a low-volume fan that stays on, doesn't make much noise, and keeps the air flowing outside.

For both cats and dogs, window seats double as a pet lookout area and toy storage.  Keep durable and washable fabrics in mind for the seat cushion covers.

And last, but not least, some sensible flooring choices for pet owners are distressed floors, which are already worn so toenail scratches don't show, and tile for no-scratch flooring.

Location,location,location...  forget real estate, we're talking about lighting!



Whenever we speak to potential clients who have already begun a kitchen-build project or renovation we often hear that there is no lighting plan in place (ie.-the location of all of their lighting has not been decided) or they are overwhelmed about how to begin choosing correct lighting for their space.

Choosing lighting, particularly task lighting, is one of the single most important decisions you'll make in planning a successful kitchen.  Sadly, we often see it done as an afterthought or after the budget has been depleted.

How do you achieve a good plan for your kitchen?  The answer seems so simple...put the lighting where you need it.

Randall Whitehead, our lighting designer guru, explains how to make decisions on what types of task lighting should be chosen:

1. When choosing darker cabinets, walls or flooring, remember that they absorb more light, (all-white kitchens need 40-50% less light) so more lighting or higher wattage is required.


3. Finally, the "workhorses" of task lighting -- recessed downlights.  Just keep in mind, not all downlights are created equal.  Give thought to their location (18" from the wall), their size and extension (use ones with small apertures and varied degrees of adjustability), their trim color (should blend in with the ceiling), their need to be there but not detract from your ambient lighting (chandeliers, pendants, etc.).... and their need for practicality.  "Pot racks over a work island can look great on a floor plan, but it's extremely difficult to light a work surface through cookware.  Consider recessed adjustable lighting to cross-light the surface...."

Beginning rather than ending with a good lighting plan can transform kitchens so they are both functional and enhance feelings of well-being to all that want to linger there.