Behind The Shoot

Because you asked…

Dallas Home Tour {Leslie Pritchard}

Including The Whole Family

My husband and I left Dallas on Super Bowl weekend and headed to South Texas to spend time with good friends. They recently moved into a new home that they spent months remodeling and the result is fabulous. They have three of the THE MOST adorable little boys you have ever seen and from the moment we walked into the house, there was no doubt where the heart of their home was. Their HUGE open kitchen is now three times the size of the original and the island is definitely the hub of the entire family space.

Modern white cabinets with stainless hardware,  subway tile backsplash in three tones of white,  slate floors, Deep Gray Ceasar Stone countertops and top of the line Jenn Air appliances create a fresh open space for the family of five to hang out.

The island is always being used for art projects. Emilio was drawing a picture for me here, and  a few of us chipped in to help with his Valentine shoe box project the following morning.

We made homemade pizzas one night…it was a mess but a blast and sooo yummy!

Directly across from the kitchen is the family room and casual dining area. The boys were always at the table playing games or having a snack.  My favorite thing about this part of the space is the boy’s art work. It’s nothing new to parents,  but using your children’s art can really personalize a space allow everyone in the family to have a part in accessorizing the home. I love how their mother framed these colorful kangaroo paintings, they brought in the pop of color that they love and the pieces are modern enough to compliment the feel of the home.

Having a cup of coffee from the Saeco coffee machine was a morning ritual. These coffee painting by the oldest boys were adorable and proudly hung in the area too. What a fabulous weekend, I’m wishing Caddo & Ivy made pieces like this while they were at doggy daycare..no such luck!

Artistic details

Yesterday, I shared a few pictures from our moving day at a hip commercial office space. Since the space is located in a part of town that has an “artsy” reputation, it’s the perfect place for my client to run his creative business.

We are in the process of adding accessories and tons of color to the space. I picked up these colorful silk pillows from West Elm and they fit right into the artistic feel of the space. These three pieces are going to their new home today and will land on the office bunk bed! Nothing like a bunk bed to crash on after those long nights in the recording studio.

West Elm Water Splash Pillow

 

 

 

West Elm Tie Dye Stripe Pillow

 

 

 

West Elm Mongolian Lamb  14″x36″ Pillow

Inspirational Shape {The Quatrefoil}

Today I am going to keep it short, sweet & simple. I have loved the shape of the quatrefoil for a quite sometime now and wanted to post a few of my favorite images with the beautiful shape. I love the shape so much that it has become a part of my soon to launch newly designed website and blog. Come back tomorrow for a sneak peek!

Here are a few fabulous facts about the quatrefoil:

-In Christianity, each of the leaves of the quatrefoil have symbolized the four evangelists of the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

-In Native American culture, the four leaves of the quatrefoil are believed to symbolize the four ends of the earth. This represents Native American prayers to the North, South, East, and West.

-According to the Seattle First Baptist Church, the quatrefoil is an ancient symbol of good luck.

-Since it is easy to divide a quatrefoil into equal portions or into other shapes, it has also come to symbolize harmony, symmetry, and proportion.

 

Image Via: Jeneration Interiors

Image Via: Jeneration Interiors

Image Via: Houzz

Image Via: Charm Home

Image Via: Turquoise LA

Image Via: Studio Ten 25

Image Via: David Jimenez

Image Via: Decor Pad

Project Update: {Custom Wingbacks}

From inspiration to reality. When a client’s space challenges me on scale, I always turn to custom! The dining room we are updating is gorgeous with high ceilings and when we are done, it will be a gorgeous refined lodge like dining space.  The table is in great shape and my client loves the size and style. But, her dining room chairs are a bit blah and she was ready to kick the room up a few notches.

We are having the all wood chair transformed into a cozy fabric and leather combination.  Adding all leather wingback chairs to the ends of the table was something my client has had her mind on for a while. Since the scale of the existing chairs were a bit on the small size, finding a leather wingback that was in scale to them was becoming a pain.

Here is the inspiration for the dining room wingbacks.

I stopped by the work room to see how the frame shape was going and here is what the guys were up to…

On my next visit to the workroom, I was so happy to see the leather on the chairs. I love that the seat cushion is removable, this will help to make clean up after meals much easier if things spill. We are waiting on the nail heads and these gorgeous chairs will be finished and ready to go home.

Since using real leather can be costly, we decided to go with a leather look. Fabric manufactures have a wonderful offering of faux leathers on the market today. They are easy to use for upholstering, durable and keep your budget in check.  We selected Duralee’s version in Saddle.

Black Chandelier & A Dark Side Giveaway

Today I am excited to feature BLACK-CHANDELIER.COM.  Robi from Black-Chandelier has taken the time to chat with me about how she started this gorgeous company online as well as her plans for the near future.

Take a better look at your design magazines, favorite blogs or local boutique and I’m pretty sure you will spot a black crystal chandelier. They are the statement pieces that designers and end users turn to when completing a chic or eclectic space.  www.Black-Chandelier.com was the first & is to date the only boutique designed to explicitly showcase Black Chandeliers & Sconces. Robi and her team take pride in offering customers the best price, quality and customer service.  As they say at Black Chandelier “We  invite everyone to step into the dark… explore a decadent selection of Black Chandeliers & indulge themselves in the brilliance of black. ”  “Discover Your Dark Side!”

I turned to Black-Chandelier.Com when remodeling my office at Studio Ten 25. The piece I selected was a 5 light black crystal chandelier. I remember the day I received the package, I was so anxious to have it installed! In fact, I had my electrician over here the very next day!  See more details HERE.

All Images Via: Black-Chandelier & Studio Ten 25

And when I needed another show stopping piece for a client’s master bedroom, I went straight to Black-Chandelier. The chandelier was perfect for this room and it brought in romance, glamour and that extra bit of bling that I love so much.  We used the 7-light black crystal chandelier in the room.

All images via: Black-Chandelier & Studio Ten

Let’s see what lead Black-Chandelier.Com to “The Dark Side”.

ST25: You have been involved in the design industry for years, what inspired you to start Black-Chandelier.Com?

BC: Lighting has always been one of the most crucial elements in design… When we brought Black Crystal Chandeliers to the market… our clients were as captivated by their unique beauty as we were.  Because Black Chandeliers marry so well with a multitude of décor styles… their popularity was overwhelming.  The allure is totally mysterious.

Image: Crystal 4-Light

ST25:  When did you start the boutique?

BC: We have been bringing Black Chandeliers to our personal clients residential & commercial design projects for about 6 years now.  Our online boutique opened to the public in the spring of o8.

Image: Florentine 6-Light

ST25:  I love that you have recently expanded your product offering into Lamps! Do you have any other plans to add more fabulous pieces for the Boutique.

BC: Yes most definitely… along with adding more FAB styles of Black Chandeliers, Sconces & Lamps… We are also planning to launch our line of Black “One of a Kind” furniture pieces & accents.

Image: Crystal 7-light

ST25: How do you select the pieces that you offer in the boutique?

BC: Only our Top Sellers… the pieces that have been purchased and loved over and over by our clients and customers earn the right to be showcased in our boutique.

Image: Crystal 13-Light

ST25:  I have used Black-Chandelier.Com chandeliers in a few of my interiors projects as well as my own design studio, and have been extremely happy with the quality, price and great customer service you provide. Tell us about a few of your favorite client installations… pictures please!

BC: To be perfectly honest… They have all been our FAVS.  We have been blessed with the opportunity to meet… work with… & to be a service to… We are very grateful to each and every one of our customers and clients.

Image: Faconnable Window Display with Crystal 7-Light

Image: McDonald’s Crystal 12-Light

Image: Bloomingdales Ad Crystal 7-Light

ST25: As an interior designer, I am constantly being asked to provide samples so that my client can touch and feel the product. Do you have samples available or showrooms where designers can view your products.

BC: Because we have done projects in many major cities… if asked… we can usually direct a new potential client to a location where they will be able to see our Chandeliers first hand.

Image: Crystal 12-Light

If you swooning over these dark beauties as much as I am, then your in luck today! Black-Chandelier is offering free shades with the purchase of the following.  Just click HERE to see more details.

Here is a better look at the black chandeliers with shades. I’m loving the theme pieces too!

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Project Update / Rustic Tuscan

I wanted to share more progress and update you on this out of town project. I am beyond excited to see how everything comes together. The commissioned art pieces were recently installed and they look ahhmazing!  The pieces were named “The Experience”  and are the genius work of Dallas artist, Chris Judy. I worked with Chris throughout the four month process, you can see more of those details HERE.

As soon as you enter the front door, these stunning pieces sit on each side over the Regency Buffetts from Ebanista. Talk about making an entrance! Here is the view looking in from the Mediterranean style pool at night.

Here is a better look at each piece in the daylight. Looking forward to accessorizing now!

Let’s  take a look at a few more of the new additions. Back in October, I gave you a sneak peek of the pool area, main living room and some of the custom pieces in the guest casitas.

One of the guest rooms is almost complete! We are waiting on the accent pieces, art and the reupholstered “parrot” chair that my client loves.  The large Henredon bed was a piece that my client has had for a while, I love the arch and leather inset of the headboard.  We had custom bedding made in teal, gold and dark espresso browns. My favorite fabric is the Barbara Barry Poetic Plush in Cumin from Kravet, it really pulls it all together.

Since the bathrooms are all stone and Venetian plaster, I thought it would be fun to soften things up a bit. I used the Barbara Barry Poetic Plush again in one of the guest rooms to match the bedding…

And I decided to “branch” out with Eric Cohler’s Woods Print from Lee Jofa in the other bathroom.

I was happy to see that the new leather Chesterfield love seats from Old Hickory Tannery had arrived for the lounge area in the bar. They are very manly and will make the perfect place to guests to sit by the fire while sipping on a scotch. That’s how I imagine it anyway, I’m sure the guys will be drinking beer! This room will scream classic gentleman’s bar once all of the final pieces are in place!

We also received this hand carved console table from George Cameron Nash in the Dallas Design Center! It sits just behind the larger of the two sofas in the main living room.

Thank you for stopping by the blog today. I hope you enjoyed the sneak peak and I look forward to sharing more as things progress!

I’m Takin’ it back to the 70’s!

Time for a little flashback! I love the memories I have of my early childhood even though they are mostly from photographs. My parents…well my dad…was very snap happy. He was always snapping pictures! I was an only child and the first grandchild so I can only assume that was the reason for the camera catching every moment.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m so glad I have them to look at now.

I though some of the decor from my childhood rooms needed to see the light of day. Let me prepare you with words like…..flame stitch, burnt orange, mickey mouse, shag carpet and retro wallpaper…It’s going to be interesting.

My mother was always into design on some level. She is a fabulous seamstress (self taught) and was always into the latest in fashion and design. You would never catch her doing projects around the house in sweats. Oh no, she always had her hair done and was sporting her Jordache Jeans!

Here she is painting

….and apparently annoyed that my dad was taking pictures while she was trying to hang this “fabulous” owl picture. I think it was furry.

I came across these pictures from my first room as a baby/toddler.  The crib was on one side of the room and my parents had a full size bed on the other side.  Green gingham was apparently all the rage in 1976!  That doll is a bit creepy don’t you think? My grandma thought it would make a cute picture to have the doll holding me.  I remember that needlepoint puppy pillow, we had it for years.

Here is the crib on the other side of the room. The mobile is super retro and that blue bird is huge. Do you think there was any lead paint on that crib?

So now I’m a toddler and looking stylish next to my “big girl” bed, nice gold side rail. All of the toys up on the window seal crack me up.

One of the first pieces of proof that I was ready to re-decorate my room.

We had to clear out the room to make way for the RAINBOW BEDSPREAD and awesome yellow floorlamp!! Wowza!

Here are a few of my favorite pics from our house.  Flame stitch sofa with needlepoint pillows! My mom LOVED flame stitch so much that she purchased a pink & lavender flame stitch sofa in the 80’s. I finally got her to recover it last year….I’m so not kidding.

Oh and it gets better! WALLPAPER!! Who knew it would make such a comeback? Loving the orange stripes and gold floral pattern in the bathroom.

So, after the divorce I had my own room at my Dad’s new house.  How about the flower make up mirror and kitten pics over the bed. Lovley.

I hope you enjoyed the blast from my past and the mini 70’s tour!  I have many more pics to show off soon, this time I’ll be going back to the 80’s and showing you my mother’s obsession for ceramic & porcelain tile!!!