Spring Is In The Air

/ St Louis Interior Design

Mother Nature has been teasing us with a few sunny, warm days here and there! In St. Louis, the magnolias, dogwoods and other trees have already begun to blossom. It has definitely given me spring fever and the urge to bring more greenery into the home. Here are some vases and planters I am loving at the moment – perfect for displaying branch clippings or your favorite spring flowers.succulents in concrete planters

potted indoor plants

cherry blossoms in a white vaseThere are also TONS of beautiful options at some great local shops in St. Louis. Bowood Garden + Supply is always a great place to look!

Have a great week!

St. Louis Spotlight – Soulard

/ St Louis Interior Design

Soulard is a historic French neighborhood in St. Louis. Lined with red-brick townhomes, this neighborhood houses many restaurants and lively bars, making it one of the most well-known neighborhoods of the city.

MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION

It’s been said that St. Louis hosts the second-largest Mardi Gras gathering in the country (second to New Orleans, of course)! If you’ve never been, you should experience it at least once. There is A LOT of fun to be had! Here are a couple tips to remember: arrive early, don’t drive, and it’s always helpful to know someone that lives in the neighborhood (because standing in line for the bathroom is no fun)!

MOLLY’S

Molly’s is a great place to grab some N’awlins inspired dishes and drinks while enjoying patio weather. They have seven bars and lots of TVs for watching the Cardinals and Blues – great for large groups!

FARMERS MARKET

The city’s most iconic market is open year round, Wednesday through Saturday. Here you’ll find local produce, meats, seafood, cheese, pastries, flowers, and spices. It’s a great way to support your local farmers while getting some of the freshest ingredients available!

JOHN D. MCGURK’S IRISH PUB & GARDEN

It’s almost patio season, and the expansive patio and garden at McGurk’s is simply the best! The garden features several water features and beautiful greenery, which make it a perfect spot for an afternoon bite to eat.

PIECES

THE St. Louis Board Game Bar & Cafe! Gather your buds and choose from over 500 games to play. Can’t wait to visit this place!

2017 Winter Markets

/ St Louis Interior Design

Every January, buyers flock to the 3 big home markets: Atlanta, Dallas, and Vegas. While I didn’t attend this year I find that it’s always fun to look through Instagram hashtags and following along with Instagram stories! It really helps me get a sense of what’s to come, interiors-wise, in the year! I found many common themes and lots of beautiful eye candy!

 

BOLD COLOR

I saw a lot of rich jewel tones from Worlds Away.

This dark green paint color was one of our predictions for 2017! Check out our favorite dark green paint colors and accessories here!

 

LAYERED WHITES/NEUTRALS

Layering neutrals is one of my favorite looks. These spaces below are full of interest and prove that neutral doesn’t have to mean boring!

I love the legs on this Tritter Feefer dining table!

 

TONS OF TEXTURE

This ties in with the layered neutrals above and is the key to achieving the look. I saw a lot of textured pottery and special furniture pieces.

 

BLUSH

It seems like this shade is popping up everywhere in accessories and accent furniture!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPk_DrplcGL/

How cool is the faux bois patterned pillow?!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPpq01pDNlS/

 

BOTANICAL AND FLORAL MOTIFS

I love the detail and texture of this Palecek magnolia-inspired mirror.

 

BRIAN PATRICK FLYNN for CRYSTORAMA

Brian Patrick Flynn’s lighting line with Crystorama is so beautiful! He was kind enough to send me some professional images to share with you!

The Hulton – This collection has an industrial vibe and features a “cage within a cage” design. Available in 3 different sizes in a matte black finish.

The Alston – This collection features a heavy metal drum shade with a thick, rectangular chain! Available in 3 different sizes with matte black or matte white finishes. (The white option has a beautiful brass interior!)

The Hurley – This collection is a modern take on a classic lantern design. The frame is super thick and looks so luxurious in the polished nickel finish.

The Truax – This collection is available in a modern style (simple globe) and more traditional style (metal band). It’s available in various sizes, including a huge 30″x 38″ version!

 

Did any trends or pieces catch your eye? If you want to see more check out these accounts and hashtags on instagram:

The Principles of Design – Balance

/ Heather Helms / 1 Comment

Today we are kicking off a new blog series – The Principles of Design. This will explore the building blocks of great design with examples of how to achieve them in your home. Today we are going to explore the importance of balance.

BALANCE

Balance is a constant in our everyday lives. One of the most relatable examples is the ongoing struggle to balance life between work and leisure. Similar to when we are off balance in various aspects of our lives, an unbalanced interior space can be uncomfortable. Balance is achieved by distributing the visual weight of objects within a space to achieve a feeling of equilibrium.  The size, shape, color and texture have a major impact on the visual weight of a particular item. Larger, darker, brighter and highly textured objects typically feel heavier.

Balance can be achieved in three ways: symmetrically, asymmetrically and radially.

SYMMETRICAL BALANCE

Symmetrical balance is achieved by arranging elements on either side of the center of a composition in an equally weighted manner. Symmetrical balance can be thought of as 50/50 balance or like a mirror image.bathroom with symmetrical design

ASYMMETRICAL BALANCE

In asymmetrical balance, the two sides are not identical, but differ from one another. However, the elements are arranged so that there is a sense of balance.asymmetrical mantle accessories

RADIAL BALANCE

Radial balance is a visual balance based on a circle with its design extending from center.breakfast room radial balance

Make sure to visit SroteCo.com to see how we incorporate balance everyday into our own projects.

2017 Home Organization Projects

/ St Louis Interior Design / 5 Comments

One of my big goals for this year is to have a place for everything and everything in its place! That means a lot of decluttering has been happening in my home. Organization is something everyone can benefit from whether your house is large or small! I’m focusing on a few key areas to help my home function better.

MUDROOM

My husband and I recently updated our laundry/mudroom by adding cabinetry above and between the washer and dryer. We also removed a small shallow closet to install high cabinets, hooks and shoe storage.

Though the space isn’t big, it functions so much better for us. We’ve been working on organizing the cabinet interiors that house cleaning supplies and bulk household items.

Take advantage of the storage opportunities on the insides of cabinet doors. Mountable baskets are perfect for storing items you need to quickly access. I grabbed a couple of these to store cleaning supplies and vacuum attachments.

Bins and baskets make it easy to grab scarfs, hats and gloves before heading out the door.

If space is at a minimum, this option is great hanging coats and bags and even has a few small bins and a shelf!

STORAGE ROOM

Our storage room has become one of those spaces where boxes get tossed in without even looking. It’s difficult to find things and hard to walk through!

We are busy going through our belongings and making toss/keep/donate piles. Once we know what we are keeping THEN we will buy the appropriate storage containers. I’m thinking we will do some clear bins so we can see what will be stored.

A label maker will come in handy for labeling bins and can help you organize the rest of house, too!

GARAGE

While it’s not the most glamorous of spaces, organizing our garage is the project I’m looking forward to the most. The plan is to install a large pegboard wall to store all of our tools and project supplies.

Storage walls take full advantage of the vertical space available. Everything is easily visible, accessible, and CLEAN.

Magnetic knife racks are great for holding drill bits, screw drivers and even paint brushes.

I’ve got my work cut out for me! What projects are you working on this year?

2017 Color of the Year Forecasts

/ Heather Helms

What a difference a year makes! Every year the leading paint companies release their color trend predictions for the upcoming year. Last year we saw a white from both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams, a blush pink and purple from Pantone and an aloe green from PPG. While none were exactly the same they all had a light fresh quality about them. This year, all bets are off!

PANTONE’S COLOR OF THE YEAR

REFRESHING. REVITALIZING. NEW BEGINNINGSlight shining through trees

Greenery is described as “a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew.”

SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COLOR OF THE YEAR

MODERN. CLASSIC. NEUTRALwood bark on a tree

Poised Taupe is an earthen brown combined with conservative grey and the result is a weathered, woodsy and complex neutral that celebrates the imperfections and authenticity of a well-lived life.

BENJAMIN MOORE COLOR OF THE YEAR

MYSTERIOUS. PASSIONATE. ALLUSIVE.purple ink

Benjamin Moore Creative Director, Ellen O’Neill, described Shadow as sophisticated, provocative and poetic, it can bring energy to a space or harmony and a moment of respite.

PPG COLOR OF THE YEAR

DEPTH. LUXURY. PAMPERING.evening sunset

Violet Verbena is a moody purple with a chameleon-like presence that adapts to surrounding environments and complements a variety of design aesthetics, from playful rooms to tranquil spaces.

We would love to know you thoughts on the 2017 color forecasts. Which do you love? How will you use it?

For inspiration on how to incorporate these colors in your interiors check out our 2017 Color Trends Board on Pinterest.

Preparing for Overnight Guests

/ St Louis Interior Design / 2 Comments

Do you have guests in town for the holidays? Read these tips for creating a warm and inviting space for your guests to enjoy!

Spend the night as your guest.

This will allow you to note and fix any issues you come across. Is the room temperature okay? Always make sure there are enough blankets and that the pillows are comfortable. Another thing to note is the morning light! Do your curtains sufficiently block the sun?bed with white fluffy pillows and bedding

The Essentials

Make sure to have key emergency items readily available. You don’t want to make your guests feel embarrassed having to ask for certain items! This should include extra toilet paper, feminine products, air freshener or matches, and a plunger.bath vanity stocked with toiletries

Other items to have ready in the room or nearby should include:

  • wi-fi password
  • water carafe and glass
  • remote control instructions
  • waste basket
  • spare key and/or garage code
  • easily accessible outlets
  • fresh towels
  • clear space in your closet with plenty of hangers
  • extra toothbrush
  • lint roller
  • contact solution
  • assorted medicine
  • hair dryer
  • iron and ironing board
  • luggage rack

Go Above and Beyond

  • Find out what your guests like to eat/drink for breakfast and snacks and have those items on hand.
  • Get the coffee ready ahead of time so all they have to do is hit the power button!
  • Leave a stack of magazines or a favorite book for your guests to peruse.
  • Compose a list of favorite activities, shops and restaurants for your guests to check out!
  • Place a vase of fresh flowers on the bedside table.

These little touches can go a long way in making your guests feel welcome! I hope you find them helpful and please share in the comments if you have any additional suggestions!

2016 Trend Forecast Follow-Up

/ Heather Helms

In January, I published a post – Top 5 Interior Design Trend’s In 2016 – for the Srote & Co Architects company blog. With this year almost behind us I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the trend forecast and see which ones made their way into our interiors and which ones I missed the mark on.

ECLECTIC INTERIORS

Eclectic design relies heavily on the building blocks of design (color, pattern, texture, and composition) to make a space look cohesive. People typically associate eclectic design with a chaotic mix of objects that all colliding in one space, so there is some hesitation in the design community to use this term when describing a desired aesthetic. This hesitation has brought about design styles such as Modern Farmhouse and Rustic Chic. While these classifications do describe the styles being combined, by definition, any time you combine more than one design style, it is eclectic.

UPDATE: Our interiors are as unique as we are. We will continue tailor the architectural and interior designs of our residences to match our personalities and lifestyles for years to come.

ARTISAN GOODS

Being socially and environmentally aware is no longer a trend, but a way of life. Fair Trade practice is an example of this growing awareness. This is a social movement with a goal to help developing countries achieve better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The items produced are specific to the region they are sourced from and handmade by local artisans. As an interior designer, I am always looking for one-of-a-kind items for my clients and have embraced this direction in design. Unique pieces from around the globe and locally sourced handmade items will be making their way into our homes in 2016.

UPDATE: This is definitely not a fad. Even retailers, such as Pottery Barn, highlight Fair Trade products on their websites today.

MIXING METALS

Metallics add warmth and richness to any space. The interior design trend is definitely leaning toward the warmer tones of copper, brass and rose gold. Silver, pewter and chrome are still in the mix, but are no longer the only metals in the room. This trend is about more than just mixing the metals; it’s about mixing their textures and sheens as well. These metals are no longer offered only in polished or brushed. Look for matte, burnished, antiqued and other designer finishes to be introduced to the market.

UPDATE: Metal did not perform as expected this year. While it was exciting to see the fun tabletop decor that first flooded the market, it didn’t really go anywhere from there.

NEUTRAL

Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore announced their “2016 Color of the Year”, and in stark contrast to last year’s selections, Coral Reef (SW) and Guilford Green (BM), this year, both selected a shade of white. These may seem like controversial selections from paint companies that, when combined, offer over 4500 paint colors. However, when you look at the entire color palette presented from both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams you get a better grasp of the reasoning behind their selection. They are in no way suggesting we live in a white box. These colors merely serve as a backdrop to let certain features take center stage. Bold graphic designs, brightly accented walls surrounded by white trim and neutral backdrops highlighting the natural elements in a room are what this trend is about.

UPDATE: There is nothing stopping this train. Hang in there. This one is here to stay.

PATTERNS

With our walls taking on neutral tones, the opportunity to introduce visual interest will present itself in home accents. Bright graphic prints on accent pillows, area rugs and artwork is a great place to start. Geometric patterns are already saturating the market in wallpaper, flooring and backsplashes. Selecting the correct patterns and textures to accomplish your design goals can prove challenging and is best done in person if possible.

UPDATE: A swing and a miss on this one! Like metal it came on strong and then didn’t really have anywhere to go. Texture ruled over pattern and I think I see that trend continuing. But as well all know I have been wrong before, LOL!

Do you think I got it right or wrong?

Did you embrace any of these trends this year? We would love to see how you incorporated them into your decor.

Check back next month for our 2017 Interior Design Trend Forecast!

Shop Small & Support Local Businesses!

/ St Louis Interior Design

Here’s a list of local shops to consider while out shopping this weekend, throughout the holiday season and anytime throughout the year! Some of these shops even offer free delivery to the St. Louis area – good to know!

Image result for circa boutique

Circa Boutique:  A clothing and gift boutique in downtown Belleville, IL and also Edwardsville, IL! The shop also offers candles, artwork, and custom jewelry!

City Sprouts:  A one-stop, super cool shop for babies and kids featuring amazing clothes, eco-friendly toys, designer diaper bags, and modern nursery furniture and decor.

Fable and Lore:  Hand-crafted, infinitely wearable jewelry for the modern free spirit.

Future Ancestor:  A curated home decor shop specializing in handmade goods, vintage furniture, and unique gifts.

Left Bank Books:  The oldest and largest independently-owned full-line bookstore in St. Louis. They offer a full-line of new and used books, gifts, cards, magazines, toys and services.

Related image

Lemon Gem:  This brand-new kitchen store is set for its soft opening this Saturday, 11/26. It will offer the basics – pots, pans, spatulas, spoons, bakeware, aprons, kitchen gifts – from a range of well-known brands to local artisans. The shop will also feature a community cookbook library – how great is that?!

124 West Jefferson, Kirkwood, Missouri 63122

Moonbeams:  Located in the heart of Kirkwood this shop offers a variety of gift and home decor items that are truly unique and often one-of-a-kind!

Union Studio:  An independent and locally owned shop featuring a thoughtful, classic collection of St. Louis artists’ hand-crafted goods and fine art. Every item they sell—clothing, housewares and fine art—is handmade by nearby artists, our neighbors.

Urban Matter:   Home furnishings & gift shop featuring local makers, curated treasures & made-by-hand goods for both men & women.

Zee Bee Market:  Curated handmade & Fair Trade products from around the world – plus coffee, chocolate, tea, more. Their hand-crafted baskets are a personal favorite!

—

What are some other local gems that I missed – let us know where you like to shop in the St. Louis area.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING & HAPPY SHOPPING!

Home Sweet Home

/ Heather Helms

As a designer I know the impact an environment can have on those living in it. So when I came across an article about Home Sweet Home, a St. Louis non-profit, in the Ladue News I knew I had to get involved. Next week many of us will gather around a table with family and friends and give thanks for the things in our lives that mean the most to us so I thought this would be an appropriate time to share the organization and my experience with you.

logo

ABOUT HOME SWEET HOME

Home Sweet Home is a local organization, based in midtown St. Louis, that works with case managers at partner agencies throughout the St. Louis region to provide clients access to new or gently-used furnishings and basic household items. The majority of the people they serve are veterans, those who are homeless, and survivors of domestic violence looking for a new start. This October they celebrated their first anniversary and in that short time they have served over 140 families in need in St Louis and St. Louis County.letter

“Just wanted to update you and your staff. And say thank you for all the work you do for us and the community. Home Sweet Home is a godsend and you and your staff are angels. My dad started to tear up when we brought the furniture in. In this day and time, when the world wants to take, I just want you to know that you guys gave me and my dad a home. Continued success and may God’s blessings continue for you and your families. This Marine is forever grateful. Semper Fi.”

HOW IT WORKS

Once referred by their case managers, clients are able to shop in their warehouse to select all of the furnishings and household items they will need for their new residence. All items are then packed, delivered and installed by Home Sweet Home volunteers. Their mission depends on furniture and household donations(they will come and pick up your items), volunteers(to help clients shop, pack, install, organize) and monetary donations.collage-1

“In order to effectively address homelessness in America and impact a long-term solution to this problem, people transitioning out of homelessness need help with stability. At Home Sweet Home, we believe part of that stability comes from establishing a first home stocked with the necessities for everyday life. Part of maintaining a home is usability and affordability. We can help make taking the first step to stable home life comfortable and accessible.”

MY EXPERIENCE

After reading the article and visiting their website, I contacted Betsy Reznicek, Executive Director at Home Sweet Home, to see how I could get involved.  On October 7th, I got the call! The client was a military veteran with a 4 year old daughter. Due to her work schedule and relying on public transportation she would be unable to come in and select her items. I was asked to come in and make the selections on her behalf then participate in the delivery and installation. Making the selections at the warehouse was an eye opening experience. While some of the clients they serve are in need of a few items this family was literally starting from scratch. When we arrived at the apartment for the install, it was completely empty except for a sleeping bag on the floor that the mom and daughter had been sleeping in together. That day we set up beds with linens and pillows, stocked the cabinets with plates, cups, and utensils, and arranged a small sitting and eating area. It doesn’t seem like much but to this family it was everything.12510406_485528648301571_1819704498813117248_n

I can tell you the entire process of loading the furniture at the warehouse to completing the install took no more than 2 hours. I can not tell you how many times the mom thanked and hugged each of us nor can I adequately express the emotions I experienced seeing her daughter jump into her very own bed with a pillow. I volunteered to make a difference in someone else’s life. I never expected the experience to make such a difference in mine.

 

If you are interested in learning more about Home Sweet Home, their volunteer opportunities and upcoming events, please visit their website or Facebook page.

14522780_589338564587245_1469390460568519746_n