Many people ask me what to do with their current furniture when their new pieces arrive.  The last thing you should do is throw it away.  Many people would be thrilled with any furniture at all. 

If you find yourself in the position to donate your furniture, please check out http://www.help1up.org At a recent event I met Jeff Hay, the executive director of the National Furniture Bank Association.  Their organization provides furniture for families who have lost their homes to natural disasters, children and woman who have been displaced due to domestic violence as well as families living below the poverty line who need a hand up, not a hand out.  Their belief is that no child in America should have to sleep on the floor.  If you have anything to offer, please go to their website where you can donate today. 

Thanks for all the emails and calls checking in on my place after yesterday’s fire.  I did wake up at 5am to screaming sirens and 2 barking dogs.  Thankfully no one was hurt although the building direclty across from my new home burnt down.  While I have a little smoke damage to my draperies, all is OK. 

Large plums of smoke could be seen for miles.  Unfortunately the windows in my building are original from the 20’s and not sealed as well as new ones.  It’s a trade-off for keeping the originals (which I don’t mind)

It seems KBTV is a huge success as we are doubling the amount of traffic to my site.  I enjoy sharing my process with you.  We still plan to post new episodes every Monday and Thursday.  Although I am actually a little ahead of the video, I thought I’d share a few recent purchases.

These vintage stools don’t have an exact place yet.  I just love the use of color and bold pattern of the Marimekko fabric.

On a recent trip to Grand Rapids I came across this artist who is based in Portland, OR.  I have always been a fan of landscapes.  Her abstract trees and use of color drew me in.  These 2 pieces are a diptych that hang side by side.  I recently commissioned her to do a large scale diptych for a client in Manhattan Beach.  As soon as that project is finished I will share photos.  You can check out more of her work at http://www.studiohartig.com

I guess I am in the phase of buying small pieces that can float around my house.  They don’t have a permanent place, so to say, I just like to have a few pieces that can travel around and find a home in various areas keeping it fresh.  This vintage Baker bench was found at another favorite shop of mine http://www.orange.1stdibs.com

To freshen up the A. Rudin Showroom this year, I decided to bring in small doses of color for dramatic impact.  A huge trend right now is bright colors- so a small dose can go a long way.  The idea was to select a few chairs and re-upholster with pops of orange and green.  Thought you might enjoy a few pictures-

In this area of the showroom, I brought in a dose of color with coral-colored draperies

Not everyone can re-upholster a chair to bring in color...so for those who want to take small baby steps...check out these great pieces I found on my favorite new website
http://www.etsy.com (they only sell things that are handmade)

I love the jolt of color on the interior!  Place this bowl on a stack of colorful books on your coffee table for an instant update.

Another bowl I found on http://www.etsy.com

When you work with bright colors, you don’t have to match them.  As long as they’re bright, they’ll work together.

Another great find on etsy - great vintage pillow cases - these would make any sofa feel fresh and updated.  Mix it with one of the bowls above

If you would like to read an interview I did recently click onhttp://meadedesigngroup.blogspot.com/

When I first started design school, the biggest challenge I faced was perspective drawing.  Before college, I had never taken an art class so I felt like I would never succeed.  Over time I learned how to draw in perspective, but still consider it a challenge. 

I’m sure many of you saw these images circulated through mass emails lately, but I just had to share this guy’s amazing work.  His ability to draw in forced perspective blows me away (as well as those who come across his work on sidewalks) It looks like a 3D piece of art

Although it is a flat drawing on a city sidewalk, at first glance you think it’s a sculpture standing up

When you view it from another angle, you see how the forced perspective drawing played on your senses when viewed head-on

Another brilliant piece by the artist - seen with his work.  Can you believe it is a flat drawing on the sidewalk?

Being a huge fan, I wanted to share his amazing talent with you. You can check out more of his work by clicking (or copying and pasting the link below)
http://images.google.com/images?q=julian+beever&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf8&um=1

Also - thanks for all the feedback on KBTV.  While we continue to experiment with ideas to tape, I hope you enjoy seeing the process of my own place.  We post new episodes every Monday and Thursday.  Click on KBTV at the top of the home page to check things out.

If you’re in Madison WI, I hope to see you tomorrow at the Isthmus Green Building Expo.  I’ll be the keynote speaker Saturday Morning - hope to see you there.

Finishing Touches

The finishing touches can help make a room.  On a recent installation we grabbed a camera to share a few tips on dressing your fireplace mantel.  I’m a fan of putting a mirror over a fireplace, especially if the mirror has an interesting shape.  I use newspaper to mark the hangers on the back of the mirror so that I can mark the exact place to hammer a nail on the wall.  To avoid writing on the walls, I use small post-it notes to tag the location. 

An empty mantel creates a void in a room.  Because the fireplace is usually a focal point, it is important to add interest, but nothing that is too over-done.  When I see mantle’s with too much ‘stuff’ I feel like the focal point becomes too heavy.

The goal was to add simple touches to highlight the fireplace, not over design it.  I applied my formula of 1-3-2.  One piece hanging over the mantle, 3 accessories on the mantel and 2 stools in front of the fireplace.  This configuration creates a sense of balance

Seattle has an emerging design scene and I was honored to be their keynote speaker at their sold out ‘Eye on Design’.  Having the ability to travel and see new cities plays a huge part in my design vocabulary.  Even with their infamous rainy weather, Seattle is inspirational.

How amazing are these doors?  Susan Mills who owns a showroom under the same name found these antique doors in Paris around the corner from Notre Dame.  Over 12 feet tall, these doors welcome you to her modern showroom featuring Donghia, Victoria Hagan, and David Sutherland.  http://www.susanmills.com

This slipper chair is upholstered in one of my favorite Donghia fabrics.  The repeat on the fabric is so large, that I may use it as draperies in my guest bedroom.  You can also get a sense of scale of these doors.  I appreciate the modern vs. antique and how these 2 styles get along so beautifully.

I am a fan of lanscape paintings becuase I’m drawn to horizon lines.  Horizon lines draw the eye in, and can create an inner peace.  While waiting for my flight, I took this photo across the runway.  The soft colors of the gray sky and the shadow of the trees would make a beautiful painting. 

10 minutes later, I snapped this shot with the skies opening up.  Maybe I’ll paint a series based on these 2 images.  Design inspiration can strike at any moment, even at the Seattle airport

I find that certain design styles get a sharp reaction from clients.  This is the case with the popular Brutalist Design Style.  Even saying the word Brutalist conjures up a scary image.  Originating between the 50’s and 70’s, this style was most popular as an Architectural Style.  By allowing the structural materials of a building to be the finished skin of the building, many people thought the construction was never finished. The Architects of the time such as LeCorbusier felt that the beauty of a building should be about the materials that make it stand.  Many of his projects displayed the concrete structure as its exterior skin. At the time, people wondered when the decorative exterior was going to be applied. Well, there was no decorative exterior, thus making the point that beauty should come from within.

As I shop for my new place, I am beginning to see many pieces labeled Brutalist.  As you can see below, it appears that each piece is exposed, allowing you to see its structure.  This concept is what ties the Architectural style to the Decorative Arts style.

Curtis Jere was best known for his metal wall sculptures.  Occasionally you will come across one of his light fixtures. 

Brutalist lamps are in high demand.  A pair like this can fetch $4,000.

The signed tag you should look for, if you think you have an original somewhere in the garage

Curtis Jere’s most popular piece is the metal sunburst wall sculpture.  This piece is so popular today that Crate and Barrel have come out with their own version http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1420&f=12207

I’ll be speaking this Saturday in Seattle.  If you live in the area it would be great to meet you. 
10:00-11:30 AM at the Seattle Design Center 5701 Sixth Avenue South 800.497.7997

A quick thank you to everyone at Collins College who were wonderful host this past weekend. 

One day I hope to teach design, but until then I appreciate the opportunity to share my passion with graduating students and aspiring designers.

For those of you in Seattle, I will be speaking this Saturday.  http://www.seattledesigncenter.com/

And last, be sure to check out the newest video on KBTV where I share a tip on door casing and base moulding.

My website is going thru an experimental phase with the KBTV page.  I thought a video journal would be a nice addition and it seems many of you missed it while it was down recently.  Because this is a new endeavor, we are looking for suggestions from you.  I want to offer as much design information and tips as possible. 

Over the next few weeks, we will be posting video entries on Monday and Thursday.  Each of these entries will be mini-tours of my new place as I go thru the final construction phase and enter into the design phase.  I hope you enjoy it - the first video about my entry is now up.  Check it out

For those of you in Phoenix, I hope to see you tomorrow at my speaking engagement at Collins College on Tempe’s campus.  I’ll be there from 10 - 12:30

I’m finally selecting my furniture pieces after a long remodel.  Check back - I want to share the secretary/desk that I plan to buy

While I’m in NY I will be dishing out design tips with Kim Fernandez and Betsy Karetnick on Sirius Satellite channel 112 Martha Stewart Living Radio.  The show will be live starting around 7:30am Eastern Time Friday March 28th.  If we have time, we’ll be taking calls to offer design advice - I hope to hear from you!

Chandeliers

Finding the perfect chandelier for my place was key to defining my dining area.  After months of dust, I can finally see the design coming together (although construction is not complete).  I chose this light fixture because of its simple shape, but more importantly I needed a large light that was not too bulky.  The large scale of the fixture (49") will work well with the scale of the large library table which will sit under it and act as my dining table.

In a previous post I shared my secret for creating large crown moulding.  Because the room is 40’ x 25’ all elements have to be large in scale. By using 2 pieces of baseboard and one piece of crown, the custom crown adds an important detail to the space.  The proper finishing and caulking will create a seamless look.

It’s amazing what window treatments can do to a room. One of my trademark design details is the use of men’s suit material as drapery fabric. To me, the soft wool falls perfectly while framing the view. Window treatments should never overpower a window, but soften the edges of the window frame.

Jose installed 7 pairs of draperies. It is important that the drape barely hit the floor. For this to happen, we install them 1/4” shorter knowing that the fabric will give and become the perfect length in a few weeks.

To keep the pleat in line, we tie the bottom of the drape (below). The tie stays on for a week to help keep the fabric in its shape.

I’m back in LA enjoying great weather. It has been a busy week catching up on projects. We are in the process of doing the A.Rudin showroom for westweek again.

On the homefront, well let’s just say I’m now moved in and sleeping on a mattress. I feel like the shoemaker who has no shoes. But, like my mom says, these are good problems to have.

I’ll be celebrating my birthday on Sunday. I want to thank everyone in my fan club for sending great gifts and cards. It was such a surprise to receive notes from all of you! I think our mailman lost 10 pounds carrying up the mail to my office

A special thanks to Linda and Theresa for sending over the bouquet of cookies above. Delicious!

My dad, who retired a few years ago as a chemist, is now taking art classes. He sent me this drawing of Oliver and Benson. It is great to see him develop an amazing talent- he captured their personalities perfectly. I now know where my artistic side comes from. Thanks Dad, you’re the best.

The chandelier hunt went well today. I was able to find 2 chandeliers for the entry to my new place (below). You may have read in an earlier post that I am installing a handpainted wallpaper with greens and golds. To add a vintage twist, I found these 2 brass fixtures which will work great. They’re shown with white bulbs, but with clear ‘night-lite’ bulbs, the effect when they’re turned on will look amazing.

I had to make a pit stop at one of my favorite stores, Lobel Modern www.lobelmodern.com where I fell in love with these brass chest seen below. With my new place, I’m steering away from silver finishes and bringing in more brass. I like the warmth of brass and the way it works with the age of my building.

For my guest room, I can’t decide between these 2 Austrian glass chandeliers.  Any thoughts?

Tonight I was invited to preview Tommy Hilfiger’s Fall 08 Collection. Working in a fast pace city, it only makes sense to start thinking ahead to what to wear in September. It was a fun event and I picked a few nice pieces to fill my closet...now, if I could just find light fixtures to fill my new place - I need 9 chandeliers!

Light weight grey wool with shots of bright yellow is the hot look for fall. This palette has inspired me to upholster my bedroom walls in a light grey wool fabric and accent with yellow lamps or pillows. I find fashion influences my design as I gravitate toward a well tailored interior.

The grey suit (5th from left) was one of my favorite selections of the night

Katie Krell with me at the event. Katie works with me on my product lines.

The best briefcase for me is more like a duffle bag. That’s why this bag will be perferct for me. I can throw client binders, fabric swatches and keep rolled-up blueprints sitting on top between handles.

Tomorrow is light fixture day in NY for me - I’ll be sure to post what I find.

I left Chicago yesterday for meetings in NY today. A lot of good things are coming down the pipe to share. The beginnings of my furniture line are taking shape and Chicago was very productive, although very cold. Now that I’m in NY, I’m working on a specialty bedding line that will be announced soon. It is very exciting. While I’m here I’ll try to do some shopping for my new place, which is still under construction (but looking better). Hopefully by the end of the week, the dusty part will be finished. I need to find a chandelier for my home office.

While in NY, I am staying at the newly renovated Gramercy Park Hotel. Originally opened in the 1920’s and host to many famous bohemian artist, the hotel has been completely redefined by Ian Schrager. The look pays respect to its bohemian past, while mixing old styles in new ways. Also, the art collection is amazing.

Hanging in various areas of the hotel are works of art by Damien Hirst, Richard Prince, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Gasquiat and Andy Warhol.

My room is designed in a bold color palette and is a mix of old and new. It feels like the Bohemian days from the early 1900’s, a great inspiration for my product line.

I’m heading to Chicago this morning to work on my furniture line.

It’s hard to imagine that a week from today, I will be moving into my new place. There’s nothing like scheduling a move-in date to put a fire under your contractor to wrap it up. Actually, not everything will be finished, but at least most of the mess will be behind me. Once I get settled in, you will begin to see photos of the different colors and furniture that I am thinking of putting in.

The library will be in an open niche shown above. The outside of the library wall will have wall sconces which will be made of antique mirror framed in a horn patterned material.

My first priority will be on the entry way (above) that I carved out of the kitchen. It will be the first thing I see when I come home, so having that finished is very important for my mental health - LOL. To the left will hang an antique map of Paris that is divided into 2o individual frames. Because the width of the space is over 5’, I’m considering a long narrow bench opposite the map.

Since the entry has no natural light, I am having a custom wallcovering created by an artist in San Francisco by the name of Sondra Alexander. She is known for infusing reflective metallic paint into her work which will help brighten my entry. I am leaning toward the sample shown above. Check out her stuff www.yangki.com

It’s a busy Monday at the office today and I wanted to touch base about the Ask Kenneth section of the site. We are now putting in a better system which allows this section to update more frequently. Look for these changes over the next few weeks as we transition over to the new software. We plan to combine the Messages section with the Ask Kenneth section so that you can leave a message or question which will allow me to leave a reply at the moment they come to my desk.

One of my favorite things about my business is that we are always finding a way to balance my private client business with offering advice and tips via my website. And don’t forget coming in September will be my product line which will allow you to buy home accessories from my new line!

Benson thought he’d help do some design work today. He loves sitting on my lap while I do sketches

While I continue to wait for the final paperwork to close up my walls in my new place, I’ve turned my attention to the details which will add character. Because I have one large room with tall ceilings, I am installing a crown moulding to help feature the grand scale of the room. One trick I use is layering moulding to give the illusion of oversized crown.

The sketch shows how I use base moulding turned upside down at the top of the walls as well as installed on the ceiling. Once these pieces are in place, I connect the flat part of the base moulding together with a standard piece of crown moulding. After it is painted and caulked, it looks like one giant piece of moulding.

This is the base that will be used on my walls and ceiling. The flat part of the moulding is where the crown (shown below) will connect.

Check back. As soon as it is intstalled I will share photos - I’m sure many of you are scratching your heads wondering what this is going to look like.

It seems Oliver and Benson have their own fan club as many of you have been asking how they’re fairing during the remodel of my new place. They like the daily visits to the jobsite because one of the electricians gives them treats. As for the temporary place I had to rent, they’re not too happy. The good thing is that they now come to the office with me everyday and chill on their bed in the corner of my office. Oliver makes his hourly rounds to visit all the employees and see if there are any snacks while Benson likes to sit with Min at the reception desk while she goes thru the mail.

I’ve survived 2 days living in my place as I tackle the remodel. Part of me thought it would be fun to ‘rough it’ while experiencing the entire process.

The ‘roughing it’ phase is over as my sanity is much more valuable. Considering the month long delay with the city, I was fortunate to find a unit in my building for rent. Tonight will be the second move in a week and I could not be more excited. The benefit of not living here during the mess will keep me thinking more design and less about the dust in my cereal.

I did get a smile on my face today when my clients Dennis and Shawn sent over a beautiful orchid. The note read, “you may not have furniture, but at least you can have orchids.” And that about sums it up.

This weekend will be a nice way to start fresh as I am heading to Phoenix for the Superbowl. Monday will be a fresh start

It’s day 3 of construction at my new place. Just when it felt like smooth sailing, the city put up another roadblock. I’m doing my best to stay positive, but it is extremely aggravating to deal with the ridiculous paperwork they are requiring. I’d understand it if I were tearing down structural walls. I agree this would require drawings from a structural engineer. But all I want to do is add 3 walls, one for a guest room, one for a master and one for an entry. To add fuel to the fire, my contractor is building the walls to the same standards of the developer who recently completed the same type of construction. However, for some reason, the city needs 4 weeks to look at my plans to approve (after realizing this 3 weeks into the permitting process). At the end of this, I may understand why many people try to avoid dealing with the city at all cost.

Eventually, there will be a wall next to the guy on the ladder, creating a guest room.

My front door is the furthest to the right. One day, there will be a wall along the blue tape line on the floor which will create an 18’ long entry (where the 2 guys are). The other side of this wall (closest to camera) will be the kitchen.

Stay Tuned....

I have not even moved into my new place and I’m already living out of boxes.  Tomorrow is the last day in my current home.  As embarrassing as it is, I plan to share photos of my new place with the construction mess and the nightmare of living there during the process.  It’s a good way to put a fire under me and get the design complete.

Mark your calendars to pick up the April issue of Western Interiors & Design.  I was selected along with 2 other designers to feature our favorite kitchen project.  It was an easy choice for me.  The kitchen I designed for Ron and Euffe was a great project because they were willing to step outside of their comfort zone.  In the end, we were able to create a kitchen that blended their Spanish style with Craftsman accents to fit their homes architecture.  To top it off, Ron and Euffe made the project a lot of fun by getting involved with the design process - my favorite type of client.

Art Director Nanci Smith arranges a vignette shot.  Did you know magazines often work 5 months in advance?  Today’s shoot was pushing a deadline for this April’s issue of Western Interiors & Design

Photographer Lisa Thompson along with Nanci and me check out test polaroids before changing to film.  You often find yourself in a tight corner trying to get the perfect angle.

Thanks to everyone in Austin who came out to the show yesterday. I had a great time and hope to be back soon!

The past few days I’ve been in NYC meeting with manufacturers of my home accessory line. Today I took a little free time to find inspiration at one of my favorite stores, Charlotte Moss Townhouse www.charlottemoss.com

This 5 story landmark home is merchandised as if it were Charlotte’s own home.

My favorite find today was the custom wallcovering Charlotte created to mimic alligator skin (seen below). The green cut velvet pattern has a dramatic effect against the grey painted trim and casework. Grey’s are the big color this year, especially when paired with a potent dose of purple or green.

The library on the 2nd floor is my favorite room. I can not get enough books - they make a home feel like a home.

THIS WEEKEND IN AUSTIN TEXAS:

I leave for Texas tomorrow to speak at the Austin Home and Design show on Saturday. Austin Convention Center - 12:00 and 3:30 speaking times. I look forward to meeting those who have plans to be there - Kenneth

http://www.showtechnology.com/shows/Austin_spring/Austin_Spring.html