10 Rules of Decorating

Editor's Note: My outfit today is dark AG Jeans, a Halston Heritage top, Adrienne Vittadini kitten heels and my Chanel pearls.

The best and worst thing about interior design is that save for a few key things that tend to be universally accepted by designers, there really are no set "rules." I find that each designer tends to adopt their own set of rules and I certainly have mine. There are however, things that are of paramount importance when it comes to designing a room---like lighting and upholstery. 

Much like my own 10 Commandments for lifestyle, my 10 Rules of Decorating have been cultivated from years of experience. Over time, I have gleaned where money is best spent, where to save and how to tweak things to get the best end result.

Here are my 10 Rules of Decorating.

1. Always buy quality. Even if it takes you longer to finish the room.

Quality items last and tend to be timeless. 

2. If you have inherited furniture and/ or accessories -- use the ones you love and keep other things in a closet or attic if possible. If it is really bad-- sell it in an estate sale and use the money on one Great thing thing you can hand down. Using things of the past adds history and character to your home.

3. Buy art that makes your heart sing-- don't worry about what it costs.

Art that you truly love will make you happy every time you pass it. Mood boosters of any kind are the best investment.

4. I love to use lamps to give a glow to the room without overhead lights. Lamps can highlight objects with low light and are good for reading---plus they are good accessories to the room.

5. Always hang drapery either right under crown molding or between the window and the crown---never right above window. When the budget allows, custom drapery that is lined and interlined adds so much more to the room than ready-made. Cheap draperies do to the room what cheap shoes do to your outfit. And we all know I do not like cheap shoes.

6. In living areas, always invest in good upholstery. Inexpensive upholstery skips many steps that are not visible--it is not worth reupholstering.
NEVER let children jump on upholstery. It ruins the whole frame.

 In my opinion jumping is an outside activity.

7. When hanging a mirror, always think about what the mirror is reflecting. You never want the mirror to highlight the ceiling fan. Mirrors add great dimension to a space.

8. Use the most expensive fabric on a space that needs the smallest amount---a bench top, a pillow or the seat of a chair. Adding pops of an expensive fabric is like adorning yourself with jewelry--it elevates the entire look.

9.Inexpensive lamps----those from a surplus store like Home Goods or Tuesday Morning or even a vintage lamp can be transformed with a quality lamp shade. Adding trim to the shade makes it even more elegant and adds sass.

photo via here

10. Unless it is a dire emergency, never buy a ceiling fan with a light kit.

Editor's Note: All Interiors shots are my own work---except of course the ceiling fan picture!

Love this Rascal Flatts song!

Last night I cooked salmon patties and arugula salad.

Happy Wednesday!

A Divide and Conquer Day!

My assistant and I are generally joined at the hip and are usually together all day every day, doing a host of different things.

However, on some of our days, there is too much to get done or too many places to be at once and we have to divide and conquer.

This morning I got dressed early to meet a client and drive to Dallas to finalize some of their tile and counter tops for the new house they are building.

I wore Top Shop jeans, a new Vince silk top and some old Kate Spade heels that are still a favorite of mine. My necklace was given to me recently as a gift from a friend and client who went to Africa. I have been having such fun mixing it with different outfits.

The tile above is inspiration for her master bath scheme.

We are going slightly more contemporary with this job and I love what we're coming up with!

I always like to see my tile selections against the slabs to ensure that I like the movement and coloration of the stone.

While I was in tile and stone land, my assistant was on to Lee Jofa for the Ashley Hicks presentation.

Ashley Hicks is the son of the late David Hicks, a famed English decorator that gained popularity in the 50's, 60's and 70's and was very highly esteemed until his death.

I was sorry to miss the presentation, as I know David Hicks had a love for color very 

similar to my own.

This Sugarland song is what has me dancing today!

Last night for dinner I prepared ground beef with spices and cheese from Central Market

 and a spinach salad with bacon and spicy ranch dressing. I'll be sharing the previous night's dinner

in my posts to come----I hope it will inspire my readers to cook!

A 1980's Throwback Weekend!

I graduated from Tulane in 1982, moved to New York City that same year, moved back to Dallas 1983 and got married in 1987. Needless to say the 1980's (my 20's) were a busy and memorable time.

This weekend was incredibly eventful and productive--- and funnily enough most of it was 80's related.

 Friday night we were invited to a 30th anniversary party that was a surprise to the wife. This couple is what every couple should model their marriage after---they are so completely in love.

The other surprise for all the guests was the entertainment, which was none other than Kenny Loggins. His music reminds me of college and my early 20's. 

His performance was absolutely amazing and I had a blast dancing down memory lane.

Saturday morning I was meeting a client to pick out sinks and faucets. I knew I would be trekking through a warehouse so I dressed casually, but I wore red patent flats so I would still feel sassy.

After I did some work, I stopped by Central Market to pick up flowers to pay my condolences 

to a dear childhood friend who's father passed away on Friday.

My next stop was Neiman Marcus---they were having a 20% off sale and I wanted to 

check out the scene.

I found this red Theory dress and a white Rag & Bone dress and a couple of tops.

I will have to wait until springtime rolls around to wear this white Rag & Bone, but I was happy to get it for a steal!

The Halloween costumes at Pet Smart were cracking me up.

One year I dressed my golden retriever Pax and my Springer Spaniel mix, Lacey Rue as Superman and a banana respectively. They were less than amused.

Saturday night we went to a 60th birthday party for a friend of mine, thrown at Studio 80---which is a fun club in Fort Worth that plays 1980's music videos constantly. It is a fabulous place to go dancing---you know I love that!

I wore my new red Theory dress and felt ultra-sassy!

Riley and Harrison grew up with the birthday girl's youngest son and Riley was there for the occasion.

Riley, me and the birthday girl, Suzanne.

AC-DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" is the perfect song to round up the weekend. A fun trip down 1980's memory lane made for an extra fabulous weekend.

For an easy meal before our night of dancing Saturday night, I grilled chicken and a zucchini cut in half. A light supper to keep the dancing going.

My Beauty Routine

In early May of this year I turned 55. Beast referred to it as my "Speed Limit" birthday, although I have no plans to slow down anytime soon. I am happy to say that I've been able to keep my skin looking young without any assistance from plastic surgery.

I have a daily regimen of skincare that I am religious about and it keeps my skin fresh, clear and youthful.

While I have not had any plastic surgery to keep me looking young, I was certainly no stranger to it when I was young. At age 2 I pulled a boiling pot of green beans off of the stove and onto my neck and shoulders. I had to have 9 skin graftings and became well acquainted with my plastic surgeon. 

In my early teens, when my father's side of the family genealogy reared it's ugly head in the form of my expanded nose, my surgeon recommended I restore it to it's former state with a nose job. "Wouldn't you like to be able to breath out of both sides of your nose?" he asked. I told him that I had no idea that people actually did breath out of both sides of their noses---after all, that was hardly fodder for social conversation.

Years later at a high school reunion, a guy friend pointed me out in an old picture and asked who that girl was that he couldn't place. I smiled and told him I had no idea. That horrible nose only got to exist for four years and will forever be forgotten. Thank goodness for rhinoplasty!

Every morning, I start my washing my face in the bathtub with a warm wash cloth. Afterwards,  I put Clarins Double Serum on my face and then  Clarins Total Eye Concentrate  underneath my eyes.

I go back and forth between two moisturizers to be applied after my Clarins serums, one is J. Berry  which you an buy locally at Luxe Machine and the Patricia Wexler is at Bath and Body Works. 

Next I apply the Guerlain Orchidee Imperial Eye cream ----the container is expensive but lasts a year.

I have never been able to bring myself to spend the money on the Guerlain Orchidee Imperial Face Cream, because it's almost the price of a new pair of Pradas, but I treasure the samples and always ask for a bunch when I'm purchasing the eye cream or my lipstick.

At night, I use Johnson's Baby Oil to take my makeup off. I've been doing this since I was in my teens. Then I wash my face with this Patricia Wexler Dual Action Foaming Cleanser. Afterward, I put Kiehl's night recovery oil on my whole face and neck, followed by Patricia Wexler night cream.

I also put the Midnight Recovery Eye Cream under my eyes at night.

I found the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery to have the same feel and effect as La Prairie, but it is about 7 times less expensive.

I take vitamins morning and night and have been doing so for 22 years. I buy them out of California and they ship right to my house.

I found them through my old Mary Kay rep.

These are my favorite hair products--the secret to my full, poufy hair!

Left to right, Aveda Volumizing Tonic that I spray in my roots, Aveda hair spray and a Davines moisturizing fluid I put on before I blow dry the fool out of my hair.

My outfit today is a Chanel inspired tweed skirt from Brooks Brothers meets a French style Nanette Lepore blouse and nude patent J Crew kitten heels.

Love everything having to do with Breakfast at Tiffany's---especially the soundtrack.

Here's to a fabulous Friday and an even more fabulous weekend!

Dallas Market---A Parody.

On our weekly jaunt to Dallas I generally spend most of my time in the Dallas Design Center and the surrounding area. The Design Center is an outdoor shopping center that houses most of the major national and regional showrooms. All of them are delightful and I have my friends in each one.

I can find most everything I need in the Dallas Design Center when it comes to fabrics, furnishings, lighting and accessories. However, sometimes I have a need for something from one of my vendors that is in the Dallas Market Center. If you do not live in or near Dallas, you may have heard of this referred to as "Market." Designers and retailers from all over come here to buy both clothing and interior design goods.

The actual merchandise at the Market is all well and good---Like I said, I have vendors in there that I do business with regularly that provide beautiful lighting, accessories, art and furniture. The act of going to the market however, is not one that thrills me.

Let me paint you a picture.

As I drive north up the Stemmons feeder and prepare to turn on Market Center Blvd, I begin to feel it. The shortness of breath and the verge of a mild panic attack that I will soon be entering the Market again. We park in a lot amidst luxury suvs of all types and walk through the doors. Although it's early October and the outside temperature has dropped, the air conditioning inside blows so cold that Eskimos could inhabit the front lobby. That's only if they could get past the front desk, where they practically demand your passport and a blood sample as means for entry. After we get past the Gestapo, we prepare for a long trek across the spralling expanse of the building. We pass turtles on the way and usually the preparations for the next event---you would think they were preparing for a Bon Jovi concert in there, but there are shop owners from all over the country who need to purchase  imported handbags for pennies on the dollar.

After we ride 27 escalators and walk across the equivalent of 3 Dallas Cowboy's stadiums to get to the elevator I'm almost bowled over by another "designer" with Lululemon on her body, a stroller in her fists and determination to buy things at wholesale in her heart. If you're a spandex wearing mom in or around Dallas, I certainely have nothing against you, but these Market ladies are far from docile and usually have a stroller, rolling suitcase or other trampling vehicle on wheels and they are prepared to use it to pile in their goods. I have no idea how they got past the iron gates, but here they are, running me down and asking the showroom reps inane questions while I tap my Pradas waiting to actually get my work done.

This is of course the scene on a "normal" day at the Market. When actually MARKET is going on, I don't want to be anywhere near that place. The last time I ventured there during that blessed event I needed an oxygen tank, a therapy session and a glass of wine upon my exit.

Shopping carts----no doubt left there by a "designer" 

in workout clothes with a barely legal tax id.

There are certain things in life that are necessary evils----jury duty, trips to the DMV and in my world, visiting the Market. 

Visiting the Market will probably always be my least favorite part of my Dallas visits,

but at least I can laugh about it! Unfortunately, my vendors in the Market will probably never move to a more pleasant location, but a girl can dream can't she?

A fun Shania Twain song to get you moving! Happy Thursday everyone!