A Lesson On Rugs.

Editor's Note: Today I am wearing J Brand jeans, an Ann Taylor t-shirt, a sweater and Oscar shoes.

Whenever I walk into someone's house---whether they are a client or not, they almost always start making excuses to me about why their house looks this way or that. It comes with the territory of being an interior designer----people are always afraid that they've broken some rule that you are now very clearly witnessing as someone who designs homes for a living.

Surprisingly, their fear is mostly unfounded---they are very few "rules" when it comes to interior design. However, I do see one common "mistake" more than anything and that is when it comes to area rugs.

First, most people often pick one that is WAY too small.

The rug is often so small that it sits in front of all of the furniture like it's own tiny island.

An area rug should be large enough to at least sit a few inches under the front legs of your sofa and chairs.

When I am doing larger rooms like the ones pictured below, sometimes I even make the rug large enough to go completely under all of the furniture.

The other "mistake" I see a lot is the absence of the rug where there needs to be one. Rugs add color and warmth to a room, they absorb sound and they limit dust and dirt. Every major room in your home should have a rug in it.

Rugs are available at a variety of price points. They can also be new, antique, ready-made, custom---you name it.

For the homes above, I worked with Lee Jofa on custom colored rugs. We picked from a large archive of designs and went about picking the thread color for each design element that ran through the rug. The results were amazing!

I also love hand made wool rugs. I get them from a couple of sources in Dallas and from one source in New York that I've been using for over 20 years! Sorry readers---those sources are for Kay's eyes only!

When I'm looking for rugs I usually take a couple of key fabrics in the room and look at sometimes hundreds of rugs before I choose the right one. If possible, I will take two or three options to the client's house so we can see how they look in the room.

After 20 years of buying rugs from my New York source, I finally got to meet their President face to face last winter while I was in NYC for a function. It was wonderful visiting their headquarters and seeing some of their archives.

Adding a rug will transform a nice room into a fabulous room---try it and see!

I didn't cook dinner last night because my mother and I went to Thirsty Thursdays at Rivercrest Country Club, which was such fun! I wore wool pants by Vince, a silk blouse from Ann Taylor, and a C Wonder sweater. For dinner I had a burger without the bun. No carbs for Kay!

Love this Jackson 5 song. Much like good rugs, good music never goes out of style.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Bedding-Kay's Way!

Editor's Note: Today I am wearing an Theory blouse, a faux leopard vest from Forever 21, jeans from Ann Taylor and G Series shoes.

 When I started doing design work in the early 1990's---heavy, ornate bedding was very in vogue. Heavy silk damask coverlets, with large duvets folded at the end of the bed, tons of coordinating pillows with heavy beaded or fringe trim and heavy matching dust ruffles. In the last few years, heavy beds like that have fallen out of style. I now do a mix of custom and ready made bedding for a lighter, and more fresh look.

This bedroom was completed recently for a client, and we had a coverlet, shams and neck roll pillows made by Legacy Linens, which we ordered from Wright at Home on Camp Bowie. They're bedding is so luxurious and can be customized. I had custom pillows and a dust ruffle made by my drapery workroom to compliment the Legacy Bedding. I absolutely love the mix.

Another reason I have moved towards doing a lot of ready-made or semi-custom bedding is that I can order things from Legacy or Matouk that are washable. Lifestyles have changed, and when clients let dogs and children on to their beds, they need to be easily cleanable.

I do semi-custom bedding out of sheeting material or pique---I love both looks. If the client is open to it, I usually add a monogram to give the bedding an extra bit of personality.

The bed is the focal point of any bedroom and you want it to say something about you!

Another example of some beautiful and simple Legacy bedding that we purchased through Wright at Home.

This bed was a mix of bedding from Legacy, paired with custom shams and a custom dust ruffle. The monogrammed pillow in the middle was custom done by Legacy.

Here are a few examples of the kind of bedding I've been ordering from Legacy Linens (available at Wright at Home) or Matouk.

Legacy

Matouk

Matouk

Matouk

Would love to hear from my readers---do you prefer custom bedding or do you go for ready made? Or like me, is it somewhere in between?

Last night I made mixed greens with ground beef, monterey jack cheese and pecans.

Jingle Bell Rock is one Christmas song that gets me dancing and singing no matter what!

Christmas Ideas from Wright at Home!

Editor's Note: Today I am wearing a white Anne Fontaine shirt, an Elie Tahari

 vest, and Ann Taylor Jeans.

We started our last year of Christmas decorating for client's before Thanksgiving and are doing more decorating this week and next. 

Here is a photo of yesterday's tree---not quite finished but on it's way!

Since we are in the midst of making client's homes beautiful for the holidays, I thought I would share some Christmas decor ideas from Wright at Home on Camp Bowie.

Christmas Trees are a fabulous way to express your personal style.

There are simple, fresh versions, like this one, covered in large, sleek silver stars.

Or you can choose a color palette---red and turquoise in this case and make your tree pop by repeating different ornaments in the same colors.

If you like your tree to be more elegant, you can stick to metallics and do your tree in silver and gold.

Or make a glamorous wintry statement in all white.

Every table top and chest is an opportunity to be festive.

Mercury glass urns that you may have out all year can be transformed into Christmas decor when grouped with mercury trees and gold Santas.

Group several items in a gold or brass family together on a buffet

 and add a few shimmery trees.

Clear off your usual console or buffet decor and add shimmering garlands and glittery bucks.

Even your dining table or kitchen can be made festive with beautiful holiday themed embroidered napkins.

Grouping trees together of different sizes is

 festive and visually interesting.

If you have extra ornaments, displaying them in a pretty bowl is a quick and beautiful addition to your decor.

I love this nativity scene, made particularly fabulous by 

sparkling garlands and glowing votives.

Thanks to Wright at Home for all these fabulous holiday decor ideas!

Be sure to stop by their store and grab some holiday trimmings for yourself!

Last night for dinner I made cauliflower and tilapia with 

crab cakes and remoulade sauce.

This Christmas tune is a favorite and always makes me feel festive!

The Importance of Updos!

My daughter Riley was a Fort Worth Steeplechase debutante last year, and because of that, we have attended lots of black tie events in the last couple of years. Even when she wasn't a deb, we generally have a few black tie events to attend every year. 

Every time I attend a formal event, I like to get an updo done. I always have my hair "done" no matter what, rain or shine, weekend or workday, but an updo is a little something special that makes me feel extra polished for formal parties.

This past weekend, we had a deb party on Friday night and I was having a dog of a time finding someone to do my hair, because everyone was already booked. I happened to be at a client's house hanging art on Friday, and she said, " I know you'll think this is crazy, but why don't you see if anyone is available at JC Penney." 

I am here to tell you, this was the best updo I've had in a very long time. I will definitely be re-visiting the girl that did my hair.

Here are some after shots at the salon.

Here I am, all ready to go with my updo and my dress.

I thought it would be fun to show a few updos I've had in the past few years.

Sometimes I'll have them pull it all the way up, and depending on the dress I'm wearing sometimes I'll have them put it half up and half down.

I had to take a picture of my hair before I went to bed after one event, please excuse the nightgown!

This was after dancing---and it stayed in place all night.

Last night for dinner I made salmon and spaghetti squash.

I love India Carney's version of Over the Rainbow--she has such a dynamite voice.