Design Reviews From The Floor Up ~ Silver Screen Surroundings

March's Design Reviews From The Floor Up introduces you to ::Silver Screen Surroundings::, another inspiring site from interior decorator Linda Merrill, owner of Chameleon Interiors in Massachusetts.

[Her company was included in a Washington Post article titled eDecorating - Web-Based Designers Click With Budget-Conscious Clients Who Want to Tackle Rooms Fast.]

Linda's background encompasses both visual and performing arts, something I learned when I profiled her original ::Surrondings:: site in Design Reviews From The Floor Up ~ Surroundings. That's when I discovered ::Silver Screen Surroundings:: which focuses on "Movie set decor, set decorators, and how to "Get that Look"." What a fabulous concept!

And, given the recent Academy Awards Red Carpet events, this seemed like the perfect site to share with you.

Linda asks: "Have you or has someone you know taken inspiration from a movie set for your own home decor? Would you like to share your images? Or, do you have a suggestion for a movie you'd like to see covered? Drop me a line at: linda.m.merrill (at) gmail.com."

What I love is how Linda dissects the onscreen decorator looks, demonstrating how to achieve them in ::Silver Screen Surroundings::. From Coco Chanel, to Benjamin Button to Marie Antoinette, and everything in between. Plus, she includes visuals that make my heart sing!

[I also love that Linda includes a Tutorial: Screen grabs when you need them! Thank you!]

Be sure to check out ::Silver Screen Surroundings:: and let me know which movie set decor inspires you the most. While you're there, explore the ::Movie Decor Cool Links::...

For previous sites included in this series, click on Design Reviews from the Floor Up. Or, visit our sidebar also titled 'Design Reviews from the Floor Up.'






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Design Reviews From the Floor Up ~ 2Modern Design Talk

February's Design Reviews From The Floor Up introduces you to 2Modern Design Talk, the design blog for the 2Modern retail site.

2Modern Design Talk is filled with delightful inspiration. Originally launched in August 2005, the site now features the perspectives of 18 contributors all involved in varying aspects of modern design - from different parts of the world [Chile, Brazil, Australia and the United States], a range of designing angles [graphic, object, furniture, showroom, industrial....] and interests [trend spotter, buyer, artist, painter, writer, crafter...].

The end result is a rich site featuring a "wide-range of views and commentary focused on contemporary design" as About 2Modern Design Talk explains. It's also very approachable and visually inspiring with delicious photos about modern design topics of interest to us all.

Take Sushi Artwork. Or lighting fixtures from the 2009 Interior Design Show in Toronto. What about Biomorphism and Solar Design and Wallpaper From the 70's? Or amazing Big scarves for this season. Check out New Rugs from 2Modern & Emma Gardner Designs!, too.

2Modern Design Talk will definitely take you on an excitingly fresh journey through contemporary design. Even if modern isn't your preferred design style, you'll be surprised by the relevance of the ideas showcased, and you never know when something might make sense for what you're trying to achieve.

Let me know what you think.

For previous sites included in this series, click on Design Reviews from the Floor Up. Or, visit our sidebar also titled 'Design Reviews from the Floor Up.'

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Design Reviews From The Floor Up ~ Surroundings

January's Design Reviews From The Floor Up introduces you to ::Surroundings::, a dynamic and inspiring design site created by Linda Merrill.

I'm particularly excited about this episode of Design Reviews From The Floor Up as I have met Linda. Well, virtually I have [see Time For Decorating From The Floor Up]. I hope some day to meet her in person. But, I came really close during Meeting Thom Felicia!

Linda Merrill is an interior decorating consultant and entrepreneur based in Massachusetts. She's also involved in the Board of the New England Chapter of the International Furnishing & Design Association. She knows interiors and design. And, she's inspiring.

Design inspiration surrounds Linda. You are sure to be drawn into her vibrant Surroundings, which is filled with amazing sights and visions, emerging only to apply what she shares and view the world around you differently.

Take her Pride & Prejudice series [I love Jane Austen, so this one really caught my attention!]: Pride & Prejudice: Decorating the Bennet's house, Pride & Prejudice: Decorating Netherfield, and Pride & Prejudice: Decorating Pemberley.

Or, the Travel Tuesday series. Music Hall Monday combines her love of music and design. You can Meet Artists like Patrick Fray, or listen to a podcast interview with Design Stars like Jennifer Bertand. Linda also offers plenty of practical advice [Staging Your Home for Sale] and Before & After Projects... and so much more.

Linda launched Surroundings in early 2005, which means that she will be celebrating her 4 year blog anniversary on January 27th. That in itself is an impressive accomplishment, even moreso when you experience how the site has evolved in that time. Definitely experience for yourselves the wealth of design ideas that Surroundings showcases. Only, be warned: you may have difficulty extricating yourself!

Thank you, Linda, for creating such an inspiring design destination.

For previous sites included in this series, click on Design Reviews from the Floor Up. Or, visit our sidebar also titled 'Design Reviews from the Floor Up.



P.S.: As there's a Thom Filicia connection to this post, check out our post on Thom Filicia's Design Inspiration Tips.

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Design Reviews From the Floor Up ~ Design With Christine

December's Design Reviews from the Floor Up introduces you to Design With Christine. It's fresh, practical and inspiring.

I came across Design With Christine as a result of a Google alert for carpet. It immediately caught my attention.

Can you guess why?

I love that the blog name includes 'Christine.' Furthermore, Christine mentions - in her About Me section - that she is "really good at getting stains out of carpet."

So, not only do we share a name, but we also have an affinity for carpet... And, she loves Jane Austin!

Christine Fife is an ASID interior designer with 11 years of design experience. She launched Design With Christine in March 2008. Her first posts explore mantle pieces and how best to showcase them as design elements, based on Architectural Digest photos of rooms in the White House. She definitely should have been consulted for some of these rooms as her observations are right on! I can literally 'see' the points that she makes.

What I also love about Design With Christine is how she welcomes design questions from her readers. She answers those in blogposts, illustrating her solutions with copious photos. What a terrific way do bring her design acumen to life and share it with others!

Check out, too, her Wallpaper Wednesday posts. I now look at wallpaper with a whole new set of eyes.

Definitely explore Design With Christine. I expect you will enjoy it as much as I do.

For previous sites included in this series, click on Design Reviews from the Floor Up. Or, visit our sidebar also titled 'Design Reviews from the Floor Up.'

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Design Reviews from the Floor Up ~ Another Shade of Grey

Image below features postcards by Robert Socha.

November's Design Reviews from the Floor Up comes to you from a little design blog that's been around since 2006. It appealed to me first because its title reminded me of Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale, and second, because, well... it's great.

Another Shade of Grey is written by a blogger named Julie and offers simple, understated posts.

Often, these posts will include only a word or two and a vibrant photograph. Sometimes, she'll simply post a photo of something that inspires her, like a painting or a piece of jewelry. Other times, she'll expound more, expressing just why the piece she's discussing makes a statement or offering a few descriptive words. Always her posts are intelligent and thoughtful; usually they offer a bit of wit and humor as well.

We loved this hand-knotted rug by Anne Reynolds.

I think I appreciate this blog most because of its simplicity. There's no excessive rambling - just good design and good conversation. Julie has a solid following of people who respect her and her findings, sometimes commenting, sometimes not.

That being said, I leave you to enjoy Another Shade of Grey. More good design next time with Design Reviews from the Floor Up.

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Design Reviews from the Floor Up: Apartment Therapy

An entire month has passed since I posted the first Design Review from the Floor Up, and I'm still just as obsessed with interior design as I was then. Lucky for you, this means that I have plenty of design Web sites to share with you. Unlucky for me, my checkbook can only handle so many fabulous area rugs, pieces of art and decorative pillows. (Oh, Target! Why must you be so darn design-oriented and affordable?)

This month, I'd like to tell you about a little treat called Apartment Therapy. Much like aroma therapy or message therapy, this delicious site offers a relaxing, calming view of the world. It's proof that everyone, even the most design challenged, can have an attractive room of her own in which to write, read, relax or be.

Apartment Therapy is a blog written by a number of people in six major U.S. cities: New York, D.C., L.A., Boston, Chicago and San Francisco. Its mission: "Helping people make their homes more beautiful, organized and healthy by connecting them to a wealth of resources, ideas and community online." Who can argue with that? Regardless of your income or position in life, if you enjoy good design, you're welcome at Apartment Therapy. Creating the aforementioned healthy home "doesn’t require large amounts of money or space. It requires inspiration, connection to resources and motivation to do something about it."

At Apartment Therapy, the editors post numerous times each day from locations all over the world. On any one day, you can tour luxurious homes, read about styles like Hollywood Regency (as we discussed in Hollywood's Impact on Design), or check out great shops or products - all from the convenience of your home computer.

Apartment Therapy has even gotten so popular that they've broken out into four additional Web sites: Ohdeedoh (design for kids), TheKitchn (focusing solely that one important room), Unplggd (all about home tech) and Re-Nest (for environmentally friendly design).

We especially enjoy posts about carpet, like this one from Apartment Therapy Australia titled Rugs on Carpet. [Photo at left courtesy of Apartment Therapy. A Chihuahua with a "rug"-amazing, right?]

A word of caution, however. Apartment Therapy does have some addictive powers. You may get sucked in. You may even find yourself entering the fourth annual Fall Colors Contest 2008. But keep in mind, you have been warned.

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Design Reviews From the Floor Up ~ Design*Sponge

Starting today, The Carpetology Blog is reviewing a design website once a month. Sure, you can think of flooring as, well, just flooring, or you can see it as we do - an element of design intrinsically connected to the ambiance and aesthetics of a room. Take Thom Filicia's advice: design from the floor up.

Since moving into my new flat, I've become obsessed with interior design. Until now, I've never had the opportunity to design a space all my own - home decor was my mom's domain as I was growing up, then I shared a dorm room and various apartments with other girls. And at that point, we had no money to spend on elements more expensive than futons and plastic end tables. (Yikes.) Now, it's time for a more grown up look for myself, and I'm discovering that the elements in my living space are a direct reflection of my personality - my home is most certainly an extension of myself.

Needless to say, when I have the time, I really enjoy looking at design websites, creative places where I can find new ideas, peruse photos, and search for style and color options that will work with my taste.

Today, we're starting with one of my personal favorites - Design*Sponge, known affectionately as D*S.

Founded by Brooklyn-based writer, Grace Bonney, D*S began in 2004. It's a daily blog and is often updated upwards of six times per day with delectable design bits and bites. "Design*Sponge features store and product reviews, sale and contest announcements, new designer profiles, trend forecasting and store/studio tours." It's a trip - Bonney is clever and witty, but in spite of her charm, her sense of style beats the pants off everything else. Each post has a new piece of design candy upon which to feast your eyes.

Posts range from the serious to the chuckle-inducing, the local to the international. Of course, our favorite posts have to do with carpet and area rugs. To check out some amazing treats for your tootsies, check out the Rug Roundup, Part 1 and Part 2.

We also think that this particular rug is simply scrumptious.

D*S also has links posts on design trends. My personal favorite is the numbers & letters mini trend, which makes me think of Mary Richard's classic 'M' hanging in her apartment in the Mary Tyler Moore Show. [Does anyone know where I can find an 'E' for my own place?]

You can also check out design guides to various cities all over the world, DIY tips every Thursday, and sneak peeks at an array of designers' homes. Basically, no matter what your style or price range, Design*Sponge has a little something for you.

Stay tuned... In September, we'll be introducing you to yet another fabulous design website in Design Reviews From the Floor Up.




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