Color, Color on the Wall

Tired of the same old boring colors (or in some cases, lack of color) on your walls? Have you been staring at the same white walls since you moved into your space? Where to begin?!

Did you know, Lisa Gilmore Design offers Color Services?

Image via: Google search

Sometimes, your space may not need an entire re-design, just a few fresh new colors to give it a new life. To check out a collection of color services by Lisa Gilmore Design, click here

"[on the importance of color] The Drab Age is over. Color is coming into its own again. Until very recently people were literally scared out of their wits by color. Perhaps this was a hangover from our Puritan ancestors. But whatever the reason, brown, grays and neutrals were the only shades considered 'safe'. Now we know that lovely, clear colors have vital effect on our mental happiness. Modern doctors and psychiatrists are convinced of this!" - Dorothy Draper

Embrace Your Inner Organization Style!

For years and years I have been battling with the fact that I am a right brain thinker for years and years. I am very thankful for my creative skills, but I lack in organization skills. One of my biggest tasks to organize is my jewelry. I love costume jewelry and locally crafted jewelry. I have tried so many thoughts, jewelry boxes, compartment organizers from The Container Store, so many different things. I think I finally nailed it...

Finally, I embraced my right brain and decided to make my jewelry collection a happy display of art. It honestly makes me very happy to look at, when I travel I like to support local jewelry artist and buy a piece. When I look at it I think of all the different places I have traveled or lived and the beautiful people who crafted the pieces. Plus, it's really great to decide what I am going to wear with an outfit, everything is out on display to choose from and I love every inch of it!

So here is my advice to you, if you are having trouble with a specific type of organization, think of how you are going about it. Is it going against your natural grain? Embrace the type of thinker you are and think outside of the box and a way that organizing will make you  happy. Organizing is more than just putting things away in lined up matching boxes with pretty cut out labels, it's creating a balance of function and also helps with the way you feel. 

I urge you to think outside of the box and embrace your side of the brain! Happy organizing!

St. Petersburg beauty: Cassis American Brasserie

Last Thursday, I spent the day strolling around beautiful St. Petersburg, Florida. My grandmother was in town from out of state, so her, my mom and myself enjoyed the lovely day. I really enjoy days like this, when you can be a tourist in your own town!

Photo via: Lisa Gilmore Design Instagram

 

My grandmother loved the funky horse on the 600 Block!

 

One of my favorite things about these kind of days, is finding places or meeting people you never knew. It's very energizing and I find it very inspiring!

 

Walking about I stumbled accross Cassis American Brasserie on Beach Drive. The restaruant boasts a beautiful sculpture that catches the most beautiful sunlight creating amazing colors dancing on the side walk.

 

Personal photo

We already had lunch, so we weren't very hungry, however in addition to the restaurant, there is a great little bakery off to the side, so we stopped in for some coffee. I was so pleased with the simple decor.

 

One thing I love most about the space is the floor design! This is one of my all time favorite patterns, it looked great in the space...

 

 

 

Such a clean palette, the beautiful sorbet display provides such visual eye candy in contrast to the shiny while tile and black and white graphic pattern.

 

 

Oh and did I mention their assortment of divine pastries? So beautiful!

 

So happy I stumbled across this pretty little place, can't wait to try out the actual restaraunt sometime, they offer a great happy hour, maybe I will see you there!

 

xo}L

 

 

 

 





 

Artful living in Sarasota

I've been so busy these past few months, things are starting to wind down some and I can breathe! Who am I kidding though? I love to be a busy gal!!!

Anyhow, in all the bustle of the holidays, moving into our first home and some major projects going on, I realized I have been slacking a bit, I've been posting about inspiration and other miscellaneous things, but I have realized that I haven't caught you up on what Lisa Gilmore Design has been doing! However, if you interact with me on Facebook or Twitter, you haven't been completely in the dark. ;) And hey, if you don't get on over to the party and chat it up with us!

So anyhow, back in November I installed a beautiful project in Sarasota, FL. This client of mine is a lover of modern art, her favorite artist in particular is Itzchak Tarkay. Here is the journey of transforming her home...




Before, her living room palette was an awash of sands and beige. Nothing really grabbed your focus and let you enjoy her space, it was a bit scattered and bland....

After meeting with her and seeing her sunny Sarasota home, I realized that she needed some more color in her life to reflect her modern art taste.  So I went to work quickly, brainstorming ways to make it feel as if you lived inside of a Tarkay   painting.  This was the concept palette to present to her...

Concept: Lisa Gilmore Design

After a few meetings, fresh paint and reworking the floorplan, may I present to you the new and improved Artful Living Space!

A beautiful kidney shaped sofa recovered in a luscious teal quilted velvet. Arm chairs that were once brown and fruit-wood frames, were recovered in sexy hot pink and made special with a pop of fresh new paint. A new dining room set and chandelier, 

Custom pillows (don't you think those pillows kind of look like a Tarkay painting??) and drapery, oversized modern art framed to perfection a simple rug and coffee table to pull it all together! 

All in all, I am very happy with the outcome of this space, we spent some time at thrift stores around town to find some pieces to restyle, and local workrooms did it beautifully!

What do you think of this colorful space? Would you love to live in such a colorful setting? 

xo}L

WOOD You Re-use It?

I recently got an email from one of my favorite places, you may have heard of it, it's this not so small of an amazing place called Schiller's Salvage, it was titled "WOOD you?" Intrigued, I opened it....

I had NO idea that Schiller's offered such an amazing array of reclaimed wood! Whatever you need, they've got it. (Plus, their pricing isn't half bad either!)

Photos via: Schiller's

So then of course, it instantly got my design brain cells turning... what oh what could I design with this amazing supply of wood?! So here is a little inspiration...

Immediately my mind goes to dining rooms and all the different types of spaces that could be designed around these statement tables.

Rustic and modern coexist beautifully...

Image via: archilovers

Smooth it out really nice, put a coat of shine and sexy it up with some chrome...

Image via: apartment therapy

Minimalism perfection...

Image via: Small Shop

But, let's think beyond the dining room table... Bed?

Image via: The Design Tree

Art??....

Image via: Duncan Johnson

The possibilities are endless, what WOOD you do with some?

xo}L

Bravo's Flipping Out: Fact OR Faux??

As many of my followers and friends know, I love the Bravo TV show Flipping Out It just gets my creative side all up in a tizzy, and it rejuvenates my design senses while honestly making me laugh my face off!!!

Image via: Bravo

And it never fails, you will see at least once, the main character, Jeff Lewis flip out on somebody. Now, my friend, let me just say it's not your normal flip out. Often, when I am upset I refer to myself as "about to have a Jeff Lewis flip out moment" so, it kind of sets the standard of major flipping out! 

Image via: The Redfin

Image via: Bravo Ratings

A lot of times, people ask me if this show is realistic, and I quickly respond YES! So here my friends, is a little truth, to the reality of working in the interior design field, and why Jeff Lewis flips out as he does. 

1. We (as in Interior Designers) are not at all Fairy Godmothers...

Image via: Disney

We would love nothing more than to have a shiny little wand to wave around and make stuff happily appear, but lets face it, it's just not real. 

2. Yes, we get to play with beautiful fabrics, wallpapers, paint colors and all kinds of textiles, but that is not our complete job. In addition, there is a lot of knowledge that goes into picking out those perfect fabrics for that perfect function in your space. So while, you may think that picking that amazing fabric for your style is like an easy trip to Joanne Fabrics, I'm terribly sorry to inform you, but you are wrong. Sometimes it takes hours to find the perfect match for you, then you have to approve it!

Fabrics, fabrics, fabrics and more fabrics. Good thing I am educated and now what will last in the way you live in your space! 

Image via: Lisa Gilmore Design Instagram

3. So number 2 leads us to number 3. While we get to present you the fun part, we have to go back and coordinate with subcontractors to get something re-upholstered, re-styled, built or sewn. Then we have to create purchase orders, cut checks and check up on status' of orders, the list goes on and on, it's a lot of paper work, in addition to the fun pretty stuff!

Image via: ctshred.com

4. Here's the best one, an Interior Designer's design is only as good as the workroom/contractor hired provides. We can do our best to make sure every right path is taken to give you the most amazing space you have dreamed of. The fact of the matter is, we are project managers of tons of people. And they are only that people. Unfortunately, everyone's work ethic may not be up to par with ours, or they may flake. The only thing we can do is come up with a design, a plan of action and the best way for it to be successful for you. However, I wish I could employ an army of Droids to get every job done, but sadly only George Lucas has been successful with the Droid. 

Image via: Star Wars wikia

5. Now, finally when all the behind the scenes and on site work is complete, hopefully this is the best part, the completed project! It's a lot of work, but in my opinion is totally worth it. Patience is a big part of the plan and keeping your eye on the prize. Things may be on backorder, get shipped in broken or the wrong size, a contractor my flake, or maybe a color on the wall just doesn't look how you thought it would. Rest assured it will all be okay. In the end you will have an amazing space designed to fit you, your family and lifestyle. 

Image via: Lisa Gilmore Design

So please, when working with your designer, remember, things may not go as planned. There might be a few road bumps, but they only want the best for you and for you to love the outcome and their design. Designers are just people too, with families, friends and hobbies as well. 

I promise, we aren't bad witches in the situation, and we realize too, that it would just be much easier with a magic wand.

Wizard of Oz

So yes, the answer to your question, if Flipping Out is a realistic show or not. There are a lot of factors, a lot of stress, a lot of emotion and a lot of talent that goes into design. When people stand in the way of a beautiful finished product, that could lead anyone to flip out!

Layering on the GOLD!

I am so lucky to have so many different clients with different styles. The different aesthetics that we use to build these beautiful spaces for them to inhabit excites me with every last detail.

Currently, I am working on a Hollywood Regency styled home. We have been working for a long time on this lovely couples space and finally, we are starting to see results of our hard work and meetings! Here is a small journey of what we've been designing up:

You see, this client is ultra glam. She loves Hollywood Regency and anything couture and fabulous. She pays close attention to the little details and appreciates the glitz and glam of these styles. I wouldn't expect anything less from her, after all, she is a fabulous designer herself. She is the beauty, brains and raw talent behind Maison Lyle and specializes in one of a kind costumes, bikinis and beyond:

Photo credit: Picturegroove Photography and Maison Lyle

These were some inspiration photos to get our glam wheels turning:

Inspiration photos provided by client via google searches

Lots of velvet, color, pattern, texture, crystal and more velvet! (Did I mention, we like velvet?)

So our inspiration started turning and I got to work. Designing custom trim work and columns to complete the layered look of the space was key:

Lot's of planning and deciding of what fabrics and wallpapers should go where:

Nina Grace Photography

Demo starts on the walls and the beautiful custom designed trim work goes up:

Some of the furniture we have used is custom designed by Lisa Gilmore Design and built here locally in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Finally, our amazing trim work shines with these fresh new colors from Benjamin Moore! 

Then one of my favorite stages... WALLPAPER is going UP!

I was so happy when I saw this up, I did one happy Hollywood Regency dance in my clients dining room! Layers and layers of gilded gold, beautiful velvet and colors are all coming into place!

There is still a bit of work under way at this clients home, but I can't wait to share the complete story with you. It will be Hollywood Regency heaven! Until then, wear some fabulous gold jewelry to hold you over ;)

xo}L

Progress photos provided by Lisa Gilmore Design Instagram