Target's Vintage Charm Collection

Happy Friday!!!

Let me just say...it is a joy working with Amy and her husband Stu. Not only do they have great taste, but they make decisions and move faster than the speed of lightning! There have been so many new developments since my last post, but I'll give you more details and pics next week.

Today I wanted to share their living room pics. We decided to paint the whole living room Benjamin Moore's Simply White, since a lot of the rooms (including the hallway and upstairs) were painted in the gray family. There is so much natural light in this room, and we wanted it to be bright and airy--think Shutters in Santa Monica! But Amy still wanted the room to be interesting so we decided to paint the ceiling the same Kendall Charcoal. This works so well since their whole downstairs is pretty open and one room flows very easily into the next. Keeping to a handful of colors, helps keep the continuity!

Here is a pic of the room being painted...

Before we decided to go with navy in the dining room, we were throwing around the idea of a deep purple. Although we decided not to paint a whole dining room purple...I think the living room is a perfect place to bring in pops of plum, raspberry and mulberry. I came across this recent ad for Target's new Vintage Charm collection...and I thought some of these pieces would work perfectly!

So I wanted to look more into this Vintage Charm Collection from designer James Gallagher--it's fabulous and mostly sold out online :) But definitely still check in your local store! And if you see the stool--grab and I will buy from you :)

Check out the awesome pictures and interview with James from Target's blog A Bull's Eye View:

Below, Target design doyen James Gallagher reveals his fall collection inspirations and his five home must-haves.

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Have you always wanted to be a designer?
James Gallagher: I always loved to draw and create as a child.  I thought I would be an architect, but found out I could make a living designing items for people.  I changed my career path my third year in college and never looked back.

Tell us a little about the collection.  
JG: The collection is rooted in the idea of vintage and authentic materials that can stand the test of time.  We incorporated textures into everything, from woven wool rugs to heavy throws and textured felted woven baskets.
What was your inspiration for this collection?
JG: We took inspiration from vintage textiles including flour grain sacks, classic striping and vintage European floral designs.  We also took form inspiration from vintage shapes such as pharmacy lamps, apothecary jars and vintage bake ware.


What are your favorite pieces from this collection? 
JG: I would have to say the woven wool and jute rug and the woven felt basket.  The quality and design on these items are fantastic.  The rugs were hand woven in India and the woven felt basket is a perfect way to offer storage and function with a great soft material.

Do you visit any flea markets, estate sales or fairs before the design process?
JG: Definitely!  The design teams travel to the Rose Bowl flea market in Pasadena, CA, and others throughout the US, as well as local flea markets here in Minnesota.  There is inspiration everywhere.  We always look forward to attending the Maison et Objet Show in Paris and make sure to find time to shop the Paris flea market while there as well.

We love the vintage elements throughout the collection. Are you a fan of mixing the old with the new?
JG:  I am.  I also love how we have the opportunity to put a twist on the old in the hopes of improving it.  It’s our job to constantly make things better for people.

What is your home style?
JG: I love mid-century influences and designs.   I love the simplicity from that time period.  I have a mix of Danish modern and American mid-century, modern items that have stood the test of time, often found at estate sales or vintage shops and mixed with global finds throughout my travels.

Any tips for a new homeowner when it comes to decorating or mixing different style elements throughout the home?
JG: I would say keep it simple and go with neutrals on surfaces like the walls, floors and big furniture pieces.   Have fun and show your style with a mix of your accessories and what is meaningful to you.  Don’t be afraid to mix up finishes and items.  It should be a reflection of what you love.

Tips for buying a green home

Buying a green home is not as difficult that you might think and long term it can save you lot of money, as well as having an impact on the environment. A Green House is one that is energy efficiency and allows you to save money, but it could also mean it is a home made from recycled materials and making much better use of space. When you buy a green house you must always take into consideration the same things you do when you buy a normal House, as going through the right channels to borrow money and to pay additional costs such as fees to and transfer of stamp.

Construction methods

You can start even before Green thinking to begin to build the House. Choose an architect who is familiar with the ecological houses and ask them to design a House that suits your block. Think of the creation of a House that occupies less space on Earth, leaving as much room for trees and plants as possible. Leave the room around the House for water tanks and a vegetable garden. Think of where on your block build you the House too. Make sure that it is in a position so that you can make use of natural light and it is facing a direction so you get the heat of the Sun for energy efficiency.

Construction materials

You can even be respectful of the environment with your choice of building materials. All the wood in your home should be recycled from other sources. You will find that you can purchase bricks of homes are being razed to the ground. You may also choose to build with environmentally friendly materials such as mud or stone, or even building a straw House haystack.

Energy efficiency

One of the main objectives of your House is that it is energy efficiency. Make sure that it is insulated so that it remains hot in winter and cooler in summer. You can also double glazed and have solar panels installed to rely you on the Sun to power your home. Solar energy can also heat your water so you can save on gas and electricity. Solar panels are not as expensive as they once and many new homes are not respectful of the environment are constructed with solar panels to heat their water.

Devices

In your House, you can be more respectful of the environment by choosing appliances to the right. When you purchase a dishwasher, washing machine, fridge or even a dryer you will see that the energy rating on the element via a classification system. The stars an element has the energy efficiency is. You can also buy dishwashers and washing machines use less water. You can also be more energy efficient when lighting your home by choosing to use the power light bulbs. Another way to be friendly to the environment is to look at your energy consumption, therefore turn off lights in rooms that are not in use, turn off appliances at the wall and not heat or cool the rooms that you do not use. With blinds or curtains on your Windows will help keep your House warm in winter and to block the heat in summer.

By the way, do you learn more about real estate? If so, I suggest that you check the cost assignment and assignment.

30th Birthday Pics

Last night's class was a success! My drawings have been "approved" and now I'm beginning to design my 3-D box presentation. I have no idea how this is going to come together, but it's definitely going to be interesting!

In the meantime, here are my birthday pics from last weekend in NYC. So fun!!!