I know Ken thought we were all set but I had a AAAAAHAAA moment over the weekend (Damn long weekends have me looking at my own house too much) which was really more of an AAAACHHOOOOO moment - allergies - and so I rethought it. I don't want a 'too casual' door. I DEFINITELY do not want a country door. I want it to be Notting Hill Posh. BUT it also has to let in as much light as possible given that there's a porch which makes it dark dark dark.

I'm a total traditionalist with my own exterior because it is a red brick Victorian circa 1856. I don't want a fancy colour on my door I want black gloss. I want brass hardware and for goodness sake I WANT A KNOCKER!!!!!!!!!!!! And a mail slot that won't slice my fingers off. I DESPERATELY need a house number somewhere on my house too.

But other than that I'm totally easy right? Don't answer that.

Dirty Birds. Tsk Tsk Tsk.

But this is a design blog though so I'll leave all that to my various psychiatric outlets - my new name for Social Media.

We are prepping for installations. This is often more work than the installation itself. Of course, this means that there will be design porn VERY SOON. I mean VERY SOON.

Here's a sampling of what you will get to indulge in.

We were invited the other week to their Canadian head office which happens to be in Toronto as we are looking at using their products in our #160Pears commercial project. We are redoing all of the bathrooms in this building which is part of Designers' Walk - which is the Canadian equivalent of the D&D Building in NYC. Our office is part of Designers' Walk - we love being a part of the DW family. Anyway, we met with the lovely Amy & Chelsea who not only gave us a quick overview of the technical features/benefits of their products but they also humored me as I was in QUITE a comedic mood. We laughed for 90% of the meeting I think. They also made really great coffee. I mean it was worth the visit alone for the coffee.

Then there came the chance to try a few of the products out.

We went down specifically to see hand dryers and this new, just about to be launched product which to be entirely honest, I had to see to believe. I had seen the technical drawings of it, meh. They don't do it for me but Asa was very keen for us to use this product so me, Doubting Thomas had to go and see it in person. It has a Mission Impossible meets James Bond look - Airblade Tap is the official name - it is FINALLY our chance to have our very own JLO/Beyonce Wind Machine at our beck and call.

Too good to be true - it gets better. Essentially, it is a touchless faucet that you slide your hands under for the washing part and then extended out from the faucet on either side is the... HAND DRYER!!!!!!! Yes all in one. MIND BLOWN and if you just drop your knees ever so slightly the air will hit you and voila - Beyonce yourself in front of the mirror. This was too good not to try out again and again. I went through the motions of washing my hands but I was totally in it for the drying.

They assure me that more amazing and new technology is on the way and I'm happy to be a guinea pig. My hair has never looked so good and my face..... years younger for sure. (Just nod and agree with my fantasy okay?)

I went to see a new prospect last week and I know I can work wonders. I mean with a decent investment from the clients, I am 100000% confident that I can transform this house into an Elle Decor cover worthy project.

Now I should mention something about virtual representations/mood boards/etc while they can be an okay tool I find the 3D representation sorta deal is both amateur and a disservice to the client. If they client is hiring you, a true professional, more is required. If you put together a board so that they can self-serve I think it ultimately harms our industry for the same reason why I think that the retail chains that offer dining chairs for less than $100 a chair have warped people's perception that all dining chairs should cost under $200/each. It's like the Stockholm Chair syndrome. Ya know? Devaluing the education, experience and actual time it takes to pull this sort of conceptual work together ultimately devalues what you bring to the table. You know?

As I said, I do find that virtual boards can be helpful to inspire a client to action or to convey an overall concept for what we are after. I want to tease and excite not give someone a step by step plan that doesn't involve me painstakingly selecting each and every element right down to placing it just so on their shelf. I'm the essential part of this plan!!!!

We have THREE massive installations on our #Unionville, #Brooklin and #Thornhill projects that are brewing in the immediate future and some new ones that are tentatively set to launch (one needs an enthusiastic thumbs up after I send out the proposal tomorrow - I had some MAJAH fun with some prelminary concept boards the other needs a space but I'm SO looking forward to diving in). A busy summer ahead but I've been taking time to smell the roses so to speak as you will see in my upcoming Stream of Randomness aka Stream of Consciousness aka what caught my eye and let me tell you why exactly...

Drinking wine and back to Revenge as I post these. OHHH two days until Scandal. 

I'm a TV junkie with not much time to watch - I've still got half a season of Greys to catch up on.

We're going to be working on the Main Entrance in the near future - we're going to tear down the upper portion of the side entrance and replace it with a flat roof open porch and then do an amazing front door including an arch. We're also going to do the back entrance in an amazing array of garden windows. Cannot wait.

I often choose my rugs after the rooms are pulled together. Now that I'm designing my own rug lines I find that I start with the rug and build out but that is actually harder for me to do. I suffer from FOMO even when it comes to rugs or fabrics (fear of missing out) it's why I like to not make all the choices at once when designing a room. Gives me the option to add in something unexpectedly fabulous to take the space to the next level. Why yes, I too have a fear of commitment especially when it comes to design. I lie awake at night stressing over the smallest of details.

Our #Unionville project is a whole house and it's going to be a beaut. The kitchen as you may recall is from Aya Kitchens and includes the never before done CUSTOM COLOUR. Apparently the installers were uber impressed and I mean I know it's only a variation of say a black or a charcoal but it is deliciously different enough and it's truly magnificent. Aya has been a dream to work with from design to installation. Our electrician commented on how easy and professional the installers were to deal with. I can't COUNT the number of times I've had to play referee between different trades on a site. It's like they all become tattle tale Kindergarteners on me. This however, was not the case. Lots of sharing going on in the sandbox to our clients' great pleasure.

Hardware and crown/freize going in today - and we're ready for counters to be templated.

What a fabulous way to end the week!

Meredith posts amazing photo.

Half a dozen people comment: "My Home Depot sure doesn't have that stuff."

Or "You got THAT from Home Depot?" (drips with incredulousness)

To each and every one I answer  "YUP!!!"

I think so many shoppers are plagued by the  "If I don't see it, it doesn't exist" mentality of shopping. It has to hit them over the head before they even notice it. I'm guilty of that on a few occasions. Now I also worked for Home Depot for 4 years and know that up there on those giant racks, the most amazing things are sometimes hidden. The bottom line is you have to ask. Find someone in an orange apron who can assist you. Always ask about their special order programs. Special Order doesn't always mean Mucho Dollars. It just means that they don't stock it at the store level or at that particular store.

Here's my other tip to anyone who thinks that they must only purchase off the shelf - familiarize yourself with the brands that Home Depot features/carries and then go on line and see what else they have. That's what I did with the Kohler faucets. I knew the styles I was interested in and then once I had their names, I looked them up on Home Depot's website and sure enough, there they were!! I may have found the Pinstripe knobs from them first. Octagon knobs of my dreams that they are. I didn't realize that there was an entire matching collection of toilet roll holders/towel holders etc. Janet the kitchen designer I was working with shared all of that with me and I couldn't agree to them fast enough.

With our floor tiles now installed, everyone who sees them thinks we went high end marble dealer. Their mouthes hit the floor when we say Home Depot. It's there on the shelves pretty much any and every time I've been there in the last few years. So the next time you are in to pick up lightbulbs or getting a key cut, take a look around and explore all that they have to offer. Who knows where it will lead!

I received some new fabrics the other day and I laid eyes on one such fabric and decided it was a MUST. We also have the Robert Allen Landsmeer and know that they both love it and it works amazing with the kitchen. The last time I was at their house, we discussed moving the furniture and layout in the room and opt for a sectional sofa to go in the corner and to put the TV over the gas fireplace. I'm not usally a fan of that, but this would make the room more functional in terms of entertaining so I'm game. We'll have to change the fireplace out - lower the mantle and change the look and feel to account for the tv.

I pitched my idea of the fabric for the sofa to the wife this weekend. She's game. She has a love of midcentury and this integrates a vintage flavour with the new look in the kitchen. We both know that the her husband will be shocked by our choice. TOTALLY out of his comfort zone. I'm advocating NOT telling him. Is that wrong? He's a sweetheart but I can't risk having my heart broken over this. I don't think using the fabric as pillows will do it justice. I'm all in favour of a solid fabric as the ottoman and the Landsmeer water colour fabric on a pair of chairs.... 

What do you think? Am I crazy? Should we just surprise him? It is brilliant non?

I only managed to get a morning and a half of shopping in and then a little bit more on my last day in NOLA. I feel like I needed another full two days to really do it justice but I just had to conserve my feet for the hell that was about to be High Point Market. I was definitely rushed and the one day I did the stretch with Lori Gilder from LA - it was hot and muggy. The rest of the time we were there we needed jackets. VERY STRANGE WEATHER.

The architecture is amazing and the people as I've mentioned are so damn nice. Even when they are NOT being nice they are nice. I love a backhanded jibe and my new favourite of all time sayings.... "Bless yer heart..." (sad in a sorta sad patronizing drawl) and if I want to twist the knife even deeper I add "Your Motha Must be SO proud..." It's terribly brilliant and well I want to be a Southern Belle now for sure.

What was amazing to me was to realize that so many talented artists and design personalities that I've pinned, repinned and coveted from afar are NOLA based. Amanda Stone Talley and Mallory Page being two of my favourites. I almost jumped off my shuttle bus to the hotel when I passed by Mallory Page's studio. Totally fan girled her sign. I even yelped when I went into the Julie Neill studio and saw Mallory's artwork hanging up on display. I NEED TO OWN I NEED TO OWN! Good LORD travel really does beget some expensive new hobbies/collections.

Two weeks ago I embarked on what can only be described as a new and emerging Love Affair. It's pretty torrid I have to say and it's with New Orleans. I've travelled all over the world and the only other places I had an immediate and passionate connection with were Paris (I swear I lived there in a former life), Key West (good god I love it there) and now New Orleans. I am firmly committed in my embracing of the WooWoo that I was a Southern Belle at some point in a past life (I don't know if I believe in such things but when I can't explain these deep rooted connections to strange places I feel this is but the best way to describe it). New Orleans is the nicest city I've been too ever in terms of people. Hell, the TSA agents were sweet as pie and oh so helpful - if that doesn't convince you well they also had the nicest drunk, homeless people who were all too happy to point you in the right direction (surprisingly accurate too considering the intoxication levels of a few).

Now I mentioned to you in a post last week about the converging of the gods and the stars aligning so that I found myself being introduced to Randy Jackson, Creative Director for the Amanda Stone Talley gallery via facebook at the precise moment that we were sitting & standing almost beside each other at the Ogden Museum for the Miles Redd talk right? We met the most amazing shopkeepers and design people strolling along Magazine street - the owner (I think) of Malachite offered to drive my friend Lori and I down the street to a bakery when we inquired if there was anywhere to grab a bite. Amanda Stone Talley herself offered to drive us to dinner after giving us a tour of her studio/home and gallery. I mean WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE????

Literally, these folks would have given you the shirts off of their backs if we'd asked. Such soul and taste - good sweet LAWD the whole place just oozes personality, charm and charisma even some of the less groomed areas. Here's a taste...

We selected Silestone's Lyra countertops for our kitchen and our bathroom. I had originally selected a composite counter from the Martha Stewart collection but felt it was too uniform and too dark. I loved the brightness of the Lyra and given that our kitchen is all black, felt it was needed to lighten things up a bit to be more functional.

We opted for an ogee edge to really give it a luxe feel - and I kid you not, it really makes for a much more sophisticated look when paired with the black and blueberry cabinetry from both Martha and Thomasville that we've used in both spaces. I find that Martha can tend to be a touch more casual and the high contrast and traditional edging on the counters absolutely glam the heck out of the whole thing - not to mention the gold faucet and hardware... we are close people very very close.

I was amazed by the number of designers who stopped me in both North Carolina and at KBIS to talk to me about this collaboration with Home Depot. Most were entirely surprised at what we have achieved thusfar I can't wait until the final reveal shots are ready to go because it truly is something to behold. All ordered from Home Depot - some special order other regular in stock items!!

Let me introduce you to Jonathan Charles. We were rushing to get to the Hickory Chair showroom so that I could see my sweet friend Kate Hable but we agreed to pop our heads into this showroom and it was a Tsunami of AMAZING. Two Hours and 30,000 sq ft of showroom later... we missed Kate. I'm still heartbroken but from a business position, this was really a fortunate diversion.

I dropped the drink and the bag and went for a full Flail. Mouth hanging open, arms flapping and jumping up and down was I. I didn't care. I probably looked like a lunatic but I didn't care. I think Jonathan and I fist pumped and high fived at one point. All composure lost.

Stacey Bewkes who writes the Quintessence Blog  referred us to the Wesley Hall showroom. I take her referrals quite seriously as I have long admired her eye and know that she wouldn't steer us wrong. BLOWN AWAY - I keep using this term but it's true. We met Zach almost immediately and he was beyond helpful and lovely - no stodgey furniture sales guy here. The pieces themselves were amazing. Great scale and proportion and the most amazing array of graded fabrics to choose from. Then we sat down on a few pieces and I started calculating the Uhaul rental rates should we cancel our flights, pack up a few pieces and drive home to Toronto with them right from the showroom. I haven't seen my husband this excited about new furniture in ummm forever actually.

People have told me about wearing the proper footwear but I don't think that they truly exist to withstand all the walking. Sure there are buses to take you from one corner to the next literally across the street but within the buildings themselves you are hiking on foot. Fortunately, sitting on furniture is encouraged. Heck, Asa and our friend & designer Jonathan Legate discovered the world's best Bloody Mary's in a table linen shop which fortunately had a big overstuffed sofa in the window display that Courtney and I collapsed into.

We kicked off the whirlwind High Point visit with a private dinner with Traditional Home, Zinc Door held in the Global Views showroom. The displays were spectacular, the guest list very prestigious and well we had the world's BEST lasagne - Portobello Mushroom and Gruyere lasagne. I'm still drooling at the mere thought of it. The swag bags were about 40lbs each and were a lifesaver - Luke thought that each item was a special gift for him so he was blown away at his parent's generosity when we got home. Ahh the innocence of childhood... Phew!!!

You want me to shut up now and show you the goods right?

So I toured you through like three rooms of a massive showroom that is Chelsea House yesterday thanks to Creative Director and designer extraordinaire Lisa Kahn. Today I'm going to continue on - please be warned, there may be drooling near your keyboard so practice safe computing as you read on....

We found ourselves landing in some unexpected showrooms that we popped into on a whim and were blown away by what we discovered. Now I knew that I had to stop in and visit my dear friend Lisa Kahn at Chelsea House where she is their new Creative Director. We visited Lisa and her husband Philip last summer at their house in Naples Florida and were treated to seeing her design plans for many of the items that are now on display/for sale at the Chelsea House showroom. I love watching the process of inspiration to the final product and we were not remotely disappointed. In fact, if I had to give one showroom the overall Winner Award, it would be Chelsea House. The depth of the line and the overall buy-ability if that's a word hands down went to them. I would walk into a room and find at least a dozen items I could use for projects. This is huge for me in that I had such a short window of time in North Carolina - big bang for my buck that showroom is. I cannot wait to start buying for our projects!!!!

That being said, my runner up title was going to be ::BOOM:: My Mind is Offically Blown! which pretty much sums up my trips. I made an actual conscious choice on my way down to NOLA via Atlanta to work on "Being in the Moment" and to be open to trying new things, seeking out new relationships and developing those that have only been casual up until now. I also made a rather radical decision (For Me) to NOT do the wifi on the plane and just read and chilled out.

Both choices it would seem, were inspired. I'm going to dedicate my blog next week to both experiences. I had so much fun, so much inspiration and spent time with truly fabulous people I'm lucky to call friends & colleagues. 

I returned yesterday to my sweet boy who is EVEN cuter than one could imagine and smarter. I had an installation with our #Spruce clients today and I'm just oh so excited about all that we've achieved and we are oh so close to being finished. Our custom made dining table is being delivered on Tuesday - SQUEEEEE!!!!!

Randy you are officially an honourary Canadian citizen. Kate you too because you made it all happen. So much love, so much great energy just going out into the world.

I LOVE NEW ORLEANS!!!!!! Seriously the people here are freakishly nice. So genuine. So helpful. We have had TWO offers today to drive us somewhere including the shopkeeper at Malachite. I mean I'm not sure what is in the drinking water but I just want to give New Orleans a giant hug.

I'd like to give the Marriott Renaissance however, a giant throat punch for their lousy internet connection as I try and post pictures of this incredible experience to my blog. Grrrrrrrr. So for now - head over to my instagram - meredithheron to see the amazing Amanda and Randy and her artwork. I mean it is seriously OFF THE CHARTS. I'll update this as soon as I can get a stable internet connection. 

Bisous.

I'm headed out to explore this morning with the lovely Lori Gilder - a Canadian who lives in California now. We're going to do breakfast (READ: BEIGNETS) and hopefully hit Magazine Street Design Shops. I have training on Que X for my presentation later - it's soooooooooooo sexy lookout KBIS and THEN I've been invited to meet the most fabulous artist Amanda Stone Talley at the gallery. If you have any doubts about how amazing social media is allow me to give you this little primer..

Me: Updates Facebook status to say "Hey Y'All I'm in N'Awlins.

Several People Comment...

Kate Hable: Do you have time to go to a gallery? (Kate is my uber talented friend who is one half of Hable Textiles)

Me: Sure I'm in the Gallery District

Kate: You need to meet Randy Jackson

In the time it took me to read this, Randy had already friended me on facebook and so I accepted.

Facebook refreshes and I see that Randy Jackson has just checked in to the SAME EVENT I'M SITTING IN - which happened to be Miles Redd's book launch.

Me: RANDY (Yes I'm shouty capitaling him) I'M HERE AT THE OGDEN MUSEUM TOO WHERE ARE YOU?

Randy: Leaning against the wall (AT THE END OF THE ROW I'M SITTING IN)

Randy & Meredith meet and BOOM - we hit it off like a house on fire and both message Kate our undying love and gratitude.

Kismet huh?

Then I crashed BlogTourNOLA's dinner at Bayona - a Susan Spicer restaurant for an out of this world MEAL that was hosted by Mr Steam. After my Hammam Spa treatments and steam last week, I feel it's a sign that I need to add a steam shower to my bath reno. What I would give for a steam wet room chez moi. The meal was out of this world divine as was the company!!! Thanks V for letting me crash!!!

So I have my phone with me - you'll probably want to follow me on instagram - @meredithheron 

Here I go - got my southern drawl all ready. 

Bless your hearts! See I aclimate well!

So nursing a migraine (I swear it's been made worse by the Ford Escape door to my HEAD last week AGAIN), packing like a chicken with her head cut off (yes I had to zip over to pick up all the clothes I had altered from our seamstress), headed out to a Fleetwood Mac concert (not the best timing given the aforementioned migraine, packing and tearful lil boy) all before remembering at the very last minute that I needed to book a limo to the airport for the wee hours of the morning... off I go. (I assure you that IS supposed to read like the most convoluted run on sentence in the history of blogging. INTENTIONAL)  The better news is that I'm joining up with BlogTourNOLA when I get to NOLA and getting in some QT with the darling Miles Redd before heading out to dinner with some of my favourite twitter peeps. YIPPPEEEE

I happened upon the most amazing wallpaper this past week on the interwebs I can't even recall how I found it to be honest. May have been on a blog or pinterest but I ordered in the samples and HOLY HANNAH IN A BREADBASKET AMAZING. I need to use these everywhere. They are from Elitis and they are divine. 

Occasionally, I get to be the hero who saves the day. Finding the perfection in what one client thinks is a disaster and the other treasures beyond words. This has happened recently. One half of the client couple has a vast collection of antiques. The other half isn't so fond of these. However, I see the possibility in the pieces but we need to zhush them. Okay, we need to zhush them a lot but it's what I do so I'm not worried. Having the experience and vision that enables me to seethe possibility in something, is often why someone hires me in the first place so I'm glad to deliver on this.

Here's what we have to work with....

So much to do before I go away to New Orleans mid week including remembering to bring Postcards with me. Celia remind me I need to bring them.

Of course I'm obsessing over what to pack. I'm going from winter to a heat wave and humidity in the south. Not sure what North Carolina will be like. Footwear will need to be comfortable I'm told. Is it wrong to do the showrooms in one's loungewear?

The good news though - I had to drop off basically an entire wardrobe to my seamstress to have it all taken in. WOOWHOOOO. I mean it was ridiculous how many alterations these items needed. I swung by one of my fave shops and low and behold found myself downsizing into a small top. Clearly they made the tops on the big side because I still have cleavage. Oh how I wish to be flat-chested again like a teen.

What does any of this have to do with design? Well it's interesting because my love of patterns seems to be influencing my wardrobe selections. Same with the layering of metals. Totally down with this both in my closet and in my choices for clients. Punchier colour statements also holding true. I mean if my designs were revealed on tv I'd sadly be that designer who matches the room. I really hate when designers dress to match their rooms. #petpeeve

Another confession - I'm watching the Masters. I can't golf to save my life but I always love watching the final day. Don't know half of the people playing this year but even still I love to watch. Mr. Adam Scott is a right cutie pie. If I'm old enough to be his mother PLEASE do not tell me.

Okay you Southern Readers - I've only gotten ::Crickets:: when it comes to recommendations on where/what to see/eat/shop in New Orleans. I NEED DETAILS PEOPLE!!!

It occurred to me as I was driving home yesterday in the most unpleasant of weather, that I haven't really ranted on the blog in awhile. I must be very happy with work, our clients, our projects. Indeed it is all very fulfilling. I'm totally panicked at the thought of leaving everyone and everything behind as I head down to NOLA and then North Carolina - both firsts for me. I'm also panicked that unlike everyone else that I know who is going, I haven't spent a hot pepper of a flash even planning where to go and what to see. I really hate that part of traveling. I'm much more of a tell me where to go type when I vacation or travel. It's utterly bizarre given my Ms Bossy Pants status most days but it's true. LOATHE the idea of planning but yet I have serious FOMO - Fear of Missing Out. Meredith is Simple - said NO ONE, EVER.

I much prefer crowd sourcing these days. Where should I go in New Orleans? What should I see? Where should I eat? I'm seriously happy with just tagging along with others. I'm more concerned about what I'm going to pack than I am where I'm going to go. I had delusions of carry on luggage only. That was dashed. Not even gonna try. It's the liquids that get you every time. Send me your thoughts about New Orleans and HighPoint Market - they will ease my stress. Much the way that these beautiful things that crossed my path this week did as well.

I just relived my YOUT(silent h) by going to a Green Day concert. I think the last time I saw them was about 17 years ago. Apparently I'm not as buoyant now as I was then. My feet they hurt. Tomorrow I may be crippled. Okay enough whining - it was SUCH a good show here's the goods....

Appliances are going to be going in - just waiting on the painter to come in and paint. I could probably do it myself. I'm tempted to do it myself... maybe I should tell our coop student to dress down in grubbies this week??

Counters have been templated so I'm oh so excited about this and we've started installing hardware. Ohhh how I love good jewelry.

We tell clients to expect to be without their kitchen for at least 6 weeks. 8 is not unreasonable. However, in addition to hooking up a temporary sink and maybe even the dishwasher the true gem I will pass on to you is if you can arrange to set up temporary storage in clear plastic bins that are easily accessible your life will be all the saner. Also, having a separate room that could serve as a temporary kitchen instead of spreading it all across your house/office space always preferred. It's the associated mess that is driving me mental right now. Having a dishwasher in the middle of your entrance and a fridge really doesn't inspire people to keep the rest of the space tidy you know?

I could easily fill up my storage locker with all of these....

So for Alison's birthday we are planning to redo her room for her. She's been involved in the "Tell us what you like..." phase but the rest is a bit of a surprise. Teenage girls are fickle beasts as you know, so we want to make the space feel personalized and of course we want to ensure that Alison can hang out, chill, work occasionally (ha!) and we can't forget that she may want to entertain her friends there.

So with all of this in mind, we've begun to put a plan together for the lovely lady.

I'll get right on that... um after I find my to do list. It's so big, it's hidden itself away.

We've nailed the living room portion of the furniture for Boston. We've also decided on the dining chairs but the dining table and the coffee table for the living room are eluding us. I'm determined to find the perfect tables.

Need to recharge the battery after a week of travel, coordination, installation, management and well I am the mother of a 3yr old. I am told that Luke woke with a bad dream in the middle of the night and called for me. Am told because I was dead to the world. Don't even recall hearing it and pretending to be asleep on account of my actually BEING asleep.

Here's a little taste of what went on in my week... hope yours was a productive one and the weekend restorative.