DC Design House 2014 - Sneak Peak at my Design

I'm so excited to be one of the designers picked to transform the DC Design House 2014!  This year's house is a beautiful stone home built in the 1920s with over 7,900 square feet.  It has 6 bedrooms, 5 full baths, 2 half baths, a three car garage and a swimming pool.

Three weeks ago, I decided to tour the house.  I thought chances were slim that I would submit a presentation because it would be a huge time commitment.  Turns out I have a soft spot for old homes.  Especially ones with lots of character and wonderful architectural elements like this hallway that leads the way to the family room.

DC Design House 2014

One of the last rooms I saw on the tour, I knew immediately I wanted to design the space.

Here's what the room looks like now.  As you enter the room, the wall straight ahead is just calling for a great piece of art to provide a strong focal point.

DC Design House 2014

You can see here we have to work with some crazy angles. We also need to address the radiator.  The crescent window is great!  The base moldings are pretty but need some tlc.

Design House 2014

Loving the dormer window that needs a custom built seat!

DC Design House 2014

This wall is mostly all "door" to a closet.  So glad Closet America agreed to join my team to help me transform the closet.

DC Design House 2014

This wall has a door leading to the bathroom which is going to be completed by TJ with Ibby.  Definitely check out Ibby's super cool website that allows you to design your bathroom online.  

DC Design House 2014

After the tour, I couldn't stop thinking about the space and began collecting fabrics, looking at lighting and furniture and before I knew it, a design was coming together that I was really liking.

Here's the board I submitted…

Instead of playing it safe with neutrals, I was in the mood for color and pattern!  

It all started with the peacock fabric.  Three years ago, a very talented local textile designer, Victoria Larson,  showed me her new fabric line.   Today, Victoria's fabric line is represented in design centers located in Miami, Atlanta, Chicago and Sydney, Australia.  She's also currently featured in the spring issue of Home & Design!  

Victoria's peacock fabric is the jumping off point for the room and will be used throughout the space.  Below you can see it on the custom headboard and bedskirt.

  

My goal was to create a fresh modern space that combines fabrics with an organic feel and the clean contemporary lines of the furniture.  Custom details such as the leather straps "secure" the pleats on the bedskirt.  The brass and glass ceiling fixtures adds shine and glamour.  I want to add whimsical artwork with splashes of yellow.  I'm super excited about the chili red banding detail we're adding to the walls to accentuate their angles and add a tailored preppy vibe to the space.  

Since I found out last week that I was selected to participate in the house, life has become busier.  Assembling a great team of contractors to help implement the design is critical .  Electrical work, custom carpentry, painting, custom furniture design, and so much more needs to be completed by March 31!   

There is a Bare Bones Tour open to the public on Saturday, March 1st from 11am to 3pm.  You have an opportunity to see the home before the work begins.  Each of the designers selected will be in their room with their presentation board describing their vision.  As soon as the tour is done, we can begin work!

I hope you enjoyed this look behind the scenes!  The house will be open to the public beginning April 13th and runs through May 11th.  The DC Design House is the leading annual fundraiser event benefiting the Children's National Medical Center.  

I would love to see you there!  Click here for more event info.

P.S.  The February 28th deadline is quickly approaching to vote for Melissa McLay Interiors for Best of Annapolis.   Click here to vote for us and your other favorite local business!

Form Over Function...Even in Your Office!

I feel your office should be filled with pretty things that bring you joy.  The more room there is for bills and papers to lay around, the more opportunity there is to not stay organized.  One of the best changes I made was go from a super large desk to a small desk in my office.  It forces me to file, recycle and stay organized which has significantly reduced my stress level.   The items on my desk include a pretty lamp, a candle, a stapler, my laptop, a jar of pens and pencils and a few papers because this is all that will fit.

I recently helped a client with their office and here's the result.

My client has a very pretty custom tiger maple desk.  Adding texture, softness and personal items were top on my list to make the space more welcoming and, well, less work-like.  A Schumacher floral fabric was chosen for the window which picked up the color of the desk and the pale yellow walls.  A black banding was placed around the window treatment to give it more definition.  We also framed personal photos, placed a sheepskin on the chair for softness, added a blue pottery lamp for texture, color, and light, added a pretty plant for texture and health, and added a flat weave rug for more pattern and softness.   There's an organizer on the right to store bills to be paid.  There's also lateral file cabinets on the right and left to file away e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g!

Other tips for a well organized, pretty office include:

1.  Add pretty trays to contain the supplies.  

2.  Put whatever you use the most, closest to you, the least, farthest away.

3.  Add a unique object somewhere on your desk that has no purpose at all but to inspire you or make       you smile.

4.  Add a small pretty clock to keep track of time.

5.  Add pretty containers (baby's silver cup, pottery bowls, vintage jars) for pens, paper clips, etc.

You'll feel more productive and working won't feel so much like work!

Have a great week and stay warm!

P.S.  If you would like help turning your home into one you love, contact me here.

Best of 2013

Happy New Year!  It's hard to believe 2013 has come and gone.  I'm embarrassed to say I can't remember half of it…good thing we document most of our events in pictures or I would be in real trouble!  Anyone else feel this way?

For the first post of the year, I wanted to share our most popular Pinterest images, Facebook posts, Houzz photos, and PI blog posts.  I've only selected the top three for each so the post would not get too long.  Enjoy!

Top 2013 PINTEREST Images

I pinned over 1,500 images to Pinterest in 2013.  These images provide inspiration for design, fashion, food, travel, etc.  Of these images, the one that was repined the most in 2013 was the stair picture I took at the Hobo flagship store in Annapolis, MD.  The stairs provide a list of wonderful attributes.  To see more of this super hip store, check out my blog post, Store Design Love, which was also one of the top three blog posts visited in 2013.  Click here to follow me on Pinterest.

Before I get to the next two top Pinterest images, I wanted to share my three favorite quotes I pinned last year.

Coco Kelley Blog

Habitually Chic Blog

Habitually Chic Blog

Back to popular images on Pinterest….here's the top kitchen image pinned in 2013 with a contemporary style and clean lines.  

The top bathroom image pinned in 2013 was from my own home.

Top 2013 BLOG POSTS

In addition to the Hobo store post, here are the other two top posts that were read by the most people in 2013.  Here's an after picture from the Family Room Renovation post which you can see more of here.

The Master Bathroom Renovation post highlighted another project for the same client.  Click here, to see more.

Top 2013 FACEBOOK posts

Below are four images that were very popular on my Facebook page (based on number of views).  I had to include a fourth image since they were all so close in popularity.  Click here to see more on my Facebook page…while you're visiting, it would be great if you "liked" my page too!

Here's a dining nook that includes new lighting, window treatments and cushion covers.

Here is under stair storage I designed for a client in DC.  This image also happens to be a top image saved to "ideabooks" on Houzz too.

My carpenter used the following autoCAD drawing to build the storage.

Here's an office we installed over the summer.  Our website was recently updated which includes more on this project on the Services page and new work on the Portfolio page.

Here's a playroom we completed this year.  I'm sure the image's popularity had something to do with the adorable son of my client having so much fun!

HOUZZ

Houzz highlighted the nook below in one of their articles, here, which resulted in this image being added to over 1,400 ideabooks!  Houzz provides tons of inspiration for future home projects. I highly recommend you check it out.

There must be other designers looking for office inspiration because this image of my office was added to over 70 ideabooks.  I'm running out of space for samples so not sure I'll be here much longer.  

I'm sure the popularity of "live edge" furniture made this image a big hit of an office in Eastport. 

Lastly, 2014 is off to a great start with the newly released Scout Guide!  I'm thrilled to be included with a great group of local businesses including Niermann Weeks, Hinckley Yachts, and Victoria Larson Textiles to name just a few.  You should see it around town very soon!

I wish all of you a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous 2014!

If you need help turning your home into one you love, contact me here.  

Holiday Decorating and Annapolis Architecture

Soon after I finished decorating for Thanksgiving it felt like I was replacing it all with Christmas decorations.  Sure wish there was more of a breather between the holidays!  I'm just glad I have this picture of my Thanksgiving table so I can remember it!  This year, I used potted herbs and ferns, small pumpkins, squash, tulips combined with woven chargers, a mix of candles and holders, and chunky blue water glasses.  The look of the table was less formal this year and natural.

For Christmas decorations, I start with the outside first.  Mostly, because I love arriving at home in the evening to the lights!  Again, I wanted a more natural look with a fresh cedar and boxwood garland and wreath.  My kids said they wanted colored lights this year, so up they went (definitely more noticeable in the evening!).  It would be nice if I added pots with miniature pine trees but not sure I'll be getting around to it.  Did you notice the big newfoundland head through the glass of the door?  She's probably wondering what the heck I'm doing taking a picture while it's snowing.

Three years ago we went through a renovation of our home which included replacing windows and adding a new portico, stone porch and walkways.  Below is what the front door used to look like.  The portico added some much needed architectural interest to the front of our colonial saltbox house.  It also provides shelter from the weather and it's a great place to put up a garland at Christmas time!

I recently had the opportunity to go on a walking architectural tour of Annapolis.   In school I studied the classical (Roman and Greek) and western european architectural features that have been replicated in the United Stated over the past several centuries.  It was great to get a refresher course and see these architectural elements in Annapolis.  

Below is a picture I took of a Georgian style door I just loved.  I'm a big fan of shiny black doors, especially with big red lush wreaths!  At this point in the tour, I had walked four hours and was starting to zone out.  I so wish I could remember the details of this home that our guide, an experienced historian in architecture and decorative arts, told us.  I vaguely remember a story that sounded terribly romantic and the couple built this home for their daughters in the 1700s.

This door belongs to the Hammond-Harwood House and is a gorgeous example of Georgian style.  Georgian style was popular during the 18th century, from King George I (1711) to the American Revolution, or King George III.  Attributes of a Georgian style home includes symmetry with center entrance and equal number of windows in each side.  A paneled front door with pilasters (columns attached to the wall), entablature (this one has a decorative tobacco leaves - guess what Hammond did for a living?), and a cornice with dentil molding. Americans replicated these details from English architecture books.  The details of this door are gorgeous and it is has perfect proportions.  

We walked by this house which was not on the tour but I thought it was adorable.  The siding was painted a very pretty aqua and the shutters and door trim were painted a navy blue (a bit darker then the picture)

We also walked by the William Paca House, a another famous example of Georgian architecture in the States, and also happens to be where Reid and I got married 14 years ago.  It's so great to live close to where we got married because every time we walk by the Paca House we are reminded of our wedding!

The English style gardens in the rear was the location for our ceremony and reception.  The garden used to be a parking lot for a hotel that was restored and opened to the public in the 1970s.  Below is a picture of the summer house where our ceremony took place.  It is a classic dome styled design with pretty coining on the corners.   

 Here's the newly married couple who just walked across the Chinese Chippendale styled bridge set over a pond.

The last stop on the tour was Reynolds Tavern, another Georgian style building.  The tavern originally operated from the mid 1700s to early 1800s as a tavern.  Then it become a bank, a home, a library and finally a tavern again in the 1980s.  The building has a steep slate gambrel roof, is flanked by large slab chimneys on each side, and has the eye-catching segmental arches above the first floor windows.  Reid and I have only been to the outdoor Sly Fox Tavern in the rear of the building (because dogs are allowed).  But know I'm looking forward to seeing the inside!  

It was a wonderful tour that gave me a much deeper appreciation for Annapolis' history and architecture.

If you are still looking for something for someone special on your list, consider purchasing a gift certificate for interior design services by me!  Contact me at melissa@melissamclayinteriors for more information.

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!

Recent Project: Renovated Family Room

It's amazing what a new paint color, a new fireplace, new windows, new furniture arrangement, and new television and sound system can do for a room!  I recently helped a client transform her family room so not only does it look better, it has more natural light and functions better for entertaining or staying home for a quiet night of watching television!

Below you can see the wall color was updated with Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter, a pretty soft gray.  We wanted to make sure the room color didn't feel cold and sterile, which some grays can do.  So we were in search of a "happy" gray... Revere Pewter was the result.  The color makes for a really pretty backdrop to my client's furnishings.  The new gas fireplace puts off some serious heat and looks great too.

This project began when my client discovered that the weight of her existing fireplace, which was improperly installed by a previous owner, was pulling away the wall.  The entire wall and support structure for the fireplace needed to be rebuilt.    This gave us the opportunity to rethink the placement of windows and fireplace design. 

Below is a picture of my client's family room before the renovations began.  Notice the television and cabinet are blocking the fireplace.  Two chairs are in front of a sliding glass door that never gets used and the amount of natural and artificial light was poor.

Below you can see we added two windows to either side of the fireplace.  We also had the sliding glass door removed and added two windows on the sofa wall.    Pretty sconces by Circa Lighting were added above the fireplace along with recessed lights in the ceiling, which were all placed on dimmers.  Accent lights, such as floor lamps and table lamps are used for ambient lighting.  We added a glass coffee table to visually lighten the space and reflect some of the natural light.  

I learn something new on every project since each project is different.  For this project, I learned about the Sonos sound system.  Sonos allows you to manage your music from your phone, tablet or computer.  You can play music from satellite radio, Pandora, iTunes, or your private music collection through your wireless speakers.  It's an amazing product!  

Below you can see we placed an eclectic arrangement of personal photos on either side of the television for interest.

Below is a BEFORE picture of the room near the kitchen.

Below you can see the knee wall remains but the rest of the opening was removed which opens up the space.  The antique desk was added to provide a place for paying bills and using a laptop.

It's so fun for me to look at the before and after pictures of this project!  I love transformations.  If you would like help transforming your home, please contact me!