LINTELS + LALLIES BLOG

  BELOW IS A WALK-THROUGH OF MY SON'S FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY -WILLY WONKA THEME- 

The Versatility of Vintage Rugs   Vintage can be a vague term often referring to an elusive time in the past.   When it comes to rugs, vintage has a distinct meaning. Rugs produced between the 1920s - 1970s are classified as vintage.   This time period in the arts was an explosion of style, color, and experimentation.   The results were an eclectic mix of beauty, sophistication, and playfulness which reflected the influence of major art movements throughout the world including modernism, minimalism, and surrealism. Rugs and textiles were a part of this shift in artistry and, in turn, a broad range of styles is conveyed by vintage rugs.   Their versatility in interior design is outstanding. From sleek, subtle designs to complex patterns and bright colors, the expanse of vintage rugs complements many home and office styles. Whether your space is minimalist modern or boldly traditional, there is a vintage rug that would be a great fit.   Let’s ...

“You have to live spherically in many directions, with childish enthusiasm.” Ah, don’t you just love the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun”?   There are a few quotes from that flick which are always floating around in my brain.   As a designer I feel you kinda have to ‘live spherically’.   You may be shopping for a sofa for a certain client & find the perfect lamp for another project…your mind just has to constantly be open to inspiration all around you.   Another quote I appreciate is, “ Pick one room and make it yours.   Go slowly through the house.   Be polite; introduce yourself, so it can introduce itself to you. Often when I’m in a client’s home, they want to know how I can fix EVERY room in their home at the same time.   Some homes this is great, we tackle everything & move on from one project to the next.   But if you find you are the type of person that gets overwhelmed easily, I think it is best to “Pick one room & make it ...

I subscribed to HGTV’s new magazine, and they featured a section called something along the lines of, “Clutter Confessions”.   We all have them…areas of your home that need a little bit of time, but just aren’t important enough to make it on the ‘to-do list’ - mostly because they aren’t seen by daily visitors. For me, well...let’s just say there are MANY dirty little secrets, but for a starter I decided to shamefully share with you under my kitchen sink & my laundry room. … Here is the before of my kitchen sink: I took everything out and realized that the majority of the items I don't use, or were duplicates.   So, anything that I didn’t use on a regular basis (such as insect killer, mouse traps & bug spray) I put either in the garage or on a shelf in the basement.   If there were any cleaners that were duplicates and I could pour them into one, I combined them (but don't worry folks, only those of the same brand).   If they were too full, I ...

So, we all have our little lame "claims to fame."  Right? I'm still gloating over the fact that I got to ask HGTV's new 'Design Star,' Meg, a question on 'Windy City Live' this morning! It's almost as if they stopped the interview briefly just to acknowlege how great of a question I asked! ;)  (snort!)  Congrats, Meg, and thanks for taking my question!  To check out my geeky thrill, click the video clip below:

Sometimes, when TV shows become hits, they can influence fashion and even interiors. That has me wondering if the ratings will be good for the new show 'Pan Am'. So, I've put together how I think this new, swanky, vintage show would translate into a furniture form.  Check it out! >

Check out my signage on wheels!  It's amazing how representing my own business makes me keep a clean car.  Also, suddenly, I'm much more aware of my behavior behind the wheel.  No, not my driving.  If anything I'm likely to be the annoying person doing the speed limit.  No, rather, I tend to be a singing fool behind the wheel...and now folks have the power to see who the goofball passionately singing at a stop light is! If ya see me around, give me a honk... :)

When my new color supplies arrived, I was just so excited I had to take a picture! I have the full collection of 'Sherwin Williams' & 'Benjamin Moore' Paint swatches, with large chips samples my clients get to keep after we've selected their perfect color scheme!  I also had short-term excitement over my first piece of junk mail...but I'll spare you the pictures of the envelope. :) Have an inspiring day!

The short answer: A 'Lintel' is a horizontal header beam supported by two vertical posts on either end.  It supports openings such as a window or door. A 'Lally' is a concrete filled column that supports long spans of beams. The long answer: I've been toying with the idea of starting a design business & even went back to school for interior design, but the day the third random person knocked on my door asking me, "Who 'picked the colors for this house?", I felt that the time is NOW...let's dive in & do this! So, what started as a hobby grew into a business, which meant we needed a name, and fast!  We tried the typical 'list of favorite words'.  We spent hours on the thesaurus trying to find different ways to say, 'inspiring, creative, inviting, interior design, etc'.  All the obvious names had all ready been taken.   We couldn't just settle for something predicatable .  Sure, Barbara’s last name would be per...