valentine's day Thank You Sacramento Magazine!

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Breakfast Room

Things have bee a beehive of activity around here lately! I have barely had time to turn around. So I must apologize for not keeping up this week with the blog posting. It is something I enjoy so much, but duties (very wonderful duties!) have been a calling.

But I wanted to show you all a project I had worked on a bit ago that was just published in Sacramento Magazine this November. My client, Alberta, and I clicked on sight. A more wonderful client I couldn't ask for.

I must preface by saying my scanner is a bit clumsy, so things a a bit fuzzy. I am expecting images from the oh-so talented photographer, Keith Sutter, next week.

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Very Fuzzy...Main Kitchen

But I couldn't wait! So they are from the magazine.

 For the full article by the delightful  and very kind Joan Waters, click HERE.

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Farmhouse Sink and Rustic French Ivory Cabinets

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Le Cornue Fe Range

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Cook Book Nook - Shelves are arched like the Hallway Doorway

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Jose Esteves Chandelier from Interieurs

 Have a wonderful weekend!

valentine's day The Kid Rocks

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Kid Rock's Living Room

For those of you who do not get C Magazine, I thought you deserved to see the latest rock star crib that is way beyond what you might expect to see on MTV's Cribs. (If you you do get C Magazine, don't forget to look in the Men's Section this month!!) 

 And thank goodness Kid Rock had the savvy to engage the ultra talented Martyn Lawrence-Bullard. Just to be clear, however, Pamela Anderson originally hired her long time friend, and the Kid had the good sense to continue on with Martyn after his much publicized break-up with Pam.



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Main Entrance



Lawrence-Bullard has an affinity for Indonesian inspired design, and this home reflects this passion. Many of the items are Lawrence-Bullard's own design and available through Lawrence-Bullard Home.

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Dining Room

Located in Malibu, the home is the perfect California beach hideaway. It is a personal Shangri-La with beautiful exotic woodwork and South Pacific furnishings and Moroccan textiles. One can just feel the Pacific breezes blowing through the white muslin bed curtains. 

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Kitchen

I hope you have a chance to pick up the October issue of C Magazine. It includes the extra publication of "C For Men". Actor Ewan McGregor graces the cover, a very busy man these days. And the Main issue features Lauren Hutton, and has a Decor article about another favorite designer, Mary McDonald.

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Guest Room

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Master Bedroom

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Master Bath

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Entrance Hall

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Backyard

This article was happily unexpected. I almost bypassed it altogether. Just goes to show you that every part of C Magazine is a great read!

Rock on.
All Photos by Tim Street-Porter

valentine's day The Future Isn't That Far Away

Wow.

Would you?

Makes me a little nervous when at the end you are walking into a tunnel of light.

But interesting never-the-less.

Full case study HERE.

valentine's day Sweet Dreamers: UXUS

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Guestroom in Amsterdam Loft located in an historic 18th century warehouse.

Ever since I walked into Ella, a wonderful restaurant in Sacramento designed by international design team UXUS, I knew I would be looking for more from the designers and fining out what drives their creative talents. (I posted about Ella HERE and HERE.)

UXUS, with offices in Amsterdam and Napa, California, waves their creative wand all over the world "fusing art and design" in moody magical ways.

Busy as they are, I was lucky to catch up with them and ask a few questions of creative directors, George Gottl and Oliver Michell:

How did UXUS come about? Can you tell us about your company and it’s history?
We started the company in the back of the loft nearly 7 years ago. We have 17 employees now.

The UXUS design aesthetic is truly unique and quite poetic. Can you tell us how it evolved?

We have always been inspired by primary sources of information, Art is one of our key sources.

Where and how do you begin the process of conceptualizing your designs for your clients?

We always start by interviewing the client and discovering exactly what they are looking to create.Often, we discover things that they didn’t even know they wanted.

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Amsterdam Loft Hallway

What/who inspires you in your work?

Art and artists from all over.We especially like artists who work in 3-D There are two design directors at UXUS.

Can you tell us how you work together? Do you collaborate on the same projects, or do you divide and conquer?

We are very complementary, and work seamlessly as a team, often picking up where the other one left off.

How would you describe each of your own personal styles?

Oliver is more classic, and I tend towards fashion.

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Bedroom in Amsterdam Loft overlooking the canals and city.

Describe your “perfect client”.

One that has complete integrity in what they would like to create and allow us to execute accordingly.

What are you working on now?

Some very special and big projects that we cannot discuss...

What is happening next?

Offices in Asia and US.

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Living Space in Amsterdam Loft

UXUS has their fingers in retail, hospitality, and interior architecture, as well as branding and packaging. They also have a forward looking blog HERE.

For a look and more of their exquisite work, please visit their website HERE. You will slowly get an inkling of how these minds work when you see images of floating bathtubs and dressers, lamps made from dresses, and Narnia-like wardrobes in retail spaces, shutters on the ceiling in restaurants and chess piece-like tables in wineries, to say nothing of the richness in their residential spaces. When I look at the homes they have designed, ( especially La Finca, the Mallorcan retreat), I just have to sit back, relax and say "Ahhhhh.....".

Sweet Dreamers indeed.

valentine's day Please Help Me!

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I have never done this before. Promote myself in a contest or give away. And I am kind of feeling a little ambivalent about it now too. But here goes.

The lovely Brooke Giannetti at Velvet and Linen blog has been offering a give away the last couple of weeks: a gorgeous Brickmaker's coffee table from Bobo Intriguing Objects.

Brooke had been discussing how things from retail catalogs such as Restoration Hardware or Wisteria can be made to look personal in one's own home just by how each person puts it together in their own style. She received a comment from Mark Sage, owner of Bobo Intriguing objects who offered three tables for a give away. His generosity is so amazing!

Well, I have been trying to furnish my office space, and on a budget, sometimes things can be a bit tough. I think this table would be so perfect!

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So, I am hoping you all might help me out and send a vote my way. (pretty please?)

If you hop on over to the Velvet and Linen blog HERE, you will find the voting link on the upper right hand side of Brooke's beautiful blog and be able to read all about the contest and see all of the finalist photos. There are ten finalists, and three tables. I am hoping to be one of the three winners. (please!) Voting began today and runs through Nov. 29th.

I am not proud. ...PLEASE help me win one of the three tables? Thank you, thank you!

valentine's day Couple of Things I've Been Working On:

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Secondary Bath in Contemporary Ranch House

Sometimes life throws us a curve ball, or lemons, if you will. If we are lucky, we do catch a glimpse of it coming. Last winter, the recession had hit Sacramento particularly hard,and it had a big affect on our family. The position I had held for 10 years as Senior Designer with another design company was eliminated at the end of last year. I had seen it coming. I had prepared myself to make a go of it and open my own design studio. Call me crazy....open a business in this climate?!?! But I felt I had a few things going for me: I had just finished a remodel of my home which included a large home office/studio space (so no overhead to speak of), I had a pretty good reputation in the area, I had a couple of clients that came with me with the "OK" from my ex-boss, and I had started my blog, katiedid, almost two years prior. I cannot tell you what a huge help the blog has been to me in so many ways.

Perhaps most important to my design business, I have been very fortunate to have wonderful, wonderful clients. They have been staunch supporters, and such a pleasure to work with. I wake up everyday thinking how lucky I am. I have been busy with so many fun projects of all kinds, and some of them are almost ready to "show off".

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Secondary Bath

So here are a couple of preview pictures of a house I have been working on with a couple who have become good friends in the process. They purchased a midcentury contemporary home that was in need of a face-lift. Most of the house was gutted, but the terrazo floor in the sunken living room remained intact. These are a just a couple of photos of the Kids' Bath and the Master Bath.

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Master Bath

I have also been working on a beautiful Prairie Style Home which is nearing completion as well. Totally different style, and so much fun to work on. I promise to have pictures of this house when it is done!

I just want to say "Thank You" to my magnificent clients. You make my day!

The Lemonade is tasting better every day.

valentine's day Been Working on This:

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I have a client who needed a little help pulling an affordable plan together for her little bungalow cottage. She needed things quickly and wanted to be able to buy things herself from retail sources. She did not want to take time to shop at flea markets or antique faires. She just wanted it "done". I think there are alot of people out there who want a pleasing environment, but do not want to spend alot of time putting it together. They have other things that are more important to them. Luckily for us designer types, we LOVE to spend time doing the putting together. And I am all for working within a budget, especially in this economy. valentine's day

Living Room:
Sofa - Pottery Barn
Chairs - Pottery Barn
Coffee Table - Pottery Barn
Black Chair - Palecek*
Garden Stool - Pottery Barn
Pillows - Crate and Barrel
Side Tables - Crate and Barrel
White Lamp - Crate and Barrel
Green Lamp - Pottery Barn
Mirror - Pottery Barn
Fabric for Drapes: Lulu DK *
Small Cabinet - Owner's

Dining Room:
Large Mirror - Pottery Barn
Dining Table - Ballard Design
Dining Chairs - Palecek*
Sideboard - Bungalow5*
Blue Lamps - Bungalow5*
Pendant Light - Circa Lighting
Art - Oly Studio*
Accessories - Oly Studio*
4 Piece Art - Wisteria

For more information on kd space, click on my website link in the sidebar or just click here.
* These items available through Katie Denham Design

valentine's day A Little Nook Look

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Hi Everyone!

I am sorry I have been a little busy lately! It took alot of time the last couple of weeks to get ready for the Curtis Park Home Tour. I took alot of pictures, and I have seen some wonderful pictures taken by the very talented Rudy Calpo which I want to show to you all. I will be posting about the home tour by the end of the week, so I hope you come back and check it out!

It was a perfect day....bright blue skies and temps in the high 70's. It had rained a day before, so the air was crisp and everything was washed clean. There were so many friends to see and everyone involved with the tour, the organizers, the docents, and all of the members of the Model A car club were just wonderful.

The photo above is just a little nook in my house between the main floor and the basement. It is a space often overlooked....but it is a pretty little space. I hope you enjoy!

valentine's day Staying Neutral: the Maison 21 Challenge

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You may remember awhile back, the very talented and stylish Christian of Maison 21 blog created a room around this lovely piece of glass....... valentine's day

.......and challenged any and all comers to do the same. And did we! You may remember this blog post.

Well...get ready, because Christian has laid down the gauntlet again. He has challenged all bloggers, and anyone else who feels up to it, to create a room of Neutrals using items from his atelier here and/or from his post here. Never one to shy away from such a challenge, I have taken him up on it. I chose the Teak Root Console from Christian's post because of it's beautiful amorphic shape. I thought a pair would be gorgeous as Bedside Tables....so I decided a chic and tailored bedroom for a bachelor would be "it". valentine's day

Next I found these beauties....a pair of brass pharmacy lamps...on Christian's atelier link here to put on the consoles.

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So I needed a bed. At first was looking for an upholstered headboard....but then I remembered this bed from Ralph Lauren, perfect:

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I happened upon this Black and White Steam Ship photo on 1st dibs and thought it would be perfect above the bed blown up to about 4 ft. wide x 5 feet high:

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With these elements , a sort of "theme" or vision began to take shape in my imagination: a nod to the rich mahogany paneled state rooms of the yachts of the 1920's. Wood, brass, a bit art deco, new industrial age feel. So...add the wood paneling to the walls, but I would use Walnut. They are neutral aren't they? And wood floors.

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I loved Christian's idea of the blond cowhide on the floor . Why not a few overlapped? valentine's day

Something for the wall across from the foot of the bed: This Vicente Wolf console table is sleek and tailored. The brass picks up on the brass lamps as well. I think a third section to make it wider would be what I would do.

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Above this low console, I thought something monumental was needed. A large Black and White photo perhaps? I relied on the the beautiful and dreamlike work of James Bleecker. His photos of the High Line are stunning:

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Flanked by these Fontana Arte sconces by Pietro Chiesa.........through first dibs. OK.....outrageously out of sight price-wise....but this is a fantasy, no? They had to be in the room: valentine's day

There should be a sitting area in front of the windows. I chose this pair of Gio Ponti Arm Chairs:

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I found this table in 1st dibs also. (Sigh....1st dibs, you make it so easy to find things to dream about. I went back to link this table to the post and now I can't find it...sigh.) Perfect between the wing back chairs:

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All of which to put in front of these dark grey velvet drapes from Restoration Hardware. This beautiful gun metal grey is technically a "neutral" as well, but provides great depth:

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It just so happens that the brass hardware works as well!

Perhaps there would be a spot for these mirrors from Ballard Design. Or maybe this is the shape of the windows....it is my fantasy after all.

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And there should be something quirky like this from Bond and Bowery:

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A bit off of the color palette and out of sync. These are too large, but you get the idea.

So, there you have it! My Gentleman's Bedroom.

For those of you who want to play, hop on over to Christian's Maison 21 blog to see who else has designed a room and to see the "rules".

Thanks Christian! (I could just see Mona and Richard curled up on the bed. They are the perfect colors!)

valentine's day Update: Oscar Night Green Room

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Architectural Digest Green Room at the Oscars

I am a huge Oscar Night fan. I love movies. I love watching the stars, the dresses...everything. I was very excited when last year I was the only one in our Oscar Night party poll that got the Best Actress ( Marion Cotillard – La Vie en Rose as Edith Piaf) and Best Song( "Falling Slowly" from Once) correct. (I didn't win the whole poll, but was proud none-the-less!).

So it is very fun for me to get a peek at the "behind-the-scenes" goings on. This room is where the presenters wait before they are called onstage during the Oscar show. I had received a bit of information a week or so ago which you may have read about here. So I thought you might like to see the finished room by the wonderful Mr. Stephen Shadley. A beautiful backdrop to all of those glistening dresses and dashing tuxedos, don't you think?

Here are the facts:

For this year’s Architectural Digest Greenroom at the Oscars®, AD100 designer Stephen Shadley looks to the timelessly chic tone of the 1970s. Inspired by Hollywood film sets of the era, this “Seventies Modern” interpretation melds clean lines with a monochromatic color palette and sheer touches for a cool, calm backstage backdrop for the night’s honorees.

This is the seventh consecutive year Architectural Digest has created the greenroom for the Oscars. Over that time, the magazine has reinvented the notion of this exclusive backstage oasis, creating a high-design space befitting the evening’s A-list winners and presenters.

For the first time, this year’s Architectural Digest Greenroom expanded to include a new garden-inspired space that actually sits on the loading dock … though you’d never know! With the new room, the space is now 920 square feet in size!

Principal furniture was found through Baker, including…
· A custom sofa that is 11 feet in length, reminiscent of the 70’s stretch style
· Garden seats from a new collection that recreates works by the legendary Los Angeles design icon Tony Duquette
· A vintage brass and lacquered table circa 1960

Where are we? A panoramic sweep of Los Angeles-at-night from atop Mulholland Drive sets room’s the glamorous mood. The vista includes 20th Century Fox, the movie studio where Shadley began his career as a scenic artist.

An 1100 pound bar constructed from one-of-a-kind Concetto Surface Art “Forza” by CaesarStone is built into the room! It will take a crew of 8 and a forklift to put it in the AD Greenroom.

Fitting for the theme, the area rug is dubbed Mama Mia: an updated take on the shag rug by Karastan. The rug is crafted from SmartStrand 3GT Sorona, a new generation of carpet fiber engineered for outstanding stain resistance with softness.

The wallcovering is actually a favorite silk fabric of Shadley’s found at KneedlerFauchere Imports that has been paper-backed for wall usage.

Shadley shopped around town for vintage furniture and accessories, using rare antique dealers such as Fat Chance, NOHO Modern and Outside Downtown.

My prediciton for Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire.

Maybe not an original choice....in fact maybe obvious. But still my choice.

And yours????

valentine's day Dreaming of Morocco: Architectural Digest and St. Tropez Boutique

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Architectural Digest, March 2009, Photos by Ken Hayden

Where could this paradise be? One might assume it would be found in Morocco.....but they would be wrong. This magnificently crafted fairytale hide-a-way designed by New York designer Todd Black ( Architecture by Bender and Associates, Landscape by Craig Reynolds) was built in Key West, Florida for Veronica Webb (former Vogue cover girl), George Robb and their young family .

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Living Room. Veronica Webb and family.

The Moorish aesthetic was adhered to with meticulous detail. The designer even had craftsmen and apprentices from Morocco flown in to work on site for a full year carving stone, setting tile, and seeing to every intricate detail. The domed ceiling in the Living Room above and the Dining Room ceiling below were both produced in Morocco. The cloud wall panels are mixed media work by Teresita Fernandez. Dream-like!

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Dining Room

Everywhere you look there is a kaleidoscope of color and pattern that somehow all works together in harmony. The inlaid chair patterns, the lattice screens, the patterned ceilings, the tiled floors are all so very beautiful.

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Pool

Is this just a little piece of heaven? This pool area is situated along a canal side of the house. Craig Reynolds used Buccaneer Palms and other salt tolerant native species to create this Shangrila.

I was coming back to this article again and again last week, and just by a blogosphere heavenly collective consciousness coincidence , I was contacted by the wonderful St. Tropez Boutique. For those of you who are not familiar, Saint Tropez Boutique is a designer, manufacturer, and the exclusive dealer in California of fine Moorish architecture elements and Moroccan arts & crafts. They carry beautiful tile, hand carved screens, lighting, furniture, Moroccan tents, and Mediterranean architectural antiques, just to start.

I was lucky to receive these images of Moroccan magic created using the beautiful offerings of St. Tropez Boutique:

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Lanterns, screens, mosaic tile and furniture all by St. Tropez Boutique in this soft grey and ivory living space.

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Hand Carved Lattice Screen inset into the wall makes for a beautiful room divider.

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I love this brass fireplace lattice screen. It is so unexpected and perfect in this contemporary setting.

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Two brass Egg Lamps on this coffee table add a sense of the exotic to this Living Room.

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This bedroom fit for an Arabian princess is graced with wall sconces and cool glazed floor tile by St. Tropez Boutique.

For the complete offerings of St. Tropez Boutique be sure to visit their website here!

AND..........

If you want to dream a little dream of Morocco, it always helps to visit Maryam at her beautiful blog My Marrakesh. She has a way of making you feel like you are right there beside her enjoying a cup of fresh mint tea and gazing at her Olive grove at her soon to be realized Peacock Pavilion Bed and Breakfast outside of Marrakesh. Be sure to visit!