A Brizo Invite To Attend A Reunion In Memphis

Today I am singing the blues, as I am going home to Memphis, Tennessee. The first thing that comes to most peoples minds when they think of Memphis, is Graceland the famous home of The King, Elvis Presley. Others think of Beale Street in the heart of Memphis, and it's famous Blues clubs. 
Or the Mississippi River, where cotton is grown along the shores.  I always think of Memphis, and it's famous melt-in-your-mouth barbecue.   

I am flying into Memphis, because Brizo invited me to attend an all-expenses paid reunion in Memphis.  The reunion of all the #Blogger19 who are Designers who blog, from all over the world.  We will be meeting the patients, Doctors and the executive of St. Jude Children's Research.  The world's premier centers for research and treatment of catastrophic diseases in children, primarily pediatric cancers.

The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to find cures for children with catastrophic illnesses through research and treatment.  At St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, no child is ever turned away because of a family's inability to pay.  

Brizo is a supporter of Houses for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway.  Homes are constructed across America using donated land, materials, labor, and fixtures from Brizo faucets and accessories for the kitchen and bath. The giveaway campaign gives thousands a chance to win a new home, and the money raised  helps to fund research and treatment efforts for St. Jude and helps children live out their dreams.

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The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway is one of the largest single-event fundraisers for St. Jude nationwide and has raised more than $260 million.  

I'll be reporting via social media, so please follow us on Twitter, we'll be using the hashtag #blogger19.  We'll also be learning about Brizo products and touring the factory while in Memphis.  This is the Memphis, I've never gone home to and it's exciting to be part of this experience.  I encourage you to reserve your $100 Dream Home ticket, and help St. Jude continue its lifesaving research.   

Disclaimer:   Brizo is paying/paid for my airfare and travel expenses for this trip.

Beach House Decor Is Blooming

The month of May, beach house decor is blooming.  We're taking in the abundance of natures bright colored flowers,  working in in our gardens, and the water comes calling to come play again.  In design May, is a month of fine design and decorating decision.  It's the month to updates beach house decor, and transition your home to brighter colors and decor.     

It's the time to uplift your beach house decor with fresh new design.  This can be as simple as bringing in your home's landscaping color pallet into your living room and entertaining areas.  At Noir Blanc Interiors we design your home to be functional and beautiful at the same time.  Some simple design tips are adding color with fresh flower arrangements, add yellow with lemons in your dinning or kitchen area.  Purchasing new white towels, in all your guests rooms and bathrooms, We love to monogram the hand towels in bright pinks, yellows, greens, and nautical blues adding a classic beach house statement.  With house guests of all age's wearing sun tan lotions and chemicals, our white towel suggestion is a dirty little secret, bleach belongs at the beach.  And like nature, May is the time to shed of the old and bring in the new fresh area rugs.  Choose a rug brand that has durability and wash ability.  


May is the time to think through the color's and the ambiance you want your home to reflect this summer.  Reinvent your bedroom, with a few accented tangerine tango pillows.  Change out the bed duvets, to lighter colors and light weight linens for the warmer months ahead.  Add pops of color to all your rooms, color blocking is big in home decor for 2012!

As the families  grow...add more seating to your beach home decor it's an investment in growing!  Adding new chairs and extra seating that are colored, is a great way to add pop to any room!  We're on high decorating alert for kitchens, porches, and living area's with generational coastal home growth.  Maine Cottage  is colorful furniture that lifts the spirit and holds its value over time we select for our coastal living clients. What's knot to love about the selection of colors and styles that work so well in our beach house decor.  Entertaining by the beach, is always weather permitting, so design for indoor camaraderie.

Maine Cottage and Russell and Mackenna are now one. 
5 – Camille Chair in Leaflette / Ale and Wheatgrass
6 – Cecilia Tall End Table in Creamsicle.

F@ck Yea I'm A Blogger

I've been a blogger for a very long time.  And darn if  I have not gotten behind with my musing of beach life and beach house decor.  Is there a punishment for not blogging?  Well, darn if there isn't ...it's called missing out on some fantastic blogger opportunities!  When you don't find me here at beach house decor,  I'm still blogging and then some every week at Interior Designer Chat, where I spend a good part of my week planning and working with a global audience of Interior Designers, Architects, Artists, Kitchen and Bath pro's, and home decor professionals on twitter.  Yes, that's right Twitter.  Should I mention that I love tumbling, Tweeting as @NoirBlancDesign, and Pinterest which may or may not have caused the wave in blogging time spent here with you beach house decor readers.


This month, I travel to the Architectural Digest Show, where in March the temperature soared to a record breaking 90 and I spent hours speaking with CEO and Brand Executives who are just getting versed in Social Media and Corporate blogging.  At the same show, I met an entire group of designer who were flown into New York City for a blog tour sponsored by brands within the design industry.  We met at the show for a tweeted up of meeting in real life for bloody Marys.  And dear readers... yes, there's a new breed in our industry, writing about design daily.  Today, when you ask the age old question, "What do you do for a living?"  With a real attitude you can hear, "I'm a blogger."  There are now famous bloggers who are exceptional, and have taken their writing skills to the next level, of writing books.  There can even be the attitude with a capital f@ck yea, I'm a blogger!!!   


First and foremost  I'm an entrepreneur business women, a Designer you can read more about, in my interview with Brabantia this month. My life is filled with clients, meetings, a public relation business, and one that seems over booked with volunteer time.  Which brings me back to Twitter and The New York City bloggers.  For over a year,  I had been tweeting a London Interior Designer, Andrew Dunning, who also joined in the volunteer efforts of #IntDesignerChat by being our London Ambassador. Andrew and I met on twitter with a few mutual tweets of admiration for Poole England, the head quarters of  Sunseeker Motor Yachts.  It was so very real and so cool, to meet a twitter friend with common interests of design, yachting life, fine taste, and beach life in real life in New York City Ad Show.  Serendipity to this post, is Andrew is also a design blogger who introduced me to Brabantia products as a guest blogger. 

I often go to industry trade shows to shop and stay informed and find new clients.  I'm a social creature who loves a good event or party. I've been in the press room as for longer then most bloggers..can state their birthdays.  Not my LinkedIn states past Ad Director, PR firm Principle, and online editor. The new "it" word is blogger and it's now carte blanche to the press rooms, parties, and grand affairs. Personally, I'm not sure I agree with all bloggers having press qualification.  Indeed, I'm old enough to be opinionated.  And have a keen sense of what happening and what manufacturers, vendors and brands should understand in today's social media world. I shared this in an interviewed:  12 Most Engaging Reasons Why Brands Need to Embrace Social Media Now conducted by Caroline Di Diego (CASUDI)  a multi-faceted entrepreneur with two parallel careers. In the one she focuses on Architectural Design solutions and the other (where most of you know her) she helps start ups amp up their early-stage businesses.  

So am I a blogger?  F@ck yea I'm a blogger.  The opportunities and the experiences one has from blogging can be read about everywhere.  Are you a blogger? I'd love to hear your comments on how and why you find blogging valuable. 

The Treasured Year Of 2011 At Beach House Decor

Focusing on beach house decor, has always been a natural passion and focus of my life.  When another year ends, we find our selves reflecting on where we are in life and where are future goals will lead. I must say, 2011 was an exceptional year for Beach House Decor. January started off with being a Guest Judge for a Digital Doll House, contest where the winner design a Campion Platt Beach House. It was great fun and I was personally amazed at the talent of young people who have the passion to design at a young age. 


My thirst for knowledge was fueled by leading Interior Designer Chat every Tuesday on twitter. It's been my own personal way of "giving back" to the design community and bringing global conversations with a strong professional community of Interior Designers, Architects, and professionals in the home decor industry.  In April I spoke at High Point Furniture Market in the Spring, on Social Media and The Design Industry. And we had a live #IntDesignerChat where I had the pleasure of meeting many twitter friends in real life. Another honor and thrill from this experience was being featured in New Englang Finery Magazine.  Also in April, my blogging here at Beach House Decor, had me invited to dine at the Designer Blogger Dinner Sponsored by Masco - KBIS 2011. It was a thrill and an honor to be dinning and meet some of the top designers in the Kitchen and bath industry.   

In Las Vegas, as the founder of Interior Designer Chat we had a live  #IntDesignerChat sponsored by KraftMaid and Merillat with Guest Host Mark Johnson.  

Then it was back to living and working the island life in Newport, Rhode Island.       

June was travel to Chicago for Neo Con, where I also put on a three day event, IDC Education and Design Worth Spreading.  During this education design event, Barbara Segal competed in a kitchen design contest using sketch-up.   What an incredible learning experience it was to learn from blogging tips from top blogger Ronique Gibson and  to be inspired by Author James Swan.  Having the privilege of working with the best in the design industry for these three days.

The months of July and August was spent enjoying summer and coastal living design work in Newport. I  shared a post with Brabantia, the joys of guests visiting the beach house.  For the record in 2011, Newport Polo had a sensational winning year.  

In September, I was chosen as a top design blogger to attend Brizo Fashion Week. My Brizo experience goes down as the best design experience of 2011.  The opportunity to work in New York with the industries top interior designers, design stars, and bloggers was amazing!  Of course you've read that post! And having my design team come in 2nd amongst the top designers in the country was rewarding and inspiring to the entire Noir Blanc Interiors team. I'm thrilled to be sharing the opportunity to order the exciting Jason Wu Collection at Brizo  with my beach house decor clients and readers here. 

I treasure my following here at beach house decor!  When my design schedule got busy this year,  I kept my readers informed at Noir Blanc Design tumblr, Facebook, twitter, and pinterest. Please take the time to follow and catch up with me there as well. Cheers to a fabulous 2011.  

I leave you with inspiration for a sand-tastic 2012! 

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mark Twain

Letting Creativity Flow

This September, I left the beach house decor and design business to spend three days in New York City during Fashion Week.  As a creative person, the Brizo company understands, that designers are fueled and need creative inspiration. The Brizo design team gathers much of their inspiration through travels and architecture throughout the year, to gain ideas. Rooted in the fashion and design communities, Brizo who is the primary sponsor of fashion designer superstar Jason Wu brought together designers and bloggers from around the country and demonstrated a brand’s commitment to quality and a USA made product.   Brizo is the first national sponsor of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Dream Home® Giveaway.  

This luxury brand of faucets, is environmentally responsible, eco-friendly and believes in working with the best in design, to ensure their products are aesthetically pleasing.  Brizo opens all avenues for creativity to flow. Since I have specialized in coastal interior design for so many years, Brizo LIFETIME FAUCET AND FINISH LIMITED WARRANTY was a huge selling factor for Noir Blanc Interiors, to learn. Beach house decor often has salt and humidity factors to consider when choosing faucets in bathroom, kitchen and bar design.  Sharing this quality USA Made product with design clients and beach house friends now flows naturally. 

Promoting the relationship that Brizo has built with fashion designer, Jason Wu and giving back by  inspiring designers from around the country.  Brizo merged our worlds together. By exposing us to their product line and fashion week.  Sponsoring a group of top designers and bloggers from around the country. The Jason Wu’s Spring Summer 2012 fashion show during New York Fashion Week!  The Blogger 19 Design Challenge sent us off to find inspiration and creativity in New York City neighborhoods.  Chosen to be on Team Venuto with top designers: Tyler Wisler of New York City, Kerrie Kelly of Sacramento, CA and Patti Johnson of Cincinnati, OH was a challenging, collaborative, and fun design experience. Our Team Venuto, three blonde's and a guy, designed a glamorous bathroom entirely inspired from our TriBeCa neighborhood tour.  The Judges: Brendan Cannon, Celebrity Stylist, Susan Fisher, VP Marketing of Brizo, and Michelle Adams, Editor in Chief of Lonny Magazine awarded my Brizo design Team Venuto, 2nd place during a private cocktail party with Jason Wu.  

Brizo believes that all forms of high-style can be achieved in the home, and  they understand that fashion contributes to an interior aesthetic. Brizo is proof positive that form and function are one and beautifully the same.  

Come swim with my new design and blogger social affections and the BRIZO team.    

http://www.thedecorista.com   - Ashlina Kaposta
http://dcoopsd.wordpress.com - Brandon Smith
http://cocokelley.blogspot.com - Cassandra Lavalle
http://maison21.blogspot.com - Christian May
http://goodwithstyle.com - Emily Anderson
http://creategirl.blogspot.com - Julieann Convino
http://livethefinelife.blogspot.com - Kathy Sandler
http://katierosenfelddesign.com - Katie Rosenfeld
http://kerrielkelly.blogspot.com - Kerri Kelly
http://www.meredithheron.com - Meredith Heron
http://encoredecorblog.com - Mindy Miles Greenburg
http://pattijohnsoninteriors.com- Patti Johnson
http://www.astylistslife.com - Raina Kattelson
http://kitchenlab-chicago.com - Rebecca Zaveloff
http://nydesignguy.blogspot.com - Tyler Wisler
http://www.buckinghamid.com - Julia Buckingham Edelmann
http://www.stylebyemilyhenderson.com - Emily Henderson

Susan Fisher - Vice President Marketing, Delta Faucet
Brian Nobbe - Marketing Director
Laura Brooks - Senior Brand Manager
Jai Massela - Senior Channel Marketing Manager
Judd Lord - Director of Industrial Design
Seth Fritz - Lead Industrial Designer
Celine Kwok - Industrial Designer
Brian Jones - Senior Product Marketing Manager
Mandy Ellington - Product Marketing Manger
Kristen Baum - Product Marketing Manager


Disclaimer: Brizo payed for my travel expenses for this trip and sponsored The Blogger 19 Design Challenge. 

Tropical Blue Mischief

 

Grand coastal estates, with beachfront acreage come to mind when we hear the word Newport, Rhode Island.  But the city has a simpler side, one that's about the laid back pleasures of the soothing effects of the sea.  The interior design scheme of a Newport Coastal home establishes a coastal serene feel of the sea, dark against light, pattern versus color, that personalize the home's style and personalizes it.  This is what our Newport client, was after when they asked our firm, Noir Blanc Interiors, to streamline details and unfuss their new summer home to a coastal house, different then their New York apartment city environment.  Removing the formality from the New England Coastal home was the main goal of this project.  Through out the house, French doors let in an abundant light and ocean air.  And it's not unusual for guests to show up for the weekend and stay for or a week or two.  Outdoor rooms are being designed like indoor ones, with several vendor ordered furniture pieces ordered during a recent trip to highpoint, North Carolina. This coastal home's beach house decor is elegant, old and new, sophisticated and laid back.  The owners point of beach living is to celebrate the outdoors, with a happy place where natural beauty and indoor comforts collide.

Blue is the main color in this coastal New England Ocean home. We hardly used it at all, as when you look out from any room,you see the sea.  It's like a giant blue painting in every room.  So Noir Blanc Interiors, incorporating beach house decor with three motifs for a balanced and smart look: textured fabrics, chalky matte finishes, and transparent glass vases.  Sourcing handmade, antique chandeliers mixed with slip covered furniture pieces to give the home that added touch of warmth and soul.  Our goal is to create a feel of easy fanciness that perfect for this families, coastal living home.

You Can't Go Wrong With The Color Of Love

February is simply a beautiful month for me. It comes all wrapped in a big blue box and tied with a big red bow. It is one of my favorite months for activities and fun. It's the month that often creates a dramatic and exciting set of opportunities for the year ahead. It's a time for taking the first steps, large or small, that your heart yearns to do or accomplish. From creating small rooms in red, to adding decorative accessories of red to your beach house decor, to spreading love to a number of people in your life every day. It's also a time to put yourself first. I love the vibrations of February. I've spent the month decorating a small room in red, to riding high in red Gondola's, mixed with fashions at New York Fashion week. This is the month, to turn up the heat with red.

BG3 by thè cs featuring cherry bags

Miami Bathroom Design

Transforming beach house decor for a tropical Miami home in January is a tropical transformation of the senses. Miami bathroom design is inspired by soaking in the sun on the beach, beautiful tropical gardens, and ocean breezes. We were asked to transform a bathroom that would create a stunning first impression for our female clients guests when they visited her home for the first time. So we searched for a vanity that had a vibrant "cool" color like blue which helps you relax and chills you out. Image our delight when we discover the unusual bath vanities from Ypsilon, the Italian company that creates bath vanities with modern design and glamour. The vibrant color of Ypsilon doll collection was perfect for our beach house decor clients style. The use of blue and glass accent pieces and the blue color became the focal accent to the bathroom space. A splash of color and the perfect luxury for any guest in her Miami beach home.

Winter Beach House Decor

Beach house decor for the winter months can easily be transformed to a rich, romantic, snuggle up and feel warm ambiance. Changing the interiors of a beach home during the month of November and December is a simple chic way to add character to your ocean or waterfront home. From LaJolla, California; to Vancouver, Canada; down to Fort Walton, Florida and up to Newport, Rhode Island; a beach morning and night has a chill factor a home owner must add into their beach lifestyle. Living at the beach in the winter months, does not mean your ocean home needs to take on a cold, damp chill. A few simple interior changes to your beach house decor, can set the mood of a cozy beach home with a loving warm ambiance.

How To Add Winter Ambiance To Beach House Decor

• Add velvet pillows to your bedroom & living areas mixed with touches of houndstooth, wools, cashmere, rich warm colored pillows to your sofa and chairs (put away the summer pillows until spring).
• Add cashmere blankets and throws of the same color palettes of your beach home, now is the time you can go richer and deeper in your colors.
• Add some texture like a Mongolian lamb fur throw.
• Noir Blanc Interiors always recommends investing in duvets, as there are four seasons to my interior design clients homes. Nothing is more luxurious, then having a fresh new look of your bedroom with the simple change of your bedding.
  
• If you have a fireplace in your beach home consider converting it to gas. It adds a glow to your home and is energy efficient.
• Consider adding a gel-fueled fireplaces or electric fireplace to your beach home.
• Adding candles to your beach home in the colder months, mixed with natural outdoor elements.
  

Go ahead beach friends, light the fire, snuggle up, and turn up the charm it's the holidays!