Project 101

After seeing this post from Melissa over at Off the Wall, I was inspired to post this fabulous kitchen (my favorite, in fact) that we did for a client who lives in a Georgian Style home in the Gold Coast. I absolutely LOVE the skylight and the floor as well as the cabinetry. If I could, I would move in tomorrow!!!

Otom

I thought I'd share one of the projects I worked on recently in my day job. We finished a fabulous and chic restaurant last fall and I have to say, I love how it turned out!! My favorite feature is the striped walls and draperies which were custom made by our fabulous drapery workroom. The name of the restaurant is Otom and they serve American food which, I can say from experience, is absolutely delicious. The restaurant was just featured on the cover of Chicago Magazine as one of the Best New Restaurants in Chicago. Here are some photos from that publication as well as some of our own. What do you think?!?!

Weekly Win It!!

Yay!! The Weekly Win It feature is back and what a way to start off!! This week's featured artist is none other than Off the Wall!!! This fabulous duo is made up of partners Jaime and Melissa, two talented and upbeat ladies who specialize in faux finishes for architectural elements, home accessories and pretty much everything in between. I first came across these two via their blog and quickly discovered their wonderful portfolio of work. Some of my favorite items are their frames featuring wonderful Bible passages and quotes. How great are these for framing your loved ones and remembering God's goodness every time you look at their picture?? I also really love their beautifully finished shutter and garage doors as well as kitchen cabinetry.

I've really gotten to know Melissa over the past few months through blogging and email, and I know that both of these ladies are quite talented and special, so I was super-excited when they offered to participate in the Weekly Win It!! I can't wait to introduce you to these wonderful gals (or help you to get to know them better) so sit back, relax, and enjoy the beauty of Off the Wall!

Tell us a little bit about your studio and how the two of you came to be partners? We teamed up in 2004, not realizing the connection we would share. But we knew instantly that God had something strange and uncharted planned for us. I (Jaime) already had an established and busy career in the faux finish industry and was living out her calling, while Melissa was earning a degree in Fashion Merchandising. After graduation, Melissa began work as a human resources assistant… not so much her dream job. Knowing there was something more; Melissa quit her job to pursue her love for something more creative. That’s when a friend told her to call me. Melissa began working for me hourly as I trained her in the skills of the faux world. Beyond working incredibly well together, an immediate friendship was born and we became business partners soon after.

Our studio is in Olive Branch, Mississippi. We welcome clients to come by to customize their orders and shop our existing collection, provided they can appreciate the very fine aroma of paint thinner, the sound of saws and sanders singing, and two boys trying to torture each other in the background (that would be the Roberts boys of course!).

Where do you get the inspiration to create your beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces for the home? We have so many different inspirations, but a love for anything old that we can transform into something that people actually love to buy and place in their homes is motivation to keep trying to come up with some new ideas. We love vintage architecture and salvaged pieces. We can’t miss a thrift store or side of the road where a discarded treasure can be found. We love the romance and the idea that a home is a reflection of who you are and where you want to be. You shouldn’t want to be any place else.



What is your most favorite project you’ve done for someone’s home and why? Our favorite project on the faux finish side of our business so far, has been an old world plaster finish with revealed brick in a beautiful East Memphis home. Our client commissioned us to manipulate plasters in a room that was once her porch. She trusted us to give her the feel of a European villa. The room felt lost in time, at least a couple hundred years old and it was a complete success.

From our product line, I don’t think we can pick just one. When we come up with a favorite, it will probably be time to quit. I hope we never have a favorite… that means we are still breathing!

Do you two have any painting or faux finishes in your own homes? You know the old saying, “ the cobbler’s children has no shoes.” We find with our faux finishes and with our products that we are the last to get them. As soon as we finish something new, someone comes along and ends up buying it. But we will have to change that soon, there are so many pieces that we both want.



What is the largest project you and Jamie have ever taken on and how long did it take you to finish it? I think kitchen jobs are the longest, especially when we come up with something cool in a finish, and the client keeps adding and adding. We have several clients that will never be finished, because they are constantly coming up with ways to keep us in their home. At least they don’t want to get rid of us.

Tell us a little bit about your creative process? How do you figure out what you are going to do when presented with a project? Ultimately, we go with what first comes to mind, and figure out a way to make it work. Instincts are your best indicator that a project will be successful. When you see a project for the first time you know instinctively what should be there and it is just a matter of trying to make it work. We rarely stick with a rigid way of doing things. Usually when we plan, that is when we end up tossing the project plan and starting over. It is when we embrace the unexpected that we come up with the coolest outcome.



Wow!! Thank you so much girls for taking time out of your BUSY lives to share a little more about yourselves and your work...you are both fabulous!!

So now the moment you've all been waiting for...this week's fabulous give away is this lovely Zebra Stripe Table Top Frame (ummm...this would fit in perfectly in my home-too bad I'm not allowed to enter!). This fun and funky frame can be yours...just leave a comment on this post and tell us what your favorite product is from the Off The Wall store.


Please check here for contest rules and regulations!

Thanks again ladies...you're the best for doing this give away and the best bloggin' buddies a girl could ask for!!

Designer of The Month-Shelton and Mindel

Today is the second post in the Designer of the Month series featuring Shelton and Mindel Associates. I thought I'd feature their furniture line for Knoll Studio and do a separate post on their plumbing fixture line for Waterworks.

Just introduced last year, the line features lounge seating and tables that would fit well into any of their interiors. The pieces are clean-lined and classic ensuring that they will be a staple in the design world for decades. My favorite is the side chair which is just too cool! I love how they've photographed it, it looks like they used the interior of the Mindel home as the setting for the gorgeous photos.

Designer of The Month-Shelton and Mindel

Well, last month I was so busy that I skipped posting the designer of the month!! This month I want to make up for that in a big way! I decided to post my most favorite and, arguably, most influential modern design firms practicing today. Shelton Mindel and Associates is comprised of Lee Mindel and Peter Shelton, two architects whom I greatly respect and admire. All one has to do is look at one or two of their interiors to see why they deserve so much respect.

Their interiors are clean, uncluttered and distinctly light and inviting. Their signature look marries seamless architecture with incredible furnishings and art by design greats such as Prouve, Perriand, Royere, Kjaerholm, Jacobsen and Kahn (just to name a few). I think the reason I admire them so much is for this very reason. It's quite hard to find a design team which is so well versed in both the architecture of the house as well as the elements that go into the home. Shelton and Mindel seem to do this effortlessly. This incredible talent goes a long way in assuring that one is left with an overall sense of the space as a whole rather than the individual items that make up the space.

In addition to their design projects, Shelton and Mindel have also produced a plumbing line for Waterworks and a furniture line for Knoll. I'll do a post in the coming weeks on each of these lines and companies, but today, I wanted to focus on the beautiful architecture and interiors.

Here are just a few of the projects this incredible duo has produced throughout their partnership, and, if you are left wanting even more, I highly recommend visiting their gorgeous website.











































images from Architectural Digest

Desk Chair Dilemma

So I've been spending so much time at my home computer lately that I feel it's time to break down and purchase a new desk chair. Unfortunately, I have (as my dad would call it) "champagne taste" on a beer budget. If I had all the money in the world, these are a few of my favorite choices (a girl can dream, right?):

Of course, my all-time favorite has got to be the Herman Miller Aeron Chair (which I use at work). This is by far the most comfortable desk chair I've ever used!

The Axess Plus chair designed by Antonio Citterio for Vitra.

The Meda Chair designed by Alberto Meda also for Vitra.

Saarinen Executive Chair for Knoll.

MV9 Swivel Chair for HBF, I used this when I worked for them and it was actually very comfortable.

Eames Aluminum Group Management Chair for Herman Miller.

Eames Soft Pad Chair for Herman Miller.

Hudson Swivel Arm Chair for Emeco (this doesn't look that comfortable but is surprisingly not bad-one of our clients has one).

Fortunately for me, there are some great, affordable options from various companies. Some are pretty blatent copies (Target?) but others are cool original designs. Which one to get...this is my dilemma!

Chicago Office Chair from Target.

Gregor Desk Chair from Ikea.

Swivel Leather Desk Chair from West Elm.

Studio Office Chair from CB2.

Patrick Arm Chair also from Ikea.

Surf Office Chair also from CB2.

Tiburon Office Chair also from Target.