loft lust

 I never really thought of myself as a loft dweller, that was until I saw this fantasticly furnished and beautifully natural lit loft. I would happily move in tomorrow. Those arched windows, the black and white striping, the stunning daybed and those lovely industrial inspired lamps -- all perfect. 

 (via Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles)

{daring + dramatic} dining

This may be surprising but dining rooms are one of the hardest rooms to design. It is the room where special occasions are celebrated, toasts bring tears and memorable moments are made -- heaven forbid the backdrop is not the perfect and comfortable setting for these cherished occasions! One thing I am sure of is that this dream dining room of mine would bring joy and laughter to anyone that pulled up a chair to this acrylic and brass table...

(acrylic and brass table from 1st dibs, avrett pendant, bradley hughes "parker" chair, arzu studio hope rug, bliss studio mirror, worlds away buffet  and inlay boxes from kemble interiors)

{more than} pretty in pink

I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend! I had a rare and unexpectadly relaxing one spent on the lake--which led to some very pink sun kissed cheeks. If only pink looked as good on me as it does in the dusty version of the shade paired with dramatic colors..

(via c magazine, green wedding shoes and pinterest)

or when stunningly paired with the vibrancy of red, which proves it is a combination fit for days other than February 14th.

(via harpers bazaar and dior haute couture fall 2012)

 And seriously, can we talk about those floral walls!? Amazing! 

candy {colored} cravings

(tucker dress, chris barrett, alexandra von furstenberg and guest soaps from furbish studio)

from the outside in {grass fed}

When I was walking down Damen Avenue in Bucktown today I was delighted to see an adorable new facade to the building that used to house Caffe de Luca. It thought it was just downright charming the way they whitewashed the building. Then I peeked in the window and was equally delighted to see that the inside of this new restaurant, Grass Fed (the only entree is grass fed beef), mirrored the outside.

I love the way the facade sticks out -- doesn't it just look like it serves fresh and delicious food?!

  I love the way they divided the dining areas with the open geometric panel and by changing the wall treatment and light fixtures between the spaces.

And the first thing I noticed behind the bar was a dispenser labeled chai burbon -- definitely intrigued.

If you are curious about the current projects we are working on at Blair Friedeman Design, please visit our facebook page!

contrast in accord

Knowing full well that I may sound like a broken record -- one of the key elements to making a room truly special are the details, especially unique ones. This office area is the perfect example of that! It is full of unexpected treatments - from the window treatments featuring four contrasting fabrics and unique tiebacks to the tri-tone walls that make the molding hard to miss!

(interior design by Judi Mills Grossman, as featured in the Fall 2012 Chicago Home + Garden/photography by Nathan Kirkman)

Also love the way she utilized the narrow space alongside the fireplace and the beautiful mix of amber and gray tones.

On the Boards

I have to profess, I love my job! Since opening my own firm I have been very fortunate to be busy with new clients. It has all been a dream come true. One of my favorite parts of being an interior designer are those amazing moments of inspiration. For me those moments often come after lugging (yes, fabric samples get heavy quickly!) home bags of samples from the mart and pinning them up on my board and laying them all over my floor. I could mix and match for hours! The results of todays trip...

 

design crush {collins interiors}

 Kind of crazy about these two spaces by Collins Interiors, both are the breath of fresh air that I need to get through the mid week work hump! I love the gray backsplash tiles, shade fabric, lantern wall fixtures and pretty much everything about this kitchen...

 And now that I work mainly from home I have a whole new appreciation for home offices and am kind of lusting for this one to be mine. How amazing is that chair!?!

 (via Collins Interiors)

entertaining essentials {color craze}

If you love color and playful pieces, these are the outdoor entertaining essentials for you! Chartreuse seems to be everywhere right now and love the fresh and youthful look it creates when paired with other bold colors. 

(1. cb2 tray table, 2. ziggy platter, 3.cotton napkins from west elm, 4. jamie young tealights, 5. Jonathon Adler bird tumblers, 6. floor cushion from Jayson Home and Garden, 7. coasters from Furbish)

moody + mirrors

There are many things to love about Jayson Home and Garden, one of them being the fabulous merchandising - from the selection of products to the enticing in-store vignettes. It comes as no surprise that the home of Devin Kirk, VP of Merchandising for Jayson, not only exudes the brand aesthetic but is a full of one of a kind pieces and flawless styling. 

  The entire space exudes a wonderful moody vibe, particularly the bedroom, and I love the use of floor to ceiling mirrors in the living and sleeping areas. 

Not only do the mirrors make the spaces feel larger but they magnify the impact of the beautiful objects throughout the home.

(via CS Interiors, photos by Nathan Kirkman)

noteworthy + neutral

Just a little proof that classic + neutral spaces can be full of life and anything but humdrum when patterns. pieces and textures are thoughtfully mixed.

(rooms designed by ML Interiors)

fashioning interiors {elie saab}

Elie Saab is hands down my favorite designer -- always elegant but never boring. I loved every piece from the new resort collection, especially this romantic dress laced with bits of blue. The look reminded me very much of this equally stunning interior designed by matthew smyth....

my garden party

What do you do when you find a large piece of pierre frey fabric in your basement? Well, when I did I decided that it was the perfect backdrop for a garden dinner party...

  

 

The tabletop decor a mix of high and low priced pieces. I loved using my great aunts tea caddy as the vessel for the floral arrangement. If you are looking for inspiration for an upcoming event I have posted my favorite event boards over on blair friedeman design, where you can also learn more about our custom event board services. 

currently craving {baubles to beads}

(seagrass headboard, jonathan saunders skirt, coco bead chandelier, beaded gladiators, double knuckle malachite fish ring) 

A Classic Twist

Happy Independence Day! I hope that you are all having a fabulous holiday, staying cool and sporting your red, white and blue. I have to be honest that on most days of the year this patriotic color combination is not a favorite of mine for interiors. However, Katie Ridder's fresh take on this classic combination is warming me up to the palette.

(all images scanned from Katie Ridder's book, rooms)

personal style {the bar}

Alright, I have a confession - I love bars! This is not just because of the delicious cocktail concoctions they produce but they are a wonderfully fun styling opportunity. I think you can tell more about the homeowners personality and aesthetic from there bar area than any other moment or room in a home. Don't agree? Just look at these beautiful ones and tell me you don't instantly understand the bartenders style.

(via at home arkansas, mary macdonlad in house beautiful, sue ellen gregory, unknown and matthew patrick smyth)

mixing it up {farmhouse glam}

If you, like me, love casual dining rooms as well as those dripping with glamour, this dining room is just for you! 

(made goods chandelier, KB Bespoke dining chair, dovetail monticeto dining table, pair of slip covered chairs, vis a vis rug and worlds away console) 

This neutral palette can easily be energized with some boldly colored ginger jars, textiles and artwork -- I will share the accessories I would choose later this week, which include a stunning pair of persimmon jars. You can find more of my dream room boards here.