30 January 2010

Staying Warm in Michigan!!!

Staying warm in Michigan is a feat unto itself at this time of year, the temperature varies between 6 degrees and 40 degrees on any given day. So we tend to look for inside activities unless we are very brave and looking to face the elements such as going up north to ski or snowmobile. My son-in-law with friends has chosen to spend this past week in a cabin in the UP snowmobiling. I must say that I have never ventured further than Boyne Mountain for skiing this time of year. And skiing is usually done with frequent trips in for hot chocolate, white bean chili and later in the day, a good glass of red wine. So what do we do the rest of the time, we look around our homes and decide that we need to make changes. The easiest change, of course, is to rearrange furniture or accessories, getting a bit more adventurous, trying a new shade of paint. Paint is the cheapest way to give a room a totally different look. Listened to a webinar sponsored by Benjamin Moore paints just the other day, talking about color forecasting for 2010. Interesting always to hear their takes on where trends are taking us---they talked about order in our lives- a return to bright primary colors--a look at ethereal spiritual colors represented by tones of white, beiges, grays---and a tribal look, heartening to golds, terracotta, earth-colors that make us feel safe, secure, hugged. These are the same colors that I am seeing expressed in fabrics- a look at introductions by Kravet, F. Schumacher or Vervain reveal that all to quickly. Even in my studio these days, I have taken to color adding from Sherwin-Williams a bold green SW6423 rye grassto accent one wall and to another, Sherwin-Williams, SW6486 reflecting pool. They have proven just the thing to brighten a dreary day- feels good to be thinking of Spring and anticipating an end to winter.

13 January 2010

Let me introduce you to a few of my favorite books

I have always been an avid reader. Even while watching TV, I most likely will have a book or magazine, in hand, multi-tasking has always been a specialty of mine. We all have old favorites that we go back, if not to read, at least to think about in same manner. My all-time favorite from childhood is Peter Pan, convinced that I could fly, I even attempted so from the top of the stairs in my childhood home. Somewhere, only a mother's hearing can hear, she heard me yell: I'm flying! Mom was there for the landing. The Secret Garden was another childhood favorite with the much-read Little Women. That is when I knew that I wanted to be an interior designer. I could so vividly picture those rooms in their home, the girls around Marmee at night, listening to Jo's stories. We took a family trip years ago to Massachusetts and I forced my parents to indulge me with a side trip to visit Louisa May Alcott's home in Concord . It was just as I imagined it. That is one of the most valuable tools of a designer, the ability to imagine and interpret the abstract. Many more books hold a treasured spot in my memory but those are the ones that bring my childhood to life. As to interior design inspiration, I am constantly in search for lush books that help me explain to clients where we are headed with their designs, books that for whatever reason, tug at my heart and mind for inspiration. Charles Faudree's beautiful books lead the parade of fabulous sources for me, his latest books is a gem. Another great series of books are by Francophile Betty Lou Phillips. Check those out for starters at Amazon.comPeter Pan (100th Anniversary Edition)The Secret GardenLittle Women (Signet Classics). I'll introduce you to more as we go on.....

Habitually Chic™: Parisian Perfection

Habitually Chic™: Parisian Perfection

Habitually Chic

Habitually Chic

Posted using ShareThis

11 January 2010

What's For Dinner?

In working on my blog today, I found this website The Bitten Word, see the link below. Great find, great food- in fact, I'm trying out the vinegar glossed chicken with oven roasted vegetables tonight. Will let you know how it turns out? Looks quite wonderful.

09 January 2010

What are you looking for in design?

My mission today is to find out what you are looking for in design for your home. Please share your thoughts...what have you been searching for and not finding...what interests you in furnishings, colors, textures...you name it, we'll discuss it or better yet, see if we are able to help you find it. You know it's out there, just don't know where to start looking!

New Sightings!

08 January 2010

Huntington Woods Cape Cod house is full of surprises | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Huntington Woods Cape Cod house is full of surprises | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Hello....Here we go....I'm blogging.....Let me introduce myself, I am Patti Kommel, an interior designer and owner of Homework Interiors with over twenty-five years of experience. We are a full service interior design studio and stocking dealer for numerous home furnishings and accessories displayed in room settings to further help you make decisions for your home. The blog has come about from spending the holidays at home and working or obsessing about business. I usually am on a family vacation for the holidays---the whole family...sisters-in-law...nieces..nephews...my daughter- this is an annual present from the world's greatest mother-in-law to keep us all connected who comes along and relished every minute of these trips. We have been to many exotic places over the last ten year. This year, with my daughter newly married, we chose to stay home and spend time getting to better know my new son-in-law and his family. We had a great time. But usually, I will take one or two days while we are on vacation and sort out the year- business and personal. They too often are intertwined. This year, I kept the studio open while I was home and spent much more time revamping and thinking how to tweak business in the coming year.
So hence the blogging...which started out as an occasional Facebook page utterance from Homework Interiors...please check us out there as well or are website at www.homeworkinteriors.net
Business has been challenging and rewarding this past year. Changes have occurred across the board for clients, manufacturers, suppliers and service people. This economy has left nothing unaffected in its' wake. Like the tsunami, from a few years ago, we have all been hit in some manner. From furniture delays, frames discontinued, mills going out of business, factories closing down, there is no industry or person who hasn't been effected in same manner, good or bad.
I am vowing this year to concentrate on the positives. We are all leaner, meaner and hopefully softer, gentler then a year ago at this time.
Our homes have definitely become our refuge, our nest, our escape from the realities. We are spending more time at home or near home and we all have had plenty of opportunity to look around and see what needs to be done. We are all looking to be more selective, more informed consumers.
That is why interior design is such a good value. As an interior designer, we help you become selective, informed and valued. We help you make the correct decision the first time around, saving you money and time in the long run. I think that we are all about the value but we should be equally concerned about the quality. We help sort through all these desires to fit the best value and quality to your needs.
With this blog and my website, I hope to expose you to the vast array of selections to choose from in furnishings as well as insights from associates, inspirations, mentors, whatever strikes my fancy or more importantly yours.