Las Vegas Market, Fall 2009

Kathy and I just returned from the September market in Vegas. Being there only for two days (between Studio 5 shows), we had a lot of ground to cover. High Point is the big market for furniture dealers and designers, however, the Vegas market has many accessory and lighting vendors so it's worth a short trip to see what's new in person. Here were a few of my favorite finds - pardon the lousy camera shots.

mini-crystal chandelier and sconces from Robert Abbey - almost Deco and so beautiful!


have I mentioned before that I love Venetian mirrors - this size was so unusual and so glam

antique books re-bound in blue and ivory leather and printed with vintage calligraphy - so great for bookshelf filler!

this vignette at Global Views was so great looking! It felt like a scene from Pillow Talk

my favorite market find - a silver leafed stump lamp at Arteriors - you have to see it to believe it. $600 each? I'll have a pair, thank you!

this picture isn't great - but we ordered a pair of these preserved boxwood planters - they are about 20" tall and the perfect indoor accessory for those who kill live plants. they look ten times cooler in person

Market was ALL about white, cream, flax and grey & greenery. This display captures it all - we saw so much reclaimed wood, white-washed teak, 'salvaged' pieces of everything from light fixtures to coffee tables, etageres, and so much more. If you've seen recent issues of Restoration Hardware you'll know what I mean. It's a really striking look - but in my opinion - pretty hard to implement. First, you'd have to eliminate anything with ornate pattern or too much color, including artwork, accessories and furniture that was too fancy. If you had a one-room apartment and the will to do it, it's fabulous...and makes a GREAT display, but how would you design a whole house this way? Where is the interest? And what about the need for rich color, seasonal displays or any softness? Here are some pics from RH.

I'd be remiss not to mention our most fabulous accommondations at the Bellagio. Who knew the hotel has such fabulous pools behind? I'd only ever paid attention to the fountains and the fabulous atrium garden. Here's the view from our room where we probably only spent ten hours in two days. If only we'd had time to lounge!

Outing with Niki, Blythe, and the boys!

After market and the shows wrapped yesterday, I was thrilled to meet up with Blythe and Niki for a quick bite downtown. They are two of my dearest friends dating back to freshman year at college and even though I see them on average only every few years, I LOVE them and feel like we'll always be in touch. As of three weeks ago (and a year ago for Nik), they both have darling baby boys. What beautiful mothers they've become! I decided they represent all that is good and desirable about being a mother... still v. active, conversational, and fashion forward to name a few.

Find Your Style: Home Decor

This week I was invited to do two segments on KSL for the "Home Decor" week... part of "Find your Style" month on Studio 5. Brooke and Darrin invited three designers to fill out the theme with segments on identifying current styles, finding your own style, and incorporating your style using what you have.

Click to see the segments that Natalee and Angela did.

My segment Tuesday focused on getting deeper into the differences between the five current styles I identified: Transitional, Mountain Traditional, Coastal, Contemporary, and European.

You can click here to view the page and video on Studio 5's website - or watch from here (and read my article below)

With great local boutiques and online access to thousands of furniture, accessory and bedding resources, these days it seems overwhelming to design your own tasteful, personalized spaces - there are just too many options! The problem is not that we can't finding things we love, it's that when we start combining those things… we can end up with something a little off, a little too, je ne sais quoi, eclectic?

Here is a list of the most current styles right now. With a few resources and tips to get you started, you'll be able to identify your style and suddenly, your rooms and spaces will become pulled together and cohesive.

Transitional
Transitional seems to be the "in" word these days in the design world. Simply, transitional is a twist on classic traditional design. In this style you'll see the use of very traditional and enduring furniture in tables, hutches, and accent pieces. The transitional twist is to pair these pieces with upholstered furniture that is covered in lighter-colored (mostly neutral) and more current fabrics. In this style we see the use of color in bold strokes, either by throwing dramatic toss pillows on a neutral sofa or using a patterned upholstered headboard that pops against an otherwise all white bedroom. To finish things off, transitional spaces use current accessories, such as mirrored furniture, metallic accents, glass objects, things that are eye-catching and spark conversation.

Mountain Traditional
As much as we don't like to admit, Utahns have a reputation for being a little slower to trend and more hesitant toward change. Many Utah homes are the same way! There is still a very strong trend toward what I call "Mountain Traditional", a style that combines cabin living with high traditional design. Here we'll see darker wood-stained furniture, heavy casegood pieces (casegood is design-speak for "tables, dressers, chests, hutches, etc., wood furniture), rich and heavy fabrics on sofas, drapery, rugs and bedding that is often deep colors of red, gold, sage, and other warm dark tones. You'll often see the use of accessories and details like tasteful antlers or fur, antique leather books, worn brass lamps and fixtures that finish off the style.

Coastal
Alongside Transitional, Coastal style is very big right now. "Coastal" is the new "cottage." Most of the country lives too far from the coast to have authentic beach-homes, however, we're seeing elements of this style used all over the country! This style is simply categorized with the use of lighter color palettes. Whitewashed or muted painted cabinets or casegoods, heavy white millwork in baseboards and crown molding, and the use of light wall colors are key identifiers. Instead of heavy fabrics, Coastal style lends itself to natural fibers and softer, washed fabrics… think jute rugs, linen upholstery, sheer gauze-like drapery, and overall less formality in design. The trick to staying away from too "romantic" or "cottage-y" of a space is to choose your furniture and upholstery with cleaner lines and shapes in mind. Cut out the fussy and ornate carvings, too much appliqué, and other overly feminine details.

Contemporary
For those who love the feel of loft-living or more industrial spaces, Contemporary is your style. This design style is categorized by the use of concrete floors or countertops and other hard surfaces, metal accents in furniture and accessories, abstract pattern in fabrics, and overall more bold design choices. Contemporary can be difficult because many people think anything goes - and that is certainly a misconception! Be careful to choose pieces that are still complimentary of one another. Those who love contemporary are drawn toward more minimalistic design and furniture that has strong square lines and dramatic features. Color wise we see both the use of very strong bold hues working together or very little color at all - the key is in the shapes and the feel evoked as a whole.

European (French/English)
The European style is probably the most enduring style of all. Think of very traditional elements using antiques in furniture, accessories and art. Fabrics that coincide with this style are classically paired, various layers of texture and color in large-scale florals and toiles combined with smaller-scaled checks and gingham patterns. Pastoral or floral artwork and wallpaper are used often in this style. Look for rich use of color in true primary tones like cherry red, royal blue, and colonial yellow. Tables, chairs and other wood pieces are typically finished in a medium stain or painted in historically muted tones.

Find Your Style: Relationship Advice

What a great idea to bring design and relationships together! Today's segment featured Studio 5's relationship contributor Matt Townsend as he talked candidly with us about 'struggles' couples face where their own home design is concerned. It was a blast to be a part of such a fun piece. Click here to watch or click "play" below.

I totally forgot you "go" here!?

Today after the show wrapped I went straight to the airport to catch a flight to the furniture market in Vegas for a couple days. I had a voicemail from Tessa saying she was in Vegas flying to SLC on her way to Montana. I had a feeling it was all too good to be true. But sure enough, our time at the SL airport overlapped and, due to my plane's delay, we spent nearly two hours visiting and sipping dc. Talk about a perfect and once-in-a-blue-moon occurance!

When we finally said our goodbyes, I asked the nice gentleman seated next to us to snap a quick picture. Since he basically listened to us gab for two hours, I thought I'd give him a little background. Here's me: "Would you take a picture for us? You see, we're sisters, and we didn't even know we'd be here at the same time, isn't t that so funny? Yeah, I know, it is! AND, look at us, we're both wearing pink scarves too!" He took off pretty quickly after that. whatever. Then I said, "to the blog!"

Oh Tessie-poo - I love you! So great to layover with you!

Happy Birthday, Ben!

Don't you just love when your birthday falls on a weekend day, especially a Saturday? Ben's 29th birthday was today and I'm thinking he had a pretty perfect day.

We went to breakfast at this quaint little joint down the road, the "Silver Summit Cafe" - ok, it is a gas station cafe. But it's V. good. Then we came back for pre-game / game-day, whatever you call it on ESPN. Then five hours later it became lunch time... so we went back out. This time to the Windy Ridge Cafe near downtown Park City. I haven't been there in a few years but really liked the food and the ambiance of the outside patio. Perfect lunch splurge for a birthday.

Then, home for the BYU v. Tulane game... with constant switches back and forth to the televised PGA event. So many games, so little time!

Because most of the day he hung out with me, I tried to give him the "happy birthday" fanfare at least once every hour. To make him feel like he was sharing the day with more than me. After all, can you ever get sick of people wishing you happy birthday? In this case, maybe yes.

For dinner we drove into Salt Lake and met up with Matt & McCall at PF Changs. After competing with the Greek Festival-goers, the SL Dine o'Round, and too many high schoolers (who looked like 6th graders) having their pre-homecoming meals, we finally got a parking spot and a table, and had the most wonderful meal. Being treated to dinner is such a...treat! Complete with appetizers, many entrees, and three desserts? wow!

That's the last time I ask a valet guy to snap a picture.

Can you guess what we did once we got home? More ESPN... gotta catch the post-game wrap-up, right? I like to think I'm tolerant of Ben's channels, especially if I have other things to occupy me... laptop, design mag, long chats with sisters/mom, etc., but finally I said, "TOO much ESPN"! Enough is enough.

Happy Birthday Uncle Boo!

A Sad, Sad Day

First Blueprint closed, then Domino. I recently found out that Southern Accents magazine is closing. Is someone playing a dirty trick on me?! This is horrible news. I'm still completely deflated.

SA has been the magazine I most anticipate. So much of my design style and influences came from living in the South (my family was there ten years) and SA was not only a much-needed tie to that very memorable period of my life but also a source of continual inspiration unmatched by other design publications.

I hope that some higher power will bring Southern Accents back as soon as possible... until then, I guess I'll have my tearsheets.

My Color Personality

To employ some relaxation tips myself, I took some time to wind down with the latest issue of House Beautiful. I've been working with a client lately and we're focusing primarily on color... paint color, wall color, stain color... she's moving into a house and wants everything re-done.

Color can be tough. I want to become known as a designer who has a gift with color. As it stands I feel competent - but there's always room for improvement, especially when your goal is mastery!

Some people take the quiz in Vogue or Cosmo - for me today, it was the HB Color Personality quiz. Here's what it said:

Numerology Key to Your Color Personality - L+A+U+R+E+N...
Blue - Optimistic, empathetic, flexible, idealistic, tranquil, patient, devoted. A natural mother. (may I say that I love the "natural mother" part?)

Colorstrology - find out the color of your birthday and what it says about you...

December: Pagoda Blue (dark teal) Wisdom, Truth, Vision

17th: Purple Sage (grayed violet) Perceptive, Deep, Strong

My Color "Season" -- Hello Spring!

"Select colors that look like they were bathed in sunlight. You receive compliments in bright colors: watermelon, turquoise, salmon" (hmm?)

My "Colortime" - uses classic colors lifted from nature, ala, "sunrise", "sunset"

Sunrise: "Your decorating palette veers toward cool colors and is inspired by the natural elements of air and water. It literally sparkles with jewel and royal tones of amethyst, orchid, emerald, royal blue, and prism pink. Cool gray, rose-beige, and mauvey-taupe are good neutrals for you. Your best white is pure-as-the-driven-snow white."

And finally -

Be Relaxed: Studio 5 Segment

Today I went back to KSL to record a live segment on Studio 5. The show's theme this month is "Be Relaxed" - and my segment revolved around ways to relax in the bedroom. We talked about design tips and techniques along with various products and concepts that evoke sensory reactions. I displayed three different nightstands; each with its own decor and products/accessories.

I had a wonderful time, again! I'm thrilled to be a part of the show and excited to return in September for the "Find Your Style" week featuring Home Decor.

Dalmatians - saw them. loved them. found them. want them.

I saw this great feature in the latest issue of Coastal Living magazine and while the entire house is very cool - I fell in love with the pair of dalmatians in the window. What a great find! I love whimsical pieces like these. I thought they were one-of-a-kind. A few weeks later I visited Wisteria and to my great suprise - dalmatians! A Wisteria exclusive.

If I do get them I think I'll have to get a pair. Don't you think they're cuter that way? I do. But I'm a twin, after all.

Girls Camp 2009

Last Tuesday I drove up to the Heber Valley Camp for a day at Girls' Camp. I am our ward's Personal Progress coordinator... what a fun calling. Had I known what the camp was like and how much the girls in our ward/stake were into what was going on, I would have stayed much longer. The Heber Valley Camp is a project that was inspired by President Hinckley and is an amazing development used by the young women's organization only. Each of the eight campsites has separate pavillions, kitchens, cabins and ampitheaters for each stake, at least six stakes per campsite. I heard there were over 3,000 girls there the week we camped and we never saw another group. Driving up there I thought I was driving to the top of the world. You'd never know it exisited, nestled on the far side of Heber on the other side of the moutain range. As I pulled up to the entrance for the camp, (picture something as grand as the Jurassic Park visitors center - the only comparison I can think of), there were huge banners hanging in sequence down the driveway. Each waved a color of the various young women value colors. It may sound stupid but the sight made me teary-eyed. The flags were larger than life and the colors were so vivid. What a great inspiration for President Hinckley to have had and what a great effect is is having on the young women in the church.

I was there from sun-up to lights out. The girls did a craft session making bows and colorful clippies for a program called "Smiles for Guatemala" - what a great organization. Later we went on a hike down to the lake for some canoeing and paddle-boating. Picture 100 girls pushing off their canoes at the same time, on a small shoreline... priceless! Almost as priceless as those not-so-patient senior missionaries that were assigned to direct the activity. We were told not to stand up in our canoes as it causes serious capsizing... well a few girls stood up anyway. We all hear loudly from the lookout tower, over a bullhorn of course, "SIT DOWN you naughty, naughty girls!!!" - so hilarious. They weren't our girls, of course.




Later we were in charge of our own dutch oven dinners - also an experience. By that time we were so hungry we ate it anyway, despite the slightly charred flavoring. That evening we walked up to a secluded ampitheater for a devotional. The speaker was Sister Cook from the General Young Women's Presidency. She is an inspirational woman. I sat looking around thinking that I was probably getting as much out of her words as the girls it was intended for. I felt like a young woman again. Sister Cook is from Park City and said that when she's out speaking across the world and refers to the examples of righteous young women, she is thinking of the Park City stake girls. "You are my girls", she said. How wonderful for them to hear.

When it was dark the stake did an activity called "singing trees" - where each ward's girls and leaders bring flashlights and surround a tree of their choice. The groups are all spread out across an area and it is pitch black. Each ward has a predetermined hymn to sing and an order in which to sing, and it remains totally dark except for the tree where the ward is singing, where flashlights shine up the tree trunks to illuminate the tree. It was so cool! We could see only the light in the treetops and hear beautiful voices!

The young women in our Silver Creek ward are tremendous examples of real girls living righteously amidst the trials of teenage life. They are energetic, outgoing, lively and comical girls!

Bear Lake 2009

Ben and I went to the annual Bitner family reunion at Bear Lake over Pioneer Day. Grandma and Grandpa rent condos for everyone for the whole week - but some of us (who have day jobs) couldn't get away until Thursday night. Hey, we'll take what we can get! We drove up to Bear Lake and Ben had to be dropped off at the course. He played at least three rounds in four days.

We had a great time despite some stormy and breezy weather. Not so great water for boating but the setting is so pretty anyway it didn't bother me much. I didn't take many pictures but I'll post what I've got.


The Ideal Beach Resort is like a cross between the resort in the movie "Dirty Dancing" and the camp in "Parent Trap" - it's kinda like going back in time. In the evenings we'd sit around on this giant lawn in the middle of the condos and play lawn games.