Office Update

If you follow me on Instagram, you might've have already caught wind of the fact that I've been giving my office a much-needed facelift. It's the room that I spend the most time in and it desperately needed to function better. For too many moons there was no effective storage in the space. After listing out my wants and needs, I tinkered with unit design. And finally after working on the project for months (in the start-stop fashion that I do everything at Chez Knight these days),  I had a cabinet unit installed at the end of May. Shortly thereafter it was lacquered and Thibaut's Etosha wallpaper went up. The lacquer was color-matched to the wallpaper so I don't have a formula name/code to provide. Here's a look at the current state:

This shot shows a bit of my organized chaos...

Also, I got my battered old Eames Time Life chair recovered in a Quadrille design that was printed on Perennials indoor/outdoor fabric...

I'm also having a massive custom desk built (that will be over 7' long) and I can't wait to get that into the room. My current desk is a hand-me-down from my parents and it just doesn't offer enough desktop space. I need to be able to spread out the samples, plans, and paperwork that consistently litter my world. SO excited to get my desk...hopefully it will be ready next week.

Other factors that I'm still figuring out are the hardware, artwork, rug and lighting. I'll drill down on those things in another post though so this one doesn't drag on and on.

So, that's where I am with my half-baked office! What do you think so far?

Media Cabinet Unit Solutions

One of the things in my house that irks me is the media cabinet unit in our den. First off, I hate that the TV is left exposed. I'm one of those people that believes in concealing electronics when they're not in use. I'll spare you the nitty gritty details, but basically there is no good way to add doors. After pow-wowing with several carpenters, I've found that any potential solution is annoyingly expensive and doesn't produce the truly desired outcome.

And besides the doors-over-the TV-section issue, there are other problems with the current unit. The door lineup in the center section of the unit is not symmetrical (and I worship at the church of symmetry). Plus, the whole thing was made during the era of tube TVs so it has a super deep cavity in the center, which of course, is no longer necessary with the super thin flat-panel options we have these days.

Here are some shots of imperfect piece...

One day, our unit will get ripped out and replaced. And when that day comes, I'll employ the magic of the sliding bookcase in the new cabinetry plan. The sliding bookcases will conceal the TV - pure genius, right?!? Well, I can't take credit...I spotted the setup in the following Grange Furniture ad:

The genius TV-hiding solution is brought to you in modular form by Grange. They sell some great-looking Modular Units that allow buyers to put together configurations that meet their needs. Besides the sliding bookcases, I'm also obsessed with the library ladder + rail option that Grange offers...

As you'll see below, Grange has caters to many aesthetics and its modular units can work in almost any room thanks to the variety of thoughtful customization options...

I'm a huge fan of the drop-down desk! It provides storage and a workspace that can be neatly concealed...

Such a KILLER wardrobe/closet - the black with contrast trim is perfect...

Grange's modular units sure beat the pants off of most modular cabinet unit options, don't they? I'm obsessed and have it on my list to go investigate further. Apparently Grange is represented at a showroom here in Big D...was news to me! I'll report back with any interesting findings. I'm super curious about the price range and how it compares to custom.

Blue Kitchen Cabinets

White cabinetry in kitchens has been popular for quite a few years now. As much as I love the clean, classic look, I'm starting to feel like all of these white kitchens look the same. I'd have the same reaction if fashion designers kept sending white oxford shirts down the runway season after season (even though I love white oxford shirts).

There are a variety of ways to add color and interest to an all white kitchen including easy additions like rugs or bold countertop accessories. For the more daring, however, safe white paint is disregarded and color is brought into the space through richly-hued tile or painted cabinets. Since I'm hungry for a different look, I've been noticing non-white cabinetry lately. And since I'm obsessed with blue, I've really been loving the blue cabinetry I keep seeing. Here are some examples of how many shades of blue can work in a kitchen...

Image via Lonny Magazine

Design by Miles Redd, image via Elle Decor

Jennifer Lopez's home, image via Veranda

Image via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine

Image via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine

Image via House to Home

Design by McGill Design Group

Design by McGill Design Group

Design by McGill Design Group

Design by McGill Design Group

Design by Terra Cotta Properties

Design by Terra Cotta Properties

Design by Terra Cotta Properties

Design by Terra Cotta Properties

Image via Design Galleria

Design by Jeffrey Bilhuber

Design by Steven Gambrel

What do you think of blue cabinetry? Would you ever want it in your kitchen?

Entry Obsession

I've become infatuated with the entry below designed by Colleen McGill. I love the dramatic effect of the dark mirror over the white wall paneling...the cherry on top is that killer lucite console table. I'm also seriously digging the bubbly pendant light hanging overhead. To die for, isn't it?

Via Style at Home, Photo by Donna Griffith

This first photo is from Style at Home and the feature is all about Winter Whites, so the home is styled with that theme in mind. As I've mentioned before, white is among my favorite colors, so that way is my personal pick. In the following shots, there's not as much contrast going on.

Colleen heads up McGill Design Group and as you'll gather from the portfolio shots below, she is quite a talent. She is clearly willing and able to execute a wide variety of styles. Despite the variance in styles, all of McGill's projects impart the same smart, luxurious feeling. There are so many moves and methods to admire, but I am especially impressed with the outstanding millwork and thoughtful cabinetry used throughout her projects. She obviously has a strong appreciation for architectural details and completely understands how they can be implemented to elevate a room.

All photos above from McGill Design Group

Hope you've enjoyed the tour of my favorite rooms from Colleen's portfolio! Head over to the McGill Design Group site to see the whole gamut.  Lots of great inspiration for those who love neutral palettes. 

Did you have any favorite rooms or elements? If so, do tell. After seeing her work, I'm completely convinced that I need more oversized, full-length mirrors in my house...at minimum, I want one in our entry.

Have a great weekend!