Letterpress Lust

We all have those little luxuries that we dream about. For me one of them is thick, creamy, letterpress business cards!  AND adorable letterpress stationary.  Here are some sweet samplings from one of my favorite Etsy letterpress shops: Sycamore Street Press. They literally have something for every occasion.

I can't imagine getting this card and not feeling loved!

It is hard to make a card about being in love without treading into SAPPY ZONE.

THIS CARD SUCCEEDS BEAUTIFULLY!!  I love the tenderness, the elegance, and the easy heartfulness. I want one for my husband... and one for myself.

Sometimes there's nothing as cute as made-up numbers, especially when paired with the flourishes of victorian shop lettering.  I love the melding of the childish spirit and the antique style.... all in a charming modern analygous color scheme.

Last, but not least.... tasteful and stylish baby cards! How hard are these to find??

I am delighted by the whimsical but sophisticated font, the "hand-drawn" quality of the leaves, and the warmth and confidence of the orange ink.

When I have a baby, these are the kinds of cards I want to find in my mailbox..... but no time too soon, please.



Enjoy these little treasures, and check out the wealth of other goodies at Etsy.

Logos and Branding

I cooked up this little beauty the other day, and I think it is pretty lovely.  I recently got married and took the plunge of changing my name. It has made me sad to give up the old one, but I'm getting more comfortable with the new one. If I do say so myself, it is kind of a sculpturally attractive name (its shape I mean).

Little Bathroom... With Big Style

My enthusiasm for the rich color pallet of the kitchen has taken up a lot of blog space... and I have neglected to dwell on the bathroom. So it's time you got a little taste of the pie I have had my fingers in all weekend!  That's right... I've been painting! But the job isn't quite done... so enjoy these little nibbles before you see the finished product.

This little photo vignette sums up the color pallet of the bathroom fairly nicely. The walls have been transformed from a dirty beige to a translucent sea-glass green, as pale as a breath of wind. We are preparing to do some dramatic accents in deeeep, deeeeep glossy teal. Talk about a heaping helping of glamor for this little space!

But you know me... if you surround me with all these cool blissful shades, and I need a little punch to spice it up! So, I've purchased a LOVELY miniature saffron rug. Unfortunately, it is not the one pictured (by Madeline Weinrib, whom I idolize). But it is perfect in its own way.

Also added a saffron elephant statue from India for that exotic "trade winds" ethos... and it works!

So that's a little glimpse of the future for the bathroom. Final shots should be on their way once we install a new sink vanity.

Cheers Darlings ~

"The Main Attraction" Barber Shop Design Project

Aside from my own little house projects, I am currently redesigning a local Savannah, GA Barber Shop called The Main Attraction. 

It is a "by men, for men" kind of space. The owner expressed a vague possibility that they could make it a salon for ladies as well, but it seems incongruous with both his passion and the space itself. Therefore, I am going to push the manly aesthetic forward with a very strong concept.

Thinking about the ethos of barbershops has pushed my mind in all kinds of new design inspiration directions. When I think about a space dedicated to making men "the Main Attraction", I think about warm worn leathers, rich tartan wool, the crispness of Old Spice, cut glass tumblers full of amber liquids, and the effortless classiness of Ralph Lauren.

So right now that is where my vision is heading... Let's make this barber shop so decadently manly that the gentlemen in our lives want to go get their hair cut instead of going to the bar when they need that special boost of luxury and relaxation.

Color Selection is a Labor of Love

The decisions are made.... but the rubble left behind speaks to the complicated process of selecting just the right color.  It is neither easy nor effortless, even for the most practised. The more you examine color under varied light sources and in different rooms, the stronger your sense of successful color choices will become.  And for the love of all that is creative, don't just give up and settle for beige!

Some More Obsessions Over Pink!

One of my very favorite style and color forcasters (stylesight.com) has pointed out that, "Lovers of beauty favor pink and this season it is present for all genders."

Of course it is refering primarily to the fashion scene (P.S. wonder how things are going in Bryant Park right now?), but I think it is ringing true in my own home right now. I am going on about, but it is just TOO fantastic to leave alone!

This is a Behr (great stuff) paint chip. Up in the top right hand corner you can see the color of my kitchen: Sweet Nothing.  The accent wall will be in "Glazed Raspberry".... which is pictured here, but the colors do not read accurately on the computer screen. AT ALL. There is nothing purple about it....

Valentines Day Blues

Let's face it and be honest... pink and red are overrated as Valentines Day trademarks.  As they say, it is the thought that counts.  So why not think romantically in shades of deep, soul searching sapphire?

I have summed up my feelings about Valentines Day this year with the glamorous styling of Phyllis Posnick, the drama of Irving Penn, the sumptuous sexiness of Brooks Brothers pajamas, the swank of vintage, and the glitz of Cartier. Piacere cosi belli, mi amici! (Enjoy beautiful things, my friends.)

More "BEFORE"

Again... buckle your seat belts... today you get a sneak peak into the disastrous corners of my bathroom. Here are the "BEFORE PICTURES" of that tiny little space, and some fortuitous visions for its future.

BATHROOM BEFORE

The bathroom is tres, tres tiny! But it does have lovely blue tiling on the tub and floor. This solitary winning feature has inspired me to go with a rich blue pallet, punctuated by Indian and Moroccan Safron elements. The whole place should have a feeling of a tiled Moroccan palace in the end.

We also have a great problem with storage. Hopefully this will be remedied by the installation of a sink with an undercabinet.

And that is the state of the bathroom!

I'm giddy to dive into filling these pages with glorious color and my dreams and visions for the happy endings of these sad spaces.

Kitchen "BEFORE" Pictures.... Brace Yourselves!

This is the moment I have been dreading. The posting of the "Before" Pictures. Yuck. I hate to reveal the ugly truth... but I'm excited about where all of it is heading. So, check out the mayhem, but make sure to come back for the end result.

KITCHEN

The walls are in a terrible state because the former owner painted acrylic over oil based paint: peeling and chipping insued.

As you can see in the second image, we are installing new counter tops. Thus... we have no kitchen sink and no dishwasher. The date for installation is set for Tuesday the 16th!! Whoohooo!!

You can see, however, that we have made some improvements. We replaced the original lynoleum with tile. We replaced the hideous/cheap cabinet doors and tacky hinges with handcrafted maple doors by Jim Marshall of North Georgia. Compare the above image to the one below....

 

Yikes!!

Lastly..... eww. I hate this light. It is too small, too dark, and too heavy for the space. I considered painting it something brilliant (blue or orange), but no. It just has to go. We have already purchased its replacement.

This one is much more chic and sleek.
The brushed nickel will compliment the hardware on the cabinets, and its brightness will enliven and illuminate the long, narrow space.



So that's where we stand.

I have purchased the paint and the fabric for the curtains.... within a few weeks everything should come together.

It is a large task... but the end result will be absolutely delightful!

Portfolio CD Case.... The Final Result

As per promised... the final result of my Portfolio CD Case! Taa Daa!

I used home decor fabrics, velvet ribbon, double ply bristol board, and high quality Italian paper for these folios. Once again, if anyone has need of such a thing in their own business, I'd be happy to oblige.

Note: On the left wing of the Folio, the frame is open at the top and can be used to insert a photo, note, or informational booklet. I choose to leave it empty in these pictures.

Cheers to all!

Putting on my Business-Woman Hat

I am working on designing a delux portfolio CD and accompanying album that can be mailed to clients.

For decorating projects, there are (roughly) two general types of clients:

• Those who shy away from color, but want an interior designer to achieve that extra touch of opulence, elegance, and panche.
• 
  
  
  Those who want to spice up their lives, and need someone who knows how to boss color around and make it work on many levels.

   

        

SOooooo.... I have designed two different portfolios in order to appeal to both types.  The finished product is still in the works, but I have selected my materials, developed my concept, and PhotoShopped my CD Label. Check them out below.... and if anyone wants me to make something similar for their own business, just let me know! You know where to find me! blschermerhorn@gmail.com

A Preview of What's to Come...

Welcome to "Blair by Blair."  I am Blair Kawa, and this is my foray into blogging about what I do best: Design. Here I will track the progress of real and current projects for your viewing (and perhaps even educational?) pleasure. Some things for you to look out for in the future....

1) We are renovating a sad 1960's kitchen with careful/economical choices (plus one extravagant splurge worth every penny). We will spice up the space with delicious splashes of color and some swanky curtains of my own creation. Stay tuned for the PHOTOGRAPHIC PLAY by PLAY of the action.
2) We'll also be giving my ity bity bathroom the same make-over treatment.

Some side projects that also might tickle your fancy....

1) How to make a luxurious CD Portfolio Case that will wow any client or even a potential boss
2) How to turn a boring bedroom into a glamorous haven by creating your own UPHOLSTERED HEADBOARD.

Life is too short not to be filled with beauty. Please come back often to be inspired by the little things that go a long way.

Cheers,

Blair Kawa