SAVORING THE DINING ROOM...

Dining rooms are usually the center of the home during the holidays, maybe 3 or 4 times a year. But if you are likely to entertain during any of the other 361 days, the room should still reflect your style.

The main elements to consider besides the table and chairs when designing the dining room are the buffet, lighting, window treatments and an area rug. Everything else is gravy (pun intended). I'm likely to add a mirror to help expand the sense of light and space in a room.

Here are 2 dining rooms that I created for clients who love to entertain....

Check out these designers' spectacular rooms for dining decor inspiration...

Contemporary Dining Room by Gainesville Photographer Morgan Howarth Photography

Contemporary Dining Room by Saskatoon Interior Designer Atmosphere Interior Design Inc.

Traditional Dining Room by Newport Beach Home Builders Spinnaker Development

Contemporary Dining Room by Denver Interior Designer O Interior Design

Traditional Dining Room by Framingham Photographer Mary Prince

Contemporary Dining Room by Cambridge Interior Designer A. Rejeanne Interiors

Contemporary Dining Room by Denver Architect Ashley Campbell Interior Design

Contemporary Dining Room by Houston Photographer JONATHAN CALVERT | Interiors Photographer

Peace and Blessings,

Tammy

Photos courtesy of Tammy Bolden, HOUSEBEAUTIFUL.COM, ELLEDECOR.COM, Houzz.com

THE RISE OF THE MURPHY BED...

Years ago if you needed more space, you'd just move to bigger digs. With the state of the economy as of late, instead of jumping ship we've had to gain more functionality out of our current space. 

I am working on a design project that is a multi-purpose space: a family room, guest room and office. To maximum the space, I designed a built-in Murphy Bed storage/desk unit to accommodate over night guests along the client's office needs...

City dwellers have always known the benefits of this hidden gem (pun intended), especially in the NYC area where limited space is the norm. Since the popularity of Murphy Beds is on the rise in the burbs, I was able to draw inspiration for my design from quite a few sources...

There's a variety of design options available based on style, bed size, finish and of course budget. The sky is the limit for configuration and function. So the next time you are short on space, consider a Murphy Bed for your next multi-purpose room...

Peace and Blessings,

Tammy

CAD DRAWING COURTESY OF BOLD INTERIOR DESIGNS.

LADIES WHO LUNCH: UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES...

Last weekend I attended a phenomenal event dubbed Ladies Who Lunch with Latisha Daring: Unlimited Possibilities, held at the Tribeca Grill Loft in Manhattan. Fashion Designer Latisha Daring created Ladies Who Lunch as an organization that focuses on how women inspire one another, support one another and execute our dreams together. She created the lunch series to cater to women entrepreneurs.

Daring, the designer behind the label Ashtyn, assembled a dynamic group of panelists from a range of disciplines. The panel consisted of style expert Tai Beauchamp; Huffington Post/Black Voices style editor Julee Wilson; owner of Kennedi Price, an organic skincare line for children, Nanci Neffi Walker; politician and museum curator Laurie Cumbo; luxury real estate agent Tanasha Pettigrew; event planner and former music executive Carline Balan; and writer and filmmaker dream hampton (via Skype). 

The Panelists (l to r) Laurie Cumbo, Nanci Walker, Julee Wilson, Tai Beauchamp, Carline Balan, 
and Tanasha Pettigrew.

I was also proud to see the illustrations featured on the printed materials as well as the cupcakes were created by the talented Tamika Blockett whom I met at a similar event this past June. 

Tamika Blockett and Latisha Daring

What made Ladies Who Lunch so special? The energy and camaraderie was almost tangible. It was an intimate afternoon of inspiration and empowerment with influential and dynamic women across a broad spectrum of industries. The guest panelists provided personal anecdotes about their lives and career paths. The 150+ attendees were given the opportunity to mingle and to share their stories with each other.

“Who are you? How will you impact the lives of others? and Faith and Fear cannot exist in the same room!” are some of the profound messages that empowered me to continue exploring my passion and love for design. Life begins when you decide to be fearless! Thank you ladies for the confirmation.  

For more info on Ladies Who Lunch, click here. 

Peace and Blessings,

Tammy

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TAMMY BOLDEN.

TRENDS IN BEDDING...

At the New York International Gift Fair in January, I visited the booths of several bedding vendors looking for inspiration for a client's bedroom project. Now that I've put it out there for the world to know that my bedroom needs help, I'm revisiting some of the offerings of my tried and true favorites for my own space...

ANN GISH:

LEGACY HOME:

JOHN ROBSHAW:

SFERRA:

Click on the designers' name to view more of bedding options on their website. As always, anything you see is available through Bold Interior Designs.

Happy trend spotting...

Peace and Blessings,

Tammy

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TAMMY BOLDEN.

MY POOR NEGLECTED BEDROOM...

I recently read a blog post about the bedroom of a popular Atlanta based designer. To paraphrase, like the cobbler's children with no shoes, she wondered why her bedroom was plain and non-descript.

That prompted me to dredge up feelings about my own bedroom. Although I have a few good elements, its a little lackluster for an interior designer's bedroom. 

The obvious lack of closet space notwithstanding (my house was built in 1919), I'm over the 90s whitewashed oak furniture and the early Millennium green paint color which I don't even remember the name. So I'm looking to other designers' rooms for inspiration...

I think the common thread to each of these rooms is a big luscious bed with beautiful linens and pops of color against a neutral background. I'm thinking I'll do an accent wall of wallpaper. 

Stay tuned and wish me luck...
(No pressure!!)

Peace and blessings,

Tammy

Photos courtesy of Houzz.com

PANTONE COLOR FOR SPRING: NECTARINE...

Last but not least is NECTARINE, a fun and fresh addition to the Pantone Fashion Color Report for Spring 2013. This is a bright, effervescent citrus orange with coral undertone that provides a tangy burst of flavor to this season's palette.

Always nicely paired with blues, its opposite on the color wheel, Nectarine is a great compliment to African Violet as well. Here are several designers interpretation of Nectarine in this season fashions...

Jimmy Choo

BCBG MaxMara

Embellished Maxi Dress by Tibi

Check out how this flavorful color makes its way into home decor and interiors...

Chesterfield Leather Sofa

Lamps for 1st Dibs

Jester Club Chair

Studded Boxes from Z Gallerie

Murano Glass Chandelier

Here are several rooms that have the citrus glow...

Happy trend spotting...

Peace and Blessings,

Tammy

SOME PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELLEDECOR.COM, HOUSEBEAUTIFUL.COM, PANTONE COLOR INSTITUTE.