Makeover Winner & Something Very "More"

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjnGKrU4mlctZ-xSgrL6ImjoB_nQt9iToWG9NNAPQBSBCsd2xk5x2MXFtbDGJ6WcXAy_wXKOhPz1tIwJqviFN79cWiIrB3vlagrBJjYSB7-1wqufJ-gqf7NpAhcbW-OsByPAehqgdh9EL/s1600-h/100_4131.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448141311437867570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjnGKrU4mlctZ-xSgrL6ImjoB_nQt9iToWG9NNAPQBSBCsd2xk5x2MXFtbDGJ6WcXAy_wXKOhPz1tIwJqviFN79cWiIrB3vlagrBJjYSB7-1wqufJ-gqf7NpAhcbW-OsByPAehqgdh9EL/s640/100_4131.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a> You may remember the generous giveaway Debra of <a href="http://www.5thandstate.blogspot.com/2010/03/makeover-winner-and-blogger-plea.html">5th and State</a> offered last month - an <a href="http://www.mynottinghill.blogspot.com/2010/02/giveaway-exterior-makeover-of-your-home.html">exterior makeover</a> of your home. Debra invited myself, Lauren of <a href="http://www.purestylehome.blogspot.com/">Pure Style Home</a> and Deborah of <a href="http://www.boxwoodterrace.blogspot.com/">Boxwood Terrace</a> to be the judges. Debra had narrowed down the choices to 10 and the winner is Gay of Michigan! At the time, Debra only shared the photos with us but here is a little more about Gay's story:<br />"We purchased this house in September 2009 after we found out my husband has leukemia. With the chemo we needed to simplify our lives. This 100+ year old Plain Jane does nothing for us on the outside. I would love to see a porch, plantings for birds, and an interesting landscape in winter..... Color? I am open. Personally I am drawn to an urban country style, more hip and updated."<br /><br />As Debra began to work with Gay, more of her story unfolded. Here is the "more" in Debra's own words:<br /><br />"But something else has developed that I did not expect, something profound that could be life changing. Her darling husband needs a bone marrow transplant and there are no matches in the data base, not even his children...A curse I possess..........well, maybe a curse.......is that I am a "fixer". Always wanting to jump in and help, to fix, to make-better. And you know what? Maybe I can and maybe YOU can too...As the blogging community we can spread the word and REALLY help...<br />Joining the National Bone Marrow Registry. Go <a href="http://www.marrow.org/"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">here</span></a> to look up and to sign up. I did and it took 10 minutes of my time. You can offer to donate or for free they will send you a test kit containing a swab to rub inside your cheek of which you return.<br />And...........imagine the magic if we found a match......the best "giveaway" ever. Are you in?<br />Blessings, Debra" <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0v29dvRe6AfBe1WHByq9OROq0dV-JpvrQuGktvPj2DbG-RA2uxg1WiVE06HORJ8Ez9S0_TpVdZrPWVaOxGVgVXsMkTwQtC-Rp0W3Wi5O2j36sFCiq7mJS_gV3-MlD6GWynS4Be9caDAX8/s1600-h/blog_pix2_jpgNEW2222XXXXX.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448141985310380626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0v29dvRe6AfBe1WHByq9OROq0dV-JpvrQuGktvPj2DbG-RA2uxg1WiVE06HORJ8Ez9S0_TpVdZrPWVaOxGVgVXsMkTwQtC-Rp0W3Wi5O2j36sFCiq7mJS_gV3-MlD6GWynS4Be9caDAX8/s400/blog_pix2_jpgNEW2222XXXXX.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 164px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>

Makeover Winner & Something Very "More"

You may remember the generous giveaway Debra of 5th and State offered last month - an exterior makeover of your home. Debra invited mysel...

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Kelley Proxmire's Lobby Reno & the Ones to Watch awards.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFy-kr9BA7sHyWUPuS5g2gsYPkz6I8-NrSxl6bLm9xi6y8PFsKbkb7cnEPWUJAHhHgh3tzPI13fT9qaOdAA-hgctQDzwbUGOLRqtTkrDqL6F_N-IDS0UiGaeW6CRhWOe6bjAs8HHEDBw0/s1600-h/proxmire.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448485991238118514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFy-kr9BA7sHyWUPuS5g2gsYPkz6I8-NrSxl6bLm9xi6y8PFsKbkb7cnEPWUJAHhHgh3tzPI13fT9qaOdAA-hgctQDzwbUGOLRqtTkrDqL6F_N-IDS0UiGaeW6CRhWOe6bjAs8HHEDBw0/s640/proxmire.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKWoFu3vq_-1I9An5j_EHao1ZgHJlEmqFzUiv57DsFtYA-JIbQmg_ufjOxU9ebuYJOtwNO0K-7z5x_51jqJTCk3MWmiQ-Euv8yw1SKWErfPK_4PS74pfon0qVkFcyL09B8lxtHxu0XsZm/s1600-h/proxmire1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448485882646188498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKWoFu3vq_-1I9An5j_EHao1ZgHJlEmqFzUiv57DsFtYA-JIbQmg_ufjOxU9ebuYJOtwNO0K-7z5x_51jqJTCk3MWmiQ-Euv8yw1SKWErfPK_4PS74pfon0qVkFcyL09B8lxtHxu0XsZm/s640/proxmire1.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Update: Thank you to Judith, with Kelley Proxmire Interior Design, for letting me know they recently posted these images. I was having camera problems and these images are so much better. (images posted with permission) You can also see in these photos the custom black sisal rug with the shiny red border - love that. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ_b47NVtk7hr6pVfTDCkl264ZbOZlsdTuQwIAhwJsVrdytQ-p4OsB2SmLpk9Oqqgsu8xKer5csBdGaqzBNrIrQ3uHTfwIBRlqshkZPpxt7U1GCfEpPTO8JYXXqms1l-fmRdJMNZMMTDe/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447737351667859250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ_b47NVtk7hr6pVfTDCkl264ZbOZlsdTuQwIAhwJsVrdytQ-p4OsB2SmLpk9Oqqgsu8xKer5csBdGaqzBNrIrQ3uHTfwIBRlqshkZPpxt7U1GCfEpPTO8JYXXqms1l-fmRdJMNZMMTDe/s640/3.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Last night I attended the Washington Design Center's first "Ones to Watch" award and also had a chance to see the recent lobby renovation by <a href="http://www.kelleyinteriordesign.com/">Kelley Proxmire</a>. Periodically the design center invites a designer to transform the space and Kelley's signature style infuses the entry with vibrant, contrasting red and black. <span style="color:#990000;">My camera was behaving very badly last night</span> - so many of these images fail to capture the crisp, fresh look of the space.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEnQzPeNAi7xV_5k8CLiuo70HTNnoXK2tdIH9yFch2wKIGybLJ7ygfyBhz19Y_eLkSp2YiqKaA4Be6LW9IAfIh6o9VD7ro3p9VR-WJTkF1K95bdsi9RY0gcJWOUb1fThtOE6tzH7S5j6y/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447737282969324866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEnQzPeNAi7xV_5k8CLiuo70HTNnoXK2tdIH9yFch2wKIGybLJ7ygfyBhz19Y_eLkSp2YiqKaA4Be6LW9IAfIh6o9VD7ro3p9VR-WJTkF1K95bdsi9RY0gcJWOUb1fThtOE6tzH7S5j6y/s640/1.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a> A bit of fun - the WDC monogram for the Washington Design Center.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IVfSlU-grJZk3cxfNaznLYp4XwUyeghfz0fxm9Fp94L5yoe2gSmJJwaYRiaIjRCbJhKzrsMYUR5XQL5JniCJ3eJ7JZKcZ6F4T6YoY7EUxv7WszteH9lnpPvYzDRPTSJz_3f5gR29ZX6Y/s1600-h/5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447737156890547330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IVfSlU-grJZk3cxfNaznLYp4XwUyeghfz0fxm9Fp94L5yoe2gSmJJwaYRiaIjRCbJhKzrsMYUR5XQL5JniCJ3eJ7JZKcZ6F4T6YoY7EUxv7WszteH9lnpPvYzDRPTSJz_3f5gR29ZX6Y/s640/5.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>The artwork on either side of the armoire are commissioned pieces from artist <a href="http://www.mynottinghill.blogspot.com/2009/11/personal-visit-to-renovated-church.html">Kevin Chadwick</a>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHHYFZqs2JzgRmhy-x72iOeBm5iq3SZv2rNvU6wEZkKskc-zyaxhvYR3XvvvO0H4ul4KTW0IJyBlveL7OKuPVG45X-V2RsnOtNI5PPzBwlvIEdbD7ec-PwaVq2DfSKC0S_VywFpN_78Qf/s1600-h/7.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447737046535986258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHHYFZqs2JzgRmhy-x72iOeBm5iq3SZv2rNvU6wEZkKskc-zyaxhvYR3XvvvO0H4ul4KTW0IJyBlveL7OKuPVG45X-V2RsnOtNI5PPzBwlvIEdbD7ec-PwaVq2DfSKC0S_VywFpN_78Qf/s640/7.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Kelley used mirror, glass and metal accents throughout the space. I love the focal point created by the framed mirror panels with the roman shade. A series of beautiful black and gold cherry blossom paintings (a nod to spring in DC) bring down the very high ceilings to a more intimate scale.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6V6VBYz6enivdbZvxfkjALfiWF251UyQzSOZw2PC-yenL-8Fu4abuR-QOAPaSijih4Jtcm90ABr2aHWo_veFqpBaUhVFdqTl5BWZyZGdWL7kAe444ZZai2xt7p9EbzCZ5kGg7OV7pA29d/s1600-h/6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447736962619900418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6V6VBYz6enivdbZvxfkjALfiWF251UyQzSOZw2PC-yenL-8Fu4abuR-QOAPaSijih4Jtcm90ABr2aHWo_veFqpBaUhVFdqTl5BWZyZGdWL7kAe444ZZai2xt7p9EbzCZ5kGg7OV7pA29d/s400/6.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 368px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Four X-base stools were underneath the glass center table. Kelley has a terrific eye for detail - I always fall in love with her trim choices.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4l47f06YWEIcj0jxwzIf09WY9RWO-Ixfaz2sYma38bZIwkBuvUqyGbTXAJALk0sQo-EQNob0pxKeK_Kswxksm50z32eL_Eo-gAY5eEadtk5ko5kmIJiF8fzOlxhP1CeOa294qVNcczEJ/s1600-h/9.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447736631845309410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4l47f06YWEIcj0jxwzIf09WY9RWO-Ixfaz2sYma38bZIwkBuvUqyGbTXAJALk0sQo-EQNob0pxKeK_Kswxksm50z32eL_Eo-gAY5eEadtk5ko5kmIJiF8fzOlxhP1CeOa294qVNcczEJ/s400/9.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wdz8uF0dYUbl6ZMWFWuzC_B6anY5ozb_HGv1KXzCT8v_8yYCXdRBGmGRoiOqeN1KJkg5Cf7C9eSO07AsjJ7VuXhZG57Pc_XEKb9BcH-ceueTNJv00MqgRy1D_3iSfSGv7pUAb_UP-0xB/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447736436417704530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wdz8uF0dYUbl6ZMWFWuzC_B6anY5ozb_HGv1KXzCT8v_8yYCXdRBGmGRoiOqeN1KJkg5Cf7C9eSO07AsjJ7VuXhZG57Pc_XEKb9BcH-ceueTNJv00MqgRy1D_3iSfSGv7pUAb_UP-0xB/s400/2.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 305px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Back to the "Ones to Watch" awards and celebration party. Twelve designers were chosen, including Liz Levin of <a href="http://www.lizlevininteriors.com/">Liz Levin Interiors</a>. Here she is with friends Stuart and Katherine to her left and Associate Designer Heather Safferstone to her right. Congratulations to fellow blogger Annie Elliott of <a href="http://www.bossycolor.com/">Bossy Color</a>, who was also nominated along with Shanon Munn of <a href="http://www.ambidesignstudio.com/">Ambi Design Studio, Inc.</a> who I featured, along with Liz Levin, in <a href="http://www.mynottinghill.blogspot.com/2008/10/nso-design-show-pics.html">this post</a> last year. <span style="color:#333333;">A full listing of the nominees is available </span><a href="http://www.pressroom.mmart.com/tasks/sites/pressroom/assets/File/dcdesigncenter/2010_Ones_to_Watch_release.pdf"><span style="color:#333333;">here</span></a><span style="color:#333333;">.</span></div><div> </div><div>It was a fun evening out - eventhough I mistakenly parked in a Tow Away Zone, got a $100 ticket and had to wander the streets to find my car! A sincere thank you to the Design Center receptionist and security guard for all your above-and-beyond efforts to help me! (my apologies for not having your names to give you proper credit)</div></div></div>

Kelley Proxmire's Lobby Reno & the Ones to Watch awards.

Update: Thank you to Judith, with Kelley Proxmire Interior Design, for letting me know they recently posted these images. I was having camer...

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Have you heard of MACO?

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sR9uynKGnAvSWTvAOpFIR6Vg8y5BH7eFAITVXUkc_xcs3GssTFlhiz6appF0MeRN0UhEH-0HEMl8fnZZj6ifNEZHLZISqZEdLoRVDeGTXYbnEXM2ip6gWMVqFh1xSd27ljyhrf6nmOVP/s1600-h/psuzyhoodlessmaco1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443875703143908562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sR9uynKGnAvSWTvAOpFIR6Vg8y5BH7eFAITVXUkc_xcs3GssTFlhiz6appF0MeRN0UhEH-0HEMl8fnZZj6ifNEZHLZISqZEdLoRVDeGTXYbnEXM2ip6gWMVqFh1xSd27ljyhrf6nmOVP/s640/psuzyhoodlessmaco1.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Coming back from St John a few weeks ago, I came across a thick, glossy magazine devoted to Caribbean living - <a href="http://www.macomag.com/current_issue.htm"><span style="color:#000099;">MACO</span></a>. The homes are beautiful and the settings spectacular - here's just a few. <span style="color:#333333;">(photography by Suzy Hoodless)<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdHAfHK6WWiGPnJ89rMVtMwT8NYycjMdY15nIMIoLEZhI6m_1f73FXTac6uqCnMQZxRQnAIucO5Eqw3C0RNMLGsPuqmjDJcW0nIZ7sscu7UtdmIq0-K-9CYxpulz9POksARCXHiFBdH-1/s1600-h/psuzyHoodlessmaco.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443875575102095650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdHAfHK6WWiGPnJ89rMVtMwT8NYycjMdY15nIMIoLEZhI6m_1f73FXTac6uqCnMQZxRQnAIucO5Eqw3C0RNMLGsPuqmjDJcW0nIZ7sscu7UtdmIq0-K-9CYxpulz9POksARCXHiFBdH-1/s640/psuzyHoodlessmaco.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a><span style="color:#333333;">photography by Suzy Hoodless</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VsXEyA044eCEd-07oTVp0IjrSa-oSX7uZL89HTMcKZz7rMSz3LsSxNGgJM2Yn3pyT7D2Uhz4rPB_Oc2o73u26o-Vs_mmFzUJbf1HtHyoMYCMCHKiTsv5-UIQERwhHURGILlqvPhB_3do/s1600-h/v10i1g.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446972479369544386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VsXEyA044eCEd-07oTVp0IjrSa-oSX7uZL89HTMcKZz7rMSz3LsSxNGgJM2Yn3pyT7D2Uhz4rPB_Oc2o73u26o-Vs_mmFzUJbf1HtHyoMYCMCHKiTsv5-UIQERwhHURGILlqvPhB_3do/s640/v10i1g.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <span style="color:#333333;">photography by Suzy Hoodless</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOuyfsTyvdwDTSTBNvX4QrHIV9LN6v3zAnyvYQR6PFgJebLsu1KHANhu2zcgevW1vnUVBs6WzM51r59SZzuSIsWYYKf4WOUzB2l6Pc_AS2yUbgUrnI4ovqcR7ue6osO2VJfuFoYjdQfJU/s1600-h/pDaleCurtisMaco.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443874505668027810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOuyfsTyvdwDTSTBNvX4QrHIV9LN6v3zAnyvYQR6PFgJebLsu1KHANhu2zcgevW1vnUVBs6WzM51r59SZzuSIsWYYKf4WOUzB2l6Pc_AS2yUbgUrnI4ovqcR7ue6osO2VJfuFoYjdQfJU/s640/pDaleCurtisMaco.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a><span style="color:#333333;">photography by Dale Curtis</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgjQJoEn8GZuwwscwVATZUaVCcLoDrRN6Th0kL8KtFDt6YB_iqM8yV8oYAXOYMI07QuO0o5_DzgAscvo5DCwWUAi_sSwd4oavPfAyr4w4Uc0W5wyoWFPJhJ-5BVRJdzbyrNexv6GCqNm1/s1600-h/pDaleCurtisMacoa.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443874608140772962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgjQJoEn8GZuwwscwVATZUaVCcLoDrRN6Th0kL8KtFDt6YB_iqM8yV8oYAXOYMI07QuO0o5_DzgAscvo5DCwWUAi_sSwd4oavPfAyr4w4Uc0W5wyoWFPJhJ-5BVRJdzbyrNexv6GCqNm1/s640/pDaleCurtisMacoa.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a><span style="color:#333333;"><span style="color:#000099;">For more interiors, go </span><a href="http://www.macomag.com/featured_articles.htm"><span style="color:#000099;">here</span></a>. </span><span style="color:#333333;">photography by Dale Curtis</span>

Have you heard of MACO?

Coming back from St John a few weeks ago, I came across a thick, glossy magazine devoted to Caribbean living - MACO . The homes are beautifu...

Read more »