Office Makeover – 99% complete!

So, please don’t judge because I am obviously not an awesome photographer but I wanted to share the progress on my office.  I’m very happy with how it turned out and it is already functioning so much better for me!  I say 99% complete because, as designers, we are always tweaking and improving upon things in our homes…we can’t help it!

Anyway, here’s where we left off…I moved my desk to under the window which made me hugely more productive and I added a second desk as a credenza on the other wall.  Here’s an “in progress” shot:

Love, love, love my desk under the window!

After working at my new desk for a couple of months, I realized I needed a lamp at night…so the search began!  I knew I didn’t want a task lamp or something that looked too functional.  I think that lamps are kind of like sculptures so it was important to find one that I really loved and…voila!  I fell in love with this lamp!

West Elm – Turned Table Lamp
I was so excited when I got it that I opened it that night and took a quick picture! Love it!

Meanwhile, my family had been working diligently to finish my pink chairs for my birthday!  You can read more about the transformation in my previous blog post.  I couldn’t wait to see how they would look in my office!

The chair, desk and lamp are a great combo!

Note: it is usually suggested to add pops of color in odd numbers…therefore, it worked out that I only ended up with 3 pink and 1 silver chair.  The silver chair stays in the living room while the 3 pink chairs “balance” each other in the office.

The chairs in “action”!
A bit messy but very functional.
Another messy shot of the office…

So, the last step (for now) was to get the credenza a bit more organized.  And when I say organized, I really mean I need more bins to hide my stuff! I went to Target and found these cute black & white chevron bins that hold a lot…and we know how much I love chevron!

The end…for now!

Overall, I love that my office is crisp, functional and can easily transform back into a dining space.  All I do is add tablecloths over the credenza and desk and I instantly have 2 buffets!  And, most importantly, my office allows me to think creatively while designing for my clients.  What more could I ask for?  Hope you enjoyed the blogs, thank you for riding along on my journey!

My Dream Office

So, it has been a couple of years and I am still obsessed with the color white.  It is the absence of color which has a very clean, soothing effect if executed properly.  The key is to balance the textures and lines of the space to create the warmth normally found in a room with more color.

Here are a few images I pulled together as concepts for my future office space.  I love the lines of the furniture and the crispness of everything.  I can already imagine the uncluttered backdrop to allow me to create beautiful spaces for my clients!  Mixing in weathered wood elements, satin silver finish, natural raffia and classic white marble offset the sleek white lacquer furniture fabulously.  Of course, the room would not be complete without my accent color “du jour” in the form of bright pink area rugs!

K News – Spring Newsletter 2010

Happy Spring!!

I am so looking forward to the fresh flowers and new opportunities in store!  I thought it might be fun to move my newsletter to my website.  What do you think?  I welcome your comments and suggestions!

The theme for this month is: MORE, MORE, MORE!!!

More ideas, more color, more energy!  I don’t know about you but I’ve been very busy with lots of exciting endeavors and I can’t wait to share them with you here.

My New Desk

“Don’t ask what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive and go do it.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”  – Howard Thurman

So, here is a photo of “command central” as I have fondly named my new desk.  It is important that my apartment not look too much like an office or I will feel like I am always at work.  Looks great & functions even better!

Charity Project: Habitat for Humanity 2010 with St. Louis AT HOME magazine.  I’m also very pleased to announce my involvement in this year’s Habitat Design Project with AT HOME magazine.  I am on a team with several talented designers and we are working hard to transform the interiors into a warm & inviting home for a very deserving family!  Please view my Target list if you are interested in donating.  All will be completed by mid-May and I will keep you posted on the progress!

Upcoming Events: As many of you know, I launched DesignSpeak last October and I am very committed to educating consumers about design and where to purchase locally.  I am very exited to announce our first ever “design decoded: kitchens & baths” event!  This is a free seminar for homeowners seeking design advice.  We will have refreshments, goody bags and giveaways!  Space is limited,  RSVP now to kimberly@designspeakstl.com!

Next Up: I am working on getting photos taken at several of my clients’ homes.  I am very pleased with how my projects turned out last year and am anxious to show them off!  Here is a sneak peek at one of my installations.  The frames turned out beautifully!  This project was one of my favorites this past year.  My client was so wonderful to work with and she had such a fun design aesthetic that it really didn’t feel like work!

Coming Soon - New Client Photos

Blazing Trails with the Girl Scouts: I am honored to be a part of such a fun group of young professionals whose goal is mentor recruitement for the wonderful Girl Scout Organization.  So many great opportunities to become involved!  We are hosting a fun adult camp-out on April 17th to get you motivated and just have fun!  To learn more, please join us for Happy Hour at the Moonrise Hotel on March 23rd.

Exciting News: Stella & Dot Jewelry – My sister recently enlightened me on my lifelong obsession with jewelry.  “Obsessed” is a little harsh…Maybe a bit co-dependent is more accurate?  I will admit it is hard for me to go to the gym without earrings…is that wrong?  So, I guess it comes to no one’s surprise that I’ve finally decided to start my career in jewelry as a stylist of Stella & Dot.  They are a wonderful company and I have admired their jewelry line almost since its inception.  I’m very excited and I am planning my first trunk show to introduce you all to the line!  Visit my webpage for more info.

That’s all for now!  Stay tuned for more updates!

-K