Hardware Line Update: Great Lengths

I'm sure many of you saw the update with the new Classic Series that we are introducing in the next couple of months. Well, what a lot of you may not know is that here at Nest Studio we also do a lot of custom work - custom sizes and finishes mostly of our existing product.  Recently we got an order for an international project for our Facets F-01 handle in an extended 12" length.  I'm hoping that the client sends me some photos that I can share with you. They're using it in a kitchen on the cabinets and appliances and I can't wait to see the final product!   This got me thinking - the 12" pull seems like something a lot of people would want. So I decided to run a few more and see if people like it. Currently it comes in polished chrome and polished nickel and I hope to stock the satin brass soon as well.  If you're interested in finding out more about pricing and inventory, drop me a line at jess at nesteaglerock.com.  And of course, sign up for our mailing list here (upper right).

Hardware Line Update: Classic Series

Hey Folks!  Some of you have been following along with the growth of my hardware line. A few months back we got featured in the New York Times Style Section online and Canada's Style at Home.  Those were some exciting times.

Well, more excitement is in the air here. Be on the lookout for a few more features, and even more importantly, stay tuned for our new series which will be hitting the shelves at the end of May.  The Classic Series fits within Nest Studio's clean lined aesthetic but draws its inspiration from traditional shapes in architecture, textiles and furniture.  It has a bit of a Dorothy Draper feel to it.  I personally think these pieces will look great on dresser drawers and bathrom vanity cabinets.  Not pictured is a dropped bail pull with two hinges. Can't wait to show that one to you when it comes in.  For more updates on products, sales and offerings, feel free to sign up for our email list here (upper right).

Stylin' Mammas: I Feel Pretty

I'm feeling luxe today.  Textured or lazer-cut skirts have been catching my eye lately.  I really like the "tough-lovely" look of them.  My instinct for Spring is a tobacco color; black just seems a little too nightclubby.  But the Rag & Bone splurge-a-rific mini shown here has such beautiful detail that -- if you have the gams (and the budget) to pull it off -- I might be persuaded otherwise.  

A skirt like this needs no embellishment; the simple white top with higher neckline keep a black leather mini from veering into "lady of the evening" territory.  Shoes are similarly demure(ish), if not practical.  A cocktail ring (am I getting predictable with the cocktail rings? obsessed...) does the trick, and you'll need a killer clutch (that can hold your iPad, natch).  Dinner and dancing, anyone?

For daytime, a slightly longer length and understated color and texture make for a more wearable option.  I personally think a little color on top livens this up, and the stripes mirror the pleating in the skirt.  Because I see this as more of a work-to-drinks kind of look, a watch and simple necklace, a more practical bag and lightweight jacket for that early-morning commute finish it off.  I won't lie; I am jonesing for these t-straps...They will likely make an appearance in future Stylin' Mamma posts (and in my closet, too)!

- Jaime

The Master Bedroom - swing arm sconces

Remember back when I was brainstorming all these color schemes for our master bedroom?  Well, I changed my mind yet again. To jog your memory, here is what the room looked like most recently.

I was at Calico Corners and found this awesome black and white diamond fabric and thought it would look great as draperies in our bedroom.  This meant that the original beni ourain rug concept was out (since that's just too much black on white diamond action).  So, in rethinking the room I decided to go with some sort of oriental rug (currently I have a West Elm overdyed rug as a stand in on my concept board even though it's more red than I'd like).  I also added in some of the bedding and pillows that I recently purchased at Target to make the board more true to life and coherent.  And I put in some Pottery Barn nightstands that I think are lighter and let my chinoiserie art show through (although Scott doesn't like them from a practical storage standpoint).

The Restoration Hardware swing-arm sconces were on sale recently so I decided to purchase them and pay for them by selling my original ceramic lamps. Luckily I have a taker.  I'm excited to get that one done and in place. 

I'm still not totally convinced about the scheme although it's starting to come together.  I think what is throwing me off is the wall color. I t's too green.  So the question is do I design around the wall color or just have it repainted at some point down the line so that I can better wrap my head around the whole thing. What do you guys think?  I'm sort of wanting a white room somewhere in the house? Or maybe making it more of a true grey - like a dark charcoal?

Kid's Room Art

It's funny as a designer to have a toddler child.  You are constantly trying to figure out how to corral said toddler's stuff and keep said toddler safe while also maintaining a sense of design in your home.  Sometimes you're successful, and sometimes you're not.  This is what Bryan's room looks like on a typical day.

Eventually he will have roman shades, but as you can see, the book ledges are unkempt and his baskets have exploded on the floor.  The plastic toys which I tried so hard to avoid, have come out in full force and aren't exactly my favorite accesory.  I think longingly of the days when he was an infant and his room look so pristine like this.  Anyways, I'm still at it, trying to make his room look cool.  Originally he had a large map over his crib, but the map didn't fit in the bed niche in the new room.  So I brought in these two old mechanics posters that had been in our family room in LA. I actually think they look great here. They are less generic than a map. They really tie into the colors of the room and have a certain "boy" quality that will grow with him. Of course, if he ends up being a car mechanic I will have to blame the art choice.

Puttin' up the art - gallery walls

In the past few days I've managed to do a lot of unpacking of all of the art that was sitting in our garage and found the time to hang a few key pieces.  It really helps to have the parents come to visit so they can look after Bryan and I can knock these things off my to-do list.  And I've also gotten a lot done on the decorative hardware line as well - more on that in a separate post.  In any case, I rounded up some of my favorite pieces and created a gallery wall in the living room. The coloration in the framed artwork really ties the whole room together (not that I intend to keep the orange floral crewel on the wing chair).  I love the mix of pieces.  That large abstract is something my dad bought in college. How cool is that? The abstract botanical prints are something I did in a college print making class and then the others were are gifts from friends and such.  I'm thinking I might add in a few more pieces flanking the main grouping later down the line, but right now I really like how it's working out.  Now, I just need to figure out what to do with those stand-in IKEA parsons tables...

And I hung our orange pumpkin, previously over the fireplace in LA, over the piano. It adds some lightness to a dark corner.

 How are your spring projects shaping up?

Stylin' Mamma: Babygirls Just Wanna Have Fun

I did it.  I didn't think I was going to, but there I was in the Gap and I had an hour to myself on a Friday morning and I tried them on and I took them off and then I tried them on again...and then I bought them.  Floral-print skinnies.  I still haven't debuted them, but they are there, next to my dresser, waiting to be unveiled.  I will have to play it safe with them, of course: keep the top conservative and the shoes flat and the jewelry understated...But I think I can swing it.  I think it's going to be cool. (blazer, shirt, bag, necklace)

Then I went shopping for Babygirl.  Being a child, she can get away with far wackier looks than I can, and since I am lately kind of obsessed with print-on-print(-on print) she will be my unwitting guinea pig this spring.  Neon!  Florals!  Stars!  Nothing is off-limits.  Cute as a button, she will be.  And together, me in my floral skinnies and her in her stars-and-stripes -- well, I would never do the mother-daughter matchy-matchy thing, but that doesn't mean we can't be a visual force to be reckoned with.

Babygirl: Kickin' it at daycare (leggings, shirt, converse)

Babygirl: Splashin' around (tights, skirt, top, boots)

Wing Chair Addition

Well, we have a new addition in the Davis house.  We've got a nice comfy wing chair for the corner between the sofa and the stairs. I'd been wanting a wing chair here for a while and every once in a while would do a quick browse on craigslist to see if there was anything out there. My goal was to find a well proportioned chair in good condition for around $50 that I could reupholster.  Well, this baby was $70 (still not bad).  It's in great shape. We will reupholster it down the line but in the meantime the color scheme surprisingly works (although it adds a grandma element to the room).  

As you can see Floopy is already a fan.  I can't wait to get some art up on the wall in the next few weeks to make the room look more complete.  I'm hoping to find some really fun graphic print for the wing chair along with something maybe slightly smaller scale for the two caned back chairs.