Kristin Drohan Interior Design

Made in the USA - Apolitical yet Patriotic

The election is over and I am no way going to blog about politics. One thing I'm very patriotic and passionate about, is purchasing domestic goods.  In my design and furniture businesses I try to source goods made in America as often as possible.  I am not going to lie, when it comes to some catagories it is extremely difficult.  If I could find some fabulous chandeliers that don't cost as much as a car made domestically, we'd be in business. Where I find it most challenging is outside my industry. Finding clothes that are not imports is very difficult. I try (the operative word is "try") to walk the talk and purchase as many things as possible made in the US. Kids clothes are almost impossible. Clothing for myself and my husband brings some options. I am going to share my personal market research with you when it comes to some women's lines that are made in the US.  I don't profess to be a fashion blogger, this is a bit outside my wheel house, but I thought I'd share my experience. Here are my favs.  The first is David Meister.  I love his dresses.  They are incredibly flattering and sizing is consistant.

 
Another designer line I found at Nordstrom (my "go to" shopping destination) is Milly. Again, very flattering silhouettes. Okay, you are gonna needs Spanx for the second one.

Nicole Miller fabricates most of her line in the US. (BTW I did not cut that model's head off . That is a distrubing way to present a dress.)

I have also recently discovered another line via Nordstrom called Black Halo.  It is a funky line that I really like. 

These all have pretty similiar price points, which are a little on the pricey side, but they do go on sale.  If you haven't heard of www.designerapparel.com, that is a great place to buy discounted designer goods. They compile all the brands from all of the stores and you can shop by brand and price.  It is a one stop sale resource.  Here is a another little tip. Nordstrom, offers personal shopping for FREE. You just call their personal stylist dept at your local store to set up an appt. They will find out what your needs are and when you show up, they have it pulled and waiting in a fitting room for you.  While you are trying stuff on, they will get you additional sizes, pull more, etc.  When you develope a relationship with one stylist, they start to understand what works for you, and the process becomes more efficient.  Well, that is all my fashion knowledge in one short blog post. Please share if you have other brands made in the good ol US of A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Favorite New Furniture Pieces

We have a lot of new pieces at the Kristin Drohan Collection that I wanted to share with you.

Chuck Chesterfield

Chaz Chesterfield

 

Cheryl Cocktail Ottoman

Gertie Gueridon Side Table in Espresso/Silver and Whitewash/Gold with sandblasted reclaimed wood top

Ian Cocktail Table with sandblasted reclaimed wood top
Hutch Ottoman (My 11 yr old daughter named this. Do I need to mention after whom?) Hint: She and all her friends are obsessed with the Hunger Games.

Double X Bench in Gray Wash, Espresso, and Black

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Kings Lane Sale Starts Today

Our huge One Kings Lane Sale starts today.  Check it out we have a ton of new pieces.

 

 

Wood Ceiling Beams and Truss Obsession

I have never had a house with two story ceilings or with wood beams prior to this Atlanta house.  My hearth room has a Dutch hip shape or barn shape, 4 beams, and one wall of stone.  At first, I hated this room.  After re doing the fireplace and painting the room, I'm starting to like it.  I think the beams could really use some embellishment. They are a little boring. I think I may even start to love the room if the beams were enhanced. With all of our reclaimed wood at the Kristin Drohan Collection furniture factory, I think we could come up with something really cool.  I have been pinning an inspiration board on Pinterest of some options.  These are just so spectacular. What do you think?

 

Eco Friendly Kitchen and Bath Products

Okay, so long time no post.  What can I tell ya.  I took a little sabbatical.  Not at Cirque Lodge or anything.  I was on vacay and I'm spending time with my kids.  I've found that all work and no play makes me, dull, pissy, and no fun.  I'm working on balancing work and life.  Recently, I started working on  a whole house update for an eco friendly client.  My research for this project has uncovered some cool stuff, so I thought I'd share.  Part of the project includes updating the kitchen and three baths.  That means cabinets, flooring, tile, counters, fixtures etc.  My cabinet company of choice is Wood Mode.  Most of my clients lean more traditional, so bamboo or some of the other eco options just don't work atheistically.  The great thing about Wood Mode is that they are ESP ( Environmental Stewardship Program) certified.  They use sustainably forested wood and a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer which virtually eliminates VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) in the finishing process.  That means when cabinetry is installed, there won't be any off gassing to effect the indoor air quality.  

 
Here is the product design board.  I have blogged about ECO by Consentino before.  This is a countertop material made from 75% post industrial and consumer waste.  It is heat resistant, doesn't need to be sealed, and doesn't scratch or stain.  Some of my favorite color ways are featured above.  Priced similiar to granite, it comes in 10 1/2 ft slabs, which eliminates the need for seams when installed. What more could you want?  I've also included WaterSense faucets for both the kitchen and bath.  This is an EPA designation that reduces water usage by 20% but does not sacrifice performance.  Lastly, I have featured Forecast Lighting's Organic Modern grasscloth pendants and Ben Moore's Aura paint.  Aura is low VOC not zero VOC which is their Natura line.  Even though Aura is a bit pricier, my contractors think it has superior performance.  There you have it...My client's Coastal Inspired Eco Friendly Kitchen and Baths.  I'll keep you posted on our progress. 

Free Advice Friday-kitchen counter tops

A reader writes:

Hi, Re-doing kitchen to include new cabinets, gunstock oak flooring, stainless appliances. What color countertop do you recommend? Should I get something med/dk brown quartz or keep it lighter. The kitchen cabinets are Maple--Cream Glaze (Cream colored or off-white with just an almost invisible lighter cream/white glaze). The flooring, unless you talk me out of real hard wood for a kitchen floor, will be gunstock oak-see attached. I've had people tell me not to put real wood in a kitchen, so...that's still up in the air based of further advice. Wall color and dinette color/material, I will try to figure out once I get a handle of what to do for counter top. Thank you so much! 

I will definitely not talk you out of real wood flooring.  I prefer it to be eco friendly... made of reclaimed wood or wood that has been sustainably forested.  I have test driven every type of  kitchen flooring  in my 8 military moves.   I love wood the best.   On to the counters.  I like to keep the counters neutral and devoid of any specific color, especially if you are considering a move in the future.  FYI, the inquirer, prefers Black to Brown.  With that in mind,  I have given her a few options.

In the classic options, I've given her a Sensa granite and marble.  Sensa Granite has a long term stain protection built into it so that it doesn't have to be sealed. When I choose granite, I look for the color of the elements going into the kitchen within the stone.  For example,  I look for the tone of any wood or the color of the appliances.  I like it to have a little silver shimmer if the appliances are stainless.   Marble is a classic, sophisticated choice.  Beware, however,  marble does stain rather easy.  Some like the patina this creates over time.  I currently have marble in my kitchen.  If it is sealed, you can get most stains out.  I don't mind the character.  If you have little kids or lean type A, this is not the counter surface for you. 

There are some really awesome new eco friendly options out there too.  I have shown two Ceasarstone options which are made from 17 - 35 percent recycled glass and quartz.  For performance and function is doesn't get any better than quartz.  It is stain resistant and doesn't require sealing.  It is heat, scratch and chip resistant too.  The last option is a high constrast, surface from Eco.  This is made from 75 percent post-industrial recycled raw materials.  It too has all the attributes of the Ceasarstone.  The Black makes this a dramatic choice.  My three favorites are the Marble, Chocolate Truffle and the Black.  The marble is dressy and beautiful.  The Chocolate Truffle has every color element of the kitchen in it.  It has Silver for the appliances, a warm Russet for the tone of the wood, Cream for the cabinets, and a hint of Black.  You just can't go wrong with Black counters and Cream cabinets.  It isn't for everyone, but I like the drama.  I  can't wait to see what the reader chooses.  What would you pick?  I'll be joining Paula Grace for Timeless Tuesday and then for real martinis Thursday night. 

 

HGTV Green Home

Before I get to the HGTV Green home, I need to thank Nicole Haddad from New York Spaces for the article on the Kristin Drohan Collection on the Edge blog.  You can read it here. 

A few days ago I decided to check out the HGTV Green home in person since it is only an hour away in Plymouth, MA.  Lets get to it.  I loved the color palette of Black, Red, Blue, and White.  I know... shocker.  I thought the decorating was nice.  I think Linda does a great job with these homes even though she takes some serious criticism from the bloggers.  Here was my disappointment.  Although the house was a "Green" build, only a portion of the decor was.  They didn't even source the upholstery.  Now, I'm not a Green fanatic, and there's definitely shades of Green, but I expected to see some cutting edge eco friendly stuff.  I was a little disappointed. 

I love the outside architecture of this house, but the pic is a little deceiving.  The house is only 2100 sq ft and other houses are in close proximity.  You don't have a lot of privacy or land.  This may be a positive for people like my Mom who can then chat with all the neighbors and passer bys.  She is the ultimate social butterfly.  Personally, I like a little more space.

 

 
This is the main living area.  I love the colors. 

 
The master bedroom was interesting. I like the decor and love the bedside light fixtures, but I gotta tell ya, the room is a little tight.  This is a queen bed and as you can see, there isn't a whole lot of room.  My 6"8" hubby would miss his Cali king bed.  Maybe he is such a minority that for most of us that works. They designed this house to be a second home for a retired couple with visiting Grand kids. 

 

The master bath was really pretty but again the function was weird.  The tub was tiny and my husband hit his head on the doorway into the bath and the water closet.  They must have lowered them from a standard height to accommodate the decorative interior roof.  

 The only other bedroom in the house was for the kids.  Super cute decor. Loved the galvanized pipe they used for the bunk beds and the lamps.  What's up with the wall mount sink in the middle of the bedroom (you just see the edge in the alcove in back) and no closet?  Even if the kids are just visiting, I think a closet would be a nice place to hide their stuff. 

 
The outdoor space is nice and especially if you like your neighbors. 

So what do you think?  Did you watch the show?  Are you entering to win? 

Where do the extra guests sleep?

Are you gearing up for visitor's arrival in the next few days?  I know I am.  This is the first house I've lived in since we've had kids that I have an actual guest bedroom.  It is appropriately sized, at about 9' x 9'.  Tiny for sure, but it is the perfect amount of sq footage dedicated to a space that gets 5 % usage throughout the year and in my town costs about $325 a sq ft.( I know, YIKES!).  Since, this is the first time I've had a guest bedroom I have experimented with all sorts of ways to sleep visitors in the past.   Sofa-beds, daybeds, air-beds, you name it.  I've tried them all.  Here are the solutions I have found to be the most comfortable.  The first is a daybed I designed specifically for this purpose and will be included in my new furniture collection. 

Here is another option.  What is so great about these pieces (besides being eco friendly) is that they are 7 ft long and 34" wide.  That is almost the size of a twin bed but is the scale of a sofa.   The point was to have them be usable as sofas with the option of sleeping extra guests.  Even though they are little smaller than a twin bed, twin bedding still works great.  The mattress is super comfy and can be done in a bio hybrid soy base cushion (eco friendly) or with a spring down cushion. 

Another option that works pretty well is the new air mattress top sofa beds.  Hickory Chair has one that it really convenient and comfy.  Here's how it works.

The pump comes with the sofa bed and inflates to a 8" thick mattress in 30 seconds.  It has a foam base and the air cell inflates over top.  The air mattress  is sandwiched between a padded mattress cover that also eliminates the cold temp that air beds sometimes have.    I have laid on this mattress (that somehow sounds wrong) and it is really comfortable.  No metal bar poking you in the back.  I know these options won't help for this Holiday, but for the future you have some great alternatives for comfortably sleeping your guests. 

New Before and After

As promised here is a project I recently finished in Va.  I want to point out that even with a modest budget you can get completely custom pieces with high style and function if you have great resources.  

 
Family Room Before

Family Room After

Every piece of furniture in this make over, we had custom made.  The upholstery pieces were made in NC.  The sectional is from Boulevard Eco Upholstery (my collection).  The case goods were made in PA by one of my fabulous vendors.  I had to talk my client into the curtain panels.  The budget had been exhausted and my homeowners weren't convinced they wanted them.  I purchased ready made cotton duck panels and used the left over ottoman fabric to add a band to the bottom--something they could readily afford.  The rug is a sisal from Surya.  All in all, the result is pretty and sustainable.

 

Living Room Before

 
Living Room After

These chairs are from Hickory Chair.  I think this is one of their styles that gives you a lot of bang for your buck and it is super comfy.  The silk panels were made by my workroom. I bought the silk directly from the mill in a bolt, which kept the price wayyy down.  We used the rest for coordinating panels in the dining room across the entryway.  I have to merchandise the bookcase in the dining room, so it hasn't been photgraphed yet.  The wine cabinet is a custom piece I designed and had made by a company located in MI.  We painted the old mirror and...WAH LA, you can't even tell it is the same piece. 
The wool rug is one of my favs from Surya (I've used it in a different color for another project), and is 100 percent wool.  I reused the client's chest, added Candice Olsen lamps, some fresh flowers and a tray on the ottoman and the makeover is complete.   So what do you think?  I'm participating in Met Monday at  Between Naps on the Porch and Blue Monday at Smiling Sals.  Hop on over and see amazing transformations at BNOTP and cool Blue at Sals. 

Gearing Up for High Point Market

I can't believe it is time again for our semi-annual buying trip to High Point, NC in a couple of weeks.   I received my buyers pass and catalogs in the mail the other day and the planning has begun.  After last Spring's market, (click here to view that post) I told you I'd show the process my designer friends and I embark on for our trip.  This year I have to fly to Northern Va and meet me colleagues Karen, and Paula Grace.  Then we will drive the 5 and 1/2 hours to NC.   As part of the pre-planning, we put together our Excel spread sheet that list the showrooms we individually need to attend.  Then we cross reference our requirements.  There is usually a lot of duplication.  Paula (last time I had the honor) puts together a final game plan that is color-coded and has our schedule by location.  This is very important because there are over 2000 show rooms spread over the entire town of High Point.  You need to be strategic to maximize your time. Okay, and maybe we are all a little type A.  I will be attending the Sustainable Furnishings Council, Certified Sustainability Training Program for one entire day.  That will reduce my shopping time.  I recently joined the SFC to further my commitment of running an eco-friendly business.  This class will allow me to be certified in sustainable design.  I'm really looking forward to that.  High Point is always an opportunity to meet shelter magazine editors and other well known designer at the parties.  We will be hitting Elle Decor's book signing party with Margaret Russell this year.  Last Spring, we went to Savifieh's Designer Rug Launch Party and met Thom Filica , Suzanne Kasler, David Easton, and Thomas O'Brien.  Thom was very sweet and David Easton was an absolute trip. 

Thom and I (kept my eyes open, that's a first)

As I've said before, I love this trip.  We always learn so much and find unique companies to open accounts with.  We gain resources that allow us to provide our clients with individual and stunning items for their homes.  I'll keep you posted as the planning progresses.

On another unrelated design note.  Here's praying for a full and speedy recovery for Tim Tebow, the Florida Gators quarterback who was injured in this weekend's game.  What makes this young man so special is not only is he an unbelievable athlete, but he is an even more amazing human being.  My husband did his undergrad and ROTC at the University of FL and we bleed Orange and Blue in the Drohan household.  Our schedules revolve around the Gator game on Saturdays (heaven forbid if one our child's soccer game conflicts) in the Fall.  I've always been a Football fan (maybe that's why I like doing "Man Caves" so much) but I've become as passionate about the Gators as my husband.  It was horrifically disturbing to watch Tim lie motionless after a hit Saturday night.  It looks as if it was a concussion and thankfully not a serious spinal injury .  As a fan, I hope to see him back on the field soon.  As a Mom, I will worry every time I see him out on the field in a football uniform.  Go Gators!!