A New Year… A Fresh Start On Art

Art is subjective… it can be many things, it can add color or be a back drop. As a designer, Flora Brama feels a space is hollow with out it. It is a beautiful back drop, a story and reminder to us, of color, moments and textures. Art is different to each individual and could be so many things; a child’s scribble, a hand written envelope or an artists rendition. So frame up what you  call art and group them to create a “forever” home on your walls.

Here is Flora’s guide to understanding, sourcing and creating your very own collection.
Art Sources
Local art
I believe there is something great about purchasing art locally, it supports local artists and shows pride in your home. 
MN Artists– Many mediums and talents for traditional and modern flavors alike
Beson Art– Abstracts and more
Danielle Voight – She is one of my favorites, and such a wonderful person. She creates beautiful abstracts with alot of depth in monochromatic tones.

** John Rummelhoff   – John Rummelhoff is my favorite of them all. I have referred and commissioned John many times. He has held an “artists life” with a major career in NYC.

Online art sources
One great part of searching for art online,are the many economical options that allow you to create a one of a kind look. Here are a few of Flora’s favorite sources for affordable online art:

Framing
Many of the art sources mentioned above offer framing services, but if I am looking to go elsewhere these are my top picks. 
Frame Ups – Contact Laura, she is the best and the price points are great!
Hang It – They offer installation services as well
As for less expensive options from retail shops, my favorites are from West Elm. These clean lined frames fit great into a transitional interiors, they have linen mats and a gilded finish. Another favorite of mine are these.


Other art styles
The artistry of venetian and other specialty wall finishes… I recommend Carter Averbeck of Trompe Art. I employ him for all of my project with feature walls, and areas of special interest. His personal sense of artistry and texture alongside his collaboration with designers and clients creates truly wonderful spaces.
A little something near and dear to my heart… 
Photographs by Flora, To each his own…

We hope this post inspires you to start sourcing and creating a collection of your very own for the new year! Thanks Flora!

Designers Giving Back

Tis the season of giving, that is why we are excited to share with you a philanthropy project by Kristen  Sheikh of Bruit de la Mode

FOR Parks 

The above photos are an annual philanthropic design that I take part in, its for FOR Parks. For Park, which stands for Friends of Roseville Parks, which  is a volunteer organization that supports the city park system of Roseville, MN. One of the annual fundraisers the organization holds is its Holiday Home Tour, where designers and industry professionals donate their skills and creativity to create holiday decorative spaces in usually two ‘donated” homes which are then opened to ticketed holders to tour.

This year’s briefing from FOR Parks was to decorate a small children’s play space, located at the top of the stairs in a two- story house. This space is open to the hallway on one side, with one window and was approximately 10′ x 10′. This was my fifth year in participating in the FOR Parks event, and my first time decorating a play space.

Kristen Sheikh is the 2012 ASID Emerging Talent award winner. Her interior design studio is located in Shoreview, MN.

Thank you Kristen!

Featured Chef and Restauranteur – John Schiltz of the Lake Elmo Inn

I recently had the honor of meeting with John Schiltz, owner of Lake Elmo Inn- Restaurant and Catering.

At a young age John had two passions in life, cooking and woodworking. While in high school John dabbled in both. At 16 years old John worked as a dishwasher at the Lake Elmo Inn. He also worked  at the high school cafeteria and took O.J.T. at a local cabinet shop.  While testing the waters in these fields, John didn’t find that he could express all he had to offer.  The one thing John knew was that he enjoyed being in the restaurant!  After graduating from high school John decided to attend the culinary program at St. Paul Technical College.  While attending culinary classes, John had the honor, from his peers of being “Most Likely To Succeed.”


After graduating college John spent the next few years traveling to different parts of the country, working at some of the finest restaurants.  After gaining more experience he landed a highly coveted spot at the Registry Hotel in St Paul. John had the privilege of working under a top German chef.  Eventually, John moved on to bigger and better things. 

It was in 1983 that John got word that the owner of the Lake Elmo Inn had put it up for sale. Although John was young, had decided to purchase the restaurant. John has now owned the restaurant for 29 years. In 2006 the restaurant underwent an extensive renovation to modernize and create more space for diners.

Over the years, The Lake Elmo Inn has grown to include many additional services and venues –

  • Lake Elmo Inn Restaurant
  • Lake Elmo Inn Catering & Event Center
  • Lake Elmo Inn Corporate Catering

The newly remodeled patio & restaurant:

If you could only eat one thing the rest of your life, what would it be
Beef, because there are so many varieties

Describe your dream kitchen in five words
Spacious, lake view, efficient, powerful appliances, and refrigeration

What is your comfort food
Hot dish or fried chicken, I really enjoy cooking at home for my wife.

Appliances you couldn’t live without

Tilting kettle, broiler, gas burner, and convection oven

If you could only have 5 tools in your kitchen, what would they be
Good knifes, cookware, food processor, tongs and spatula

What is a typical work day like
There are never two of the exact same days in this business.  I work 6 days a week and try not to work on Sundays, but usually I end up working for about 7-8 hours, which I consider a half day. A few weeks ago I had my first full day off in decades.

I wake up at 5:30 and get into the restaurant about 7 am and stay until the night crew arrives which is about 5pm. If we have a catering event,  those days are always longer.

If you could give a new cook, one tip what would it be
Concentrate and focus- it’s as simple as that…

If you haven’t eaten at the Lake Elmo Inn, you need to; and make it soon! 
It’s a truly magical place during the Holidays, just check out the amazing ornament display on the ceiling in the bar.

FAQs Regarding Working With A Designer- Part 2

This is part two on the topic, FAQs regarding working with a designer. We hope after reading this, you will have a better understanding of why hiring a designer not only gives you a beautiful home, but can also increase your homes value and functionally among many other benefits!

When should a designer get involved in a new construction project, why?

  This is actually an invaluable service that should always be considered.  From our experience it is critical to have all team players (contractor/builder, designer) in place during the early planning stages.  This ultimately results in a quicker process, a more thoughtful design and will help keep you on budget. 
Can a homeowner typically save money by purchasing furniture/ lighting/ accessories though their designer, how so?
  Because we have access to more product and receive better discounts through the showrooms, we are able to offer our clients a custom look designed uniquely for them for pricing similar to what they might pay in a retail store.  Our clients come to us in order to achieve a design that is different from the typical “Pottery Barn” look that their neighbors have.  The quality that the designer can offer will also be higher and the pieces will last longer.  It’s important to stress that a designer will help keep you from making mistakes which ultimately saves you time and money in the long run.  Our clients confirm this on a regular basis!
How does hiring a designer in “real life” vary from the ones you see on TV? 
  Oh wow….do you have all day?!?!  In reality, the design process is nothing like what most TV show portray.  Most of the time the shows are not addressing time frame, a realistic budget or the “dirty” work that it takes to get a job done.  This is a huge frustration for “real life” designers because many clients will come to us with unrealistic expectations and be disappointed with the dose of reality we have to give them! 
What are some questions I should ask a designer before hiring her/him?
  What is your process, how do you charge, do you work in a particular style, how will I purchase through you, do I have to purchase through you or can I purchase on my own, what types of vendors/artisans do you work with, do you have a website where I can see your work and learn more about you, do you have references, are you certified in a particular field of design, what is the best way to communicate with you?  The list could go on and on, but this is a good start and the designer should fill in from there. 
Can you give us an overview of the design process when hiring a designer?
  We typically start with an initial phone conversation which then leads to a first meeting at the clients home.  From there we discuss the scope and budget for the project and are able to get a good glimpse of the clients taste, expectations and communication style.  We then create (with the client) a comprehensive plan that will allow us to get their project finished on time and on budget.  Depending on the project (remodel vs. furnishings) we will estimate the number of hours that it will take for us to complete the design phase.  You can read more on this at our website at www.fiddleheaddesigngroup.com if you would like more detail. 
Thanks Fiddlehead Design Group! 

FAQs Regarding Working With A Designer- Part 1

We spoke with Andrea and Jen of Fiddlehead Design Group. They shared with us ten frequently asked questions about hiring a designer, here are their first five answers… more to come!

Why hire a designer? 

  Contrary to popular believe, hiring an interior designer can actually save you money, not to mention time and stress.  Your designer can help you break down your project into a manageable, step-by-step process and help you prioritize what to do first and so on.  For example, many clients will decide to change out their kitchen countertops only to realize down the road that they want to change the layout and/or other materials such as cabinets, back splash or floors.  Had they talked to us in the first place, we would have asked these important questions up front and created a long-term, comprehensive master plan that could be done in phases but in the proper order so as not to make costly mistakes.  In general, we like to create a master plan for all of our clients projects so that they know what needs to be done and in what order.  This helps them create a long-term budget and have the peace of mind to know exactly where to begin and end.   

How much will a designer cost?
  Most designers in the Twin Cities will charge an hourly fee for their services.  The amount varies from designer to designer, but an average would be anywhere from $85-250/hour.  Our hourly rate is $150 and you get both of us working on your project.  Depending on the project we are typically able to estimate the amount hours it will take.  If you end up purchasing furnishings from your designer, s/he will typically give you their designer cost price plus a mark-up.  Most likely you will not be paying retail price.   

How do I get the most from my designer and keep my project affordable?
  This is a really important question because the client actually has more control over this than they might think.  During our first conversation it important for us to get some critical information such as budget (most important), time frame and expectations so that we can create a plan to work with you in the most effecient way possible because we charge an hourly rate.  We always give our clients “homework” before we meet, such as creating image folders/files and a priority list which gives us intial direction and can save quite a bit of time in the long run.  We also encourage all decision makers to be involved from the beginning of the project. 

How long does a project take?
  Completely depends—don’t you love that answer?!  There are many factors that come into play here such as scope of project, logistics, and how quicky the client is able to make decisions.  We’ve had clients who are ready to go, who know what they like and can make very quick decisions.  On the other hand, some clients need much more time to wrap their head around each decision that makes up the overall project.  We typically try to keep the process moving so that the project doesn’t lose momentum which can be detrimental.   

How can an interior designer help add value to a home?

  Most good interior designers will also have a pulse on the overall market and home values.  Many of us work directly with realtors and can give our clients great advice as to where they can get the most bang for their buck.  This is especially important when doing a remodel such as a kitchen or bathroom.   

Stay tuned for more…

Holiday Decor

It’s that time of year again, if you were able to hold off on holiday decorating until after Thanksgiving congrats, I personally didn’t make it! There is something so special about holiday decor, maybe it’s because on no other occasion could you have a 3 foot brass deer, a vase filled with colorful bulbs or a quirky menorah.

We spoke with a local interior designer to get her tips on holiday decor done right.

Flora Brama of Revelry Studio has been creating custom designed holiday decor for her clients for years. Here are some stunning examples of pieces she has designed.

Residential Projects

Tips on decorating for the Holidays
  • Think beyond red and green, just because your decor isn’t typical holiday colors, doesn’t mean it’s not festive
  • Use natural elements found in nature to spruce up wreaths and trees
  • Add in a few unexpected elements such as a feather or a giant bow
  • When decorating a tree, don’t forget to place ornaments into the tree branches a little. You don’t want all the decoration on the surface of the tree
  • Add in sprigs, twigs, pine cones and ornaments
  • Temporarily place the decorations on a wreath when decorating, to get an overall look before making any permanent attachments
Commercial Projects

Thanks Flora!

Featured Designer December- Angela Parker

The featured designer of December is Angela Parker of Interior Places and Spaces.

Share your background
My background started out in college with an interest in studio arts, painting, drawing, then switched to interior design and architecture. Graduated from the U of M and served as a adjunct faculty for 7 years in the interior design program at the Art Institute Minneapolis. Currently, president elect of the ASID Minnesota Chapter, service community, and showcase house participant 7 years, 2 peoples choice awards. Specialize in residential remodeling, whole homes, media rooms, condominium conversions, travel companies and private dental clinics. NCIDQ certificate holder. 

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why
I would live in a remote climate with a view of the ocean preferably, Mombasa, Kenya or Belize City. I prefer locations with cultural influences and were a secondary language is spoken. The ocean is music to my ears and encourages me to learn another language, challenging my creativity and diversity. I have traveled to both East African and Mexico, and like them both. 

Describe your dream home in five words
Private, Healthy, Inviting, Comforting, Haven
What are your Hobbies
Writing, painting, drawing, reading, walking, entertaining and volunteering

Five things you can’t live without

God, family, friends, nature and water

What are your favorite local shops and restaurants

Shops: The Walker, 1/2 Priced Books, Filament Lighting, Your Arts Desire, Edina Art Center, and my local hardware shop
Restaurants: Biella, Crave, Crossroads Deli and Thanh Do

Describe one of your favorite projects
Joey and Jerry in Golden Valley. Addition included a kitchen make-over, powder room, great room, laundry and a master suite. 1970’s refresh with birch hardwood floors, custom windows, cabinetry and a barrel vaulted ceiling.
Kitchen Before
Great Room After
Kitchen After
Another favorite project
Library Before
Library After
Who are your favorite artist and furniture designers

Artist: Claude Monet- Impressionist style

Furniture designer: Barbara Berry
What is your favorite room in your home
My sun room, it is surrounded with windows on three sides, with a view of my backyards, which faces the west. It has douglas fir paneling and it is very relaxing

Fill in the blank, No room would be complete without…
Art and great lighting to complement the design of the space

What are your “go to” paint colors

Benjamin Moore Historical Colors

Thanks Angela!