Profiles in Design: Meet Jennifer!

Design Profile: Meet Jennifer

Who are you, where are you from, etc.:
My name is Jennifer and I am a design intern at Laura U! While I am currently living in Houston, during the school year I go to Stephen F. Austin in Nacodoches. Next year I will graduate with a degree in interior design and art.

Who shares your address (dogs, babies, significant others):
My fiancée Kris and I have a house in Nacogdoches, we live there with our roommate KC and our 3 dogs.

Our dog Jake (the one wearing the tuxedo) is a lab mixed with an Australian cattle dog (we think). Kris picked him out at the shelter as a puppy.

Viewing Charlie sideways, is way more fun..... our oldest Charlie is a little Pomeranian. He is proof you can find bred dogs at the shelter! He is scared of thunder, lighting, and water bottles. He is very sweet and extremely loyal.

This is when we first got him; the poor little guy was naked.

He turned out to be quite handsome!

Our newest dog Petey (full name Peter Cottontail) was also a rescue. The shelter told us that he was wrapped in a trash bag and in a dumpster when they found him with a broken arm (who could do something like this??) He is the happiest of all our dogs, he jumps like a rabbit (hence the name) and can be a little terror at times, but he loves to cuddle and give kisses.

Prison Petey…just begging to be freed........ and yes! I do realize I am a crazy pet owner.

Favorite Restaurant:
This could be quite a long list I dare say. I love eating, I love going out to eat, I love eating and watching TV…you just can’t go wrong with it. No matter what you are doing if you add food it’s going to be fun. When it comes to Mexican food Casa Ole’ is numero uno. Then there is Chinese food, P.F. Changs wins this one and there is also a little hole in the wall place in Nacogdoches called Peking, which I just can’t get enough of.

Outside the office, you can find me:
Playing with my dogs, skyping the love of my life (who is currently in Wisconsin), planning my wedding, swimming at the pool (my number one favorite summer activity), or working on a nursery for my friend Ashley’s soon to be born baby!

Designer I'd like to meet:
Frank Lloyd Wright. He was an architect, an interior designer, a writer, and an educator. He did it all! He designed everything in his houses right down to the flatware. He was completely meticulous and super creative. Falling water is my all time favorite house. It’s contemporary, but still manages to fit in seamlessly with its natural surroundings.

Wish I had designed:
The Yellow Tree house restaurant in New Zealand, designed by Pacific Environments Architects Ltd. This is magnificent! I love trees and nature. I love bringing the outside inside. This structure encompasses all of that.

Even more beautiful at night.

I can always watch:
Friends or The Office - these shows will never stop making me laugh. No matter how many times I’ve seen an episode.

In the movie about my life, _______________ would play me because:
Kate Hudson, I just want to be her..... Kris also tells me I look like her and I pretend it’s true.

I own "WAY" too many:

SHOES: But I am with the school of thought that says I girl can't ever really have "too many" enough shoes.

My Guilty Pleasures:

I love to dress up. Halloween may have just beat out Sir Christmas as my very favorite holiday.

Lucky for me I found an amazing guy that loves to dress up with me!

Sometimes, we don’t even need Halloween as an excuse. This was for New Years.

And then sometimes I make my own costumes. This is me channeling Lady Gaga.

                                           My Motto: Life is just better in Costume.

If I wasn't A Designer, I'd:

Love to be a street performer in Honolulu. I would love to play all day at the beach and then go paint for people at night.  I also used to daydream about becoming a cake artist…I can’t get enough of those addicting cake shows. Ace of Cakes anyone?

Now if I could also find a job where I get to play with dogs all day…this would be ideal.

My perfect Day:

I wake up in a tree house in Australia. Kris and I have a delicious breakfast of biscuits and gravy. We then go swimming with dolphins and parasailing in the ocean. We eat a huge lunch of chicken sandwiches and pineapple. We spend the afternoon jumping into & off of waterfalls. That night, we get all dressed up and go shopping (with a million dollars that I find in the street) and then we eat the most delicious Chinese food I have ever had (Mexican food could also be supplemented here.......) The night will end with us falling asleep in a hammock swinging above the ocean gazing at the stars. now, that's what I call a Perfect Day!

That's it from Jennifer, stay tuned for our next Design Profile!

Profiles in Design: Meet Kellye

Next in our Profiles in Design series is Kellye, Junior Designer!

Profiles in Design: Meet Kellye......!

Who are you? and where are you from?

I am Kellye - Junior Designer at Laura U! I graduated from Texas State with a degree in Interior Design and a minor in Technology. I grew up in Houston, but I have also lived in San Antonio, Austin, and San Marcos. The parks in Austin are amazing, but Houston is still by far my favorite city!

Who shares your address? (dogs, cats, significant other)?:

I am currently dating the most amazing guy, Kyle and we have two German Shepherds - Sage and Braver (Braver means "good" in German) Sage is the big boy and Braver is the "little girl", who is really not a girl - go figure!!. We have had a blast designing and landscaping the new house together!

Favorite Restaurant:

My favorite restaurant is Marks; it used to be a church, which is pretty cool - the best American cuisine ever!! I love brunch, so my favorite brunch restaurant is Backstreet Cafe. I also could eat Sushi everyday for the rest of my life! (or Indian food!) - Taiko has the best Sushi!

Outside the office, you can find me:
Working on a new DIY project! Right now, I am repainting some chairs in a metallic color and reupholstering a chair!

                                Designer(s) I'd like to meet:

The set designers for Ligne Roset (furniture design company); they're photo shoots are amazing. I love so many images, it is really hard to pick one!

Wish I had Designed:

The Gardens at Loire Valley in France

Photo by ACM Photography

I Can Always Watch:

Cinderella! because she is able to talk with animals (my secret wish is to someday be like the dog whisperer). Plus, I have been told I can whistle like the birds… :)

In the movie about my life, ___________would play me because:

I think Mandy Moore would play me perfectly in a movie about my life. People have said we act alike, especially in the movie, “Because I Said So”.

I own too many:

Books! I love collecting books, old and new - I am just a book dork, seriously! I want to have a library full of anything I have read! I really wished the books that open up in the beginning of the old Disney movies were real.

Photo by Scott Frances

My Guilty Pleasures:

I love baking and I am always coming up with something new to create in the kitchen. My last experiment was wedding cakes! I loved baking and decorating them! But the only problem is that I tend to eat a ton of cake batter in the process - yummy!!

P.S. I Made This!!

If I wasn't a designer, I'd:

be a Graphic Designer  (I must admit - I would be designing). I think it would be a blast to design invitations!

OR I'd be the Dog Whisperer - I would love to train dogs - police dogs! (that’s why I own German Shepherds)

These are all my family dogs - I told you, The Dog Whisperer!

My Perfect Day!

Going on a walk with Kyle and the dogs through a really pretty neighborhood, eating brunch somewhere like Backstreet, complete with mimosas, hanging out by the pool and finishing the day off by going to dinner. Then out for dessert and cappuccino at another restaurant like Tony’s. (Hhhmmm… souffle is my favorite!!!)

Stay tuned while Kellye hosts our next design discussion.........

Define your Distinct Design Style II

After perusing the four styles discussed last week (Traditional, Transitional, Contemporary and Eclectic), you may have noticed that your Distinct Design style was not included. Don’t despair! Our breakdown of design styles continues! Below are three additional design styles and one may be yours… and if not, check back next week for more interior design looks.

Art Deco

Your style is grounded in geometry (ex. Fan motif), your color palette is based on black and metallics but is highlighted with rich hues like red. This is a theatrical style, which is why the look is right at home in today’s media and theatre rooms. This glam style is always fun and makes your home a favorite for entertaining! (photo of interior by Douglas Dolezal courtesy HGTV)



Hollywood Regency

The theme is luxury and your over-the-top style just oozes glamour! Designers pioneered this glitzy style in 1930s Hollywood but it has grown in popularity over the past couple of years. And who wouldn’t love the rich fabrics, posh accessories, and glittering crystal chandeliers of your decidedly luxe look? Don’t forget your high gloss lacquered furniture and fabulous mirrored pieces. It just wouldn’t be Hollywood Regency without them! (photo from "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day")



Mission Style (Arts and Crafts)
Your favorite piece of furniture was handcrafted by a local artisan and sits cozily in the warmth of your living room. Dark woods are accompanied by deep reds, yellows and oranges. You shy away from anything ornate and are drawn to clean lines, tectonic designs, and straightforward materials. Stained glass is an important feature of the Mission Style. Your glass is most likely abstract in style and glows with deep earth tones. (photo courtesy www.artisticlicense.org)

Define your Distinct Design Style!

You walk into a space and you instantly know it is your style. What is it about the design of this particular interior that makes it distinctly you? Are you drawn to the soft, monochromatic palette; is it the clean-line construction of the furnishings; is it the rich and collected mix of accessories? Here are four distinct design styles and their traits – one may just be you!

Traditional Style: Warm wood tones set the stage for your look. Rich colors such as emerald green and aubergine are balanced by the softness of peach and tan. Florals, Damasks, and paisleys grace your draperies, bedding, and upholstery. Tassels, fringe and bullion abound! You source your fabulous furnishings from England or the French countryside. Gilded frames surround your favorite still-life and landscape which are gorgeously arranged in every well-appointed room. (Image courtesy NLMDesign)



Transitional Style: You are straightforward, timeless and sophisticated. You love a muted, monochromatic color palette of cream, taupe, and tan, contrasted by espresso wood tones. But your look is anything but bland! Sculptural occasional furnishings, textured fabrics and accents of bronze or pewter add interest to your serene space. Contemporary, clean-line furnishings ground your look and every worldly accessory has a home. (Marriner Home by Laura U - photo by Jill Hunter)



Contemporary Style: A bold, abstract painting is the center of your universe! Your color palette is grounded in black, white, gray or cream. From there you may choose a muted color scheme or you may venture into an attention grabbing composition of primary colors. This exciting style embraces large graphics in art, accessories and area carpets. Furnishings lack anything considered unnecessary (such as carving or fringe) and are sleek and always intentional. (Kreuer Home by Laura U - photo by Jill Hunter)



Eclectic Style: You are a master of the mix! Pairing a Louis XIV chair with a contemporary Lucite side table does not phase you. You love a rich, relaxed yet surprising interior that is never fussy and does not hurt for a conversation piece. A color palette of show-stopping hues, myriad metallics, and, more often than not, a base of black and white, creates a cozy space reminiscent of Les Puces. (Photo courtesy Doug Meyers)