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.........

Profiles in Design: Meet Kristina

Over the past few months, the design team at Laura U has grown by leaps and bounds. Because we have such a great design team with different design styles, and from such different backgrounds, it would be unfair not to have them involved in giving you a glimpse into our design world. Today, we start a new series: Profiles in Design: The Laura U Design Team. The first profile to be unveiled is our Senior Designer, Kristina!

Profiles in Design: Meet Kristina......!

Who are you and where are you from?:
I am the Senior Interior Designer at Laura U. I've been working in this industry since 2002, working in the Memphis area and in Chicago, prior to settling down in Houston.

Who shares your address (pets, child(ren), significant others)?:
I live with my amazing common-law husband slash fiance, Brad (aka B-Rad, or SugarBear). We are the proud parents of Ginger and Steve, both Chihuahua mixes, and three extremely overweight cats: Judy, Ramona and Annika. We had some hermit crabs for awhile, but our cats thought they were delicious.

Favorite restaurant:
We have so many fabulous restaurants in Houston, so it's tough to pick a favorite. Plus, the hubs is a major foodie (whatever that means), so we spend a lot of time eating out. We have sushi at Soma on Washington at least once a week. Tony Mandola's is a great spot for seafood and local celeb-spotting. I also love Mockingbird Bistro and Mark's for special occasions.

Outside the office, you can find me:
At a Flea Market. Going to concerts. Reading US Weekly. In my Arts-n-Crafts room, making pillows and jewelry.

Designer I'd like to meet:
Barbara Barry. What a classy lady. Actually, I have been a Babs Barry fan for a really long time. For starters, she really knows what she's doing RE: Interiors. Two, she was one of the first designers to branch out and start designing a line of EVERYTHING: including furniture, rugs, fabrics, lighting, tile, linens, dinnerware, etc., So, I have always looked up to her as a homegoods visionary. Plus, she always looks impeccable!!

Wish I had designed:
Coralie Bickford-Smith's line of hardback classics for Penguin Books, aka the Clothbound Series 1 & 2.

I can always watch:
Forgetting Sarah Marshall. It NEVER gets old or not funny. Spoiler alert, though: it is not for kids.

In the movie about my life, _______________ would play me because:
Chloe Sevigny, because she looks enough like me to be believable, plus she's a fabulous actress. I like her wack-a-doo style, which is comprised of mainly vintage clothing, and she's got that perfect mix of super-awkward, yet confident. Also, she tends to blurt out whatever comes to mind, appropriate or not, so we have that in common.

I own too many:
Cats.....does anyone want a cat?

Guilty pleasures:
I've started to let our housekeeper do the laundry. Although I feel like the laziest woman alive, you simply cannot beat coming home to a freshly folded stack of underpants.

If I wasn't a designer, I'd:
Spend a whole lot more time in my Craft room, and I'd probably start an animal rescue non-profit. I really, really love dogs.

My perfect day:
Late scrambled-egg breakfast with B-Rad before heading over to Fiori Spa for several hours poolside and mineral baths with my girlfriends. I come home later to watch Love, Actually and open up a giant box containing one of everything from the JCrew catalog.

....and that was your first Profiles in Design.....catch us next week, when we profile another fabulous face from the Laura U design team.....

Reflecting on a Ricoh...

At Laura U, we have a high energy group constantly running around fussing over a fabric here, designing a furniture piece there, loving this or that light fixture for a client’s home. Because we are fast paced, and have a growing team of design devotees, we found ourselves in need of that ubiquitous piece of office equipment, a rite of passage for any growing business: the copy machine.

With said copy machine comes great responsibility. Oh Ricoh, the impact you have had on our lives!

I did not realize how much “thinking” our interior design studio does on paper until I found that our lovely, “productivity enhancing” buddy cranked out endless pages... most of which ended up in trash bins after a brief moment in the sun (aka a client’s inspiration board).

Cue Recycling Initiative at Laura U!

We get excited about innovative design, and purposful design (as opposed to purely aesthetic design) is that much better! These smart little bags (thanks Kristina!) have had great impact in our office. They are simple in construction, charming in color, and get the job done. And they have a permanent home next to our favorite new friend, Ricoh the copier!

From Design Within Reach (and ON SALE right now!). Made of industrial-strength tarpaulin – a heavy double-warp fabric that is plastic-coated – the bags are waterproof and can be quickly washed out in the sink or outside with a garden hose.

Aside from our fabulous "tarpaulin" recycling bags, here are some other accessories that we love. And, being the responsible citizen of Earth that you are, I am sure you have some you would love to share with us! Please send us your faves!

From the GreenLoop.com, the Survive Design Bunny Vision Reusable Shopping Bag ($30 online).




Each of these darling pillows is made from an old suit jacket. "Some will have buttons, some will have a pocket, all retro awesome tweeds, herringbones and checks," says Hilary Cosgrove of Kingston, Ontario. She sells the pillows for $65 each.

These bottles were rescued from NYC restaurants and kept out of landfills by transforming them into these one of a kind glasses. From the Green Glass Company.

Third Annual Lilith's Spring!

Your Bachelor Pad!

So, you have finally decided to invest in your very own __________(fill in apartment, condo, home, loft, airstream, etc…). Congratulations! Now, how do you create a fabulous and functional interior for you, the single guy. How do you transform your drab space which is ubiquitously, if not regrettably, referred to as “The Bachelor Pad?” Here are three “to-dos”, three “do-not-dos”, and three “you-get-a-gold-star” tips!

To-Do!

· Invest in a large leather sofa in a dark, warm brown, possibly slightly distressed, with a track arm. *Do not, I repeat, do not buy a sofa with integral recliner or with cushiony arm pad cover things. Those are forbidden. Your sofa should be very comfortable for you, your buddies and the occasional “lady friend” to enjoy. Make sure your leather is stain-resistant. Edelman leather has a product that you can get anything out of (except sharpie marker… keep those out of the house)!

· Select artwork that compliments your style and space. This should be something you actually like as it will inevitably be a great conversation piece. They can range from an abstract painting you found in Italy to a photograph you took yourself. Please, have them tastefully framed in an understated way and arrange them neatly on the wall. Do not stagger your images as this can look confusing and amateur. If you have a set of three, line them up neatly and use a level.

· And, of course, you must have a flat panel TV across from your large leather sofa for gaming and watching sports. Make sure that the console you put below it is larger than the screen. You do not want this wall to feel top heavy. And just tell your “lady friend” you wouldn’t have a television at all but you just can’t miss all of your TiVO’d romantic comedies (P.S. You missed these while you were out volunteering/grocery shopping for your grandmother/cat sitting for your sister etc…). Call TJ at Audio Video Designs and he will fix you up!

Do-Not-Do! (*note - no images of these mishaps are provided because we have never done any of this and do not condone the veiwing of these items mentioned below.)

· Have too many colors and styles. Keep it intentional, simple and uncluttered. If you need help, please do not be afraid to ask. That’s what we’re here for!

· Grunge is no longer an accepted style – trust us, even though Eddie Vedder is still rockin’, the look went out in the 90s. Please keep your space clean for all to enjoy (or have a housekeeper keep you in check).

· Have action figures, cartoons or provocative mags lying around (you know the ones we mean). This is your chic retreat and you should begin to acquire nice cocktail table books and hard-bound literature, even if you don’t read it this week. Leather and rich-mahogany smell optional (but, just so you know, there is a candle for that!).

You-Get-A-Gold-Star!

· Lighting is important in any room. Install dimmers on some of your light fixtures to set the mood (and save money on the electrical bill)!

· Live plants guys! A real live plant allows others to see that you are responsible, nurturing and have the ability to take care of other living things. Choose hearty varieties like English ivy or even the lowly ficus (in a fabulous planter of course) that have amazing survival skills and can live through nearly anything.

· Splurge on tactile items like your sheets, pillows and blankets or anything your body will touch. Put a comfy throw blanket on your sofa. Yes, it seems frilly, and, yes, you will use it!

Had to add this right away!

I rarely find a furniture line so exciting that I have to tell everyone about it! The time has come - check out Boca Do Lobo. Fabulous design & amazing craftsmanship. Cannot WAIT to use this in one of our interiors!

A little bit of GLAM!

Chandelier by Brocade Home, vanity by Horchow, side chairs by Phillips Collection.

Sherwin Williams Color Swatches!

As promised... here are the Sherwin Williams paint colors corresponding to the looks below!



Interior Color Scheme 1: Red Cent SW6341 (above) and Distance SW 6243 (below)





Interior Color Scheme 2: Otter SW 6041(above) and Cajun Red SW 0008 (below)





Interior Color Scheme 3: Black Fox SW 7020(above) and Sassy Green SW 6416 (below)





Interior Color Scheme 4: Cultured Pearl SW 6028(above) and Fussy Pink SW 6853 (below)