The New York Design Center houses a large collection of high end furniture showrooms, accessories and other interior design products that I use to source options for my clients. With many design companies in the building, it is a great resource and a convenient location for me to bring clients to see samples of the furniture I am proposing, or to collaborate on new ideas based on the range of pieces available for us to view. Grange is a well constructed furniture line based in France that has its origins in cabinetry that I have included in some of the homes that I have designed.

For the DeBear Designs Vignette, my husband Elliot was the inspiration for my manly themed master bedroom! Golf, cigars, sports cars, cognac-the finest past times for the finest man! What is a master bedroom without an inviting bed with lush, beautiful linens, soft pillows and great art? Warm inviting sea foam green and Weimeraner beige enhance the beautiful cherry woods of the furniture. The only missing part is his Black Labrador! Paired with the Grange furniture some of the feature elements of the room include a contemporary rug by Roubini www.roubini.com, Italian linens by Casa Del Bianco www.casadelbianco.com and original art by Callamari Fine Art www.callamarifineart.com. I thank all of the companies who generously contributed to the Vignette and for their best wishes in a successful showing. A special thanks to Frank Ritter of Ritter Photography www.ritterphoto.com for taking the great photos of the Vignette that are posted here.

If you are in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by the showroom at the New York Design Center, 200 Lexington @ 33^rd Street. The Vignette will be on display until August.

And if you do visit, I would very much like to hear your impressions and feedback. You can post your comments right here on my blog!

Also, please be on the look out for future DeBear Designs blog posts. And don’t be a stranger…if you have any questions regarding interior design or feel you need help in conceptualizing a design plan for your home or office, please let me know.

Thanks and Regards,

Carol

Last year, I decided to literally extend my living room outside two sets of French Doors by renovating a porch that is off the room. I added a new weather resistant Mahogancy floor, fresh paint, ceiling fans, an area rug and comfortable outdoor furniture. Now my family uses this space that in the past sat empty. Our living area is increased during the good weather without having the expense of building an addition or remodeling. Since it is conveniently located off of one of my main family living areas, it is easy to access. It also allows for overflow of guests when entertaining and creates a small division for privacy when my children have their friends over or my husband and I entertain. To extend the period of time that we can use the porch, I found an electric heater that heats a 12 ft radius.  Along with taking the chill out on a cool Autumn day, I really like how visually appealing it is – it blends right into the porch decor.

Start dreaming about your new outdoor spaces and make a plan to spruce them up this spring! I promise this will make the winter seem to go a little bit faster. One of the sites that I used for inspiration was a website that is dedicated to porches: http://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com/three-season-porch.html

If you would like help with designing the porch of your dreams, contact us at DeBear Designs.

Porch Image Source: Veranda Magazine, Thibault Jeanson

Northgate Traditional Electric Floor Heater - Endless Summer