September 1, 2010
A Field Trip to Luxury – Kravet & Lee Jofa
by Leslie Hassler
I made it to New York today for the 2010 Business of Design Conference. This is my third year attending this bi-yearly conference. As a member of the Best Practices Network, I get the chance to put aside project work to work on the business, along with another 100 top interior design firms. I came up a little bit early to take advantage of a private tour of the Kravet/Lee Jofa design studios. And what a wonderful field trip it was. I definitely need to thank Steve Prada, Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Bob Beloff, Vice President of Sales for being our gracious hosts. And a huge thank you to everyone in the studio who shared with us their work and progress.
We are escorted through each line’s design studio and able to look at fabrics that are literally launching today, as well as lines and books that will take a bit longer to get to market. There are some exciting things coming to market, but I did see a few trends throughout the space.
The first is the use of yellow & gray color scheme.
Traditional Home - Decorating With Sunshine!
One of the studio’s highlighted Thom Filicia’s work with Kravet, which has some lovely yellow, grays and Ikat prints – Check out this video about the collaboration –
The other line introduction that I am very excited about is the partnership with Oscar de la Renta – very fashion inspired. Check out Kravet’s celebration of Oscar de la Renta.
Not directly on our tour, I was shamelessly snooping at all the fabrics around and found this lovely. This shot shows the Kravet fabric based on Oscar De La Renta’s skirt (on top). My mind is still spinning with fun ways to put this new design to work.
A beautiful embroidered and pleated silk from Kravet, based on Oscar de la Renta's design.
Luxury For The Home believes that true luxury is not about ostentation or expense. It is about simplicity. Sanctuary. Comfort. It’s the beauty that happens when everything, including you, has its own ideal space.
Are you ready to bring luxury into your home? For more ideas sign up for our newsletter, or to schedule a consultation, please call Leslie Hassler, at 281-701-2461.
August 4, 2010
Luxury Living: Outdoor Furniture
By Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Designer
So our next step starts with the fun part of the plan, selecting the furniture. There are many things to keep in mind when selecting your furniture. The climate, the exposure to the sun, materials – steel, aluminum, all-weather wicker and teak for example. You also want to consider the maintenance of the pieces. This is generally where I lose people. Maintenance for outdoor furniture, won’t it last forever? Nope. It is durable, but if you sat 365 days a year outside in the elements, I doubt you would be looking so fresh in a few years. So, invest in covers for the furniture and make the investment last longer. Also, consider the manufacturers warranty – sometimes the difference in pricing isn’t just quality, but it also maybe the warranty behind the product.
So along our journey with this project, we have an inspiration and a fabric scheme (click the links to check them out), so here are two options that would work for the project. Do you have a favorite?
Lloyd Flanders – Mandalay Collection, Restoration Hardware – La Jolla Collection, Dedon – Marrakesh Collection
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- Lloyd Flanders Sun Chaser
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- Lloyd Flanders – Side Chair
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- Lloyd Flanders – Sofa
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- Lloyd Flanders – Lounge Chair
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- Restoration Hardware – Side Chair
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- Restoration Hardware – Sofa
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- Restoration Hardware – Arm Chair
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- Restoration Hardware – Chaise
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- Restoration Hardware – Chaise
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- Dedon – Arm Chair
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- Dedon – Side Chair
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- Dedon – Side Chair
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- Dedon – Chaise
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- Dedon – Lounge Chair
Luxury For The Home believes that true luxury is not about ostentation or expense. It is about simplicity. Sanctuary. Comfort. It’s the beauty that happens when everything, including you, has its own ideal space.
Are you ready to bring luxury into your home? For more ideas sign up for our newsletter, or to schedule a consultation, please call me at 281-701-2461.
July 24, 2010
Luxury Living: The Great Outdoors Fabrics
By Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Designer
Today we are looking at the fabrics we want to incorporate into our outdoor area. Why do you want fabrics that have special treatments to be outdoors? Because you want them to last.   Fabrics that have been designed to withstand the outdoors are often more colorfast, sometimes act as UV filters, and are more durable than their interior counterparts. Advancements in digital printing has created a vast array of design choices and styles. The hand – that is how a fabric feels – has become softer too. In fact, you can get a variety of chenille, suede and velvets that are both durable and beautiful. Many of the fabrics also come with treatments that help resist stains due to spills and moisture. In addition, some of these fabrics are machine washable (although not dry-able) or clean up easily with a non-chlorine bleach solution.
So how long can they last? Well, that depends on a myriad of variables. What is your climate? Tropical, humid climates will wear harder on fabric than more temperate climates. What is the sun exposure to the fabrics? If your fabrics are exposed to the UV, all day long, all year-long. Well, don’t expect them to last all that long. They are fabrics, not kryptonite. To extend the life of the fabrics, protect them when they are not in use. (PS, this will help your furniture too). Also be sure to turn or rotate the fabrics so that the exposure is even on all sides.
Outdoor fabrics also have special treatments which help resists moisture and spills. They are very easy to clean with a non-chlorine bleach solution. Ok, so now for the fun.
Do you remember our inspiration? If not, check back to this post.  Now take a look at the fabrics we’ve pulled together for this outdoor area. The client’s home already has a French Country feel, but more with the yellow and red colorations, versus the inspiration’s blue and yellow colors.
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- Kravet – Kaylpso-Poppy
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- Kravet – Laura Ashley – Stencil Paisley – Poppy
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- Kravet – Laura Ashley – Sandy Lane
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- Perennals Outdoor Fabrics – Sunscreen Vellum
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- Perennials – Shimmer-Daisy
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- Perennials – Sheer Bliss – Blush
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- Kravet – Terry Chenille
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- Kravet – Terry Chenille
So will we use all these fabrics, probably not. But they are the foundations that flow from one to another, with some variations. I’m excited about the next step, furniture. Aren’t you?
Luxury For The Home believes that true luxury is not about ostentation or expense. It is about simplicity. Sanctuary. Comfort. It’s the beauty that happens when everything, including you, has its own ideal space.
Are you ready to bring luxury into your home? For more ideas sign up for our newsletter, or to schedule a consultation, please call me at 281-701-2461.
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July 22, 2010
Luxury Living: The Great Outdoors in Style
By Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Design
Welcome to our second installment of planning your outdoor space. This article deals with determining the style for your outdoor area. The outdoor area can be an extension of your indoor space either toned-down or pumped-up, it can be a transition point between your home and your landscape, or it can blend with the rest of your landscape design.
What I do recommend to you is to whichever way you choose to go, go with style! Seems like a strange comment? Well while doing research for this blog, I found the same style or cookie-cutter approach, over and over and over. Take a look at this.
I really want to encourage you to be inspired and think of new ways to use materials to support your PERSONAL style.   A designer that I look to for inspiration outdoors is Jamie Durie. One reason to look to his work for inspiration is the amazing amount of personalization he gives his client’s spaces. They are original and that is what your area should be ~ a personal statement of luxury.
A casual Tuscan feel to this dining area, welcomes you and your guest to a wonderful dinner.
This outdoor mecca, really brings the indoors out. It is sheltered with all the convenience of an indoor gourmet kitchen. The multiple levels to this area are just splendid and makes entertaining here an event. I especially loved the arc shaped firewood storage area.
A contemporary design that creates something special for the homeowner.
So what will our inspiration be for this project? It will be this lovely french country inspired veranda, featured in the June/July 2009 issue of Southern Accents Magazine (sadly a magazine no longer in production). I love the airy mood that is punctuated with the intense blue and vibrant yellow. I also love the bee hive scones – simple, elegant, and fresh.
Luxury For The Home believes that true luxury is not about ostentation or expense. It is about simplicity. Sanctuary. Comfort. It’s the beauty that happens when everything, including you, has its own ideal space.
Are you ready to bring luxury into your home? For more ideas sign up for our newsletter, or to schedule a consultation, please call me at 281-701-2461.
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July 20, 2010
Luxury Living: The Great Outdoors
By Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Designer
Although it is a bit warm (or wet, depending on the day) in the Houston area to entertain outside, we still do take advantage of the extended daylight and casual summer attitude. And if you have a pool, you are definitely taking advantage of the outside. Regardless of how much or little you are entertaining outside right now, most of our year is perfect for being outside.
Creating your outdoor oasis involves more than some tables and chairs, it involves the same planning as you give to your kitchen, dining and living areas.
We’ll go through the basics of planning your space, then head on to the thrill of bringing in style and finding the perfect products and solutions for your space.
For the next few series of articles, we are going to work with an actual backyard we consulted on. The client had the same desires as many people have. The needed an area for sitting and viewing the game on the TV, they wanted a dining area, a cooking area, a place to relax around the pool, and something pretty to look at while we’re at it.
So join us as we create a little magic. Grab some pictures of your own backyard and a notebook to keep your ideas in as we virtually transform this yard.
Luxury For The Home believes that true luxury is not about ostentation or expense. It is about simplicity. Sanctuary. Comfort. It’s the beauty that happens when everything, including you, has its own ideal space.
Are you ready to bring luxury into your home? For more ideas sign up for our newsletter, or to schedule a consultation, please call me at 281-701-2461.
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July 12, 2010
The Luxury of Remodeling
By Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Designer
The economic situation of the past couple of years has created a culture where we pay more attention to what we spend and where we spend it. Personally, I practice what I preach here. For the home, I believe in investing in quality pieces that will last. I’d rather have a few great pieces versus lots of “stuff” that will fall apart within the year.
But the recent times has also created a bit more nesting in us – staying home and enjoying what we have, as well as clearing out what we don’t use.
While all of this staying home may be enjoyable, it also reminds us more of what doesn’t work very well in our homes – an awkward kitchen, a bathroom that’s too small or a poorly designed closet. Rather than move, it’s a great time to invest in remodeling.
While you are spending money on an interior designer (we hope you consider calling us) and the remodel, the investment will pay off in dividends. Not only will you add to the value of your home should you want to sell it, you will receive greater value from the remodeled spaces every day. That is worth every penny that you invest in the project!
With that – here are the top 10 areas/items that you should consider improving in your home
1.  Kitchen – This is still the heart of the home, the room remembered the most by your friends and family. Simple improvements in design and technologies can change this room from a room where you work, to a room that works for you.
BEFORE
AFTER
2.  Flooring – While you should be maintaining your floors at least once a year. Consider renovating them through re-finishing and replacing at least once every 7-10 years. Remember stained carpet isn’t exactly welcoming.
3.   Walls – Many people move in to a home, only to never repaint the interior to the home over the years. Enamels yellow and walls become marred with time. Painting your home is an instant makeover. Love your furnishings, but feel the need to freshen it up? Painting is the first step.
4. Master Bathroom – Let’s face it, life isn’t becoming any less demanding between work, family and extracurricular activities.  Shouldn’t you have at least one room that helps you to relax and retreat from the outside world?
BEFORE
AFTER
5.  Entertainment Rooms – Do you happen to have one of those rooms where the cords from the Wii hang out everywhere, 10 remotes for the electronic equipment and never enough space to play a game? Consider the improvement that an entertainment room can have on your home and your family.
6.  Home Office – The complexity of our lives and the flexibility of work today means that the desk in the kitchen just isn’t going to cut it anymore. The luxury of the home office helps to provide solitude to work and a central hub to all of your homes and families activities, finances and schedules.
7.  Outdoor Entertaining – My husband and I laugh at our parties. They are very rarely small, with people everywhere. As we continue to entertain our friends and family, the outdoor arena is increasingly more important for seating, play and cooking. It is also a great way to increase the livable square footage of your home.
8.  Window Treatments – The sub-tropical climate of Houston sends our power bills skyrocketing every summer. The sun’s rays also create havoc on the fabric of our drapery treatments, whether through fading or through fiber erosion. Invest in drapery treatments to act as a barrier between your power bill and the heat of the summer. Simple renovations are panel rotations and regular cleaning of the drapery treatments.
9.  Kid’s Bedrooms – Always a popular project, help your child’s room grow and reflect their personality and needs as they themselves grow.
10. Master Bedrooms – Usually the last project for most people, it can be one of the most beneficial to your sanity and even your marriage!
If you are in the Houston area, we’d love to talk with you about areas in your home that need some attention. Whether you use us or not, we would love it if you could share your before and after pictures from your remodel. We all love inspiration from others!
Luxury For The Home believes that true luxury is not about ostentation or expense. It is about simplicity. Sanctuary. Comfort. It’s the beauty that happens when everything, including you, has its own ideal space.
Are you ready to bring luxury into your home? For more ideas sign up for our newsletter, or to schedule a consultation, please call me at 281-701-2461.
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May 4, 2010
The Luxury of Time Off
By Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Designer
Well only rarely do I get time off from work and from being a Mom. But that happened last week, thanks in part to my mother 
, as my husband and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary in Puerto Vallarta. I think the PV may be my most favorite city I have visited in Mexico. There is a slightly European feel to the city, walking is easy, everyone is fairly friendly. During our visit, I had two revelations.
The first is that Puerto Vallarta is a city of textures and patterns, from the sidewalks to the river and everything in between. The second revelation is that if you want to experience every sales technique in 3 days, PV is your city. That’s not a knock at the town. The people of PV work very hard, they know that their economy is supported heavily by tourism. It just struck me how technically skilled they are at the art of sales.
But the textures of the city are really what would occupy my walks. Take a look at these pictures.
The raining white flowers at Cafe Des Artiste. What a better way to celebrate your anniversary than to have a lovely meal outdoors while white flowers fall from the sky?
I loved the combination of green and yellow. The colors are bright and abstract all at the same time.
A view of balconies off the River Cuale. The patterning to the open tile walls changed every unit or two, creating a patchwork quilt effect. Quite the contrast to the "Cookie Cutter" approach of building.
While enjoying an ice cream cone along the Malecon, I marveled at the vibrancy created when the surf splashed along the stones.
The tile floor from the lobby of the hotel. PV stone work includes a variety of ways to incorporate pebbles (a local resource) into their floors. This pattern is probably the most popular pattern in PV.
Palm Tree bark. I kept trying to sketch the texture and variations that exist in a single truck of a Palm Tree.
Another photo from the restaurant. I loved the dappled leaves of this tree. It made for a gorgeous canopy these images and from the sketches of the city's ironwork.
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April 29, 2010
Luxury Living: Children’s Rooms #3
by Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Designer
The third segment really deals with the walls. As with every other room, I like the walls to be a background that spotlights what is happening in the room. That doesn’t necessarily mean a neutral wall, but it often means a color that is a bit more subdued and/or a complimentary color for the rest of the room. But children’s rooms are often highlighted with murals, and they can be beautiful.
But as your baby grows up and starts to have varied interests, that mural might not be appropriate for them anymore. So then what? Well, take a look at some of the other options there are for you.
At The Track - Wallies.com
These vinyl appliques come on a sheet and you place them on the wall as you see fit. I love the bright colors!
Another option is to use art as your mural. I’ll admit, it is difficult to find larger art for a child’s room, but that same muralist could always paint a mural on a large canvas, instead of directly on the wall. When your child is ready to move on, then you can find another purpose for that art. I loved these two prints. You still get the “theme” but this will be more likely to last in your daughter’s room.
Ballerina Art - Horchow.com
Lastly, I had to share this one, just because it is so fun! And because it is right up my 5-1/2 and 4 year-old’s alley. What better way to add a little impact?
T-rex - Wallmuralmania.com
Luxury For The Home will design and decorate the nursery of your dreams.
Luxury For The Home believes that true luxury is not about ostentation or expense. It is about simplicity. Sanctuary. Comfort. It’s the beauty that happens when everything, including you, has its own ideal space.
Are you ready to bring luxury into your home? For more ideas sign up for our newsletter, or to schedule a consultation, please call me at 281-701-2461.
April 25, 2010
Luxury Living: Children Rooms #2
by Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Designer
Today’s luxury tip is the importance of quality furniture that can grow with your child.
I love convertible furniture. There are many options out there, but some of my favorites for the investment include Stanley Furniture. Take a look at these options. Again, really how many pieces of furniture to you want to purchase. I recommend purchasing a quality piece that can grow with you. Your child will really want to personalize once they get to their tweens/teens. Why not have a piece that can last until then?
Stanley Furniture - Young America - Built To Grow Crib
Another great example, these beds will transition your child from a crib, baby bed and full-sized bed.
Posh Tots - Mirabelle Convertible Crib
This last crib will only get you through the infant and toddler years, but it is such a great look for the modern or contemporary home, I just had to share!
Luxury For The Home will design and decorate the nursery of your dreams.
Luxury For The Home believes that true luxury is not about ostentation or expense. It is about simplicity. Sanctuary. Comfort. It’s the beauty that happens when everything, including you, has its own ideal space.
Are you ready to bring luxury into your home? For more ideas sign up for our newsletter, or to schedule a consultation, please call me at 281-701-2461 .
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March 12, 2010
The Luxury In Reducing
By Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Designer
You know when I think of reducing, I’m usually thinking about the reading on the scale. Or some of those bills I hate to pay. But today let’s just talk about reducing in the terms of energy.
The four parts of your home that consume the most energy are going to be heating/cooling, kitchen, bathrooms and laundry. I don’t know about you, but we’ve done the basics of an automated thermostat, and yes my husband sets it higher/lower than I do. And yes, since I’m female, I do feel entitled to bump it up or down according to my temperature at the moment.
So barring a new system, we’ve already replaced 25 windows in our home and have planned for new insulation in our 30 year + home. But what I’m really planning for is the kitchen. It is the heart of our home. It opens to the living room and breakfast area. I can see the boys playing outside, it is where everyone congregates, it is where we cook and we do cook. We bake bread, make homemade pasta (nothing occupies two little boys like cranking the pasta machine), we sauté, we experiment, we contemplate working our way through Julia Child’s cookbooks. But do you know what? Our kitchen stinks! Stinks to high heavens!
We have the original 1970’s cabinets; we don’t even have the clearance under the cabinets to push the pro-style Kitchen Aid mixer under the cabinet. And yeah sure, the pantry is “extra-deep”, but why does that matter when the shelves are only 12” wide. But do you want to know what the bane of my existence is in this kitchen? The dishwasher.
As we have grown as a family, different things have become important to me. Right now, I want to stuff it full, I don’t want to have to scrub or pre-rinse and I only want to do 1 load a day for goodness sakes.
But this is March, our focus on going “Green”. So can we find a dishwasher that is a workhorse, looks good, and is energy and resource efficient?  I do believe we can.
By definition, an efficient dishwasher is going to be energy-efficient and use water sparingly. It will offer you capacity (think tall tubs & XXL tall tubs) and it will offer you the world in customization. Washing China? No Problem. Only washing a ½ load? (As if) No Problem. Want to air dry? No Problem.
So welcome, I’ve done some of the research for you. And looking at the models and the ratings they receive from the Energy Star website, along with my personal opinion, I’ve narrowed it down to 3 models – 2 are ASKO & 1 is a BOSCH.
The higher ranking really goes to the ASKO D5893XXLHS. It has 12 cycles, uses 187 KW/yr, and 3.8 gallons/cycle. It has 3 racks with a ton of ability to adjust, holding 17 place settings.
Asko Dishwasher, D5893XXL
The Bosch, holds 15 place settings, but has a bit better energy efficiency (180 KW/yr), uses a bit less water and has 6 settings. It is quiet and it has three internal trays. Bosch didn’t have an image of the inside of the dishwasher for me to share with you.
Bosch SHX68E05
But my favorite is the ASKO D 5253, a bit of both worlds. It has the energy efficiency of the 5893. It only has 6 settings, but still can hold 17 place settings and can be found for about the same cost as the Bosch. This is the one that will make it into my new kitchen. In fact, it may make it into my kitchen before the rest of the “new kitchen.”
Asko D5253XXL
So what is your checklist for a new dishwasher?
- Energy Efficiency
- Water Consumption
- Tub/ Place Setting Capacity
- # of Cycles
- Price
And really, price should be one of the least considerations. The dishwasher does not represent the major investment for your kitchen, but it is the one of the most used appliances in your kitchen. So think about it, make the investment that will save you money and time at every use.
The luxury of reducing
By Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Designer
You know when I think of reducing, I’m usually thinking about the reading on the scale. Or some of those bills I hate to pay. But today let’s just talk about reducing in the terms of energy.
The four parts of your home that consume the most energy are going to be heating/cooling, kitchen, bathrooms and laundry. I don’t know about you, but we’ve done the basics of an automated thermostat, and yes my husband sets it higher/lower than I do. And yes, since I’m female, I do feel entitled to bump it up or down according to my temperature at the moment.
So barring a new system, we’ve already replaced 25 windows in our homes and have been planning for new insulation in our 30 year + home. But what I’m really planning for is the kitchen. It is the heart of our home. It opens to the living room and breakfast area. I can see the boys playing outside, it is where everyone congregates, it is where we cook…and we do cook. We bake bread, make homemade pasta (nothing occupies two little boys like cranking the pasta machine), we sauté, we experiment, we contemplate working our way through Julia Child’s cookbooks. But do you know what? Our kitchen stinks! Stinks to high heavens!
We have the original 1970’s cabinets; we don’t even have the clearance under the cabinets to push the pro-style Kitchen Aid mixer under the cabinet. And yeah sure, the pantry is “extra-deep”, but why does that matter when the shelves are only 12” wide. But do you want to know what the bane of my existence is in this kitchen? The dishwasher.
Let me be clear. As a child, my job was the dishes. I have a theory – that which you were made to do as a child, you detest as an adult. I HATE dishes. So, we are in our third dishwasher in this house, our third in 5 years. As we have grown as a family, you know, different things have become important to me. Right now, I want to stuff it full, I don’t want to have to scrub or pre-rinse and I only want to do 1 load a day for goodness sakes.
But this is March, our focus on going “Green”. So can we find a dishwasher that is a workhorse, looks good, and is energy and resource efficient?  I do believe we can.
By definition, an efficient dishwasher is going to be energy efficient and use water sparingly. It will offer you capacity (think tall tubs & XXL tall tubs) and it will offer you the world in customization. Washing China? No Problem. Only washing a ½ load? (As if) No Problem. Want to air dry? No Problem.
So welcome, I’ve done some of the research for you. And looking at the models and the ratings they receive from the XXX, along with my personal opinion, I’ve narrowed it down to 3 models – 2 are ASKO & 1 is a BOSCH.
The higher ranking really goes to the ASKO D5893XXLHS. It has 12 cycles, uses 187 KW/yr, and 3.8 gallons/cycle. It has 3 racks with a ton of adjustability, holding 17 place settings.
The bosch, holds 15 place settings, but has a bit better energy efficiency, uses a bit less water and has XX settings
But my favorite is the ASKO D 5253, a bit of both worlds. It has the energy efficency of the 5893. It only has 6 settings, but still can hold 17 place settings and can be found for about the same as the bosch. This is the one that will make it into my new kitchen. In fact, it may make it into my kitchen before the rest of the “new kitchen.”
So what is your checklist for a new dishwasher?
- Energy Efficiency
- Water Consumption
- Tub/ Place Setting Capacity
- # of Cycles
- Price
And really, price should be one of the least considerations. The dishwasher does not represent the major investment for your kitchen, but it is the one of the most used appliances in your kitchen. So think about it,
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