The First - "Field Trip Friday"

Friday I went on a field trip with my friend and fellow designer Karen. 

 We headed up the road a bit to Ashland, VA.
This cute little town has several fun stores with unique finds.

Our first stop was Thrill of the Hunt.
 An eclectic store where they "up-cycle" furniture.
 I spotted this amazing deal on a Fremarc buffet.  

My friend Karen was interested in the old school maps for a client's child study area.
I loved the all weather colorful rugs.  (orange and white chevron hanging)

They carry the entire collection of Annie Sloan chalk paint and wax.  I was not familiar with this product until our visit yesterday when cute Christina showed us all the wonderful things about it.

  There is no furniture prep... no stripping, sanding, priming!  Just make sure your piece is clean!  Once the paint is applied you rub on a wax to make the finish glossy.
(see white chest in back left - half of the top is waxed, half is not)

 Another fantastic product they carry is O'verlays.
An adhesive decorative fretwork panel in various sizes and patterns
that can be applied to furniture, walls, mirrors and more.
(I met the owners last year at Blogfest in NYC so it was great to see their product represented in VA!)

Our next stop was Re-Funk-It.  A fun store with clothing, jewelry, sculpture...and more.

  I found the "re-funked"grapevine and bike wheel-xylophone keys 

chandeliers to be especially interesting.

We then popped into a few other stores and had a delicious lunch at the The Ironhorse.
After lunch we headed over to Gallery Flux where we were wowed by wonderful works
 in black and white by Natasha Karpinskaia and Helene Roberts.

And beautiful colorful landscapes like this one from Carol Anna Meese

 We finished off the field trip with a stop at Class and Trash on Rt. 1 just south of Ashland.  This was definitely a place where you might just find that diamond in the rough.  They had everything from a  garden trellis to a church pew with lots of little things in between.

Do you ever go on any "field trips"?   Share your favorite spots with me.
Be sure to "like" me on Facebook & Pinterest

Have a great weekend!
Kirsten
Kirsten Nease Designs 

It's been a while...

I must say the past few months have flown by!

I try to write once a week or every couple of weeks... 

but 3 months have passed!  YIKES!!!

I coach an amazingly adorable group of 6/7/8 grade girls! 

We had a super fun lacrosse season!

I still work during the season, but this group keeps me busy in the afternoons.

Be back soon with a great before and after sun room!

As always, follow me on Facebook and Pinterest!

(By the way, I have found Pinterest to be an incredibly 

helpful tool when meeting with clients and showing product. 

 No more wasted tearsheets! 

 See if you can spot the latest products I'm specifying for my clients.)

And browse my website...

Kirsten Nease Designs

Have a great day!

Thank you for the First 10 Years!

It's hard to believe Kirsten Nease Designs was founded 10 years ago this February.  

What started out as a business license to qualify my hobbies - painting, sewing, gardening, DIY, & design - has turned out to be a wonderfully successful regional interior design firm. 

(Yes - I painted, sewed and "designed" my daughter's room - circa 2003)

A special thanks must go to... my husband, Carl, for supporting me through thick and thin and to our three beautiful children for giving me their patience so I can be a Mom with her own business.

My business has grown to serve over 90 families - without whose support and trust I would not have been able to succeed as I have.  I am forever grateful they allowed me into their homes.

Traditional Entry design by New York Architect Crisp Architects

When I first started KND I had no idea that I would be writing a Blog and in the second generation of my Website.  Technology is moving at light speed.

 And then, just when I seem to understand how to incorporate technology into my business (download photos, create room plans, bill clients, update website, use social media to promote by business, write a blog) another update comes.  I welcome these challenges as I forge into the next 10 years.  

 The team of exceptional service providers with whom I work have made my job
 very rewarding and I thank them for making me look good!

 It is wonderful to see how my business has evolved and I look forward to the next 10 years!
  Thank you for your support.

If you would like assistance creating a stylish and comfortable home for your family please contact me.
Kirsten Nease Designs

To follow me on Pinterest click here
To follow me on Facebook click here

Jonathan Adler for Kravet

I was shopping for some inexpensive fun material for my client's "teen" room when I came across Jonathan Adler's new fabrics for Kravet at a local cut yardage store here in Richmond, VA. 

  At first I was not pleased as a designer to find a brand new designer collection discounted at a cut yardage store.  But then I thought a moment, why not? 

 Jonathan Adler is known for his hip and trendy home accessories and furnishings at reasonable prices.  His company motto is "Jonathan Adler is a design company dedicated to 

bringing style, craft,  joy, and a general feeling of grooviness to your home."  

So of course he would be found at Richmond Virginia's hip and trendy fabric store u-fab!!!

u-fab is located in the heart of Richmond's Fan district, 

also home to VCU School of Interior Design, 

one of the nations premier interior design schools.   

 The ladies assisting shoppers at u-fab were so upbeat and helpful - 

bringing me a great feeling of joy! (A true Jonathan Adler experience!) 

 When I received my receipt, it read,

 "Dear U-fab Customer, You have fabulous taste. 

 Thank you for your fabulous purchase!"

 Now who would not feel great about the fun material and great price they paid for it!  

Be sure to follow me on Facebook for groovy postings on the latest trends, 

Before and After shots of my design work and other great ideas I want to share with you!

Kirsten Nease Designs

Modern Art in a Traditional Setting

Do you love traditional furnishings but are worried your house is beginning 

to look like your grandmothers?  

These offerings from Oriet's Fine Art might be just the breath of fresh air you are looking for. 

"Emerald City" by Liza Hathaway Matthews

"Dancer" by Judy Hintz Cox

"Red Line" by Holly Cunningham

This private revolving art gallery presents an eclectic mix of unique and exceptional art from emerging and established artists both regional and international in scope.

More and more often we are seeing modern art paired with traditional furnishings.

This painting by Charlotte Parrino from New Orleans is part of her new series.  Charlotte's work has been in Southern Living as a featured artist.

Here is another by artist Judy Hintz Cox   

Her work has been featured in numerous publications including 

a cover spread on Kelsey Grammer featuring her work in InStyle

This work featured by Liza Hattaway Matthews

 was commissioned by me for my office at Kirsten Nease Designs.

All of these works are available through Oriet's Fine Art.  

Contact me for help in updating your collection or art!

Kirsten Nease Designs

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving!  

I was busy the day before preparing a window display in historic Carytown.  Sally Hirsch, owner of W. Hirsch Oriental Rugs, has renovated her store windows just in time for this holiday season.

   Worldy textiles with sophisticated patterns are mixed with organic items to allow for a restful moment in one's busy day of shopping.

 .  One feels right at home in this display where a ceiling tented in Cowtan & Tout sheer and gifts wrapped in the new Schumacher Luxe Lodge Wovens collection 

create a cozy retreat for your holiday home. 

Happy Shopping!!! 

 Don't forget to take a stroll down Cary Street in historic Carytown!

For assistance with your next design project contact Kirsten Nease Designs.

Selecting Marble & Granite

Natural stone is one of the most beautiful surfaces to use when 

selecting counters, back splashes or walls in your bath or kitchen.

It also proves to be one of the most challenging selections for many homeowners to make.

Each piece has a unique color, patina and style. 

 Some are dramatic and are works of art.  Others are neutral and nondescript.  Whatever you choose it must balance well with your cabinetry, flooring, wall color, tile and overall design aesthetic.  Often times it is the granite or marble that sets this design aesthetic.  

I personally love to browse the local stone yards.  

Every time I visit there is some new stone that catches my eye. 

This one has an etched impala pattern.

  Here are a few beauties I saw this fall when visiting Charles Luck, Marva Marble & Granite and Arc Granite & Marble.  I love when the stone is indoors vs. outside for viewing.  Not only because of the cold or heat that is inevitably at it's worst when I'm there but because it is so much easier to see the beauty of the stone under a consistent indoor light.

 

Do you see the hidden steer head???  Amazing what nature brings us.

  I hope you enjoyed the post.
As always, contact me when starting your next project
 to assist you with making your design selections.
  Kirsten Nease Designs