Brittany, Lauren, Judy and Hilaire joined others from the local Cary area to celebrate the re-opening of Opulence of Southern Pines at  Saltbox Village last night. This re-opening happened after a horrible fire left the first store completely damaged from all the flames and smoke.

The move couldn’t come at a better time. This new location is perfect, right next to the fabulous  Write Image, and a couple doors down from Cary’s hottest new neighborhood butcher “The Meat House” .

Owners Neal and Tanda of Opulence of Southern Pines with Cary Chamber of Commerce President Howard Johnson for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

This is an amazing rainbow of color made from towels!

Brittany, Lauren & Hilaire

It was raining outside!

A beautiful display of red and coral pillows, right in front of the luxury linen line – Sferra.

As we browsed at all the new items, these two floral pillows wowed Brittany.

And what would be a party without a raffle! Above Judy with her poppy hand towels that she won.

Get the DVRs ready! Design Lines will be on “My Carolina Today” a local television show March 16th at 11:00am on channel 6 (NBC 17). This premiere will showcase the work we did along with Eidolon Designs, Taps & Latches, Gonzalez Painting, Select Forest Products Flooring, ICI Paints in Cary and Sun Protection to build the set design for the show.

The show will grow through the construction process and even showcase a time lapse. There are interviews with Judy and the rest of the team. It is really neat, you must check it out and let us know what you think!

We will also have the show on up on our YouTube Channel so you can view it later if the ever infamous DVR doesn’t work and you are stuck at work!

A few years ago I was working with a client who was looking for a spool chair.  While I’d seen them before, finding the perfect one piqued my interest.  And I’m convinced that Hickory Chair has the best spool chair I’ve seen.  Others have tried to imitate, but their designs aren’t nearly as classic.

It would work wonderfully in a library or seated next to a fireplace.  But, depending on the fabric and finish, the look can change completely.

Thanks to the advanced technology on Hickory Chair’s website, you can picture any of their pieces in the fabric and finish of your choice.  Simply click on the “Personalize this Item” button at the top right side of a product page, like this one.  At Furniture Market, we saw this chair in a playful black and white paisley.

Aside from the great looks, it’s made to last.  Handcarved in North Carolina from Mahogany, it’s also very comfortable!

Even the First Lady agrees.  (Michelle Obama selected a pair of these chairs for the White House!)

Lauren

While I was at The Persian Carpet in Chapel Hill, I found this beautiful runner that worked perfectly with the color scheme of a project I’m currently working on.

Although it’s a new piece, it’s made to look like an old runner made in Asia.  I love the pomogranate motifs and the greek key-like border.  The short pile to gives it a warn look at a much lower price than an antique rug.  Unfortunately it is too long for the project I intended it for, so you can see it for yourself at their showroom.

Steve and Barak helped me find the perfect rug for another project while I was there.  (They are standing beside one of their camels in the picture above.)  You can easily recognize their store front on 15-501 with the camels in the windows!

One of our clients in Olde Raleigh was looking for a colorful rug for their formal loving room.  This one worked perfectly with the drapery and pillow fabrics we’d already selected.  The sofa and chair shown will soon be reupholstered with fabrics that pull colors out of the rug.

And here is their dining room rug that we also selected at The Persian Carpet.  The needle-point like fabric on the dining chairs is by Old World Weavers through Stark.

If you are looking for a rug, we’d be happy to help you select one to go with existing furniture or select furniture and fabrics for a whole new look in your home!

Lauren

Just last week, Molly and I had the opportunity to meet with a rep from Atlanta’s J Nelson design showroom.  He mentioned that what he had to show us wasn’t cheap, but that it was worth it.  I think we were both a little hesitant, but in the end we were wowed!  Beaumont & Fletcher has some of the most remarkable embroidered fabrics – check them out!

Here’s a sample of embroidery on leather!  The dimension and detail is incredible!  The stripe design would be perfect on the lead edge of a drapery panel.  (But I probably wouldn’t do window treatments in leather; they embroider any fabric of your choice!)

This traditional pattern might be done in a monochromatic scheme, but there are so many different grays in the threads when you look closely.  Other patterns better show the use of many different colored threads.  These embroideries combine color like a fine rug!

For a more contemprary and completely unique look, they even embroider with metal threads!  Below, the same pattern is done on suede and on burlap.

This design uses metal threads as well, with Svarovski crystals sewn in!  Beautiful!

Here’s a detail view – the craftsmanship is incredible!

I mentioned that they aren’t cheap – BUT you could get a lot of bang for the buck by simply doing a pair of pillows with one of these patterns!  And if you’ve limited your emboirdery use to a set of monogrammed towels – take a second look!

Until next week – Lauren

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to visit one of our new construction projects in windy Blacksburg, Virginia.  Situated beautifully atop a mountain, the European manor style home feels more like a comfortable fortress.  The duties of the day included an electrical walk through with the electrician as well as finalizing the paint schedule with the client.  The most satisfying part of the day was seeing this door that Judy & I had designed: come to fruition in real life!

Did I mention the spectacular view?

Be sure to check out Design Lines in other states, like New Hampshire, here!

-Brittany

On February 26, 2010 at the Marbles Kids Museum in Downtown Raleigh, BGM Creative Group accepted a bronze Addy Award from the local American Advertising Federation (AAF) Raleigh-Durham chapter, for their efforts on the award winning interior design firm, Design Lines Ltd. website.

The ADDY Awards are “the world’s largest and arguably toughest advertising competition. The ADDY Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world.”

The partnership with BGM Creative Group started almost a year ago. We knew our website and blog needed a face lift and after the initial meeting we immediately knew BGM Creative Group was a great fit for Design Lines. Judy Pickett owner of Design Lines says, “With very little input from us, Bryan was able to nail it from the start. He knew exactly what we needed even though we didn’t know it.”  Our original thought was to create a site that was fresh and timeless while also giving the viewer an unforgettable experience.

At the beginning of the process we gave suggestions of websites we loved and also ones we terribly disliked. Hilaire, the Communications Director at Design Lines and Bryan, the Executive Creative Director at BGM Creative Group, continuously went back and forth on the communication matrix and strategies. The creative direction Bryan gave was superb. Judy and the rest of the team was there every step of the way giving feedback and offering perspective.

We are thrilled to be a part of this wonderful success and cannot say enough about what the site has done for the success of the firm.

We only hope that you continue to visit our website and stay a little while. Better yet subscribe to our blog, so every time we post you will get an email right in your inbox. See you can get hooked to Design Lines!

March is all about CURRENT PROJECTS! We have several “before and afters” to highlight including a couple guest bedrooms, a local television set design and a family room.

We also will have updates for you on projects that are still in the works! This is an exciting time here at the studio.

Laurie, our Business Administrator, who knows all the operations of the firm; will be interviewed this month for the Designer Profiles.  

There will also be two introductions to the Guest Blogger Series: two local businesses Eidolon Designs and Taps & Latches in Garner.

Oh and we can’t forget that we will be introducing our television segments on “My Carolina Today.” You got it, behind the scenes of the team on set and even the chance to follow on our “on the air” segments for the best interior design tips.

So hurry back, grab a cup of coffee and a nice blanket as we settle in for the March blog posts.

Judy was honored today at the Business Leader Media Triangle Luncheon for the 2010 Top 50 Entrepreneurs in the Triangle. All 50 winners represented the community in and around Raleigh. The Design Lines team is very proud of Judy and all her accomplishments since she started the business in 1979! Judy was nominated by Ashley.

Way to go Judy!

Performing Arts meets Interior Design!

Design Lines was spotted out last night at the Durham Performing Arts Center to see the eight-time Tony award winning production of Hairspray. Judy and Hilaire are avid supporters of the performing arts and when the invitation arose they just couldn’t resist. You might have remembered seeing the 2007 movie revival with John Travolta, MichellePfeiffer and Queen Latifah.

One of our recent projects was coming up with the set design concept for the newest local television show on NBC-17 called “My Carolina Today.” You might have seen promos running during the Olympics. I know I have! The hosts of the show are Sharon Delaney, Page Crawford and Valonda Calloway.

We were thrilled to be a part of the creative process of constructing the set design. Next Tuesday we will bring to you  the “befores & afters” with a big extended post on the whole project from start to finish. It was a very rewarding and fun experience working with the team at NBC-17.

Plus, check us out on air as we give you and the greater Raleigh community the best advice in interior design.You can catch the show everyday starting March 1st on NBC 17 at 11:00am right after Kathie Lee & Hoda. We will let you know in advance when we will be on so you can DVR it if you are at work.