For all our North Carolinian fans tune in to NBC 17, Friday, September 17th, at 11:00am, as Judy and John Rufty from Rufty Homes, Inc. talk to Page from My Carolina Today on sustainability and green design.
Current Project: This Olde Farmhouse Update
An update on the 1800’s farmhouse project! We want to share with you the most recent pictures from the furniture installation. The “farmhouse” themed furniture creates an inviting and restful space. The leather wing chair, country occasional chair, and burlap ottoman (shown in another picture below) came from Hickory Chair.
The country occasional chair (shown above on the left) is adapted from an antique rocking chair which is just perfect for the room.
Displayed in front of the TCS straight arm sleeper is a unique coffee table. What looks to be a coffee table is actually an incredible 80 year old find. This piece is actually a hand made flour bin with original hand-wrought-iron handles. With an addition of a custom iron base and hand-cut glass this Sarreid piece is also doubled as a display case for the antiques and mail found within the house during demolition. (Keeping all the artifacts from the house were important to the client.)
The other antiques and paperwork displayed throughout the house are framed by Bev’s Fine Art .
(Above left) We can’t do our job with out him, Lewis our installer hangs framed antiques on a wall just outside the bathroom door. (Above right) Ashley places old mail, newsletters, and receipts from the 1930’s, ’40’s and ’50’s into the flour bin coffee table.
The original door hardware is replaced with an almost exact replica. (Shown above). The cream porcelain knobs give this farmhouse a touch of personality.
(Above) Are several other pieces of framed artifacts the clients found during demolition.
The master bedroom is a great retreat for guests or even the out-of-town grandparents. The poster bed and beautiful arched armoire from Hickory White were finished in distressed woods, while the client’s mother saved a stunning floor length mirror and rocking chair to help complete this cozy bedroom.
The exterior of the house, the kitchen island, and landscaping are still under construction, but as soon as these items are done this farmhouse project will be complete! We will continue to update you on the progress.
Click on the dates to read previous posts on the unique story and history behind this 1800’s farmhouse – July 28, 2010, July 9th 2009, and August 20, 2009.
Living the Mission Award for September Goes to Molly & Ashley
Molly and Ashley received the “Living the Mission” award yesterday at staff meeting. Judy gave the award to Molly for her tireless effort in extreme client development this past month and Ashley received the award for her extreme client care.
Congrats and thank you Molly & Ashley for all your hard work!
(Below is a picture of the award that is passed on each month. Who doesn’t want a sparkly lime green ruler?! I know I do!)
My Carolina Today TV Show: The Accomplishments of 12 Oaks in Holly Springs
Check out our most recent segment on My Carolina Today of Molly and David Mason, the General Manager at 12 Oaks . The video highlights their accomplishments and how they re-energized the development in Holly Springs. Enjoy!
Design Lines Featured in Southern Lady Magazine & Carolina Parent Magazine
We are delighted to show you our most recent press in the September/October issue of Southern Lady Magazine and the September issue of Carolina Parent.
Southern Lady Magazine, highlighted the firms successes and Judy’s hard work over the past 30 years, while Carolina Parent focused on our recommendations for sprucing up your deck/patio just in time for Fall.
Copies of the Southern Lady Magazine can be found at your local Barnes & Noble. We recommend calling first and if they do not have a copy of the magazine, we suggest calling Southern Lady Magazine directly.
Carolina Parent is a free local newspaper to the residents within North Carolina. You can usually find copies right outside the grocery stores. I have always had luck at Whole Foods.
We are so thankful for all the press we receive. Thank you Southern Lady Magazine and Carolina Parent!
Current Projects: Reimagining a Whole House- Part 2
From the living room, we proceeded onto the family room:
To reimagine this space we had 4 driving considerations:
1- The Space Plan: We eliminated the arched niche above the fireplace (not shown in the before picture) and placed the tv above it. Built-in niches are on my least favorite things list, and having two focuses- the TV and the fireplace- was confusing & distracting.
2- Function: We considered who would be using the space- the clients have one young child with baby no. 2 on the way. Before there was no space to store toys or any floor space to play. Now a beautiful chest that looks like an antique holds dvds, books, and toys. Wicker baskets with lids conceal a whole loot of toys and slide under the Parson style drink tables. Easy to move leather ottomans (they’re always in a different spot each time I go over there) can pull up to any seat, can seat guests, or nest together so that play time on the rug can happen anytime. For entertaining, the space can now seat 10 people as opposed to 5.
3- Size & Scale: We worried about the large room with windows and archways and multiple traffic patterns swallowing up the furniture. We added more pieces of furniture in better sizes- a custom length long sofa and loveseat with smaller arms. A modern wing chair takes the place of a bulky chair and a half and ottoman. Large format digital art helps ground the sofa on the wall.
4. Light in this room before was a problem. A mirrored top cocktail table and interesting lamps with white shades (rather than amber shades) helps the space immensely. Art makes the walls appear brighter.
also: Schumacher’s Mandalay Tree printed linen shown on the modern wing chair inspired the color palette for the whole space.
Still to come: the dining room, changing the nursery for baby no. 2, and the Master Bath
-Brittany
My Carolina Today TV Show: Segment 6 Will Air on 9/3
For all our North Carolinian fans tune in to NBC 17, Friday, September 3rd, at 11:00am, as Molly and David Mason, the General Manager at 12 Oaks , talk about their accomplishments and how they re-energized this growing neighborhood development in Holly Springs.
Here is a previous post from our blog on the project.
Judy & Hilaire Are In-Route to NYC
Judy and Hilaire are in route to NYC for the Business of Design 2010 conference from Designing Profits, Inc. They always come back energized! This conference is the equivalent to receiving ivy league business school training. They learn new high-level business strategies, hear from inspirational speakers within the interior design industry, panelists and of course network with other successful interior design firms from all over the country.
This time around they are going to hear keynotes from Tobi Fairley “one of the Top 20 Young Designers in America for 2009,” luxury experts Steve Nobel, Pam Danziger, and Adam Japko.
Hilaire will keep you updated throughout their trip. They might even squeeze in a few hours to shop or site see!
images: 1. Joe Buglewicz 2. Alex Lopez
Get Hooked: The September Forecast
As we retreat and savor the last few days of summer, we have a wonderful September editorial calendar for you.
As always we will bring you exciting current projects (including an update on the 1800 Farmhouse), more posts on the Guest Blogger Series and the East-2-West Series. What cities will we have next? You will just have to wait and see!
Judy and I will also be live from New York City as we will learn key business strategies and hear from luxury market experts at the Business of Design 2010 Conference. Check back on the blog for continuous updates, Hilaire has got you covered.
Enjoy our video segments? We will have two more videos this September. Judy and Jon Rufty of Rufty Homes, Inc. will talk about sustainability and green design, while Molly will talk about our accomplishments out at the 12 Oaks Development in Holly Springs.
And last but not least, we are thrilled to share with you some of our recent press in Southern Lady Magazine and also Carolina Parent.
So are you ready? We ARE! Grab some coffee and settle in.
P.S. I almost forgot, if you haven’t joined our Facebook page yet, you should!
image: Modenus Blog