Book Review -- Mary McDonald Interiors: The Allure of Style

Last week Mary McDonald came out with her first book Mary McDonald Interiors: The Allure of Style. I'm fairly picky about what design books to pick up because, not only can they often be on the pricey side, but they're often just...disappointing. Most interiors books are just picture books for adults -- all style and no substance (and sometimes even the style ain't that great). But, since I've

The Great Outdoors

Martha Stewart LivingLate August always has me dreaming of the cooler fall weather to come. By now I've had my fill of long, lazy, sweltering summer days (and nights) and long for the crispness of fall and the holidays to come. Unlike many areas of the country, Houston's best weather is from October through April, and it's during those months that you can find Houstonians enjoying their patios,

Style Essential: Stripes

Mary McDonald As most of you know, I'm a huge fan of using pattern in interior spaces and one of my favorite patterns to use are simple stripes. Sure, bold zig zags or suzanis are wonderful, but stripes are timeless, and a wonderful partner to florals, polka dots, ikats -- and yes, zig zags and suzanis, too. In addition to their ability to seamlessly work with almost any other pattern and in any

Anatomy of a Console Table

Sara GilbaneGenerally speaking, there are precious few "rules" when it comes to decorating. After all, taste isn't really a matter of following a prescribed list of "do's" and "don'ts", but instead a more elusive art form: it is emotional rather than logical. There's an often repeated mantra that good taste can't be taught -- and perhaps that is in fact the case. However,I firmly believe that if

Patterned Powder Rooms

Jonathan BergerI suppose I've been on something of a bathroom kick recently. After putting the finishing touches on my master bath last month, I painted my upstairs' guest bath turquoise last week. Next up on my bathroom "to decorate" list is the powder room. What I love about decorating powder rooms is how you can really go all out. Since powder rooms are separated and closed off from the rest

Pink: It's The Color of Passion

Philip TreacyTo quote Aerosmith: Pink it's my new obsession Pink it's not even a question Pink on the lips of your lover, cause Pink is the love you discover Okay, so perhaps pink isn't exactly a new obsession of mine -- in fact, I've showcased a number of stunning rooms that I have incorporated pink in the past (see HERE and HERE), but I haven't really waxed poetic about pink (until now). I

Trend Alert: Soft or Antiqued Brass

Palmer Weiss A few years ago the very notion of brass fixtures was positively revolting. The polished brass faucets, door knobs and shower enclosures that were all the rage in the late '80s and early '90s had become the ugly duckling of the design world by the late '90s and early 2000s as designers and builders began favoring bronze over brass as the new metal du jour. Despite this fall from

Trend Alert: Colorful Ceilings

Canadian House & Home, January 2010 There's a lot of talk in the design world about the dangers inherent in ignoring the "fifth wall", but honestly, I'd say 90% of the time a white ceiling is perfectly acceptable, even preferable. But if you're looking for some extra credit, then upping the ante by decorating your ceiling can really take your room to the next level.This month's issue of Canadian

Colorful Backdrops

Mary McDonaldIn the past 18 months, I've managed to build up quite the collection of virtual tear sheets -- rooms and vignettes that have caught my eye as I've embarked in the past year or so on my design self-education. Looking back over my many images (and trying to organize them in some useful way), I've begun to notice themes emerging, perhaps my own elements of style. Colors, patterns,

An Ode to Zig Zags

Mary McDonaldIt's no secret that I have a strong affinity for bold colors and bold prints -- and maybe it's just because that, like a toddler, I require a lot of visual stimulation (though I'd like to think that it's more attributable to an appreciation for bold, cutting edge design). Lately though, I'm increasingly drawn to zigzag patterns and I suddenly feel like I'm seeing it everywhere, be it

{New} Mary McDonald

The February 2009 domino spread of Mary McDonald's guest house made the California-based design an instant celebrity in the design world and pictures from the spreads made the rounds on the design blogs more times than I can count. And yet, despite her ever-growing popularity, McDonald's website remained...well, somewhat amateur with its scanned clippings of press and minimal online

Breakfast Room Inspirations

I thought I'd kick the morning off before my big trip with a little eye candy. I've been scouring the web for inspiration for a breakfast room with a built-in banquette and I've come across so many beautiful rooms I had to share. Don't you just wish you were sitting down at one of these tables with a cup of coffee, the Sunday newspaper and some peace and quiet? Canadian House & Home Phoebe

Inspiring Master Bedrooms

Mary McDonaldSo I found out today that the new house should be completed by late July -- about a month earlier than Dave and I had expected. Yikes! Suddenly, there's a renewed urgency in not only selling the current house, but in figuring out what I want to do with the new place. I find the best way to get in decorating mode is to look at beautiful spaces. Fortunately for me, more and more