Inspired!
Wesley-Wayne Interiors is Dallas interior decorators Carl Lowery and Cody Glover. Check back often as we share before and afters, design trends and tips on home decoration. Wherever inspiration strikes, we will pass it on.
Fashionable Fall Updates
September 20, 2012Believe it or not, Fall has arrived. The evenings and mornings have been so incredibly beautiful and there is no better time than now to start thinking about entertaining family and friends. Are your home’s interior and exterior living spaces prepared? Have you kept up to date on furniture and fixture fashions? Will even your closest family walk in and think (to themselves, of course), “this room looks dated?” If you are not ready, there is still time.
Whether you want a complete makeover, or just some well-selected replacements, there are so many ways your interior designer or decorator can help you update.
New custom bedding for your Master or guest bedrooms is certain to bring fresh life to older furniture such as dated beds and nightstands.
Then, maybe changing a couple of pieces of furniture in the room, like the nightstands which certainly don’t have to match the bed always gives a more “collected” feel to the space and is so much more interesting. These carved chests with stone tops could go with many different styles from traditional to modern, with ease.
For your dining room, a simple, yet very dynamic change would be to replace the captain’s chairs with large upholstered ones. How dramatic, and very comfortable. Everyone will want to be at the head of the table.
In that same room, or anywhere there may be a server, sideboard or console, just changing your lamps to ones that are unique and a little over-scale will help create flair.
While on the subject of lighting, as you know, in most homes the builder budget for chandaliers is lacking. Usually you end up with lights from a “group” where everything looks the same and are way too small. Try changing a few of the most dominant fixtures in your home….and WOW, what a difference.
Now, let’s look underfoot, whether your flooring is in perfect condition or not, is wood or stone, a beautiful handknottted rug can tie everything together and, if needed, hide imperfections. This one with wool and silk, also brings so much light into the space.
Another very important way to bring fresh light and even color & personality to your custom home is by adding original art pieces. And, here is where you can really think outside the box. Mix traditional furnishings with modern art and vice-versa. Not everything has to match or be of the same stlye, period or color range. These two selections could easily be in the same home.
Fabrics are so important in design. They are usually the inspiration for entire color schemes and style direction. So, it only makes sense that if you are trying to achieve an updated feel, you change some fabrics. New throw pillows, new coverings for your sofas and chairs and for the most impact fresh window treatments and custom draperies can make it seem you’ve moved into a new home.
While considering all these design changes to the interior spaces of your home, let’s not forget the outdoors. Fall, even winter and certainly springtime in North Texas is an incredible opportunity to entertain outside. Adding comfortable, plush seating will make those evening gatherings, or morning coffee so much more enjoyable. There are many options, but here is one of our favorite collections. There are many fabrics from which to choose.
With all these update options, there is no reason for you to be unprepared for Holiday entertaining. Let your interior designer guide you through the process and you’ll be so proud of your family’s home. Whether it’s new custom bedding, furniture, draperies, lights, chandaliers, rugs or all of the above….have a fun and fashionable season.
A Game and Media Room Makeover, Dallas Cowboys Style
August 15, 2012Game and theater/media rooms are the perfect place in design projects to really focus on what causes excitement within a family and how they enjoy entertaining themselves, friends and business associates alike.
As we toured this 3 level house, located on a private lake in North Texas, at the bottom of the stairwell we rounded the corner to a massive open concept entertainment area. There was room for a pool and poker table, multiple seating for the theater screen, a spacious kitchen with bar and easy access to the great outdoors.
Only one problem, the room was decorated in red and these new homeowners along with all the family are huge Dallas Cowboys fans.
From Gray to Fresh, A Formal Dining Room Transformed
July 19, 2012Recently, a client asked that we update her formal dining room. She’s more laid back, informal, and enjoys color. The existing dining space was gray, a little too contemporary and overall “blah” from her perspective.
The client wanted a space that her kids, grandkids and many friends could enjoy, without feeling out of place or overwhelmed. Yet, the room is in the entry of the home and still needed to have a touch of formality. Here’s the result of our collaboration.
Getting here was no easy task and took many talented people. First the wall finishes, papers & paint colors had to go.
The Entry (or is it the Foyer?)
June 16, 2012Call it the Entry or the Foyer. Either way, this area of one’s home could be considered the most vital from a guest’s perspective. It is here that a designer sets the vision for the remaining interior spaces. The old saying, “first impressions…” works perfectly in this scenario.
Recently, while coming up with an overall design plan for a client’s vacation home, we realized that this particular entry had to not only be beautiful…but, it had to “WOW.” So, we commissioned an artist to paint an 8′ x 10′ canvas with a Tuscany scene….
As you can see above, the “after” is certainly spectacular.
Fine Upholstered Furniture, Dallas Made, A Family Tradition
May 14, 2012One of our favorite, go-to, furniture manufacturers just happens to be a local, Dallas based, family owned company. Which makes our relationship that much more enjoyable and practical. Massoud Furniture, established in 1963, is used by interior designers and decorators when value as well as fine furnishings quality is a requirement for their upholstery needs.
When separating fine furnishings from all the other, it is very important with something you “sit” on, to not only look good…it needs to be comfortable and it needs to last. Chuck Massoud says, “When we start designing a frame, we consider how it will look with a variety of fabrics and leathers.
From Dallas to the Coast, No Packing Required
April 15, 2012Normally, one does not think of the coast when pondering Dallas, Texas design. Most interiors around the Metroplex are adapted for in-land living. And, given that we are in the heart of “Tuscan, Old-World” land….lighter colors, softer fabrics, laid-back coastal living could be hard to come by.
But…never say never.
Clients, Michael & Susan were vacationing and relaxing on an east coast island a few months ago, perusing Dallas interior decorator websites….when fate took hold. Landing on our www.wesley-wayne.com site, they reached out to us and requested a meeting upon their return.
Our Favorite ‘House Beautiful’ Living Rooms
March 16, 2012Design inspiration comes from various sources. It may be an object, something in nature, a color or just a fleeting thought that transforms into a plan. But, sometimes, even designers are inspired by their peers and by pictures of projects they’ve completed.
Recently, House Beautiful, selected 55 of their favorite living rooms from past publications. There was a broad range of style, furnishings, colors, fabrics and design theories. However, the one compelling similarity that we see, is each project was complete. The client allowed the designer to “go all the way.”
We were inspired by 10 of these awesome rooms.
A Flower Mound, Texas Refresh (Before & After)
February 11, 2012Recently, a potential client called (from a referral of course) and shared that she had purchased a home in a beautiful gated community located in Flower Mound, Texas. She loved the location, loved “most” of the house, but, hated a few things and certainly hoped we could help change that. What a difference a little “nip and tuck” can make to an otherwise perfect place.
Take a look at these before & after pics, starting with the kitchen. Notice previously there was a very simple wood header over the stove and an average island light fixture. Now check out the awesome cast plaster range hood that melds perfectly with the original cabinets.
Master Bedroom Inspired by a Spa Resort
November 15, 2011We recently returned from the beautiful Mexican Riviera Maya and its so hard to get that relaxed, spa feeling out of our heads. As usual, we stayed at our favorite resort, pictured here.
Resort and Spa
How nice it would be to wander out of the office right now, down to the water, lay out on a beach bed and nap the afternoon away.
Beach Bed
But, since most of us cannot make that happen on a daily basis, one of the most oft requested looks that we get for master bedrooms is the “spa” or “resort” feel. We think what that means is the client wants a refuge from the rest of their day and usually a different feel from the rest of their home.
Wesley-Wayne Interiors chosen for Icon Vallarta Project
October 14, 2011We were recently elated to hear that our Dallas, Texas design firm was chosen by a Toronto, Canada based real estate investment group to help complete their two luxury condominiums in the award winning Icon Vallarta development.
Under the design direction of world renowned Philippe Starck, as Creative Director for Yoo, this development of three unique towers is one of the most sought after residential spaces in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, www.iconvallarta.com .
Our client, Rene Livingstone of Sarlat Properties, www.sarlatproperties.com certainly had a vision for their two condos, a two bedroom in Tower II and the other a three bedroom in Tower III.
Is your Dining Room ready for the Holidays?
September 3, 2011Successful family gatherings are almost always centered around something to eat. Now, as fall is just around the corner, it is the perfect time to consider updating your dining room and kitchen for those memorable and exciting holiday dinners.
When considering the interior design of these areas, as with all others, it is so important not to forget any layers of the overall plan. These include rugs, the table and chairs, buffets or servers, lighting, wall color/texture, artwork, accessories and most importantly custom drapery. The fabrics in a room make all the difference in comfort and style.
Our Favorite Things; A Dallas Home Furnishings Market Preview
June 22, 2011The summer 2011 Dallas Home Furnishings market has begun and we’re very excited to see all the new furniture, art, rugs, accessories, and so much more. Every market brings the extraordinary opportunity to expand our design direction. With these everchanging styles, it additionally presents the ability to broaden our clients’ perspective on decorating themes and standards.
We would love to share a few of our favorite finds at this summer market. From a fresh look at colors, to a fresh look at the Texas Longhorn, from gaming tables to cocktail tables, we’re inspired and hope you will be too.
Designer Furniture…Made in America
March 17, 2011Well, its been over a month since President Obama’s State of the Union speech and no matter what your political leaning, we think everyone is ready for a complete revival of the USA economy. One of the points the President made during that speech (Buy American Products) has stuck with us here at Wesley-Wayne Interiors and we wanted to share some of our thoughts.
The idea of buying Made in America goods is certainly not a new one. Many political leaders for generations have stressed the importance of that act. But….fortunately, few have had an economy like this one to provide greater impetus and incentive for doing so.
Why You Might Need a Designer
February 11, 2011Hi, and welcome to our first entry into the world of blogs. We have long resisted the social media frenzy, but with the roll-out of our new Wesley-Wayne Interiors logo and website, we couldn’t hold out any longer.
How appropriate for this new venture’s first blog to be about why you may need the help of a designer. It’s a question many clients ask themselves or each other, sometimes long before actually taking the step of calling us. It’s also one that has a pretty simple answer.
If you think you need a designer….you do.
Just imagine a home, without a builder or, a pool, without a pool company or, a media room, without the technological gurus.