• What a fabulous success the artists day opening was to our Adventures in Art Show. With inspiration from the desert southwest, over 30 Arizona artistsexhibitvarious works from acrylics, and oils to encaustics and wooden sculptures. The show runs thru April 21st at Contents Interiors showroom.

• If you don’t have a room exclusively for your television, a concealed TV may be the answer for you. Whether it is at the foot of the bed or in a dual-purpose room, the plasma lift unit can solve a multitude of decorating dilemmas. With custom Shoppe, you get to pick the kind of wood, the size, the style, the finish, the hardware and you furniture will be made in Wisconsin. Take pride in buying American made products.
• Enjoy this video as Custom Shoppe manufactures a Plasma Lift Unit.

• Do you sometimes suffer from Goldie Locks and the Three Little Bear’s syndrome while shopping for a comfortable lounge chair?  You tried Papa bear’s chair, only to find it too hard for you. Mama bear’s chair is too soft and you can’t even get out of it! Then there’s Little bear’s chair…well you know the story.

• You see the Three Little Bear’s had an interior designer who found a chair with the comfort, seating style and body size that was just right. Their designer also found out that the best way to find a comfortable lounge chair is to shop locally, so you can sit in the chair.

• It is easy to assume that one chair fits all, but that’s not the case. For example:

• People with long legs want a deep seat that is high off the floor; people with short legs want a shallow seat depth that is lower to the floor. A deep pitch of the back of the chair allows lounging, while a narrow pitch makes you sit straight up. The width of the seat should fit your “bear” bottom. A lot of us spend a great deal of time sitting so our chair should be comfortable. That is why you need to call on the bear’s interior designer.

Carol Bell

• For many years, artificial succulents have been very popular with our clients. Often times, there is a need or desire to get more color into your environment. Inspired by a natural floral arrangement that I saw, I have incorporated colorful flowers with the succulents to create a fresh look in permanent botanicals

by Sharon Novak, Allied Member ASID

Contents Interiors

1. Think about your comfort.  How will you use the space?  Is the space for kids and  fun, for grown-up entertaining, a place to relax, or all of the above?
2. Consider the views from the house and toward the house.  Your outdoor space has to relate to your interior but also be a place that draws you outside.
3. Create a focal point by paying attention to the details.  Are there comfortable chairs and a place to set a glass?  Good lighting is key for afternoon parties that extend into the evening.
4. Pots should vary in height and be filled with plants that are fragrant as well as colorful.  Select an evergreen  plant that can be there year-round, and then add  flowers and a trailing vine to keep the pot looking current.
5. Keep herb gardens close to the house and kitchen.  They are beautiful as well as handy when you need them  They also are a fragrant foundation for a fresh arrangement.

by Carol Bell

• Spring High Point Furniture Show is always one of the most exciting markets every year. After a year of “the same” over and over again, the manufacturers came out with some fresh new looks for this market. After years of showing brown leathers, brown fabrics, brown finishes, everything is getting lighter.

• For those of you that remember the 80’s, light or river washes finishes are coming back. These finishes are combined with neutral fabrics, including linen. You’ll be surprised to learn that linen was being combined with leather for a fresh new look.

• In the modern world, gray remains important and in Milan it was being shown with accents of lilac. So if you are inclined to be trendy, it’s gray and lilac for you.

• Tamara and I got a little carried away with all the new and exciting looks. Many will arrive this summer and others will be arriving in the fall. I will definitely keep you updated.

Carol Bell

• The ASID Annual Gala for the Design Excellence Awards was held Jan 30th at the fabulous new Ritz Carlton of Tucson. “Putting on the Ritz” was a black tie affair so Tamara, Jerry, John and I got dressed up and joined the celebration. What a grand evening it was!

• Tamara and Sara Smith entered a fabulous Kevin Howard designed home at Stone Canyon into the competition for “Residential Space over 3500 sq. feet” and their contemporary design took home first place.

• Tamara also entered the Mesquite and iron dining table into the Product Design category and won third place award for it.

• Please enjoy the photography by Robin Stancliff of the award winning design.

Design Statement

• The interior design team focused on using design elements and furnishings that would give continuity to this contemporary two-story residence, which featured curved walls and expansive glass windows in every room. The designers used a linear arc motif repeatedly in the structural elements: steel arcs inset in interior wood doors; clear silhouettes cut into sandblasted privacy glass; and an arched-steel facade on the curved fireplace.
• The interior designers worked closely with the architect to specify hard finishes and structural designs to compliment the complex structure. Custom furniture designed specifically for the home include a free-form mesquite cocktail table, a boat-shaped mesquite and steel dining table, and several shaped wool area rugs.
• Sleek, contemporary lighting was specified to add seamless style and function, without creating straight lines. Monorail tracks follow curved halls in the house’s center to illuminate the owners’ art collection.

Living room

The selection of curved furnishings gives a sensuous conversation area that floats dramatically within the expanse of glass windows and stone walls, focusing onthe spectacular outdoor view.

Dining Room

The repetition of curved lines and ribbons of color tie the custom designed dining table and area rug together. The ribbon of inlaid metal flows through the center of the indigenous Arizona mesquite dining table.

Wet Bar

To echo curves and angles of the home, in the small  bar area, the designer gave an asymmetrical shape to the raised portion of the granite bar.

Kitchen

Handsome cabinet and island design were the result of working within the curved walls of the kitchen.  Touch of a switch controlled the extensive lighting plan throughout the house.

Master Bedroom

Layers of fabric in the curved alcove soften the harsh Arizona sun while the colors give a relaxing element to the master bedroom.

Den

The large silk light sculpture serves as a focal point as you enter the room that serves as a home office and over-flow guestroom. The chic green color palette compliments the earthy tones in the stone and wood.

Powder Room

The natural organic atmosphere of the powder room is achieved with the custom curved cabinetry, selection of quartz tile, textured glass vessel, and asymmetrical lighting. All the interior doors of the home were designed with a linear inlaid stainless steel motif, which enhanced the curved theme of the house.

Patio

The design team created distinctive seating and dining spaces in the four outdoor living areas with a selection of contemporary furnishings, bronze sculptures and the stoneware planters.

Carol Bell

• In many of today’s homes, the Dining Room is an extension of the living space forming the popular Great Room. When choosing a table for your dining area, check the available space and how you use the space. Do you entertain often, how many people do you need to seat, will you be serving in the traditional manner or in a buffet style, are all questions that you should ask in selecting your table

• In this example, an uninspiring dining room is given a new look with an ‘Earthy meets Modern’ dining table made of recycled Peroba wood and certified harvested mahogany. The big artwork doesn’t overshadow the beauty of the table, yet gives the dining area a distinctive personality of it’s own. Don’t be afraid to let your dining area become a focal point in your home.