Designer Crush: Ruthie Sommers

Today's designer crush needs no introduction.  Ruthie Sommers has been featured in Lonny Mag, House Beautiful, Veranda, and countless other publications, and has captivated the design world with her playful, bold style.  Sommers' work has been relished on design blogs ad nauseum; however, I couldn't resist sharing her work with you.

{Ruthie at home with her dog, Bear}

Ruthie Sommers is an LA-based interior designer and watercolorist who is a master at mixing contrasting elements and styles in the homes she designs.  Her aesthetic is laid-back and chic, whimsical yet elegant.  From the interviews I have read about her and from her personal bio on her website, she seems like an incredibly humble, happy person- the kind of gal you would want to be close friends with!

{Ruthie's daughters stand on an antique settee upholstered in Quadrille's Aga Reverse fabric in their California home}

{You've probably seen this gorgeous glassed powder bath before.  The intricate floors and floral detail on the mirror creates a one-of-a-kind space.}

{So much to love here- the red glossy walls and Stark antelope carpet create a luxurious sitting room}

{This colorful, mod sitting room shows Sommers can do whimsical design just as well as elegant}

Ruthie's personal bio (in her own words) makes me love her all the more.  Here's an excerpt:

Every bio sounds the same to me. Including mine. So here is the deal.

My car is filled with fabric samples, old coffee cups and crumbled up paint chips.  My office is not the beautiful neat organized office you may see on the pages of a magazine. The glossy white walls and perfectly p-touched folders are an illusion. I am proud of the homes I have decorated. I think they look wonderful on my website. But people live in them and there are stains on the ottoman and the peonies only make it to the mantel for the photo shoots and parties. I feel my success comes from something one can not photograph. The most fun I have  aside designing sassy bars and cute powder rooms, is creating livable rooms and becoming part of someone’s family. I watch their purse carefully and in return I gain trust.  And a great house is the outcome.

So . . . I am just a decorator. Big staff, great store or small garage office... I have not changed. I have realized that my goal is not do so many things in this industry that I forget to decorate. I still schlep lampshades in my car and the highlight of my day is going downtown to check on carpentry in an old warehouse. Glamorous this job is not. However, I live and breathe to have a relationship with a home and the people that live in it. My goal is not have people remark at parties that Ruthie designed the most amazing aubergine lacquered room. But it is to hear that they were treated carefully, honestly and creatively. And that . . . is all I need.

Ruthie... can we be best friends?

Chic Site Alert: Black Crow Studios

Have you guys heard of Black Crow Studios?  You have likely seen their beautiful, custom murals around the web, but a proper introduction is definitely needed.   The company specializes in custom wall murals that resemble wallpaper.  Guided by the belief that everyone's personality is different, Black Crow loves working with each individual client to create a look as unique as they are.  Here are some of their mural installations, many resembling large watercolor paint strokes:

{Lonny Mag}

In addition to doing entire walls, they can create custom murals for furniture pieces, like this screen, or framed murals that can serve as artwork:

Here are a few close-ups of custom wall murals they have done before (that I love!):

Black Crow Studios also offers beautiful wallpapers by the roll and sells some of their watercolor print designs in their Etsy shop.

I loove the malachite wall mural, and think it would be perfect for an entryway or powder bath.  Which is your favorite?

{all images, unless noted otherwise, via Black Crow Studios}

Sponsor Spotlight: Jamie Herzlinger Interiors

Hello my dears!  A happy (late) Monday to you.  Did you have a good weekend?!  I had a blast in Dallas, best represented by the fact that my voice is completely gone.  What can I say?  When you get to spend time around 50 of your favorite design bloggers, sometimes things get rowdy.  Today I am excited to share a new venture one of my blog sponsors has recently launched.  Jamie Herzlinger is an award-winning interior designer based in Scottsdale, Arizona and New York City.  She focuses on luxury residential design, and has been named as one of "Top 20 Interior Design Firms" by Traditional Home.    Here are a few of my favorite spaces Jamie has designed- how glam is her aesthetic?

 In addition to working as an interior designer, Jamie also created Jamie Shop, where shoppers can purchase to-the-trade-only home furnishings and decor for a reduced price.  On top of all this, Jamie Herzlinger's team has recently launched an E-Design program, too, called JH Online!  For those of you unfamiliar with the term, E-Design is very similar to in-person design consulting, except that it works via email.  You send images and measurements of the spaces in your home you would like help with, and together you and Jamie's team gather inspiration and work to create the look you are going for.  

Jamie's E-Design services are a great option for those clients looking for a luxurious look, but might not have the budget to hire a high-end residential designer.  By taking part in Jamie's E-Design, you gain access to her renowned interior design firm for a fraction of the cost. Pretty great concept, no?  To get more information or inquire about hiring Jamie for online design, visit JH Online.

XOXO,

Sam

Weekend Getaway

Happy Friday!!  How is your day going?  The sun is shining and I am about to hit the road for Dallas, so I couldn't be happier.  I am headed up to the Big D to meet up with lots of blogger friends who are in town for the Reward Style Conference.  

Tonight, Albertina, Gaby, Gabrielle, and Elizabeth and I are going to dinner at Stampede 66.  Tomorrow, I plan to lounge poolside, sip mojitos and relax.  I'd also like to visit Blue Print and Ceylon et Cie to shop for a few projects and get inspired.  A mini-vacay of sorts. 

 Feel free to follow along on Instagram (@peakoftreschic). 

Dallas peeps- any recs for shops to check out or favorite restaurants while in town?

Happy Weekend! 

Admiring a Classic: Milo Baughman Chairs

If you have been following this blog for awhile, you may have noticed my aesthetic is seemingly always evolving.  When I first started delving in to design, I favored a more traditional look.  However, I have watched myself move towards a more eclectic, contemporary palette in the last few years.  Studying the Bauhaus and designers like Eileen Gray, Mies van der Rohe, and Corbusier in school have also opened my eyes to the beauty and simplicity of clean, midcentury modern and flavorful Art Deco, which when mixed with traditional pieces can really make a space come alive.  I have been drooling over the clean, modern furniture created by Milo Baughman for a while now, and felt it was high time to devote a post to him. His 951 chrome chairs are a favorite of mine:

{Sally Wheat Interiors}

{Cheryl Burke}

Milo was born in 1923 in Kansas but was raised in California.  Although he began designed spaces and furniture from a very young age, the defining collaboration in his career began in 1953 when he started working with the North Carolina manufacturer Thayer Coggin.  This partnership lasted five decades and produced many of Milo's enduring classics, like the cantilevered 989-103 chair and bronze-legged sofa:   

{Design Crisis}

{Kristina Wilson Design}

I love his club chair with upholstered arms. The deep seat is so luxurious:

{Lindsey Coral Harper}

Dominique of Comfy Cozy Couture upholstered a pair in this gorgeous leopard print and they are the perfect statement piece in her office.  Delicious, no?!

{Comfy Cozy Couture}

I am always hunting Craigs List, Etsy, and E-Bay for good Milo Baughman finds.  Obviously, most of them aren't authentic but are styled after his design. 

This beauty is only $395 and has been upholstered in David Hicks Fiorentina fabric (one of my all-time faves):

This club chair pair is claiming to be original, so the price is a bit higher at $2,395 for the pair. I love the white piping + gray velvet:

At only $195, this baby is begging to be reupholstered in something amazing:

So what do you guys think?  Are you a fan of midcentury design, with it's clean lines and simplicity?  

Read more about Milo Baughman and his furniture here.

The View Through My Lens: 23

Happy Tuesday my sweets!  How is the week going?  Yesterday marked Sam and I's one month anniversary, so that means we are only 42 days away from lasting longer than Kim K's last marriage (woop!).  Did you have a Happy Easter?  We stayed in Houston and kept it low key.  I was lucky enough to get picture updates of my adorable niece in Oklahoma on her 1st Easter throughout the day, though!  How precious is she with my dad?  He's loving being a grandpa for the first time:

Sam and I bought her that Easter outfit for Christmas.  We couldn't resist, especially with those adorable bunny slippers.  The weather in H town lately has been absolutely beautiful,   and I loved sporting my new Gold and Gray beaded necklace last Friday:

Lily Gray is the fab talent behind Gold and Gray jewelry, a bohemian-inspired jewelry line based in LA.  I have a feeling I'll be wearing this piece all summer.  I was also pleasantly surprised to receive these fun leopard Guess mules in the mail:

I wore them to dinner this weekend and love the lucite strap.  In true guy fashion, Sam said, "Aren't you going to take the plastic off before you wear those?"  I had to explain to him that they were actually part of the shoe design.  Ha!  The new Local Foods in Houston is open (located at Kirby and Westheimer, where Taco Milagro used to be), and designer Aaron Rambo did an amazing job with the interiors (the egg salad sandwich is to die for, too).  I love these retro chairs:

 We also made a quick trip to Ikea this past weekend.  I typically avoid Ikea like the plague, not because I don't think they have some fab pieces, but because the store layout generally stresses me out. Nonetheless, I faced my Ikea fear and I'm glad I did- because I spotted these chic yellow shelving units:

I think they may be my favorite thing I've ever seen made by Ikea. I don't need any more shelves, but I was seriously tempted to scoop a few of these beauties up.  

Yesterday I presented some fab wallpaper options to my #briargrovebeauty client, and had to snap a pic.  We will be pairing one of these prints with a Sputnik chandelier + mod console in their entryway:

So stay tuned to see which one we went with! ;)  

Any big plans for the week?  I am heading up to Dallas this weekend to meet up with some blogger friends who are in town for the Reward Style conference.  I can't wait.  I hope this week flies by!  

Current Wishlist: Pink + Gold + Champagne

TGIF!  Did you guys have a good week?!  I think I finally got settled back in to normal life after the wedding/honeymoon this week.  I am enjoying my new classes and revving up on some design projects, so the creative juices are flowing.  If you follow me on Instagram, then you probably see how much pink our home is infused with (browse for #cacerescasa on Insta to see snapshots of our space).  We are working to make our house less "me" and more "us," so that means some of the pink will undoubtedly have to go.  Nonetheless, I plan to make up for this in my wardrobe, like with this Calypso St. Barth maxi skirt.  Here are a few more things currently on my wishlist...

Shop This Board:

Tori Praver Bikini Top $110/Tori Praver Bikini Bottoms $100/Kelly Wearstler Ivory Serpent Pillow $395/Impact Coffee Table Book $60/Bravo Silk Maxi Skirt $395/Pink Sunburst Stud Earrings $16/Jonathan Adler Baxter Sofa $3,295/Society Social Beverly Ottoman $350/Bauble Bar Diana Drop Earrings $28/FC Lady Tote $345/

How fun is this Tori Pravery frilly swimsuit?  And you know I have a thing for tufted sofas.  I think Sam and I are going to bite the bullet and purchase the Kravet Malibu sectional soon.  We are in desperate need of a sofa upgrade.  

Any fun plans for the weekend?!

New Project: Briargrove Beauty

Happy Tuesday!  I guess this is the week to introduce new projects, because today I have the beginnings of a gorgeous home I am helping with in the Briargrove area of Houston.  The stylish young couple just welcomed their first baby, and are wanting to update the design of their home to better reflect their new family of 3.  Their space is already stunningly gorgeous (and was shared here on Cote de Texas), so we are really just updating things here and there.  First up, is their entryway.  Here are a few pictures of how it looks currently:

It is adjacent to their dining room:

The space has a neutral French country feel to it, and the couple would like to add a more modern, youthful aesthetic.  I love the idea of adding a fun wallpaper and contemporary light fixture, like this hexagon pendant (the wallpaper is gorgeous too)...

{Born and Bred NY}

A fun wallpaper + artwork would add a lot...

And adding a more contemporary entry table, like a lacquer white console with drawers:

{House and Home}

In terms of wallpaper, I love Quadrille's Bali Island in Light Aqua for the walls:

Designer Lindsey Coral Harper recently used this paper in a darker blue colorway in a client's bedroom (published in House Beautiful):

Here's the wallpaper paired with a few other entry furniture and accessory options:

Another wallpaper I love for this space would be Cole and Son's Hummingbirds.  Bailey recently used the fabric on a client's dining chairs:

My client loves the Hicks pendant light, so bringing it in as the lighting for the entry would also be fun!

We also have the living room, breakfast nook, and master bedroom to update!  I'll be sure to share details + progress as we go along.  I'm so thrilled to be working with this adorable family.