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When Life Gives You Lemons, Decorate With Them!

Have you bought flowers at the store and got a little packet of plant food to keep your flowers blooming longer. Did you know you can make that for your fresh-cut flowers?
You will need the following:
2-tablespoons of lemon juice
1-tablespoon of sugar
1/4 teaspoon of bleach
and fill the container with distilled water.
The above recipe will help your fresh-cut flowers out of your yard or garden last longer.
If you want to use the slices to decorate the vase, use two vases, one larger than the other.
Place the lemons, limes, or oranges between the two vases, which will make a beautiful fresh flower arrangement for your home.
Lori
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Before and After-Primary Bathroom Renovation

Like all couples' bathroom renovation, each one has different requests they most desire. This bathroom was no other. Each had additional requirements. The wife wanted a low threshold shower, the husband desired heated floors, and both loved the color blue.
The bedroom and bath had been a new addition a few years earlier, but the budget was tight, and the homeowner felt they had to settle for lesser expensive finishes in the bath. They are now empty-nesters and want a luxurious bath as they age. The bathroom configuration worked great for this couple; therefore, expensive plumbing changes were unnecessary. I was leaving room for all things pretty.
We replacing the existing tub shower with a tile shower, seating, and low threshold for easy entering and exiting the shower. The white tile is a crayon-shaped ceramic tile running horizontal, and the shower niche is a smaller navy blue crayon tile running vertically to add visual interest.

As we mature, lighting is essential to a primary bath. This bathroom needed extra attention. One easy way to help with this issue is to add a mirror from the ceiling to the top of the vanity and then add wall sconce lighting to reflect off the mirror giving extra light. Additional LED can light was positioned over the two sink vanities and the shower. The bathroom also had a flush mount ceiling light that I changed to a chandelier.

The faucets, hardware, and beautifully designed grab bars are in a champagne gold finish. The bath had a closet that got an update as well; we designed a cabinet with pull-out drawers in a natural white oak finish. The open shelving over the toilet nods to the same natural white oak finish closet. The client chose SW 9179 Anchors Aweigh for the new two-sink vanity, a deep navy blue with Cambria countertop in Portrush.

Porcelain arabesque tile covered the heated floor in shades of white, blue, and deep brown. This rich flooring pulled these beautiful bathroom colors together for a luxury finish. This couple will enjoy this timeless-designed bathroom for years to come.

XOXO,
Lori

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Dallas Design Trends 2021

Dallas Market Summer 2021
It was so exciting to attend the market again. After a year and half of quarantine because of Covid-19 and vaccine taken, it was wonderful to meet with a few of my design friends for inspiration and collaboration. Two of my design friends Brenda Baxter with Custom Drapery Designs from Dallas and Marcia Boatwright from Ada, Oklahoma roomed together. But while at the market I ran in to several designer friends, it was so wonderful to see them as well. Leslie Carothers, Carla Anston, Ilse Benard, Michael Bauer, David Santiago, Kelly O’Neal and the lovely Patti Carpenter just to name a few. I can’t even begin to tell you how wonderful it was to see these wonderful design professionals, I’ve know and admired for years. Great to be in the mix again. The biggest trends I spotted at this market was all the curved, round and organic designs. Like the sofa below and leather tooled barrel chairs from Ambella Home located in the Dallas Design District.
I love this black console table with the gold circle; it also came with matching cocktail tables. Also, note the warm colors seen in these pillows and trim around this chair. The perfect designer touch! This bench was covered in the exquisite fur fabric very nice to touch.

Round and organic were very prevalent in this market.

Note: The round table with round barrel chairs from the Gabby Showroom.

These organic chandeliers. Do note the round design.
Petrified wood tables just had to come home with me! Wow factor on a clients outdoor living space.
This showroom was filled to the brim with beautiful coffee and end tables. Ashore Designs
I fell in love with the round chandelier by Martyn Lawrence Bullard.

The perfect mix of black and gold metal flowerets around the chandelier. Simply Stunning!

A modern design on circular lighting by Sean Lavin.
Lastly my favorite table top find. This beautiful clear glass plates with gold etching around the edges will need to be in one of my designs soon!
Dallas Market didn’t disappoint; it was wonderful to see old friends and make new ones. Most of all, it was great to be free to touch and feel beautiful furniture, lighting and to see fabulous designs that inspire my soul.
photo below me and MS. Ada Oklahoma aka Marcia Boatwright!
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How To Plan A Perfect Girls Night In!

How to create the perfect girls night in.

Tips for your perfect little soiree for date nite, family and friends or just for you!

This past week, I was one of about 50 designers in the US and Canada chosen by Designhounds AT HOME and Signature Kitchen Suites to participate in a chef-inspired appetizer paired with the perfect wine from Gentleman’s Farmer for summer date night via Zoom. My husband was not interested, but my daughters were in town for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, so they set in on this sampling zoom soiree and enjoyed it immensely and now want Signature Kitchen Suite luxury appliances for their homes. Each designer was given all the fresh and organic ingredients from Napa Valley, wine from Napa, and tips for food styling from a professional food photographer and stylist. I want to share some of their information for you to have an inspiring evening in the home.

The first thing is to get all your ingredients ready in bowls first; Chef Nick taught us that at the beginning because everything is cooked quickly over high heat. After making up each recipe, put them in plastic containers in the refrigerator for later use.

After all the appetizers have been prepared and stored, look around your house for small dishes and linens with contrasting colors like white, black, or navy. Small trays, small serving knives and spoons, and of course, glass wine glasses are an acceptable way to make this extra special. Using beautiful dishes makes you look like the hostess with the most!

Placing the appetizers on small plates gives it visual interest, as you can see in the photo. The stylist Susan Brinson explains to swirl the dips leaving indentions. If you notice food photos, they all have a textural design to feed the eyes first and makes the food look heroic.

When serving appetizers, choose light wines like Rose, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay makes the perfect paring and something most people enjoy with appetizers.

In the above photo the floral arrangement is flowers and weeds from my yard. Remember my last blog post about bouquets for your home. Having various plants to clip from makes easy DIY bouquet for any events or just for a weekly arrangement.

Enjoy yourself as well as your guests, whether family or friends. Now you have all it takes to make the perfect girl’s night in!

Happy entertaining,

Lori

P.S. Attached recipes below.

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DIY Bouquets For Your Home

Perfect flowers for your DIY bouquets.

Easy to grow, low maintenance flowers, shrubs and trees.

Greenery used in the photo shoot for a new kitchen remodel were from my yard.

March is a month that can be beautiful and warm one day and cold breezy the next here in Arkansas. We always say, “if you don’t like the weather today, tomorrow will be different.” A few weeks ago it was -6 degrees. Currently the weather is warmer and things are beginning to green-up and early spring flowers are making appearance. Times like this makes you ambitious to plant, but it’s still to early for most plants.

I do not claim to be a green thumb gardener, I’m a fair weather gardener. I love to plant when it’s cool and have been know to go a little overboard. I don’t sweat well. So, in dog days of August I’m sweating tryin to get everything watered. That being said, I plant mainly low maintenance for flowers and shrubs for bouquets for my home.

I have made list of plants that work great for fresh bouquets for your home. Have a nice variety for all the seasons is my goal.

I currently have boxwoods, variegated shrubs, curly willow (personal favorite), having several of these very easy to grow trees comes in handy for filler in any arrangement. Various ornamental grasses, peonies, lilac, zinnia, forsythia, hydrangeas, roses, and especially herbs. Another great tree for their branches is Birch trees. Most of these are two-three season bouquets.

This year I plan to add the following:
Southern Magnolia (Christmas arrangements)
Various Pine Trees (Christmas arrangements)
Dogwood Trees (Spring)
Lemon and lime trees in pots (beautiful bowls of fruit)
Bittersweet Vines (Fall)

Pumpkins and Gourds, I have grown these in the past for my decor. I love watching them grow and take on various shapes. Easy to grow, very little maintenance.

I’m getting excited for Spring and the new buds and green grass. It all makes your soul sing.

Your too can start now planning for easy DIY bouquets for your home.

Happy Spring,

Lori

Roses are an all time favorite!

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February Newsletter

Beautiful Spaces.

Comfortable and Inviting

Designed by Lori Carpenter

Kitchen Renovations.

Here’s a few things to keep in mind before you began a kitchen remodel.

A. What is the outcome you want to receive from this renovation?

B. What are your must haves? Double ovens, pot filler for your stove/cooktop, farmhouse sink, microwave drawers?

C. Appliances and their placements.

D. How do you working in your kitchen? And how many others will be working at the same time?

E. Make sure your have a good kitchen triangle for less steps when cooking from refrigerator, stove and sink.

Are you a busy homeowner that loves a beautiful home, but don’t have the time or know how to begin a renovation? Let me with my 25 years of interior design experience helping 1000’s of busy homeowners like yourself whether it’s their primary or secondary home create a beautiful comfortable space they love entertaining family and friends.

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Special Invitation!

Special Invitation:

Every Tuesday at noon, I go Live on Facebook discussing Interior Design Dilemmas. I would love to have you join me, comment, like, share, and send me emoji.

https://facebook.com/thegrapevinehome

Working on getting a new website and rebranded to Lori Carpenter Designs (feels like a snail pace) hopefully soon?

Are you looking at your tired, outdated home? Are you in a design dilemma? I will offer my expert advice to help you save time, stress, and feel better in your home.

This week I’ll be talking about fabrics and how they can enhance your home. Join the fun each Tuesday at noon.

I also offer in-home or virtual design consultations.

Up to 90 minutes to cover any specific pain points you have in your home: furniture layouts, new rugs, furniture, or window coverings. You may need help with paint colors, tile selections, countertops, a total remodel or new build—$ 250. for the initial consultation, Additional hours at $100 per hour.

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Renewing Greens

The color of Harmony and Health.

Green

The color of harmony and health. Green is a generous, relaxing color that revitalizes our body and mind. It balances our emotions and leaves us feeling safe and secure. It also gives us hope, with promises of growth and prosperity, and it provides a little bit of luck to help us along the way.

Biophilia

Suggest that people possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature.

Even before the Covid19 was a household word this past year, I saw the trend while attending High Point Market; everything felt green and organic. I’m buying plants and incorporating them in my home to help clean the air, and I’m planting a little garden for fresh vegetables. I see green in all aspects of design like emerald green wallpaper, walls paint, and fabric uses like in the photo above. How are you incorporating live plants in your home or the paint color Green? Great way to connect with nature.

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Shining A Light On Interior Design Trends For 2019

Shining A Light On Interior Design Trends For 2019

2019 is up and running, and so am I! A new year always means a new outlook, so I have set my sights on what will be BIG this year in design. Spotting design trends are one way I can provide a “WOW” factor in all my projects. I am constantly searching for the perfect furniture, fabrics, and accessories that will keep my designs fresh, contemporary and spectacular. So, I visit many markets all over the US, where I attend seminars on all the trends and forecasts for interior design. I am so excited to share some design trend take-aways from my 2018 year-long travels.

Smooth Elegance with Black and Gold.

Black has always been on trend in the clothing market, but I’m seeing it emerge boldly in interiors, usually paired with gold. Dark, moody walls paired with statement pieces trimmed with gold hardware bring elegant modernity to spaces. Black has always been edgy, yet stately, and can often serve to anchor the design of any room. Even though this is a trend, I feel that black and gold will withstand time.

Traditional design is becoming Cleaned Lined, streamlining to a minimal/modern feel I call Transitional Design. This twist on the traditional offers less ornamentation and more classic styles and shapes. You will be seeing classic, nostalgic pieces paired with modern rugs, art or lighting that breathes fresh air into a room.

Farmhouse Refreshed

Farmhouse will continue to trend in 2019, but it will have a modern twist as well. It will still be comfortable, but less will be more with this trend. You’ll see sliding found doors, gray paint, metal furniture pieces, florals in both artificial and real. Farmhouse is like denim; it just gets better with wear and time.

Using clear barstools with gold accents adds a modern flair to a traditional farmhouse design.

A touch of contemporary color adds a modern vibe to a cozy farmhouse living room.



PATTERNS ON TREND

Florals will be showing up in everything from wallpaper to upholstery fabric and art. Geometric patterns will also be strong because of the turn toward a modern trend I see in every interior design aspect. Patterns can make a bold statement in a room or add just a touch to give it an updated feel.

Florals on a dark wall create a dramatic design.

Patterned wallpaper adds modern elegance in Gabby’s Showroom at the Dallas Market. The wallpaper below is from the Thibaut Showroom at the High Point Market.

I am excited about all the possibilities 2019 brings to the design table! A more modern feel with clean lines and a minimalist look is clearly trending in all design styles. And, the mix of metals seems to be holding steady through 2020 and maybe beyond. I hope this trend talk has inspired you to add fresh, modern design elements to your home. If you need help, I’m just a phone call away! The Grapevine Home 870-994-4438.

xoxo
Lori

P.S. If you’re unsure of your design style go to https://loricarpenterdesigns.com/home-design-quiz/ and take the Home Design Quiz.

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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Yes indeed! I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

And if you’re dreaming of a design project for your home in 2019, Lori Carpenter Designs is here with a fresh set of eyes for your project. Whatever you may need for your upcoming project, paint color selection, flooring ideas, or window treatment ideas. We can help get you get on track and come up with a realistic budget. Let’s make your home a dream come true in 2019. Give us a call 870-994-4438 to schedule your appointment for 2019.