Uniquely Ever After (Great Wedding Gifts )

It's summer and wedding season is officially in full swing! We're joining the wedding festivities...but not without a unique gift that the couple will remember & treasure!

Of course it's nice to buy a newlywed couple something off their wedding registry, but sometimes there's not anything left on their registry. Or what is left, is kind of boring, too expensive, or too inexpensive. That's when we turn to our list of special wedding gifts!

We know the below items from our Special Gift List will make the couple "ooh & aah" and will add a personal touch to their new home.

Wedding Gift Product Details:

1. Eames Plywood Lounge Chair - Smart Furniture -  An Ables family tradition is to gift one of these chairs to all newlyweds in the family when they marry--to teach tasteful & classic style is lasting and important.   2. Mongolian Throw - Z Gallerie - Soft & luxurious, what more could you want for lounging on your new sofa?   3. Nelson Spindle Clock - Design Within Reach - A clock designed by one of the most celebrated mid-century designers of all time (George Nelson)--who doesn't love the classics?   4. Frida Vase - Jonathan Adler - Surreal inspirational pieces are conversation starters & are sure to make impressions.   5. Triangle Beach Towel - Jonathan Adler - Every couple will appreciate a set of chic beach towels they can even display as colorful accents in their bathroom.   6. Alessi Michael Graves Teapot - Hive Modern - A best seller since 1985, you can't go wrong with this fun kitchen accessory.   7. Reindeer Moss Wreath - Shop Terrain - A new wreath for a new home! And one that can be used indoors or outdoors, and that sustains.   8. Cutlace Gallery Frames - Anthropologie - Give the happy couple beautiful frames for some of their wedding photographs, these are romantic, timeless and perfect to frame photos of their special day!   9. Coffee Table Books - Design Within Reach & Anthropologie - Necessities that can be personalized based on who you're buying for. These won't be getting returned!   10. Luau Portable LED Lamp - Design Within Reach - Soft lighting for those romantic wine nights on the patio. Plus its rechargeable, portable & dimmable...all the perks!   11. Stone Pestle & Mortar - Hive Modern - A beautiful & functional kitchen accessory that never goes out of style.   12. Kaleido Trays - Design Within Reach - Serving guests has never been more fun with these amazing trays.   13. Beolit 15 Speakers - Beoplay - Speakers that are sleek and stylish, portable & bluetooth? The newlyweds will thank you forever.   14. Votive Cup Candleholder Set - Z Gallerie - Romantic accents will always be welcome.   15. Mr & Mrs Muse Place Card Holders - Jonathan Adler - Elevate the everyday accessory & keep your guests extra entertained.   16. Firepit - Design Within Reach - Whether they live somewhere cold or hot, the newlyweds will forever love you for this one too!   17. Monogram Pillow - Jonathan Adler - We love the idea of a monogrammed gift for a new couple, but usually despise the monogram. But this pillow is perfection...it can be customized to any color, border, or lettering you want. 

Want to give the happy couple an even BETTER gift than the ones above?!  Buy the happy couple the gift of Design with our a 2 hour consultation for $300.  We love helping create a wonderful space for new beginnings, including "how to blend his and her furniture" and help with "what stays and what goes".  Give us a call.

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Help Dad Relax in Style

With Father's Day around the corner, today we're talking about Dads!

Dads always seem to have their one, special seat in the house...their designated seat that no one else is allowed to sit in. And, hey, it's important for Dads to have their place to relax, watch TV, and maybe even drink a beer or two. But often times this place of relaxation is, well, not so stylish.

It seems an epidemic of ugly recliners has swept across America and sucked our fathers in to them...so this Father's Day we're doing something to help.

We're looking at how to give Dad a dapper, yet comfortable recliner. Comfort is the number one purchasing factor for men's chairs, but that doesn't mean they have to sacrifice style.

Below are some of our favorites that you should consider for Dad for Father's Day (or birthday, or Holidays...anything to help solve this ugly chair epidemic).

This recliner comes from Thayer Coggin. They have an old-school mid-century modern style that is perfect for any sleek and modern room.

And if Dad doesn't like wooden arms, then consider something like this Flight Recliner from Design Within Reach.

We love this design because it doesn't even look like a recliner, but yet it can lean all the way back and comes in multiple fabrics and colors. This particular seat, along with the example below, is manly and is also great for a wide range of interior styles.

A few more chair styles that are fairly transitional are the In Mod and the Spencer Recliner.

 

A bit less stylish and a little more cushioned for those Dads that like to take long naps...

For those that really want to nap, and lean all the way back, we love this amazing cow hide chaise lounge (it must be the Texan in us). Chaise loungers are great options as well.  Many of them give you the option to sit upright or recline at your leisure.

Last, but not least we cannot forget the Eames Lounge Chair. Although it is not a recliner, it is a sophisticated & classic design that is not only a mid-century design staple, but also very comfortable!

We have used it in a few of our design projects, often as a main focal point of the room [example image below].

Lounge chairs [with ottomans] are often more stylish than recliners, but function in a similar manner. Another fun fact about the Eames...they now come in a larger size for the taller man in your family. So if you are having trouble finding a recliner that works for Dad and your space, consider a lounger!

[This is another example of a lounger we used in a modern, high-rise condo design project].

We hope you now understand that it's not hard to replace Dad's big-cushioned, oversized, worn-out recliner, with something stylish and comfortable.

If you need help finding more than just a recliner, feel free to reach out to us! We would be happy to help you select furniture (not just for Dad) that is perfect for your space!

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors. 

Mid-Century Moment

Modern, Mid-century styles are definitely having a moment right now and we are loving it! In fact, mid-century designs have become recognized as classic, American staples in today's design world, and we expect them to stick around for years to come. "Mid-Century modern" describes mid-20th century developments in modern design & architecture. After WWII this design movement evolved out of the need to replace pre-war styles with fresh, optimistic interiors and architecture. Veterans and their families felt the need to create  new homes with new styles, to put the war behind them. This style is now recognized worldwide as a significant design movement, and has made a major comeback in the design world--particularly interior design.

Some of the major leaders in this movement include: Charles & Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi, George Nelson, and many more amazing designers.  Today we are featuring some of these innovators who have provided so much inspiration for us over the years!

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Mid Century Moment Product Details [from top to bottom, left to right]:

Record Player - Crosley Dansette - Good news for you baby boomers: Record-player sales are up, so pull out all those dusty vinyls from the attic and look trendy while doing it! // Wood Dining Table - Eero Saarinen - A simple & classic, round, dining table with a white aluminum cast for a retro edge // Orange Dining Chair - Eames Molded Fiberglass Chair - The kitchen is always a fun place to add color & lucky for you, this chair design comes in any color you could imagine // White Bubble Lamps - George Nelson - An interesting but simple, elegant but edgy design all in one lamp // Black Ball Clock - George Nelson - One of the most recognizable designs of the mid-century movement, this clock has come to symbolize optimism & technological advances // Bentwood Teardrop Shelf - Urban Outfitters - A fun & functional wall accessory // Sheepskin Rug - Design Within Reach - This functions as a luxurious rug, or an elegant throw over a chair // White & Gray Pillows - West Elm - The crosshatch embroidery on the pillows was a common print of the 50s & 60s // Blue Shag Pillow - Urban Outfitters - Textured accessories add interest & life to a room // Ivory Lamp - West Elm - The organic shape & geometric pattern shine a vintage light on your room // Glass Coffee Table - Isamu Noguchi - With outstanding accuracy & attention to detail, this well-known Coffee Table will please even the most selective design fan // Black Lounge Chair - Charles & Ray Eames - An icon of American design, and comfortable too // Teal Sectional Sofa - Joybird - Merging mid-century with modern in any color you can dream of // Wood Mads Credenza - Rove Kure - Once again, white lacquer accents add a modern, retro touch to a simple storage unit.

As a contemporary Interior Design firm we love this mid-century era and incorporate modern elements in our designs whenever we have the chance. Below are some projects where we have been able to use mid-century pieces to compliment the design of our clients' homes.

See our Barton Hills Remodel/Addition house on Houzz for more photos of this amazing space.

See our Lake Austin Contemporary house for more photos of this amazing space.

See our Spanish Oaks Contemporary house for more photos of this amazing space.

As you can see, our mid-century elements usually come in the form of a chair or a table, but there are endless ways to use classic mid-century modern designs! If you are interested in giving your home a modern update but are not sure how, we would love to help! Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or inquiries.

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Pastel Picks for your home

Easter is just around the corner and it has us in the mood for Pastels! We love how Pastels can soften a room & create a more calm & relaxing environment.

Below are our favorite Pastel Picks from some of our most loved shops this year.

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Pastel Product Information:

1. Chairs - David Geckeler.    2. Magnolia Wallpaper - Cole & Sons.   3. Clock - Design Within Reach.   4. Refrigerator - Smeg.    5. Pillows. Mint Pillow - Pine Cone Hill. Pink Pillow - CB2. Yellow Pillow - Dwell Studio.    6. Vases - CB2.   7. Coffee Table - Anthropologie.   8. Pastel Painting - Maria Martin Art.   9. Sofa - Jonathan Adler.   10. Yellow Throw - Crate & Barrel.   11. Chandelier - Design Within Reach.   12. Floral Rug - Jessica Swift.   13. Colored Shelves - Design Within Reach.

People often associate Pastels with Spring time, but they don't have to be seasonal!

For example, we love using pastel blue paint as a wall color, pastel yellow sheets for a soothing bedroom, or a pastel pink rug in a bathroom.

They can easily replace tans, grays, & whites and act as beautiful neutrals.

If you have an area of your house where you would like to use pastels, we would love to help!

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