South Dakota Interior Designers 20th Anniversary Trip

This past weekend I made a trip to Minneapolis with 15 other interior designers from Sioux Falls.  We are all members of South Dakota Interior Designer (SDID).  Many of the other designers work for commercial design firms, some work for cabinetry showrooms and I was the one independent designer.  

Our trip consisted of stopping at several showrooms, factories, and meeting with reps.  We were wined and dined like queens!  Roof top cocktail parties and boat ride tours!  It was a lot of fun and many memories were made!  

One stop we made was at Mingle, which is located in Plymouth, MN.  It is a relatively new furniture store, just opening a year ago.  Mingle is a 25,000-square-foot home design resource center where you can find everything you need for your home design and decorating projects under one roof.  A really beautiful showroom- and great concept!  Check them out!  http://www.mingleteam.com


Taking a trip for your profession is so exciting!  Seeing new products, new uses of products and sharing time with people who share your love for design is such a great way to keep fresh and pumped up about what you are doing!  

Next trip: February in Las Vegas to the International Builders Show and the National Kitchen and Bath show!  Very excited! 

Maybe if I keep taking trips I can put off my desire to go to back to school....for a while!  

SDID 20th Anniversary trip to Minneapolis

8500 Quiet Oak Circle, Sioux Falls

The Parade of Homes is always and exciting time for builders, interior designers and trades people in our industry.  This year I was hired by the builders at Superior Construction, Chad and Jill Young, to help them with finish selections and design details on their spec home at 8500 Quiet Oak Circle in Sioux Falls, SD.  I even got the great pleasure to stage the home for the parade this past weekend.  Here are a few pictures from this beautiful home and a list of the vendors I used for the staging.

The dining area showcased furniture and accessories from Gabberts, antiques from Julie Watts, lighting from Mahlanders. 

Beautiful living room.  Original art by Robert Wren.  Found logs by Marc Rasmussen.  The most stylish furniture and accessories from Gabberts.  
 

Master bedroom done in beautiful colors!  Gabberts furniture, Robert Wren original art and Marc Rasmussen logs.

Home office done for a true designer!  Drafting table grounded with a hair on hide zebra rug!  Repurposed chairs by dawn bures designs and collectables from Julie Watts.



For this home I assisted in the selection of exterior rock, and paint colors.  Interior flooring, paint colors, lighting and design details.  It was a wonderful home and we showcased a beautiful/unique style.  I was very excited to showcase original works of art, antiques and beautiful furniture in the staging of the home.  It was a great showcase of how a designer can work through a construction process with a client- and furnish the home in a unique way!

THE VERY BEST PART!!!  This home sold before the parade and the new owners are about as cute as this home itself!!

What Does the Designer Put in Her Own HOME!?

For those of you that know me, I am ALWAYS have a project going in our home.  It drives my husband quite crazy...but I just see potential in everything!  In fact after owning our home for 2 years in March I feel that just 3 rooms are complete- they are all small bathrooms.  Each has a fabulous wallpaper, fun lighting and unexpected art, objects or decor.  I feel super pumped today to announce that we are ordering our family room furniture today!!!!  This project started last May I believe and the basement itself has been finished since Aug/Sept for sure!  So, it's about time!!!  It is just not easy for me to select pieces for our home.  It's like I am looking for something that doesn't quite exist...and I hate to settle as I know my sweet and loving Accountant husband won't entertain the idea of replacing it again anytime soon...
Here are so shots of the pieces I am ordering!!

Julie Barstool by Four Hands- they swivel and the back is tufted...                                                     TO DIE FOR hair on hide cocktail ottoman!!!  Bernhardt Furn.                                                  AND THE SHOW STOPPER...THAT TOOK ME MONTHS TO FIND!!!!!!! In the most awesome bomber jacket brown leather!!!  Tons of character and ready for Sunday Football season!!              GO GIANTS!!!

Later I will post pictures of the family room itself!  It came together beautifully and our family is really excited to use it!!  

Breath Taking Dining Room

This dining room leaves me speechless.....  

When the client planned the move into this house last fall we first took pictures, measurements and made notes of their existing pieces.  This beautiful table and chairs (then not CITRINE) were a gift that the family wanted to be able to use in their new home!  BUT we had to tweak it!!  Hence the paint, new fabric, new captains chairs - and now it's a true statement! 

The flat weave rug added just the right amount of texture and movement as well.  It's a Surya rug and ordered large enough so that when the table is extended the chairs will still sit on it.  Using the right size of area rug is so important!  

And do not over look that Stanley cabinet!  It's a wow!  The wavy glass is a piece of art!  

I am so thankful for client's that trust me to bring their pieces new life and style!  

I'm gonna make it happen!

Some may think that my dreams are crazy.  They are crazy!  

Some may think they are too big.  They are crazy big!  

Some may think it's not worth it.  It's all worth it to me!  

Some may think that their opinion matters to me.  Some opinions do matter! Some do not. 

Some may think they know a better way.  This is my way.  It's my dream.

Some may think I can't succeed.  I disagree.  

Blessings to you.

A Beautiful Life- Marketing Campaign Begins!

This week I had the privilege to work with 2 wonderful ladies in brainstorming a marketing campaign for dawn bures designs.  And to say that I am excited about it would be the understatement of the year!

IT'S AMAZING!!  Genius!  It will be the most fabulous way to share my business  with clients.  It shows my true vision for "she wanted a beautiful life, so she designed one".

This brochure is being printed today!  I couldn't wait to share it with you!!  The front is our family- my true loves and passions.  On the back it reads: "As a passionate interior designer, it is my goal to bring your vision to life.  Together, we will meet your design needs.  It is not about the pretty things, it's about the right things."And of course that is my adorable son Harrison posing in all his glory atop my desk!  God love him!!

I am blessed.

Credit to AMaVo for styling our family, Candace Ann Photography for her amazing talent and love, and to my family for going on this journey for me!  I am so thankful for each of your presence in my life and in my business.  

Designing a beautiful life!

Have you turned chance meetings into great friendships, working partnerships, invaluable collaborative relationships?  I am sure you have, and from it you have seen powerful events happen in your life or business!  Recently I have been very intentional about molding myself into the person I have wanted to be.  I read a quote a while back and it said "she wanted a beautiful life, so she designed one".  It's my motto.  It means more than a beautiful home, well dressed kids, driving the right car...it means that I am living each day with purpose and intention.  Through prayer and a conscious mind.  Day by day, one mistake at a time, one victory at a time....one minute at a time.   
And with that I share with you my invaluable meetings:  A boutique owner who has showed me her heart and with it grown mine.  A coach who has helped me to realize that "it's ok, you are doing your best and everyday it's better"  "AMAZING things are going to happen".  A photographer who has noticed me for my forward motion in my business and so given me the world!  A husband who in the midst of his busy life encourages me and believes in me.  A chance meeting with a client whose presence has morphed my life; for my MANY amazing clients for whom I am better because of our chance meetings.  A friend who encouraged our family to try their church- I owe you my sanity!  I could go on and on....GREAT things happen when you live with intent.  When you see all the good and wish the same for each path that you cross.  
For you I wish the same.  Design the life you wish to live.  Work hard, be honest and move forward with confidence.