China Cabinets Should Tell a Story

China Cabinets were designed to showcase beautiful china dishes & glassware. But more times than not, I discover that china cabinets are a hodgepodge of mishmash. The minute I see that, I want to take everything out & show the person how beautiful their treasures can be. Just like every room or shelf or cabinet, editing must happen.

I change my cabinet out seasonally. For winter I use my white china that is trimmed in silver and add my antique green glasses, green depression glass, and some green and white dishes that I received from a sweet 90 year old dear dear friend. She's given me several treasures throughout the years. Each time I place those dishes in this cabinet I'm reminded of sweet memories of her. I also add the green leaf dishes that my mother in law gave me that she purchased when they got married while living in China when my father in law was in the navy. These too tell a story. Each time she sees them on display, she reminisces about their early years of married life; how they survived some very hard times, and how being so far from her family forced her to make friends.

Teapots say friendship. One of my favorite things to do is invite one or several girlfriends over for a hot cup of chai tea and a cookie. Special times..... Special memories!

You can do what you already know how to do.

The reason you get a coach/mentor is to do the things that you cannot do.’ T. Rauffman.

One of the most frustrating things a designer faces, is to be hired by a client who asks your opinion, but then in the next breath, asks the painter, the drywall guy, the electrician, and the flooring store what they think. Then the client looks back at me and says, "What do you really think?"

Inventory 2010

Christmas is here. Thought I would post pictures in hopes of enticing people to come into the studio. Retail is such a hard market. I've had the studio open since August and I'm very pleased with the amount of people who have come. My studio is downtown which is not in the main area of shopping. Word of mouth is the greatest asset right now. My biggest competitor is Hobby Lobby.... but the quality of my products is much better. If you find something on here that you're interested in, please email me for prices. Enjoy your holiday and Merry Christmas. Keep Christ at the center of your thoughts.

Bringing Nature In

During the month of October we were at The Lodge in Eagle Nest, NM. My friend, the owner, was a bit desperate for table top decorations so I started going through cupboards and drawers trying to discover an inspirational starting point. I discovered a pair of silver candlesticks, elk antlers, a doily, and some gourds from the kitchen counter. The leaves of the aspens were absolutely gorgeous, so I just cut a few branches, entwined them throughout the found items and created a very colorful tablescape.

In front of the stone fireplace is a round butcher block that has been cut down to cock

tail table height. I added a natural green silk scarf, topped with a porcelain bunny tureen, a rust colored candlestick

surrounded by red berries from the outdoors and a southwest magazine that pulled all the colors together. The mix of old rough texture with the shiny porcelain creates a comfy environment that makes one want to prop up their feet & enjoy the scenes of southwest New Mexico.

Welcome to the Sytsma Home

The inspiration for this room came from the large poppy print which she found for a steal! I was so jealous. Robin's egg blue was chosen for the walls & ceilings to bring out that same color that is in the background writing on the floral print. It also gave a subtle tone amidst the denim sofa and chair. Merideth has carried the black shelf and the red shelf to every apartment she's ever lived in. They've been a multitude of colors. But they look cool no matter what room we put them in. She's also carried this milk crate (shown below) around for years. We hung it as a shelf above the striped chair that she bought off Craig's list.

Although the Tv is as wide as the table underneath, she wouldn't part with the table. It was her grandmothers' and it too has been painted every color imaginable. It still has the original hardware. Old suitcases were used to house the DVD player and to hide the cords. The little white chair was found on the side of the road begging to be rescued.

Here's another shelf that we placed in the dining room. She received some very neat pictures and accessories for wedding presents that worked out perfectly in the grouping.

Be watching for her master bedroom. It's green, black, white, and red!

Kallie Shae's room

Kallie Shae just turned 3 and declares that she is The Princess.. She needed the larger bedroom due to her vast array of clothes, kitchen set and baby doll toys. She's now in a full sized bed which takes up 3/4 of the room. I placed the bed against the wall to give her the maximum amount of play space and used her pink refrigerator as a night stand. The armoire is large, and houses the TV, therefore; the only place to place it was between the two windows.

She manages to have her stroller, table and chairs and her babies all lined up to watch her Disney Princess movies, which she knows them all by heart.

I must say,"She is the Sweetest Princess of them all!"