Berryhill Drapery Design

2011-09-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

If you're a drapery designer or workroom and you're reading this I know you've done it! I awoke this morning wondering just where in the heck I was going to find 10" Tassel Trim. After having a nightmare about a huge upcoming theater project the sourcing panic set in ... at 4:00 am. The OCD kicked in and I remembered where I'd seen such an animal .... Vegas Baby!
On a recent trip to Las Vegas for the annual http://www.wf-vision.com/expo.aspx , my conference bestie and I made the rounds to all of the hottest casinos in town. Debbie did the gambling and I took the Magical Drapery Tour! I found out late into the tour that it was against the rules to photograph anything inside the casinos, oops! The photos were taken with my iphone so the quality isn't the best but I just had to share some of the incredible drapery art that I found. Most were Portieres and all were embellished with the most incredible trims I'd ever seen! And yes, they were at least 10" and most certainly custom designed!
The drapery photos below are from five star hotels,http://www.venetian.com/ http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/ and my personal favorite http://www.bellagio.com/
where I spent many wonderful evenings dining with my in laws whom have since passed, but those special memories remain close to my heart.

As usual, thanks so much for stopping by to share my little adventures! Now I'm off to find that trim!

2011-06-30T21:30:00.000-05:00

Wow, has it really been months since my last post?! A very busy Spring has turned quickly into a very busy Summer.

You will notice that the pics that I am posting start with a brown lawn in the dead of Winter, late February, and end with a very green lawn and temps in the 90's by April. Yes... it really did take me 3 long months to complete this project! It's a good thing that it was a friends chair and she knew from the beginning that I had very few clues as to how to proceed!

This chair was my biggest little chair challenge so far. It was a vintage piece from the 40's and had many layers from decades past. My rendition was the fourth transformation in what I can assure you was a very colorful life! I named her Melissa!

Her new frock is a combination of Robert Allen fabrics http://www.robertallendesign.com/, patterns Moroso and Palecek in Lemongrass. Melissa is a nod back to the sixties with an antiqued ivory frame. She has found her new home at Salon Keriz'ma http://www.almostimpatient.com/kerizma.asp and has been spotted in the artful photography of Almost Impatient Productions.

Many thanks to April for providing me with the opportunity to discover that upholstery is best left to the professionals. Well, except for the occasional cornice or headboard!

As always, thanks for stopping by and allowing me to share a bit of my recreational fabric adventures!

2011-02-28T21:16:00.000-06:00

Don't ya just love a good transformation. I have recently found the joy of transformation in the form of sad little chairs that are just begging for a new lease on life!

The featured chair belongs to a dear friend who was brave enough to sacrifice her little chair to a novice (hack) who had never attempted a serious re-upholstery project! Thank you April!

Using the information gleaned from the Kravet upholstery road show and many hours spent on youtube.com I managed to give this little gem a much needed face lift and booty lift too!

April cringed at my choice of coverings, but the orange seemed to be the perfect choice to perk up this charming piece of craftsmanship! The carved back is stunning, and the channeled upholstery on the back just adds to the details that make this chair so special.

My first transformation still needs a name! Any ideas out there? If you happen to live in Austin you can go by and visit her where she is proudly displayed at Salon Kerizma awaiting her next photo shoot!

http://www.almostimpatient.com/kerizma

2011-01-26T15:18:00.001-06:00

MY CHAIR AFFAIR

8 Way Hand Tied Springs

I am finally digging myself out from under the fabrics and trim for a while! Time to indulge in my favorite subject . . . CHAIRS!

Last week I was invited to attend a Kravet Furniture From the Ground Up presentation at my local design center, Stockton Hicks Laffey, I had the opportunity to see a Kravet chair upholstered on sight by a Master Upholsterer. What a treat for this chair obsessed girl!

No cardboard found here!

Kravet still produces quality furniture in the USA. Many innovations in the industry have made the process more efficient and environmentally conscience. The frames are being produced with a CNC process which saves time and waste in raw materials using laminated layers of hardwood that are actually stronger than traditional wood frames. The cushion inserts are at a minimum 18% soy product, providing a biodegradable feature. All scrap materials are recycled to further increase their earth friendly efforts.

14 layers of laminated hardwoods

Their upholstery facility is located in North Carolina where generations of artisans produce exceptional custom furniture pieces one frame at a time. Kravet quality is is evidenced in their lifetime guarantee on their frames and a Customer Advocate Dept to support the original client for life!

Steve Bolick Master Upholsterer

Our presenters Master Upholsterer, Steve Bolick, is a third generation master artisan, and his accomplice, Susan Lorenz, VP of Furniture Sales were both informative and entertaining. Not to mention they were giving away great door prizes which included the Kravet Pelham chair that Steve built on site!

TA DA . . . The Pelham

The chair build took less than 4 hours and the Kravet road show was on it's way to the next stop, Dallas!

I left the presentation with lots of tips from Steve ( I picked his brain after the show ) and a new appreciation for the art of building a beautiful chair! You guessed it I didn't win the chair, but I still left a winner with lots of new info and some new friends too!

The Round Top Antique Show is right around the corner and my accomplice Marta will be by my side in the search for my perfect little chair! Thanks to Steve, I will have a better idea of what to do with this chair when I finally find "The One"!

2010-10-10T14:35:00.002-05:00

       After a week of fabric dilemmas, client consultations, and lots of decisions made on behalf of others, I am taking today for myself. An indulgence I encourage for everyone! No matter how you honor yourself, taking the time to do so renews your spirit, mind, and body.

       I want to share the spoils of my semi annual pilgrimage to Round Top Antique Fair . I made the trip without my dear Sister Friend , European historian, and fellow designer Marta Inanchy, but made the most of my adventure knowing that she was there with me in spirit! As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was searching for the perfect little chair to recover. Much to my disappointment I left without the chair but did find many other treasures that made the trip a huge success.

       While exploring the acres and acres of opportunities over the past few years I have found a few special friends that I always make time for. One of those friends is Margaret Meier, owner of Vintage Fabrics & Etc. in Oakland Park Fl. She travels to Europe to shop the flea markets and estate sales for incredible quality vintage textiles, she also has "pickers" that are always on the hunt for treasures on her behalf. She has written a book, Vintage Textured Barkcloth, in which she gives the rich history of Barkcloth. She always has a wide selection of Barkcloth, French Tickings, Silk Brocades, European Bed Linens, and incredible hand woven French trims. I never leave without a little treasure that someday will find its' way to a Berryhill Drapery Design creation!

     Today provided me the opportunity to enjoy the incredible quality and history of these European gems, imagine what these special treasures will someday become, and share their beauty with my friends. These are few of my favorites, a pink French Silk Brocade with a hint of gold, a beautiful rich brown Cotton Velvet with an intricate embroidered pattern in gold metallics from Belgium and a beautiful blue Eastern European Brocade circa 1940s'. The rich colors and lush textures are artisan qualities that make these textiles both a visual and tactile feast for the textile obsessed! ME!!

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, your questions and comments are welcomed!

2010-09-30T21:41:00.001-05:00

Today in my little corner of the world I spent the day paying homage to my favorite season and all of the beauty that it brings. Oh yeah, it means football season is here too! I brought my fall door wreath down from the attic, cleaned my front entry top to bottom, and even gave my front door a fresh coat of paint. Oooh, which color to choose? I opted for Classic Black for added drama. I wasn't sure of this choice and my hubby had even bigger doubts but with the help of Sherwin-Williams color visualizer I had convincing proof that this would be the perfect choice! This nifty tool allows you to load a photo and apply color to your room ( or Door) with a simple click of the mouse. How easy is that! No more guessing.

If you are longing for the splendid colors of fall and that slight chill in the air as I am, you will find a real treat HERE! The science behind those incredible colors of fall foliage is quite surprising. Those incredible colors are there all year long but hidden away by the chlorophyll. As the daylight wanes the chlorophyll production slows and those beautiful reds, purples, and oranges begin to peek through. A gift of the season!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.... I'm giving a lot of thought to what and most important, who I am thankful for.

Thanks for stopping by!

2010-09-22T11:02:00.000-05:00

An afternoon of shopping on Saturday,with Austin hipster Carmen Hanney, garners a wonderful collection of design resources! One of first stops was Spruce, a small upholstery shop with a big idea! They specialize in refurbishing what some would describe as hopeless pieces of junk into incredible works of art. Local girls applying a green concept that Rocks! And speaking of green ... while at Spruce a conversation with Amanda revealed another great fabric resource, Mod Green Pod, as the name implies, a green fabric resource with youthful prints perfect for todays' contemporary designs!

Dirty and Dated

Nice and Neutral

I have recently discovered that upholstery work is fun and a bit of a break from the drapery end of my business. The personal satisfaction is rewarding and it's always fun to learn a new skill. Here are a few photos of my latest upholstery adventure. I would have loved to take the paint brush to these babies but they weren't mine and I doubt that the client would have appreciated the surprise! My next project will be on the "perfect chair" that I hope to find at Round Top Antique Fair! I have my eye on a MGP print for my perfect little chair!

Have a great week and Thanks for checking in!

2010-09-14T12:07:00.010-05:00

After a quick trip to Houston for our HACDA meeting I am back on track with a few beautiful fabrics to share! These are new fabrics from JAB anstoetz.. Gorgeous rich colors and adorned with Swarovski crystals, these fabrics are on my short list of favorites for the next willing Drapery Design client.

SEE MORE BEAUTIFUL FABRICS HERE: Jab Anstoetz

2010-09-06T17:56:00.005-05:00

So this is it ... I have finally jumped in head first. I have to say that I'm always jumping in over my head, and this is no exception! Please bear with me as my focus turns to a long overdue blog, updated website, new Facebook page, and Tweets on Twitter! I'm all in ... A Marketing Maniac! This blog is a result of careful consideration and a need to share a part of my life that only photos can convey. I want to welcome every one into my little corner of the world and share a bit of what I do with my friends who have been the emotional support that made it possible to move my creative obsession to the next level. Windows are my world and I welcome you to take a peek behind the curtains! ;-)