WISHING YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

 

Katie, Michele, Jessie and Shauna

The Cove Install

Before each client installation, a preliminary set up is done in the cove out in our studio. We do this to make sure the set-up and scale of things are all working together.  Here are some the the exciting new pieces we have been designing and decorating with lately.  Enjoy!

 

Furnishings and fabrics available through Michele Dunker Interiors.

Why does Michele love a double island?

1. Double Islands in the kitchen are the perfect solution for our hectic lives! They provide ample space for working, eating and creating.  Kids can be doing homework on one island, while mom is cooking dinner on the next.

Dunker Home- Michele Dunker Interiors Visual Comfort Lighting, Tozai Accessories, Brian Kershisnik art, Chinese Chippendale railing, floral by Andi Saxton Event Planning and Floral Design.

2.  Double Islands are ideal for parties and entertaining.  Guests flock to kitchen's during parties; this makes ample counter space and seating crucial. Drinks and appetizers can be set on one island and party goers can sit at the other.

Dahle Home- Michele Dunker Interiors.  Donghia Grass Wallcovering, Walker Zanger Backsplash, Tufenkian Runner by Barbara Barry with Caesarstone countertops. Florals by Andi Saxton Event and Floral Design.

 3. Double Islands are fun!  Character and function, what more can you ask for in a kitchen design?

Norman Home- Michele Dunker Interiors Visual Comfort Lighting

We think this quote captures perfectly the function our our kitchens.

"....We have to begin with a clear vision of what a kitchen should be.  some of us dream of a workroom entertainment space designed for hands-on cooking whenever a crowd convenes.  Others want a glamorous showplace filled with professional-quality appliances.  For many families, the kitchen needs to be a "mission control room"-- A casual dining space, homework head-quarters, and meal-preparation area all rolled into one.  And for those who do not cook , the kitchen may just be a place to chill champagne and make espresso. But whatever your personal kitchen fantasies and functional requirements are, we believe the kitchen design should fit in seamlessly with the style of the rest of your home."-Decorating Master Class, The Cullman & Kravis way

The Details

Interior Design is one of the few professions where you are invited into peoples lives and invited to alter their personal spaces.  The finishing touches that are added into these spaces are what make the design complete and the client feel at home.

Charlotte Moss said, "...People's live are expressed in little details....The soap in the bathroom, the flowers in the garden, the books on the bedside table are all strong symbols of a life in progress. You look at these details and a world unfolds - here are their books, the paintings they cherish, the music that soothes their souls."

Here are a few things we surround ourselves with daily to keep the design process flowing!

This vintage gold elephant was gifted to Jessie by her friends.  It is something that makes you smile every time you look at! 

 I love fresh flowers! Since the probability of keeping flowers alive in the office is pretty low, I settle for these beautiful faux arrangements.  They brighten up any space and keep things looking fresh.

What do you surround yourself with that makes you happy?  

Would you wear it??

One of the go-to questions we always ask clients when they are trying to decide if they like a certain color palette, pattern, etc. for their home is: would you wear it? Our clothes define our personal style probably better than anything else, and a good indication of what we feel comfortable in. 

 If you think colorful clothes are key...

You'll probably enjoy a room with a bit of boldness!

If you have a knack for neutrals...

 You might prefer to settle into a softer palette.

And  if you prefer patterns...

Some lovely lines may be to your liking. 

Just like our homes, we spend a lot of time living in our clothes! It's no wonder fashion & interior design translate so easily!

Timeless Black and White

Coco Chanel once said,  "Some people think luxury is the opposite of poverty.  It is not.  It is the opposite of vulgarity." Coco was the queen of poise, simplicity and elegance.  It is this attitude that we should adopt when viewing our interior spaces.  Black and White are timeless and work in perfect contrast with one another. We have been seeing black and white everywhere.  It is so "Coco". We love it!

Designer Picks

 When we were in Denver on our  design trip, we picked up a few rolls of these wonderful Romo fabrics.  They are fresh, light and have the most amazing colors! 

A duvet cover is currently being made for  Michele's son's room in this fabric.  We are so excited to see the finished product!

These fabrics are the perfect way to transform your house and get ready for summer! 

A Recent Project: Upholstered Sofa Screen

 At Michele Dunker Interiors we are constantly being inspired by the work of other designers and the creativity that is out there in the world of design. Often when looking for a solution to a specific design problem we turn to the magazines. Recently we did just that when searching for a way to add height to a sofa and provide privacy in a space with a large window. We came across these photos and knew that an upholstered screen would work perfectly!

Here is our adaptation. A Michele Dunker Interiors custom designed upholstered sofa screen! Just like we planned, the screen made the sofa appear visually taller and provided a sleek alternative to window treatments. We were very pleased with how well this turned out and how much it added to the look and feel of the space.

Recent Design Trips

Let's just stop the rumor right now; Michele Dunker Interiors is here to stay! Recently we have been flirting with the idea of opening a second Michele Dunker Interiors location in Park City,Utah; however, our current location will remain in Logan.

While the location of the company may be staying put, Michele Dunker Interiors has recently been busy traveling the United States! We have filled our minds with inspiring designs created by designers across the U.S. and are thrilled to bring them back to our clients.

Michele went on her yearly Art & Architecture Tour where she toured five private homes in the Beverly Hills area. Organized by Los Angeles County Museum of Arts and presented by the Art Museum Council, this exclusive tour features homes which have been chosen for their unique and exquisite art collections as well as for their architectural design. (losangelesrealestatevoice.com)

Next, the office shut down for a few days as everyone here at Michele Dunker Interiors traveled to Denver to Town Studios for their Designer Event. Frank Carfaro, Ted Boerner and Laura Kirar spoke about their design process from inspiration to realization.

The featured designers and us. (Picture left to right Shauna Spencer, Jessie Lambourne, Ted Boerner, Frank Carfaro, Laura Kirar and Michele Dunker)

Laura Kirar's Desing Inspiration Board

Michele chatting with Ted Boerner.

After the designer event we were invited to a private dinner at the owner of Town Studio’s residence. It was such a treat to mingle with the designers and see his beautiful home. His house was featured in the October 2010 issue of Elle Décor. Here are a few of our favorite parts of the Denver trip.

Outdoor pool and lounge area.

Living room, everything was so gorgeous we just had to have our own little photo shoot.

This was the front entry of his home, it had the most amazing accessories!

No closet is too big or too small to be custom. His closet was immaculate.

The trips were so fun and inspiring for all of us here at Michele Dunker Interiors!

(Pictured above from left to right: Michele Dunker, Marguerite Henderson, Tamara Pluth, Marilyn Kalbach)

Recently Michele took a french cooking class from Marguerite Henderson. Michele was pleasantly surprised by the size of this successful chef's kitchen. This inspired us to think about our Kitchens and what purpose they have in our homes. Describing his friend's dining room, Mark Hampton said:

" Most important to the Kempners are the food and the guests, the real point of the room, after all. Here is where the talent of the host and hostess lies. We should all remember that dining

rooms are really stage sets. The decorating job isn't finished until there is a meal on the table and the people on hand to bring the whole thing to life. In order for a dining room to have any heartbeat at all, it has to be used. How often you use it and the variety of the table settings and menus you are capable of producing determines the true success of the room. "

You don't have to have an elaborate dining room or kitchen to create an atmosphere of luxurious dining. Make the kitchen a place to eat and a gathering area to relax and converse. Set out a variety cheese platter with a large bunch of grapes or tray filled with delectable breads before you serve the main meal.


Next time you entertain, try a new recipe, stage your kitchen as a place to gather and enjoy the opportunity to explore your creative instincts. Pictured below from left to right: Thyme Honey Mustard Slow Roasted Pork Loin on Bed of Cannellini Beans, Kale and Tomatoes, Roquefort Walnut Apple Salad with Caramelized Shallot Dressing and Vichyssoise (warmed potato leek soup)
Marguerite's classes and times can be found at http://www.margueritehenderson.com/classes. Sign up today!