Dogs in Design-

This is such a perfect subject matter for our firm!
(Check out Author Molly Brandenburg's other work)

8 Ways Dogs Help You Design

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

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Bath Mats · Bathroom Sinks · Bathtubs · Shower Caddies · Shower Curtains · Toilet Accessories · Toilets · Towels ·

Legends

I was going to post this blog in May, but now it is the end of June.....gosh time is flying by!

This was going to be a tribute to women and mother's, hello Mother's Day is in May, but still in June this is very interesting.

A tribute to the Legends of Design, to whom without these ladies we couldn't do what we do today.....

Dorthy Draper-


In 1923 she started the first Interior Design firm in The United States, which is still in business today!
She is best known for her work in large commercial spaces including the Greenbrier hotel in West Virgina. Which I hope to visit one day.

Dorthy Mae "Sister" Parish-


The only girl in a family of boys she was no for a "NO-nonsense" approach to interior design.  She would take roll a tea cart from room to room collecting unnecessary nic-nacs in the home.  She loved chintzes and used them throughout Jackie Kennedy's home and the private rooms of The White House.

Zelina Brunschwig-

Known as a firm business woman, she took over her husband's company and became the director of Brunschwig & Fils.  If you are in the design world, you know this is one of the most high end companies there is today.  She is know for introducing coordinates in showroom displays which help all of us designers!


Can you guess which one is which?????

Wine & Design Let's Celebrate for Elizabeth

Wine & Design in Cary to celebrate Elizabeth's Birthday!   I think she had a special day!

Elizabeth's friends joined in the fun!

Amy, Aunt Jane, Betsy, Linda and my mama painting away!!!

Elizabeth & her mama beginning to paint! Don't you see the family resemblance? 

OK; the rowdy side of the room; Kay, Bernard and of course the trouble maker Kirby!

The angel of the group!  HA!

Libby & Kay Drinking that wine; the only way to get them to paint!

Of course Aunt Jane has her wine with her cute little apron!

The works in progress.  Bernard staring at his masterpiece!

The birthday girl and the trouble maker

My mama, Bernard, me, Elizabeth and the trouble maker.

The whole team, without Marlene we couldn't do it!

Lots of Color in Charlotte NC

We visited the Stark Carpets Showroom in Charlotte a few weeks ago.  Look at all the rolls of carpet they have produced waiting on jobs to be installed!

 These are threads of color you can use on any rug/carpet to make custom-  you know us designer girls love this!!!  So many options.................

These rugs above are outdoor, you can't tell it, but they are made of jewels, stones and are soooo colorful and would be great conversation pieces!!!

We love different paint colors and companies who go beyond and create colors with different bases and different intensities.  These colors make us very happy to have something new and fresh to spec out!

This is my life......

Sarah Susanka

Sarah Susanka- Wow what an inspiration to me and a fresh way of thinking about design, our lives and homes.

The popular way of thinking in our society is bigger is better. Home to Sarah and to all of us should be the the quality not the quantity. Home has nothing to do with size.
Popular terms are "castle-ville, mcmansions".......

I try to adapt to the rules Sarah has applied to her life and career. We need to do a better job to create a better floor plan for our homes for how we live.

Please check our Sarah's books and her philosophy. I aspire to follow in her footprints.

A Week of Activity....

You never know what we have going on here at Angela Pence Interior Design....
This past week, we bought a huge fork and spoon, attended an art auction and hung beautiful wall flowers. Our great warehouse guys, Lee and Bernard helped transform this boring staircase wall into a beautiful feature wall.

There is definitely never a boring day!

NC Design Online......We Were Featured

As I was going to interior design school I looked through the magazine North Carolina Design I dreamed of being in the magazine some day.

This week our work was featured on their blog..........The story is about the professional photographer who helped us with our photo shoot.

Please take a look...... I appreciate the honor!

http://blog.statedesign.com

Kitchen Before & After

We've survived the holiday season and are kicking off the start of 2012 with an array of exciting new projects! We'll be sure to keep you updated on the progress of those, but in the meantime wanted to share a little kitchen remodel that we've had in our back pocket.

First, lets start at the front door...

The built-in toy box look wasn't very inviting so we got rid of it, ta-da! (Now when I say "we" got rid of it, I mean skilled & licensed contractors) Moving on...

With no formal dining room, our clients wanted to maximize seating capactiy of their eat-in kitchen area and keep the integrity of an open floor plan flow. The kitchen opens to the family room, and we actually extended the opening in the below far left wall to create better flow.





Our clients wanted to work with their existing cabinets, so we jazzed them up with new molding details, glass and new hardware. Lighting was an issue in this kitchen, so we added recessed lights, under cabinet lights and decorative pendants.

(and magically disappearing switch plates)

And meet the five little lovelies that prefer an "open floor plan", captured skillfully by our talented friend at Diane Lewis Photography .

Happy New Year!

As 2011 closes we want to thank all of our vendors, contractors and especially our clients who made 2011 a successful year for us. Thank you for all you do. On our first full work day of 2012 I came across this quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes which we will keep in mind with every project we work on this year:
"Where we love is home- home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!