tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39009464263741153752024-03-05T19:50:55.838-08:00Megan Yagermusings on interior designMeganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02336666884905011618noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900946426374115375.post-41929114452451128372014-05-06T07:48:00.000-07:002014-05-06T07:48:21.431-07:00The Big AppleI just returned from a great trip to New York with Caroline as a celebration of her 12th birthday. We ate fabulous meals and walked all over the city together. Travel is such an inspiration to me and I always return to Texas with some great ideas.<br />
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The High Line is one of my absolute favorite walks!</div>
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We happened to walk by this brownstone with the fantastic duck-egg blue door. I may be one of the few people in the world to know that this is Miles Redd's house.</div>
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Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02336666884905011618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900946426374115375.post-77694125966233491132012-05-15T12:39:00.001-07:002012-05-15T12:39:42.167-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We bought a house here in San Antonio at the end of last year! We are still in the same historic neighborhood near downtown, which we love.<br />
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I have a few rooms in our "new" 100+ year-old house looking fairly civilized! We have lots of remodeling projects planned, so I haven't really done much besides paint and curtains. The walls here are Benjamin Moore's "River's edge" and the curtains are silk taffeta in the same color hung on thin, unlacquered brass rods.<br />
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I have collected furniture pieces that seem to work anywhere, and I am always happy to see them given new life in a different setting. Here is the chinese screen from my ex-bedroom mentioned in an earlier post....I hung it on the wall of the living room in this house and added a fabulous brass picture light from Visual Comfort at the top. There, yet again, is my green linen velvet Mayfield sofa and my two tiger needlepoint chairs. Do you think someone can have too much animal print? It has always been my favorite neutral!<br />
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I have my two favorite foo dog lamps behind the sofa - love them! I am getting sick of my Chelsea Textiles shades..I may need to retire those. I do love a narrow table behind a sofa..it allows you to light the area really well, and it also eliminates that furniture-stuck-to the wall look in the narrow rooms in old houses.<br />
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My cocktail table is an antique Chinese tea table cut down to 24 inches, and my pillows are an assortment of Fortuny and silk velvet, plus the Megan Yager Design signature pillow, the tiger silk velvet lumbar.Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02336666884905011618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900946426374115375.post-33333226296077588802012-05-15T12:10:00.001-07:002012-05-15T12:39:58.173-07:00Wow! I have not been a very consistent blogger, have I?<br />
I'll try to turn over a new leaf.<br />
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I thought it might be fun to give you a glimpse into the creative process that I go through when I am working on a house. I work in a very intuitive way...I think that rooms are the most successful when not overly "designed" from the beginning. I like to figure out the main furniture pieces and functional seating arrangements, and then just let things evolve. It requires a certain amount of trust from a client for them to give the thumbs up to a concept without knowing every last accessory, but it gives the rooms a more authentic feeling and allows for me to work with clients to bring some of themselves into the project so that it actually feels like their house.<br />
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I generally do little watercolors for clients in addition to my more technical floor plans. Above is a little snippet of the bulletin board in my office, which is brimming with fabric and paint samples, inspiration photos and sketches. This is the living room for client M, who just bought a 1920's house on the upper east side of Santa Barbara. We are going for a classic American interior with a young and colorful twist. We're using gorgeous colors and iconic pieces and prints in an unexpected, fresh mix. <br />
I'll keep you posted as the project progresses...it's a fantastic house and a fun client with great style. So fun for me!Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02336666884905011618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900946426374115375.post-69337476192142671802011-04-25T10:00:00.000-07:002011-04-25T10:00:25.357-07:00Designer Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_OMnHsLP3m9xAjA2FsXxX7YWvS1ovJuXsHnsdiBrI_iJ40xbl_pJ7kiIxRENCDqJLWe8IiQiJsXLMOquNnVvQ7lv_Y0dCFPBHv3YaQkKf04bPVHLahJ4CuBmu7GgqVClhoxg2WURA6Kr/s1600/DSCN0554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_OMnHsLP3m9xAjA2FsXxX7YWvS1ovJuXsHnsdiBrI_iJ40xbl_pJ7kiIxRENCDqJLWe8IiQiJsXLMOquNnVvQ7lv_Y0dCFPBHv3YaQkKf04bPVHLahJ4CuBmu7GgqVClhoxg2WURA6Kr/s320/DSCN0554.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I was asked to give my top ten designer tips as part of the interview process for Trad Home. As an avid reader of designer secrets, I suppose it's no surprise that I was a bit overly excited to come up with my own! Sadly, they edited them down to nothing and even took some comments out of context. Here they are in their unedited glory!<br />
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<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">If you don’t get the scale of your major furniture pieces correct, then the room will never feel right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This doesn’t necessarily mean mean a predictable choice; sometimes an over-scaled piece in a small room can be the secret to making a room more inviting and livable.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">I love a taller coffee table between 22’ and 24” high. It makes a room look more interesting and is really more functional than a low table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cut down a small dining table and lacquer it a beautiful color!</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Consider the entire composition of ceiling, walls, trim and floor when choosing a color scheme. Sometimes, painting trim a glossier version of the wall color can give a room a welcome, more contemporary feel, and make your ceilings look taller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even with a contrast trim, I often paint baseboards wall color to avoid a distracting horizontal band between floor and wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conversely, black baseboard, as seen in historic houses like Mt. Vernon, can anchor a room with dark floors and feel correct in a traditional home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always love blue ceilings; instant sky!</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Don’t get too caught up with adding decorative details to everything in a room. If you leave some things plain and simple, the areas where you do add trim or special details will have more impact, and the room won’t feel over-decorated or busy.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Changing out pillows and throws seasonally can be a simple way to make a room feel fresh and appropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My absolute favorites are silk tiger velvet and cashmere for the winter, and fresh Fortuny prints and beautifully colored plain linen in the summer.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Custom lined and interlined curtains are worth the expense. My favorite are inverted pleat panels hung on simple rods mounted as near the ceiling as you can get to emphasize height.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They should break ever so slightly on the floor.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">An over-scaled piece of art in a traditional room can keep it from looking too granny-ish (although, for the record, my own grandma is very stylish!) I often paint my own contemporary large canvases with sample wall color pots and scraps of wallpaper and fabrics.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Have a custom monogram designed and have it embroidered as large as possible in your favorite colors on plain white sheets and towels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scale makes it feel more graphic and young, yet still appealingly traditional.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Create a chic bar on a beautiful side table or cart and be ready for a party at a moment’s notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arrange a vignette of attractive bottles and whimsical bar accessories on a lacquered tray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have so much fun collecting vintage embroidered cocktail napkins, which I have in every motif imaginable!</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">There are some great, stylish, and well-priced things available for the home from mass retailers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure that you don’t end up with a room that looks like last season’s window display, or just like everyone else’s room! These stores can be great sources, but mix it up with antiques and personal collections to give it your own stamp.</li>
</ol><!--EndFragment-->Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02336666884905011618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900946426374115375.post-72606677635849752252011-04-16T08:10:00.000-07:002012-05-15T12:40:08.472-07:00Trad Home Events in New York!I just got back from three days in New York for the Trad Home launch!<br />
Have you seen the magazine yet?<br />
<a href="http://www.lonnymag.com/issues/19-trad-home/pages/1#p170">http://www.lonnymag.com/issues/19-trad-home/pages/1#p170</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimntRppwlnncv2gAirAeTbfXaiXLiFlhhKwxH0yELcC5-eTZXYatAcChSKX9dL9o1XSkYjWn2kLNd4OKJ6jhl4CZEUNuC8rGjaYkgyr3hZTydEO-8zRdev8SVDmHXZfepBmtUfD-cwH1xz/s1600/IMG_0918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimntRppwlnncv2gAirAeTbfXaiXLiFlhhKwxH0yELcC5-eTZXYatAcChSKX9dL9o1XSkYjWn2kLNd4OKJ6jhl4CZEUNuC8rGjaYkgyr3hZTydEO-8zRdev8SVDmHXZfepBmtUfD-cwH1xz/s320/IMG_0918.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02336666884905011618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900946426374115375.post-20673292875057599562011-04-10T15:32:00.000-07:002011-04-10T15:46:51.423-07:00Trad Home!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_pDm8jKg8PFXZVFA6VSjL5pH-5fHu0QbXyRDRby4fOXgPO167o7oqBHH5qAOyM6zYXtjlyXe7lbn9Eroc1zPWXJLsUAhRn9x58_6QJhjzZXq1tJkVGX2P0bm80Le_o37RVkKvCJmnV_w/s1600/sc021cd903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_pDm8jKg8PFXZVFA6VSjL5pH-5fHu0QbXyRDRby4fOXgPO167o7oqBHH5qAOyM6zYXtjlyXe7lbn9Eroc1zPWXJLsUAhRn9x58_6QJhjzZXq1tJkVGX2P0bm80Le_o37RVkKvCJmnV_w/s320/sc021cd903.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQon-mf643Pwsw6nkh64NpJR8l9ckD5Jl5bkxjWZrAlVLMQy8rJfhPDqYY62_1fZGTWs8Al4bFIiGOjejiT49plT_eKJYhljFDIzD7D_CcbNAeyIqEXuTAX3iEbV0HQUw-ktJTxpm5jPi/s1600/sc021ca460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQon-mf643Pwsw6nkh64NpJR8l9ckD5Jl5bkxjWZrAlVLMQy8rJfhPDqYY62_1fZGTWs8Al4bFIiGOjejiT49plT_eKJYhljFDIzD7D_CcbNAeyIqEXuTAX3iEbV0HQUw-ktJTxpm5jPi/s320/sc021ca460.jpg" width="171" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">photo by Colleen Duffley</span></div>Off to New York on Wednesday for the launch parties for Trad Home! The link should be live on Tuesday <a href="http://www.tradhomemag.com/">www.tradhomemag.com</a>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02336666884905011618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900946426374115375.post-52275461174540861432011-04-10T15:25:00.000-07:002011-04-10T15:43:43.751-07:00Round Top Antiques ShowThey say everything's bigger in Texas. That adage certainly rings true for the Round Top antique show! As a newby, to both Texas and the show, we were only able to experience a tiny bit of the offerings in one short day. Round Top is comprised of many shows within a show that radiate out from the adorable town of Round Top. <a href="http://www.roundtop.org/cat_listing.php?cat_id=antiques">http://www.roundtop.org/cat_listing.php?cat_id=antiques</a><br />
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Found an amazing Louis XV period trumeau for client H, and a darling antique chopping block for my upcoming Tastemaker Tag Sale on One Kings Lane (uh oh, it looks pretty cute in my own kitchen)<br />
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</a></div>I just returned from a fantastic week in Paris! I am always so inspired by the beautiful doors in Europe. It's so fun when they are ajar and one can peek inside. You can find everything you need to replicate the beautiful and luminous paint jobs that you see on these doors with Fine Paints of Europe's Dutch Door Kit. Now all you need is one of those fabulous center knobs!<br />
<a href="http://www.finepaintsofeurope.com/dutch_door_kit.aspx">http://www.finepaintsofeurope.com/dutch_door_kit.aspx</a><br />
<span id="goog_36673302"></span><span id="goog_36673303"></span>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02336666884905011618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900946426374115375.post-71646598258368821072011-01-13T12:53:00.000-08:002011-01-13T12:53:31.654-08:00Rental BluesWhat to do when faced with a somewhat generic bedroom in a rental? Having just moved from a house which I designed and built, I struggled with how to decorate without any permanent changes or a big investment while living short-term in a rental. This room is surrounded on three sides by large banks of windows, which is a typical setup in a south Texas house built before air conditioning. This meant not a single wall to place the bed against! Serendipity struck when I found this charming handpainted chinoiserie screen. The colors tied right into my favored soothing bedroom palette of blues and greens, and I knew it would be a treasured addition wherever I used it in a future home. The scene is of the silk trade...could it be any more fabulous? Bed-against-window feng shui nightmare averted!<br />
I painted the walls Benjamin Moore's "Bennnington Gray" which is a pretty khaki color which ties into the beigey silk curtains trimmed in a blue Rogers and Goffigan trim that were extras from the house of a favorite client. I always have curtains made with super-deep hems and line and interline them, which really protects the fabric from sun and wear. A well made curtain can follow you from house to house and is a great investment piece.<br />
My silk velvet headboard (fortuitously reminiscent of the facade of the Alamo in our new town of San Antonio) looks great against the screen. I moved a Madeline Weinrib striped dhurrie from my former living room into the room and hung four Matisse lithographs in silver leaf frames from my former dining room (House Beautiful, November 1010) A jumble of Fortuny and Porthault shams completes the springy makeover....for now! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvahNtqTlk13dIEzg6s5zdBw8TGg5oVVXG4n2Q4AYLWDF2_rl5UKmCG-uND78f_jcuZpoMtT6t-H8SsYNWF8KuOe-cLvNXc_HcJpKfmbPf8NIQjOQluPeOgQ0pkCAA2r57wgvKd4FiIejP/s1600/master+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvahNtqTlk13dIEzg6s5zdBw8TGg5oVVXG4n2Q4AYLWDF2_rl5UKmCG-uND78f_jcuZpoMtT6t-H8SsYNWF8KuOe-cLvNXc_HcJpKfmbPf8NIQjOQluPeOgQ0pkCAA2r57wgvKd4FiIejP/s320/master+shot.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>Sweet Dreams.Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02336666884905011618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3900946426374115375.post-1744452221125646992010-05-06T18:34:00.000-07:002010-05-08T13:18:36.153-07:00Have a Seat!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtNC7UFhJkXmVNo5UOaNjWuFP0x6fuknjyNJTXueZc6CfKvNr0EqtSxzZgwlwVmjq5h8z56si_SgnvDk_1aPWZj5Go4bRJQg6Qx94JCSld4hO3_XfA3zKYFYRcYWrMye6nI3ZnDjTUSgr/s1600/Amy's.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtNC7UFhJkXmVNo5UOaNjWuFP0x6fuknjyNJTXueZc6CfKvNr0EqtSxzZgwlwVmjq5h8z56si_SgnvDk_1aPWZj5Go4bRJQg6Qx94JCSld4hO3_XfA3zKYFYRcYWrMye6nI3ZnDjTUSgr/s320/Amy's.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468590368587555202" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">My Mayfield Sofa, a style available though my line of furniture on my website. Although not a typical style, this sofa references classic design, which makes it timeless. Done in a cocoa brown with nailhead trim, this sofa can have a whole new look with different pillows or throws.</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4Royjor509VD2M2New47Z9fpQZTMtBHhifX6ORUl7FHGdREq4pVBYobDiHObX4gYTO0aMaCEYKxtuTmVj2CWE2zhy58KAcq_XWhheXpY2Rb2HV_lv5vPKw2sNM7LbRk0qOWohdGioNn8/s1600/my+sofa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4Royjor509VD2M2New47Z9fpQZTMtBHhifX6ORUl7FHGdREq4pVBYobDiHObX4gYTO0aMaCEYKxtuTmVj2CWE2zhy58KAcq_XWhheXpY2Rb2HV_lv5vPKw2sNM7LbRk0qOWohdGioNn8/s320/my+sofa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468590190197611634" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">This is the same sofa in my own house upholstered in a billiard green linen velvet. This may be a bold choice for some, but I loved this fabric immediately and knew that I could live with it for a long time....if my cats don't succeed in shredding it first.</span></span><br /><br />A sofa may be one of the higher-ticket items you choose for your home. I find that many people become paralyzed when presented with the myriad options available. If you take the time to think about what you are looking for in a sofa before you start to shop, you can make a decision that will, literally, sit well with you through many moves. I've conjured the four S's of sofa selection to help you.<br /><br /><div>STRUCTURE<br />Buy the best sofa you can afford. A well made piece can last you a lifetime. Look for a frame that has been screwed, not stapled. Also look for sofas made from kiln dried hardwoods.<br /><br /><div>SIZE<br />I have a theory that no more than two people ever sit together on a sofa unless there are no other options. Therefore, I'm not a fan of long sofas. I think an 8 foot length is a good general size that fits in most living rooms. Choosing the proportion of furniture is one of the crucial things that a good designer can guide you on, which leads us to the next S.....<br /><br /><div>STYLE<br />I recommend sticking with variations on classic styles like the tuxedo, the English, or the Knole. Each of these styles can be made to look more modern or more traditional with different fabric choices, but will still stand the test of time. Big oversized arms or wonky proportions will date a piece of furniture. If you are someone who changes your mind often, then choose a durable neutral fabric that you can personalize with pillows as the whim strikes. If you have a strong sense of your own style, then choosing a unique color or print can make a big decorating statement that will make you happy each time you look at it. Remember, you can always reupholster in a few years...have some fun!<br /><br /><div>SEATS<br />Seat depth and cushion fill are highly personal. What will you use your sofa for? Is it in a formal living room, or will it be a napping spot? I like a sofa that looks inviting and squishy, so I am a huge fan of down cushions. The idea of having to fluff up down all the time may be repellant to some of you. In that case, there are lots of great synthetic options...even eco-friendly down alternatives. Eight way hand-tied springs can add another layer of springy comfort to a sofa, but those with springs can be just fine. A tight-back sofa usually has a more formal look, while one with loose back cushions may be a bit more casual and comfortable.<br />Good Luck!</div></div></div></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02336666884905011618noreply@blogger.com2