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So long my friend.....

Maddie G Designs — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:22:07 +0000

I have had a tough time focusing this week and posting pretties to my blog didn’t seem appropriate given the circumstances……We came home from vacation to our beloved Beagle in the hospital in critical care. He lived 12 wonderful years and has grown up with me, as I got him not long after college. “General” was named after my college mascot and he was a character and a major personality in our home.

Rest in peace my sweet General. You will be missed!

Missing You....

Maddie G Designs — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:53:45 +0000

I ran across this quote and it pretty much sums up how I am feeling these days.

via

I really miss regular blogging but lately I have had so many ideas running through my mind that corralling them into coherent posts and actions has been a challenge. I feel like all I am managing to do is keep up. I’ve also been doing a lot of soul searching about Maddie G, how I want to take it to the next level, if I want to take it to the next level, etc. I started Maddie G when I quit my job in private equity where I’d been for over ten years. Maddie G is a labor of love….something I do because I enjoy it…..not because it is bringing great financial riches to our family….that’s for sure. But, I am an overachiever….and I find it hard to do anything half way….and with this….takes a lot of time.

So, please forgive my intermittent blogging….I am hoping to figure out a way to make time for it all while remembering what is most important–my beautiful family. School starts Monday and all I want to do all weekend is hug Maddie tight! And I would, if she’d let me!

Have a great weekend!

Chair Love- Richard Mulligan.....

Maddie G Designs — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:07:52 +0000

Sorry I have been so absent of late. I have just been swamped with work and end of summer stuff. My mom was in town and we bought Maddie’s uniforms last week….I cannot believe my baby starts preschool on Monday…..booo hooo. We had a little play-date today with a friend who will be in the same class. It was too cute to “spy” on them as they played. Really, is there anything better than observing a three year old’s active imagination at play?

Anyways, sitting here waiting to hear back from the AC person as our upstairs unit has gone out. It is slightly laughable to even think we have a prayer of getting someone out today….given Dallas has had like over forty 100+ degree days this summer. It rained the other night and I got so excited I had to wake my husband up…..it was like how I used to act when I was a kid and it snowed. Wish us luck in the heat…thank goodness for the downstairs unit still humming along and the backhouse (my office) which is working just fine! Anyways, I digress.

I had my chairs all figured out for our new eat in kitchen. And then I saw these in Architectural Digest over the weekend……

Photo by Roger Davies

I think they would go great with my new kitchen. Below is the table I am getting close to buying. Took husband to take a look over the weekend and got his vote of approval. I love that it has 5 leaves—just so perfect for impromptu entertaining in the kitchen.

We are doing white cabinetry on the perimeter of the kitchen (with a possible VERY faint striae effect) and grey on the island. I was planning to do all of the counter tops in marble. Until I found the limestone seen below. I am thinking of using it along the perimeter to contrast with the white cabinetry. I just love it (and yes, I know all of the cautionary tales about limestone counter tops).

Don’t you love it when your vision starts to come together? Of course, I haven’t priced these guys out yet….I may be back to my bamboo chairs by tomorrow! Hope you are doing well and enjoying these last precious days of summer.

More Chinese Chippendale / Faux Bamboo Chairs

Maddie G Designs — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:43:39 +0000

Despite the fact that these floors are now off the table for the remodel (both for budget and logistical reasons), these images remain the inspiration for my kitchen seating.

Windsor Smith

Many of the chairs like this that are available retail are offered in a limited selection of colors (black, white or cream). But, I may want to liven mine up so I have been searching for manufacturers who will do a custom finish vs. having to buy chairs and then have them sprayed after the fact. I’ve found a few at varying price-points.

First, these are sold in pairs and the price is fairly reasonable. This chair is actually a hand carved wood chair. The pair sells for less than $1,000 even with a custom finish. The cushions are down filled burlap.These may be the winners for me given the price. I need armless as well and like the lines.

This next version is quite a bit more. But, it is a beauty don’t you think? Again, they will do custom and pricing depends on if you want the frame only or want the cushions (and what type of fill).

This last chair can also come in a custom finish. It costs considerably more than the above two options and has more of a fretwork pattern. It is probably too much for us (especially since we don’t need arms….which would be custom) but I do love this manufacturer and this piece reminds me why.

I have also started my search for the right wing chairs for the table ends. Last night we entertained 7 adults and 6 kids for dinner. It always amazes me how everyone ends up in the kitchen standing up all night. It just reiterates to me how important kitchen seating really is! Are you the same, do you always end up in the kitchen while entertaining?

Reader Request Wednesday....

Maddie G Designs — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:45:51 +0000

I cannot tell you how many times I get readers emailing me photos or links to blogs/magazines trying to find out the source of a particular item. Although there is a “research” component of my business I haven’t really ever asked for anything in return for finding items for people….but as the requests seem to be picking up I thought I would aggregate them and do a periodic “Reader Request” post.

So, here we’ll kick it off with an email looking for help in identifying a particular wallpaper that a reader had seen on another blog.

image via Young House Love

So, just a little bit of research brought me to Sanderson. The “Squirrel and Dove” pattern is part of a recently released Vintage collection which is pulling from Sanderson’s vast archives. This particular print was first introduced as a wallpaper around 1890! It is now available in both wallpaper and fabric, in three colorways….

Teal/Red

Linen/Ivory

Sage/Natural

It is a lovely pattern, don’t you think? And how cute is that nursery? What a lucky little girl. So, if you are looking for a little free research, feel free to drop me a line and I’ll try to help you out and post on a future “Reader Research” post.

This Fabric Makes Me Smile....

Maddie G Designs — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:00:41 +0000

Check out some of the fabrics in the latest collection from Manuel Canovas.

image via Manuel Canovas

These fabrics really make me smile. Particularly the second to last…absolutely love it. Thinking Maddie needs it?!?

Can You See Me Now?

Maddie G Designs — Mon, 30 May 2011 14:25:42 +0000

image via here.

Thanks so much for taking the time last week to provide comments on my blog. I *think* I have the photos showing up in google reader now and may even have the issue fixed for the few Mac viewers who were having problems. If you would, do you mind letting me know if your “issues” appear to be fixed when you have a moment?

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. We sure are here. Lots of trips to the park, the pool, met with our architect and a prospective builder, grill has been working overtime, etc. Cannot believe summer is here!

Technical Difficulties????

Maddie G Designs — Thu, 26 May 2011 23:31:22 +0000

I have a few readers who have alerted me to issues they have when viewing my blog posts. I recently bought a MAC and while I have no trouble viewing my posts, I notice my fonts don’t show up properly (my blog headings are supposed to be a pleasing looking font….but for me, they show up as big thick blog letters when viewing on the iPhone/iPad and Mac laptop).

I’ve had others say that they cannot view my first photo in a given post….but when they come back….say a day later….they will see the post.

My website designer and I are really having a terrible time trying to pinpoint where the issues are. So, I am asking a favor….if you regularly read my blog and notice some sortof consistency to the issue(s) you encounter would you comment here and let me know? If you would, please let me know what operating system/device/browser you use and any other relevant information so we can try to isolate the issue and hopefully resolve it.

Sorry for the inconvenience. This is driving me crazy! Trust me.

Little Scraps of Kitchen Inspiration....

Maddie G Designs — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:24:26 +0000

Life seems to be moving at warp speed around here. This is evidenced by the fact that I ran a pillow through the washer this week and our dry cleaning was delivered yesterday and one of my husband’s undershirts must have made it into the cleaning bag. Kindof funny….my husband was just glad that his underwear hadn’t found their way into the bag!

In any case, I miss my regular blogging (and reading) and hope to be in a better position to sit down and get back to it next week. In the meantime, two images over at Cote de Texas have caught my eye. Joni is currently featuring the work of Julie Dodson, a Houston designer who works with her mother, Tricia Dodson. I was so happy to browse through their portfolio here. The images below are via Cote de Texas, with photography by Julie Soefer.

Love the grey cabinetry and the mix of pattern in this fabulous kitchen. The cabinets on the right…LOVE! This is definitely joining my inspiration file.

And in this gorgeous kitchen, I am loving the custom designed barstools. So simple yet fun!

In the design blogs we tend to see the same images and designers over and over. I always love finding someone new (to me) to delight in!

Oh Happy Days....

Maddie G Designs — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:10:01 +0000

Despite the fact that we are buried under a layer of ice in a part of the country not equipped for this. And, despite the fact that it looks like the pipes to our master bath, which was an addition, are frozen and only time will tell what will happen…..

I want to pop one of these.

image via here

For those who have followed my blog for a while, you know that my mom has been battling a rare cancer. She had brain surgery the week little Harry was born (and still made it to his birth!) and started chemo shortly thereafter. Well, she’s got three rounds of chemo under her belt and this week had the scans to see if it was working. Well, let’s just say that the news we received could not have been any better. I think her doctors were actually surprised their “cocktail” worked. Finally, some happy news in this nasty battle. And the best thing, “Nanny” is coming to visit us….we cannot wait!

Tomorrow I’ll post about a kitchen that is a major source of inspiration. But, to be honest, posting about design seemed inconsequential to me today given the great news we got last night! Please remind me of this feeling this weekend when the pipes that were apparently run through our attic start leaking. Please, No!

See you tomorrow.