Susan Brunstrum's Blog

Foot Fetish

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:35:03 +0000

Recently I have discovered I have a real foot fetish – at least one with regard to design. Funky, whimsical feet on a piece furniture or an accessory can be the focal point in a room! I’m really drawn to the pieces I’ve chosen to share with you. They are conversation pieces to be sure. Imagine the mirrored stool with the paw feet tucked under a vanity, the duck foot lamp angled on a library table, the chalky white Sutherland tripod table that begs for attention no matter where you place it. Love ‘em all!

A Case of Nerves…

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:30:49 +0000

Tomorrow morning bright and early I am filming a “Designer Living” segment on NBC’s

LX-TV Open House! Our entire home will be featured both inside and out. I’ve been told it will take 6 hours… Yikes!

Today has been a whirlwind… windows washed, gutters cleaned, bedspreads and duvets pressed, grass mowed in straight lines, books straightened, accessories re-arranged, floors mopped, flowers arrangements hand-picked and placed, rugs vacuumed (again is straight lines). No dinner at home tonight (so what else is new?)… we definitely need to keep the sink, stove and oven clean! Maybe we should sleep at the neighbors so we don’t muss up the beds, pillows and bathrooms? Hhhhmmm, not a bad idea! And yippee, Kelsey is cleaning her room just for me, but not without protest. It will probably need my finishing touches after she leaves for school in the morning… Shhh, don’t tell her.

Tomorrow I will find out and let you know when the program airs! Stay tuned for the “rough luxe” details- my version of mixing feminine and masculine. A little bit of GQ guy meets Cosmo girl…

I’ve got my hair handled. Thank goodness for my friend and stylist, Victor, who is waking up early to help me.

Now, what to wear? I better call my friend Stacy the fashion expert!

Happy Belated Mother’s Day!

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:27:39 +0000

To all of our moms… I hope you spent YOUR special day doing exactly what you wanted-be that spending time with your children (or not), gardening (or not)-as the day was lovely, reading a juicy novel such as Fifty Shades of Gray (or not), cooking a delightful meal (or not)- maybe you went out for brunch. My daughter surprised me with pancakes and bacon for breakfast and then we took a two hour walk through our neighborhood. And in the afternoon we visited with two fabulous women- my aunt who has always been like a mom to me and my dad’s gal pal- who is also quite special to me! A phone call from my son, flowers and a new sweetpeasdesign i-phone cover and my day was complete. Mother’s Day- it can’t get much better than that!

Photos Courtesy of SPD and ew.com

Going in Circles

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:35:18 +0000

Do you ever feel like a dog chasing its tail? You know, going around and around in circles? I do! I always thought that going in circles was bad… not a good thing. But, I love circles and to me they represent an ever constant with no beginning and no end. Sometimes you are top of the circle on your way down to the bottom, and sometimes you are at the bottom on the way back up to the top…. The circle motif is one I love to use in homes and is represented throughout my own home. Note the wood circles in front of my LR fireplace, the circle backed chairs in my DR and the oval “circles” on the glass cabinets, my LR, DR and chandeliers, my LR and DR artwork and the round vessel sink in my powder room to name just a few… And look at some of the other circles we found… Now where are all the X’s???

Photos Courtesy of Spd, Omnivo, Spd, Made Goods, Spd

Don’t be a slacker – choose lacquer

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:05:34 +0000

Hey, it’s Beth again! Have you noticed all the great lacquered pieces in the magazines and the TV home shows? What a great accent to a space that has predominantly wood pieces and neutral upholstery. Mix in a fabulous lacquered occasional or seating piece – or at the very least, an accessory! What have you got to lose by adding an unexpected, show-stopping painted object? You might even consider lacquering an old, tired looking piece you’ve considered kicking to the curb! Paint it and change the hardware – you might fall in love all over again.