This past weekend Culture Map Dallas featured one of my latest design projects and titled the story “Designer Abbe Fenimore teaches us a think or two about decorating boldly“.  Boldly? Yes please! I love seeing how other describe my work and Rachael Abrams totally gets me, we had a fabulous interview and she really did push me to think about why we used each piece and how it pulled the entire family home together! Pop over and take a look…tons of eye candy and fun details on where to shop too!

I also have to thank Paper Doll Style for dressing me up, Kelly Rucker for the gorgeous head shot and Melanie Johnson Photography for capturing my work as only she can do!!! And of course to my adorable client, thank you for letting me create your dream home!!

 Image Via: Melanie Johnson Photography

 Image Via: Melanie Johnson Photography

Image Via: Melanie Johnson Photography

Today is going to be another busy day around The Studio.  I’m happy that Melanie Johnson and I will be inside for this project photo shoot…this cold rainy day sure is iky.  Today we are photographing one of my bachelor pad projects and I spent most of the weekend putting the finishing touches on the home!  Here is a sneak peek…I can’t wait to see Melanie’s images! I promise to share more later.  Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!

During every project photo shoot, things get moved around numerous times until they are “just right”.  Setting the scene and telling the story in a photograph is quite the challenge when capturing a room.  Seeing a gorgeous room in a magazine is what inspires us to create the room of our dreams. But capturing that perfect scene for that perfect magazine shot can be time consuming.  Having every detail perfect for that one shot takes patience, an open mind and a stack of options waiting on the side.

The chaise lounge in this living room was photographed using multiple accent tables and pillow configurations.  Take a look at these test shots to see what I was thinking. Which one do you prefer?

#1:  I’m always a fan of the garden stool, but something looks off….so I come in to make the adjustment.

#2: A bit blah for me…we need more color…maybe a different pattern?

#3:  A new garden stool and mixing up the pillows…still not feeling it. The scale of the garden stool isn’t right? Let’s focus on getting the pillows because this graphic pillow overpowers the shot.

#4: Test Shot! Ok, I have mixed in a pop of yellow and now it looks unbalanced. Still not sure about this garden stool, I’m off to look for more options…..

#5: My last attempt at finding the right accent table.  Looks like I found a pillow configuration that has caught my eye! I’m not sure I love the vertical shot, although you can now see the gorgeous drapes with greek key trim.

#6: I really like the horizontal shot because the pop of yellow on the sofa pillow is what I was looking for.   I’m thinking that I need to make one last change. Photographing mirrored pieces can be frustrating, I don’t like seeing the pattern in the shot.

Lucky #7: I think I found my shot! This horizontal shot is my favorite and I think everything looks just right without a garden stool or accent table.  The pillow configuration is soft and they bring in the perfect amount of pattern, color and texture!

I recently had a photo shoot with my favorite photographer and dear friend Melanie Johnson. My client’s home is absolutely stunning and there are mirrored pieces throughout and as most of you know, I have a serious love for mirrored furniture. Here are a few pictures of the details. I can’t wait to share Melanie’s images!!! Enjoy!

Today’s post was inspired by the many phone calls & emails about the feature in the Dallas Morning News this past weekend.  The font image in the article is of our sitting room and received the most “where can I get the…?”. So I decided to share the details of our sitting room.

We living in a 1950′s ranch style home with a rectangular room as the entry. We really don’t use the sitting room but I knew I wanted it to be stunning at first sight. We do have dogs but this ivory velvet should be okay since it’s not the main sitting area in the house.

My favorite part of this room? The custom sofa of course! We will be adding a custom version to Shop Ten 25 soon!  The piece can be custom made to fit your space and you only have to wait 3-4 weeks!

Some of the items are no longer available…boo.

This area had to compliment the adjacent formal dining room without looking matchy-matchy.

Sofa: Custom / Average Cost $2500 Ivory embossed croc velvet with circle nailhead pattern along the front.

Accent Chairs: Pre-Marriage / Find similar style here

Art: Chris Judy’s Stairway to Heaven 48″x60″ archival paper / here

Accent Tables: Left/ Zgallerie (no longer available)  Right/ Arteriors Home (one of a kind) I fell in love with the rustic iron finish and bring in the circles to compliment the sofa made this piece perfect.

Pillows: Kelly Wearstler’s Fern Tree with velvet backs (Look for them in the SHOP next week!)

Mirrored Accent Tables: West Elm’s  Faceted Side Tables.  You know I have to get in my mirrored furniture.

Accessories:  Left/ Allie & Arlo Glass Decanters, they bring in just a tiny bit of color and don’t over crowd the small end table.    Right/ Barbara Barry Luxe Organizer. This piece keeps the space modern and chic.

Table Lamps: Global Views Banister Lamps / No loner available. These lamps are huge and were the perfect scale for this room. I snagged them on clearance a few months ago!

All Images Via: Melanie Johnson Photography

I really don’t like to flood the blog with personal post but I couldn’t resist…I’m missing my girls! I was organizing all of  my project images and came across these precious shots of Caddo & Ivy. Caddo is a Brittany Spaniel and Ivy is a German Shorthair Pointer. They have been at “bird dog school” for the past two weeks and I am really missing their furry faces and sweet kisses. My husband thinks I’m crazy for treating bird dogs to such a spoiled life! But, when the girls are in the house they must have manners. A girl’s gotta keep her new bedding and furniture clean somehow.

When Melanie Johnson photographed our master bedroom, we had the girls “pose” for the camera. Caddo was shy of course while Ivy was dying to get all of the attention….and the treat that was in my hand!

Melanie also snagged a few outdoor shots that afternoon.  Excuse the icky backyard, Texas had  a rough winter!

Chasing a squirrel across the yard.

I swear they knew Melanie was photographing them, they were posing and waiting for her to take the shot.

Checking out the mail man.

I am finally shaking off the flu that has been kicking my booty and wanted to share some of the project updates around the Studio.  Last Thursday was AMAZING, Dallas received over 12″ of snow and it really was magical. Of course I felt like death on a stick and had completely lost my voice but did manage to take in the fabulous snow day. The snow was fluffy and didn’t stop all day! The girls (our dogs) had a blast playing WWF in the back yard and I did manage to tag them with snowballs!

Here are a few pics of the neighborhood and the girls playing in the snow.

Now, on to the productive part of my weekend. In my last post, I gave a shout out to City Craft here in Dallas. A few weeks ago I picked up a few yards of a fun fabric to use in my new office. I am having the studio photographed in a few weeks so I needed to shake a leg and finish the details. I have a built in book case area in the room and it really needed a pop of color.  I am a big fan of pink so I have really tried hard to keep the accent to a minimum…I tend to get carried away.

So, with a few inexpensive project boards from JoAnn Fabrics…$2.95 for two of them….a glue gun and my new awesome fabric scissors I got to work. Now, my dull bookshelves have a fun pop of color and have added another great layer to the room. Of course I couldn’t neglect the lampshade so I got to work on that too.  I am also excited about my new pearl white ceramic peacocks! They are my favorite addition and I feel like I got a steal of a deal. I found them at an antique mall here in Dallas, $35 for both!

Here are the results! I can’t wait to show you the final profession pics from Melanie Johnson in a few weeks!

Yay Yay Yay!!! We are sooo excited to finally share our profile in the January / February 2010  issue. As always a HUGE THANK YOU to my kind, giving and talented friend Melanie Johnson for her amazing photographs. She has been such a blessing to Studio Ten 25 and of course to my life.  And of course we are also thankful to have clients that allow us to take over their home in order to capture the look and feel that we have created to them.

Enjoy!

The new and improved Barking Hound Village is complete! The entrance has been polished up with stunning striped drapes, concrete pups greeting you at the entrance and a custom flag flying high! The suites are decked out and ready for their first guest to rest up between play groups. Lisa and Jeremy Jone’s dream of a Chic Boutique doggy daycare and boarding facility has finally come true. We showed you a sneak peek a few weeks ago and promised to share the completed space…well the wait is over!

Just incase you missed the details on Barking Hound Village from our last post..here they are again.
A big thanks to our models! Chip, Brownie, Molly, Xavi and Caddo had a blast at the photo shoot. Once again, we have to thank Melanie @ Melanie Johnson Photography for her amazing pics!

This is the fanciest doggy daycare and boarding facility in the Dallas area and your four legged friends will be in doggy heaven! With a chic boutique hotel ambiance, your pooch will think they have gone away for a resort vacation even if its just for the day. Think W Hotel for your four legged friend! We have managed to take an old dated 1980′s building once used as a steak house and turn it into the Owner’s vision for a modern doggy daycare. Lisa and Jeremy Jones are dedicated to providing the best experience for your four-legged friend! They have created a safe, and comfortable place for your dog to have a “home away from home”. The plan is that every puppy will have plenty of space to frolic around during their multiple play groups and then relax while taking a nap in one of BHV’s white picket fence kennels! check out their website

Here are a few of the fabulous amenities (along with pictures) that Barking Hound Village offers:

HUGE private “penthouse” suites with T.V., twin bed and plenty of room to stretch out.

Spacious individual suites made to look like white picket fences…soooo cute!

Large outdoor play areas with plenty of shade and room to frolic with friends

Huge indoor playroom with ramps and slides that provide hours of entertainment for the most active dog. No matter what mother nature dishes out, there is always a place to play!

-Large “bath” area to clean up even the most stinky or scruffy pup.

Melanie was referred to me by a friend and I have been fortunate enough to have her photograph a few of my rooms.  You name it and she can cover it! Dynamic children, Baby and family images are just the beginning. Latley, she has been busy with wedding shoots too and the images are enchanting!  Thankfully I was able to snag her for a shoot before she became swamped with holiday bookings!  She is a sweet, calm soul and a much needed balance to my non-stop crazy world! Keep an eye on our blog for more  postings featuring Melanie’s work over the next few months. You may also visit her site at www.melaniejohnsonphotography.com

THANK YOU MELANIE!