Limed Oak - Not Pickled

I love limed oak.

 The molding and most woodworking in this room is limed oak.

 This finish is coming back in a BIG WAY.

All the major furniture manufacturers have versions of this finish.

Look for them they are there.

And will be coming on strong.

Now that the retail market is completely saturated 

with DARK finishes .....

just you wait, 

this will start popping up in retail showrooms.

People in Florida are begging for light furniture and I like limed wood.

Oak turns 'taupe-ish.'

Hopefully someday I will have 

a limed oak floor like image #1.

#1

Liming Wood

A few hundred years ago wood was treated with a caustic lime mixture to protect it from the attacks of insects and worms. Later on the the effect of the lime residue on the wood grain became fashionable so eventually it was used for solely decorative reasons.

#2
If you have someone do this for you in your home
be careful that it doesn't turn out with a slightly pink tinge.
Just make sure that you mention it to your finisher.
It has turned out pinkie in the very room that I have featured in this post.
*The finish I have used (when liming wood) for woodwork
and built-ins is the color in the picture #2.
Below I have a few sites to explore if you wish to try it on your own.

What do you think about LIMED WOOD?

*and how about the alabaster light fixture????

Want to try it ? click here or here

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design, Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A, Limed Oak - Not Pickled
.

Been To Tel Aviv?

I have never been to Tel Aviv.

Many kids that I grew up with went.

IT was almost a right of passage in Miami Beach.

I never went.

I never wanted to, so i didn't.

But all these years later.....

 with all the happy people I have met from there,

and the happy stories I have heard.....

I would go today.

The streets of Tel Aviv.

The beaches.

hmmmmm...not too different from Miami Beach.

- and the cool places to just chill with new and old friends..

A man based in Paris stays here

 in this 1924 apartment in Tel Aviv,

which he decorated with 1924 deco pieces that he puchased from Germany.

I have imported chairs just like the two on the right from Paris.

I loved them and they are living in an old clients house that I did.

Have you been to Tel Aviv ?

What stories do you have to share?

story and image credit click here

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design, Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A. , tel aviv, deco

Hiding Your Sources

The secret to creativity 

is knowing how to hide your sources.
Albert Einstein

As a designer 

this is an important practice 

that I am not always good at.

Are you?

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design, Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A.,hiding your sources
 

Deco Done Right

There are a few of you that know I am a lover of DECO.

When it is done right.......

it is magnificent.

One of the things that I am drawn to 

about fine Deco furnishings and interiors 

is that they are CLASSIC.

They are 'FOREVER.'

Check the walls out
(and everything else) in this bathroom.

This study reminds me of one that I did.
Look at the arms on these chairs.
The back height of the chairs are too high for me.
But this is so well done.

I think this bedroom is absolutely dreamy.
Check the bed's frame out.
Fantastic!!!

I understand that Deco is a very specific taste and style.

Can you appreciate 
the work that went into this home?
Can you admire the style of it all 
even if you couldn't live in it?

To know more about the designers CLICK HERE

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design, Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A.,Miami Beach Deco Interiors, Turn key interior design in south florida

What You Will.....

Imagination is the beginning of creation. 
You imagine what you desire, 
you will what you imagine 
and at last you create 
what you will.
-- George Bernard Shaw

Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design, Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A., visualization

What Should I do?

Recently I have been made an offer.......

perhaps that I shouldn't refuse.

I met a man from India (Dehli) 

and he is in the process of building green homes 

for expatiates living in India.

Sounds cool right?

Can you see me here?

He has seen my work and wants me to be the designer 

of his turn key homes for ex-pats.

These designer homes would be leased to the tenants for approximately 1 to 2 years.

He would be dependent on me to 'Westernize' the homes inside and out for the comfort of the tenants.

I would design the interiors and be the exporter of the furnishings.

This would all be done on a small mark-up because the quantities could be great.

The thought of spending time in India 

is exciting and frightening at the same time! 

so.....

What would I wear?

Maybe this with leggings or capri pants underneath.

Would it be as sweaty as it is here???? 

If so...yucko.

What would I would eat......?

I love the food, and the SPICES.

I even love the smell of curry.

Americans either hate or love the taste of curry, 

I am the latter.

I could eat it everyday.

......and I just may end up eating it everyday if I go!

If I were a young designer........I would never go!

I have no fear any longer of being drugged and sold into the sex trade!

 hahahahaha

What are your feelings on this opportunity?

Seriously?

Should I see what happens.......

 and if things turn out to be safe, 

including legitimate & 'kosher '....should I go?

And if anyone has had previous experience doing business in India,

please share your experiences with me.

XX's

credits: http://www.stuckincustoms.com/category/travel/india/new-delhi/

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design, Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A. ,Interior design for ex-pats, India, business opportunity, going to India

I Am Under-Whelmed

I am feeling underwhelmed, um .....well....
I really mean overwhelmed.
There is very little business going on.
People are just not
beating showroom doors down to buy furniture.
Well, at least not here in Boca Raton, Florida.

And what decent work I have in front of me....
I just can't seem to 'get centered' and get it going.
You know... the tedious stuff,

the drawings, the estimates from workrooms, the phone calls, and the follow ups....etc, etc.
Boring and tedious this designing life can be.

I have also lost a close male friend of mine this past week.

It was unexpected....but not a surprise if you get my meaning.
He had struggles, and they were not money struggles,
relationship struggles, or health struggles.

He was 52 and I think he may have died of a broken heart.

He was misunderstood in more ways than I could begin to explain.
He loved poetry.
He would read it to me for hours, or until I begged him to stop...
or I just fell to sleep....but he would keep reading.
He loved it so.
And if you ever met him
you would never believe this guy was into poetry.

He put up very tall walls to keep people away

He always lowered the bridge for me.

Like I said, he was my friend.

I will miss him.

Who knows, someday he may be reading poetry to me again. 

I am underwhelmed and overwhelmed 

at the same time.

I have a bad habit of not dealing with 'events', 

if you know what I mean.

I am so busy trying to keep up with all I have 'to do' 

that I just stuff my feelings into some 'feelings closet'

so that I can just keep up with the 'beat of my drum.'

I am feeling irritable and discontent.

Not good.

I think I will make some brownies.

XXX's 

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design, Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A., irritable and discontent,the drawings, the estimates from workrooms, the phone calls, and the follow ups

Miss Barry's New Chair

This is it!

Fabulous. No?

It is Deco-ish....no?

I have always felt that chairs 

contribute greatly to a room's ' personality.'

I still do.

You can make such a statement with a great chair.

The perfect chair.

Oh.....how I love perfect chairs.......

Now this chair design is old as the hills...

but in a silver leaf finish as shown here?

Do you agree that chairs are capable of 

making a big statement in a space?

Can a chair give a room the 'WOW' factor?

Go See The Chair Here  

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design, Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A., Miss Barry's New Chair At McGuire Furniture

French Deco Dressing Table

Dressing table by
Jules Leleu (June 17, 1883 –1961) was a French furniture designer.


Are you feeling fabulous enough for this French Art Deco dressing table?


*credit: decoprivenyc.blogspot.com
Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design, Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A.

Creative Visualization 6.12.2010

Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, 

your creativity, or your curiosity. 

It's your place in the world; 

it's your life. 

Go on and do all you can with it, 

and make it the life you want to live.
-- Mae Jemison

have a sweet weekend!

xxx's me

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design, Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A.

Pre-War Apartment In N.Y.C

This is a home in NYC.

In a pre-war building built in 1928.

When you live in a larger, with a doorman pre-war building in the city 

here are a few things that you might find;

a working fireplace, large rooms with big closets, 

beautiful old wood floors, 

built-ins, and sometimes.... iron work inside the apartment.

And most likely you will have 

a very funky (and i mean that in a good way)

old elevator with the 13th floor button removed.

Most of these buildings had no thirteenth floor because of superstitions. 

The family that lives here wanted a feeling of permanence.
They have 3 kids. And I agree,
I think that this is crucial for kids when they are growing up as well.

I love the warmth of this place.

Flea market finds fill the less expensive 

custom bookshelves made to look like built-ins

SEE!!!!

A wood burning fireplace.

How cool is that???

The fabrics chosen for this home 

were checks and stripes to add to the 'old home' feel.

The dining room has 19th century Swedish chairs.

And they have decided to keep the painting 

unframed or museum mounted  to maintain a less formal look.

It works.

This is my favorite thing.....

look outside this cozy kitchen window.

Gorgeous & strong Manhattan architecture!!!

Looks like it could be Paris. Right?

I would (almost) give anything to live in a NYC pre-war apartment.

And if anyone should have one for me....

I would prefer it to be on Carnegie Hill, or anywhere else on the east side.

Providing it is from E. 58th St. to E 94th St,

and between 3rd Avenue to 5th Ave.

Not that I am picky.....!!! hahahahahah

XX's

credit: countryliving.com

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design, Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A., NYC pre-war apartment