Happy Holidays (and pictures from Open House)

IMG_1975

IMG_1980

IMG_1981

IMG_1982

IMG_1984

IMG_1986

IMG_1993

IMG_1999

IMG_2007

Happy Holidays Everyone! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Saturnalia, or Festivus, I hope you had a great one and are as excited as I am about the possibility of what 2013 will bring. Here are some photos from the Open House held on December 1 taken by Becca Coe of Not Your Mother's Photography.  A big thank-you to my parents, Paula Henry, Gael and Dan Summerhill, and of course my incredible husband, Mikey. Thanks for the support of everyone who was able to make it out and I hope to see those who couldn't sometime soon.

DDCH_0027

DDCH_0049

DDCH_0006

DDCH_0043

DDCH_0038

DDCH_0033

DDCH_0051

DDCH_0037

DDCH_0048

DDCH_0044

Pretty in Pink and Purple

A repeat client of mine who originally met me through the Ellicott City Decorator Showhouses, asked me for my recommendation for a designer to help redecorate her family room.  Of course I recommended Paula Henry of Simply Put Interiors, the designer with whom I've painted countless Decorator Showhouses.  Paula transformed her family room into a jaw dropping gorgeous pink and purple Hollywood Regency-esque retreat! Before: (I had recently glazed the fireplace about 3 months ago...)

IMG_0907

And after...POW!

IMG_1917

A close up of the fireplace I redid and the wall with the custom cut stencils I made that reflect the fabric on the chairs:

IMG_1925

A railing was replaced with a custom-built bookcase by Summerhill Cabinets.  I woodgrained the top in a marquetry design with a black inlay.  The client reads extensively and Paula thought it would be a great idea to have a place for her books.

Here's the before:

IMG_1894

And After:

IMG_1908

IMG_1910

And...

A tiny little update on a very tedious project that I'm doing at my studio, getting ready for my Open House-Grand Opening-Partay!

2012-11-14_16-34-11_918

(Nevermind the paint on my hands.)

Deelite Design Grand Opening

Its official, I've set a date for the par-tay! Saturday December 1, 2012 from 5-9pm.  Refreshments and light fare to be served.  Please let me know if you plan to stop by.

8602 A Frederick Rd Ellicott City MD 21043

Even if the place isn't perfectly finished, its high time I celebrate this milestone in my career.  Thanks to everyone who has supported me and helped me get to where I am.

IMG_1862

Ask the Expert...Me!

Image

Last weekend there was a tiny little article (literally 2"x4") buried in the Real Estate section of the Baltimore Sun.  If you caught it, it was an article where I, the "design expert" (ahem, Im not a Designer, nor do I play one on TV) was asked about the hottest fall colors.  I got the call completely out of the blue and had to think on my feet.  I talked about a project Im working on right now where we're doing a deep Peacock blue/green on the walls.  I LOVE that color.  And come to find out, that Peacock color is on the cover of the October Elle Decor (subscribers) cover! Can you say "intuition?"

Thanks to John-John at the Sun for thinking of me.

Enjoy!

Link to article: Design Q&A Dee Cunningham

Moving In

2012-09-01_09-23-02_916

So last weekend my awesome Dad helped me (I mean I sorta helped him) build a false wall for large scale mural work and four 4'x8' rolling work tables with storage underneath.  It was so hot and humid I think we sweated out more than we drank.  A big thanks to my Mom for packing a cooler full of ice cold drinks, lunch, and beer for the end of the day. I have to say its a little too convenient to be within walking distance of Main Street Ellicott City because I found myself down at the Judge's Bench and the Phoenix a few times after working.  Oops! Materials being delivered.

2012-09-01_17-21-06_254

Mikey and my Dad putting up studs...or being studs...?

Things are progressing and I have moved all of my paints in. (a feat unto itself...I could open a paint store!) My mom and I went shopping at Costco for new shelves.  I was on the fence about bringing my old shelving, it was pieced together...ikea, home depot, dumpster finds...but my heart won out and I got five beeutiful chrome rolling shelves. (They're gorgeous!!!!!) I looove organizing and so I have a place for everything now and everything will eventually make it into its place.

2012-09-02_14-06-14_290

Taping away.

2012-09-03_16-22-04_657

Tables-Done!

I am still hemming and hawing about what to do with the "office". I know I want to turn it into a show space/lounge/client meeting area/paperwork space...I just can't figure out what to do with the walls!!  Its so easy when its someone else's space but when its mine I cant make a freaking decision! I just bought four stencils from Royal Design Studio so hopefully they will "speak" to me.

My neighbors are great. If you are in the area, Jack of Arts (who airbrushes cars, trucks, and anything else made of metal,) is two doors down and Bill Knapp, a sculptor, is in the next warehouse up the street.  Bill stopped in when I was taping my wall to see who was moving in.  And everyone I've talked with says I couldn't have picked better landlords.  The Klein's are the owners of West End Service and have been more than accommodating.  I really lucked out!!

Now if the weather would turn and I could stop sweating!

Stay tuned for when we will be having our grand opening.  It may be a whole weekend I'm that excited. WooHoo!!!!!

...and a big congratulations for my cousin Lauren and her beau Adam for making a commitment to getting hitched!!!  So happy! Lauren started her first year as a high school science teacher in Detroit and Adam is a very talented glass artist.