Lovejoy Designs

Shots from a Florida Vacation

Phoebe — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:41:04 +0000

Hunting for Shells.. what could you do with these? cover a mirror? Cover a console with them? For now, I started my quest for the most colorful array with this pile I found on the beach..

I went to Florida to turn off my design mind for a bit. Who am I kidding!! I love it too much and this bench at a croquette court fit in so nicely with it’s surroundings. I took about 10 shots of this croquette court, I loved it’s perfect blades of green precisely mowed grass.

But mostly I relaxed with Peter awaking to this view and cherished the downtime where my only responsibility was getting to dinner on time.

For now, I will dream about ocean waves and Planter’s Punches and wait excitedly for our next lift off.

Marble Countertops! Selection time..

Phoebe — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:16:00 +0000

On my Pinterest page, I have been pinning white kitchens for as long as I have had an account. When it came time to select countertops for our kitchen and bathrooms, it was easy to determine the direction to go in!

(Via: pinterest)

(Photo: Lovejoy Designs)

Buonato Granite was where our contractor sent us. Mike was really knowledgeable about the various types of granite and marble options.

(Photo: Lovejoy Designs)

This is where all the fabrication happens too. Before the marble is cut, a template is made at your home to the exact fit of your space. Then the marble is brought back to the facility and cut.

(Photo: Lovejoy Designs)

For our kitchen, as much as I love the white look of marbles, I was concerned about the staining that does happen. Mike found an alternative that still gives us that white look but is sturdier than a Carrara or Calcutta marble. It is called White Rhino and once sealed can withstand lemon juice, pasta sauce better than others. Having these kind of countertops in your home will require more upkeep than dark granite for example. So, when you are shopping for stone countertops, it is good to consider how you want to live.

Here is our powder room marble. It is called Supreme White; funny name seeing that it mostly grey. We are having all out countertops honed and leathered which gives them a matte, slightly distressed finish.

(Photo: Lovejoy Designs)

Here is the Master Bathroom countertop.. gorgeous huh!

(Photo: Lovejoy Designs)

Stay tuned for some furniture shopping next! This weekend I am heading to Stamford Antiques Center in Stamford Connecticut in hopes of putting me out of my misery in finding the perfect chandelier for our dining room…

Choosing Crown Moldings for the new abode…

Phoebe — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Peter and I went to pick crown molding, window and door casings last weekend. I had this image of a room tagged on Pinterest. See how hefty the moldings and millwork are?

(via Pinterest)

I love a meaty crown molding especially when you have tall ceilings. When one is thoughtful with the size of their crown molding, you are halfway there in creating the mood of a space.

We have 10’4” ceilings so doing a dainty, detailed crown molding will only get lost in the shuffle. Instead we chose a tall 4”-5” molding that will really give the walls some drama.

We went to Anderson McQuaid in Cambridge MA to make some selections. They have a whole building dedicated to moldings and they have samples you can take home to try.

Anderson & McQuaid Co. Factory

(Photos: Lovejoy Designs)

Next up, kitchen countertops and final drawings of kitchen design…Stay tuned!

Gone…

Phoebe — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:56:00 +0000

One night we had a kitchen island and a working refrigerator. The next morning, no more appliances let alone many of the floor boards! Our construction at our new home!

Here is a tiny 4′ x 6′ powder room, oh but just wait. Good things come in small packages! I have a good scheme for this tiny space.

Kitchen cabinetry coming soon…

Dreaming of our new home..

Phoebe — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:12:00 +0000

After a wait for our contractor to finish up last minute to do’s, demolition begins hopefully next week which makes me anxious to begin figuring out furniture placement.

When you are planning a furniture layout, a really good way to assure that your furniture will fit is to tape the dimensions out on the ground. Lucky we did it because we found out that the 2 occasional chairs I had fallen in love with were going to be too deep.

Back to the drawing board on the chairs but a valuable lesson here, measure twice, cut or..spend once!

P.S.

Read about us in the new edition of New England Finery Autumn 2011

Louis Vuitton and Goyard, practical thinkers for the worldly traveler of yesterday

Phoebe — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:11:00 +0000

You don’t see a lot of these travel trunks at airport terminals anymore, they used to serve a very functional purpose for people taking the ocean liners and trains during the mid nineteenth century.

I was recently at my in law’s house and found that they had a collection. While most of them had what one Ebay seller called “age appropriate patina”, they still have a grace and beauty about them.

(Photo: Lovejoy Designs)

If you want to learn more about these famous trunks, Louis Vuitton came out with a book, ‘”Legendary Trunks” And it is available here:

New home, long wish list

Phoebe — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:51:00 +0000

After 55 apartment visits in 1 month, Peter and I are homeowners! With plenty of usable, functional, renovatable square footage, we begin our wish list. From bookcases, kitchen countertops to wallpapered master bedrooms, our dreaming has begun. Stay tuned for photos along the way.

(Photo: Lovejoy Designs)

Designer Days. A trip to the granite stone yard

Phoebe — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:49:00 +0000

This week I took a visit to the granite and marble yard in search of a large slab of granite to replace a piece of existing green Onyx. This piece is equally gorgeous but is not complementary to the color palette for the job. Visiting slab yards is rewarding. I am always humbled by the fact that these stones exist in nature. There is so many beautiful and varied colors, patterns and textures in stone. From a piece of Carrara marble to the Onyx below, I am fascinated by stone is it’s many appearances.

This is the existing piece…

This is the new piece that will be cut down and then inserted into it’s new home. It will be backlit to emphasize the gorgeousness of the stone. I am pretty sure it is going to glow something pretty.

I am also on the hunt for some Danby Marble which is quarried right in the Northeast up in Vermont. It is a beautiful white stone with veining that ranges from dark grey’s to browns to even blues.

Stay tuned for pics once these are installed!

There is a new deal in town that you have got to know about!

Phoebe — Thu, 12 May 2011 14:30:58 +0000

The Pink List, started by “mompreneurs” Alex Abramowitz and Kate Caulfield, is an exclusive membership program who’s members get exciting deals and shopping opportunities at participating stores in the Boston area.

The Pink List has partnered with local businesses like Sara Campbell, Red Wagon, Rugg Road, Twig along with many others. They have all opened their doors to members of the Pink List!

Come meet The Pink List at Mint Julep this Wednesday May 11^th

Receive a special 20% off this day only!

Whether you are a mom or not, we don’t need to sacrifice style or our identities and interests when life gets busy, you too can have a stylish lifestyle and The Pink List can help you do that.

To become a member, you simply pay an annual membership fee of $85, grab your Pink List card (which by the way is a snappy hot pink that stands out in your wallet) and head to the stores! You are supporting local businesses all the while finding some great deals and opportunities!

The Pink List membership makes a great shower gift, wedding or Birthday gift too! To sign up, simply visit,

Doggie Days…

Phoebe — Wed, 04 May 2011 17:12:00 +0000

Today’s modern dog has the life!

Dogs living today can dine on oven baked, home grown, grade A natural ingredients; sport ergonomically created, 100% recycled post-consumer Jacquard patterned collars. They can even stay in posh dog hotels that rival my apartment style living! And what really gets me excited are dog beds!!

This past February, we welcomed Beacon our yellow lab! The time came where he was getting to big for his wire crate and needed something softer and larger to sleep on.

Check out Beacon’s new favorite spot! A chevron pattern bed with snappy yellow piping! While my husband Peter is still wondering what’s wrong with a simple brown bed from a wonderful company (which shall remain nameless) located in Maine, I am overjoyed! Completely fulfills my need for a tasteful dog bed that goes great in my interiors!

Get them here! http://furbishstudio.com/