laura u|mag: april - june 2013

50
February—April 2013 Issue 14 TIDY TIPS | JASON REEVES FROM ODDLY ORGANIZED MEET BLOG EDITOR SAMANTHA PENNER: THE PEAK OF TRES CHIC Our Writer’s Cottage at the Villa De Luxe Showhouse Spot-On Spring Trends NOTEWORTHY NOW HOUSTON EVENTS

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Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Laura U Inc. is an award winning, full service interior design firm with a broad reach. Focusing on luxury homes and fashion forward restaurant, bar, and corporate office interiors, Laura U provides turn-key interior design solutions for its clients. We offer an unmatched design service as well as painstaking attention to detail and excellence in project management. Our clients have come to expect a Classically Current look of each and every design. Laura U has design experience that includes contemporary and classic homes, opulent vacation retreats, fabulous pieds-a-terre, cutting edge restaurant & bars, and refined corporate offices. Laura U designs beautiful interiors throughout the United States and internationally.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

FebruarymdashApril 2013

Issue 14

TIDY TIPS | JASON REEVES FROM ODDLY ORGANIZED

MEET BLOG EDITOR

SAMANTHA PENNER

THE PEAK OF TRES CHIC

Our Writerrsquos Cottage at the

Villa De Luxe Showhouse

Spot-On Spring Trends

NOTEWORTHY NOW HOUSTON EVENTS

ADVERTISEMENT

Like us facebookcomLauraUCollection

Tweet us LauraUInc

Follow us pinterestcomlaurauinc

Houzz houzzcomprolauraumansky

Instagram us laurauinteriordesign

Blog lauraucomblog

Email Join our mailing list

Connect with Us

Letter From Laura

Meet The Team

Coming Soon

New In the Boutique

Design Envy| Ombre

Laura U| Look

Get our signature look

IN EVERY ISSUE

03

06

08

46

10

48

34

Best in Blogging| Samantha

Penner A Peak of Tres Chic -

Art Talk Saatchi Online

Where In the World Houston

Events wersquore excited about

Oddly Organized| Jason Reeves

tips to be tidy

Villa De Luxe Showhouse

Check out our Writerrsquos Cottage

SHOPPING

FEATURES

18

26

28

44

Quilted Deluxe

Pure White

Flower Fever

Designer Faves

Design Selected Source Julian Chichester

Pinning amp Pining

12

22

36

14

16

24

38

Letter from Laura Umansky AprilmdashJune 2013

Laura

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

Our Contributors As I write this letter I am making last minute plans for my big move As you may have heard (hello Laura U | Blog ) I am finishing up my own reno-vation at Old House (my lovely 1930s home that came with plenty of trials and tribulations) and I am finally moving in like to-

day This issue of Laura U | Mag goes to print not a moment too soon Inside we fo-cus on the Spring season and everything re-newal Spring Inspiration Spring Organiza-tion Spring Planning amp Spring COLOR It makes for a fabulous reference as I settle into my new interior and exterior

From being Oddly Organized to climbing to the Peak of Tres Chic our Spring issue takes a look at the freshest ideas in the de-sign industry Fashion-to-Furnishings focuses on the quilted look (picnic in the park any-one) ultra-white (we have a fabulous re-source for fabric protection - go for it) and what is more perfect for Spring than florals

Nowhellip back to packing I will settle into my new digs as quickly as possible so I can get back to what I love settling others into their new digs As always I am thrilled to offer a peek into the world of Laura U Enjoy

ADVERTISEMENT

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

8322283750 | salesforefrontavcom

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

LAURA UMANSKY CAROLYN MIGHELL

KIRSTIN TATE

FROM Seguin TX FAVORITE CITY RomemdashWhile I

was in Architecture school I fell in love with the history people and

of course the food amp wine

MELISSA MEYER FROM Houston TX

FAVORITE CITY Galway ndash Beautiful scenery and amazingly fun locals

LINHDA TRAN FROM Worcester MA

FAVORITE CITY NYC ndash I havenrsquot yet traveled the world but New York

has the best food

FROM Anderson IN FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

FROM Houston TX FAVORITE CITY Houston ndashWe have a mash up of so many cultures so

many growing scenes food art de-sign music medicine amp technology

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

KIRSTIN TATE BLAIR FOSTER FROM Anderson IN

FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

CATHERINE SOLOMON FROM San Angelo TX

FAVORITE CITY Castiglio Fiorenti-no ItalymdashThe small Tuscan city where I studied abroad in Italy

FROM Worcester MA FAVORITE CITY New Orleans ndash I

adore the charm and the easy go-ing atmosphere

FABIAN SEGURA FROM Guadalajara Mexico

FAVORITE CITY Florence ndash Running through the streets getting lost stumbled upon the real David

LETECIA ELLIS FROM Bay City TX

FAVORITE CITY Punta Cana Beau-tiful blue beaches and perfect weatherhellipwhatrsquos not to love

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

COMING SOON

More STUNNING Laura U Interiors

Stay up to date at LauraUcom

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

S pring is in the air and itrsquos rejuvenating effects are felt

by everyone No sectors are more re-energized by the shifting of the seasons than fashion amp home deacutecor Pick up some of our favorite spring-tastic trends to refresh your home for the warmer months ahead quilted de-luxe flower fe-ver and white hot accents

FASHION furnishings

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

QUILTED DE-LUXE Add a little texture to your spring this year by collecting some of these fabulous woven won-ders for your closet or your castle

3 Coach

Heel

New Steffi Heel

$228 Coach

1

2 3

4

Woven Garden

Seat $350 Wil-

liams-Sonoma

Sit in

Style 1 4

Philippe Delzers Eacutelitis

EXCALIBUR CABINET 2

Versace $1695

Net-A-Porter

Versace Purse

Ensign Stacking

Chair$610 Zinc

Door

Natural

Chair 5

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

1

2

3

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 2: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

ADVERTISEMENT

Like us facebookcomLauraUCollection

Tweet us LauraUInc

Follow us pinterestcomlaurauinc

Houzz houzzcomprolauraumansky

Instagram us laurauinteriordesign

Blog lauraucomblog

Email Join our mailing list

Connect with Us

Letter From Laura

Meet The Team

Coming Soon

New In the Boutique

Design Envy| Ombre

Laura U| Look

Get our signature look

IN EVERY ISSUE

03

06

08

46

10

48

34

Best in Blogging| Samantha

Penner A Peak of Tres Chic -

Art Talk Saatchi Online

Where In the World Houston

Events wersquore excited about

Oddly Organized| Jason Reeves

tips to be tidy

Villa De Luxe Showhouse

Check out our Writerrsquos Cottage

SHOPPING

FEATURES

18

26

28

44

Quilted Deluxe

Pure White

Flower Fever

Designer Faves

Design Selected Source Julian Chichester

Pinning amp Pining

12

22

36

14

16

24

38

Letter from Laura Umansky AprilmdashJune 2013

Laura

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

Our Contributors As I write this letter I am making last minute plans for my big move As you may have heard (hello Laura U | Blog ) I am finishing up my own reno-vation at Old House (my lovely 1930s home that came with plenty of trials and tribulations) and I am finally moving in like to-

day This issue of Laura U | Mag goes to print not a moment too soon Inside we fo-cus on the Spring season and everything re-newal Spring Inspiration Spring Organiza-tion Spring Planning amp Spring COLOR It makes for a fabulous reference as I settle into my new interior and exterior

From being Oddly Organized to climbing to the Peak of Tres Chic our Spring issue takes a look at the freshest ideas in the de-sign industry Fashion-to-Furnishings focuses on the quilted look (picnic in the park any-one) ultra-white (we have a fabulous re-source for fabric protection - go for it) and what is more perfect for Spring than florals

Nowhellip back to packing I will settle into my new digs as quickly as possible so I can get back to what I love settling others into their new digs As always I am thrilled to offer a peek into the world of Laura U Enjoy

ADVERTISEMENT

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

8322283750 | salesforefrontavcom

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

LAURA UMANSKY CAROLYN MIGHELL

KIRSTIN TATE

FROM Seguin TX FAVORITE CITY RomemdashWhile I

was in Architecture school I fell in love with the history people and

of course the food amp wine

MELISSA MEYER FROM Houston TX

FAVORITE CITY Galway ndash Beautiful scenery and amazingly fun locals

LINHDA TRAN FROM Worcester MA

FAVORITE CITY NYC ndash I havenrsquot yet traveled the world but New York

has the best food

FROM Anderson IN FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

FROM Houston TX FAVORITE CITY Houston ndashWe have a mash up of so many cultures so

many growing scenes food art de-sign music medicine amp technology

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

KIRSTIN TATE BLAIR FOSTER FROM Anderson IN

FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

CATHERINE SOLOMON FROM San Angelo TX

FAVORITE CITY Castiglio Fiorenti-no ItalymdashThe small Tuscan city where I studied abroad in Italy

FROM Worcester MA FAVORITE CITY New Orleans ndash I

adore the charm and the easy go-ing atmosphere

FABIAN SEGURA FROM Guadalajara Mexico

FAVORITE CITY Florence ndash Running through the streets getting lost stumbled upon the real David

LETECIA ELLIS FROM Bay City TX

FAVORITE CITY Punta Cana Beau-tiful blue beaches and perfect weatherhellipwhatrsquos not to love

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

COMING SOON

More STUNNING Laura U Interiors

Stay up to date at LauraUcom

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

S pring is in the air and itrsquos rejuvenating effects are felt

by everyone No sectors are more re-energized by the shifting of the seasons than fashion amp home deacutecor Pick up some of our favorite spring-tastic trends to refresh your home for the warmer months ahead quilted de-luxe flower fe-ver and white hot accents

FASHION furnishings

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

QUILTED DE-LUXE Add a little texture to your spring this year by collecting some of these fabulous woven won-ders for your closet or your castle

3 Coach

Heel

New Steffi Heel

$228 Coach

1

2 3

4

Woven Garden

Seat $350 Wil-

liams-Sonoma

Sit in

Style 1 4

Philippe Delzers Eacutelitis

EXCALIBUR CABINET 2

Versace $1695

Net-A-Porter

Versace Purse

Ensign Stacking

Chair$610 Zinc

Door

Natural

Chair 5

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

1

2

3

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 3: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Like us facebookcomLauraUCollection

Tweet us LauraUInc

Follow us pinterestcomlaurauinc

Houzz houzzcomprolauraumansky

Instagram us laurauinteriordesign

Blog lauraucomblog

Email Join our mailing list

Connect with Us

Letter From Laura

Meet The Team

Coming Soon

New In the Boutique

Design Envy| Ombre

Laura U| Look

Get our signature look

IN EVERY ISSUE

03

06

08

46

10

48

34

Best in Blogging| Samantha

Penner A Peak of Tres Chic -

Art Talk Saatchi Online

Where In the World Houston

Events wersquore excited about

Oddly Organized| Jason Reeves

tips to be tidy

Villa De Luxe Showhouse

Check out our Writerrsquos Cottage

SHOPPING

FEATURES

18

26

28

44

Quilted Deluxe

Pure White

Flower Fever

Designer Faves

Design Selected Source Julian Chichester

Pinning amp Pining

12

22

36

14

16

24

38

Letter from Laura Umansky AprilmdashJune 2013

Laura

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

Our Contributors As I write this letter I am making last minute plans for my big move As you may have heard (hello Laura U | Blog ) I am finishing up my own reno-vation at Old House (my lovely 1930s home that came with plenty of trials and tribulations) and I am finally moving in like to-

day This issue of Laura U | Mag goes to print not a moment too soon Inside we fo-cus on the Spring season and everything re-newal Spring Inspiration Spring Organiza-tion Spring Planning amp Spring COLOR It makes for a fabulous reference as I settle into my new interior and exterior

From being Oddly Organized to climbing to the Peak of Tres Chic our Spring issue takes a look at the freshest ideas in the de-sign industry Fashion-to-Furnishings focuses on the quilted look (picnic in the park any-one) ultra-white (we have a fabulous re-source for fabric protection - go for it) and what is more perfect for Spring than florals

Nowhellip back to packing I will settle into my new digs as quickly as possible so I can get back to what I love settling others into their new digs As always I am thrilled to offer a peek into the world of Laura U Enjoy

ADVERTISEMENT

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

8322283750 | salesforefrontavcom

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

LAURA UMANSKY CAROLYN MIGHELL

KIRSTIN TATE

FROM Seguin TX FAVORITE CITY RomemdashWhile I

was in Architecture school I fell in love with the history people and

of course the food amp wine

MELISSA MEYER FROM Houston TX

FAVORITE CITY Galway ndash Beautiful scenery and amazingly fun locals

LINHDA TRAN FROM Worcester MA

FAVORITE CITY NYC ndash I havenrsquot yet traveled the world but New York

has the best food

FROM Anderson IN FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

FROM Houston TX FAVORITE CITY Houston ndashWe have a mash up of so many cultures so

many growing scenes food art de-sign music medicine amp technology

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

KIRSTIN TATE BLAIR FOSTER FROM Anderson IN

FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

CATHERINE SOLOMON FROM San Angelo TX

FAVORITE CITY Castiglio Fiorenti-no ItalymdashThe small Tuscan city where I studied abroad in Italy

FROM Worcester MA FAVORITE CITY New Orleans ndash I

adore the charm and the easy go-ing atmosphere

FABIAN SEGURA FROM Guadalajara Mexico

FAVORITE CITY Florence ndash Running through the streets getting lost stumbled upon the real David

LETECIA ELLIS FROM Bay City TX

FAVORITE CITY Punta Cana Beau-tiful blue beaches and perfect weatherhellipwhatrsquos not to love

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

COMING SOON

More STUNNING Laura U Interiors

Stay up to date at LauraUcom

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

S pring is in the air and itrsquos rejuvenating effects are felt

by everyone No sectors are more re-energized by the shifting of the seasons than fashion amp home deacutecor Pick up some of our favorite spring-tastic trends to refresh your home for the warmer months ahead quilted de-luxe flower fe-ver and white hot accents

FASHION furnishings

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

QUILTED DE-LUXE Add a little texture to your spring this year by collecting some of these fabulous woven won-ders for your closet or your castle

3 Coach

Heel

New Steffi Heel

$228 Coach

1

2 3

4

Woven Garden

Seat $350 Wil-

liams-Sonoma

Sit in

Style 1 4

Philippe Delzers Eacutelitis

EXCALIBUR CABINET 2

Versace $1695

Net-A-Porter

Versace Purse

Ensign Stacking

Chair$610 Zinc

Door

Natural

Chair 5

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

1

2

3

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 4: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Connect with Us

Letter From Laura

Meet The Team

Coming Soon

New In the Boutique

Design Envy| Ombre

Laura U| Look

Get our signature look

IN EVERY ISSUE

03

06

08

46

10

48

34

Best in Blogging| Samantha

Penner A Peak of Tres Chic -

Art Talk Saatchi Online

Where In the World Houston

Events wersquore excited about

Oddly Organized| Jason Reeves

tips to be tidy

Villa De Luxe Showhouse

Check out our Writerrsquos Cottage

SHOPPING

FEATURES

18

26

28

44

Quilted Deluxe

Pure White

Flower Fever

Designer Faves

Design Selected Source Julian Chichester

Pinning amp Pining

12

22

36

14

16

24

38

Letter from Laura Umansky AprilmdashJune 2013

Laura

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

Our Contributors As I write this letter I am making last minute plans for my big move As you may have heard (hello Laura U | Blog ) I am finishing up my own reno-vation at Old House (my lovely 1930s home that came with plenty of trials and tribulations) and I am finally moving in like to-

day This issue of Laura U | Mag goes to print not a moment too soon Inside we fo-cus on the Spring season and everything re-newal Spring Inspiration Spring Organiza-tion Spring Planning amp Spring COLOR It makes for a fabulous reference as I settle into my new interior and exterior

From being Oddly Organized to climbing to the Peak of Tres Chic our Spring issue takes a look at the freshest ideas in the de-sign industry Fashion-to-Furnishings focuses on the quilted look (picnic in the park any-one) ultra-white (we have a fabulous re-source for fabric protection - go for it) and what is more perfect for Spring than florals

Nowhellip back to packing I will settle into my new digs as quickly as possible so I can get back to what I love settling others into their new digs As always I am thrilled to offer a peek into the world of Laura U Enjoy

ADVERTISEMENT

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

8322283750 | salesforefrontavcom

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

LAURA UMANSKY CAROLYN MIGHELL

KIRSTIN TATE

FROM Seguin TX FAVORITE CITY RomemdashWhile I

was in Architecture school I fell in love with the history people and

of course the food amp wine

MELISSA MEYER FROM Houston TX

FAVORITE CITY Galway ndash Beautiful scenery and amazingly fun locals

LINHDA TRAN FROM Worcester MA

FAVORITE CITY NYC ndash I havenrsquot yet traveled the world but New York

has the best food

FROM Anderson IN FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

FROM Houston TX FAVORITE CITY Houston ndashWe have a mash up of so many cultures so

many growing scenes food art de-sign music medicine amp technology

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

KIRSTIN TATE BLAIR FOSTER FROM Anderson IN

FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

CATHERINE SOLOMON FROM San Angelo TX

FAVORITE CITY Castiglio Fiorenti-no ItalymdashThe small Tuscan city where I studied abroad in Italy

FROM Worcester MA FAVORITE CITY New Orleans ndash I

adore the charm and the easy go-ing atmosphere

FABIAN SEGURA FROM Guadalajara Mexico

FAVORITE CITY Florence ndash Running through the streets getting lost stumbled upon the real David

LETECIA ELLIS FROM Bay City TX

FAVORITE CITY Punta Cana Beau-tiful blue beaches and perfect weatherhellipwhatrsquos not to love

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

COMING SOON

More STUNNING Laura U Interiors

Stay up to date at LauraUcom

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

S pring is in the air and itrsquos rejuvenating effects are felt

by everyone No sectors are more re-energized by the shifting of the seasons than fashion amp home deacutecor Pick up some of our favorite spring-tastic trends to refresh your home for the warmer months ahead quilted de-luxe flower fe-ver and white hot accents

FASHION furnishings

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

QUILTED DE-LUXE Add a little texture to your spring this year by collecting some of these fabulous woven won-ders for your closet or your castle

3 Coach

Heel

New Steffi Heel

$228 Coach

1

2 3

4

Woven Garden

Seat $350 Wil-

liams-Sonoma

Sit in

Style 1 4

Philippe Delzers Eacutelitis

EXCALIBUR CABINET 2

Versace $1695

Net-A-Porter

Versace Purse

Ensign Stacking

Chair$610 Zinc

Door

Natural

Chair 5

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

1

2

3

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 5: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Best in Blogging| Samantha

Penner A Peak of Tres Chic -

Art Talk Saatchi Online

Where In the World Houston

Events wersquore excited about

Oddly Organized| Jason Reeves

tips to be tidy

Villa De Luxe Showhouse

Check out our Writerrsquos Cottage

SHOPPING

FEATURES

18

26

28

44

Quilted Deluxe

Pure White

Flower Fever

Designer Faves

Design Selected Source Julian Chichester

Pinning amp Pining

12

22

36

14

16

24

38

Letter from Laura Umansky AprilmdashJune 2013

Laura

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

Our Contributors As I write this letter I am making last minute plans for my big move As you may have heard (hello Laura U | Blog ) I am finishing up my own reno-vation at Old House (my lovely 1930s home that came with plenty of trials and tribulations) and I am finally moving in like to-

day This issue of Laura U | Mag goes to print not a moment too soon Inside we fo-cus on the Spring season and everything re-newal Spring Inspiration Spring Organiza-tion Spring Planning amp Spring COLOR It makes for a fabulous reference as I settle into my new interior and exterior

From being Oddly Organized to climbing to the Peak of Tres Chic our Spring issue takes a look at the freshest ideas in the de-sign industry Fashion-to-Furnishings focuses on the quilted look (picnic in the park any-one) ultra-white (we have a fabulous re-source for fabric protection - go for it) and what is more perfect for Spring than florals

Nowhellip back to packing I will settle into my new digs as quickly as possible so I can get back to what I love settling others into their new digs As always I am thrilled to offer a peek into the world of Laura U Enjoy

ADVERTISEMENT

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

8322283750 | salesforefrontavcom

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

LAURA UMANSKY CAROLYN MIGHELL

KIRSTIN TATE

FROM Seguin TX FAVORITE CITY RomemdashWhile I

was in Architecture school I fell in love with the history people and

of course the food amp wine

MELISSA MEYER FROM Houston TX

FAVORITE CITY Galway ndash Beautiful scenery and amazingly fun locals

LINHDA TRAN FROM Worcester MA

FAVORITE CITY NYC ndash I havenrsquot yet traveled the world but New York

has the best food

FROM Anderson IN FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

FROM Houston TX FAVORITE CITY Houston ndashWe have a mash up of so many cultures so

many growing scenes food art de-sign music medicine amp technology

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

KIRSTIN TATE BLAIR FOSTER FROM Anderson IN

FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

CATHERINE SOLOMON FROM San Angelo TX

FAVORITE CITY Castiglio Fiorenti-no ItalymdashThe small Tuscan city where I studied abroad in Italy

FROM Worcester MA FAVORITE CITY New Orleans ndash I

adore the charm and the easy go-ing atmosphere

FABIAN SEGURA FROM Guadalajara Mexico

FAVORITE CITY Florence ndash Running through the streets getting lost stumbled upon the real David

LETECIA ELLIS FROM Bay City TX

FAVORITE CITY Punta Cana Beau-tiful blue beaches and perfect weatherhellipwhatrsquos not to love

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

COMING SOON

More STUNNING Laura U Interiors

Stay up to date at LauraUcom

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

S pring is in the air and itrsquos rejuvenating effects are felt

by everyone No sectors are more re-energized by the shifting of the seasons than fashion amp home deacutecor Pick up some of our favorite spring-tastic trends to refresh your home for the warmer months ahead quilted de-luxe flower fe-ver and white hot accents

FASHION furnishings

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

QUILTED DE-LUXE Add a little texture to your spring this year by collecting some of these fabulous woven won-ders for your closet or your castle

3 Coach

Heel

New Steffi Heel

$228 Coach

1

2 3

4

Woven Garden

Seat $350 Wil-

liams-Sonoma

Sit in

Style 1 4

Philippe Delzers Eacutelitis

EXCALIBUR CABINET 2

Versace $1695

Net-A-Porter

Versace Purse

Ensign Stacking

Chair$610 Zinc

Door

Natural

Chair 5

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

1

2

3

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 6: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Letter from Laura Umansky AprilmdashJune 2013

Laura

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

Our Contributors As I write this letter I am making last minute plans for my big move As you may have heard (hello Laura U | Blog ) I am finishing up my own reno-vation at Old House (my lovely 1930s home that came with plenty of trials and tribulations) and I am finally moving in like to-

day This issue of Laura U | Mag goes to print not a moment too soon Inside we fo-cus on the Spring season and everything re-newal Spring Inspiration Spring Organiza-tion Spring Planning amp Spring COLOR It makes for a fabulous reference as I settle into my new interior and exterior

From being Oddly Organized to climbing to the Peak of Tres Chic our Spring issue takes a look at the freshest ideas in the de-sign industry Fashion-to-Furnishings focuses on the quilted look (picnic in the park any-one) ultra-white (we have a fabulous re-source for fabric protection - go for it) and what is more perfect for Spring than florals

Nowhellip back to packing I will settle into my new digs as quickly as possible so I can get back to what I love settling others into their new digs As always I am thrilled to offer a peek into the world of Laura U Enjoy

ADVERTISEMENT

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

8322283750 | salesforefrontavcom

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

LAURA UMANSKY CAROLYN MIGHELL

KIRSTIN TATE

FROM Seguin TX FAVORITE CITY RomemdashWhile I

was in Architecture school I fell in love with the history people and

of course the food amp wine

MELISSA MEYER FROM Houston TX

FAVORITE CITY Galway ndash Beautiful scenery and amazingly fun locals

LINHDA TRAN FROM Worcester MA

FAVORITE CITY NYC ndash I havenrsquot yet traveled the world but New York

has the best food

FROM Anderson IN FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

FROM Houston TX FAVORITE CITY Houston ndashWe have a mash up of so many cultures so

many growing scenes food art de-sign music medicine amp technology

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

KIRSTIN TATE BLAIR FOSTER FROM Anderson IN

FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

CATHERINE SOLOMON FROM San Angelo TX

FAVORITE CITY Castiglio Fiorenti-no ItalymdashThe small Tuscan city where I studied abroad in Italy

FROM Worcester MA FAVORITE CITY New Orleans ndash I

adore the charm and the easy go-ing atmosphere

FABIAN SEGURA FROM Guadalajara Mexico

FAVORITE CITY Florence ndash Running through the streets getting lost stumbled upon the real David

LETECIA ELLIS FROM Bay City TX

FAVORITE CITY Punta Cana Beau-tiful blue beaches and perfect weatherhellipwhatrsquos not to love

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

COMING SOON

More STUNNING Laura U Interiors

Stay up to date at LauraUcom

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

S pring is in the air and itrsquos rejuvenating effects are felt

by everyone No sectors are more re-energized by the shifting of the seasons than fashion amp home deacutecor Pick up some of our favorite spring-tastic trends to refresh your home for the warmer months ahead quilted de-luxe flower fe-ver and white hot accents

FASHION furnishings

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

QUILTED DE-LUXE Add a little texture to your spring this year by collecting some of these fabulous woven won-ders for your closet or your castle

3 Coach

Heel

New Steffi Heel

$228 Coach

1

2 3

4

Woven Garden

Seat $350 Wil-

liams-Sonoma

Sit in

Style 1 4

Philippe Delzers Eacutelitis

EXCALIBUR CABINET 2

Versace $1695

Net-A-Porter

Versace Purse

Ensign Stacking

Chair$610 Zinc

Door

Natural

Chair 5

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

1

2

3

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 7: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

ADVERTISEMENT

06 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 07

8322283750 | salesforefrontavcom

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

LAURA UMANSKY CAROLYN MIGHELL

KIRSTIN TATE

FROM Seguin TX FAVORITE CITY RomemdashWhile I

was in Architecture school I fell in love with the history people and

of course the food amp wine

MELISSA MEYER FROM Houston TX

FAVORITE CITY Galway ndash Beautiful scenery and amazingly fun locals

LINHDA TRAN FROM Worcester MA

FAVORITE CITY NYC ndash I havenrsquot yet traveled the world but New York

has the best food

FROM Anderson IN FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

FROM Houston TX FAVORITE CITY Houston ndashWe have a mash up of so many cultures so

many growing scenes food art de-sign music medicine amp technology

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

KIRSTIN TATE BLAIR FOSTER FROM Anderson IN

FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

CATHERINE SOLOMON FROM San Angelo TX

FAVORITE CITY Castiglio Fiorenti-no ItalymdashThe small Tuscan city where I studied abroad in Italy

FROM Worcester MA FAVORITE CITY New Orleans ndash I

adore the charm and the easy go-ing atmosphere

FABIAN SEGURA FROM Guadalajara Mexico

FAVORITE CITY Florence ndash Running through the streets getting lost stumbled upon the real David

LETECIA ELLIS FROM Bay City TX

FAVORITE CITY Punta Cana Beau-tiful blue beaches and perfect weatherhellipwhatrsquos not to love

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

COMING SOON

More STUNNING Laura U Interiors

Stay up to date at LauraUcom

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

S pring is in the air and itrsquos rejuvenating effects are felt

by everyone No sectors are more re-energized by the shifting of the seasons than fashion amp home deacutecor Pick up some of our favorite spring-tastic trends to refresh your home for the warmer months ahead quilted de-luxe flower fe-ver and white hot accents

FASHION furnishings

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

QUILTED DE-LUXE Add a little texture to your spring this year by collecting some of these fabulous woven won-ders for your closet or your castle

3 Coach

Heel

New Steffi Heel

$228 Coach

1

2 3

4

Woven Garden

Seat $350 Wil-

liams-Sonoma

Sit in

Style 1 4

Philippe Delzers Eacutelitis

EXCALIBUR CABINET 2

Versace $1695

Net-A-Porter

Versace Purse

Ensign Stacking

Chair$610 Zinc

Door

Natural

Chair 5

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

1

2

3

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 8: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

LAURA UMANSKY CAROLYN MIGHELL

KIRSTIN TATE

FROM Seguin TX FAVORITE CITY RomemdashWhile I

was in Architecture school I fell in love with the history people and

of course the food amp wine

MELISSA MEYER FROM Houston TX

FAVORITE CITY Galway ndash Beautiful scenery and amazingly fun locals

LINHDA TRAN FROM Worcester MA

FAVORITE CITY NYC ndash I havenrsquot yet traveled the world but New York

has the best food

FROM Anderson IN FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

FROM Houston TX FAVORITE CITY Houston ndashWe have a mash up of so many cultures so

many growing scenes food art de-sign music medicine amp technology

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

KIRSTIN TATE BLAIR FOSTER FROM Anderson IN

FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

CATHERINE SOLOMON FROM San Angelo TX

FAVORITE CITY Castiglio Fiorenti-no ItalymdashThe small Tuscan city where I studied abroad in Italy

FROM Worcester MA FAVORITE CITY New Orleans ndash I

adore the charm and the easy go-ing atmosphere

FABIAN SEGURA FROM Guadalajara Mexico

FAVORITE CITY Florence ndash Running through the streets getting lost stumbled upon the real David

LETECIA ELLIS FROM Bay City TX

FAVORITE CITY Punta Cana Beau-tiful blue beaches and perfect weatherhellipwhatrsquos not to love

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

COMING SOON

More STUNNING Laura U Interiors

Stay up to date at LauraUcom

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

S pring is in the air and itrsquos rejuvenating effects are felt

by everyone No sectors are more re-energized by the shifting of the seasons than fashion amp home deacutecor Pick up some of our favorite spring-tastic trends to refresh your home for the warmer months ahead quilted de-luxe flower fe-ver and white hot accents

FASHION furnishings

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

QUILTED DE-LUXE Add a little texture to your spring this year by collecting some of these fabulous woven won-ders for your closet or your castle

3 Coach

Heel

New Steffi Heel

$228 Coach

1

2 3

4

Woven Garden

Seat $350 Wil-

liams-Sonoma

Sit in

Style 1 4

Philippe Delzers Eacutelitis

EXCALIBUR CABINET 2

Versace $1695

Net-A-Porter

Versace Purse

Ensign Stacking

Chair$610 Zinc

Door

Natural

Chair 5

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

1

2

3

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 9: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

IT TAKES A VILLAGE THE LAURA U TEAM

AFTON BAILY FROM Midland TX

FAVORITE CITY Santa Fe ndash I love the art the food (esp the green chilies) amp the walking culture Not to mention

that fresh mountain air

KIRSTIN TATE BLAIR FOSTER FROM Anderson IN

FAVORITE CITY LondonmdashI LOVE the architecture parks nightlife royals hard cider amp ALL the men in 3-piece

suits BEST CITY EVER

CATHERINE SOLOMON FROM San Angelo TX

FAVORITE CITY Castiglio Fiorenti-no ItalymdashThe small Tuscan city where I studied abroad in Italy

FROM Worcester MA FAVORITE CITY New Orleans ndash I

adore the charm and the easy go-ing atmosphere

FABIAN SEGURA FROM Guadalajara Mexico

FAVORITE CITY Florence ndash Running through the streets getting lost stumbled upon the real David

LETECIA ELLIS FROM Bay City TX

FAVORITE CITY Punta Cana Beau-tiful blue beaches and perfect weatherhellipwhatrsquos not to love

08 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 09

COMING SOON

More STUNNING Laura U Interiors

Stay up to date at LauraUcom

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

S pring is in the air and itrsquos rejuvenating effects are felt

by everyone No sectors are more re-energized by the shifting of the seasons than fashion amp home deacutecor Pick up some of our favorite spring-tastic trends to refresh your home for the warmer months ahead quilted de-luxe flower fe-ver and white hot accents

FASHION furnishings

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

QUILTED DE-LUXE Add a little texture to your spring this year by collecting some of these fabulous woven won-ders for your closet or your castle

3 Coach

Heel

New Steffi Heel

$228 Coach

1

2 3

4

Woven Garden

Seat $350 Wil-

liams-Sonoma

Sit in

Style 1 4

Philippe Delzers Eacutelitis

EXCALIBUR CABINET 2

Versace $1695

Net-A-Porter

Versace Purse

Ensign Stacking

Chair$610 Zinc

Door

Natural

Chair 5

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

1

2

3

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 10: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

COMING SOON

More STUNNING Laura U Interiors

Stay up to date at LauraUcom

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

S pring is in the air and itrsquos rejuvenating effects are felt

by everyone No sectors are more re-energized by the shifting of the seasons than fashion amp home deacutecor Pick up some of our favorite spring-tastic trends to refresh your home for the warmer months ahead quilted de-luxe flower fe-ver and white hot accents

FASHION furnishings

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

QUILTED DE-LUXE Add a little texture to your spring this year by collecting some of these fabulous woven won-ders for your closet or your castle

3 Coach

Heel

New Steffi Heel

$228 Coach

1

2 3

4

Woven Garden

Seat $350 Wil-

liams-Sonoma

Sit in

Style 1 4

Philippe Delzers Eacutelitis

EXCALIBUR CABINET 2

Versace $1695

Net-A-Porter

Versace Purse

Ensign Stacking

Chair$610 Zinc

Door

Natural

Chair 5

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

1

2

3

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 11: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

S pring is in the air and itrsquos rejuvenating effects are felt

by everyone No sectors are more re-energized by the shifting of the seasons than fashion amp home deacutecor Pick up some of our favorite spring-tastic trends to refresh your home for the warmer months ahead quilted de-luxe flower fe-ver and white hot accents

FASHION furnishings

10 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 11

QUILTED DE-LUXE Add a little texture to your spring this year by collecting some of these fabulous woven won-ders for your closet or your castle

3 Coach

Heel

New Steffi Heel

$228 Coach

1

2 3

4

Woven Garden

Seat $350 Wil-

liams-Sonoma

Sit in

Style 1 4

Philippe Delzers Eacutelitis

EXCALIBUR CABINET 2

Versace $1695

Net-A-Porter

Versace Purse

Ensign Stacking

Chair$610 Zinc

Door

Natural

Chair 5

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

1

2

3

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 12: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

QUILTED DE-LUXE Add a little texture to your spring this year by collecting some of these fabulous woven won-ders for your closet or your castle

3 Coach

Heel

New Steffi Heel

$228 Coach

1

2 3

4

Woven Garden

Seat $350 Wil-

liams-Sonoma

Sit in

Style 1 4

Philippe Delzers Eacutelitis

EXCALIBUR CABINET 2

Versace $1695

Net-A-Porter

Versace Purse

Ensign Stacking

Chair$610 Zinc

Door

Natural

Chair 5

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

1

2

3

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 13: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

LEA

THER

5

9

9

7

5

8 Tiffany Teapot

Tiffany Weave Teapot

$175 Tiffany amp Co

Golden Coasters

$1690 Zara

Zara Coasters 9

Hampton Forge

ElleDecorcom

Woven

Flatware 7

6

12 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 13

8

6

10

Peter PilLotto

$1740 Farfetch

Chev V

Dress 6 10

iPhone Decor

Jack Spade iPhone

Case Bloomingdales

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 14: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

PURE WHITE The fresh and clean color of white is undoubtedly transitioning over from Winter 2012 into Spring and definitely to Summer of 2013 We couldnrsquot be more pleased

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Kingsley Frames

$145 Warby Parker

Clear Shades 1

El Paso Hide Rug

$715 Furbish Stu-

dio

Furbish Hide 2

Modo Chandelier 3

sided 10 globes

$3900 Design

Bubble Lighting 3

Chanel Spring 2013

Bag Stylecom

Chanel Bag 4

Paper Mache Ani-

mal Head $129

West Elm

Giraffe Guru 5

1

2 3

4

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

1

2

3

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 15: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

W

HITE

6

Assortment of White

Ceramic Animals

$128 Jonathan Adler

Awesome Tiny Animals

Scribbler Pillow

$295 Kelly Wearstler

The Per-fect Pillow 7

Chic H Extra

Large $840 Her-

mes

Killer Cuff 8 Stunner Studs

White Sand Sun-

burst $3000

House of Harlow

9

Toscana Bora Bora

Heel $395 Theory

Bora Bora Heel 10

8 9

7 5

10

6

14 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 15

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 16: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Anything floral inspired is all the rage for interior design and fashion right now We love the home items from Layla Grayce but adore the perfectly pieced items from Oscar De La Renta

FLOWER FEVER

3 4 2

1

3 The IT

Lamp

Arteriors Castello

Porcelain Lamp

$2210 Layla Grace

Green Floral Otto-

man $2925

shoplauraucom

Awesome

Ottoman 1 4

Keds Sungarden

Sneakers $6200

Madewell

The Cool Kicks 2

Swarovski crystal

floral necklace

$675 Net a Porter

Valentino Necklace

Flower Power Kathe-

rine Sandoz

Wall Wear 5

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 17: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

FLO

WER

FEVER

6

10

5

7

8

Versace Floral Pants

$695 ShopBop

Flowered up pants 9

Lou Python Bag

$4695 Jimmy Choo

Jimmy

Choo Clutch 6

Biltmore Hat

$2400 Madewell

Head

Gear 7

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 17

5

6 7

9

8

Jewel Toned Orimo-

no Pillow $88 An-

thropologie

Orimono

Pillow 10 8

Oscar De La Renta

Tray $795 Net-A-Porter

The Perfect

Tray

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 18: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Samantha Penner is the is the founder and editor of

the style blog The Peak of Tregraves Chic where she ex-

plores her love of good design fashion travel and

entertaining We were delighted to ask her a few

questions to find out more about her personal life

and what shersquos looking forward to for herself and

her blog

What inspired you to start your successful blog I

originally went to college and studied Energy Man-

agement a business degree with an energy fo-

cus After graduating I began working for an up-

stream oil and gas company here in Houston Alt-

hough the company was wonderful and I made

many friends I wasnrsquot satisfied creatively I felt un-

inspired and overwhelmed with a feeling of ldquois this

itrdquo Meanwhile I began helping friends decorate

their homes and homes and apartments and really

enjoyed the process That led me to start blogging

as a hobby

As I got more involved with my blog I began realiz-

ing that interior design wasnrsquot just a hobby to me- it

was a passion After talking with other bloggers

who had made similar transitions I decided to leave

my oil and gas job and go back to school at The Art

Institute of Houston to pursue my Bachelor of Fine

Best in Blogging Leaving her job in the oil and gas industry Samantha Penner pur-

sues her true passion for Interior Design with a fabulous blog

18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 19: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

To continue earning an income while in school I

worked as an assistant to a high-end residential in-

terior designer This job exposed me to the busi-

ness side of design how to keep track of invoicing

and purchasing and dealing directly with cli-

ents It was a wonderful opportunity Then last

October I decided to go to school full-time and be-

gan doing freelance design projects on my

own Running your own business is much more

work than one would expect You have to be okay

with taking risks working around the clock and

but I wouldnrsquot trade it for anything

What keeps you inspired

In the movie The September Issue Grace Cod-

dington says that Norman Parkinson once told her

ldquoAlways keep your eyes openhellip Never go to sleep

in the car or anything like that keep watching- be-

cause whatever you see out the window can inspire

yourdquo I try to live by that quote Of course I love

to read other blogs browse Pinterest and read

shelter magazines and that can be inspiring But

you have to be careful because it can easily stifle

your creativity if you just repeat something some-

one else has done

I try to see new places go visit new restaurants

and change up my day-to-day routine so that I am

continually exposing myself to new things I also

like to book at least 1 trip a year to visit a place

Irsquove never been- either nationally or international-

ly Travel broadens your perspective and enhances

your creativity It teaches you to see familiar

things in a new way Thatrsquos very important to me

In interior design your clients are paying you to

share with them your unique aesthetic

and if you are just recreating some-

thing you have seen someone else do

what good is that It is our job and re-

sponsibility to be up-to-date and

knowledgeable on trends but to use

them as a springboard for creating

something original

What is your Dream Job

I am DOING my dream job As I said

I officially launched my interior design

business The Peak of Tres Chic Design

Studio a few months ago In fact I just wrapped up

my first installation on my own and that was an in-

credibly gratifying feeling Of course I would

love to grow my business and perhaps one day take

on hospitality design projects in addition to resi-

dential As I finish up my degree I have to be se-

lective of what projects I can take on right now If

only there were more hours in the day Irsquod also

love to open an antique store one day Itrsquod be so

fun to travel the world looking for unique items to

sell in my store

Can you Give us a peek into what your dream 18 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 19

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 20: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

(continued) Think silk dupioni drapes Italian wed-

ding chandeliers a winding staircase and skirted

round tables but with touches of animal print and

bright color Irsquod love to have an exterior of white

painted brick with black shutters and a brick flooring

in the kitchen and entry A large backyard with a gar-

den would be lovely too

What is the most exciting opportunity that has come

along since you started your blog

There have been many highlights during my short

year and a half of blogging I think the BEST part is

the friendships and connections you make Some of

my closest friends I met through blogging (crazy I

know) Houston Tidbits did a ldquo5 Local Bloggers

We Loverdquo feature about 6 months ago and that was

definitely flattering We got to showcase our favorite

beauty products at a Neiman Marcus party and

the publicity from that led to a lot of other amazing

What are your favorite design products right

now

I have always loved New Ravenna tile and

mosaics They do such incredible work and

have a variety of creative options for kitch-

ens and bathrooms Circa Lighting is my

ldquogo-tordquo for beautiful and classic lighting

and luckily we have a showroom right here

in Houston I love sites like Etsy and 1st

dibs which make finding interesting and un-

usual items easier Itrsquos like a treasure hunt

20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 21: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U INC20 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 LAURAU 21

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 22: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Brass Gateway Irons

Gold Scarab Ring Beau amp Arrow

Wyndham Brown Wood Iron

Swivel Barstool ARTERIORS

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in Belle Eacutepoque

home Marc Corbiau amp Timothy Whealon

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

Pink Chair DuPont Registry

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 23: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

DESIGNER faves

Bond Vintage Brass Snow Marble Desk Lamp Project Decor

In the Light 3 Nicola Parente

Crystal Lighting Windfall

Cocktail Table Pearson

Muliti-Wheat Necklace Tory Burch

Peonies

Copper Shade Pendants Tom Dixon

22 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 23

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 24: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

JULIAN CHICHESTER The noteworthy design specialist we have come to love

We love anything and everything Julian Chichester His one

of a kind eclectic design is said to be inspired by fellow Brit

David Hicks and French designer Jean Royegravere Julian Chich-

ester creates an eclectic mix of luxurious furniture that

evokes the home of an experienced world traveler The

London-based designer who had worked as a stockbroker

had his ldquoa-hardquo moment while on a

trip to Thailand and Burma

(wwwGiltcom) He began to im-

port teak outdoor furniture and

then started designing formal in-

door furnishings launching his first

collection in 1995 One can see his

love of color and pattern in the up-

holstered pieces while the lighting

and case goods reveal his fondness

for warmth and texture

Chichesterrsquos contemporary designs

are inspired by tradition and craft

to create timeless furnishings In

the last decade he established an

enviable reputation for classically

inspired quality English Furniture

DESIGN SELECTED SOURCE

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 25: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Two of our favorite

places to find Julian

Chichester designs are

Gilt and OneKings-

Lane

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 26: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Our design team loves scouting new and undiscovered artists on Saatchi

Online Saatchirsquos tag line ldquoDiscover Art Get Discoveredrdquo sums up their

premise perfectly Their easy to use ecommerce site full of well organized

up and coming artists provides even the art lover on a budget something

fabulous for their home Here are our favorites from Saatchirsquos ldquoBright

ART TALK

Razzle Dazzle Red by Sara Willett United Kingdom

Starry Starry Naught POP POP or just what is it that makes todays

markets so different so appealing by Scott Hollingsworth Spain

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 27: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Dancer by Sara Willett United Kingdom

First by Sandro Chkhaidze Georgia

Speed by Claire Desjardins Canada

White Fire by Beatrice Robert UK

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 28: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON LOCAL EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 29: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

1

ART OPENING RECEPTION THE BLUE TREES

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Konstantin Dimopouloss temporary public art in-

stallation The Blue Trees comes to Houston and

Galveston as part of the international conversa-

tion about deforestation and its global impact

The blue trees are visible to anyone traveling

along Memorial or across the Waugh Bat Bridge

16 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 29

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 30: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

2

FLORESCENCE 2013 TREASURE

April 16th amp 17th Museum of Fine Arts

Florescence held in the Caroline

Wiess Law Building showcases

floral and horticulture arrange-

ments by garden club experts

renowned floral designers and

other noted personalities Many

of the flower arrangements are

interpretations of masterpieces

from the MFAH art collections

Other exhibits include arrange-

ments from the Asia Society Fed-

erated Garden Clubs Texas

State Floral Association and floral

-design students at Lamar High

School Photography Credit Culture Map

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 31: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

30 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 31

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 32: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Market Square Park located on 420 Travis

St in downtown Houston is hosting a one

month long Rolling Roadshow featuring

timeless classic films you can enjoy under

the stars Perfect for city dwellers who

donrsquot want to travel far for an outside one

-of-a-kind movie event

3 ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ROLLING ROADSHOW

March 27th thru July 10th Market Square Park

SHOWTIMES April 17 8 pm ndash Singing in the Rain

May 4 8 pm ndash Three Amigos

May 15 830 pm ndash Best in Show

June 5 830 pm ndash Bernie

June 21 8 pm ndash American Graffiti

July 10 830 pm ndash National Lam-

poons Vacation

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 33: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

ADVERTISEMENT

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 34: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

1 BRASS HORSE

One of our most favored collections is our assortment of refurbished brass animals The

collection is from the Mid Modern Holly-wood Regency Eames Era This brass

vintage horse has been professionally re-polished and sealed to bring out

its true brilliant shine Available soon in our One Kingrsquos Lane Store

2 GEOMETRIC THROW

Dress up any space with this sym-metrically designed throw to em-bellish your sofas chairs or bed

Soft to feel and elegant in design this geometric pattern throw is a

stylish way to enhance your living space or bedroom with texture and

warmth Available now on shoplauraucom

3 FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

What better way to embellish your fabulous dinner than with elegant statement napkin rings These beautiful agate napkin holders turn an everyday meal into a special occasion Coming soon to shoplauraucom

4 MODERN TABLE

Donrsquot miss our custom built brass table Com-plete any room with this exquisitely one-of-a kind table Table top covered in a cream sha-green topped off with a custom cut glass and lays on a brass base It is sure to make a state-ment on its own Sold on shoplauraucom

4 STYLISH SERVICE

For serving storing or just to show off featur-ing fresh takes on our signature abstract and nature patterns The Labyrinth Tray adds retro-chic style to everyday deacutecor and your next home soiree This hand screen-printed glass in a lacquered frame Hangs with wooden wall cleat provided

SHOP OUR BOUTIQUE

34 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 35: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

lauraucom

DISCOVER MORE AT LAURAUCOM

D E S I G N P O R F O L I O

S H O P P I N G

C O N T A C T S H E E T

D E S I G N B L O G

L A U R A U S E R V I C E S

L O O K B O O K

your design source

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 36: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Can you say

COLOR

1stdibs Classic Mid Century Tub Chairs Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Pair of Brass Acanthus Leaf

Sconces by Paavo Tynell

Mel Bochner ldquoBlah Blah Blahrdquo

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 37: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Pinning amp Pining

What Our Clientrsquos

Love

Now

Can you say

COLOR 1st dibs Malachite

amp Diamond Ring

ALEXIS BITTAR Large Ophe-

lia Hummingbird Bracelet

Antonio Berardi Neon wrap-

effect stretch-crepe dress

Bungalow 5 Furniture Horses

Rectangle Nesting Boxes

Mid-Century Mazzega Custom

Emerald Green Chandelier

Narciso Rodriguez Lizard Envelope Clutch

Boca do Lobo

Giuseppe Zanotti

Follow Laura U on Pinterest

pinterestcomlaurauinc

36 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 37

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 38: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

Oddly Organized founded by Jason Reeves is a professional organizing amp styling compa-

ny based in Houston TX We will transform your home or office into a functional work of

art We will de-clutter your environment and organize every inch of your space until itrsquos

beautiful on the outside and perfectly labeled categorized filed and efficient on the in-

side of every closet cabinet drawer nook and cranny

Jason has been organizing everything in

his path since he was just a little boy

when he felt compelled to line up his

stuffed animals and toy trucks perfectly

by size and color After graduating from

UT Austin and spending over a decade in

LA as a television producer he decided

to return to Texas and make a career out

of his odd childhood penchant for order

and neatness

Hersquos racked up numerous high profile clients including The Ellen DeGeneres Show who

hired him to organize a brand new home for the talk show hostrsquos 1 fan outside of Hou-

ston See that story here He believes that a beautifully organized space leads to a re-

energized environment and in-

spires people to become more

efficient effective clearheaded

all-around better versions of

themselves ldquo

Jason has been organizing everything in his

path since he was just a little boy when he

felt compelled to line up his stuffed animals

and toy trucks perfectly by size and colorrdquo

Column by Jason Reeves Photos by Reed Davis courtesy of wayfaircom

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 39: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

L etrsquos face it Januaryrsquos resolutions and good intentions almost never pan

out and the dawn of Spring is the NEW New Yearrsquos Eve Therersquos just

something about the lengthening of days and blooming of flowers that practically

beg you to make a fresh start in some area of your life While for many of us that

means working ourselves into a panicked frenzy of exercising and cutting calories

in a last-ditch attempt to look good in a bathing suit another area that deserves

extra care and attention is the physical space that you live or work in every day

1 Decide to do it and get excited While the idea of Spring Cleaning can seem

daunting at best (and miserable at worst) it can actually be pretty addictive and even

fun once you get going Focus on the image of how you would like your home or office

to look like in all its squeaky clean efficiently organized glory Imagine how excited

yoursquoll feel and how inspired yoursquoll be to conquer other endeavors once your day-to-day

surroundings are clutter-free sparkling and beautiful Then make the commitment and

invest the time to make your vision come true

2 Make a plan and donrsquot get overwhelmed Assess what your most pressing

organizing needs are in your home or office and rank them Tons of mail and paperwork

piled up Clothes overtaking the closet Not ever being able to find anything in your

kitchen Choosing one big project thatrsquos been bothering you for ages is a great way to

Jasonrsquos Top Ten Tips to Get Your Home or Office in Tip Top Shape for Spring

38 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 39

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 40: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

3 Get prepared The quickest way to derail a new project is to go in unprepared If

you get started only to realize you canrsquot find a tool you need or you have to go to the

store to get more cleaning supplies or a container of some sorthellipwell then you might just

decide to blow the whole thing off until next year Prepare yourself by making a list of all

the areas of the home or office you want to focus on and then making sub-lists of every-

thing you might need to clean and organize each area Then purchase and gather all of

these items in one place and get to work

4 Start by purging Getting rid of the un-

necessary and redundant items that have taken

over your home or office can feel just as reju-

venating and cleansing as getting a facial or a full body scrub Go through your closet

with a fine-toothed comb and discard anything that is sooo last season never going to fit

on your body again or that you havenrsquot worn in over a year Go through your kitchen and

donate anything that you have no idea what purpose it serves and have certainly never

used to cook with Go through the entire house or office group like items together pick

the best one or two and donate or recycle the rest Purging is the best way to maximize

your space and once yoursquore done yoursquoll see the light at the end of the tunnel begin to

appear

5 Make some money For the items you are purging try to sell any valuable pieces

in bulk at a consignment shop Most of them require you to simply send them a few pic-

tures and theyrsquoll let you know right away if they think they can sell your belongings for a

decent profit (MAI is good for antique

furniture Real Real for designer clothes

The Charity Guild for not-quite-designer-

but-still-worthy articleshellipand many

more) Or try your hand at EBay if you

are especially enterprising as you can of-

ten get a bigger payoff if yoursquore willing to

put in the extra effort Or if you just

want the items out of your life with no

extra steps donate them to Goodwill and

feel good that your trash will become

someone elsersquos treasure

ldquoGet rid of the unnecessary

and redundant itemshelliprdquo

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 41: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

6 ldquoSeasonalizerdquo your closet Itrsquos time to stash your winter clothes away and bring

your brighter skimpier spring-colored clothing back into prominent display Buy colorful fab-

ric boxes to store and protect your sweaters and scarves and stash them on the top shelf or

in the back of your closet Create sections of like articles of clothing that are arranged in

your closet according to how often you need to access them (Daily office clothing towards

the front weekend casual further back or on the other side off-season or formal wear to-

wards the very back) Tag articles that need to be mended or have a button replaced as you

go and color coordinate each section for maximum visual appeal

7 Clean everything inside and out Many people associate

Spring Cleaning with washing the baseboards windows curtains etc

ndash all good stuff But you should also take this opportunity to clean

ldquobehind the scenesrdquo as well Re-organizing a cabinet room or entire

house usually involves removing the items from their current location

to regroup them and reassess where they should live in a way thatrsquos

more efficient and functional to your lifestyle As long as yoursquore re-

moving these items you should take the time to wipe down shelves

and drawers dust areas that have long been hidden by clutter and

make your space as pristinely clean as it was when you first moved

in

8 Make it pretty Organizing isnrsquot just about filing and sortinghellipit can be a way to en-

hance your existing deacutecor while also serving a purpose Buy colorful organizers andor con-

tainers with fun patterns that complement the existing palette of your home or office Con-

sider arranging all of your books by groups of color vs genre (which works best with smaller

libraries) to turn your bookshelf into an attractive display Turn all your glasses the same way

and stack your dishes neatly Line up your shoes and clothing in the same direction Every-

thing should look orderly and beautiful even if itrsquos inside a cabinet or drawer

Closet Tips from

Jasonrsquos Guest Spot

on The Ellen De-

Generes Show

40 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 41

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 42: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

9 Label everything One of the best ways to main-

tain your newly organized space is to put labels on every

cabinet shelf container etc Of course using a label

maker is ideal but a simple handwritten label will suf-

fice If you donrsquot want it to be visible find a hidden spot

to place it on the inside of a door or drawer but donrsquot

forego the label entirely Not only will YOU know exactly

where to return an item to its proper place but so will

your spouse co-workers children andor housekeeper

which will only increase the odds that your new system will re-

main intact

10 Keep it going Devote a little bit of time every day to

keeping your home or office clean and organized Put items

back where they belong after yoursquore finished using them (using

your labels as a guide) Separate your dry cleaning and hang everything in its correct sec-

tion (and donrsquot slack on the color-coordination) Spend a few minutes every day sorting and

opening your mail so it doesnrsquot pile up and become too overwhelming to manage Donrsquot let

all of your hard work be short lived by reverting back to past disorganized habits

Hopefully these tips will help get you on your way to a beautifully organized home or

an office that runs like a well-oiled machine But if your clutter still seems too daunt-

ing to tackle on your own then herersquos one more

BONUS TIP Hire a Professional Organizer

Your Favoritehellip Interior Designers Laura U Lucinda Loya amp Randy Powers

Fashion Designer Tom Ford

Blogs wwworganizedhomecom wwwbuzzfeedcom

Place to Vacation NYCConnecticut in winter any beach in summer

Places to Shop Rye 51 Billy Reid amp Sakrsquos sales rack

Whatrsquos one of your dreams House in River Oaks decorated by one of afore-

mentioned designers

Restaurant in Houston Tonyrsquos or RDG

Trends Bold colors ldquodesignerrdquo organization products

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 43: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 44: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

The entire Laura U Team worked tirelessly to execute this spectacular space in just under two months Hours and

hours of work went into making this previously underwhelming room one of the most unique in the house

Thank you to our devoted staff of designers interns our purchasing agent and our fabulous vendors for making

this Writerrsquos Cottage truly come together

Thank you to Our Generous Vendors

Laura U Incrsquos Writerrsquos Cottage

2013 Preservation Houston Villa de Luxe Showhouse

MWM Construction Mike Materna

Mecox Gardens

Carl Moore Antiques

Heines Custom Drapery

Custom Designs Upholstery

Tessera

Pride of Persia

Unique Carpets

Schumacher

Pindler amp Pindler

Robert AllenBeacon Hill

Texas Woodworks

Accents in Iron

Circa Lighting

Mel DeWees Fine Art

ldquo The space is reimagined through the eyes of a

1920rsquos world traveler presently settled at the

Villa de Luxe The lsquoWriterrsquos Cottagersquo encom-

passes a collection from his voyage abroad He now

resides in Houston settled to write a novel of his

worldly travels as he attends to this grand estaterdquo

Laura Ursquos Writerrsquos

Cottage is featured

in the April 2013

Edition of

Houstonrsquos Luxe

magazine

Pick up a copy today

ROOM CONCEPT

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 45: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE Terrain $4995

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Zazzlecom Zazzlecom

AHALIFE $18400

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 46: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

DESIGN ENVY OMBRE DESIGN ENVY OMBRE

Quotient

$180000

Barovier

$145000

Terrain $4995

Nendo

Chandra $123

Target $3000

46 LAURAU JanuarymdashMarch 2013 2013 JanuarymdashMarch LAURAU 47

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 47: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

LAURA U| GET THE LOOK

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 48: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

One of our favorite projects is this light and airy

home we designed in Highland Park in Dallas TX

The homeowner was looking for a soft and relaxing

respite from hectic big-city life We exceeded their

expectations by incorporating luxurious fabrics

patterns and metallic finishes to polish their contem-

porary-chic formal living room

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013

Page 49: Laura U|Mag: April - June 2013

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

See you in

April 2013

ldquoAlthough no one can go back and make a brand new

start anyone can start from now and make a brand

new endingrdquo

― Carl Bard

ldquo Its spring fever That is what the name of

it is And when youve got it you want - oh

you dont quite know what it is

you do want but it just fairly makes your

heart ache you want it sordquo

- Mark Twain

See You in

July 2013