Year in Review: Melissa Mathe Interior Design, LLC

December 21, 2017 Melissa Mathe

Year in Review:
Melissa Mathe Interior Design, LLC

"May the seeds you plant today be the flowers that bloom tomorrow!"

In wrapping up an exciting 2017 here at Melissa Mathe Interior Design, LLC we wanted to share some "Year In Review" highlights from projects and life in the Interior Design world. We couldn't be more excited to reflect on the great things this year has brought us and the incredible new things to come. Enjoy a peek into our 2017!

Project Highlights

Commercial Interior Design

This past Spring I attended High Point Market to see all the new things in furniture and finishes, while connecting with other Interior Designers there. This is always one of my favorite places to get inspiration!

Project Highlights

Residential Interior Design

In office news we hired a new design assistant Deb Smith and had a helpful summer intern Kaylyn Rice. We have also expanded our office space with completion of a brand new office build-out, to house a larger catalogue and more work spaces. This was a fun project that will be revealed in the early part of next year. We can hardly wait for you to see it!

Feature & Recognition Highlights

It has been a thrill and honor to be featured and recognized throughout the year by some of the most highly regarded publications locally and online. This fall we attended the Richmond Time Dispatch Best Fest to celebrate with all of the Industry Category winners, taking home a third place honor. Most recently I've accepted being on board as an Interior Design - Industry Expert for the Richmond, Virginia - River Road Living Magazine. So keep your eyes open for my new articles!

Another exciting part of this year has been expanding the Melissa Mathe Interior Design Blog. Sharing lot's of tips, design crushes, travel interior highlights, projects and our finds in Interior Design decor. We hope you enjoy reading what we have taken interest in showing you every month.

We want to say thank you to our wonderful clients, vendors, reps, crew and design team for helping make 2017 and beyond a big success. We at Melissa Mathe Interior Design appreciate all of your support and warm friendships.

From our office to you have a safe and Happy Holiday!

Melissa Mathe

*Contact mathedesign.com for specialty pricing on non-priced item links and all your Interior Design needs.

Design Crush: Capiz Shell

December 14, 2017 Melissa Mathe

design crush: capiz shell

"If life is like a box of chocolates, then heaven is an oyster" ~ LJW

The shimmery luminous glow of Capiz Shell has gotten us locked-in to it's luxurious quality. How fitting it is in this winter holiday season for us to share about our infatuation considering it's history in the Filipino culture, where it derives from on the province of Capiz. These beautiful shells have long been used in star ornamental lanterns called Parols — an iconic symbol of the holiday, adorning homes and buildings throughout the Christmas Season.

The soft translucent textured shells are made available in a wide variety of furniture and home decor items. For example with inlaid patterns on furniture, cascading down on chandeliers, overlaid on lamp bases, mirror frames, table tops, trays and decorative boxes... you name it. We have recently sourced Capiz Shell furniture and decor for our clients and the result is a "showstopper" experience for all who encounter it's beauty — completely mesmerizing.

Here's a detailed list of these Capiz Shell furniture and decor items:

1) Adagio buffet from Bernhardt 2) Manor Empire Chandelier from AllModern 3 ) Frances floor mirror from Worlds Away 4) Lauralie table lamp from Safavieh 5) Scalloped Chandelier from Serena & Lily 6) Litchfield accent side table from Bernhardt 7)Brick pendant light from Worlds Away 8) Miranda round mirror from Pottery Barn 9) Andria pearlized tray set from Pigeon & Poodle 10) John Richard decorative box from Wayfair.

Enjoy!

Melissa Mathe

*Contact mathedesign.com for specialty pricing on non-priced item links and all your Interior Design needs.

Eye-Catching Tile Inlaid Floors

November 9, 2017 Melissa Mathe

eye-catching tile inlaid floors

"Charm is a product of the unexpected" ~ Jose Marti

Inspiring design lies within
the details

One particular area of design that can be impacted to create interest is in specialty flooring—and graphic encaustic cement tiles are making quite a statement. In this French bistro-styled kitchen we collaborated on, the tile is inlaid like a "rug" connecting the area between the kitchen island and cook top serving two purposes. As a design element and as a hard surface for this high traffic zone. In looking for the tile for these floors we discovered many varieties of designs and patterns.

Whether your kitchen or bathroom needs a full remodel or just a spruce up, encaustic tile is a stunning way to use pattern and color to draw the eye in. With all of the options available you can customize your look with either a bold or more subtle palette.

Tile inlaid floors are a great way to dress up a room and create the right kind of drama for all the ooh's and ahh's!

Here are some encaustic cement tiles that have "caught our eye" to use as a resource.

Cement Tile Shop Charleston_4_400x400.jpg

Have you considered changing out your floors lately?

We can help you find the right solution to create an inspired space.

Melissa Mathe

A Bright French Bistro Kitchen: Bon Appétit

October 13, 2017 Melissa Mathe

a bright french bistro kitchen: bon appétit

"The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." ~ Julia Child

Photography Credits: Ansel Olsen Photography

With each of our clients we have a special opportunity to create a space that is completely custom made for them. This project started out with an older chopped up kitchen and has now been transformed into a family-friendly open kitchen with a french bistro feel.

As you can see in these before and after photos two walls and a doorway were removed to create a more open kitchen layout. By taking down the main wall separating the original space and adding this beautiful custom island it opens up the kitchen and adds more usable counter space. Creating fluid areas for morning routines and coffee conversations. The unique custom built shelving systems were inspired by the owners and fabricated by the contractors to suit the organized coffee station, displays, and for additional light filtering.

Classic french bistro kitchens are filled with blacks and whites with natural finishes. Leathered Granite perimeter counters in a dark color with white cabinets combined with a honed granite that mimics a classic carrera marble, but with additional durability, on the kitchen island with darker cabinets give a sense of the "French Bistro" feel our clients were looking for. The existing paneling was salvaged and painted white along with maintaining the original fireplace for added character. Bright and airy white paint connects the newly opened up butlers pantries to the main room as well as the matched dark iron pulls, making the kitchen more cohesive. This space is sure to be the topic of conversation during future entertaining and dinner parties!

Using a custom contractor we were able to reuse existing cabinets that were combined with new cabinets - made to match existing. A true craft. We were also able to truly customize cabinets for the client. Under the range you will find open drawers to easily locate that particular pot - and in the butler's pantry a base cabinet was transformed into a space for those dog bowls. No more sliding around the floor and water being sloshed all over.

The integral team who worked in conjunction with the clients on this remodeled kitchen space include; Interior Designer: Melissa Mathe Interior Design, LLC, Architect: Melissa Vaughan, Construction Design: Chopper Dawson.

We hope you enjoy seeing the incredible transformation of this kitchen space!

Melissa Mathe

Your Ceiling: The Fifth Wall

September 1, 2017 Melissa Mathe

YOUR CEILING: THE FIFTH WALL

"Look up to the sky. You'll never find rainbows if you're looking down." ~ Charlie Chaplin

Melissa Mathe Interior Design - Ansel Olsen Photography

When meeting with my clients, I like to let them know they have a "Fifth Wall" option to create the unexpected in a room. Whether it's a bold or a subtle contrast the design treatment of painting your ceiling adds a special touch of excitement and elegance in any space. Often times the ceiling is overlooked in the design. In some rooms a traditional white ceiling is just the right color. However, it is important to keep this fifth wall in mind while developing the design of a space. For example a boldly painted Van Deusen Blue by Benjamin Moore color creates a stunning backdrop for this golden chandelier.

Here are more examples of painted ceilings we can't get enough of.

Melissa Mathe Interior Design for Richmond Symphony Orchestra League Designer House 2016 - Ansel Olsen Photography

The Wolf Gordon - Scuffmaster Environmental Brush, Color EM729B adds a gilded luminous, metallic luster that other paints can't match along with ultimate durability. The metallic ceiling allows the light to reflect back down into the space. The texturizing of this Van Deusen Blue Benjamin Moore painted bathroom ceiling creates an artistic element that melds seamlessly with the patterns of the rooms wallpaper and floor tile.

benjamin-moore-baltic-sea-csp-680-ceiling-white-dove-trim-design-lindy-allen-photo-Jessie-Alexis-Photography-office-ceiling.jpg

For an intense drama add deeper colors like the Baltic Sea Benjamin Moore teal blue in this Lindy Allen designed room photographed by Jessie Alexis and Black Benjamin Moore paint that can be used for a black and white room such as this sophisticated design by Brooklyn Limestone.

benjamin-moore-cool-breeze-csp-665-design-lindy-allen-photo-Jessie-Alexis-Photography-painted-ceilings-hall.jpg

Just in case you may not feel up to taking a bold plunge we've found a few lighter applications. The peachy painted ceiling in this nursery from 1oo Layer Cakelet is a fresh splash of color for any one to wake up to. Their client created a custom mixed color however a good alternative we've found is Peach Cloud from Benjamin Moore. Another example of this is by bringing to life a narrow hallway with a soothing color like Cool Breeze from Benjamin Moore creating a dreamlike transition from room-to-room - Lindy Allen designed photographed by Jessie Alexis.

This teen room from a client of ours has a pretty color popped Amethyst Cream Benjamin Moore painted ceiling that is the icing on the cake against the Chantilly Lace Benjamin Moore white walls.

The possibilities are endless when you imagine new ways to create magic in your home by painting this "Fifth Wall".

Here are some examples of Benjamin Moore colors listed above: