Author Archive

Happy Easter!

easter 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why does the date of Easter vary by more than a month?Easter is one of the festivals which tries to harmonise the solar and lunar calendars. As a general rule, Easter falls on the first Sunday, following the first full moon after 21 March.

Easter heralds in the first signs of spring and renewal and when we see the bulbs poking through the earth lifts our spirits!  I don’t know about you but I never get tired of seeing the flowering trees, tulips, lily of the valley, lilacs and robins that indicate winter is finally coming to a close.

This Easter have fun making a table arrangement with all the gorgeous flowers that delight us all!

Have a Happy and Blessed Easter!

Sproing-Front-Door-Decor

 

 

 

Spring Awakening in North Texas

Sproing-Front-Door-DecorAfter a long and dreary winter take a look around the house, it is time to make a some changes. Time to paint that room, get some new artwork, change your dishes, clean out that closet, generally freshen things up….really the first days of spring are all about change indoors and out.

After being inside these past few months we see things that we never really noticed before. Here in Willow Bend with the ages of our homes carpets need to be replaced, bathrooms need updating, painting and different wall treatments can be considered, lighting and cosmetic changes like a new fireplace design are great ways to update.

Interior design is like fashion design and every year new ideas and colors come into play. For instance the 2015 color of the year declared by Pantone is a naturally robust and earthy wine red, Marsala. You will start to see fashion, table top and home décor in the next year use this in many different ways.

Transitional Design is a trend that we are hearing more and more about and what my clients are all asking for. This a style that is a combination of traditional and modern furniture, materials, fabrics and finishes. The furniture is simpler yet still sophisticated. The color palette is calming, serene with a lack of color if you will. The grays, whites, taupe’s in different depths are part of the look, with pops of color to make the room come alive. Along with the lack of color the focus now is on the fabrics of different textures to add interest. Accessories are minimal and simplistic.

Spring never feels like it is truly here till the bulbs start to bloom. Try to plan a trip to the arboretum in Dallas to see the show that that the miracle of bulbs perform for all of us to enjoy. The vibrant color and different designs of tulips, daffodils, violets, lily of the valley remind us a new year has begun! Here in Texas it is bluebonnet time and worth the trip to the country to see these gorgeous blue flowers grow for as far as the eye can see. Fresh spring flowers are everywhere and there is no excuse to not have a bouquet where you can enjoy it in your home.

Planning menu’s for this time of year is always exciting as we can now start to get locally grown strawberries, asparagus, fire up the barbeque once again for grilling and plan a picnic! This is one of the best times of year to entertain outdoors as the weather in Texas isn’t too hot yet and we can all enjoy the color of new emerald green grass coming back to life!
Take time to enjoy this change of season as it only comes once a year!

Susan Spindler is an interior decorator, event and wedding planner and the Collin County Ambassador to the RSVP Social Calendar (www.rsvpcalendar.com)

THE COLOR WHEEL AND YOU!!!

Do you ever wonder why you are attracted to one color over another? The effects of color on us are significant and yet subtle. Some colors excite us and others soothe. Warm colors such as the reds, oranges and yellows make a room feel intimate and cozy. Cool colors such as greens, blues and violets expand a room and make you feel calm and open.

Look at your own living room for example and see what the color of the walls and see what that might say about you! If you have a pink hue you are possibly someone who likes to experiment and is ready to try something new. Dark blue reveals that you are a dynamo that is positive and makes things happen in life and you are very social naturally.

What about black? You would think moody and depressed. But black, high gloss walls with white trim is very dramatic, formal and elegant. This combination makes quite a statement and if you dare to try this you definitely won’t be bored.

If you are not sure about using a bold color start with a small room like your powder room or an accent wall. Coordinate the color with something in the room like a furniture piece or artwork.
After you have picked out your paint color you now need to choose the right finish. Sheen levels impact both the aesthetic and functional aspects of a room. They affect the amount of light reflected from the painted surface, hiding or highlighting imperfections and influencing the color.

A flat or matte finish provides excellent depth of color and is ideal for imperfect surfaces. Flat is also the preferred sheen for ceilings because of its non-reflective qualities.

Eggshell sheen imparts a soft polished glow and provides an easy to clean surface that is perfect for high traffic areas.

A satin finish combines excellent durability with an understated sheen that is perfect for trim and walls where you don not desire the full sheen on a semi-gloss.

Semi-gloss is particularly durable and stands up to repeated cleanings which is a must for moldings and trim. Its smooth sheen provides a beautiful frame to a matte or eggshell wall.

When in doubt check with your designer to help you make these decisions.

color wheel

The color wheel includes high-intensity, pure colors. You will no doubt not use many of the vibrant colors as they appear on the wheel but the principles associated with this wheel can help you create the effect you are looking for. The twelve colors in a standard color wheel are divided into three categories, primary colors, secondary colors and tertiary colors. When we speak of intensity of color we are describing the brightness or dullness of a color, while value refers to a color’s lightness or darkness. Add white to a color to create a tint. Add black to create a shade.

LET THE WEDDING PLANNING BEGIN!!

When planning any event or wedding think of it as a movie production. There is the budgeting, staging, script, players and no doubt drama and improvisation!!! Susan Spindler can help make this the best event imaginable by being your director.
By creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for your guests and for you to be a hostess that can enjoy every moment! On your wedding day the families need to be enjoying their guests not worrying what is to happen next.

nautical-themed-wedding-06_detailDecember, traditionally is a slow month for weddings, but is by far the most popular month for engagements, surprisingly beating out Valentine’s Day! Maybe it is all the emotion of the holidays and gathering of family and friends at this time of year that makes it so popular as well as year-end bonus’ which help to splurge on the diamond engagement ring.

The wedding industry, has put its full weight behind the notion of the December proposals. Bridal magazines publish special holiday issues in January. Web sites devoted to weddings list ways to propose during the holidays as just bending down on one knee isn’t enough it seems these days.

Let the planning and booking of venue, florist, entertainment, rentals, save the dates, cake design, bridesmaids and their dresses and invitations and let’s not forget the bridal gown begin! Style and elegance can be achieved at any price provided you know the right things to do.

In a new book called Wedding Inspirations, Ideas and Advice for the Perfect Wedding by Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, Expert Opinions are offered by top wedding and event planners from around the country. Kimberly suggests one of the first steps in planning is to find your inspiration and the style of your wedding by putting together an inspiration board. This is a wonderful way to convey to your vendors exactly what you want.

The invitation will visually represent your personal style and let your guests know the level of formality for your nuptials. I like to see the invites coordinate with the colors you have chosen for your wedding and all printed items stay with the same design, font and paper. Create a sense of continuity by designing all your printed materials the same.

sparkling-newyork-wedding-03_detailWhen picking out a cake make sure you do a tasting with the bakery. It must not only look gorgeous but taste delicious as well.

When deciding on a venue there are different things to consider. When can you get in to set up? What time do you need to be out? What are the kitchen facilities like? Will you need rentals? The reception and food are the largest part of your budget so determining the number of guests can play a big part in your venue selection. If you decide to tent then consider the month of the year for weather purposes.

Selecting the music for your ceremony, reception, dinner and dancing are all different chapters of your wedding day that you need to think about and these are some of the elements that make it uniquely your own and put the couples personal stamp on the day.

The latest trend is going from strapless gowns to long sleeves in sheer fabric or lace. If you are not used to wearing high heels than this is not the day to wear them. As the bride you will be on your feet all day so make sure you are comfortable. Caviar nail polish in mother-of- pearl is a new trend for brides available at Sephora and definitely has festive look to it.

The main focus for your wedding should be the seriousness of making a lifelong commitment to each. Don’t lose the plot along the way in all planning of this milestone celebration. As much energy and thought that goes into the planning of your wedding needs to be tenfold of that for your marriage.

Susan Spindler is an interior decorator, event and wedding planner and the Collin County Ambassador to the RSVP Social Calendar (www.rsvpcalendar.com) . Susan’s expert advice can be found in the book Wedding Inspirations by Kimberly Schlegel Whitman.

MAKING YOUR OWN FAMILY TRADITIONS!

dolls for christmasHere we are in December already! Tis the season of gatherings of family and friends, cooking, baking, gift buying and giving and if you don’t plan ahead it can feel overwhelming and exhausting in December. I have to decorate my own home before doing any clients otherwise I would never have the “Christmas Spirit” left in me to do my own.

In order not to dread the season, I began to reassess what was important and how to recapture that feeling of the magic of Christmas that one remembers as a child. The smell of Christmas boughs evokes many childhood memories for me. We would go get a fresh tree and decorating it was a day to look forward to like no other. One year my father and I went into the woods near our home and cut down some tree branches to make our own manger for under the tree.  That manger, built in the early 60’s still exists in the family and reminds us all of Christmas pasts. Figure out what your favorite traditions are and don’t be concern about some of the extras as those are the items that keep you up at night and aren’t worth the hassle.

For the past few years several girlfriends and I do an ornament exchange and we ask our guests to donate as well to one of our favorite non-profits The Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County. We all have such a great time and collect several thousand dollars for the charity! So keep that in mind when planning a party to give to worthy organizations. Christmas gives us all a chance to invite and share.

When planning your holidays you often don’t realize that you are planting family traditions in your family. I lived on Lake Huron in Canada in a small town and for years we would plan and organize cookie exchanges, hay rides singing Christmas carols and visiting neighbors along the way, having tree decorating parties and enjoying all our family and friends. After Christmas Eve Mass we would have everyone back to our house and serve brunch and open gift because it became our tradition!

One of the favorite dishes everyone enjoyed was Breakfast Pizza. These are made ahead with hash brown potatoes and some Christmas Cheer.

Breakfast Pizzas- this recipe makes 6 servings

  • 1 16 oz. package spicy pork sausage
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 2 x 8 oz. packages of cream cheese
  • ½ cups chopped red bell pepper
  • ½ chopped green bell pepper
  • 6 English muffins split
  • Save some of the peppers to garnish.

In a large skillet, combine sausage and onion. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, for 4-6 minutes or until sausage is browned and crumbly. Drain sausage mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low. Return sausage mixture to skillet. Add cream cheese to skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes until cream cheese is melted and combined with sausage. Stir in bell peppers. Spread on split English muffin halves. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 15 minutes. Enjoy!

THE COLORS OF THANKSGIVING

Our favorite American holiday is just around the corner and with it comes the colors of autumn to herald in the start of the holiday season. The burnished golds, oranges and fiery reds associated with autumn create a welcoming backdrop to a traditional meal.   Sun-drenched hues of yellow and red also happen to stimulate the appetite and they are naturals not only at big feasts but also at family gatherings throughout the year.  When we grace our Thanksgiving table with these colors, it conjures up bounty and fulfillment.  This happens to be my favorite season and the one I most enjoy to decorate clients homes.  Fallen leaves, a basket of apples, bittersweet, grapes, Bartlett pears, ornamental kale with assorted pumpkins is nature’s way of taking the guesswork out of autumn decorating.  The colors and textures are a delight to the eye.

One of the most iconic and enduring images of home is that of the whole family gathered around a table, laughing and chatting while tucking into a lovingly prepared meal. Setting your table for the Thanksgiving holiday obviously takes its cues from fall colors, but thoughtful decorative touches make this a special celebration. Bread feeds the body but flowers feed the soul and that is why we all have a relationship with our favorite flowers. I enjoy doing floral arranging and this is such a fun season to make a beautiful statement on your table.  I believe that flowers look much more appealing when they don’t look arranged but rather displayed in a manner that respects their inherent beauty.  Be creative with your containers.  I look at everything as a potential vase.  In fact I once did a party for the NHL and put an arrangement in the Stanley Cup.  Not for long I might add just for a quick photo, but couldn’t resist.

Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving making memories for a lifetime.

 

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Victoria and Albert Museum In London

 

a month and trying everyday to take in whatever I can that is British, historical, design and current.  Last week I went to several museums and the Queen Victoria and Prince  Albert known as the V &A was one I got t

 

The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, is the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

 

Welcome to My New Website

We launched the new Susan Spindler Designs website this past month, and I hope you enjoy it and will check in often.

I am in London, UK for the next month visiting my daughter and her husband as we await the arrival of their first born … a son. Will keep you posted on his arrival!

While in London I have been enjoying the bustling scene here. My family lives in Notting Hill, so you are minutes from everything, which is wonderful — the shopping, museums (many free), architecture and people watching while sitting at a cafe is wonderful and relaxing. London has a population of 10 million people, but everything goes in an orderly fashion and buses and trains are usually on time and there are a zillion cabs to hail at a moment notice.

Yesterday we visited Harrods and its amazing food halls, including the amazing macaroons from Laduree. Earlier in the day we went to a spa called Zen, my daughter was getting a massage, and while I was waiting for her a Chinese woman who works there started speaking with me. To be polite I was nodding my head and all I could understand was consultation. So said yes and then the next thing I know I am on a table having acupuncture being done. While it was relaxing, I wasn’t clear on what we were curing but it made for a great laugh, especially for Allyson my daughter!

I’ve included some photos of some of the sites so far — I have especially enjoyed the flower markets and the gorgeous gardens.

Portobello Road

Portobello Road

Market stall full of fresh flowers.

Market stall full of fresh flowers.

Lots of flower boxes and pots.  Geraniums will go all winter here.

Lots of flower boxes and pots. Geraniums will go all winter here.

London Flower Window Box

London Flower Window Box

The famous Notting Hill Book Store

The Famous Notting Hill Book Store

Cafes and Pubs Everywhere!

Cafes and Pubs Everywhere!

Teatime at Harrods

Teatime at Harrods

 

Legacy of Love Benefit & Fashion Show

It’s been a very busy few months for the committee of the Legacy of Love Benefit.  At last nights sold out event we sold out of raffle tickets and raise awareness of the great works that goes on at Children’s Medical Center.  JC Penney our Presenting Sponsor knocked it out of the park with the amazing fashion show featuring Joe Fresh with the Creative Director Joe Mimran being in attendence as well.  We can’t thank the team at jcp enough for their hard work on making this event such a success.  Special thanks to Steve Kemble our emcee for the evening….We loved you!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED, SPONSORS, MY COMMITTEE AND THE JCP TEAM!!
Come join the Women’s Auxiliary for Children’s Medical Center, Legacy Chapter!  www.childrensauxiliary.org

I’ll be back blogging soon!!