The Day Job

I used to go on about my day job...

And then the flavor of this blog changed.  Of course since then, so has the name of the business... and very shortly our location too! We've had allot of exciting press this past month because of our designing of the living room at the 2013 Wisconsin Breast Cancer Showhouse. The room was photographed for The Journal-Sentinel, The Business Journal, and M Magazine. Kerry was interviewed by Kathy Mykleby for a special segment on Channel 12's 10 'O Clock News and as a Showhouse Design Committee member, he made a special guest appearance on Channel 4's The Morning Blend! You can watch it HERE.

But the most exciting bit by far was being able to spend an hour of airtime with my girl Cassandra, on Real Milwaukee! On one of his last "local business visits" before departing the show, Tony Clark came and turned Residence on it's ear. You can watch 3 of the 5 segments below. They're short and sweet!

The Jewell Box

The first time I walked through the threshold and into the foyer, I knew instantly I had to live here. It was visceral. It would have seemed that any number of barricades should have prevented me, so the sheer fact that my wish came true (and in such a timely fashion) is proof in the pudding that this was a  match meant to be. Built in 1927 with character to spare, this Spanish Storybook gem had been a builder's showcase on a block that was the 1928 Milwaukee Parade of Homes, and was now on the National Register of Historic Places. And I now have the privilege of living here. Yes, me!

Fast forward just over a year when my friend Marianne Kohlman recommended me for a weekly feature in The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel called "At Home With". I was hardly photography ready, but the idea of publicity for the shop was too hard to resist. So I kicked it into a high gear and with a little help from my friends, I completed a slew of projects in just 4 weeks- burning the midnight oil on several nights. Do you know what I learned? I'm not 30 anymore. I'm still recovering!

Special thanks to Nancy Herrick for writing such a nice piece, and to photographer Gary Porter for taking such awesome pictures. You can read the full article here, and there's a full gallery here.

Finally, I have a little story to share.

Shortly after moving in I decided the house needed a name. It's so that kind of house. Over the last 15 months I've tossed several monikers around, but nothing sounded right. Then just before the photo shoot, I learned that Paul Jewell had passed on. Paul lived here with his wife Sharon for 4 decades, and they raised their family here. I was thinking about how Paul and Sharon had so lovingly cared for this very special house, and suddenly her name became crystal clear; I would call her Jewell Box. And so it is.

Since the house was so clean and there were fresh flowers about, I took a bunch of pictures of my own and put this little video together...in Paul's memory.

 

The Decorator

My friend Richard recently shared this un-aired treasure from 1965 on Facebook. Who knew that Bette Davis had ever filmed a pilot for television...produced by Aaron Spelling?! Its rather delightful. What a shame it never saw the light of day...until now!

"Especially something British with allot of grey going for him in the temples."

Trust me, if you have a few minutes to be entertained, you'll want to watch part 2  and part 3  as well...enjoy.

POP GOES THE ARTIST

I recently fell in love with the work of Pop Artist Donny Miller.  In his pieces, I see that all of my favorite elements of pop art are present. His colorful vixens deliver clever messages that are mostly wry, or sardonic. At times they are cultural button pushers, and even occasionally wistful.  Of course there's the color...

The striking images are available on everthing from t-shirts to sneakers, and he recently published a collection of his fine art work in book form, entitled "Beautiful People with Beautiful Feelings".

If you're paying attention, it's what I want for Christmas.

You can visit his comprehensive website by visiting www.donnymiller.com

The Buzz: MY NEW BLOG!

I'm getting so excited about the launch of INTERIOR MOTIVES!

It may be a little closer to month's end than I anticipated, but it will be worth the wait. I just cinched the deal to take you for an "on camera" journey of a complete kitchen renovation...right down to the lathe. That's right kids, we're knocking down walls! The idea of sharing real-time design projects with you, ON VIDEO, is very exciting. Remember when  it would take Bob Villa and his team of talented craftsmen an entire season to renovate This Old House? While I will undoubtedly show you tips on how you can quietly makeover your current diggs with my new video blog, I assure you that the "design project journeys" we'll be going on will last more than 24 hours.

Why? Because real Interior Design needn't cost you an arm an a leg, but is not instant. Nor is it created over night with velcro and a budget of $500. I don't care what you've been told on TV! My goal with this new website is to keep it real. You see,  I have INTERIOR MOTIVES this time, and you'll have to stay tuned to see what they are...

INTERIOR MOTIVES?

Sometimes a department deserves a spin off...

If you thought I was plumb-cuckoo for attempting to maintain just ONE blog with my crazy schedule, I'd have to agree with you. That's why I'm starting another! It's basically an expansion of the Interior Motives Department that's been here at Killer Bees Make The Most Delicious Honey from the very beginning, but with lots of cool new features.

INTERIOR MOTIVES will debut on Blogger sometime around Mid October. I already have the site under construction and some pieces in the works. Here's what you can expect...

• 
  
  A very FRANK approach to interior design advice. I'm not holding back kids!
• 
  
  Field trips to stylish retailers and trade resources!
• 
  
  Design Project Features from myself and other designer friends of mine!
• 
  
  What's hot, and what's NOT!
• 
  
  And a brand new VLOG SERIES starring mois! Because it's time.

The archival department for Interior Motives will remain up here, but moving forward all interior design related articles will be posted in this exciting new format. I'm truly excited to start creating this for you (and for me!). Look for notification here @ KBMTMDH as soon as the site goes live!

OHDEEDOH!

Name: Lily

Age: 4
Location: Sherman Oaks, California
Color Inspiration: "We started by having our designer choose three fabric options, then let Lily choose the one she liked. Everything else was based on the colors and style of the floral fabric..."

As many of you know, one of my favorite "lifestyle" blogs is APARTMENT THERAPY.

If you have children, and you haven't checked out the latest offshoot, ohdeedoh, then are you in for a treat!

A feast of great features on cooking, technology, and decor await your consumption in the great tradition of Apartment Therapy, and it's all about kids! They recently featured this stylish bedroom as part of an ongoing series about using color in children's rooms. Lily is clearly a girl after my own heart!

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/

New York Strip For 2, Medium Rare

Honestly, if I could really order ROOM SERVICE tonight, I'd have this sexy retailer delivered to Milwaukee! With the only physical locations exisiting in California, thank GOD all these delicious morsels are available online. This is one of the few times I'll look the other way if you don't shop local.....

www.roomservice.com

AT HOME, ON 51ST STREET....

Kerry Dean Shannon is one of my dearest friends, my business partner, and one truly gifted Interior Designer. I couldn't have been more proud when his very own "Washington Heights Jewel Box"  was featured in the Sunday edition of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel!

Naturally now that he has it almost finished, he wants to sell it...this fabulocity  could be all yours!

Mr. Jasper and Miss. Sally aren't keen on moving....

For more pictures, the back story on the renovation, and Kerry's thoughts on design....:

http://www.jsonline.com/features/homeandgarden/98276149.html

Color Me Michael: TURQUOISE!

Pantone ARE the people who bring YOU color, and their "Color of  The Year, 2010"  is an absolute winner...

 It's15-5519- and that's Turquoise, baby.

Over the last decade we've seen all of the pales blues in the spectrum claim their moments of glory. Powder, Tiffany, Robin's Egg, or Spa- they've been making the rounds.  Turquoise is a welcome departure for 2 reasons. Firstly it's punchy, in-your-face cheerfulness is some thing we all seem to be in need of these days. And frankly, in the cyclical world of color trends and combinations, it's due! We haven't seen it as a power player in homer decor since the Mid-1960's. I have to admit that I've always been a fan....

WELCOME BACK TURQUOISE!.

From bed and bath linens to drapery, vases, dishes, wallpaper, pots and pans-, and outrageously  present upholstery, there is no escape from the color that defies you to not have an improved mood in it's presence. I'm seeing it used allot with other punch colors like yellow, or orange, and in a very graphic way with black and white. While I love that  kind of eye candy for all the obvious diabetic reasons, I like to use in this timeless color in a different way. When paired with the intensely sophisticated palette of stoney-warm and muddy grays, a contrast so beautiful and completely unexpected occurs....try it.

Turquoise Fun Facts!

Turquoise, the "fallen skystone", "gem of the centuries", is indigenous to the Americas, Egypt, ancient Persia (Iran), Tibet and China. Throughout human history, the stone has been revered and admired for its beauty and reputed spiritual life-enhancing qualities. The oldest known piece of jewelry, a turquoise bracelet, was found on the wrist of a 7000 year-old mummified Egyptian queen.

Turquoise has been known by this name since the French purchased the "turkey stone" from Turkish traders, never realizing that the turquoise was mined in Persia and later traded to the Turks.

  

Turquoise is one of the oldest protection amulets, and was also known as a symbol of wealth in many ancient cultures.

Blog Discovery: HOUSE of TURQUIOSE

House of Turquoise's webmaster Erin, makes no bones about her obsession, and revels in sharing it with you on her elegant and well-researched site, which features everything from home decor to ladies fashion...

www.houseofturquoise.com

Blog Discovery: THE STYLE FILES

With daily posts, large, eye-catching pictures and no fear of fashion, the style files is a site that will please fashion experts and newbies alike. The author, Danielle de Lange searches the globe for style finds in order to unearth the best of “design and (life) style”. Danielle is not afraid to tell readers about her personal experiences with her own home remodeling (her kitchen and living rooms are both in the early stages of a total redecoration), her online business that sells home accents and furniture, or her adventures as a design consultant. Her self-professed design style is “basic and modern with clean lines,” and she believes that every space can be simple, warm and unique.

http://style-files.com/

Blog Discovery: DECOR 8

This is a style blog all about creativity. Its founder, Holly Becker, is a traveling interior design consultant who tests the artistic waters in both the United States and Germany frequently. She will often post independent artists, designers and other creative types who have yet to be discovered. Holly discusses everything from interior design to trade shows and hosts contests and conversations to engage her large readership. The ultimate goal of Decor8 is to “inspire readers to live a more fulfilling, creative life,” and you’re sure to catch the creativity bug too when you visit.

http://decor8blog.com/

GLAM SLAM, THANK YOU MA'AM

In case you haven't seen the rockets red glare, there's a "glamour revolution" going on...

You'd have to be living in a holler to have missed the glam trend that started swelling a few years back. Swift and sure, it has infiltrated every shelter publication and designer boutique, crushing 20 years of interior-doldrums  to smithereens on its crusade to reform a generation!

With its gutsy roots firmly planted in the HOLLYWOOD REGENCY movement, its funky and refined at the same time. Its a riot of innovation and color, and it PUSHES BOUNDARIES. Its a fresh take on what's classical and modern, and it is the most exciting thing to happen to interior design in decades.

Hardest hit by the cannon fire is the place where we spend 1/3 of our lives- the bedroom. The place where we retreat and rejuvenate, has found no limits for luxury. I'm absolutely cool with that.

Rage on style and beauty! Free the people!

Betsy Johnson, I freaking love you.

READY FOR THEIR CLOSE-UPS!

My dear friends and interior designers Ken Ludwig and Marijo Gordon recently got the chance to host a great segment on LXTV Openhouse... How did Ken make it to television before me? HA!

Michael is so very proud of both of you!

OBJETS d' EGGS

OBJETS d' EGGS
EGG WASH
EGG FUND
EGG NEST
EGG REST
EGG & DART
EGG SHELL
EGG WHITES

Eggs. They're not just for breakfast anymore.