Home Design with Kevin Sharkey

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1 I love the door pulls on the entrance to the Design and Decorating Building.

2 Rogers & Goffigon - a study in sophistication.

3 R&G's fabrics are milled in Europe.

4 They come in a variety of luxurious textures in refined, muted tones.

5 Loving these colorways and the brocade pattern.

6 Warm hues and cool tones.

7 Considering all of my options.

8 I love a neat desk! And that bowl of candy...!

9 Maharam - a New York original.

10 Maharam's collection is boundless...

11 Their style ranges from classic twentieth century designs...

12 ...to textiles with more contemporary twists.

13 I want to just snatch all of them up!

14 Check out that mod print to my right.

15 Larsen was founded in 1952 by Jack Lenor Larsen, the internationally celebrated textile designer.

16 In the fifty plus years since its inception, Larsens fabrics have become a go-to for designers seeking innovative, sophisticated textiles.

17 Such as myself!

18 They are revered for their weaving techniques - a mix between classic and modern.

19 And their multicultural style, which is inspired by every corner of the world.

20 Hinson, founded in 1972 by Harry Hinson, is dedicated to timeless classics.

21 Their textiles are largely inspired by historical patterns and classic forms.

22 You won't find any fads or trends here, only time-honored classics.

23 And superb design that welcomes comfort and good taste.

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I know, I know - my floors have just been completed, but when you are renovating your home it is never too early to start thinking about decorating. Hence my recent trip to the Design & Decoration Building in Manhattan - or D&D as the insiders call it!  With over 120 showrooms and 3,000 manufacturers, it is an emporium of resources for designers and tradespeople like myself. I could easily spend an entire afternoon there, as I very nearly did! To streamline the visit, I decided to focus on 4 showrooms only.

First up: Rogers and Goffigon.  Their fabrics are milled in Europe and come in a variety of luxurious textures in refined, muted tones. Curran Online is a great online distributor - check out their selection of Rogers & Goffigon here.

Next, I stopped by Maharam's showroom.  I forgot how boundless their collection always seems - ranging from classic twentieth century designs to textiles with more contemporary  twists.

A trip to the D&D wouldn't be complete without checking out Larsen's fabrics.  Larsen was founded in 1952 by Jack Lenor Larsen, the internationally celebrated textile designer. In the fifty-plus years since it's inception, Larsen's fabrics have become a go-to for designers seeking innovative, sophisticated textiles that celebrate both classic and modern weaving techniques, and a multitude of style inspired by every corner of the world.  Their website, www.larsenfabrics.com, has lovely photos of their current and past collections.

Last but not least was Hinson.  Harry Hinson's company, founded in 1972, is dedicated to timeless classics, inspired by historical patterns and classic forms.  Their fabrics are truly time-honored - you won't see any fad or trend here, only superb design with a proclivity towards comfort and good taste.

If you are in New York and in need of a interior designer, whether it be for a small space or entire home renovation, let me suggest setting up an appointment through D&D's Designer Referral Program. Not only does this service allow you access to the D&D Building, you are also invited to peruse through a variety of designer's portfolios, while a representative from their service helps you locate someone who fits your individual style and budget.  Of course, you can always check back here for tips!

D&D Building

979 Third Ave

New York, NY 10022

212.759.5408

*Designer Referral Program, 212.759.5408, x.204

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1 While the dark, Wenge floors look chic and modern, they were not practical for my lifestyle. I entertain a lot and dirt would easily show up.

2 This series of photos includes both plainsawn and quartersawn Wenge planks to show the steps Craig's team used to take my floor from dark to light. Here is a quartersawn plank in the original finish.

3 This is a quartersawn plank that has been sanded only.

4 A plainsawn plank with 1 bleach application.

5 A quartersawn plank with 1 bleach application. You can see how the color is starting to lighten up.

6 A plainsawn plank with 2 bleach applications.

7 A quartersawn plank with 2 bleach applications.

8 A plainsawn plank with 2 bleach applications and white stain.

9 A quartersawn plank with 2 bleach applications and white stain

10 A plainsawn plank with 2 bleach applications, white stain and a satin finish.

11 A quartersawn plank with 2 applications, white stain, and satin finish. This is the end result.

12 I fanned the planks out from dark to light so you can see the dramatic the transformation.

13 Going from light to dark.

14 I still can't believe the transformation. I absolutely love how it looks.

Taking my floors from dark to light sounded like a long smelly process - around 5 steps of sanding, bleaching, staining and sealing. So, I went on vacation to a friends wedding in Bali while it was being done (the ocean, the sand...I could picture my floors looking like Balinese driftwood). Well, when I returned (my flight landed very late at night and I did not get back to my apartment until 2am)  I was shocked at what I found. The bleach had an undesirable reaction and it looked like my floors had been Balinese batiked.  Tired, jet lagged and not happy, I did not sleep well.

Craig's team at Haywood-Berk Floor Co.  quickly realized that they had to re-sand, re-bleach, re-stain and re-seal the floor with new products, while I was living there.  Not ideal.  Dust, dirt and debris were everywhere.  But in the end, I adore my floors.  Success and worth the great efforts by all.  Thank you!

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1 Italy, London, France but nothing from Canada yet. I think I need to plan a trip to Canada just to get some candy.

2 Lobster rolls from Down East Lobster Company in Trenton, Maine. I could eat one right now.

3 We used MS153 Sharkey Gray and MS236 Cinders from the Martha Stewart Colors paint line at Lowe's to create the faux bois finish on these magazine holders from IKEA.

4 Listen to my radio show every Thursday at 3:30 on Sirius 112 or XM 157!

5 I have been thinking about installing a mirror at the end of the hallway and possibly on the wall behind the two figures.

6 I'm also thinking about what pieces to choose for my living room to fill the space. I'm currently living with the furniture that I had in my last apartment .

7 The "Renwick Bench," a lovely piece from the Martha Stewart Furniture with Bernhardt Collection (go to www.bernhardt.com/marthastewartfurniture for more details)

8 I love the simplicity of the "Darin Bench," made by Desiron (www.desiron.com)

9 The "Trestle Bench," from Hickory Chair, is a more traditional design with a lovely nailhead trim (www.hickorychair.com)

10 Last but not least, is the "Hubert Bench" from Duane Modern (www.duanemodern.com)

Thank you so much to all of you for following my blog! It has been such a pleasure reading your comments and questions - so I thought, what better way to spend my afternoon than answering some of the questions I have received. Hope you find my answers useful and inspiring and, please, keep the questions coming!

Q: Does the Secret International Candy Drawer have anything from Canada? - Kimberly

A: Hi Kimberly. As of now, there is no Canadian candy in my drawer, but there's plenty room for more! Let me know what your favorite candies are and I will be sure to keep an eye out for them on my next visit to Canada.

Q: Just wondering where you purchased those lobster rolls? - Julie

A: Down East Lobster Company. You must try them if you're in the area, Julie! Simply the best. (Down East Lobster Co., 1192 Bar Harbor Rd, Trenton, ME‎, (207) 667-8589)

Q: What paint colors did you use on the faux bois magazine holders? - Melisa

A: Thanks for your interest, Melisa! It's a really fun project. We used "Sharkey Gray (MS153)" and "Cinders (MS236)" from the Martha Stewart Colors for Valspar Paint Collection at Lowe's. Visit http://www.valsparatlowes.com/explore-colors/signature-colors-by-designer/Martha%20Stewart%20Colors.html

Q: Do you now have a regular radio show and if so, when is it? - Laurie

A: Hi Laurie. Be sure to listen every Thursday at 3:30 on Sirius 112 or XM 157. You can get a free 3 day trial at  www.sirius.com/freetrial/register. More info on the channel is available here: http://www.marthastewart.com/radio.

Q: Are you going to put a mirror in the entry hall to your apartment? - Melisa

A: I'm still contemplating several ideas for the entrance hallway. I'll be sure to keep all of you in the loop once I make the decision!

Q: I have a very large living room...and I need to fill up the front area near the windows with a piece of furniture. Please help me think of some ideas to accent this room! - Roz

A: It's always a daunting task deciding how to fill a space in a useful and aesthetically pleasing way! One suggestion is to find a very long, wide bench (or maybe a pair) in a simple and clean design (think metal legs), and have it upholstered with a beautiful fabric. See the photos in the slide show above for some examples.