COTE DE TEXAS

Cote De Texas #8

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This week, Cote de Texas names Atlanta designer Suzanne Kasler to the #8 spot in its Top Ten Designers list.  Extremely prolific, Kasler has blazed her a trail through the Interior Design world.  Her houses 28are published at a rate that  must make other designers extremely envious.   It seems that almost every other month, another Kasler designed home shows up in one prestigious magazine or another.  Young and vibrant, Kasler's designs are as colorful and full of life as she is.   Even with  a "look" that leans towards eclectic, Kasler always seems to add a French antique to each room.  She says she can do  "high" or "low" design, but prefers to mix up the two spectrums despite the budget.  And indeed, a typical Kasler room will have at least one priceless antique and at least one item sourced from a catalogue.  Not one to design strictly neutral interiors,  she loves to use blues and pinks and often mixes the two colors together.  Even a predominantly monochromatic room will usually have a few pops of color to give it a spark.  

Kasler's popularity stems from the accessibility of her designs.  Her rooms are fun, not stuffy, inviting and always warm.   And, her designs especially appeal to woman.  Kasler brings a definite touch of femininity to her work.   Her career took off after she,  her husband and daughter moved to Atlanta in the early 90s.  Veranda and Atlanta Homes were early to recognize her talent.  But it was the Southern Accents Showhouse, Water Mark in Santa Rita Beach that catapulted Kasler to national stardom.   The project was immense: a beach house mac mansion located in the trendy Florida panhandle.  Kasler chose blues and aquas as the building blocks of the showhouse and it proved t0 be an instant boost for her career.

Kasler likes to paint her rooms in creamy or white tones and she brings the color in with accessories and fabrics.  She advises painting the walls, trim and ceiling in the same color and says she never paints a ceiling builder-white.  She strives to make her rooms comfortable and user friendly.   She enjoys using her client's own possessions and encourages client participation in the project.  Kasler likes to mix "beauty with comfort" and her rooms certainly reflect this.

This year, Kasler's star reaches it's pinnacle with the debut of a line of furniture that she designed for Hickory Chair.  Also in the works are a line of fabrics and lighting fixtures.  She cites John Saladino as an  inspiration and her favorite books include ones written by Rose Tarlow, Bunny Williams, Sillis and Huniford, and a personal favorite of mine:  the Belgian based Beta-Plus library, which she keeps at her office for daily referencing.  Thanks to Kasler's youth, her stamp on interior design will be long lived.

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The Southern Accents Showcase home, Water Mark, in Florida, which brought Kasler to national attention.

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In the entry hall, Kasler set up the room as a combination dining area, reading area, and stair hall.  The walls are bathed in white, yet pops of blue from fabrics and accessories bring in the color.

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This picture from Water Mark made the cover of Southern Accents.   The beautiful slip covered chair with its dressmaker details, the tranquil abstract painting, the striped dhurri rugs - all added together to give the house its fresh, updated look. This isn't your mother's beach house.

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The showstopper of the house:  the kitchen.  The wall of aqua blue glass tiles on the back splash brought  blue into the room.    Note the gorgeous white carrara marble, the double sink, the beautiful, oversized hardware.  And, also notice how Kasler put woven shades on the windows to add texture in order to tone down all the room's slickness.

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Another view of the gorgeous beach kitchen with the soothing blue glass tiled back splash.

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For one of the bedrooms, Kasler mixed a black sleigh bed with mirrored furniture and cool blues.  Overscaled stripes and checks are favorite fabrics for Kasler window treatments.

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Another important project for Kasler, this time a Georgian home.  The stately entrance with the black and white marble floor and impressive moldings.

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The living room:  all neutral with pops of blues and pinks.   Note how Kasler brings pink in with the trim on the chair skirts and the velvet on a french chair.  The blues come from the lampshades, the trumeau mirror, and the porcelain dishes.

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A closer view.  Kasler layered an antique rug over sisal:  highs and lows, a Kasler trademark.

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And in this corner of the same room above, Kasler used a Saladino shelter sofa paired with a large, dark antique screen.  I particularly love this vignette.  Just beautiful.

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Classic Kasler:  hand painted de Gournay wallpaper is matched with slip covers on the English antique chairs.   The slips keep the formal furniture from seeming stuffy.  As  a result, this room appears fresh and young enough for a lively family with children.

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Another view of the dining room, showing the fireplace and more of the slip covered chairs. 

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The breakfast room in the Georgian home.    Printed linen fabric used for the french chairs and curtains. 

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For a lake house, Kasler used overscaled furniture and accessories to fill this cavernous room.  Note the stools she pulled up to the library table instead of chairs.  As usual, seagrass was used.   Large, custom cut seagrass layered over hardwood floors is a great and inexpensive way to warm up a room and provide texture and color at the same time.  Additionally, layering antique rugs over a larger seagrass rug allows the use of a smaller antique rug - economical especially in oversized rooms.

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The dining room at the lake house.  Kasler paired two tables in this large room.  Casual chairs and a striped dhurri rug keep the room informal.

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At the second table in the lake dining room - Kasler installed a banquette between the built-ins for casual dining.

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The public rooms from an Atlanta home:  here, the blue dining room.   The blue walls are a departure for Kasler who usually paints rooms a neutral white.

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The living room of the same home.  Done in raspberry  and cream with the famous  Kasler silk striped fabric.  Both rooms are exercises in symmetry. 

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In another home, this dining room proved extremely popular with bloggers - showing up in everyone's pictures.  Again, heavily symmetrical, Kasler mixes the highs and lows:  Antique tables versus Oly Studio raffia chairs.   This picture made the cover, one of Kasler's many.

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Another view of the above dining room.  The back wall was painted an accent pink.

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In this same house, the breakfast room:  again a banquette is placed between built-ins. 

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And in the same home, an upstairs playroom:  striped fabrics, trendy coral pillows, and a leather chair to juxtapose against all the lightness of the room.

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A recent home in Atlanta designed by Kasler.  The entry hall.  

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The living room:  neutral walls, pops of blue color comes from fabrics.

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The other side of the living room.  Antique rug layered over seagrass.   The collection of sunburst mirrors above the sofa is, to me, a rare misstep by Kasler.  I don't think the mirrors are properly balanced.  The top right mirror is not connected to the group and appears to be floating up and away from the group.  In my opinion,  a large single sunburst would have been much more effective and pleasing.

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In the library, four chairs take the place of a sofa. 

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In the hallway, an antique painted Swedish sofa sits beneath an antique tapestry.

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In the dining room, two different chair styles encircle the table.  Fabric on chairs is the same as on the curtains.

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I love this kitchen with the eat in breakfast table.  Dressy French chairs juxtaposed with farm table.

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In the master bedroom, a Michael S. Smith bamboo bed takes center stage.  Color comes from the curtain and chair  fabric.  Wall to wall seagrass flooring.

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Beautiful desk serves as a table between chairs in the bedroom.

       27 In this Showhouse, Kasler decorated the dining room using two different chair styles.  Saladino shelter sofas sit beneath the bookcase built-ins.

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In another house - a dining room with a Niermann Weeks chandelier and skirted table.  I love the slips on these chairs with their small mini pleat hems.

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A picture of the entry hall in another Showhouse designed by Kasler.  Here, again, she used oversized stools under a library table.

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Here, Kasker used two seating arrangements in the living area.

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The other side of the living room.   These interiors are more contemporary than Kalser usually does.

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The bedroom in the Showhouse.   Plain linens and printed linens, seagrass, and comfortable seating work together to make this a serene room.

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Suzanne's personal home:  her living room, bathed in neutrals, again color comes from pops of fabrics and accessories.  At this time, this home has been sold and Kasler is completely renovating an older home in Atlanta to move into.

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Kasler's entry way:  french day beds and chairs mixed with abstract art.  Typically Kasler.

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The Kasler family room:  horned table with zebra top placed in front of an antique tapestry - echoes of John Saladino.  Eclectic mix of antiques and contemporary pieces.

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The other side of the family room, showing the fireplace and Rose Tarlow chairs.

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The adorable Kasler in her msater bedroom with it's Rose Tarlow four poster bed.  Suzanne is dressed as usual in her favorite tailored white shirt and long skirt.

A vignette in the Kasler home:  antique French mirror and console.  Beautiful.

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 Kasler's dining room:  linen skirted table.  French chairs, french settee, pink taffeta curtains.   Simply gorgeous.

 

A preview of the furniture line Kasler has designed for Hickory Chair due out this spring.

I hope you enjoyed the #8 pick for Cote de Texas' Top Ten Designers!!!  Be sure to check in for #7 - the excitement is rising, it's building, it's palatable! 

Spring has Sprung

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At my daughter's school, they raise money for their senior prom by selling spring flowers.  Even though she's only a sophomore, they've already begun the fund raising.  It must be one hell of a prom to need three years to raise money for, but whatever.   This year I was shamed into buying my spring flowers from her school.  When I picked them up a few weeks ago they were itty bitty things in itty bitty pots.  Today, I noticed that - boy! they have really gotten huge!  And so pretty!   Spring is definitely here in Houston.  Sunday it was 80 degrees outside and such a gorgeous day that I just had to show you pictures of my garden: 

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Pots of spring flowers courtesy of the prom fund raiser. 

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My back yard patio.  Our house is in a neighborhood in flux.  Half of the houses are newer and half were built for WWII veterans.  The lots are tiny -  50 x 100 is standard.  That doesn't leave much left out back for anything other than a courtyard.  Which is fine, I guess, as long as your neighbors are friendly and you don't like to sunbathe in the nude. (I don't, don't worry.)

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Pottery Barn pillows, Pier I chairs, Urban Outfitters rug, Wisteria blue and white garden seat (one of three that I own.)

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In case you are wondering what's with all the concrete bunnies and squirrels, etc.   -  I don't know either.  Ask my husband.   For a few years every Mother's Day he went to the Garden Gate and bought me some animal.  I would probably have hundreds by now if I hadn't of threatened to throw the next one he gave me through the window.       My sister (you remember her house, right?) gave me this garden bench and the pedestals and antique urns (hard to see the urns through the luscious plants)  when she moved to a high rise a few years ago.  Now that she's back on the ground, I've offered to return this vignette to her (half-heartedly really - I very lamely offered to give it back.)  So far, thankfully, she has refused my most generous offer. 

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Come to think of it, she gave me this too when she moved (God, I'm such a mooch! And Cathy - I am not giving this back!) - an antique wire plant stand.   Last year I decided to try all green plants on the stand, no more flowers.  Not a great look - I need to freshen these pots up.  Blue and white pot from Wisteria, not Cathy.

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Last year I planted caladiums (well the garden man planted them - I ordered them - he even got that wrong since I ordered  green and white caladiums and got pink and green instead.)   Surprisingly, the caladiums are back this spring!  So exciting to get something for nothing!   Do you see a theme here?    And, for added fun, you can play a  game:  "find the poop" - I just noticed that little Sammie Jo has left a package on the gravel.    First one to find the poop - wins it!!!!  Shipping included, free.

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Oh Sammie Jo - you're such a bad girl! 

And psst. you need to go on a diet, too!   

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Looking towards the right of the courtyard.   

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Same angle, just a wider shot of the patio to the right.  You can see the columns on the right side - those used to have evergreen wisteria growing on them - which we trained patiently for 14 years.  This spring we removed all the vines after we noticed that the only thing nesting in them were rodents.  Yes.  Lovely,  I know.  But true.  And don't judge me until you've gone out in your back yard late at night.  Trust me, you have them too.

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And a view to the left.  Here you can see the beautiful antique urns next to the bench.

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This cute planter with the fleur de lis was a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law, Michelle.  Not sure if I ever thanked you - but thanks, Michelle!  I love it,  as you can see.  Michelle has a new blog here.  Check it out - it's great! 

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My office!  And that Starbucks is NOT a styling prop!  Table and chairs from Wisteria.

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The hydrangeas in the front yard are starting to come to life.  You can just see the buds of the flowers in the center.    Can't wait for those.

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Just underneath our address plaque, you can make out the Star of Texas brass plate that my other sister-in-law Shannon (remember her house?) gave me for Christmas one year.   Ben and I like to pretend it's actually a State of Texas Historical Marker, such jokesters.

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My window box in the front yard.   This actually looks pretty good for once.  I've contemplated just putting fake ivy and flowers in here - it's so hard to keep this box looking pretty all year long.

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Our front yard tree.  It's just now getting it's leaves back after winter.  That's the top of my two story roof on the left.  The tree is an old water oak and it's the reason we bought this particular lot to begin with.   It's a huge responsibility to have a tree this old and large.    Each spring we have a tree professional come trim it and feed it.    We have another, smaller water oak on our lot that grew from an acorn dropped off  from the older tree.  And when we tore down the house on this lot to build our home, my mother-in-law salvaged a lot of the plants.  One thing she took was a tiny plant that grew from an acorn from this tree.  She planted it in her back yard and 17 years later, her water oak is quite tall.  The tree is called "Elisabeth's Tree" after my daughter who just turned 17 the other day.  Happy Birthday to Lizzy and her tree!

Houston Bloggers Have the Most Fun!!

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Courtney, Ronda, Moi, Paloma, and Carolina

Dinner at the new Armando's on Westheimer at Kirby

It's becoming something of a tradition that the girls from Houston who write design blogs get together to share a meal and some laughs.  It was my fourth time being with different Houston bloggers, and the first time we've all been together as a group.  This Thursday night, we hosted Ronda of All the Best blog.  Ronda, originally from Houston, now lives with her husband and son in Scotland, but she still makes a few trips a year home to visit family.  We're a pretty motley crew - aged from 25 to 53 (guess who?) But, oddly enough, age doesn't define us.  Our commonality is, of course, our blogs, and all the trials and tribulations that come from blogging. 

Ronda, is the go getter of the bunch, anxious to take blogging to the next level - she's succeeding at making her dreams a reality.  The rest of us are in awe of Ronda.   

Carolina, of the Carolina Eclectic blog, is an interior designer with a mid-century-modern bent.  She is calm by nature and very interesting to talk to.  She belongs to Houston Mod and as such is very knowledgeable about mid-century design in Houston. 

Paloma, well, Paloma what can I say? - So pretty, absolutely beautiful,  she's certainly the jewelry at any dinner table.  Writer of the La Dolce Vita blog, she teaches pre AP Spanish at a public high school but excitedly announced she is leaving teaching for real estate.  Good luck Paloma! 

And then there's Courtney of Inside the Loop. Courtney is  the Energizer Bunny of the lot.  Full of joie de vie, she recently hosted an outdoor movie party in her back yard for her neighbors. For her trek to Round Top, she borrowed an RV and took another blogger from Florida, along with their husbands, for a weekend of fun.  Fun?  Sleeping in an RV with perfect strangers?  OH YES!!!! Courtney assured me it was a blast.

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Ronda and Courtney

Meeting up with other bloggers isn't something I had planned on doing when I started my blog last year, but it's been one of the more fun rewards that's come with my blog.   Paloma has named us The Mutual Admiration Society - and what a great name it is!  We do have a certain respect for each other, perfect strangers with truly only one thing in common - our blogs.  But that's enough for us!    See y'all this summer!!

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Paloma, Ronda and Carolina