Paint It What I Tell You » Washington DC

Rainbow Church Wins the Weekend!

jgbinteriors — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:33:06 +0000

This is the coolest thing I’ve seen in DC in a while. We spotted it this morning, on the way back from Pentagon City (we took a little detour thanks to the race).

This is the work of painter Alex “Hense” Brewer, an Atlanta-based artist, who was commissioned to paint this vacant church at 700 Delaware Avenue, SW. The building, formerly Friendship Baptist Church, was built in the early 1900s and was designated a historic site about 10 years ago. The painting was done in November of last year.

Here’s another shot of it, courtesy of the artist’s website.

And another (via Miguel Martinez and Alex Brewer via WJLA.com).

We need more of this stuff in DC.

I LOVE IT.

Design consultations for all styles and budgets: JGB Interiors.

Super Mario Inspired Metro Map!

jgbinteriors — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:49:51 +0000

Graphic designer Dave Delisle has created a fantastic map of the Washington Metro, in the style of Super Mario Brothers. It even includes the new silver line!

You can purchase a print here. I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting one for my public-transit-obsessed son.

Design consultations for all styles and budgets: JGB Interiors.

Coming Together…

jgbinteriors — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:19:10 +0000

A project that I have been working on for several months in the U Street/Logan Circle neighborhood of DC is really chugging along…

Here is a dark, mysterious, shadowy photo of it. The details are really incredible, and the blue (in many shades) color pops are everywhere (hard to see, but believe me, they are).

If you think this looks smashing, I can’t WAIT to show you the real photographs (when we take them)! Stay tuned…

Design consultations for all styles and budgets: JGB Interiors.

ANOTHER Sneak Peek: A Great Green Space!

jgbinteriors — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 21:48:10 +0000

I certainly haven’t been blogging regularly lately, but…as promised…I have another sneak peek to share!

This client wanted an urban, casual yet grown up, simple and green space on a fairly modest budget. I think we managed quite nicely and I am thrilled with how it turned out.

For my clients who think they recognize the Otis Chairs and Seguro Coffee Table: you certainly do. I was 100% honest when I told you “I like to use these a lot.” Because I do.

I really like the textures here, and the way that the neutral walls give the art some room to breathe. …and those vintage wallpaper bolts by the fireplace are a favorite find of mine from Trohv.

Hope you like it, too!

Design consultations for all styles and budgets: JGB Interiors.

Sneak Peek!

jgbinteriors — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:37:38 +0000

I snapped some photos today at a longtime client’s house, where we’re working on finishing up three kids’ rooms. I’m in love with the little girl’s space, and can’t wait to see the little boys’ rooms completed.

Here are a few sneak peeks:

This is a little girl’s room where we used an amazing light fixture as the focal point, and blended just the right shades of pink and green to create a space she loves and her parents can happily live with.

…and this is more of a staging area right now for a bunch of little boy items. Not quite ready yet, but it’s coming together. I do love the rug!

I haven’t taken portfolio pictures in long time, so there are many more to come in the next few months because I’m really overdue with documenting my projects. I’m super grateful for all of my clients – I love them all – and I can’t thank them enough for allowing me to document our projects.

…If you’re interested in working together on one, I’m now booking for 2013!

Design consultations for all styles and budgets: JGB Interiors.

Red and Green Combos!

jgbinteriors — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 17:24:27 +0000

When I teach design I spend a lot of time talking about complementary colors; these are the colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel. Some examples of complementary pairs are purple and yellow, blue and orange, or turquoise and red-orange if you’re feeling fancy. However, of all the complementary combos there are, I’m pretty sure that red and green is the most common. It’s such an obvious scheme and we see it a lot, especially with food; it’s so pervasive in the winter months that regardless of when we see it it often reminds us of Christmas (in fact, those cookies on the right are Christmas cookies).

Given the natural color of brick, we also see it a lot on exteriors. Green makes a pretty safe but still interesting choice for the door of a brick structure.

(image by Ray Laskowitz, via Fine Art America)

Recently, while driving around DC, I’ve noticed two places with fantastic red and green signage that really stick out to me. In a good way. They’re by no means new, but what can I say: maybe I don’t get out a lot?

Blackbyrd on U Street is one: I don’t know if it’s the font or what, but I am in love with their exterior. This photo from The Veracious Vegan captures the signage nicely.

Another is the Morris Miller Liquor store on Georgia Avenue (riiiiiiight before you leave the district). Again, I’m a sucker for a good font, so that’s part of it. But I do love the color combo. This photo is from Kim Baker; you can see it here on Flickr or visit her photograhpy website here.

And of course, I can mention red-and-green and DC in the same breath without talking about the old Garden District. Every time I walked by it (from the old days that I used to live on U Street) I was struck by how simple and fun this building was. The photo is from Flickr user NCinDC, and can be seen here.

Do you have any favorite red and green DC spots? If so, I’d love to hear about them!

Design consultations for all styles and budgets: JGB Interiors.

Mood Boards for Monday!

jgbinteriors — Tue, 29 May 2012 15:13:11 +0000

I like to share my work on my blog, and there’s nothing I like to share more than the process of design. With many – or even most – of my clients, I like to start off with mood boards. My mood boards are typically the kick-off to a multi-step process, and are usually presented when we’re still getting to know each other. They allow me to get a better handle on my clients’ preferences, and allow my clients to experiment with stepping outside of their comfort zone. Sometimes people go on to buy lots of items that I’ve featured on a mood board. Sometimes we mix the options up and ultimately create a blend of all of the boards. Sometimes they are in love with a particular item that happens to be in price range that is unfathomable, so we use it for inspiration.

This weekend I presented a new set of living room boards to a couple who just purchased a home right outside of the city. I gave them three options, and I’d love to share them with you here. They had a definite, no-contest, absolutely-positively-sure-about-it favorite. Can you guess which one it is?

Here’s the first option:

And the second:

And the third (which was a bonus, as we’d agreed on two):

Which one is your favorite? …and is the same as my client’s?

Design consultations for all styles and budgets: JGB Interiors.

Flor is coming to DC!

jgbinteriors — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:55:40 +0000

By now you’ve surely heard of Flor, the modular carpet tile company that is fashionable and reasonably priced. If not, you’re going to love it. Luckily, you’ll soon be able to check our their wares in person because they are going to be opening a store in Georgetown!

One of my favorites: "Sophistikat," 4 colors, $12.49 a tile (image via Flor)

I have so many good things to say and tips to share about Flor, so here’s my Flor primer…straight from me to you:

The color range is HUGE. You can even shop by color. This is just the color range for one of their popular tiles, called “Toy Poodle.” So many!

(image via Flor)

The pile, well, it’s a bit of a shock to the system for those of you who are used to plush rugs and shags. Though some are thicker than others, Flor tiles are generally less cushy than a true rug. You may want to use them in a playroom, family room, or transitional or utility space and save the plushness for your living room and bedroom. So that’s something to be aware of. As you may expect, the thinner/more industrial the pile the cheaper the tile; the one picture below is just $7.99 (for one)!

"Reverb" in Magenta. (image via Flor)

I love love love how you can just swap one out if it is bears the brunt of a catastrophic spill (pets? kids?…you know what I mean). I recommend them highly for dining rooms, because the pile is low so they easily accommodate chair scoots, and their interchangeability is friendly to spilled red wine/marinara sauce/all that stain-ey stuff.

"Working Class" (image via Flor)

They stick to the floor with little circles of adhesive, and though they can be removed easily they really stay put. They’re only for use on hard surfaces though, so unfortunately, there’s no carpet layering going on with these colorful squares. (Do try a test sticker or contact your flooring manufacturer if you have a laminate…we don’t want any stripping of the finish).

Flor tiles are customizable, which means you can size them into rugs, cut them to make specialty shapes or sizes, and use just a few to create fun runners or entry mats. See?

L: "Parallel Reality" R: "Fedora" (images via Flor)

Until now, when specifying Flor for clients I’ve always ordered samples from the company (they do charge shipping for samples) or used a few that I have on hand to give clients a feel for the tiles. So I am thrilled to be able to hop in my car and head over to Georgetown to see their tiles in person on a more regular basis.

Three cheers for Flor! I can’t wait!

(I rarely say this, but I feel like this is one of those posts that is so gushingly complementary that I need to clearly state: “I was neither compensated nor asked by Flor to write any of this.”)

Design consultations for all styles and budgets: JGB Interiors.

Zoo Weekend!

jgbinteriors — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:14:23 +0000

What a lovely weekend this was! My family and I had a great time spending much of it outside, and even managed to squeeze in a long morning trip to the National Zoo!

Are we the only family who can’t ever manage to get a photo of all three of us?

At the zoo, we saw boldly striped zebras…

Zebra Sky Papier-Mache Head, Dwell Studio, $76 (image via Dwell Studio)

big, gentle elephants…

Antique Art Print, $22 via Etsy seller BlackBaroque (image via Etsy)

and those crazy reminders of dinosaurs long gone: crocodiles!

Maison Crocodile Blue Rug by The Rug Market, staring at $800 (image via Bold Rugs)

We also made chocolate chip cookies (yum!), got some new soccer gear (for the boys, one of whom tried on his first pair of mini cleats!), made it through the headache of day light savings time, and (shudder…) went to Taco Bell for those new Doritos-shelled tacos (don’t judge us).

Hope your weekend was equally relaxing, and that your week is spectacular!

Design consultations for all styles and budgets: JGB Interiors.

Jonathan Adler Comes to DC!

jgbinteriors — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:29:11 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I love a little bit of pop, lacquer, and 70s chic in my life. So naturally, I’m thrilled to hear that Jonathan Adler is coming to the Georgetown neighborhood of DC this spring! How did I miss this?

Like this room? The JonathanAdler.com website will point you to everything in it via their "buy this room" tab! Or better yet, you can head to their DC store sometime this year and hunt for the pieces yourself! (image via Jonathan Adler)

Earlier this month, a presentation was made to the Old Georgetown Board by Chris Gray of Cox, Graae and Spack Architects for a building on Wisconsin and N Streets NW, which will be the location of the new Jonathan Adler Furniture store! According to The Georgetown Dish, “Plans to modify the façade included an orange and grey color scheme, raising the canopy and a new awning with signage.” You can read more about the pending fabulousness here.

Just to whet your mod appetite, here are ten stunning and unique picks from Jonathan Adler. Enjoy!

1.) Lacquer Nesting Tables, $995; 2.) Pink and Blue Bargello Zig Zag Pillow, $165; 3.) Scales Duchess Tote, $198; 4.) Greek Key 4 Piece Setting, $50; 5.) Mr. and Mrs. Muse Salt and Pepper Shakers, $48; 6.) Haines Chair in Oslo Sea, $1395; 7.) Syrie Wallpaper, $250/roll; 8.) Zebra Rug, $995; 9.) Bond Console, $3,800; 10.) Rider Tripod Table, $795 (all images via Jonathan Adler)

Just what DC needs! A lot more color, a little more fun, and way less blah. Don’t you agree?

Design consultations for all styles and budgets: JGB Interiors.