PLC's Blog-Along

INSIDE OUT

05/20/2012 07:58:00

INSIDE OUT

I always hear the phrase, "Bringing the outdoors in". My latest column brings the outdoors IN.

http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/inside-out-a-practical-guide-to-bringing-the-indoors-outside/article_0a7fbf4a-a14c-11e1-bd85-001a4bcf887a.html

Awarded Recognition in Design & Build by the California Landscape Contractors Association. More photos on Exteriors page	Mark Twain is thought to have once said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco". I say, "One of the best interiors I ever designed was an exterior north of San Francisco".
Before	After

Mod Room calls for a Mod Rug

04/20/2012 11:24:00

Customized Colors

for this Tibetan Rug.

Just like childhood paint-by-numbers, I "colored" in purple, lavender, turquoise, cream and gold to coordinate with purple chenille loveseat and gold chenille chairs. Table fabricated by local artisan to our

specifications.

Tropical Design

04/14/2012 06:34:00

This post corresponds to my column

"Tropics in the Napa Valley"

The "Dracula Vampira" orchid was the inspiration

for the color scheme described in the column.

click to read:

http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/columnists/patti-cowger/tropics-in-the-napa-valley/article_ae408230-85cd-11e1-957c-001a4bcf887a.html

Not Your Parents' Parquet

03/30/2012 11:26:00

This post corresponds to my column

in the Napa Valley Register

"Not Your Parents' Parquet"

click to read:

http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/columnists/patti-cowger/not-your-parents-parquet/article_ab46218e-7aba-11e1-9928-001a4bcf887a.html

A continuation of my interview with David Carpenter, owner of

Select Hardwood Floor Company:

DavidCarpenterInterview.docx

Photos by Select Hardwood Floor Company

Making An Impact

03/13/2012 13:27:00

Foyer photos correspond to my column

in the Napa Valley Register.

"Making an Impact"

http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/columnists/patti-cowger/making-an-impact/article_8a98e776-6fcc-11e1-a0ff-001871e3ce6c.html

Live greenery purposefully added to juxtapose modern cool.

PERspective drawing shown to a PROspective client.

Foyer addressed as a living space.

Coat closet, wasted under-stair space, open 1970's berber carpeted stairs greeted guests at the front door.

Built-in cabinetry adds visual interest and makes use of empty space. Thick wood risers and treads close in the stairs.

My Latest Columns in the Napa Valley Register

02/19/2012 11:04:00

What topic would YOU like to read in my next column?

Let me know...email or comment here.

Kitchen Countertop on the 6th Fairway

http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/columnists/patti-cowger/kitchen-countertop-on-the-th-fairway/article_6692eb26-90c7-11e1-b17d-0019bb2963f4.html

Intrigue of the Oriental Rug

http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/columnists/patti-cowger/intrigue-of-the-oriental-rug/article_12cf50a6-64da-11e1-bbff-001871e3ce6c.html

Color Wheels and Paint Chips

http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/columnists/patti-cowger/color-wheels-and-paint-strips/article_c25adc96-59d8-11e1-bd4e-001871e3ce6c.html

Demystiying the Art of Art Collecting

http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/columnists/patti-cowger/choosing-art-for-the-home/article_b3c52cf8-4ee9-11e1-9baf-001871e3ce6c.html

Today Was An Exciting Day

02/04/2012 23:47:00

My column for the Napa Valley Register made its debut today. "Demystifying Design" will appear twice monthly on Saturdays in the Home and Garden section - or the Arts and Life section if you are reading online.

Each column will demystify a topic related to interior design.

Other events of the day included the delivery of long-awaited bedroom furnishings, slipcovers, and pillows for Lily's (left) master's master bedroom.

Topped off the afternoon at Rulli's, Larkspur's authentic pasticieria. Listening to Connie Francis belt out "Al di La" while savoring a toasty panini and cappucino with a treasured friend - a great way to celebrate Lily's new digs.

Another Home for Bijoux Artisan Lampshades

12/04/2011 13:37:00

I have just shipped these Bijoux chandelier shades to a beautiful home furnishing store in Menlo Park.

SELBY HOUSE

(650) 326-5396

706 Santa Cruz Ave.

Owner Elizabeth Hill has received wonderful reviews about her store:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/selby-house-menlo-park

Take a Magic Carpet Ride with PLC!

10/08/2011 16:10:00

Untangling a Woven Web

of Mystery and History.

As with a painting, you might purchase a rug merely because you like it. Likewise, just as a painting becomes more personal and meaningful when you know the story behind the artist, a rug becomes more valuable when you know the story behind its origins.

It would take a lifetime to learn about the patterns and designs of Oriental rugs.....filled

with symbolism, folklore, culture, and tribal history, passed down from family to family, village to village, created with art and skill of the highest order. But if you can settle for some basic introductory information about these beauties, you might want to continue reading...........click on AboutOrientalRugs.

Cocktail Party Conversation:

Did you know:

* Wool is the oldest natural fiber known to man.

* New Zealand wool is naturally white.

* Argentinean wool is glossy.

* Indian wool is crush resistant.

* Scottish wool comes from black-faced sheep.

* Berber is a tribe in North Africa. They do not dye their wool when making rugs but leave it in its natural, beige, brown, charcoal and black color. Today, the term Berber has misguidedly transformed into the description of a type of machine tufted looped carpet.

* A rug must be at least 75 years old to be considered antique.

NEW BLOG FOR PLC INTERIORS

09/24/2011 12:44:00

I've been hesitant to create a blog for fear

of information overload. But it does seem to

be an efficient repository for news, updates,

articles, and announcements pertinent to

PLC Interiors and the design industry in general.

Hope you will join in.

Your feedback helps me help you!

As you can see, I have a most handsome assistant by the name of Henry Elliot whose desk is really a cushy, sunny, window bench in the PLC office. His job description is to keep me a calm, happy, creative, and grounded designer.