June 3, 2015
1

What’s New in the World of Design #BlogTourNYC @Modenus

By | #BlogTourNYC, Design Fundamentals | No Comments

This month’s “Stylish Solutions” Column in Lamorinda Weekly.

Reaching 65,000+ in Bucolic Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda. Click HERE. Like, comment, and share.

My team and I absolutely love local and are passionate about supporting local businesses, communities and friends.Lamorinda Weekly reaches 65,000 people.

This month’s column is titled: “What’s New in the World of Design from New York Design Week”

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My thoughts about design week tend towards making au courant design relevant to today’s homeowner in bucolic communities around the country. Our towns are relatively small and unhurried even though they are within commuting distance of San Francisco and tech-centric South Bay (Palo Alto, San Jose).

I believe it’s one of the reasons Orinda was voted the second most friendly town in America by Forbes in 2012. The geography helps, as you can see. Winding roads, oak dotted hills.

orinda forbesWe still have hometown parades, an original deco movie theater and small downtown businesses: ice cream & yogurt shops, coffee shops, tack shops, antique & consignment stores. I’ve often dreamed of having a quaint office across from the Country Club and keep my eye on those historic spaces. I have a heart for that old Phair’s Building and row of small buildings. Yes, I love the old, small and quaint nature of our downtown. Can you see our beautiful office someday in one of those? I can. Buzzed in, monthly salon talks, trunk shows for custom fabrics, music playing, original building in tact but re-done? Tea in the front room. Lovely. I digress…one can always dream.

Lamorinda is a special place and I am deeply grateful to live here and work from here.

copper in cabinet kips

Copper in Christopher Peacock Cabinetry. I love custom beauty.

We also do not compromise on design. The question is, how do you translate what is trending on the runway so-to-speak into daily life in the suburbs? I love modern, but it is not always appropriate to the setting.

My top three thoughts centered around:

1) making tradition current

2) keeping it real in scale & displays on tables, consoles and counters

3) using natural or artisan made products whenever possible

I shared on these three in my article.

Later this week, we chat Dacor.

Blessings,

Ann McD.

 

May 29, 2015
2

Get Inspired in 60 Seconds or Less from New York’s Design Week, 2015

By | #BlogTourNYC, Design Fundamentals, Multi-Generation | No Comments

Here are two short quick videos highlighting two beautifully different components of #BlogTourNYC.

THIS is why I love Design. From the elite workings behind the scenes of Kips Bay Decorator Show House which for 43 years has raised funds to support real children with hands on help:

to the curated support of brands like WilsonArt who make it possible for student designers from around the country (this year they partnered with Appalachia State) to attend trade shows and gain valuable experience and exposure:

Enjoy. Get inspired. Share. More of these bite sized nuggets to come.

Make sure to note the details:

Mark Sikes use of wicker in the Dining Room, red gingham, and playful trim with simple potted plants on consoles, layered blue and white dishes…

Alessandra Branca’s use of modern and traditional art, upholstered walls, casual linens mixed with incredible florals…

Have a blessed day. Enjoy your coffee or tea. Drink from a beautiful cup. Call a friend.

xo Ann McD

May 27, 2015
0

Luxury Design From Modenus Blog Tour During New York’s Design Week

By | Multi-Generation, Succession Living | No Comments

Designing space for your multiple generations is not always easy or seamless. Sometimes we find generations have different thoughts about style, function or even what constitutes Luxury Design in the moment. At Couture Chateau my team and I spend a great deal of time learning about the best design has to offer so we can educate you, our cherished client base. Once we educate, it’s time for edits.

facebook blog tour cover

Here is where wisdom comes in to play.

I like wisdom. It designs. It listens and learns. It also chooses. And edits fiercely.

How to share our newest discoveries so you can wisely edit? Tough call. There are so many. Over the next two weeks, we are compiling blog posts so you can glean the best and leave the rest. Here is a quick run down from our most recent trip.

Blog Tour Group

During Design Week, we traversed the country from San Francisco to New York courtesy of Modenus and touched base with:

Read More

May 13, 2015
1

Blog Tour New York City

By | Design Fundamentals, Succession Living | No Comments

With great thanks, I am off to New York with Modenus for Blog Tour 2015. Make sure you are subscribed to Couture Chateau’s blog via email and follow #blogtour2015 #designeddaily & #legacylife for our succession minded design insights over this season.

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Couture Chateau LLC has the honor of being sponsored by several brands, all under Modenus’ Blog Tour NYC 2015 Banner

BlogTour-Badge-NewYork-eggplantincluding Laufen Bathrooms, Mr Steam, Wilsonart and Dacor Appliances, all linked. My team and I will showcase each of these in upcoming posts.

Veronika Miller, founder and hands on heart behind “the world designed” blog tours has toured the world covering brands, new product releases, interiors, trends, food, and of course design.

Dacor Range

Dacor is one of the Brand Sponsors for Kips Bay and Blog Tour NYC. I am beyond excited to see this piece in action, being a ‘range girl’ myself. The Kips Bay Showhouse installed this Dacor 48″ Gas Range, # RNRP48G. We will see it live on Thursday.

How excited am I? Incredibly. When the itinerary arrived two days ago, packing went into full swing. New York has a special place in my heart. Our first son was born at Lennox Hill Hospital and my husband and I lived and worked in New York two separate times in our 20’s for about 4 years.

We called both the upper east side and upper west side our homes. The dumbest thing we ever did? Not purchase the flat for $350K in the Musicians Building where we lived on West 67th just off the park….live and learn….#selah…. In my heart, it’s one of the reasons I am so passionate about legacy, succession and property as part of a beautifully designed life.

Our first official day will be with Dacor at the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse. Make sure you are following us on Pinterest, HERE and HERE.

Kips Bay

Also, Facebook’s Couture Chateau Page HERE.

facebook blog tour cover

We are on Twitter @couturechateau and Instagram @annlmcdonald as well.

Releasing safe travels, laughter until we can hardly breathe and joy overflowing…

Best,

Ann McD.

 

March 10, 2015
1

Green Decorating: Find Your Color

By | Design Fundamentals, Lamorinda Weekly | No Comments

You know we love local at Couture Chateau LLC. Each month I am honored to contribute to our Lamorinda Community by way of Lamorinda Weekly’s Home Section. These past few months we have tackled the Deep Clean and Valentines Decor which is suitable for every season. I shared some quick tips and tools like Chip It we use to color match. Very fun.

Tomorrow, our article on Green Decorating will be available.

Green and Purple

My team and I delight to source, share and encourage you, the Stylish Suburbanite. This week in Green Decorating we talk undertones and saturation – how to mix colors well. I also share a fabulous tool we use constantly.  Here is a sneak peek of two pictures from tomorrow’s article.

Green and Blue Combination

Being green isn’t always about being colorless. Take heart this March and embrace the Green Decorating that brings some colorFUL joy into your home space. xo Ann

August 5, 2014
0

Discretion is Missing: Why Legacy Philanthropic Lifestyle Design is A Lost Art by Ann McDonald

By | Design Fundamentals, Extended Absence, Multi-Generation, Succession Living | 2 Comments

Discretion:

noun
  • the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information.

There is something to be said for not shouting the price. Legacy Philanthropic Lifestyle Design understands why.

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the price high of course, the value is honor paid to craftsmen and women who steward their best gift for beauty

There is also something to be said for understanding the cost. Legacy Philanthropic Lifestyle Design understand how.

Ann McDonald Humanitarian Work Amor Ministries in Mexico

we bring water to a camp out of the country so volunteers can serve others

There is a difference. Wisdom contains it.

I am from the Bay Area these days, less travel, more home. More virtual, less hustle. As a Decorator by trade, Designer by heart, I watch and long to pour into my clients and friends the lessons learned at discretion’s feet. The blessings that discrete curated processes of design provide to life and limb, mind, body and soul.

Curated discreet spaces. The kind that hold and nurture not the kind that scream and shout. The kind that build legacy and curate hope, not the kind that scream “look at me, I’m designed!”, the kind that breed safety and acceptance not the kind that shout judgment and condemnation.

Couture Chateau Alternate Ad Picture for Brandon

custom crafted from antique historic columns it brings discreet soul to new construction

Space changes us. Designed space really changes us. Cathedrals and prisons are designed spaces. Ponder that for a minute. At the core, someone somewhere understood that space designed changes people.

Discretion.

If I could give my next gen Designers one thing: Discretion. If I could give my “why isn’t my design business working” friends Read More

July 29, 2014
0

Stylish Solutions by Ann McDonald

By | Lamorinda Weekly | No Comments

This week my team and I were back at it for our Local Paper, The Lamorinda Weekly. Many thanks to Jennifer Wake and her team for always making us sound better than our original edits.

You can find our article link HERE. Make sure to let them know how much you like our features!

Sanctuary Spaces 1

We love designing spaces that equip you, the homeowner, to find proverbial center in the midst of all the chaos.

Blessings,

Ann McDonald

 

 

June 4, 2014
1

Stylish Solutions for Drought Wise Decorating, Lamorinda Weekly

By | Design Fundamentals, Lamorinda Weekly | No Comments

I absolutely love writing for our local paper. I was born in a small town in Western Kansas and hold anything “local” no matter where, in high regard. When Jennifer Wake called a few weeks ago and asked if I’d be interested in writing a regular column every other issue in Our Homes Section for the Lamorinda Weekly (covers three tight knit bucolic Northern California Towns/Cities: Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda), I could not say YES fast enough.

It was better than getting a call from the biggies in the Design Business (though, Elle Decor, you know my answer is always yes for you as well)

Ann Featured in Elle Decor on Luxury Now

Ann Featured in Elle Decor on Luxury Now

I have long enjoyed reading this section and perusing the fabulous garden tips and local musings. Heaven.

This week, my contribution is on Drought Wise Decorating. As we ride the current California Drought, how DO you design Read More