Last week, Sally and I traveled to Las Vegas, where she spoke on a panel moderated by Mark Brunetz at the International Design Guild’s annual summit. I rode along on her coat tails… (I now tell friends that I’m married to a rock star interior designer.)The conference, panel discussion and visit to the Surfaces Flooring convention, which was running concurrently with the conference, were all memorable and very worthwhile. Great contacts were made, networking was done and the very best banana cream pie in the world was consumed.

Left to right: Mark Brunetz moderator, Susan Anthony,  Sally Wilson, Emily Winters, Greg Holmes The panel addressed the design trade business and what designers are facing in today’s market.

We took a day to walk “the strip”. (Very sore feet…. I don’t recommend this without a very good pair of walking shoes or sneakers…)  The Swarovski Chandelier at the Cosmopolitan was amazing…

We had lunch at Emeril Lagasse’s Table 10 in theVenetian, concluding the meal with the very best banana cream pie in the world!

We stayed at the Mandalay Bay, where we took in the Shark Reef tank.

The tunnel through the tank was amazing!!!

On our last day, we took in the Surfaces flooring convention, where we made several very good connections and discoveries, particularly from The Natural Carpet Company.

Braided rug samples.

Out door and wet floor area rug samples using Sunbrella fabrics.

We saw many samples of blends of wool and natural fibers. Wool is definately making a comeback!

We especially loved this contemporary sample. The tip shearing used to create the field pattern is incredible!

Lots of fun, long tiring flights, new friends and good memories.

Now it’s on to Designer Show House proposals and catching up on work deadlines.

Cheers,

Every home has a story to tell. If you’d like us to help you tell yours, contact us here.

Well, Wilson Kelsey Design represented itself very well in Boston on Saturday at the Boston International Anitquarian Book and Print Fair. Sally’s presentation on Decorating with Books and Prints was a big success, with about 50 people attending her talk. She had over 175 images which she went through in about 40 minutes. Whew!!! The show producer took a video of her talk, which we are hoping we can get a copy of. I thought it would be fun to share some of the images that drew oh’s and ah’s from the attendees.

Lovely composition by Linda Chase Associates 

Beautiful Library from LeFevre Interiors.

The audience LOVED this fire place done by LeFevre Interiors.

Fire place mantels can be such focal points, as in this beautiful example done by Providence Ltd. Design.

I overhead one couple whisper to each other, “I never would have thought of hanging something in front of my book case shelves.”  as shown by Giannetti Home.

Sometimes, it was the simplicity that impressed. Image by LeFevre Interiors.

Fantastic if you can’t sleep at night! Image source unknown.

Beautiful built ins. Sally has always wanted a step ladder for her library… Image:  ”Books Make A Home” by Damian Thompson, Publisher: Tyland Peters & Small Ltd.

 After the presentation, we walked down the hall to the show where we met and made several new contacts and friends.

Sally with Maryke Muller of Frederik Muller Rare Books, Holland. Their maps were exquisite!

Sally with Mignon Smith and Robert Seymor of Colebrook Book Barn, Connecticut.

Sally in the  Boston Rare Maps booth.

We arrived back home around dinner time, tired and quite happy with how the day went.

Sally would love to be able to give the talk again. Hint, hint, hint…

Another busy week is upon us. I wonder what adventures it will bring…

Cheers,

If you would like help designing your home or have questions about how Wilson Kelsey Design works, please email us at wkd@wilsonkelseydesign.com.