Fantastic new product! Livinglass!

Livinglass is real glass with 100% recycled resin.



Livinglass is:
- Earth Friendly-made with recycled glass and resin
- Available Curved or Flat
- Budget Friendly
- Class A/ Class 1 Fire Rated
- Thinner – starting at only ½”
- Lighter- only 5-7 lbs. psf
- Water, UV, and Chemical Resistant

“Inspired by the colors and textures of nature, Livinglass is a laminated architectural glass which captures organic materials between luminous sheets of clear glass. Because of the infinite variety of forms and materials in nature, each Livinglass panel is unique.”

Check out their website http://www.livinglass.com/index.html

- Mary-Grace

Why an Interior Designer????

...why not just have my friend who is “good with colors” help me or perhaps the furniture store showroom employee?

Well, why go to a Dentist, when all you need is your friend who is good at pulling out teeth OR why go to an Accountant when your Uncle is really good at math and worked for a fortune 500 Company? OK, get the message? People hire professionals when they want it done right! What could be more important than your own home when you want it done right???

Since all of our staff designers are members of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), a requirement for working at S&A, and Tim is a Past President of the ASID Carolinas Chapter and currently sits on the National Board of Directors for ASID I thought I'd look to see what ASID had to say on the subject. While on their website at http://www.asid.org/ I came across this article (in red) that I thought was interesting!

Hiring an Interior Designer

Whether you’re building a new home or remodeling a single room, you want the finished space to be attractive, comfortable and functional. It needs to fit the way you live, as well as reflect your personal style and taste. Images of beautifully appointed and arranged rooms are usually what first come to mind when one thinks of interior design. Color, fabric, furniture, art and ornamentation are indeed important elements in the overall design. How the environments we inhabit look and feel greatly affect our mood and sense of well-being.

Interior Design also involves many practical and technical considerations that affect comfort, function and safety. Among these are lighting, acoustics, space planning, organization and storage, scale, accommodation of special needs, fire safety and compliance with local building codes. Interior projects include new construction, renovation, historic restoration and model homes. Specialty areas within the home include the kitchen, bath, home theater, home office and home health care and fitness areas.

Professional interior designers can do so much more than recommend furniture, fabrics and colors. They have a creative eye and artistic flair, but that’s only the beginning. An interior designer has aesthetic, practical and technical expertise in all the elements that make up an interior environment. He or she understands how people use and respond to these elements, not just individually but as the elements interact with one another. When you hire an interior designer, you get the benefit of an experienced professional who can solve problems, help you avoid costly mistakes and, most importantly, create an attractive, affordable space designed specifically to meet your lifestyle needs.

©2010 American Society of Interior Designers

So while “your friend” may be good with colors, our ASID designers have the education, experience and examination to have each facet of your project realized. Yes, the furniture showroom employee can sell you some fabulous furniture but does he or she really know how it will work in YOUR home with YOUR lifestyle and coordinate with the rest of YOUR home? Our designers look at the whole home regardless if you are only currently designing an entire house or only one room. At Schelfe and Associates we have the experience, talent and training to make your project great!

-Ruth Anne

A Community Far Above the Rest!

A fun and truly unique project Tim and I have been working on is a clubhouse for a new residential community called Waterbridge located in Myrtle Beach, SC. Waterbridge is an enchanting resort-style community by Waterfront Communities featuring luxurious, coastal cottage-style homes, panoramic lake views, and a stunning array of planned amenities.

We were asked to collaborate with JDavis Architects to create an interior which likened itself to the travels of J. Peterman (from Seinfeld and the famous catalog). The vision for the project is to be a very eclectic and distinctive concept with a well-traveled global undertone feeling, while maintaining a low country Victorian village vernacular architecture. The color palette we selected is a spicy color palette consisting of terracotta, browns, caramels, brick red, and creamy neutrals, complimented by an earthy green. Each area of the clubhouse and amenity buildings will take on a distinct and unique character.

Here are some in-progress photos:

These renderings depict the finished project:

Awesome pools!!

The warm and inviting areas throughout the Waterbridge community will serve the residents well as they celebrate life’s events and family gatherings. Waterbridge proves to be a very unique community which showcases a design that will rise far above the rest!
~Marlene

Raleigh Remodeling EXPO

Tim, Marlene and Mary Grace recently took part in the Raleigh Remodeling EXPO. This expo took place at the Kitchen and Bath Galleries, Glenwood Avenue location. The two day event was well attended and Tim, Marlene and Mary Grace met with many homeowners and discussed their projects and remodeling needs. The show included cooking demonstrations and seminars including Tim presenting a seminar on "Details in Design, how little details can make a BIG impact". Tim presented this seminar three times over the course of the Expo.

Tim, Marlene and Mary Grace were happy to be a part of this event and are very excited about the homeowners they met with discussing their design, remodeling and decoration needs.


Mary Grace & Marlene!

KRAVET "SMART"

Timid in today’s economy, but still want that luxury designer look and quality?

Here's a wonderful new solution!

KRAVET Fabrics new line called "Kravet Smart"

Design products can be extremely durable and reasonably priced without compromising style. Kravet has created a brand that is unparalleled in its variety, affordability, and style. Ranging from fabrics and trimmings to furniture and carpets, Kravetsmart delivers the products interior designers and clients need at prices they desire. What a smart idea!

KRAVET SMART: HAS EVERYTHING!

[ LUXURIOUS FABRICS ] [ ELEGANT FURNITURE ] [ CREATIVE TRIMMINGS ]

[ INSPIRED KRAVET ] [ STYLISH FURNISHINGS ] [ ARTISTIC CARPETS ]

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE FABRICS:
Why do we like them? Their style of course but, also their durability!!

Not to mention they are priced just right!

Like what you see? Check out this website for more ideas http://www.kravet.com/ .

Call us to learn more about this incredible line of Fabrics and other design ideas from S&A!

Join us for the 2010 Remodeling Expo!

2010! We have started a new decade! But is your Kitchen ready for 2010? How about your Bathrooms? Join Schelfe and Associates, Inc. this weekend at the

2010 Remodeling Expo

at

Kitchen and Bath Galleries

8411 Glenwood Avenue Suite 107 Raleigh, NC 27612

Saturday, Jan. 16, 9 AM - 5 PM

AND

Monday, Jan. 18, 9 AM - 6 PM

Our talented ASID designers, Tim, Marlene and Mary-Grace will be there to get you excited and guide your through the interior design for your Kitchen and Bathrooms! There will be design seminars and even cooking demonstrations. (No, cooking NOT by Tim!)

With our desigers your Kitchen can be transformed from this....

To this amazing Kitchen we designed!

What about from this...

To this!!!

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday. Monday is a holiday so stop on by Monday too!

Need more information?? Give us a call at 919.832.8013 or check out Kitchen and Bath Galleries' website at http://www.kandbgalleries.com/

Summerhouse at Everett Bay!

Schelfe and Associates is proud to showcase its latest Clubhouse project, Summerhouse at Everett Bay, located north of Wilmington, NC in Holly Ridge. This project is another incredible community developed by Waterfront Communities of Charlotte, NC. JDavis Architects of Raleigh along with Charette Architects of Charlotte design designed the Clubhouse. Schelfe and Associates provide interior design services throughout the interior. The Clubhouse is scheduled to open later this Spring. Hope to see you there!


Entry marquee


Gatehouse and Main Entry


Clubhouse (under construction)


Marlene (hard hat and all!)


Tim (checking in with the Project Manager)


Front view of the Club

Click on the link below to find out more about Summerhouse!
http://www.summerhouseoneverettbay.com/

Living with Color in 2010 - Sherwin Williams Color Forecast

Now that a new year has arrived, it’s a new year for color! Sherwin Williams has published their forecast for this year’s hottest colors. The Sherwin-Williams 2010 color forecast takes cues from the hues of the past to paint the way to the future. The 24 shades selected by color experts for “Colormix 2010” are grouped into four palettes: Rooted, Treasured, Simplified and Refreshed.

Rooted
Mystery ~ Enduring ~ Natural
The colors are rich and earthy, with a hint of mystery. The appeal is as natural as the elements.

Room with "rooted" inspiration

Treasured
Aging ~ Layers ~ Artisan
The palette reflects the beauty of natural aging, mellowing and weathering, evoking quality materials that have stood the test of time and become heirlooms.

Room with "treasured" inspiration


Simplified
Translucent ~ Structure ~ Sophisticated
The hues are calm, subtle and nuanced, with undertones that shift according to their surroundings, for easy versatility.

Room with "simplified" inspiration

Refreshed
Exuberant ~ Fresh ~ Optimism
Happy spaces are here again, bringing fresh florals, bright juicy colors and exuberant combinations. It's the kaleidoscopic spirit of the '60s married to the jewel tones of the '80s, with a global twist.

Room with "refreshed" inspiration

2010 looks as if it is going to be a great year filled with creative inspirations!
~Marlene

Raleigh coming alive!!!

This New Years I stayed in Raleigh and experienced my first ever "First Night Raleigh". Yep, I headed downtown with my wife and kids and experienced bringing in the New Year, Raleigh Style!

It was a blast and I am so excited about the re-birth of this city. Raleigh has come a long way and the re-opening and re-design of Fayetteville Street City Plaza will hopefully foster even more excitement and growth. New restaurants, shops and museums now dot the downtown area. People are not only traveling downtown for fun but for living as well. The RBC tower has led a big push in the redevelopment of downtown Raleigh as a place not only to work and play but also a place to live.

If you have a chance spend a day or weeknight downtown in the new Raleigh!

Enjoy! - Tim


Fayetteville Street Fireworks


Artist Rendering of City Plaza


Artist Rendering of Fayetteville Street