Produced, designed, written and styled by Brian Patrick Flynn with live action direction by Eric DeFino and photography by Sarah Dorio

As an ambitious, Nintendo-obsessed young boy, my mother often preached “Make us proud by finding something you love to do, then get paid for doing it…just as long as it’s not appearance-based OR in show business.”. I am [a] an interior designer [b] a TV casting producer. FAIL.

Four design series, three well-decorated homes, two rescue dogs and one spread in O at Home Magazine later, Mommy Dearest snuck an amendment into her little mantra. Could this have anything to do with SonnyBoy’s access to furniture at wholesale prices, high-end rug remnants and steep media discounts? Perhaps. But I prefer to think it’s my five years treading the entertainment industry waters without a shark attack. This conclusion rings especially true since my father equates success with “how you triumph over adversity and conflict”; based on his collection of elk, hammerhead and sailfish taxidermy, the dude knows a thing or two about triumph. Regardless, by land or by sea, I’m doing TWO things which I absolutely love…and people give me money FOR doing them. WIN.

When a new production company waltzed into town seeking smoke-and-mirror magic for their creative lounge, my team made a beeline for the set faster than a fluffer to flacid talent. Although the writer/producers wanted something dramatically Hollywood, each envisioned a different use of the space. One person saw the lofty 24 x 18 as a sophisticated writer’s retreat while others saw it as a place to throw back Hennessy with hot chicks and clients. Soon thereafter, ideas and requests multiplied like Gremlins after midnight: a TV director needed graphic backdrops for shooting reality-style interviews, two laptop-clutching writers insisted on power outlets galore, sound engineers preferred the concrete floors NOT to echo, and the staff editor wished for a sofa on which to kick back and scan raw footage. For a bunch of dudes unsure of what they’d DO in the space, they surely agreed on what they’d SPEND on it—very, very little. FAIL.

As a fan of conducting business for the sake of, I dunno, MAKING MONEY, another gated community-caliber design on a community theater budget wasn’t too enticing. Suddenly, my imaginary lightbulb flickered. The Decor Demon team had been gearing up to shoot a series of web videos and, coincidentally, our prospective new clients own cameras, sound equipment, lights, cranes and editing software. Two dumpster dives, eight reupholstery jobs and five weeks later, cameras rolled on THEIR new space…and on OUR new series. WIN/WIN.

Humble beginnings

If studio executives cast furniture in leading roles, the blue bombshell above would be the Marilyn Monroe of sofas. In true Norma Jean Baker fashion, our It Girl was plucked and polished to the nines before making her cinematic debut. Every part of the 1970′s sectional was nipped, tucked, pulled and sprayed—from the original fabric to the straps and foam to the mirrored base and the fancy woodwork. Discovered during a routine dumpster dive/fire sale run, my carpenter stripped her, sprayed her high-gloss white, then dropped her off for upholstery. To make our lady fit for her new men’s room, my upholsterer recovered the starlet in twelve-bucks-a-yard navy blue velvet, then glammed up her base with mirrored chrome veneer. For silver screen razzle-dazzle, we had pillows made in David Hicks “La Fiorentina” and two platinum-toned fabrics from Kravet.

Change in character

Best part of watching soap operas? Exit/entrance voiceovers: “The role of Billie is now being played by actress Lisa Rinna”. Same thing with this pair of has-been chairs. To seem less like crackheads and more like TV producers, we scheduled “castings” on garbage pickup days, then scouted potential “talent” before waste management’s arrival. While we encouraged both chairs to remain true to their original roles, going in a younger, more energetic direction was best for the overall project. Both cane-back and shield-back chairs were modernized with a high-gloss white finish, then updated with contrasting fabrics. For our shielded, supporting cast member’s much needed touch of graphic impact, we created decorative trim from Schumacher’s “Chevron Print” in Navy sewn straight up the center of its cool, new, blue mohair upholstery. As far as the cane-back’s update was concerned, we opted for black [now discontinued] faux snakeskin from Innovations Leather fancified with chrome nailhead detail.

Praising the bar

To facilitate both eye and liver candy, we outfitted a $349 IKEA “TROLLSTA” sideboard with barstock and A/V equipment. When things are all business, a stand-mounted flat panel graces the top’s surface; however, when it’s time to liquor up high-strung clients, Mr. 42-incher gets swapped for a show-stopping Jonathan Adler print from ArtThatFits.com behind vintage chrome-tipped barware. One very special Sunday, the vintage Gods blessed us with a pair of 1970′s chrome lamps which we basically stole from City Issue, then came across the kindred spirit chandelier found for $75 at a flea market. In addition to the blue/green/yellow work by The Talented Mr. Adler, we layered pattern on the wall using Graham & Brown’s “Viva: Black Gloss” at $80 per roll.

Hollywood treatment

From its bold, formal wallcovering to its diamond-tufting and Hollywood Regency details, our laptop lounge was perfectly fit for Tinseltown bigshots. Pretty!—but who the hell puts wallpaper on cinder block? Me, duh. During our initial scout, both parties agreed there should be no trace left of the industrial hellish/brownish/reddish concrete wall; we’d make it disappear faster than a teen idol sent to rehab. First we painted the cinder block flat, ultra-white, then clad it with Masonite panels. Once my carpenter, Chris, attached each 4 X 8 Masonite sheet to the wall with concrete screws and a drill, my paper hanger, Mary, jumped in to adhere the “Ornate: Blue” wallcovering from Graham & Brown in four sections. Does Mary talk way too much and take way too many smoke breaks? Yes. Is she one of the best paper hangers in the business and worth all the stop-drop-and-huff-and-puff? Hell yes. For maximum seating, my upholsterer, Miguel, whipped up a diamond-tufted banquette covered in one of my go-to, repeatedly used, indoor/outdoor fabrics—Sunbrella “Velveteen”. Sure, the bitch looks sexy, but she can also handle spilled White Russians aplenty should a staff screenwriter self-destruct during his sixty-ninth script revision. IKEA came in handy when budgeting for affordable lighting and pedestal tables. Three “FADO” pendants light the space from above while a trio of “DOCKSTA” tables offer space for laptops, or in some cases, TV dinners and beer. Unsightly beige-ish concrete quickly fell by the wayside thanks to FLOR in “Rake Me Over”, Indigo.

Ready for her closeup

Our Big Momma project, as far as cost was concerned, was definitely the banquette. As the head writers stated many times over, ample power outlets were a HUGE necessity. So, obviously, we’d engineer the custom piece with outlets embedded into it—right? I know, so obvious. After Miguel upholstered all surfaces, he installed power strips snugly into three cutouts along the banquette’s lower facade. To glamourize Big Momma, we brought in the same sparkly silver pillows tossed about the blue velvet sofa, then embellished her armrests with chrome nailhead detail.

Casting extras

In addition to built-in seating, the writer/producers needed a few extra chairs for script reads and pre-production meetings. So, naturally, we took to the streets again in search of castaways. All it took to whip these misfits into shape was a coat of high-gloss, ultra white paint and 2 yards of super shiny, commercial grade vinyl.

Video killed the Internet star

And now, a suckfest in styling. Since this particular project had both video AND still photography components, there should have been two completely different methods of propping. Sure, the bold, cost-effective IKEA fabric draperies are show-stopping; however, they overpower the faux cowprint rug and apparently ate the damn chandelier. How about that chrome flea market coffee table completely hidden by the glare of its glass top? What a damn mess. Also, since when do rap-music-video-director-dudes kick back to Suzanne Kasler and Dorothy Draper decorating books? Perhaps it’s to distract them from the random chunk of safety yellow cheese sitting to the right? I could make excuses all day but instead I will use this sentence to [a] prove that it worked well in video format and [b] drive you to watch the first two webisodes of Decor Demon, the series here and here. WIN.

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Produced, written and directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with styling by Burnham Design and photography by Sarah Dorio

Ever since my teenage brother stabbed me in the foot with a sharpened number two pencil, I’ve [a] hated him [b] avoided teenagers [c] used a keyboard. When my tortured tween sister was dealing with Floridian mean girls, I’d intervene at the bus stop—to disastrous results. At fourteen, I attempted karate moves in my own bedroom—resulting in my foot through a wall—hours after my mom had the sheetrock redone. During my senior year of high school, my “friends” disowned me claiming I was psycho for naming my Clownfish after their girlfriends. My point…and I do have one, is that dealing with teenagers is usually a nightmare—unless you’re Los Angeles designer Betsy Burnham.

The California-by-way-of-Connecticut fashionista invited us to photograph her latest work—the bedroom suites of son, Will, and daughter, Carson, at her family’s Hancock Park Mediterranean Revival. In two shakes of a lamb’s tail, my photographer and I were perched like eager puppies waiting for treats at Burnham’s back door. Both of us huge fans of her work, we jumped at the chance to see her team in action. While Carson made an after school appearance, Will, much like his stunning mother, preferred as much distance from the lens as possible. In true Los Angeles fashion, both the family AND their breezy abode were cool, calm and collected—not to mention insanely fit [says the guy sipping a glazed Christmas ham through a straw].

Not only were the teen rooms fresh, fun and practical, but like all Betsy Burnham creations, they were layered, worldly and effortlessly chic. High-end elements such as custom draperies were counterbalanced with checkbook-savvy West Elm purchases. Splurges on beds were justified by area rugs from IKEA and accessories from flea markets. After ten hours of shooting teen-related content, talking about inverted box pleats and chasing down gourmet sandwiches with red vines, I found myself pleasantly re-living the teenage experience…this time without Clownfish named Tina and Jennifer.

Carson Daily

Thanks to a superstar designer mother, great genes and a cover-shot-worthy bedroom, every day is like Sunday in Carson’s suite. Betsy put her signature layering expertise to good use here starting with inverted box pleat draperies in “Chinese Garden” by Hazelton House [trade-only, available through Keith McCoy & Associates, Los Angeles] custom made by Teresa Prater Custom Interiors. Walls splashed with “Ivy Enchantment” from Dunn Edwards [a goes-with-almost-everything tone] allow each unique element to soar, particularly the black four-poster bed from Lane. A similar model is available through Ethan Allen.

Pillow talk

Curfews are something to look forward to thanks to Carson’s crisp, white, embroidered bedding from Deborah Sharpe Linens. Betsy hit up Peter Dunham‘s design hotspot, Hollywood at Home, for the shiny, happy, vintage Suzani bolster. A discontinued fretwork-ish side table from Williams-Sonoma Home supports a cost-saving orange “Boka” lamp from Crate & Barrel. One last bedside penny-pincher, IKEA’s “STOCKHOLM RAND” rug, grounded the sleepy space without breaking the bank.

Read all about it

Carson’s homework/reading area is a mashup of retail therapy and multicultural bargains. West Elm’s Parsons Desk in white houses candles fit for the Vatican and a turquoise Asian Foo Dog lamp found on ebay. Framed graphic art from Village hung above the desk is a nod to teen valley girl lingo. The vintage swivel chair [discovered at L.A.'s oasis of collectibles, Nick Metropolis] was given the Burnham touch with a cushion made of Clarence House’s “Jembala Wool Crewel” fabricated by Teresa Prater Custom Interiors.

State of the union

Union Jack is a signature pattern in Betsy Burnham designs. Luckily, for Carson, Mom nabbed a one-of-a-kind hand painted dresser sporting the U.K. emblem, then used it to pop color and graphic in the room. An autograph from actress Amanda Bynes took it from its original state to an A-List keepsake thanks to a People magazine shoot that took place outside the family’s home.

The right stuff

Teens are always gonna have STUFF, so why not embrace it? From the looks of Carson’s built-ins, it appears that proper accessorizing may be genetic. Betsy designed the unit with a combination of concealed and open storage. Drawers below [adorned with polished brass pulls from Liz's Antique Hardware] keep the unsightly stuff out of sight so that fun objects can be showcased above. Betsy’s favorite place for the fun stuff? High Street Market which has its own fantastic blog, I might add. When I asked Betsy the story behind the hot pink hot mess sporting floral brooches, she replied “We had a period of heavy Chinese propaganda collecting and the Mao bust fit right in”.

Bath to basics

Beyond the bedroom lives a classic black, white and grey bathroom certain never to go out of style. For Carson’s floor tile and sink, Betsy brought in sheets of Parramore Basketweave Mosaic and a Palladio sink, both from Waterworks. Gerber Hinge was the designer’s source for the chrome, hand-shaped pulls. To splash pattern onto the walls, Burnham chose “Attendants” wallcovering from Katie Ridder, then topped it off with a pair of sconces from Circa Lighting. Although Burnham Design is big on custom pieces such as the faux-python clad mirror, the studio’s trusted retail showrooms for all things kitchen and bath are Ann Sacks for more fashion-forward products and Waterworks for the classics.

Two for the money

Although we were specifically focused on Betsy’s teen room designs, it was hard to resist shooting her runway-ready project managers, Max and Alyssa. Not only did my photographer and I learn about their professional backgrounds, we discovered that [a] Alyssa hates photos of herself and is not on Facebook [b] Max is not a fan of the Darren Aronofsky film, Requiem for a Dream, but he does own a dog named Dynamo. Notice how the duo of design dreamboats rock ensembles similar to the layered interiors they help create? Coincidence? I think not.

Where there’s a Will

When it came to the design of son Will’s room, Betsy opted for overall neutral territory. Farrow & Ball’s “Drab” was Burnham’s wall color of choice. Supermom chose Schumacher’s “Galloway” in Navy for Boy Wonder’s inverted box pleat draperies which were fabricated by Teresa Prater Custom Interiors and installed with hardware from Iron Art by Orion. Will calls it a day, nightly, sprawled out on a discontinued bed from Land’s End dressed with dreamy bedding from Deborah Sharpe Linens.

It’s a man’s world

From the sleeping area to the study space to the rock show in the middle, Will’s room is a man’s world. Designer-Mom’s palette of taupe, burgundy and navy is sure to buck all trends—and look uber-masculine while doing so. When retail is a must, Betsy prefers both West Elm [source for the red Parsons Desk] and IKEA for kid spaces. Pops of yellow adrenalize the study space in the form of a Jonathan Adler lamp resting below a framed print by Lichtenstein. Pattern pops up once again courtesy of a Vivienne Westwood for the Rug Company pillow perched against the back of an Eames desk chair. The Rug Company’s “Ponti Red” area rug carries the burgundy tone over to the bed space where it’s greeted by a lacquered side table from Ji Gallery. Union Jack makes a cameo in the form of a custom “Big British Flag Lamp” lamp from Burnham Design.

A fresh approach

While Will’s bedroom layered brute colors with timeless patterns, Betsy went fresh, clean and nearly colorless in his bathroom. Rohl was Momma Burnham’s source for almost everything from the mirror to the sink/faucet combo to the polished chrome tissue dispenser. The Carrara marble surround is from Jerusalem Stone. For a dash of pattern, Betsy brought in a roman shade made from “Oakfield Tartan” by Ralph Lauren. I wonder how well Clownfish would do in that farmhouse sink.

Interested in hiring Betsy to design your home? Check out Burnham Design for full design services and Instant Space for Betsy’s do-it-yourself approach.

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Produced, designed, written, styled and directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio

Finally! After five years designing homes, I’ve been able to use this sentence: “My client is in Spain with Cameron Diaz learning how to drive stunt cars so we’re gonna have to push the purple ceiling installation back two days until she’s done interviewing Tom Cruise, then stops by Austria.”. These words don’t stem from being delusional or obsessed with A-Listers or Scientology but rather from the fact that my new FOX News reporter client, Stacey Elgin, has the coolest day job in the galaxy. Referred to as The Road Warrior [in reference to her live, out-in-the-field morning news show of the same name], the stunning southern belle is tasked with assignments ranging from movie premieres and press junkets to American Idol finales and the latest and greatest in fashion and fitness. The well-spoken blonde bombshell hired my team to infuse glamour into her lackluster home studio. What the hell does a news reporter need a home studio for? Well, when this Road Warrior is off the road, she runs a website hocking high-end women’s workout gear and custom jewelry. The only sucky part of the project? Getting it all done in about a week. The un-sucky part? My client’s hands-off approach and super fun taste. Her three decorating must-haves? Pink, black and mirror. This situation can best be described as a designer’s wet dream.

While the girl on TV braved 100 mph loop-dee-loops around Spanish race car tracks with Golden Globe and Oscar nominees, my team braved 100% humidity-infused drives back and forth from Home Depot with trim color candidates. Although we aimed for Bergdorf caliber high fashion, the proposed budget was more of a fit for Dress Barn. Thanks to an amazing wallpaper website, we scored a Halston-esque 1970′s pattern for the walls without breaking the bank, then the rest fell into place. We saved on storage and seating, splurged on floors, trim and custom draperies, then went Wisteria wild for our finishing touches. At the tail end of the project, I realized one minor detail. I never ran this pretty in pink concept by Stacey’s blue-and-brown-loving man’s man of a husband.

Foreign accents

It started out kinda Finnish with “Helsinki” wallpaper from UK-based company Graham & Brown. Soon thereafter, the Finnish-by-way-of-England wallpaper picked up a French-Italian accent once introduced to Wisteria’s hand-painted Parisian console and Traditional Venetian Glass Mirror. A little American retail therapy via West Elm finished the entrance off in the form of a Hammered Vase and a Crushed Eggshell Box.

A view with a room

With windows peering out into her driveway and mailbox, Stacey’s studio wasn’t exactly a room with a view. We switched things up making it a view with a room—from the top floor landing, that is. While standing in the doorway, one gets a tailored eye full of elegance from the Morningstar ebony bamboo floors from Lumber Liquidators, custom faux silk draperies, plum trim work and ceiling to a $25 flea market chair updated with black high-gloss spray paint and a violet mohair cushion.

Design within reach

Stacey’s jewelry design business requires a space to sprawl out jems, wire, clasps and materials; however many of her essentials often double as eyesores. By adding a tailored skirt to the front and two sides of a TORSBY table from IKEA, our bejeweled subject can now keep the design must-have’s within reach below the white glass table top. Our fabric of choice was pink slubby basket weave cotton at $4.99 per yard. The silver trim? Repurposed ironing board liner. Cost, FREE. We reached into our trusted bag of tricks to turn 3 BILLY bookcase units from IKEA into a fake-it-don’t-make-it built-in. To contain the part-time designer’s hat inventory, our organizing expert, Sarah, layered them inside recycled newspaper bins from The Container Store and kept Stacey’s own line of bath and body products safe in weathered BYHOLMA and Maize bins and baskets. A grey/silver pendant from West Elm added a play-on-scale to the studio from above while a $25 floor model version of the retailer’s Jute Boucle rug protected the floors below. We interspersed some decoration with our organization using Book Boxes, Jewel Topped Bottles and a Glass Pouring Pitcher from Wisteria. The black Louis Ghost Chair from Kartell was scored online.

She works hard for the money

Although the space is, for the most part, dedicated to curating Stacey’s inventory of women’s workout apparel and jewelry, it also needed an area for logging on to the Interwebs. A simple $300 West Elm Console Desk solved that with space for a laptop above and open storage for clutterables below. We splurged on a high-end black vintage chair from Pieces, bringing the medium-grade desk to new designer heights.

Windows of opportunity

Both the windows and ceiling were opportunities for creative cover-ups. First we added a WoodHaven Beadboard system from Armstrong Residential Ceilings to the uber-boring drywall above, then painted it a shade of plum called “Choo Choo” by Porter Paints. To mask the energy-saving yet aesthetically-corrupt vinyl windows, we layered natural woven shades from Texton with the aforementioned custom faux silk draperies. While the drapery material may be fashionably fake, I will tell you what isn’t—my draper, Donna’s, dissatisfaction with my measuring skills. Supposedly, her inverted box pleats would have looked ten times more spectacular if I had ordered 1/3 less fabric. Notice Donna’s happy off-camera smile and “Thanks for effing up my damn drapes” expression? It was even more enjoyable in person. Ten bucks says she also leaves a comment about it on this very page.

Well hung

Since the home studio is meant for Stacey’s online fashion boutique, it was imperative we up the ante of her closet. We fancied it up for more of a dressing room look by painting it “Choo Choo” in a flat finish, then bringing in the same ebony bamboo floor. Thanks to the Container Store’s elfa system, we doubled Stacey’s inventory space and pulled the same silver tone from the wallpaper inside. Speaking of bringing things inside, I just realized I left a pan full of bookshelf paint right outside Stacey’s front door. If purple paw prints end up all over the first floor, I’m blaming Stacey’s husband.

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Produced, designed, written, styled and directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio

You know that old line “if you don’t have anything nice to say, paint your stuff green and move to a farm on Mars”? Neither do I. But if that actually was a saying, my downtown loft would be the root of its existence. At only 920 square feet, the former downtown Atlanta milk factory lent itself to an “anything goes” method of decorating. While at first this was a designer’s dream situation, too many options rendered me my own worst client. Making decisions for others? A total breeze. Making decisions for myself? A total bitch.

After an unfortunate situation involving a what-was-I-thinking shade of blue and silly rod-pocket drapery panels, I opted to start over. No trends. No neutrals. No being safe. No picture frames. No mirrors. There would be no inclusion of my beloved charcoal, blue-grey or orange. It was time to be totally experimental without asking for anyone else’s opinion. Should I mix space age and farmhouse styles? Well, of course! Pair kelly green and black-brown with ultra-white and Christmas red? Sounds neat! Invite David Hicks and Andy Warhol in to finish it all off? Yup. The outcome? My most loved, hated, talked about and publicized project to date. Apparently, giving the rules of decorating the middle finger works quite well.

You’re welcome

My former snorefest of an entrance was adrenalized with a $35 craigslist credenza updated with a sprayed finish using PPG’s “Red Gumball” urethane paint. A pair of Jonathan Adler greyhounds kept watch afront a black-brown wall paneled with stain-grade luan and 1X3 MDF.

Parental supervision

Is it weird to still live with Mommy and Daddy at age 34? Well, kinda. But in this case, they’re simply the subject of a mural. Since the space behind the sofa wasn’t earning its keep, I put it to use by getting creative with a photo of my Mom and Dad in the late 1960’s. The 3X3 photograph was scanned in high-resolution, then outputted on UV-resistant vinyl in GIANT SCALE. In fact, even more gigantic than the ego-maniacal reputation I was given from neighbors who assumed the fellow in the photo was me.

Getting a big fat F

And here’s a lesson in bad styling. I’m proud of my revamped flea market furniture and use of natural light; however, I give myself an F in accessorizing. Why the %@#$ did I shove that gorgeous sunflower arrangement way back in the corner instead of on the coffee table? What’s with that wimpy little yellow thing in the skinny vase to the right of the Jonathan Adler elephant? I’d like to blame drugs but the only ones I’ve ever done are for headaches and sore throats. Speaking of placing blame [in a good way], it’s because of a Cartoon Network series cancellation that I got the plush green shag rug. The tv-studio-yard-sale find completed a list of other garage sale-ish items including: a yellow F from a TGI Fridays sign, lucite coffee table scored in Athens, Ga., and a brass chandelier swiped from a flea market and sprayed red. My carpentry friend, Dan, fabricated and installed the barn door shutters complete with frosted Plexi to let diffused light in when closed.

Case study

While many say TV cameras add weight, I often argue it’s the Snickers, pizza and cookies between takes. A similar situation occurs when designers see photos of their work and claim “It looks better in person”. Although many times that is actually the case, let’s explore this train wreck of a reading/study area. What I did right: flat black-brown paint to make the walls recede, gallery-style art grouping, false plywood wall with capsule molding afront a 13×9 white/walnut elfa system from The Container Store. And now for the not-so-much: my table choice was totally wrong, that accessory mess on the table is a disaster, spray painting the hanging basket red seemed like a good idea at the time but reads like a college apartment experiment.

Kitsch[en]

Apparently, the kitchen bought a one-way ticket on a Kitsch bound train; however, it was totally fun and done on a microscopic budget..so STFU. My refinisher removed the cabinet door fronts, added molding, and sprayed them with two coats of oil paint. I put my stellar DIY skills to use by screwing the “Grafton” glass/chrome pulls from Restoration Hardware into holes with something called a drill. To update the existing cheesy laminate countertops, my British carpenter, David [who pronounces water "WOH tuh"], created a form around its perimeter, then filled it with concrete resulting in a chunky, modern look. For a custom backsplash, David cut standard 12×12 marble tiles down to 3×5′s with a wet saw, then finished them off with light grey grout. Across the room, floating shelves housed my soup obsession while a breakfast bar below [made from standard fence posts and pine] served double duty as a serving station. Why the hell is there a robot next to the cake instead of plates?

Work of art

Space was tight in the loft so I built a table from pine [then painted and distressed it] for both dining AND work space. I kept finding these amazing iron scrollback chairs at random flea markets throughout Atlanta and, lucky for me, they mix well with just about anything. In this case I paired them with fiberglass 1960′s swivel chairs which my upholsterer updated with kelly green vinyl cushions. IKEA entered the loft in the form of three “FADO” pendants, a cost-saving alternative to true mid-century globe replications. Eye candy art by David E. Peterson, Jonathan Fenske and Ronnie Bautista tempted dinner guests to stick around for dessert. Guess how many times I actually dined in this space? Six. Okay, I lied. Three.

Saving Private Brian

The private areas of the loft literally NEVER saw the light of day. With the only two windows being at the opposite end of the unit, I was determined to over-rule the dark side. For starters, I turned to the power of ultra-white. A gallon of porch and floor paint on the bathroom’s pine planks helped bounce light around from a flush mount in the ceiling. In the bedroom, a Nelson saucer in white vinyl cast a glow throughout the room while a pair of white faux bamboo lamps shed light on reading material. To brighten up the walk-in closet, I spray painted a traditional iron chandelier white, then swapped flame bulbs for globes [a trick learned from my designer friend, Cinda]. In addition to the white, I pumped energy into the spaces with saturated green and red on walls and with FLOR. To balance the boldly bright, I incorporated dark black-brown six ways: Zoli sink/mirror combo and striped curtains in the bathroom, custom diamond pattern velvet duvet, side tables and painted rectangle in the bedroom, and trim and alcoves of the closet built-in.

Getting high

Although the rooftop was communal, its layout allowed all 14 tenants to entertain sky-high simultaneously. By designing a four-poster table from 4×4 lumber and 1×5 pine planks, the dining area could accommodate a plug-in outdoor chandelier meant for use ONLY while entertaining, then be safely stored in a weather-proof console unit. My painter friends, Josie and Yvonne, gave the deck a swank update by stenciling a custom pattern with porch and deck paint. Wire garden chairs and fiberglass dining chairs were updated with red nautical vinyl upholstery for sophisticated skyline seating. One simple step down from the dining area and guests were sitting pretty in the rooftop garden. Galvanized metal siding served as facia to an open-top planter wall packed with hard-to-pronounce-so-don’t-bother-trying succulents. Caring for them was a breeze; I simply hired my landscaper/friend, Nic Dodson, to care for them. Notice the lush lawn topped with white 1960′s rattan patio furniture? Yeah, that’s totally not real. Watering grass daily up four flights of stairs would not a happy tenant make, so we opted for NewGrass. The acrylic imposter is genius for many reasons: it requires no water, it’s fade resistant, and it drains itself through a perforated backing.

Musical chairs

A short time after completing the design work, I gazed out over the city thinking to myself “Wow, I really LOVE living here”. Then I bought a mid-century modern ranch, packed up and moved.

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Produced, designed, styled and written by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio

Lately I’ve been street hustling with hardcore garbage. It’s not my fault, I’m blaming the economy. Nowadays doing the design showroom mambo with deep-pocketed, Prada-clad clients is more fantasy than nine-to-five routine. To make a buck as a decorator in 2010, you’ve gotta strap on the knee pads, prepare to suck it [up] and hope that everyone else is putting out. The trash, that is.

Dumpster dives, curbside castaways and remnant rooms are now substitutes for occupational terms such as memo runs, borrowed floor models and sample sales. Since I’m known for vintage heavy spaces, my X-ray vision for hidden potential is a great fit for hounding trash [and cleaning it up]. As 70 degree no-chance-of-rain days set in, I kicked it into high gear and hired myself to design my own freecycled, trash-to-treasure outdoor lounge with a little help from my fellow DIY-challenged spatial planner friend, Sarah. We put together a bold, budget-minded gathering space just in time for friends—and yellow layers of Atlanta pollen—to christen it.

Green carpet treatment

If indoor living rooms are graced with area rugs, why shouldn’t outdoor versions be given the same treatment? Sarah and I scored a 12×8 remnant of faux turf on craigslist in exchange for simply hauling it away. Since the grassy area is often shaded by gargantuan pine trees, we layered the feet-pleasing fake stuff over sad, sparse patches of the real thing.

Placing first

My power tool DIY skills are slim to none, therefore it was imperative my backyard lounge be a cinch to assemble. The one skill pertinent to a quick installation? Placing furniture, which apparently, Sarah and I are both VERY good at.

A trashy past

Our 1950′s sofa shed its flesh-toned past thanks to six yards of Sunbrella Velveteen in “Cinder”. How cool is it to have outdoor furniture with the rich look and soft feel of velvet? Like, VERY. 100% solution-dyed acrylic makes up this medium price point [95,000 double rubs] fabric find. Sofa? FREE. 

Turks without Caicos

Thanks to Trina Turk’s Peacock Print for Schumacher, our side-of-the-road club chairs now show their true plumage. Turk’s line of acrylic prints are a medium price-point, to-the-trade-only miracle worker. Small chairs and pillows are an excellent way to put the Palm Springs Princess’s line to good use; while we needed two and a half yards to upholster each chair, it only took a single yard to create two pillows. Since the chairs cost zero dollars, splurging on fabric and upholstery was guilt-free.

You got served

In keeping with the affordability theme, we made a dash for IKEA. $300 later we moved our new TROLLSTA tray tables in place. Versatility is key when pinching pennies; TROLLSTA functions as a side table with a removable eating surface and, when grouped together, makes for a great coffee table alternative.

Getting two-faced

Versatility struck again, this time in the form of seat-maximizing, 30X30 floor pillows. We got all two-faced using the solid “Cinder” Velveteen on one side and Peacock Print on the other. While Trina Turk for Schumacher is the superhero of durable indoor/outdoor prints, Sunbrella Velveteen is the caped crusader of indoor/outdoor softness. NOTE: narcoleptic guests should be encouraged to slumber Sunbrella-side-up.

Branched out

As I mentioned before, I’ve become a trash picking whore. By simply scoping out piles of discarded foliage, I made out with floral [we will get to that later] and the perfect branch for sculptural art. One half-can of violet spray paint later, the previously unwanted natural wonder was sitting pretty on the fence.

Proper yardage

In less than a half hour, Sarah and I were all set up with no place to go. We added a few final touches before calling friends over: a Dwell Studio print pillow from Target, three down-filled 18X18′s made from violet mohair found at a remnant sale, mismatched cylindrical vases found on clearance, and FREE forsythia [suspiciously] cut on the fly from a neighbor’s blossoming tree.

Check out those posers

After roughly 21 minutes of setup, we kicked back and prepared to send in the clowns [aka our friends]. If our empty six-serving pitcher of spiked lemonade is any indication of our hosting skills, I think it’s safe to say we kinda suck.

Come join our party on Facebook.

Produced, written, directed and styled by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio

Someday I’d love to walk into a big ass fancy mansion and empty a paintball gun laden with hot pink latex ammunition. While ultra formal, luxurious spaces are often jaw-dropping, they sometimes make me want to clock ultra-privileged, silver-spoon-fed owners over the head with their pompous $15,000 flatware. Glamour is so much more interesting when juxtaposed with something raw. ENTER Lisa Pearl.

Lisa photographs beautifully mysterious subjects, then prints their images as bold textiles with glamorous finishes. Months after our first East Coast encounter, Ms. Pearl relocated to Los Angeles to stock hotspots Fred Segal [Melrose] and Barney’s [Beverly Hills] with her latest line, Hot & Cold. Current subject? Mannequins bedecked with dramatic makeup and jewelry fit for Hollywood royalty. Lisa’s style isn’t necessarily for the faint of heart, but this girl is the driving force behind a gorgeously daring new style and I plan on joining her for the ride.

Lady in red

Dramatic pops of red pack punch into a variety of styles from the Hot & Cold collection. Each dollface delivers a dose of androgynous graphic impact sure to spark conversation between guests.

1. Angelica Quad Face on Color is pictured perched on a black and white loveseat 2. Double vision of Blondie: on the left donning a technicolor dreamcoat sits Blondie Full Face in Color on Silver while on the right Blondie Full Face Black and White on Silver poses patiently 3. Angelica shapeshifts into Angelica Full Face Lumbar in Color on White atop the black and white sofa 4. Blondie Quad Face in Color on Silver lays on the salt and pepper silk shag carpet 5. The fifth lady [resting in the right hand corner of the sofa] is Martine Full Face Lumbar in Color on White

[NOTE: silver versions of Lisa's lovely ladies are limited so it's smart to act fast if you wanna "bring her home to Momma".]

She’s gotcha covered

My photographer and I got a first-hand look at the Joan Jett-esque designer’s latest venture, Lisa Pearl furniture. A woman after my own heart, Pearl sticks with all things vintage or custom and [in Hot & Cold fashion] is a stickler for black and white. Although pillows are her main focus [for now], custom upholstered Lisa Pearl vintage furnishings are making their way into LA’s finest—and edgiest—homes. As a pseudo-stylist, do I wanna punch myself in the face for not placing the damn tulips front and center on the coffee table? Sure I do; however, the pink pretties would have blocked the focus of our story, pillows. But enough about pink, let’s keep this about Pearl.

Sit and spin

A Martine Quad Face in Color Plush Sueded Velvet pillow rests on a Pearl-infused vintage swivel armchair updated with Angelica Geometric Face on PVC-free Faux Leather [limited quantity]. Got your own furniture but crave Lisa’s upholstery? [a] we like your way of thinking [b] inquiring minds can set this up through the site’s custom page. Lisa’s team will also fabricate custom pieces from scratch.

Bust out the good silver

Sirens of the silver screen are good n’ plenty at Lisa Pearl. With these hotties in the house, there’s never an excuse NOT to use the good silver.

1. Martine Full Face on White Plush Sueded Velvet leans more on the black and white side; however, the fancy bling around-the-collar reads silver even to the color blind 2. Angelica Full Face Lumbar on Silver gives major attitude to any piece of furniture 3. On the floor lays Martine Quad on Silver next to 4. Blondie Geometric Face on Silver 5. Blondie Full Face on Silver 6. Blondie Quad on Silver [NOTE: before getting too excited about going platinum, keep in mind limited availability of Lisa Pearl pillows in silver]

All hung up

We intended to stay focused on Hot & Cold but couldn’t resist zooming in on Lisa’s work from other collections. The similarities between collections new and old are quite strong; however, Lisa’s printing material couldn’t be more different. Heavyweight satin won as the previous textile of choice for Lisa’s wall prints but was voted off the island for plush sueded velvet [on which every style of the Hot & Cold collection is available]. Sure, Lisa Pearl wall prints are so-last-season BUT can be requested as limited availability special orders. Our very last material girl [photo directly above] is Barbie Hearts Lisa Pearl [plastic/Mattel/dates Ken/sister to Skipper] which was commissioned for the plastic wonder’s 50th anniversary.

Pearl essence

As we asked the real Lisa Pearl to please stand up, we noticed that [a] she’s every bit as attractive as all the single ladies she designs and [b] she can also probably kick your ass.

Do you speak Facebook? We do. Come play with us.

Produced, designed, written and directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio

Five years into my interior design career, I’ve tackled some seriously “yeah, good luck with that” projects: fraternity house, two animal rescue spaces, three-story-high rooftop dining room with no elevator, mid-century garden shed, two non-profit children’s art studios, lounge space for teen girls, non-profit dining room for the homeless and an 8,500 square foot two-story restaurant on a shoestring budget and blink-and-you-missed-it timeline. So, of course, a room inspired by a two-time Academy Award winning Hollywood icon would be the next step, right? What the $%#@?

Jane Fonda founded GCAPP [Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention] in 1994 when the state of Georgia had the highest rate of adolescent pregnancy. This year, to raise funds for the cause, she hosted World Fitness Day, a nod to her Spandex-clad exercise videos of the 1980′s. When asked to create something relevant to the event for its live VIP auction, I jumped at the chance to whip up something over-the-top, legwarmer-centric and totally Barbarella…but didn’t. Huh? While fur-upholstered, zero-gravity, spaceship style rooms are totally awesome, high society patrons dropping thousands of dollars to take them home seem rather unlikely. Oscars and Emmys aside, the Fondalicious auction deserved its own award. Jane and her friends raised thousands of dollars for GCAPP, the winning bidder got the deal of a lifetime, my high-strung upholsterer drowned himself in free top-shelf liquor and I got to turn legwarmers into pillows.

Getting into character

The design process got its jumpstart from a collection of Jane Fonda related items including: striped violet/grey legwarmers, faux Barbarella-esque fur, 1980′s reading glasses, a pair of grey three-pound weights and two Lady Jane classics on DVD, one critically-acclaimed and the other….well, not.

Remaining neutral

To steer clear of cricket chirps at the live auction, our custom big ticket pieces needed to remain neutral and un-boring. Each item also needed to be able to stand alone if, perhaps, a bidder saw it being used differently in their own home. The platform bed’s dark brown mohair upholstery could have been super masculine but the violet accents added a little bit of a she thing. On a similar note, the traditional Distressed Louis XV chest chest from Wisteria could have sung What a Girl Wants but the grey finish, dark hardware and hefty lamp counterbalanced with heavyweight bravado. I originally intended to paint the studio walls deep violet but chickened out, then opted for a medium shade lavender. Did I initially despise the color and want to stab the paint can with my pocket knife? Yes. Did I eventually conclude that the slightly safer tone truly helped each piece to stand out? I’ll never tell.

Multiple personalities

While our furniture remained pretty much unrelated to any particular Fonda classic, the accessories were all about Jane. My upholsterer, Miguel, whipped up the eight-foot-tall mohair upholstered platform bed in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. As for our leading lady’s inanimate grand entrance…let’s let the numbers do the talking.

1. A pair of 26X26 faux fur throw pillows evokes the interiors of Barbarella‘s spaceship

2. Two velvet pillows adorned with violet Academy Award silhouettes represent Jane’s wins for the Klute and Coming Home

3. The striped rectangular throw pillow is made from re-purposed leg warmers, a wink to Jane Fonda’s Workout

4. Wisteria’s French Distressed Louis XV Chest is a nod to Agnes of God‘s French Canadian convent

5. Barbarella makes a second abstracted appearance in the form of a lava rock style lamp

6. Jane took home the gold, as in Emmy award, for her role as a pioneer woman in the TV movie, The Dollmaker [PS, ever try borrowing an Emmy from a friend to style a photo shoot? Yeah, neither had I. And let me tell you, it's not easy.]

7. They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? [Jane's first Best Actress Oscar nomination] made its way in bedside in the form of a wooden horse statue

8. Physical fitness made a second appearance, Jane Fonda’s Workout style, with a pair of grey three-pound weights

Supporting cast

Our left side vignette is another smorgasbord of Fonda references. Wait, there are two bedside chests? Yep. How come the previous wide shot didn’t show both of them? Perhaps it’s because I’m a photographic control freak, didn’t love the composition and refused the shot? Well, yes, that is indeed why. But enough about me, let’s talk about Jane.

9. Our gold duck is a reference to On Golden Pond in which she co-starred with her father, Henry Fonda, and nabbed a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination

10. A second reference to They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? [my favorite Fonda performance] sneaks in via a brass horse

11. 80′s-centric reading glasses similar to Jane’s 9 to 5 character, Judy Bernly, sit atop a tray of books

Repeat offenders

Halfway through the styling of the room I realized I over-emphasized, albeit abstractly, four Fonda classics more than others: 9 to 5, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?, Barbarella and Jane Fonda’s Workout. Oh well, it’s my project and I can do what I want.

Boys club

To assure bidding interest from men, we created a testosterone packed sitting area. Since guys are sticklers for comfort, my upholsterer and I designed a pair of extra deep/extra cushy metallic leather club chairs to pique their interest and their vertebrae. Dudes also dig hot chicks. Enter artist Mark Boomershine. The handsome fellow created a Barbarella-esque pop art version of the beloved First Lady of Fitness [and knocked it out with just a few days notice]. Our 5’10 Mr. Nice Guy [with canine sidekick, Bentley] stuck around for us to get this shot not only because (a) it’s awesome but (b) we wanted to make sure the chairs weren’t so deep that they’d swallow dudes under 6’5. My team finished off its Fonda fondness with these final references.

12. Barbarella pop art by Mark Boomershine hangs above the custom leather club chairs

13. A taupe linen pillow sporting the numbers “925″ pays homage to the film 9 to 5

14. The pagoda print pillow from Thomaspaul for Duralee [visible in the opening photo of this feature] is a nod to the nuclear power thriller, The China Syndrome

Although our Fonda-inspired room went to the very first bidder in less than 15 seconds, I noticed something not very philanthropic about myself; I wanted that damn legwarmer pillow for my own house.

Let’s be friends [on Facebook].

]]> http://www.decordemon.com/2010/05/06/becoming-jane/feed/ 10 http://www.decordemon.com/2010/04/30/pantry-raid/ http://www.decordemon.com/2010/04/30/pantry-raid/#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:22:05 +0000 decordemon http://www.decordemon.com/?p=1453 Lifestyle expert Annette Joseph’s impressive culinary creations from basic pantry items

Produced, written and directed by Brian Patrick Flynn with styling by Annette Joseph and photography by Sarah Dorio

Shelter magazine producer. Chef. Prop stylist. Florist. Food stylist. M.I.L.F. Writer. Decorator. Athlete. Morning show expert. Gardener. To assign Annette Joseph just one title is to set yourself up for failure. She’s that Little Miss Good-at-Everything you want to hate but can’t: student body president, track star, cheerleading captain, philanthropist and comedienne. Producing a web-based feature on her is tricky as a b&$%@. How do we choose just ONE role for such a multi-faceted design star?

My photographer and I approached our first Annette Joseph feature as though we were culinary students. Our combined cooking expertise: toasted pop tarts, water in a glass with ice and re-heated soup. We asked Annette to walk us through so-easy-a-trained-monkey-could-do-it recipes certain to have friends and taste buds smiling. To further drive home how user-friendly this all was, the gracious hostess enlisted a quartet of [gasp!] teenage boys to execute it all under her direction. The outcome? An afternoon of jar opening, cheese sprinkling, X-box playing, oven pre-heating and the best $&%@ flatbread creations in history.

In the mix

My own pantry doors stand guard to a pathetic stash of Saltines, peanut butter and protein shakes. Annette’s is a different story. Her go-to ingredients for instant gourmet include: high quality dried rosemary, cold press olive oil, olive tapenade, marinara sauce, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted peppers, fig jam, pesto sauce, jarred chopped garlic, flavored olive oils and salsa. When it comes to must-haves in the fridge, Annette keeps cheddar, parmesan and feta cheeses as well as red onion and garlic year-round.

Prep school

Bosslady insists on portioning ingredients into decorative vessels for breezy, organized prep. With boxes and jars back in the pantry, the entire process is kept clutter free.

Step class

After laying out the key ingredients, Annette gave the boys a culinary workout. The only gear necessary was packaged flatbread found in the bakery section of Target. Teacher’s pets Levi [Annette's son--grey shirt] and Jake [white/grey striped shirt] were assigned the initial steps of laying out parchment paper, then layering tomatoes and cheese with an assortment of oils and herbs. Next in line were Ian [black T-shirt] and Matt [red flannel/skull cap] who put their new skills to the test for the second, nearly identical batch. I don’t get it—boys will skim 10 foot walls on skateboards but find experimenting with innovative pizza toppings too risky? For foodies of all ages willing to try something different, Annette suggests these three flatbread combos: Classic Appetizer [marinara, mozzarella, crushed garlic, fig jam, rosemary and a touch of parmesan], Mexican Twist [salsa, chopped red onion, roasted peppers, Mexican style cheese] and Pesto Flatbread [pesto, parmesan, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes].

Gone in 60 seconds

Flatbread gourmet takes just minutes to create, 400 degrees to cook and mere seconds to disappear. In less than 15 minutes the boys managed to spread the sauce, sprinkle the cheese and most importantly, dine and dash.

Not from concentrate

Minestrone from a can + Joseph household = blasphemy. Annette’s gourmet take on the classic Italian favorite is fast and easy. Ingredients include: fresh or jarred garlic, garbanzo beans, pasta, olive oil, organic chicken broth, dried rosemary, crushed Italian tomatoes, dried mushrooms, kale and truffle oil.

Simmer down

Here’s how the kitchen queen made the minestrone magic happen. It started off with three tablespoons of olive oil and two crushed cloves of garlic thrown in a pot to saute until softened. Once the the softness set in, the main ingredients were slowly added: one can of garbanzo beans, one tablespoon of dried rosemary, 1/4 cup of dried mushrooms, 15 ounce box or can of crushed Italian tomatoes, three cups of chopped kale, 1/2 cup of pasta and one 32 ounce box of organic chicken broth.

Truffle shuffle

Annette saves the best for last. After 45 minutes, the soup is taken off the stove then dispersed into six servings. The final step simply involves adding truffle oil to each individual portion, then scarfing down with flatbread.

Clean up crew

Nothing goes to waste in Annette’s kitchen. In fact, leftover ingredients became late night nosh for dish duty with Levi. After we wrapped, I made a beeline home to whip up my own Joseph-inspired creations: vanilla protein shake with fresh bananas and gourmet ice over Saltines with fresh butter-of-peanut.

Ideas and recipes similar to those above are updated almost daily on Annette’s blog. Great taste by association = becoming a fan of Decor Demon on Facebook.