Press Party at The Maryland Green Show Home

The Press Party at the Maryland Green Show Home was held on September 6th on the property in Gambrills. The Designers participating in the Show Home were stage front for question and answer periods.

Robert Andrew's kindly donated make-overs for the designers before they had their headshots taken by Jason Putsche for the brochure. "It really was a fun morning of being pampered" said Gina Fitzsimmons.

Kymberly Taylor and Robert Haywood from Annapolis Home magazine were interviewing the designers as well as Mary Ann Treger from Annapolis Lifestyle. All of the Designers had their concept boards on display in their rooms and were ready to give insight into their "green" spaces.

As you can see the Living room has just been drywalled. We wanted to keep you updated as to the progress. The Opening date is now September 29th. The date has slipped just a bit as to the availability of specially designated wood products that have been certified as "green" material". In order to get the home certified with LEEDS the materials must be certified. The charity sponsers of the home are Chesapeake Hospice and The Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Maryland Green Show House in Process!

The Maryland Green Show House is underway! The two floors are up and the roof is on. The electric has just been run and everyone is getting very excited. Some of the features on the construction are very inovative. The Baldwin Home Group has built the floors of the home with a crisscross floor construction that allows the plumbing and wiring to be run through the floor without endangering the integaity of the building. I have been around construction for quite a while and this is all new to me. I can remember seeing tradesmen that have cut through a floor joist because it was easier to run a duct or a pipe in client's homes.

We, at Fitzsimmons Design have stepped up to the plate and agreed to design and furnish the kitchen and eat-in area as well as the Living Room after a designer had dropped out of the Show House.

Here is a shot of the kitchen area on Walk Through Day. We met with Mike from Ferguson about the cabinetry they are providing and also stopped by their show room to select the door style.
The counter tops are very Green and are made of recycled materials and are called ECO by Consentino. The sample on the bottom is the counter top. Very natural colors as you can see.

In my last Blog I explained that in our Living Room we are planning another Chesa-Chic interior for the "Tidewater" style Home designed by Cathy Porple Cherry. The Living Room will have custom built-ins in recycled wood and a rug made up from a patchwork design of orientals redyed . The fireplace wall wil be encrusted with oyster shells and wall washed with recessed lights. The whole effect will be tailored and comfortable as are all of the designs that Fitzsimmons Design is known for.

On the left is a photo of our "Future Focal Point"
the Fireplace wall.


I am glad to report that Terry, my husband and I have begun to eat the oysters necessary to cover the fireplace wall. We were at our favorite Oyster Bar, "Fins" on Rehoboth Ave. in Delaware and downed a couple dozen. I asked Phillipe, our  Oyster Shucker to save some shells for me for the next time I came. We left there with a box full of shells. We are trying to figure out the best way to make sure they do not have any odor when we install them on the wall. So far, we are soaking the shells in bleach. We will probably put them in hosiery bags and run them through the dishwasher a few times. This is going to be a lot of work!!!! Recycling can be labor intensive sometimes but, well worth the effort.

All of the waitstaff at Fins want to see a photo of the wall when we are finished.

Next Thursday is Press Day at the House. We are to have our headshots done for the brochure. Robert Andrews Salon in Gambrills has donated a free style and blow out for each designer. It's nice to be pampered. I will report in next week!

Reporter on the Scene,
Gina Fitzsimmons, ASID

Geometry of Contemporary

"Geometry of Contemporary"
Published by Interior Designer, Gina Fitzsimmons, ASID
Annapolis, Md.

Our Design Platform this month in our retail store, "Details of Design" in Annapolis, Md. focuses on Contemporary. This vignette is for all of the clients that are anti-floral! We started the grouping with our geometric metal wall sculpture. We sold it the minute the ad hit the pages of "Chesapeake Home and Living"

If anyone falls in love with it, we can probably custom order another. The featured chairs are in a faux grey leather with nickel finished nail head trim. They are very sharp looking! Pricewise they are $400.00 each and we are having them at 50% off for the time they are on disply this month. The bonus is they quite comfortable as well!

Here is a close up of the Nickel Hammered Lamp

It Retails in our store for $460.00. It is a handsome tapered lamp!

  Our polished accent table really adds a sparkle to any interior. You can use two of them in front of a sofa instead of a coffee table. They would be a great space saver!

This rug is from our indoor/ outdoor collection. It is a great  casual rug that can be hosed off with a garden hose if you get it dirty! Moms love this collection! The punch of color and texture is what I love about it. A 4x6 will only run you $160.00!!!! You can't beat that!

Our Champagne flutes are a work of art with cheers etched in the glasses in all sorts of languages..... Prost! Campai! What a great gift for the world traveler on your Christmas List this year at $13.00 per stem!





On the left we have a trio of vases. The tall Ceramic Vase has a combination finish of Sea Green and Terra Cotta as the base of the piece.   Priced at $98.       The Hammered nickel Vase is so much fun with the hole in the middle and a deal at $48.00 .     The last vase is the teal twist with it's organic stem that is inspired by a piece of fruit. The cost of this colorful vase is $59.00. It is a bit of fun and whimsy to mix these three!

Our Aqua hand blown Sea Urchin inspired Lamp, below, is a big hit with the geometric crowd and the Coastal people alike. The glass has a seeded appearance and is just one of my favorite lamps in stock. The $250.00 price tag won't hurt your wallet!

On the right we have the star of the show! Our Hammered Mini Drink Tables are flying out the door. Everyone has a seat in their home where you don't have a reachable place for a guest to put their drink down. This is the answer at $173.00 each!

If there are other goodies in this display that you have set your radar on, please give us a call at 410-269-1965 or stop in to see the items in person! If it is after hours, you can also email us at gina@fitzsimmonsdesign.com

Maryland Green Designer Show Home

                              Maryland Green Designer Show Home


Fitzsimmons Design Associates has been chosen to do the Living Room in the upcoming Green Show Home. The proceeds form the home will go to the "Make a Wish" foundation and the Chesapeake Hospice. These are two very important charities in our area. If the home is sold during the duration of the Show Home Baldwin Homes will donate the profit of the home to the two charities. This can be a substantial amount of money, so, please help support their efforts and plan to attend September 8- October 31st.

Corey and Gina are planning another Chesa-Chic interior for the "Tidewater" style Home designed by Cathy Porple Cherry. The Living Room will have custom built-ins in recycled wood and a rug made up from a patchwork design of orientals redyed . The fireplace wall wil be encrusted with oyster shells and wall washed with recessed lights. The whole effect will be tailored and comfortable as are all of the designs that Fitzsimmons Design is known for.

Follow their blog as they plan and implement every piece down to the last detail. You can become a follower by clicking the box on the top  left and entering your email address. Every story will be directed to your email automatically.

What's New in Interior Design World in Annapolis this Summer

What's new in the  Interior Design World in Annapolis this Summer

I want to let everyone know that our store is choc-a-block full since I got back from my Market trip! You have got to see the great deals that I purchased! Our pillows alone can brighten up even the most neutral of rooms for summer!


 This month Corey has pulled together our display platform using some new arrivals. We picked up this charmer of a Pub Set in heavily distressed light wood that has been whitwashed. The seats on the stools are covered in leather and the legs are in metal. But, the reason this grouping spoke to me was that the stools have a small drawer in the base of each stool! Now, have you ever seen anything like that? The top of the table has a great inlaid pattern to it. See the next photo, below.

This is the top of the Pub Table

               This is the  drawer in the base
                           of the Stools

This is a great set for a tiny kitchen, as well. It would be a good place to sit and have a bowl of cereal in the morning or a quick bite at lunchtime. The table and two stools sell for $3362.00 and we have it at our store for $2690.00 for the set. Great Savings!

The other pieces that are noteworthy are the Snail and the Turtle for those of you that went to Maryland!

The ceramic turtle would be a nice addition to any hearth in town at $70.00!

Our cute little Snail is only $18.00

Our hydrangea in a clear glass vase looks so lifelike! It even has a few rocks with clear acrylic water in the vase to fool even the close-up viewers. The price on the arrangement is $330.00 and you will enjoy it for many many years to come.

Our extra large stretched canvas provides just the right amount of color to spark up your room with happy colors. This abstract piece of land and sky costs $548.00

If there are a few pieces that I have not focused on in this blog, please feel free to give us a call for the price on them. Or... you can always email me at gina@fitzsimmonsdesign.com

Spring Bulbs, and less clutter!

The display platform this month in Details of Design, in Annapolis got it's inspiration from the divine weather we have been having. Jennifer and Corey have started their display with the new drop leaf desk we had trucked in. It is a beautiful distressed painted finish with a driftwood interior. The pairing with a driftwood framed french chair was absolutely perfect. Keep in mind the idea behind a drop leaf desk is the ability to hide all of that stacked up paperwork and clutter. If you are a hoarder consider the drop leaf concept.

The artwork behind the desk is two hand painted Spring botanicals on linen fabric. The pale violet bulbs have a fresh, crisp look. This is one case where art can provide a wonderful backdrop for a furniture grouping without having to be a serious piece of art. Go for the fresh appealing look the group evokes!

We have a 4 x6 rug on the floor that just angles under the desk. The round french wire garden table completes the grouping with it's antique painted finish.

Take in a photo of a corner in your home and get in contact with Jennifer if you would like to brainstorm some ideas. Freshen up this Spring!   Jennifer 410-269-1965 

The Best Seat in the House!

While the weather outside is stormy...Why not cozy up your house? Find an area in your home to use a chaise! It is the best piece of furniture made, in my opinion. I have installed chaises in so many of my client's homes and they always tell me later on that it is the one piece of furniture that the family members fight over. I can just  imagine the clever ways one might outsmart another to claim the prized seat as your own.
Starting with,"The phone is for you!" all the way to "I think someone just hit your car!!!". The posibilities are endless!

Also, when you are creating this cozy cocoon-like area, be sure and hang a nice piece of art that you love. It can be an original oil painting like we have here in our vignette. I like to use landscapes the best. It is always easier to gaze off into the distance while looking at a landscape.

And the third and final thing is buy a nice lamp. It should have a three way bulb in it for when it starts to get dark when you have wiled your day away reading the latest novel. Come on in to our store and we can help you select the basic three items that you need for the best seat in the house!


Here are some other photos of  some of my favorite chaise placements in my client's homes.

Here are some other photos from some of my favorite placements of chaises in my client's homes.

This Chaise was positioned in the Master Bedroom especially for reading next to the window.

A chaise can be part of a sectional grouping. Here it is next to a console table for an accessible drink landing