November Passes Quickly!

November Passed so quickly this year. We are already in the full swing of the Holiday Christmas Market. The stores are urging everyone to get there as soon as possible and the radio is playing nothing but Christmas Music! I can't stand it!

 

Let's slow this train down!!!! Let's remember that just one day ago, it was Thanksgiving. Some of the trees haven't even dropped the rest of their leaves. Some home owners haven't even picked up the leaves that fill their yards! Can we take this more slowly???? Winter doesn't start till Dec. 21st!

                                     Fall Tones with Rich Leather Chairs and Beautiful Fall Water Scene

The girls have put together a wonderful Vignette as you enter Details of Design on the right. It is full of rich fall tones, from the handsome greens and blues to the russet saddle leather chairs.

The Original Oil Painting makes a beautiful focal point for the grouping. The old row boat in the picture has been abandoned at the end of summer and the foliage in the artwork indicates it is in the fall. It's a little sad, in a way....

 






The Driftwood bowl that this all natural arrangement is in makes a statement. Can you picture this on your coffee table or the center of your dining table? It's price is $338.00



 

 

The Bicycle Book-ends are just precious! They would make a great gift for the cyclist on your list this year at $83.00 for the pair!

 

 

 

 
 
 






Here are  a trio of Candle Holders in a Rust Finish with our Patchoulli Candles. Our Candles are Custom Made for us and are not available anywhere else! They are made from the scent of the Patchoulli Root. It is a very pleasant , natural scent.


The Candle holders are $18.00, $28.00, and $36.00.

And last but, not least, we have the cozy, soft throw to go with everyone's décor. The rich thick Chenille Yarns really keep you warm when you are all snuggled up on the sofa, watching TV. This one is $75.00 in tan and camel.

 

Have a cozy winter and just take one day at a time and you will end up at the other end of this Holiday Season unscathed! Drop in to see us or call for a consultation in your own home.

We hope to see more of you! Soon!

 

Slightly Nautical

                                Slightly Nautical, What Do You Mean??????

Well, it means that even though we live in Annapolis and are "all over" that Coastal look, we can be a bit more subtle. Not everything is Port Holes and Anchors!

Our new intern Anna just unpacked these fabulous
Navy Blue Sisal Mirrors and she set right to work
on redoing the front display platform on your right as you enter the store. Anna is an emerging professional with three years under her belt at Radford University. Stop by and welcome her to our team!

 

The bold graphic rug that she chose to use is an Indoor/Outdoor rug!

It measures 42" x 66" and is only $163.00.

It is available in larger sizes for those porch areas where you need a bit of pattern.

 

 

 

I love how she used this Scrubbed Oak Bookcase.

The bookcase is $788.00 and measures 53" high.

 Look at how it repeats the shape of the square motif of the Mirrors on the wall.

 Now, I happen to think that, she knows what she is doing! Good Job, Anna!

 

 

The Desk in our grouping is made from Canvas covered wood, Gemelina ( the dark wood) and top of the desk is faux painted to look like Parchment. The stretcher bars under the desk, that give the piece stability are iron and the hardware is solid brass. It is a sleek desk that is a work of Art!

 

                                                                                                                                                                   

 

Not to change the subject, but, here's a nice Father's Day Gift! Our Hand Painted Teak Frame would be perfect with a great photo of you in it. The Picture Frame retails for $44.00 each.
 Good idea, Right?

I will leave you with that thought! Don't wait to the last minute to get your Dad a gift!

Also, Come in and See Anna, soon!
 She can help you with any small project that you have from accessorizing your Fire Place Mantle to selecting a new chair to go with your sofa in the Living Room. The girl is a natural!

Gina Fitzsimmons, ASID


 

Annapolis Designer does Baltimore Show House Library!



The Baltimore Show House this year at Oak Acres
was a huge success! The rooms from top to bottom
were really well done and brought the house back to it's Former Glory!

The House had loads of Charm and Detail! Talking with the Public was so enjoyable. Year after Year we see a lot of the same Supporters. After awhile, you start to recognize each other!

Take a look at the Photos below and enjoy the tour!

Gina

 

 

 I was speaking with the owner of the property and she said that she didn't think that she would be able to part with the house because of the flood of memories every time she enters the house. She said, " Men have Man Caves, Why can't women have a Woman House?" Now there is a concept!

 I know exactly what she means, I would love to buy my Grandparents house in Massachusetts and totally refurbish it to a 60's look. Just being in the space feels almost like connecting to the past and it fills you with a special bond to your departed loved ones.

 

Well, on to the finished Library! The fireplace use to be painted the exact same grayish green shade as the walls and moldings. Below I have loaded the before and after shots of the fireplace wall. The architectural detail, to the 100 year old mantle just popped, when we lightened up the mantle and painted it like the contrasting trim of the room

 

Just look at the Before Shot above and the After Shot below!

 

 

Look at the beautiful detail in the Mantle!

 

Upon entering the room we had a Library Table set up with two very comfortable Chairs. With this age of laptops and Ipads it really isn't necessary to have a full blown desk anymore.

 

We have injected a contemporary cocktail table with great lines to complete our Style of Traditional.

Keep it fresh! Keep it current! Keep it relevant!

 

 To "Beef Up the existing Crown molding we added a Panel Molding on the Ceiling and painted the outside of the panel a bit deeper shade of paint to add dimension and give the effect of a tray ceiling to the room.

We did a small Bar just inside the doorway from the Dining Room. The Library is a perfect place for an After Dinner Drink in front of the fire when you have company for Dinner!

 

Our Upholstered Cornices got a lot of attention! We upholstered the crown molding at the top of the Cornice as well! A great idea shared with the public! 

 

We brought all of the Accents, Artwork and Accessories from our Retail Store, Details of Design in Annapolis. If you need a few pieces and can not make it to the store, please look online at

 Detailsof Design.biz

 

What a great experience the whole project was! The Designers all pitched together with the Symphony Members and manned the rooms, while buses and buses full of people arrived one after the other to view all of our hard work.

 

Gina Fitzsimmons, ASID

 

 

Oak Acres, The New Baltimore Show House!

Baltimore Symphony Show House at "Oak Acres"  2015

 

Well, Thank You, for all of the encouragement!

 

WE DID IT!

 

We designed the library, made up a presentation board and got the room!!!

 

So, you can see below that we are doing "A Study in Neutrals", Get it?

A Study, (library).... in Neutrals.....(Beige and Cream)?

 

 

Here's the sketch of the grouping in the Library. We decided to set the grouping on the angle so, you do not walk into the back of the sofa. That is always so "unwelcoming" !

We will have a Library Table stacked with accessories and books and other Objets D'art, 

you know what we mean,.... organized clutter.

The mirror for over the fireplace is a "Ten". 38" round and just gorgeous!

It is always great if you have a nice focal point for the room.

Well, we have a lot of paint work to do in the room. It is very dark and drab. We intend to lighten this room up and add some molding on the ceiling and have a very serene room when we are completed.


So, please follow along.... keep up with our blog by clicking on the subscribe button so when we do a new posting you will automatically get our updates! It shall be FUN!
                                                           Gina, Corey, Megan and Marie

The New 2015 Baltimore Symphony Show House

We are considering doing a room at this years Baltimore symphony Show house in the Guilford section of Baltimore. The design committee has found a lovely Grand Dame of a home that is very stately. Walking up the front walk of the home with the leaves rustling beneath our feet brings flashbacks to a grander time. You can simply imagine how wonderful this house was when it was first built in the early 1900's.

 

Then reality set in when we entered the home. It has been many many years since this home has seen a lick of paint. Although the architecture is impressive, it is sad to see how dark and depressing the house has become.

 

 

 

The interior of the home was strewn with dull and dusty mahogany furniture bits and pieces and thread bare rugs. The whole feeling that came over us when we, (Corey, Megan, Marie and I ) walked through the space was overwhelming dread. I could tell what everyone was thinking and no one was saying. "WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE!!!"

 

 

That being said, I have had time to get myself together and I have said, "Self, would it not be a true transformation? Would it not be fun to be a part of bringing this house back to glory? Would it not be a fun project with lots of camaraderie?"

 

 

 

OK, so now i am torn. It is a very long, hours drive in heavy traffic. We are busy at work trying to keep up with our client's design work.

 

There are four of us to manage the project, we can spread it out a bit. The committee did give us lots of notice this year before the presentation boards are due. Our last project with the Baltimore Symphony brought in work and publicity.

 

Oh, my goodness! What do you think? Should we just do it?

 

Gina

 

 

Nautical Design in Annapolis!

Nautical Design in Annapolis!

Chesapeake Cozy Styling for your Home

                           
               Our Nautical impulses have come out now that the Summer is in full swing! It's time to take a new look at the traditional Wing Back Chair. Here in our current vignette we have contemporized the chair by using a soft navy leather with nickel headed tacks. it is very ship-shape! The rug underneath has a ropey texture that plays well with the smooth, cool, leather.

The colors in the grouping are classic, " Chesapeake Cozy"; the water colors in the various shades of blue and the neutrals from nature. Take a look at our handcrafted Crab pillow at $142.00

 

 

 

Add an Art Glass Vase that ripples like the waves of the Chesapeake at a mere $44.00!

 

 

An ample side table in a hand painted finish adds that boat yard look to our grouping at a great price for only $488.00

 

 

What is more fun than colorful photos of a Dingy Convention! Our art on the back wall of all sorts of sizes and shapes of Dinghies will run you $116.00 each, already framed and ready to hang!

 

 

 

 

And last but, not least, we have our ceramic Turtle for all of those Maryland Terrapin Fans!

 

 

Enjoy your Summer, and be sure and stop in Details of Design to see our Nautical Grouping

in person. We have so many new accessories and accents to show you. Marie, our staff Designer can help you with freshening up your home for the season. Just bring in a few "Before Shots" and we can help you create the "After Shots"!

 

 

 

 

Silo Point, Baltimore Symphony Show House

                                                                          HERE"S THE PLAN!

The Annapolis Design Firm, Fitzsimmons Design Associates has been chosen to design the Living Room this year. We are hard at work trying to make the main attraction at the Baltimore Symphony Show House this year happen! The Penthouse opens to the Public on April 27th- May 18th. Tickets are available at Details of Design in Annapolis, for $25.00 and are $30.00 at the door.

This is the room we want!!!!!!!!

The 2-Story, 3-sided Glass Living Room is incredible! When I first walked into the room, I got goose bumps up and down both legs and both arms. It may have something to do with my tiny bit of fear of heights?!  But, as a team we decided to put our bid in on the Living Room Space and conquer our fears. After thinking of the great volume of space in the top half of the room for a week or so I came up with the idea of hanging sails up in the air to create a view from the balcony overlook of boats skimming through the top of the room. Easier said than done!

Yesterday I met Chris at Silo Point with 8 ft. high scaffolding and a 10 foot ladder on top of that to reach the ceiling of the Living Room. We rigged up 3 huge sails and live to tell the tale!






What do you think? You can see that Chris has no fear of heights! I yelled up to him at one point, "Have you ever  Bungee Jumped before?" He replied that he has not but, would love to in the future. I had that right!

Now that the sails are up, I feel confident that we are under control and will get the project done on time. We have the delivery company all set up, a van rented, and the accents for the space pulled from stock at our Coastal Design Store, Details of Design in Annapolis.

 

  

The Show House Committee asked us to add the Wet Bar area to our  design since no
one  wanted to tackle the space. We said sure, and racked our brains to come up with
a feature for  the tiny area.
 Wait till you see what we schemed up!

 

The "Oar House Bar"

I hope that after reading this blog that you are all excited and can't wait till the Show House opens!
All of our designers will be working the space on the week-ends and a few week days as well.
 Come out and visit with us. It's a great chance to see how Interior Designers work.
 Maybe you'll pick up some great ideas for your own home!

Gina Fitzsimmons, ASID
410-269-1965
918 Bay Ridge Rd.
Annapolis, Md. 21403