Just wanted to say...

I have been having some pretty busy days lately, actually some pretty busy weeks, and I just wanted to say how lucky I am to know so many wonderful clients and friends who truly appreciate all my effort and talent. 
It's meant a lot to me.

So, I just wanted to say that and say thanks.

Cupcake Love

I know there's a cupcake shop on nearly every street corner - they're sprouting up like weeds - but I am here to tell you I had the best cupcake at Pastry Xpo in Falls Church, VA yesterday - I had the Classic Carrot cupcake - yummy!  So delicious in fact, I had to purchase 6 more to take home - of course, I got 6 different ones.  Having made dinner plans with friends, but not knowing what to serve for dessert, the cupcakes were a perfect solution - an assortment of, one each, Red Velvet, Oreo Cookie, German Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Velvet and one more Classic Carrot proved to be just the ticket. 

The cake for each was dense and moist and the frosting wasn't just a mountain of sugar, like in so many of the other cupcake shops I've visited.  Instead, it was smooth, velvety and actually complimented the flavor of the cake rather than over power it - not sugary at all (although, sugar was definitely an ingredient).

Be sure to check out - Pastry Xpo
http://www.pastryxpo.com/Products.cfm?Group_ID=96

Back again!

Hello Friends,

I know it's been a little while - things got super, super busy and blogging, sadly, had to take the back seat.
Remember the wonderful kitchen renovation I featured not so long ago, well we just sold the house.  I say "we" like I actually lived there, but let's face it - as a designer you actually do a lot of living in your clients' homes. 

I was fortunate to spend nearly 4 years working on various renovations and improvements, the kitchen being my latest, and it was truly a bittersweet move for me.  However, every cloud has a silver lining and now I get to make their new condo feel like home and then there's a custom build I am starting soon - they've purchased waterfront property and I am Carolina bound in April!!

So, with my dust barely settled, I am gearing up again and I wanted to shout out a quick hello and let you know I'm still around - so stay tuned for more design inspiration! 

In the meantime - check out the laundry room.  Now you'll see why it was so hard to leave...

Yes Virginia, this is a laundry room!

A laundry room with a  7' island.
I tell you, when you aren't doing laundry - this room doubles as a hobby and craft room!

Hand-scraped hardwood floors - or are they? 
Actually this is a Wilsonart product that imitates hand scraped planks, but with more durabilty. 

A custom 48" double bowl granite sink - it took 6 guys to bring it in and weighs nearly 700lbs!

Washington Post features Rabbit Runn Designs 3/3/11

("After" illustration, by Julius Goyanko)

The Washington Post - Local Living House Calls feature -

Rabbit Runn Designs makes over a long living room for a local DC family.

  

 

                                                                          ("Before")

 

Article written by Terri Sapienza

Thursday, March 3, 2011

THE CHALLENGE

D.C. homeowners Diane and Andrew Schiff need a better floor plan for their 12-by-23-foot living room. Right now they have lots of empty space and no defined entryway. They'd also like more seating and lighting.

Earthy green walls add warmth to the room and pair well with the exsiting art. Moselle by Duron.

A bookshelf at the far wall draws the eye inward and makes the room appear shorter.
A light-color area rug adds a subtle pattern and grounds the dark sofas.

Placing two sofas perpendicular to the fireplace also visually shortens the room.
A console behind the sofa creates a visual break before entering the room.

A side chair and two stools allow the room to accomodate up to eight people.

Roman shades soften windows and add another layer of warmth.


THE SOLUTION

By disguising the length of the room with stragetically placed furniture, designer Nancye Lewis-Overstreet makes the best use of this narrow space.

Nancye Lewis-Overstreet, of Rabbit Runn Designs (703-615-4058, www.rabbitrunndesigns.com), is based in Alexandria.

SHOPPING GUIDE

Furniture. Loring sofa in wheat ($1,199, www.roomandboard.com); Modern outlook sofa console table ($499, www.csnlighting.com); Fairfield small lounge chair in dark olive chenille ($799) and ottoman in "spice" trellis fabric ($400) available through the Chair Shop in Alexandria (703-750-3351, www.chairshop.com).

Lighting. Baalon table lamp ($246, www.csnlighting.com); colorful flowers lamp ($213, www.lightingnewyork.com).

Accessories. Loloi Yakima collection YA04 gold rug ($1,631, www.rugsusa.com); relaxed Roman linen shade in basil (priced according to size, www.smithandnoble.com).