Monday, August 22, 2011

Let Them Eat Cake!!




I started my business, La Dolce Villa Design, with one vision in mind..everyone deserves to enjoy quality, beauty, stylish, and durability in furniture and their interior environment. I really dislike limitations, people saying "it can't be done because...", "you can't have your cake and eat it to", etc...I've always thought, why can I have the cake, but not eat it?!..kind of torturous to give somebody something, or allow them have it or see what they could have, but not enjoy it or use it, right?! This is just not how life should be lived and I know it dosn't have to be. Your home, where you spend a lot of memorable, quality time, should feel great, be a retreat from the world, and should be visually appealing to you and everyone else who calls it home. So, in this case, let's call your home the 'cake'..there you go, you can have your cake..maybe it's a cute little cupcake, or maybe it's a 10-tier wedding cake..either way it's special and very delicious... BUT.. just look at it, don't even dare pick up the fork on the platter next to it and take even a single little bite..let alone a full slice! I'm sorry, but that just dosn't work for me..I am the girl at the party that nonchalantly sneaks behind the cake and swipes a glob of frosting off the back from the most inconspicuous place I can find! I truly HAVE to have my cake and eat it too, in every sense of the phrase! Which brings me to design...I love it and everything about it, it's the heaping mound of frosting on my cake (aka. home). The most cravable furnishings were at a 'ganache' kind of cost (in terms of frosting), but I needed them to be equivalent to a powdered suger kind of topping, price wise. It hasn't been available and wasn't going to be happening unless I figured out how...so I did, with the start La Dolce Villa (The Sweet House -in Italian). We are here to give you the fork (maybe even a shovel), so you can thougroughly enjoy your cake!

The month of August has brought me the great fortune to be working with some of the best clients I could ever imagine! Each one of them have inspired my creativity with their personalities and style. They have made a job and business I love beyond measure, so much more rewarding. Two different clients I am currently working with have been living with dated design dilemmas. One of the most common compaints my clients have about their homes, is their kitchen and bathroom cabinetry. It's dated, country-looking, ugly wood color, or covered in veneer. But they don't know what to do to resolve it without spending a few thousand on brand new cabinets, and it's just not in the budget for most people at this time..maybe in a year or so..but who wants to hate their kitchen for that long?!. Basically, they have their 'cake' that is there home, but they aren't alowed to eat it. Well, let's dig in people! There are soooo many options, from the simple to the extravagant, which I have designed to transform those cabinets in from an atrosity to fabulosity!

Based on the size of your kitchen, the cabinetry redesign base price is $450-$600. This includes full sanding, priming, painting/staining, any color you want or combination of colors up to 2 colors, commercial grade protectant. Also in the base is distressing if desired as well as an open shelving niche if you would like. See picture below for example.


Also offered are some great design add-ons to make some or all of your cabinets have that extra pop (and make your kitchen the neighborhood envy)!
I like to consider cabinets furniture in and of themselves. Not only are they important for storage (in my case, storage of random mail and other junk - embarassingly enough, I have 3 junk drawers in my kitchen), but it's imorant that you aren't embarassed of them any longer since they are right at eye level and consume a better part of the wallspace in the hub of the home. However, the TOP PRIORITY is not to spend too much money that you don't need to waste, to get to a place of love with your shelving, since you don't even have to!


- La Dolce Villa is the Cure for Your Common Cabinets -

{{Contact us today to schedule a totally free (and Fun!) design consultation. We can book an appointment with you during the same week you call, we even work nights and weekends. With current bookings we are on a 2 week waiting list to begin new jobs. Most kitchens are finished in less than a week. Time frame details will be discussed and set at the time of order.}}}

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Swanky Set for Sale!

La Dolce Villa has taken a brief departure from our signature aesthetic to bring you this fab pair of end tables/night stands..The "Jett Set" (double 't' intentional)  We've also priced the pair at a very chill $120 (total for BOTH)!  Pretty sweet deal, right?!  The Jett Set is Sleek, Chic, and 100% Unique!


Thursday, August 11, 2011

Wind Beneath My... Wingbacks??

I grew up in a home decorated well, with dark/rich tones, but it was very traditionsl and formal..I mean, it was so formal that we had to somewhat large lyon statues in the front, at the bottom of long sweeping steps, that didn't look at all garish and actually were well placed given the aesthetic of the home inside and out.  Thinking back on the style of this home, it's odd to me that it was so formal and well put together since we has a family of 6 {crazy} kids were ...umm.. not that way in the slightest!  In my theory of homes needing to represent the individuals that reside there, either a tree house or a PeeWee's Playhouse would have been much for appropriate. Seriously..

Maybe a little something like this??
I'm glad my mom had the better judgement to go her own way on the ever changing, but always formal decor style.  I guess my home design philosophy needs to allow for necessary exceptions. 
So in our formally decorated home, was an abundance of wingback chairs.  They seemed to be everywhere and i'm sure it almost felt like an overkill of them since they always were in a pair...doubling the amount of necessary seats.  Somewhere, someone put it in to everyone's minds that a wingback chair must never stand alone in a room.  You wouldn't ever hear someone say 'wingback chair' it ALWAYS was said as 'wingback chairS' since it was somehow unfathomable to not have one without another..like the burger and fries, of the design world.  Well, growing up with all these wingbacks has made this seating style synonymous with lengthy timeouts..after my siblings and I would get in a butter fight..indoors (my brother's idea, not mine)!  They also make me think of old people, parent-types, family 'meetings', boring conversations, or sitting and waiting..waiting for someone or something..but just waiting.  So basically I always thought to myself that a wingback chair would never have a place in my home of my own..afterall i'm young and 'stylish' and these are two things a wingback chair (or duo of them) are not.  So when I turned 30 last month {July 21st, 2011} I began to fear that the age of the wingback was now upon me, thinking that I am frightenly close to joining all the parents, grandparents, and oldest members of society.. who all have the love and appreciation of the wretched wingbacks.  As I was making a recent parousal of my fave furnishing sites, design mags, etc... looking for more inspiration on how to design my own 'front room', I was petrified when I was constantly drawn to the various....you guessed it..wingbacks!  This was my first step..like toe in the front door..to the resting home, where I pictured mysef sitting in a winglback chair for 10 hours a day eating tapioca pudding and complaining about 'kids these days'!  Until I stopped, and realized..times HAVE changed!  It's not because of my new age group, but because of design, that I love these chairs and can't deny it.  Wingbacks are so back..in a whole new way!  Knew lines, shapes, sizes, and best yet..new super haute fabrics!  I know, this is not ground breaking, cover of 'House Beautiful' type news, since the classic wingback chair has evolved and changed constantly over time to incorporate itself into all the latest looks for interiors (and even exterior furnishings).  But for me it was a great breakthrough that I'm not old, nor do I have my parent's taste, just because I want many different wingback chairs and can find a purpose for them in each room of my...what I think is a stylish..home.  In fact, the new age of the wingback is what makes it stylish!  But I will still, no matter what, for-go the arm covers and the perfect pair of chairs idea.  So out with the overstuffed, monstrosities of furniture that we loved from the 90's through early 2000's (yes, they were comfortable, but THERE ARE other options twith better profiles), and bring in the refined, but newly re-designed wingback chair.  Listen to your elders on this one ;)!

Meet some of the the new styles for us youngsters (and all those who are still very young at heart) 


Z Gallerie                                                SPI Baby

West Elm                                                      Horchow

BritishRouteSignDesigns.com                    TheBrickhouse.tumblr

These two by Andrew Martin are favorites of mine :)


"America"

"Headliner"



Monday, August 8, 2011

The {Basset Buffet} now Available!!

Another handcrafted original brought to you by the artisans at La Dolce Villa! By becoming a Facebook follower of ours, you receive and automatic discount rate on every order! The Facebook discount rate on this table is $240, non follower rate is $265. Become a follower by clicking the 'like' button on our FB Page {User: LaDolceVilla}


{ DESIGN FEATURES: }
* Smooth/black satin finish
* Original Handpainted design on the top surface, of a vintage style royal family crest/coat of arms
* Finishes and artwork were completed by a trained artisan. Distressing is tasteful and not over-done.
* Quality construction, solid wood throughout, each drawer glides easily on rails
* All original vintage hardware, with an updated finish in silver with slight distressing

{ MEASUREMENTS: }
54” Long, 30” Tall, 18” Wide
 
{ CONTACT: }
Amanda
La Dolce Villa
720.315.3936

 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Sweet As Maple Syrup!

Another handcrafted original brought to you by the artisans at La Dolce Villa! By becoming a Facebook follower of ours, you receive and automatic discount rate on every order! The Facebook discount rate on this table is $120, not follower rate is $135. Become a follower by clicking the 'like' button on our FB Page (User: LaDolceVilla)



DESIGN FEATURES:
* Custom carved and stained 'farmhouse' style table top for a truly authentic appeal
* Original Handpainted design in the ceter of the table top, of a vintage style maple syrup logo (Vincent's is an real, but old syrup company based out of Colorado, no longer in business)
*  Thick/Sturdy wood frame and legs, finished in a beautiful deep red with tasteful glaze and distressing
*  Made from top quality wood throughout

-MEASUREMENTS:
49” long x 17” tall x 27” wide



Please Contact us if you are interested in this Fab table or would like something custom designed for you at no additional cost.

Amanda -Owner/Designer
La Dolce Villa
720.315.3936
Facebook User: LaDolceVilla




From Paris with Love


the D'Amour Duo- Coffee and Side Table Set  -SOLD-
There has been a running theme in the furniture we've completed lately, which is French Provincial.  I absolutely adore this style, but I have to admit that this theme was not planned (as a 'creative' type person, organization is not really my forte..although i'm working on it ;) ).  The odd thing about the reacurrence of this look in our pieces is that I don't always have a lot of control of what vintage finds I am going to end up with for the next project..or the next 10 projects!  This element of my business also feeds into my protensity to not be organized.  So it's been a lot of fun to turn up with pieces of furniture that have a very french look in their 'primitive' conidition. 

I have an on-going design rolodex in my head of ideas within this look that I have finally been able to put to use.   It's been a well received style also..that's fun too :)  If you missed out on past french provincial pieces and you want one for your place, then first..you should become part of the A-List Alerts (Link to that info here:  ), second..hold tight and be prepared, because there is more where that came from!  I can't make any guarantees on how many are to come over a certain period of time, but I can say for sure that there are 2 more dressers/buffets on their way within the next 7 days!  Each are different from eachother and slightly different from what's been offered over this past month.  


One of my favorite parts of doing this business is the element of unknown and the excitement that goes along with it.  Sometimes, even when I have several sad looking, dilapetated pieces hanging out waiting for a makeover, I have to wait for a little spark of inspiration before I can get to work on them (or even a little second of time..).  So even if I know what I have to work with, it can still be a surprise.  Othertimes, I am searching for the best of the best, old/worn furniture, that the dirtiest nooks and crannies of our country have hiding in them, I don't know what I will find, but when I find it I am instantly struck with inspiration for it!  What's to come, how it will look, and who will get to own and love it, is all part of the process, and is what makes it great!  I have nothing again mass produced wares, but I think they are best when paired with a piece(s) of true individuality, history, and maybe even a story.  If you're hosting a happy hour at your home and you have a piece like that on display, it's a great cure for slow converstation!

So stay tuned for what turns up and from what era or country it's reminisent of.  Although you may not have a lot of notice every time of what will be available, you will know FIRST if you are an  A-List Alert contact!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Let's Be Facebook BFF's, K?!

 
 
'Like' us on Facbook and be in on All the fun with random GIVEAWAYS to our 'Likers' which include Chic..NOT Cheap sway (chalkboards, frames, seasonal decor, etc. all with the La Dolce Villa original look), Gift Certificates to use on your Next Purchase, Discount Codes, and MORE!!  No worries about anoying spammy stuff either..we hate that too! :)  Click the Link Below, it'll take you right to our Page:
 
 
FACEBOOK BIZ PAGE/USER ID: LaDolceVilla
 
La Dolce Villa (Italian for 'the Sweet House') was created to offer visually intriguing, artful spaces, with a personality as unique as each person, and affordability that makes this attainable within absolutely any budget. Design ingenuity goes beyond predicting trends and color palettes. Resourcefulness and use of unconventional avenues in achieving the right look for all projects is imperative,... and is what sets me apart as a designer as well as the work I produce. Designing is a collaborative effort between myself and the client. I am passionate about each project and work tirelessly to achieve the vision to exceed all expectations. Consultations are free and I would love to discuss the new opportunities for your space or project. Let's talk! Phone,e-mail, and Facebook (LaDolceVilla) inquiries are welcome and responded to quickly.