Tag: Texas

An Urban Firehouse in Dallas

 in Inspiration, Interview, Monogram

Written by Kim Mays, content strategist for Monogram Appliances

An inspired love for modern architecture and a need for a unique local event venue led Ginger Curtis, to create the Urban Firehouse in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The elegant, contemporary space serves as home to Urbanology Designs, but also contains private offices and a large event rental space with kitchen area that features Monogram appliances.

As president of Urbanology Designs, Curtis loves the unique architecture of the former fire house. The former bays where firetrucks were housed now features paned glass windows and large double doors that open to a spacious rental area with polished concrete floors and modern accents. It’s perfect for a small wedding reception or company party. From the photo gallery, you can see it is a flexible, beautiful space that follows Curtis’ “relaxed, modern, California-casual vibe” that can be found in a lot of her designs.

The Urban Fire House includes five areas: the engine room, conference room, kitchen, private bathrooms, and an outdoor patio with expansive back garden. Flooring in the conference room is wide white oak plank, which stands out nicely against the painted walls done in All White by Farrow and Ball, which is used extensively throughout the venue. The cabinetry in the kitchen continues the wood tone with rift sawn white oak cabinets with slab fronts. Says Curtis, “I absolutely love our cabinetry—it really makes all the appliances and décor sing.” The countertops are Cambria quartz, which continues the bright, airy California-coast feel.

According to Curtis, her team is in love with the Monogram appliances: “Not only are they beautiful and functional, but we get compliments on them all the time. By far our favorite feature is the Autofill water pitcher in our column refrigerator.”

We love the look of this unique, multi-function space and are honored that they chose Monogram to finish out the kitchen space.

The Boulevard Show House Appliance Expert

 in Interview, Remodel

As we shared back in September, Monogram is the proud sponsor of the Boulevard Show House in Houston, Texas, in collaboration with Laura Umansky. You can learn more about the announcement here and read our interview with Laura here.

Earlier this week the Laura U team talked with Alexandra Skobel, Monogram Designer Engagement Leader – Central Region, about Monogram appliances and the new appliances soon to be featured in the Boulevard Show House kitchen. Read the interview here.

Just wait until you see this vent hood in the Boulevard Show House kitchen!

As you may know all too well, remodeling projects take some serious time and then shift into super-speed. There are lots of exciting updates happening at the Boulevard Show House now! Check out The Boulevard Show House website and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all the progress updates and exciting announcements.

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Designer Profile: Mary Kathryn Strong

 in Interview, Profile

The Louisville Monogram Experience Center (MEC) brings designers to Louisville, Kentucky, for two-day experiences to learn about Monogram, the design process, our appliances – and even cook with them! We interviewed each designer to learn a little more about their background and design experiences. Today we’re featuring Mary Kathryn Strong with Trey Strong Custom Homes and MK Strong Design based in Lubbock, Texas.

SRFD: How did you become interested in design?

Mary Kathryn: I have always paid attention to design even before I knew it would be my job. I used to listen to my grandmother talk about antiques and how she was always planning her next decorating scheme. She had an interior designer that she loved for many years and they would talk about different textiles, colors and interior styles. She taught me that if you love something like a piece of furniture or color, you can make it work for you and the rules are there aren’t any rules!

SRFD: Tell us about a recent project.

Mary Kathryn: One of my recent customers built a beautiful, traditional, two-story home. My style is probably a little more sleek than ornate, but they had huge, rare pieces of Baroque artwork they wanted all over the house. It was fun to incorporate them and have them against such clean and spacious backgrounds.

SRFD: A trend you’re excited about?

Mary Kathryn: New trends that aren’t really new … I’m glad color is coming back. I love a neutral house, but I need a little “pop’ here and there.

SRFD: A trend you’re over?

Mary Kathryn: I’m over all or nothing. I don’t like all grey or all taupe. Or all white. I like to mix and match the grey and tan. I think of it like jewelry. Gold and silver can be mixed and be timeless. I feel the same about a house.

SRFD: What did you learn during your Monogram experience.

Mary Kathryn: First of all, I thoroughly enjoyed my Monogram experience. I learned more than I could ever imagine about how a dishwasher works 🙂 I thought it was really cool to understand the technology behind refrigeration. The cooking experience with the chefs was a great lesson in heating your oven and pans before cooking. Most important, I am using Monogram on my next kitchen design project!

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Dr. Brene Brown Says to Dare Greatly

 in Event, Inspiration

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I recently had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Brene Brown, an American scholar, author and public speaker, give a keynote speech at SXSW in Austin, Texas, last month. That morning she made the trip from her home in Houston, Texas, to Austin to promote her latest book “Daring Greatly” to a crowd of techies, designers and innovators. When Dr. Brown took the stage, she shared a story about her drive over that she swore was true. She had been pulled over for speeding and the officer asked to see her drivers license. When she presented it, he asked if she was aware that it had expired the previous November. Her frustration was further compounded when he asked for her registration and she was unable to produce it. Finally, he asked the purpose of her travel and she replied that it was to give a speech. “The topic?” he asked. “Failure.”

The officer was so amused by the irony that he didn’t give her a ticket. But the story drove home the point that all of us fail at something, at some time in our lives. Some spectacularly, some in more subtle ways, but it happens to all of us. And that’s a good thing, says Dr. Brown. Not that she was advocating speeding. Her point was that in order to succeed in a big way, we have to take risks, to “dare greatly.”

The foundation of her talk revolved around these three pieces of advice:

  1. Choose courage over comfort
  2. Don’t confuse vulnerability with weakness
  3. Be careful about the feedback you let in

For more information on these life lessons, look up Dr. Brown’s books, TED Talks, and this keynote speech on YouTube.

Lastly, she talked about the importance of owning your own story, telling it honestly, and not creating “conspiracy theories.” Only we have control of our story, and only we get to write the ending.

She tells a pretty good story herself.

Monogram Dream Kitchen Design Contest Judge Profile: Robin Burrill

 in Contest, Interview, Profile

Very soon we will be announcing the winners of the Monogram Dream Kitchen Design Contest. We received so many great entries from around the country! Our judges definitely had their work cut out for them. And speaking of judges, an illustrious collection of esteemed designers from across the U.S. agreed to take the time to review the contest submissions and select the winners. This year’s judges are:

Over the next few weeks, we will profile each Monogram Dream Kitchen Design Contest judge. We already profiled our second judge, Robin Burrill with Curb Appeal Renovations, Inc. in Keller, Texas, on Save Room for Design earlier this year. Take a look at her profile.

Robin Burrill, Monogram Dream Kitchen Design Contest judge

Robin Burrill, Monogram Dream Kitchen Design Contest judge

We asked Robin what she was most looking forward to about judging the entries for the Monogram Dream Kitchen Design Contest. Robin said, “I’m looking forward to meeting the other judges and being in Chicago, but of course seeing the awesome designs created by our industry. It amazes me how innovative the designs can be and of course I can’t wait to see how the Monogram appliances are used in these designs!  Especially the French door oven!  My personal fav!!”

 

Monogram Modern Home in Dallas August 21 and 22

 in Dwell

We’re traveling on a cross-country modern design road trip with Dwell in a prefabricated house, custom-built and outfitted with Monogram appliances. Our first destination in April was Portland, Oregon; in May we visited Dwell on Design in Los Angeles, California; in June we visited the Phoenix, Arizona metro area; we traveled to Austin, Texas, last month; and this weekend we will be in Dallas, Texas!

mmh-dallas-header-vtwoWe will be popping up at the Shops on Hi Line | Dallas Decorative Center on August 21st and 22nd.

On Friday, August 21st, the home will host a series of Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Check out the details and sign up here!

On Saturday, August 22nd, the doors will be open to the public. Plus, when you stop by, you will have the chance to enter to win a Monogram appliance. A full schedule of events is listed here. Sign up for CEUs, join us at the open house and follow us on social media for surprise – yet to be announced – events and giveaways.

See you there!

Find Monogram on Twitter and Instagram.

Find Dwell on Twitter and Instagram.

Monogram Modern Home in Austin July 17 and 18

 in Dwell

We’re traveling on a cross-country modern design road trip with Dwell in a prefabricated house, custom-built and outfitted with Monogram appliances. Our first destination in April was Portland, Oregon; in May we visited Dwell on Design in Los Angeles, California; in June we visited the Phoenix, Arizona metro area; and this weekend we will be in Austin, Texas!

austin-header

We will be popping up at Nest Modern July 17th and 18th.

On Friday, July 17th, the home will host a series of Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Check out the details and sign up here!

On Saturday, July 18th, the doors will be open to the public. Plus, when you stop by, you will have the chance to enter to win a Monogram appliance. A full schedule of events is listed here. Sign up for CEUs, join us at the open house and follow us on social media for surprise – yet to be announced – events and giveaways.

See you there!

Find Monogram on Twitter and Instagram.

Find Dwell on Twitter and Instagram.