Obsessed: Tobi Tobin Design

Ok, where have I been?

While studying the most recent issue of House Beautiful, I stumbled upon rock star designer Tobi Tobin and her beautiful Hollywood Hills Farm House.

I couldn't get enough of it. 

The pages already worn out. At first I thought maybe Tobi was a boy until I stalked looked up her website and was like wow, this chic is all that AND a bag of chips (packaged inside a beautiful black and gold bag of course).

rock on sister

I love it when this happens.
Because its kind of rare these days.
A motivational jolt, when I come across a spread that makes me mad crazy to reinvent my home. I was home only a few hours before I started inventorying every piece I could paint high gloss black, including my kitchen island...maybe. I learned from the best, Alessandra Branca, that every room needs one black piece to ground it. I just didn't think to use the advice in my own home.

I was recently contemplating a story idea titled "inspired by", a fun little exercise listing my favorite designers and photos, that when witnessed all together, would help me bring it home around here.  Tobi fits into this finely-tuned web quite nicely. She's a little bit Erin Martin, Steven Schubel and rock and roll. She loves mirrors as much as Myra Hoefer does. And coincidentally, those were the last three designer spreads I went gaga over in magazine land, over a 12 month span :-(.  I wonder what it is that attracts us to certain styles? We'll take that deep dive later. For now let's take a look...

  (all images via House Beautiful, just in case)

For years I criticized myself for having too many mirrors in my house, thinking it was not all that creative and a little bit vain until I stumbled upon Myra Hoefer's gorgeous home and now Tobins. Au contraire mon fraire! The more mirrors you have, the more light, the more reflection and the more energy moving around...

Did I lose you on that last one about the energy? :-)
I'm kind of a feng shui-er.
A lot of their principals have just stuck with me in my design mantra. Let's face it, ever been somewhere and you just can't relax, feel anxious or the lights are way too bright? That's kind of feng shui friends. BTW the last one is the killer...WHY, WHY the bright light? Wanna kill a mood or a party? Turn every light on and don't install dimmers. Goes without saying right? Hah! You'd be surprised. I won't a. go to a restaurant where the light is too bright or b. sit in a section of the restaurant where the light is too bright.

Coo coo ca-choo.

Myra Hoefer's gorgeous French-inspired home via House Beautiful. 

These two gals are BIG on mirrors and GREAT at the mix. Check that - amazing at the mix. 

This stunning gold capiz chandelier is from Z Gallerie and its BOSS in this space. I'm all boo hoo because the location by us closed. Maybe they're relocating nearby? Half full. 

Tobi's dining room. FABulous. Holy bird cage envy. I've always wanted a big oversized cage like this and never really thought I had the place for it. Maybe I can squeeze one into my dining room. After seeing her home I'm ready to add layer upon layer to that room (if only my eggs were still marketable?! Why didn't anyone tell me that when I was under 30? I'd of gladly shared them with the world and had the college funds humming right now). There is a certain consistency throughout Tobin's home that I admire. Its one of those things I'm type A anal about. For example, I feel like whatever is going on in room A and B, one or two elements from there should carry on into room C, so there is this underlying flow and relationship to one another. That can really drive you crazy if you're not careful. ;-))) With Tobin, its the every girl's best friend Target matchstick blinds on every window...and the mirrors... and the palette. Rock star.

A lot to see and study in this next pic but my blow-it-up, number one is the antique pine twin beds against a Ralph Lauren paper backdrop with a long-time favorite mirror paired above each (how's that for a run-on sentence). The shelf and mirror collage over the stove a close close second. And damn what I would do for that same rug in my front foyer #onthehunt. That rug is pretty much my house in a nutshell: taupe, gray, cream, taupe, gray, cream, pause, throw in a little blue. 

Who votes for the table below as the next star of the show? I'm going to guess all ya' all. Although I never met a grasscloth wallpaper I didn't like and would really love to know where those mirrored lamps came from. I feel like I should know this but cannot recall who or where. 

When I first saw the empty apothecary jar, I thought shoot, I have plenty of those around and never thought to leave them empty? Although probably would not. Fill em up with dog treats maybe? But it sure does look pretty by itself. A candle would also be pretty while guests come and go. When listening to Jane Schwab and Cindy Smith of Circa Interiors speak (more obsession going on with their new book), they mentioned the entrance to your home should be full of only your favorite things, the first thing you and everyone else sees when coming and going. I thought that was EXCELLENT advice. 

Lastly, Tobin transformed a small bedroom and sleeping porch into her master. Genius and what a great view! Another great paper on the walls too. The table with books at the end of the bed is a nice change of pace and you gotta love a girl who can mix all that different seating together, high, low, wide, slim. This can come in handy when you have a tight budget. Great chairs of all shapes and sizes are fairly easy to come by and inexpensive to reinvent and recover, depending on the style. 

Well enough of me rambling on. I really could fire off about thirty more things I love about this home but we all gotta sleep. If you like what you see, pick up this month's House Beautiful so you can read all her design advice for yourself and hopefully be mad crazy inspired to conquer some new design conquests around your nest. Or check out her website HERE. I stalked it plenty on the ride home from the wedding...wait until you see the jewelry!

Besides work and taking care of my chickens this week, I'll be digging out a can of high gloss black paint. Will report back soon.

Happy hump day eve friends. Hope your week is flying high!

Jenny from the rock
xo

Riding high...

Its been a crazy couple of weeks. It all started in Palm Springs with 8 of my college roommates in a fat pad in a fat city, followed by one of my besties second-chance-at-love weddings (the best kind, I'm convinced) in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

My cup is runneth over.

Somewhere in between I got word our kitchen cover had hit newsstands but with less than 24 hours in between trips, I had forgotten to hit the book store for a copy.

Airhead.

So mixing a little business with pleasure, out scouring antique stores in Destin, hoping to get lucky for a client in Watersound Beach, I got stung when both lighting stores I drove down for were CLOSED. Who closes on Saturday? Oh well, I thought, and remembered a Barnes and Noble nearby. I'll just run in and see if they have the recent issue of Consumer Reports Kitchen.

I'd known for months Lisa and I's kitchen project (heard around the world on Pinterest, a little brag brag there, don't mind if I do ;-)) would be gracing the cover and had even caught a glimpse of it on line but nothing, nothing could compare to the moment I saw it sitting there next to the likes of House Beautiful, Elle Decor and every other design mag I've been reading for the past 25 years. Holy. Shit. That's us! We did that!!!

I was all smiles. And naturally with every peak life experience since the age of 22 (first television live shot, wedding day, birth of my babies, my first blog) I instantly thought of Mom.

Here come the tears.

Like wipe your face in your sleeve, look the other way before anyone sees you, tears. I tried to compose myself and instagrammed, tweeted and facebook'd it straight away but that just makes you cry more! EVERYONE IS SO NICE!  The world is full of good people, I don't care what anybody says. Including the sweet ladies at the check out counter..."you do realize you're buying three of the same copies right?"

Sucking back the tears,

"yes ma'am"

wait for it....

wait for it....

"uh-um, I designed that kitchen on the cover"

and there go the flood gates!

"WELL CONGRATULATIONS! Look, she designed this kitchen on the cover, good for you! People need to hear that every now and then, congratulations!"

I didn't have the heart to tell them the reason I was crying like a fool, was because this is what transpires when something really really good happens in my life. Internally I'm sharing it with my angel Mother in heaven. I'm half really happy, and just a bit half sad. Bittersweet is the perfect word every time. Ultimately though, I'm a believer. I know she is very proud and I also know she's not the least bit surprised. I can hear her voice now, "I told you you could be whatever you wanted to be."

So Mom, this one's for you. I may never ever publish a book, where all those lucky authors say, "this is dedicated to my ever-encouraging mother in heaven" and this day may never come again. ALL FOR YOU. Consider it an early Mother's Day present from your baby girl.

Well, it's time for me to say goodbye to these last two (awesome) weeks of debauchery and hang up my bragging rights. You were a great ride! Back to my clean eating, pure barre exercising ways. Back to work (my to do list for tomorrow is flat out UGLY, front and back).

Thank you for stopping by and if you were one of those sweet souls that had nothing but sweet words for your girl, Jenny from the rock, you are some tasty icing my friend. I won't forget it!

xo
Jennifer Sunshine

Design in the desert

Howdy loves!

I'm off to be inspired.  A long-awaited trip to Palm Springs, a mid-century marvel,  with 8 of my favorite people. Nothing like travel to new places to recharge your creative soul and introduce new inspiration into your daily life and designs.

We're celebrate the passing of time...

(cheese ball)

OK we're all turning FORTY (!!!) and I have to say I am grateful! I made it! (close enough, my birthday is next month).


I wasn't really sure how I'd feel when 40 showed up. I'd heard all kinds of stories, listened to friends, some actually quite bummed, but according to my fierce angel Mother, "your forties are the best years of your life!" (thank you Natalie for sharing that story with me xo)

Bring it on. I couldn't be more excited about this next chapter and this trip. Growing old is a privilege and I'm happy to be a lucky participant. Add in that all nine of us Spartan college roomies are happy, healthy and able to take such a luxurious trip, well I'll be. What we have is very special: twenty plus years together making memories and taking time for each other. At the very least, a Christmas and Summer get-together takes place annually. I think we started planning for this "40 and fierce" trip at 37? ;-)

So let's get on with it and check out some of the killer design sights we'll be kicking it in...

Starting here, pool side, at the hip ACE hotel, listening to live music, sipping cocktails and being cheesy.

Photo via Rue Magazine

The Parker Palm Springs. How cute are you!? Check out the rest of their gorgeous grounds HERE including the glammed out "MINI BAR" complete with lucite (bananas!) bar stools HERE.

The Saguaro Hotel is a perfect example of what color can do to an old Holiday Inn. Vision: pass is on! A drink at the hotel bar El Jefe may be in order or dinner at Iron Chef Jose Garces's restaurant, Tinto.

Ohhhh the Viceroy Palm Springs. Love you madly. Beautifully curated by design maven Kelly Wearstler. 

Speaking of KWID design, Trina Turk's boutique is on my hit list, also designed by Miss Kelly.  Love Trina Turk. That girls GOT STYLE! Like mad crazy gonzo style.

And now for the accommodations...a sweet pad we landed via VRBO. Holy rockstars.

I cannot wait to touch those bannisters...is that metal? Loving the mix of those lights with the baroque style console table in high gloss white. Remember this table the next time you come across an ornate mahogany colored console from the 90s in a tag sale. Zero to hip with one can of high gloss paint.

Mmmm the kitchen. Ding ding.

Crazy for the now-made-famous by KWID chairs and the marble fireplace surround. Think I can get that floor lamp passed security?

"Saaa-curity! I got a complicated order!"

(BTW bon qui qui, aka, the adorable Anjelah Johnson, is currently on tour!)

Here they are in powder blue in the gorgeous restaurant Miss Kelly designed for Bergdorf Goodman in NYC. Ate lunch here on a quick Christmas get-a-way with the hubs and thought I'd died and gone to heaven (the energy and magic of that city in December is amazing. Was totally having a moment, sipping champagne, conversing with Mom in heaven. I think of her whenever I'm doing something new and exciting, like "look at me Mom!" She instilled that sense of adventure in us). 

Sadly lunch came to an end and I reluctantly left all this beauty and walked downstairs where I ran smack dab into LL Cool J. Holy sht! Now I've really died and gone to heaven!! 

Back to the desert (and reality), the view from the kitchen. I'd like to point out what a huge fan I am of this layout. Open kitchen, dining in the center, anchored by the living room, it clearly states family, togetherness, entertain me. I can envision Daddy on the couch (with remote in hand), Soph at one end of the table with a puzzle, Jack on the other with homework and me whipping up some grub in the kitchen (exciting lives we lead). So looking forward to hanging out here, poppin some corks, making some apps for the crew. Speaking of apps, the kind for your phone, did you know there is a Mid-Century Architecture Tour app for Palm Springs? palmspringslife.com (Romi girl is so jealous right now). 

The lower level game room and bar, conveniently located next to the POOL! Gaga. If I had to guess,  that round table, at one time, was a very traditional wood finish made fresh with white paint. I will take a closer look at all the design details in this room and report back with my findings.

Now I rest my weary head here...

here... (love me some flokati pillows currently available at West Elm. Find those same martini tables at Z Gallerie).

or here. The Francophile room. Loving the scale of that headboard.

And the grande finale, the. pool. This is my absolute first choice in pool design. Grass all the way around with just a simple tile border. There's something about the softness of the grass instead of a bunch of concrete that brings elegance to the space. 

And lastly, the perfect amount of seating for our group. Love this combination of the white chairs with the wood table and trio of pots. A lot of late night euchre may transpire. Anyone out there know what euchre is? Has it finally made its way out of Michigan and the Midwest? It seemed in college, no one from out of state had a clue how to play. Growing up in the mitten, every party, picnic you went to, euchre was ON.

Its a card game by the way. Find out all you ever wanted to know about it here.

Highly addicting..."turn down a bower, lose for an hour"

We'll round out the trip with an afternoon at the spa, some yoga and a visit to the Joshua Tree. Good times! Also wouldn't mind dipping into the Coachella Music Festival to see what that's all about.

And that's a wrap lovers. I will happily report back soon with lots of photographs from my trip and capture anything and everything I think you may find interesting, inspiring, new and/or different with my new camera in its sassy new bag...

So far turning 40 looks alright to me. ;-)

While I'm away, you can catch some daily desert design pretties on instagram HERE.

Big love and big thanks for stopping by,

Spartan Jenny (from the rock)

p.s. Please do not forget about my charity project for foster children with Room Service Atlanta (previous post). I greatly appreciate any support you can provide! xoxo

Room Service Atlanta: my charity project

Hi friends,
Its that time of year again!  Time to give back with the amazing foundation Room Service Atlanta. If you are not familiar let me quickly explain. Two amazing women got together and thought how can we deliver great design to those that need it most? By rallying local designers to showcase their work through homeless shelters and foster homes all over the city of Atlanta. And they are back at again, partnering with United Methodist Children's Home. Read more about their wonderful organization HERE.

Lisa and I participated in the last cottage and landed the kitchen. It had recently been renovated, so we had to get really creative with paint colors, accessories and add design elements where we could. Starting with the refrigerators...

I wanted to somehow tie them all together and to not look so institutional, if you will. And it clicked, let's paint numbers on them!

While I was at it, I added stripes to the bottom of the kitchen island...

And an inspirational chalkboard wall...

And here it is all styled and professionally photographed by the fabulously talented Christina Wedge...

This time around I've chosen a lounge space for the boys (there are two cottages this year, one for the girls, one for the boys. It was very tempting to take one of the girl's rooms but they are much larger with kitchen spaces and I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew). So here it is, the big BEFORE...

It's a smaller space that opens up around the corner, where the t.v. will go. 

I managed to put together a nice seating arrangement with the two wooden sofas that were already floating around the cottage. A HUGE SHOUT OUT to Long's Upholstery in Alpharetta for generously donating 8 yards of fabric and DEEPLY discounting their labor cost to reupholster all 8 cushions for me.

The inspiration for the room? This recent spread in House Beautiful. I'm craving color (who are you and what have you done with Jen?)!!! And absolutely fell in love with this next spread. So when Tim Long said pick any fabric you want from our left over stash, I thought yes! Any plaid, stripe or paisley will do.

The colors you see here are from Farrow & Ball and are Picture Gallery Red, Light Blue and Pigeon. Not all of them will exactly work with the stripe fabric I dug out of the stash but will be shooting for the same general idea.

Another BIG SHOUT OUT TO my friend and independent workroom owner, Lorraine Salvatore for offering to sew the burlap skirt for a round table frame my friend Dorothy, of Dorothy Burke Interiors, scored from one of her clients. THANKS LADIES!!!

I was all fired up that day from everyone's generosity that I ran right over to the Queen of Hearts in Alpharetta and purchased this steamer trunk for $140 for the coffee table. The colors are perfect!

#meanttobe

I'm a sucker for a trunk coffee table. I love the look and use it very often in my design plans, especially when looking for a more masculine look.

Unfortunately I have many more design plan ideas I want to share with you but not enough time to finish today. I'll be back with more and a WISH LIST of items I need in the event you'd like to help. In the interim, if you'd like to make a monetary donation to my project, I would be SO GRATEFUL for any help you can provide.

Please send your tax deductible donations to:

United Methodist Children's Home
c/o Khalid Battle
500 South Columbia Dr.
Decatur, Georgia 30030
tele: 404/327-5820
please note "Room Service Atlanta/J. Schoenberger Design" in the memo section.

If you would like to donate a piece of furniture or home decor item please email me, Dayka Robinson dayka@roomserviceatlanta.org OR Erika Ward erika@roomserviceatlanta.org to make arrangements for pick up/delivery.

It's such an honor to be the facilitator of all your good deeds! I don't know about you, but January, February and March went by with a blink and I'm thinking what have I accomplished this year? Yes I've been working hard for my clients and yes, I've been taking care of my family but still had that feeling of not enough. Well, this is it. Giving back is like money in the bank. Time so well spent, not a penny wasted!

Thanks friends! Have a BEAUTIFUL weekend!!!

Love,
Jen
your humble design servant
xo

Dreaming of last Summer...

Well I think its pretty safe to say, Miss Spring is taking her time showing up around here. Its another cold day and I'm dreaming about birds chirping, the sound of lawn mowers and the smell of barbecue, not these flurries in March #overit

So I thought what a perfect time to visit all the fab finds I found on my antiquing and thrifting trevails last Summer in Michigan with a little bit of sunshine thrown in.

Its a sweet time of year for our family. No words for the mild slow Summer days, beautiful lake swimming and being with long-time friends and family.

A favorite turn on our way to Elk Rapids from Torch Lake, at the top of the hill, you can see the sun setting over the blue waters of Traverse Bay and acres of cherry tree orchards. Windows down, music loud and the breeze in your hair, it's a moment.

Every year, the old fashioned candy shoppe in downtown Elk Rapids does such a nice job with their window boxes. I loved their muted color combo last year. Typically Geraniums reign in Michigan, but this year they did something a little different. I like it. 

Every year I tell myself, this is it! This is the year I hitch a uhaul to the back of my truck and bring home all the great finds and tons of birch branches (maybe this Summer will finally be it). 

What could of been with this large fabulous art deco chandelier. Its got 'Cotton Club" written all over it...

A steal at $425...and you can always talk them down a good ten, fifteen percent. ;-) 

Or these Milo Baughman for Henredon olive burl nesting tables! Divine. 

So many great signs...

ADORED this one...

This gothic brass picture frame caught my eye, a wonderful addition to a gallery wall...

But it was this fleur de lis number that made the cut. I have plans to fill it with a mirror and tie a pretty silk-dyed ribbon to it to hang. 

A great old primitive cabinet to hang in an alcove or the bath. 

The perfect Lake Michigan map. 

I was crazy for this! So so cool. I'd just read one of the most fantastic issues of House Beautiful ever, I think, that featured the hippest beach cottage by Erin Martin HERE and showcased Steven Shubel's Sausolito cottage HERE, and thought this would be so cool in either setting. 

1950's wallpaper framed, so simple. 

Picked up this fun dresser jar for $12 and filled it with strands of pearls 

The vintage shopping up North is to die for, so the Summer birthday girls always luck out! 

This one for Lisa...

A vintage necklace for Amanda...

This one for Lara (her closet is strictly black, white and gray, perfect aeh?) but I've yet to give it to her...surprise! 

And this one for my downriver sister, Romi, because it has a special Michigan connection...

Jacobsens! Jake's was a favorite local department store growing up that has since closed and now a distant, fond memory. Whenever Mom came to see me at school we always went to "Jakes" and she would treat me to something special (the black suede pants still my favorite). We buried Mom with her Jacobsen's credit card. My Aunt thought it was kinda tacky, probably so, but I know Mom appreciated it! ;-))))) xoxoxoxo

And lastly, one for meeeeee

We discovered some great old barns and acres of sunflower fields

  

Taking over Papa Larry's house,  her "office".  With the dollar store around the corner, we're never short on pink ponytails.

a dream rig

Mom had a great eye (understatement). A favorite display of hers in our kitchen growing up. I can remember the day I came home from school and she had just finished it. That confident look of a born artist, all proud. I often wonder what her design style would be like today. 

One of her "five minute" jobs against a favorite ticking stripe wallpaper in our breakfast nook.

This one probably took a little longer than five minutes...

A few other favorite things from my childhood home. The swing door. Drove our parents crazy running through it...btw I've told Dad a 100 times to paint that white trim the same color as the walls...he doesn't listen.

The enclosed stairway and how it turned in a spiral as you went up, kinda like Different Strokes, is what we thought as little kids. Even at a young age, I was obsessed with interiors on and off the t.v.

The alcove and trim ceiling detail throughout the dining and living rooms. 

The glass knob hardware and interior doors detail

The clothes chute. Provided hours of fun for us and hours of headaches for Dad every time we clogged it up with wet towels. Sorry Pops.

I don't know what it is about Dad's Homegoods, but I make a point to hit it a few times while I'm there...the finds are so much better!

This was on clearance for like eight bucks...why I didn't grab it, I'll never know. Would of made such a great layering piece in a vignette.

When I was hot for chevron, so soft and in orange #nobrainer

Why I need the uhaul...I'll take both.

Awesome selection of pillows to mix with any color palette.

I look forward to the day when I can design a navy and white space. 

And here we are, at the end of our warm weather and shopping daydream. Thanks for coming along!

Stay warm and toasty,
Jennifer Sunshine
xoxo