Sofa Statement!

Did you know it only takes 5 to 15 seconds for someone to form a first impression? I learned this while doing research and training for the staging services offered through Robin Bond Interiors. When it comes to your home, there are a number of influences that subconsciously play a roll in forming one's impression - especially your interior decor! The sofa is most commonly the largest piece of furniture in the living room. Distract your visitors from forming a negative impression by 'wowing' them with a statement piece! Ideally, residential interior spaces should have the ability to speak for the client - one's style and personality should be displayed through their decor. Why not make a statement? Kravet is a product line available through Robin Bond Interiors which offers furniture, accessories, fabrics, trimmings, rugs, and more! Like Robin Bond Interiors, Kravet specializes in 'style, luxury and exceptional design.' Kravet's Delta Sofa is a perfect example of a statement piece. The majority of people struggle with the concept of contemporary design, assuming it is too 'funky', non-functional, or uncomfortable. The Delta Sofa is perfect for the client that enjoys a 'transitional' style - a mix of contemporary and traditional. This modest sofa catches your eye because of the interesting shape and straight, clean lines. Leave the existing fabric for a fresh look, or add a custom material to give it your own spin! Wouldn't you say 'wow' if you walked into a room and spotted this sofa? Want to find out more about Kravet? Contact Robin Bond Interiors! Design the life you love!

Must Have Design Apps!

Today we’d like to share with you a couple of our favorite must have design apps! These days – there is an app for every. So, we weren’t surprised to find a link for 21 Apps for Design!

Here are Robin Bond Interiors favorites:

With Robin Bond Interiors, your wall decor will always be hung by our professional installer. However, for your quick fix or minor adjustment - this handy dandy level app is a life saver! For more information about the iHandy Level, click here!
Are you working with Robin Bond Interiors to create a Paint Plan for your home? If you are out and about and a color catches your eye - use this Benjamin Moore Color Capture App to instantly select its match with a Benjamin Moore paint! For a demonstration on how to use the app, click here!
Did you know you can work with Robin Bond Interiors even if you are not living in Austin? With tools like this Picture Measure App, virtual design is always a possibility! For more information about the Picture Measure App, click here!

Don't be caught with crooked wall art - take advantage of the convenience of the iHandy Level! Don't forget that paint color that caught your eye - use the Benjamin Moore app to instantly find your dream color! And lastly, help you and your design out in your next virtual design project by using the Picture Measure app! Technology is advancing to make our lives easier - why not utilize it?

Design the life you love!

RM COCO - Mix and Match Fabric Patterns!

RM COCO is one of Robin Bond Interiors most valued fabric distributors. Their beautiful products and wonderful customer service make them a delight to work with and easy to spec into any project! Not only does RM COCO offer various exquisite fabric lines that cover all different styles, but they also provide trim, lining, and window hardware! The RM COCO workroom is also available for fabrication of ‘high quality soft window treatments and bedspreads.’ Don’t be afraid of pattern! Find coordinating color ways and learn to mix and match patterns for a ‘transitional’ look – between traditional and contemporary. Below are paired fabrics from the RM COCO Allure line. For more information on RM COCO and how to specify their beautiful products into your next project, give us a call today! Visit Robin Bond Interiors website to learn more about our company! www.robinbondinteriors.com

10 Links to Luxury - Kanti Fine Worldly Goods
http://ping.fm/kxgVC

http://ping.fm/pNycH

Travis Country Master Bedroom http://ping.fm/Fkw8K

Travis Country Master Bedroom

We are pleased to share some recent photos of a lovely master bedroom project just completed by Robin Bond for one of our long time clients in Travis Country. This beautiful black and white bedroom features custom drapery with complimentary custom bedding. We recovered the side chairs to work well with the other fabrics. All of the lighting and accessories in the room are from various companies our firm represents. The photo over the bed is a black and white tree photo taken by our client’s friend from church. Touches of custom floral work by our floral designer Michele finish off the look. This room photography is by photographer Johnny Stevens.

[NEW POST] Daisies - Exterior Restaurant Design http://ping.fm/5ajbq

Daisies - Exterior Restaurant Design

Robin Bond Interiors is going to let you in on a little secret.

Introducing Daisies, coming to central Austin by the end of this summer! This quaint little café is going to be a perfect stop for your morning or afternoon hunger pains. Daisies will be serving Mexican dishes ‘with a Lebanese flare.’ Hours of operation will be 8-2pm. Keep a lookout for this new local eatery!

Located at:

2320 Hancock Drive

Exterior Before

Rough Sketch of Proposed Exterior

Coming summer 2012!

If you want to see interior renderings, check back soon!

Have a blessed day, and create something inspiring!

Quest for Quality - Jorge Kurczyn de HSK

Jorge Kurczyn de Hacienda Santa Klara (HSK) is not a mass producer of furniture. Each piece has its own character and is handmade by the "maestro", specializing in each category of furniture for your home. Maestro is the Spanish word given to the master craftsman who has earn the title through demonstration of his craft and is in charge of the process from start to finish as each piece comes to life. The process of manufacturing goes though a 4 step process to insure each piece will become a treasure lasting for generations. Concept and design You can work with their design team to come up with the concept that fits your home and need. They will help you develop just the right item or a complete collection to fill your home, with attention to detail on the wood, color, hardware and finishes. Construction Based on the item to be built, the designer and maestro will take control of your project and after careful review of the design; the item will start to come alive. The greatest attention to every detail is paid to each item to assure our high standards of quality are met with each step of the process. Once the assembly has been done, the item is hand sanded to a flawless finish for preparation of the color. To obtain the proper color or staining, usually 4-5 different colors are used to get just the right color, with the multi-phase air and machine assisted drying to give it the final color or tone. Blacksmith Then their blacksmith will make the hardware for each piece, paying special attention to the design and size of that item. The smithing of their hardware is a big part of what makes each of their pieces one of a kind and unique. It is very meticulously matched to each piece not only by scaling it to the overall size of the furniture, but by paying special attention to textures and finishes. Finishing At this point in the process, the finishing group will apply several lasting treatments to protect the wood from damaging elements and your keepsake will be as beautiful for many years as the day you placed it in your home. These finishes are all imported from Europe and have been used for generations in the manufacture of fine furniture.

A sketch of a dining chair design by Jorge for one of our clients:

More of Jorge's Work:

Quest for Quality - Jorge Kurczyn de HSK http://ping.fm/98I05

Inherit the Wind at The City Theatre http://ping.fm/7yvNU

Quest For Quality - Exteriors Showroom http://ping.fm/FrFTP

Quest For Quality - Exteriors Showroom

One of the many perks of being a designer is always having wonderful resources at hand. In March of 2009, Exteriors was created to showcase the latest trends and fashions in outdoor furnishings. This showroom is exclusive to designers and offers one of the largest selections of exterior brands. With the rising trend of ‘outdoor living’, Exteriors serves as a one-of-a-kind resource allowing designers, such as Robin Bond Interiors, to design unique and breathe taking spaces for our clients!

Casual sitting areas can be easily arranged using furniture sets such as these shown above, made by Century. Both contemporary and traditional designs are available!

If you rather get cozy around a fire pit, OW Lee also offers varying styles of furniture.

Don’t forget about outdoor dining! Both Windam Castings (top) and Barlow Tyrie (bottom) offer wonderful dining sets to fit the size and/or style of your space.

Exteriors offers more than just outdoor furnishings too! Through their designer showroom you can purchase outdoor area rugs, as well as unique handcrafted mosaic tabletops.

If you’d like to freshen up the look of your outdoor living or dining spaces, call Robin Bond Interiors today! Together, we can visit Exteriors showroom and view all of the latest trends and fashions!

http://exteriorsshowroom.com

Style Search - Local Artist, Pamela Johnson

Hello, my name is Erin! I am an Interior Designer and the newest member to Robin Bond Interiors. Thank you for visiting our site! I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce myself as well as share a well-known Texas artist. While I have started working with Robin Bond Interiors, I have had the great pleasure of meeting many delightful people. One of these individuals is Carol Meyer, the owner of FASTFRAME & The Westlake Gallery. Carol is absolutely lovely! This Thursday, May 3^rd, Carol is hosting an Artist Reception to showcase work by the local artist Pamela Johnson. After moving to, Pamela founded Westbank Gallery in 1991 where she began as a storefront gallery showcasing Texas artists. Westbank Gallery now serves as a ‘highly successful art resource, art design planning and consulting service working on site for corporate customers.’

FASTFRAME & The Westlake Gallery http://fastframeaustin.reachlocal.com Westbank Gallery http://westbankgallery.wetpaint.com/

'I am a mixed media artist, and some of my favorite mediums are collages and paintings based on regional imagery. I am also a student of history, and I was very inspired after traveling to Europe and the Middle East by the mosaic work I saw there, which has lead me to begin work in this medium. I also paint in oil, pastel, watercolor and acrylic. I have a diverse body of work including contemporary abstracts, classically inspired paintings, landscapes, photography, ceramics and sculpture. I like to frequently change up my approach to art.' I am currently working on a series of contemporary paintings based on my travels down the western coast of Mexico, Italy, Greece and Turkey. I am dedicated to the idea that art helps heal and restore the body and the soul.' –Pamela Johnson-

I hope to see you at the reception! FASTFRAME & The Westlake Gallery 701 South Capital of Texas HWY Suite D460 Austin, Texas 78746 May 3^rd, 2012 @ 5:30-8:30pm

Style Search - Local Artist, Pamela Johnson http://ping.fm/YTMxm

Style Search - Deborah Main Designs

Deborah Main Designs’ one-of-a-kind pillows, handcrafted entirely within our Austin, Texas studio, weave history, fashion, and art into original creative statements. Lead designer, Deborah Main, draws on her innate sense of color, texture and composition, blending old and new into a contemporary yet classic look.

In addition to maintaining signature collections, the studio serves as “Imagination Central” for the custom orders that stream in. As a design house they work closely with both customers and retailers to determine the perfect fabrics, colors, styles and sizes for their needs. This flexibility and attention to detail allows Deborah Main Designs to fashion something different and new, elevating decorative pillows to the level of haute couture.

Deborah Main Designs pillows, grouped into seven distinct collections ranging from ornate and sophisticated to funky and modern, employ the finest new and vintage textiles, trim, and jewelry from all over the world. The exquisite craftsmanship extends even to the highest quality of inserts used for each pillow. Pillows are stuffed with the finest feather and down combination (90/10 from a U.S. manufacturer) to obtain the full plumpness for which their designs are well known.

You’ll find that Deborah Main Designs pillows make stunning centerpieces for elegant rooms, elevating the appeal of fine linens and antiques while adding a sense of fun and style to a wide range of interiors and furnishings. They also serve as distinctively different gifts for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, corporate events and other special occasions. For customers who don't see exactly what they're looking for, Deborah Main Designs is happy to take custom orders.

www.deborahmaindesigns.com

Style Search - Deborah Main Designs http://ping.fm/BxVEg

Mountain Goat Cheese http://ping.fm/qfw9T

Mountain Goat Cheese

A short video from the Bond Family Vacation in Colorado.

RBI would like to welcome Janet J. as our newest client! www.robinbondinteriors.com

Ten Links to Luxury - Wallpaper http://ping.fm/oN4av

Ten Links to Luxury - Wallpaper

March's theme of the month is wallpaper. You can read more about the advances in modern wallpaper in our March Newsletter as well as by watching March's installment of Wine, Dine, and Design TV. Below are ten wallpaper patterns that I absolutely love. All are available through Robin Bond Interiors.

West Indies Damask Grasscloth

Tyntesfield

Montague

Parkland

Kirkos Geometric

Bloom by Candice Olsen

Corsico Square

Grata Geometric

Script Floral

Flower Power

Renderings for a North Austin Townhouse Project

Renderings for North Austin town house project for our client Pamella H. Look out for the “after pictures” of this project coming soon.

Renderings for a North Austin Townhouse Project http://ping.fm/oGawx

Struggling for survival in the face of cancer, Pulitzer Prize winning play WIT brings joy, humanity and awareness at City Theatre
http://ping.fm/hiMzq

The City Theatre Company Presents: W;t

Struggling for survival in the face of cancer, Margaret Edson brings joy, humanity and awareness in her Pulitzer Prize winning play WIT: March 15 – April 8 at City Theatre

 

Austin, Texas – The City Theatre Company proudly brings to the stage Margaret Edson’s award-winning play WIT. Exquisitely written, affecting and often humorous, WIT follows a brilliant and exacting poetry professor as she embarks on a bold journey to save her life, battling a deadly disease which affects eight million people worldwide and takes the lives of over five hundred thousand Americans each year. It is a dazzling and life-affirming play that you will long remember after the curtain has come down.

“No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind.” – John Donne

WIT tells the story of Vivian Bearing, a renowned but uncompromising English professor who has spent years teaching the brilliant and difficult metaphysical sonnets of John Donne. Bearing has been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer, the deadly disease in which 21,000 women are diagnosed annually. During the course of her illness — and her stint as a prize patient in an experimental chemotherapy program at a major teaching hospital — she comes to reassess her life and her work with a profundity, grace and humor that are transformative both for her and the audience. The cast and crew hope this production of Wit will bring awareness to the disease. There will be a “Wall of Hope” for audience members to sign in honor and memory of loved ones who have battled cancer. Signatures and messages can also be given online. Got to the Wit facebook event page and include your message. http://www.facebook.com/events/197771190327196/?context=create

"A dazzling and humane play that you will remember till your dying day." —NY Magazine.

Heading the cast is actress and teacher Dr. Judith Laird, who holds a Ph.D in English. “This has been a powerful and joyous experience working on this play,” mentions Laird. “The message is all about hope. My mother died of cancer and, though it was such a difficult experience, the important part is to see the journey of our lives and to accept where those journeys have taken us.” Featured also in the cast are Vanessa Marie, Kristen Bennett, Clay Avery, Craig Kanne, Mario Silva, Barbara Weems and Meg Steiner. The production is directed by Jeff Hinkle whose past productions at City Theatre include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, This Spring of Love and the Iden Payne nominated Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

About the author

A magna cum laude graduate in Renaissance History and English, Margaret Edson worked in a myriad of jobs ranging from waitressing to painting to clerking in a cancer and AIDS ward, to selling bicycles. In 1991, while teaching in DC public schools, she picked up her pen and wrote her first play Wit. It received its first production in 1995, premiered in New York in 1998 receiving universal acclaim and won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play also won the Drama Desk and Dramatists Guild Award, Drama Desk of New York and New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Outer Critics Circle and Los Angeles Drama Critics awards. She currently teaches kindergarten in Atlanta, GA. Read more about the play and playwright.


The City Theatre Company is an Austin-based not for profit arts organization and is sponsored in part by the Greater Austin Creative Alliance, the Austin Cultural Arts Division and the AMD Foundation. Founded in 2006, the company has been recognized by the Austin Critics Table Awards, the B. Iden Payne Awards and was twice voted “Best Theatre Company” by Austin- American Statesman’s Austin 360. CTC is dedicated in providing quality theatre experience and entertainment for Austin artists and its community.

The production does contain adult language and brief nudity. Mature audiences only.

WIT

March 15 – April 8.

Thursday – Saturday 8:00 p.m. Sunday 5:30 p.m.

The City Theatre

3823 Airport Blvd. 78757

East corner of Airport Blvd. and 38 ½ Street.

General Seating $15. Guaranteed Front/2^nd Row Reserved $25.

Students $12. Thursday all seats $10. Group discounts are available.

Reservations 512-524-2870 or info@citytheatreaustin.org

www.citytheatreaustin.org

RBI would like to welcome Joan S. as our newest client! www.robinbondinteriors.com

The Secret to Clean Baseboards

- Do them last
Wait until the rest of your floor cleaning (sweeping, mopping) is done, then tackle the baseboards. They're likely to get even dirtier as you kick up debris from the floors, and doing the baseboards last will save you from having to do them twice.

- Vacuum them
Vacuum the baseboards using your brush attachment. The baseboards should be totally free of hair, dust and any loose dirt before you wash them. Pay particular attention to the floor around the baseboards, which is where most of the floor's dirt tends to accumulate.

- Spray them
Working room by room, spray the baseboards with an all-purpose cleaner. Be careful not to soak your baseboards or get too much water on the wall behind them, as this could cause damage to your drywall.Let the solution sit for about 10 minutes.

- Rinse
Using a damp sponge mop with clean water, wash the baseboards. The mop is convenient from a logistical standpoint, especially if you have a bad back; you don't have to get down and dirty, so to speak. But really tough marks may still require you to get on the floor and scrub. If the stains are stubborn, just scrub harder, but refrain from using anything abrasive, like a scouring pad, on your baseboards.

- Protect them
Once your baseboards are clean and dry, take a new dryer sheet and wipe it over the wood. The anti-static cling property of the dryer sheet will cut the amount of dust that sticks to baseboards. In fact, each time you sweep and vacuum, go over the baseboards quickly with a dryer sheet. If you have shedding pets, you'll want to do this regularly. This preventative maintenance will go a long way.

Quest for Quality - Facts about Fabrics and Draperies http://ping.fm/fYblC

Quest for Quality - Facts about Fabrics and Draperies

It is true that all of the fabrics may come from the same mill, but the quality of the goods may vary. Many fabrics are sold in bulk as “seconds” and have no consistency in the dye lot (color distribution), the finish, or the sizing (stability of the yarns). Fabrics that are purchased through Robin Bond Interiors are first quality and can be replaced if flaws are discovered. Additional goods are available and the supplies will match the dye lot as close as possible. In all cases the mills can discontinue a fabric at any time without notice. The quality of the yardage is then at the mercy of current inventory.

Most custom draperies are made with a 2½ to 1 fullness factor for medium weight fabrics and 3 to 1 fullness for lightweight or sheer fabrics. It is this fullness that distinguishes the custom over the ready-made.

Custom draperies carry double bottom hems. This ensures better draping and a better finish. They should be lined with a quality lining fabric. Lining makes the treatment hang better, gives insulation, uniformity to the street side, and quadruples the life of the treatment.

Turn around time on custom drapery is normally 6 to 8 weeks. A quality drapery is like fine wine – it cannot be rushed – it takes time.

The Perception of What Interior Designers Do