A Meaning Behind Everything She Does

Lauren is a mom to Ethan and Coco, wife to Brian, jewelry designer, event specialist, personal chef and have you seen this woman, petite in stature, but talents galore! Lauren has always been passionate about real and raw creativity. She lives her life with meaning behind everything she does. She takes this motto and applies it to all her roles, from her family to her growing business of Serena Blake Jewels. (named after her children's middle names) What started out as creating jewelry for herself, Mother's Day three years ago, has grown to be a business with personal attention like no other.

When I started to write this blog, I made sure Lauren would let me feature her talents and expose her creations. Not only does she create these magnificent bracelets, but her efforts behind each piece is tremendously thought out. All her bracelets are made to order. She works with each individual one on one to create a special set that personally represents who they are and what they like - ensuring that your jewelry is one of a kind, just like you. She uses everything from semi-precious stones, ruby, pink opal, sapphire, coral, rose gold, sterling silver, pave diamonds and bone to exotic woods. My personal plug: her pieces are top-notch quality and she has superior workmanship. She's so willing to please, that if she doesn't have a material you want, she can specially order it for you. 

When she envisioned her business, it was a criteria to keep it personal. With the growth, she is happy to say - she stayed true to that vision. She does not mass produce or saturated her pieces throughout stores. In fact, you will unlikely find her jewels sold anywhere other than in her home. She enjoys working with her clients and has to feel proud about what the end results are for each person. She will work through endless sessions until you are pleased with your piece. For warned, I guarantee you, she is extremely intuitive and brilliant, you won't have to say much, she automatically "gets you". She works with all budgets and her processing time from start to finish typically takes 2 1/2 weeks. 

Have a friend in New York who wants to order? No problem! She works with many clients across the country over phone and email - she'll send pictures as a working progress - making sure everyone is on the same page. She has create gifts for bridal parties and graduations. Her bracelets are the perfect gesture for any age and occasion. She tailors to each individual and can help you create a gift or you can treat your special someone to have a personalized session with her. She is also available for private parties - now that, is a new and fun way to celebrate a special time with your girlfriends. 

Her talent doesn't end there, Lauren has an extensive background in food and cooking. Lauren's interest in food began when she spent her childhood at her grandparents' diner in Brooklyn, New York. She learned most of her cooking skills and appreciation for food from her mother. When she was at college in Arizona, she worked at a restaurant to supplement her life. She worked from the front of the house to the kitchen. She took that talent and became a personal chef for many years before she met her husband, Brian, who is also in the food business. Together, they live a healthy lifestyle by creating their family's food pyramid with organic foods and making good choices. Her advice for happy family eating is to expose your children to new and interesting foods. Also, make the food "special, in it's presentation and adding something for creativity."

A creator of all sorts, it's natural for Lauren to enjoy entertaining and with the exposure to the food industry and mastering the works behind the curtain, she's a pro at throwing a fabulous party. The picture above is a party she hosted last summer in her own backyard. Could of fooled me, it looks like a wedding! In Lauren's words, "occasions are for celebration, we have to enjoy life and celebrate what we have." 
She shared some her helpful party planning tips:

• Set a budget and stick to it. Things can get out of hand if you don't set a limit.
• Be resourceful when finding what you need. Also, know what you "need" and "want".
• Set a theme, it's easier to plan for food and decorations.
• If you are cooking, try new recipes. Lauren likes to cook for her guests and order some catering.
• Mix it up. Try new things with every new party.
• Invest on accessories you can carry on after the party; simple candle holders, vases...
• Make it personal. Send an invitation in the mail, it's something about holding an invitation in your hands.

She recently surprised her husband, Brian, with a yoga-themed Birthday party. Here is a picture of the dessert table - check out that buddha cake. Lauren admits "it's all about the cake at her parties - making sure each one is special and yummy."

 

Of all her roles, the most rewarding one is being a mother and wife. With all she does, it was important to stream that mentality of meaningful creation to her family. She's always had a vision of being that house with the doors open for her friends, swimming in the pool, enjoying all that life offers and sharing those memories together. The family shares a passion for swimming - it was one of their most loved activity. She finds swimming to be therapeutic. Another trait her family shares is laughter - being able to laugh at each other is a requirement. Traditionally in the summer, her husband and son, Ethan take an annual "Boys on the Road" trip. They seek out a destination city and drive across the country. Lauren and daughter, Coco then meet them at the end of the road trip. They have traveled to the East Coast, to New Orleans and it looks like Canada is on the radar this summer. 


From creating jewels, to planning a fabulous party, to swimming with her kids, all the many hats Lauren wears, she wears it well ensuring she does it with thought and integrity - a woman tapping into all the areas in her life with a meaningful touch, what's not to love about her?


If you are interest in Serena Blake Jewels, you may contact Lauren directly at: 312.617.8499 or email: laurendrosen@gmail.com


Cheeky Chicago recently featured Serena Blake Jewels, to read the full article click here.

Blending Old with New Beautifully

It is very common to walk around in Valerie's house and say, "where did you find that?" She may reply with "I found that in this woman's garage, you wouldn't believe the deal I got" or she might say "can you believe no one wanted that, so i grabbed it!" Valerie has a true talent - she mixes old with new perfectly. Her keen eye in finding timeless pieces has me motivated to keep digging because what I want, already exist - now, if i can only find the twin sisters of each piece she has. It is always gratifying to use other people's yesterdays and incorporate them into your own home mixed with your key pieces - it brings a story to every corner of the house. She's done this beautifully, the pictures are only a teaser to the true stories behind them.

A corner as simple as this captures so many adjectives: polished, etched, rough, reflective, elegant and textured. Valerie's love for texture is shown throughout her home. She likes "objects with patina, a history". 

Not only does Valerie acquire stunning pieces, her rooms represents moods, moods I'm sure she is unaware of. This is a picture of her living room, completely calm and not intimidating or stuffy - instead welcoming - it naturally invites you in.

What I admire about Valerie's decor is that everything is layered and easily moves around from one room to another. Her advice in accomplishing this is to "buy things you really love - true to your taste and style, that you can move from room to room, even a set you can break apart." Her dining room is a perfect example of that philosophy. You will notice the gold accents throughout this room. There are pieces in this room, that belong to a set in another room.

Valerie fills every opportunity in her home, creating vignettes - a seated area for a paused point. This corner is part of her dining room above. The prints are grouped together in this space instead of distributing them throughout all four walls, creating a sitting area, outside the norm of a formal dining room. Again, a mood to reflect that the dining area is not just for eating, but for conversation.

Every piece of furniture she welcomes home is family-friendly. It is her #1 requirement. She adds "don't bring something home you will worry about." The gorgeous sectional and ottoman in her family room are slipcovered so it's washable if needed. The homework table is added to keep the family in one central place after school into dinnertime. 

This set of exquisite chairs were purchased at a second hand store after many eyes kept giving them a pass. They finally found their forever home in Valerie's family room. She takes an unique item like the urn on the table, and utilize it's texture and color, not it's purpose, to fine tune the design message here - refined royalty. 

The steel cabinet disguising craft supplies, art activities and school supplies is one of Valerie's proudest finds. Consistently, she is attracted to the same lines and patterns - this helps to blend new finds with old ones. With matching lines, she can incorporate these pieces together easily. The structure above the cabinet has a swirl detail that matches the steel cabinet - both found at very different times. Valerie originally purchase the item to cover the vent and noticed the similarities later on.

This is an example of how a room can evolve around one piece of furniture. This antique sink was a pain to work with, but was the definer for this powder room. The only downfall when working with older pieces is finding people who can work with them and make them efficient in today's extremity. A long road well worth its journey, just look at it.

Valerie admits to adding a splash of red to each room - "it's a strong visual point". She suggests "decorating neutral backgrounds with a hint of red, you can never go wrong." You'll find this true, especially in her kitchen and eating area. Red is also the color to many beautiful (accessible) objects such as apples, flowers and a perfect partner to both white and black. What a fun combination of the rolling industrial island paired with rustic wood island. And those red chairs? So chic.

Who is this woman behind all this incredible work??? One of Valerie's favorite places is The Chicago Botanic Garden, her favorite event of all time, The Antique and Garden Fair is coming up April 16 - 18, 2010. She has a love affair with Italy and appreciates the way they live, the food, the fashion and the people. Her nights and weekends are spent at the hockey rink with her 3 kids: Taylor, Katie and Jack. Wife to Ted and mama to Coco, her dog. Her advice to staying warm at the rink is layering, layering and layering. If she wasn't at the rink, she would spend her time at a museum. Enjoys her day trips to the city when she can visit her favorite home stores for inspiration, Jayson's Home and Garden and Holly Hunt in the Mart. Adores the book "Designing Woman" featuring the work of sixteen contemporary trendsetters. Together, we are scheming a trip to Paris to visit the Paris Flea Market, or the English reference for "Le marche aux puces de Saint-Ouen" - a big birthday trip plan in the works for the both of us. We knew if we put it in writing, we'll feel some obligation.

Interior Design as a Career

Interior Design is my passion and I'm very lucky to have it as a career. Like many of my contemporaries, I was not sure what I wanted to do when I finished college. I entertained the thought of going to law school, but was offered an incredible position living in New York running a marketing company. After 5 years, the company was sold and I needed Plan B. That was when I decided to go to design school. At the time I was getting married and wanted a rewarding career, but would also allow me to be with my family. I came back to Chicago and attended The Harrington Institute of Interior Design. 

I've been an Interior Designer for 15 years. I been able to work with some very inspirational people. During my career, I spent most of my time decorating residential and vacation homes. I recently moved back from south Florida where I decorated with vivid colors, this has helped me bring a mixture of contemporary flare blended with traditional style to the Midwest. Over the years, I have come to enjoy all styles having been expose to so many different environments. I enjoy incorporating those styles and make them come together. 

After my clients express their dream environment to me, I start designing a space that will be livable and comfortable. Design has several starting points. Some of my clients need help defining their style. I work knowing I don't live in my client's space, I want the rooms to be a reflection of who they are. To me, being creative and being able to plan space is a small part of the design process. The real process is more sociological. 

I always start the process by asking a client, "what colors make you feel happy and why?" I also believe that your home identifies your likes, dislikes, your travels, your family history and who you are and where you been. Even growing up, I viewed a person's environment as a history lesson. When a person has an appreciation for family history, they can build their whole foundation on the importance of preserving the past and plan for the future that encompasses both significance.

The most rewarding opportunity I work with is when there is a raw space where two individuals are coming together. I find that when I can identify two individuals' environments and make it a place for them to cohabitate and share their life: the finish product and the gratification is unparalleled. 

 

I also enjoy helping people who need direction and enhancing their own personal style. Here are some of my designing advice:

1. Find a muse. Start your room around a painting or fabric and let it lead the way.

2. Don’t let a designer talk you into a look. Its your space, let your personally show. “Think timeless.”

3.  Use furniture or accessories from family members. Having a piece of your grandparents' furniture is so important.  Pass down memories will make the environment more unique.

4. On your travels, bring things back for your home. Collecting exciting things from around the world will fill your home with memories.

5. Change small items in the room for each season. It makes the room fresh and the change will feel as things are evolving.         

Being an interior designer was a great career choice for me. I am growing my business and at the same time, raising my children. Designing is my passion and is very rewarding when I  have accomplished my clients goals.    

Kim Flashner Interior Designs, Inc.

847-208-5411
kimflashner@gmail.com

A LOOK AT BOOKS from Housewalk co-chair Loree Sandler

There are many ways to think about home design and décor. Certainly some people have a strong sense of style and enjoy the process of personalizing their space soup to nuts. Others shout, “HELP,” lacking the desire, time or confidence to decorate without professional assistance. There are those who could not care less, but they are likely not reading this blog, and then there are the rest of us. Shelter books and magazines are consulted for tips, eye candy, and resources. We want inspiration.

Meg and Steven Roberts of The Echo Design Group have put out three beautiful coffee table books to provide just such inspiration. These books represent different ways to think about decorating and home life. A Home for All Seasons speaks to seasonal light, holidays, moods, while Time at Home focuses on the hours of the day, and where you are likely to spend your time within your space. 

While we are often instructed to look at swatches of paint at various times of the day - in sunshine and rain, we don’t always think: “I am in my bedroom at night and early morning – so what looks best then?” Likewise, while we sometimes throw seasonal decorations up, we don’t articulate: “I am happiest in the summer, so I’m going to surround myself with things that remind me of sunshine.” These books add another decorating dimension to consider if you’re looking to change things up.

In 2008, I had a blast as a local location scout and stylist for their third book, Color at Home.  What you’ll find inside are not only an array of shades for every room in the house, and inspiration galore, you’ll find some of Glencoe’s treasures. Think that green garage is familiar, or you’ve seen that striped wall before? In fact, one of the homes featured in the book was a Glencoe PTO Housewalk house favorite!
Glencoe has a wealth of style and a community willing to share knowledge and resources. Come out on May 19^th and be inspired. Who knows, the houses you see up close might one day end up in the next shelter book you buy!




*to purchased any of the books mention above, click on the highlighted title to be directly linked to The Echo Design Group's website*

Whimsy, Fun and Color

Meet my friend Kendra beautiful, isn't she! Here, she sits on a church pew in her dining room. A little birdie on her shoulder and rooster over her head. These are the kinds of "not so typical" set-ups you'll find in her home - out of sort, but only in her house does it fly. Kendra describes her decorating style as "fun, comfortable, creative, casual. I obviously love color and lots of it." Oh, we believe you, Kendra! 

You walk into her living room - a pretty shade of yellow. The righteous beginning to start the path to the rest of the house, starting here with a burst of sunshine and work your way to the bright pink family room. As you walk into her house, you can't help but to look around to take in all the details and creativity she puts into each room.

The kitchen, no designers' rules apply here. The ceiling is green, the trim is blue, the backsplash is checkered green and black, the cabinets are yellow. Hanging from above are beautiful paper birds. Kendra credits her friend, Stacy Litow by saying "I always like to say I know what I like, but could have never put it together without my friend Stacy Litow.  She is AMAZING with color among other things."

There's not one space in her home that is left without color or touch of creativity. Not only a mother of 3, an artist, too. You'll find her free hand art work throughout the house, like the flower vine flowing through her kitchen.

One of Kendra's favorite piece is this "central family communication center." It was a furniture piece that Kendra had built-in the kitchen. Each family member has a drawer to keep their belongings and each labeled with their names.

Her downstairs hallway is painted in pink stripes with a chalkboard door to write notes to each other. Kendra saids "I always have a million projects in my head, of what else I want to do next, and they never seem to get done.  First on the list... finish painting the rest of my dining room chairs blue!" Three of her dining chairs are blue, the other 5 are white, but when walking through, I thought they were suppose to be that way. This is what exactly her house expresses that "nothing is wrong".

In Kendra words: "We love entertaining at our house. The 'party' lights stay up all year. Turn down the lights - so no one can see the dirt - and turn on the party lights.  They make any event more festive, whether it's dinner with friends, Friday night and I suddenly have 10 teenagers in my house eating pizza or Sunday dinner with just our family."

And here it is, the hot pink family room along with fun graphic printed furniture. I admire Kendra's sense of style to think outside box and stay true to what she likes and not what is right or wrong. These pictures are just the rooms, part 2 (later on) will show all the details...stay tune. 

Raffle Tickets On Sale Now!

Are you feeling lucky?  

The Housewalk raffle tickets are on sale online now, and the prizes are fabulous.  The drawing is May 19, and you do not have to be present to win…but you can’t win if you don’t play!  Tickets will also be sold at the Interior Designer Chat and other upcoming PTO events.

One Week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming – One week in a beautiful 4 bedroom, 4 bath home in Teton Village for use in summer or winter by July 2011

Writers’ Theatre – Two Season Memberships to Writers’ Theatre 2010/2011 Season and gift certificates for dining at Meg’s Café, Mirani’s and Tapas Gitana

A Night at Ravinia – Four pavilion seats, a premier parking pass, and a $200 gift certificate for dinner at the Park View Restaurant

Krista K Private Shopping Party - Private shopping party with refreshments and hors d'oeuvres and 20% off purchases for up to 20 friends,  winner also receives a pair of jeans of her choice

Rachelle Anne Photography Sitting – Private photo session including 100 custom photo cards

Yoga Package – A yoga party or two private sessions with a certified instructor, a new yoga mat, and a collection of yoga music on CD

Sports Consultation & Physical Exam by pediatrician, Dr. Kudus Akinde - complete head-to-toe physical sports exam including the assessment of strength, mobility, flexibility and reflexes with discussion of nutritional needs and general protection of a young athlete

Individual prizes also include $200 gift certificate from Lenswork Studio, jewelry from Shelle Jewelers, gift certificate at Glencoe Nails....

Thank you for supporting Glencoe students with your purchase!