hgHOME is Heather‘s retail store in Durham, NC filled with her favorite home furnishings and accessory finds.

In 2001, Heather moved to Durham NC from NYC, where she had attended Parsons for interior design and honed her skills under the tutelage of French designer Robert Couturier. Heather has developed a signature style that combines practical-ity (kids, pets, and red wine are the facts of life!) with a variety of sophisticated textures - plaster, hide, velvet, linen - and extraordinary lighting. In 2009, Heather opened a retail boutique, hg HOME, where you can find an assembled group of things she loves. Elle Decor celebrated its success by highlighting the shop in it’s July 2010 “What’s Hot” feature. The hg-HOME online store provides an accessible resource for anyone wanting to purchase items typically available “to-the-trade” only or a D.I.Y. design plan.

www.hgHOMEdurham.com

High style design has entered the mainstream everywhere we look!

There is a never-ending stream of fresh resources online for generating new ideas and, thanks to the growing ranks of confident and willing participants, implementation on your own is well within reach. In resistance to the “design establishment”, information-rich blogs like Apartment Therapy and Design Sponge are offering up styling tips and projects for every imaginable sensibility. Eclectic? You betcha. Still, while the general tips are helpful, specific direction is what brings together a fabulous room. Our clients are saying, “I could use a little professional direction. But it must be affordable! And the designs practical! And the products accessible!”.

We hear you. And we’re delivering.

Knox Residence

An hgY concept plancreated by Heather Garrett

for Heather Garrett Design / hgHOME

To create a casual, comfy area to lounge in with coffee or a book - rather than a formal dining area. The area should lend itself to chatting with the cook as easily as helping with home-work while prepping dinner. The family would like “an eclectic mix of vintage, antique, and fresh, modern pieces.” Furnishings should be stain-resistant and easy going, accessible to the chil-dren as well as sophisticated for the adults. “We want a place where we can eat as a family and also get work done. We’re your typical working class family juggling our daily routine with work deadlines and soccer games!”

This client is in a rental home and doesn’t wish to change the kitchen cabinetry or replace appliances. Time to get creative! We’ll focus on improvements we can make with paint and other details.

“We love the original windows in this mid-century home, so want to keep them!” We agree! The windows provide great light and a linear backdrop for the room’s design. The original terrazzo flooring also adds some dimension and vintage flair.

“We like the way this room looks comfortable yet also has a sophistication about it. We have kids, so can’t have expressive fabrics or too many breakable items but we don’t want plastic coverings on our upholstery either! White! We love the light it reflects!”

What does this photo tell us?

You like a mix of textures: soft linen mixed with rustic wood, and metal mixed with glass. The person in the photo is working while enjoying his cup of coffee and the sunlight. You want a space that is beautiful but still liveable and functional!

“Wow. How do they mix all those things together and make it work? We don’t know, but we love it! we would love a mix of patterns and a couple of antique pieces included in the design.”

What does this photo tell us?

You said it and we see it! You love a variety of patterns to make a space feel active and you like to mix modern pieces with an-tiques. There’s that white again! And we continue to see your love for a mix of textures, like the linen sofa and rustic wood side tables. A few unique accessories finish off the look!

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1) Set of 3 Fish Catcher Hanging Lamps by Roost$440, from hgHOME

2) Nandina Outdoor Slipcovered Double Chaise in Sunbrella, “Spinnaker Salt”by Lee Industries$3225, from hgHOME

6) Salvaged Wood Candle Wall Sconeby Wisteria$79

7) 42” Vintage Marble Cocktail Tablefrom Local Second-hand Store$275

Alternative: Smart Round Marble Top Coffee Table by CB2$299

The Breakfast RoomHerein lay the keys to your castle...

One-of-a-kind finds are nearly always a part of the hgY signature style. For those items we recommend you make a purchase through ebay, an antique dealer, or some place similar. An alternative readymade option is also provided.

3) 20” Hector Side Table, Limestone & Ironby Oly Studio$1280, from hgHOME

4) Vincent Faux Bois Floor Lamp in White Cast Resinby Oly Studio$1560

5) 54” Madrid Mirror with Bone Circles Inlaid in Black Resinby Oly Studio$2100, from hgHOME

8) One-of-a-Kind Antique Rug Ottomanby Lee Industries$525

9) 32”w x 44”h French Antique ChesthgSignature Collection, from hgHOME $1,250

Alternative:Ainsworth Walnut 2-Door Cabinet by Crate & Barrel$1,099

10) Vintage Glass Lampfound on Ebay$215

Alternative: Fluted-Glass Table Lamp in Antique Gold by West Elm$149

11) 48” Mid-Century Desk found on Ebay$400 Alternative: Flat-Bar Storage Desk by West Elm$499

12) Reproduction Saarinen Tulip Base Swivel Chair found on Ebay75

Alternative: Tulip White Plastic Accent Chair by Interior Express$179

13) (4) 24” Ombre Silk Velvet Pillows in golden /brown and pink/orange by Kevin O’Brien Studio $220 each, from hgHOME

14) (1) 12x20 Stamped Cowhide “Zebra” Pillow by Oly Studio $426, from hgHOME

0C-65 “Chantilly Lace” - Flatby Benjamin Moore

0C-65 “Chantilly Lace” - Semi-Glossby Benjamin Moore

15) Metal Leaf Sculpture by Roost $125, from hgHOME

16) Set of 3 Cast Bronze Vertebrae by Oly Studio $280, from hgHOME

17) Large Washed-Wood Linear Basket by West Elm$79.99

You’re almost there! Let’s make sure the final stretch is a success!

Here are some tips to help ensure you wind up with a relaxed, yet refined, finished space:

1) Hang the lights low! A ceiling fixture can - and should - be hung at its lowest point in order to produce an intimate, warm atmosphere. 6’-8” is the minimum clearance you’ll need if hung above a walkway. 2’-6” is the minimum clearance you’ll need if hung above a dining table.

2) Lamps: the more shapely the better (usually!). Give your lamp some space, and let it stand on its own. Rather than clutter a side table with a small lamp + photo frames + figurines + a clock, go for one large, interesting lamp (whose shade is similarly sized) and a single ceramic vase or antique dish. And, unless the light is needed for task, stick with 60 watts or less for atmosphere.

3) Take drapes to the ceiling! This simply creates a more grand, more dramatic room and adds height to the room. Hang your drapery rod no more than 2-4” below the crown molding or ceiling, when possible. And always allow the drapery to lay at least 1” on the floor. If they get dirty, just plan for a cleaning! It’s not worth having “high waters.”

4) Mix it up, when it comes to bookshelves! Think of your built-in as a forum for “installation art.” Scour trade magazines and decorating books to see how the experts stage these focal points. Alternate books between vertical and horizontal positions. The horizontal stack will double as a plat-form for a keepsake vase or framed photo. Is your collection full of paperback novels? Turn them backwards, paper-side-out! A beautiful, monochro-matic sea of cream.

5) The crowded wall is a must! If your artwork is smaller than 30”h x 36”w, group it together with several others to create a showstopper. Hung no more than 2” apart, and asymmetry is a good thing!

Look what you were able to do with a little direction and whole lot of your own initiative!

f you’re still scratching your head about an unresolved detail just can’t seem to nail, a member of our talented team is available for follow-up appointments by phone or email.

hgY Follow-up Consultations:As h.g.Y. is an entirely online experience, our follow-up consultation are done via e-mail.

Email hgy@heathergarrettdesign.com, with subject line “Follow-Up Needed”. Please explain the nature of your design question (a photo may help, as well!) and scan/attach permission (hand-written is fine) for us to charge your credit card for $50 per email consultation.