Providence Ltd. Design and Parkinson Building Group Home Featured in Renowned Blog

Parkinson Building Group wants to let you all know that we are so proud of our good friend Mona Thompson and her sister of Providence Ltd. Design who were recently featured in a recent article on a well-known blog site.  We are also excited that the featured project was a Parkinson Building Group home and just want to say congratulations.  This goes to show what we already knew, but what the rest of the blogging world is coming to findout...Providence Ltd. Design has really good taste.  Enjoy.

Original Post...

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2012

Enchanted guest #15......say hi to Mona and Talena from Providence!

Good morning everyone! I am over the moon to present this guest post  with one of my absolute favorite blogs and two of my favorite bloggers, Mona and "Sister" (her real name is Talena but shes affectionately referred to as Sister) from Providence. Where to begin? Well for starters,they are business partners and sisters in their design firm and plain and simple  have superb taste with a capital S. This talented pair of established and sought after designers, Mona and Sister love traditional design with a European influence. They have published work of a high caliber and when you see their work you will totally understand. They reside and practice in central Arkansas but in addition to their interior design business they also offer online design services as well, if you are interested in taking a look at their portfolio, click here. It's a royal treat!
I know when I visit their blog I should sit down prepared to take in whatever beauty they have in store that day, but rest assured its always something fabulous! They often generously share their projects on their blog and its always one worth checking out, I just love their asthetic. I was so happy they prepared a guest post to help me out as we continue to settle into the new house but when I laid eyes on what they prepared, I was truly floored, touched and so bowled over! Mona and Sister, thank you so much for this fabulous, major eye candy of a post! For those of you not familiar with the beautiful blog, Providence...you absolutely must stop over, you will thank me! Click here to visit  them.
And you just know there is no way in the world that I am letting them get started without  "showing off" a little on their behalf. Hey, if you've got it, flaunt it. And these delightful ladies "have it going on" big time. So here is a look at the marvelous Mona and Sister in action!

Mona in action......

And there the two are.....I just had to include this picture, I love it!

Dressing Up Your Home With Gas Lighting

I love the classic look and feel of old world lighting.  Below are some examples of a company out of New Orleans that does a great job of capturing this timeless look.  Just think of all the possibilities as you plan your next home.  The link to the companies website is at the bottom and their picture gallery is very extensive.  Enjoy.

Introducing Pool House Lanterns Photo Credit: Sara Barkley Landrieu  We are excited to announce our new line of Pool House Lanterns. These lanterns are hand-crafted from copper and brass, which weather beautifully in harsh environments, and are tailored to perfectly accent any entertainment area. The Pool House Lanterns offer exquisite ambient lighting for outdoor applications from Arbors and Breezeways to Pool and Patio areas. Our new line of lanterns are crafted to hold a variety of candle options from traditional to electric. Please call 504.522.9485 for more information. FEATURED PROJECT    Bevolo's featured project is this beautiful home in Pebble Beach, CA. This home has a special history with Bevolo as the owner is the great grandson of Andrew Higgins of Higgins' Boats.  The Higgins' Boats were produced in New Orleans during WWII where Andrew Bevolo Sr. worked in factory where he mastered his riveting skills.  Andrew Bevolo Sr. began crafting lights soon thereafter in the French Quarter.  We are proud to be a part of his home and bring the story full circle.   Did you know that Bevolo offers a free lighting analysis on your home?!   Take advantage of our lighting design service. It's simple, just send us your elevations or a photo of your home and we will put together a complete lighting analysis.  This will include style and scale recommendations based on the architecture of your home. It's just that easy.  Call our showroom in the French Quarter at 504.522.9485 for more information.  This is what happens when a beautiful home gets the perfect lighting.   www.bevolo.com

MUD ROOMS

Perhaps one of them most overlooked but overused rooms in the entire house is that little room lurking in the back corner of the house, the infamous mudroom.  Mudrooms have made progress by leaps and bounds however, and are finally getting the recognition they so deserve.  A mud room is there waiting as the first thing to greet us when we are coming in from the elements of extreme snow, nasty rain storms, sweat inducing sport games for the kids,a morning run,etc.....so I am glad to see mudrooms are being talked about and decorated like they matter.
 So...what makes up a good mud room? To me, storage, a good bench or two is a nice extra to have, plenty of space for shoes, boots and jackets and a backup storage compartment of some kind. If for some reason a phone is far away enough, its not a bad idea to have a phone on the wall too. Ditto a bulletin board to schedule a busy family, or a wipe it board/chalk board to leave each other messages. Plenty of hooks a definite.Good lighting is an absolute must and if you don't have a window with natural light, good overhead lighting is a must.  The list goes on.....so lets take a look at some mudrooms that "work", rooms that are as utilitarian as they are awe inspiring.

Love the rich warm woods with the slate flooring, great rustic lantern is the crowning touch! Veranda

This is clever and space saving for a family that has lots of boots!

Love the separate chalkboards on this wall! Vallon Designs

Fun lighting, small cubbies and a bench in the middle is a great setup for a mudroom!

Even when space is very limited, you can maximize by adding a pull up bench, coat hooks and extra shelving...this is great looking, the beadboard completes the space

This is cute, each family member has their own "cubbie" and cubicle with storage

Great looking...love the idea of adding a painted piece as an accent, House of Turquoise

Though this feels a little dark, I do love the dog bath in the corner....such a great perk!

Parkinson Building Group Featured In This Month's At Home In Arkansas

Please look for us in the feature article of this month's At Home In Arkansas.  Parkinson Building Group is a proud partner with At Home and is excited that they have chosen to showcase one of our many beautiful homes in their November issue.

Housing Market Stabilizing with Energy Efficiency and Outdoor Spaces Still Popular

  The American Institute of Architects' (AIA) 2011 second quarter Home Design Trends survey shows stability in the residential market, but not the recovery predicted after an encouraging first quarter. High-end and custom homes are still faring best among new construction projects, while first-time home buyers remain timid. What has changed in the luxury and high-end sector is that specialty rooms and additions, as well as high-end features within a home, are mostly declining. The exception to that trend is a strong rise in home offices and an equally impressive number of requests for outdoor living. Remodeling and additions, a persistently strong segment of the residential market, continues to show moderate gains thanks to clients looking for accessible spaces, energy efficiency, and home technology upgrades.

"Demand for home offices for telecommuting remains strong," says Baker, adding that "trends toward informal lifestyles, as well as more home-centered activities, have helped maintain interest in outdoor living areas and mudrooms." Other requests still on the rise focus on accessibility and energy efficiency. Backing up those trends, the most requested products include those promoting energy-savings and management, as well as wireless communication systems. Seventy percent of respondents saw requests for simple green upgrades such as alternative or additional insulation grow over the past three months. With regard to accessibility, the most desired items include first-floor master suites, open showers with no floor level changes, ADA-compliant faucets and door handles, and ramps or elevators.