Surroundings
Summer 2012
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Decor * Events * Travel * Trends * Ideas
Issue #11
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Guide to Decorative Living
Summer 2012
Brizo Blogger 19 Alumni with fashion designer Jason WU, Chicago 2012
Summer Greetings! I hope all is going well with you as we head into summer. With this issue of ::Surroundings::, you will notice some changes. For the past several issues, I’ve focused on a single theme from color to outdoor living to antiques. To change things up a bit, I’m excited to share some of my own projects and things that have been personally inspiring to me. I hope you find them inspiring as well! I’ve done a bit of traveling this Spring. In April, I gave two seminars at the ICWE Visions Window Expo in Chicago: Branding Your Expertise Using the Tools of Social Media; and Teamwork Across Design Disciplines. Both were well received and I was honored to have been invited to speak! The Visions Expo was held concurrently with KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) so I had the opportunity to walk the show floor and pick up a lot of information on new brands and new offerings from some of my favorite brands, plus see some designer friends I’ve met through social media. In May, I was invited to attend a designer/blogger’s retreat at the new Bosch Experience & Design Center in Irvine, CA which was loads of fun! I hope you have some wonderful summer fun planned. I am headed to Bermuda in August with four of my nearest and dearest as we all “celebrate” our very big birthdays together. What better way to do it than enjoying big summery drinks, some pampering, beautiful scenery and those you love? Warmly,
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Linda linda.m.merrill@gmail.com
Cooking with Bosch, along with Ann Porter and Erik Stromer. California, 2012 ::Surroundings:: Guide to Decorative Living
IN THIS ISSUE
Cover Story
Page 4
Finding Inspiration
Page 8
Page 9
Family Treasures
Designer Fun Virtual Interior Design Expanded Services
Shop ::Surroundings:: Linda’s Must-Haves for Home and Bookshelf Page 10
Who & What And where to find me
Click here to see what’s inspiring me - you will be inspired too!
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Join me
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See the latest project update!
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Cover Story
Family Treasures
Interior Design & Styling by: LINDA MERRILL • P hotography by: MICHAEL J. LEE 4
::Surroundings:: Guide to Decorative Living
A luxury retirement community white box house becomes a warm and livable home filled with family treasures. Throughout our lives, we collect things from our travels and from family members who have come before us. These “bits and bobs” can have great monetary value, or hold only emotional value, it doesn’t really matter. As a grouping, they tell the story of our lives. I was lucky to have worked with a couple who were moving into a garden home in a lovely senior community. Still active and vibrant, my clients have a wonderful collection of objet d’art and original fine art that they have gathered to their lives. Working closely together, we brought in new furnishings, reupholstered some older pieces and coordinated it all with their existing collection of antique furnishings to create a space that is easy and comfortable, with room for entertaining new friends and grandchildren alike. Every detail was carefully considered and every object placed for maximum enjoyment and appreciation.
::Surroundings:: Guide to Decorative Living
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::Surroundings:: Guide to Decorative Living
Art, Accessories & Family Memories
Interior Design & Styling by: LINDA MERRILL • P hotography by: MICHAEL J. LEE ::Surroundings:: Guide to Decorative Living
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Designer/Fun
Robert Allen’s “Bassett Hall” fabric in Patina is the inspiration for two different interior design schemes for a bedroom.
See more
See more
In addition to Linda Merrill’s full service design offerings for the discerning clientele, Linda offers “Virtual Design” plans for those whose budgets or geographic locations aren’t conducive to in-person meetings.
Learn More Here NEW! LEVEL I: INSPIRATION BOARD: A customized digital Inspiration Board. Send photos of your room and we’ll return a digital mood board that will provide the perfect “Jump Start” for your design plans. Included in your plan with be a sketch or rendering for an overview of the design concept, color palette, recommendations for decorations and furnishings, and other instructions as necessary. It’s a great plan to get you started!
LEVEL II: THE JUMP START FULL PLANNER: Level II is a multipage (approximately 20 pages) digital PDF document that includes rendering(s) or sketch(es) to show the overall feel of the space, measured floor plans, color palette and specific paint colors, furnishings, window coverings and accessories. It’s everything you’ll need to create a beautiful, and complete space. Just add elbow grease!
Private Sketch Book for:
E L P
Your Name
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M A X
www.lindamerrill.com 781-585-0275
::Surroundings:: Guide to Decorative Living
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st u m s ’ Linda haves and e m o for h helf s k o o b
h t t p : / / www.lindamerrill.co
Gui de t o orat ive L iving
Dec
Linda Merrill Decorative Surroundings DESIGN | BLOGS | PRESS | PUBLIC SPEAKING | FREELANCE WRITING |CREDITS LINDA MERRILL, PUBLISHER & EDITOR
MICHAEL J. LEE, COVER PHOTOGRAPHER
Linda received her design education at the acclaimed Boston Architectural College after a long career in public television marketing and product branding. She has decorated homes throughout Greater Boston, the South Shore & Cape Cod and across the globe via her virtual design services. Her love of interiors is but one of her artistic pursuits, and her studies in music and the fine arts continues to influence her design aesthetic. In addition to her blog ::Surroundings::, she has written a regular newsletter to a mailing list of nearly 1,000 (and growing) loyal readers for nearly 8 years, and is a regular contributing writer to other publications. She is the founder and moderator of radio/podcast series called “The Skirted Roundtable”, available on iTunes. www.lindamerrill.com
Michael received his design training at the Wentworth Institute of Technology and, prior to becoming a professional photographer, worked as a interior designer for award winning designers Richard FitzGerald and Celeste Cooper. His design training has given him a unique perspective as he approaches a photography assignment. He understands a space and knows how to make it shine. His work regularly appears in all the regions’ major publications. www.michaeljleephotography.com
INTERIOR DESIGN
:: Portfolio :: Design Services :: Virtual Decorating :: InsiDEcor - To The Trade Buyer’s Service :: Press :: Speaking & Freelance Writing
PRESS :: ShelterPop :: The Boston Globe Style :: The Boston Globe Magazine :: Alluminaire :: The Decorating Diva
PAST ISSUES Past Issues - Click Here h t t p : / / surroundingsmagazi ne.com/
FREELANCE WRITING BLOGS :: Surroundings:: :: Silverscreen Surroundings:: :: Master of your Domain :: The Skirted Roundtable - podcast
:: Williams-Sonoma Designer Marketplace :: Networx.com :: Divine Caroline :: Huffington Post :: Philadelphia Inquirer :: Chicago Tribune
CREDITS :: Written and edited by Linda Merrill :: Cover photography by Michael J. Lee
CONTACT & ADVERTISING Linda Merrill Linda Merrill Decorative Surroundings PO Box 1206 Duxbury, MA 02331 781-585-0275 linda.m.merrill@gmail.com
::Surroundings:: Guide to Decorative Living | ©Linda Merrill | 781-585-0275 |www.surroundingsmagazine.com
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::Happy Summer::
Š2012 Linda Merrill Decorative Surroundings www.lindamerrill.com