Renae Keller Interior Design

And just like that, another year has flown by. What a good one it was, too. Lots of fun designing, a healthy family, good friends…what more could a girl ask for?

A sincere, heartfelt thank you to my clients who made 2011 another successful year for Renae Keller Interior Design. I am grateful you allow me to do what I love. Here’s to 2012 being just as wonderful.

Happy New Year, everyone!

xoxo,

Renae

P.S. Try some of these fun New Year’s celebrations for your festivities tonight!

Strawberry Champagne Punch

Grapes

Clock cupcakes

Happy New Year

I’m often asked what is the easiest way to convert a home from a summer to a winter look and feel. I love this question, because as a designer, my mind races with all the creative things one can do to incorporate a winter (read: not necessarily “holiday,” because let’s be honest, we can only tolerate those Santa figurines for so long) feel indoors.

Amaryllis bulbs

Ahhhhh, what says the holidays and winter but an amaryllis bulb just beginning to bloom. These flowers, most often in blush, red or white, add such a dramatic pop to any room.

Dogwood 

I love to stick red dogwood branches in my potted arrangement out front. Depending on your particular decorating set-up, you could add them to your window boxes, put berries amongst them in the fresh cedar in the pots, or bring them indoors and put them in a vase of their own.

Cranberries

I also enjoy using cranberries in my decorating. Like lemons in summer and apples in autumn, they are a beautiful way to use food to add a punch of color and interest.

Pinecones

Easy to find this time of year, nothing brings the winter outdoors inside quite like pinecones. I love to put them in a glass bowl and use as a centerpiece. You can even spray paint a few for a more festive look.

Pillows and Throws 

It’s officially time to put that light, summery throw away and bring out the warmer, heavier one. Another inexpensive way to change up the entire look of the room is to recover your sofa pillows. A new fabric in the living room can make all the difference. Winter calls for more texture and intense colors, like deep red, purple or brown.

Lamp Shades 

Gone are the days of boring white lamp shades. Use this season to add a new look to any room by trading that plain shade for a dramatic look.

Drapes

Save your linen drapes for spring and summer; this season is the time for heavier, perhaps velvet drapes in deep, rich colors.

Please call or email if you’d like me to take a peak at your home!

xoxo,

Renae

Thanksgiving: that wonderful time of year abounding with family, friends, love and tradition. Not exactly how Webster would define it, but for my family and me, traditions are what make every holiday season so memorable and enjoyable. Here are some of my favorite Keller and Berge traditions:

Every year before Thanksgiving, the Berge family (my side) gets together to make a Norwegian food called lefse. All you native Minnesotans surely know what I’m talking about. This tradition is an all-day affair that used to just include the women. But as the years went by, the men and children realized how much fun we were having and wanted to join in! We now have four griddles going at one time, and by the end of the day, we have more than 300 pieces of lefse for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Add a little (a lot) of butter and some brown sugar, and all you can say is mmmmm…..

Some of you might remember seeing photos of my decorated tree last year. The day after Thanksgiving, my hubby gets the tree up and we immediately begin handing ornaments as a family. I like to add a touch of greens to my window boxes and some garland on my mantle. And if I’m feeling really spunky, a little mistletoe in the front entry. Ooh-la-la!

This might sound a little compulsive, but the designer in me can’t wait to wrap all the holiday gifts in the same wrapping paper. I use kraft paper and let the ribbon have the spotlight. Some years I’ve even hand made gift tags, but I’m sure that was at least two kids ago. Who knows, maybe that’s in the cards again this year!

Speaking of cards, who doesn’t enjoy receiving holiday cards from friends and family? I begin to sweat just thinking about trying to get everyone to smile at the same time…times four! But somehow we manage to pull it off every year.

And finally, I look forward to baking cookies with family. These cookies are works of art in the eyes of those who have made them, usually the kids and me. Our favorites are “reindeer cookies,” which the kids can work on by themselves, or a pretzel rod with almond bark and sprinkles. Yum!

What are your favorite traditions? Whatever they are, enjoy them this precious time of year!

xoxo,

Renae

Chairs, glorious chairs! I love them so much my RKID branding image is a photo of a chair in one of my favorite design projects yet. In all my years of designing, I’ve found them to be sublime works of art that have a unique and important purpose in every room of the house. Some are sturdy and practical. Others are decorative and pristine. Still others are just cozy and comfy and the go-to chair when settling in for the big game. Here are a few of my faves.

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

This classic, born in 1956 from Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, combines function and comfort with high design…a difficult task for most chairs. Think Mad Men and you’ll get a feel for how this chair took root, and if you look(ed) closely enough, you’ll see it appear in shows like Castle, CSI, Friends and Frasier, to name a few. The leather, size, shape, and function all make it a dignified, unmistakable piece. Best use: the office

Bergère Chair

The bergère, first appearing in Paris in 1715, is an enclosed French armchair with an upholstered back and armrests on upholstered frames, meaning the sides are closed on this pull-up chair. It is designed for lounging in comfort, with a deeper, wider seat than that of a regular armchair. And while I couldn’t resist this photo of two delightful bergères, the room in this photo will be very bright! Best use: the living room.

Fauteuil Chair

A fauteuil chair is a open-arm chair with a primarily exposed wooden frame. This chair originated in France in the early 18th century and frequently displays ornamental carvings. It is typically upholstered on the seat, the seat back and sometimes the arms. I love the classic nature of this chair! I also love bringing in dining room chairs to help seat people int he living room. All around, this a useful chair. Best use: the dining room.

Aeron Chair

The Aeron chair is another Herman Miller creation. Designed in 1994, this chair was made for ergonomic comfort in the workplace. Unlike upholstered chairs, the seat and back are made of a stretched, semi-transparent, and flexible mesh called Pellicle. The Aeron chair is flexible, well-priced, and ergonomically a delight to sit in! Best use: the office [although I have used them in a dining room]!

Adirondack Chair

This wood lounge chair makes a statement while adding a punch of color to the exterior palette of your home. Adirondacks used to be made only with wood, but these days you can find them in plastic as well. Best use: the patio.

Wing Chair

This classic and formal chair is perfect in so many rooms. Choose leather fabric for the den, silk in the living room, or textured in the family room. My favorite wing chair is the Juliette from Dapha — it sits like a dream and is so versatile and transitional. Anyone would look stunning sitting in this chair!

Happy sitting!

Renae

Autumn, I await your arrival all year long, and now that you’re finally here, you’re filling my life in all the wonderful ways only you can. Summer is too hot, winter too cold, and spring too wet. But you…you’re pure delight to all five of my senses.

My sense of smell thanks you for crackling fires in the pit on a Sunday afternoon, cinnamon apple cider and pumpkin bread. Talk about happy wafts of goodness.

My sense of sight thanks you for the rustic color of sweet potatoes, Benjamin Moore’s earthy Affinity paint collection, and the sight of haphazardly falling leaves, taking their sweet time making it to their final destination (until the next gust of wind, that is). I relate so well to those leaves and their timeline….

My sense of hearing thanks you for excited cheers at a high school football game and kids laughing on the playground at our neighborhood school (I can hear them all the way from my kitchen window!). And the fire I mentioned as a favorite smell? That sharp, powerful crackle gets me every time.

My sense of touch thanks you for re-awakening my soul every time I step outside and feel the crisp, cool air on my face. Still warm enough not to chill me to my bones, but cool enough to wrap up in a stylish scarf and jacket. Speaking of scarves and jackets, thank you also for the feeling of being cozy, comfy and safe in my scarf and soft sweaters.

Okay, so that't not me, but let's just pretend for the moment it is.

My sense of taste thanks you for that yummy chili I mentioned smelling, along with other stews and casseroles that are saved only for this weather. My favorite autumnal flavors, however, are from the rewards of my farmer’s market goodies: homemade pesto, tomato sauce, jam and salsa. My daughter Libby is old enough to help me in the kitchen now, so I imagine this will soon become a favorite mother-daughter adventure!

That IS me! The Kellers loooooove homemade tomato sauce, and Mama Keller loves making it!

What about you? What are your senses thankful for this season?

xoxo,

Renae

Perhaps when you think of decorative screens, you envision a panel that divides the family room from the formal living room that looks like it has never been sat in. Or maybe you envision the screens/dividers at a lower level church basement. You know, the ones that move on and off the track threatening to tip on you any second. Not exactly a “decorative” screen, but a screen nonetheless.

Thankfully, decorative screens have come a long way. Today’s screens are used functionally for sound absorption and heat reflection (heat from the fireplace bounces off the panel and warms the room), as well as for privacy and a way to creatively separate spaces.

Check out this screen from Hickory Chair. It appears Plain Jane at first glance, but if you look closely, those brown lines outlining the panels are actually nail-head trim. Glorious!

And how about a few polka dots hanging from your ceiling (can’t find the source — sorry!)? Such a clever way to gracefully divide the space without cutting off the entire room.

Clearly room dividers don’t have to be boring. Here are a few more fun and unique ones. I love the idea of using photos of your family in your panel…what a creative way to kill two decorating birds with one stone! Display your family photos AND create a division of space. Genius!

Room dividers can be elegant or durable, and made of everything from silk to wood to leather. I’ve even used decorative screens as headboards. (Not my work pictured, but you get the idea.)

What’s your next project? Could it use a little love from a room divider?

Renae

I’m excited to share that last weekend I participated in the 2011 ASID Kitchen and Bath tour! The ASID Kitchen and Bath Tour showcases the latest designs in — you guessed it! — kitchens and baths, as well new materials and fresh colors palettes.

Fifteen of us around the Twin Cities displayed our remodeling projects, and I was proud to show off the work I did on the House house, specifically their new master bathroom. A very special thank you to Chip and Theresa for loaning me their home for the weekend — so gracious they are!

Several of you stopped by to visit, and I so appreciated seeing each and every one of you! I shared the tour with architect Paul Hannan of SALA Architects. He did some incredible work on the House home and I was happy to have him there showing off his work as well.

If you missed the tour but would like to see the homes that were featured, you can check out the September issue of Metro Magazine.

On another note…who else is thrilled the kids are back in school?!?! Oh how my eyes twinkle and my heart skips a tiny beat every time that big yellow-orange angel turns the corner onto our street every morning.

Renae

What a thrill to be part of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk this year! Sixty miles and several blisters and bruises later, and I feel like a changed woman. A huge thank you to my 3-1/2 amazing teammates (one had a bun in her oven!) for letting me join their team!

The first day was exciting and I didn’t know what to expect throughout the Walk. We were certainly fed, watered, and cared for when necessary by the volunteers for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!

We knew the second day was going to be a long one. We were staring 23 miles in the face while still enduring pain from the day before. With a switch of shoes for the day and yet another new pair of wicking socks, shirts, and shorts, off we went. The most encouraging part of our trek was the lady who displayed our miles remaining on a big pink piece of cardboard. It helped me mentally prepare how I was going to finish this thing.

The third day was a treat — almost there! I was anxious and starting to blister and bruise on my feet, but had the encouragement of dear friends and family via text, and people along the way who I didn’t even know! All those noise-makers, cowbells, balloons, freezes, Diet Cokes, water, candy, bubbles, babies, and children cheering total strangers on for the duration of the walk was simply more wonderful than I can describe. I swear I got chills so many times I lost count.

With seven miles left, I stopped to have my achilles tendon taped, and after that I was ready to get to the finish line! This was my favorite part, because I would be able to see my “in-house” cheering station, my family. Nothing was better than seeing them run toward me when I was crossing John Ireland bridge to get to the State Capitol. It was just so sweet that they were there. It meant the world to me.

Thank you to all who thought about me, donated, and helped in some way. This was a great experience and I encourage anyone who is pondering taking on this challenge to do so in 2012!

With love and gratefulness,

Renae

I recently discovered a new line of rugs carried by my dear friend Jackie Cox at Weskuske: Nani Marquina rugs! Oh goodness, friends, they are to die for. Here are some of my favorites.

Antique Collection

This collection showcases very subtle and unique color combos. The overall pattern on these rugs is usually very durable in high traffic areas.

Bicicleta Collection

Are you ready for this? These rugs are made of bike tires! VERY unique. I have seen (and felt!) the sample and believe it or not, it’s quite luxurious. Admittedly they’re not for everyone, but here’s the process: http://www.nanimarquina.com/en/products/rugs/bicicleta.

Bichos Y Flores Collection

Just this picture alone exudes fun and excitement. I’d literally buy all four color combinations if they could guarantee me this much joy and contentment in my household. Speaking of colors, these combos remind me a bit of one of my favorite fabric lines: Osborne and Little from the UK.

Spiral Collection

Makers of this handmade rug use boiled, felted wool to create these fantastic and interesting spirals. This collection currently comes in two colors (hopefully more colors in the future!) and it is hands down my favorite. The cream-colored one is simply magnificent. Impractical, but magnificent.

Which rug will be your next purchase?

Renae

P.S. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who donated to the 3-Day Walk on my behalf. I am truly humbled and honored, and thanks to you, I’ve met my goal! I’ll have plenty of time to think of all of you fondly during my 60 miles afoot next weekend.

Oh goodness, it’s been quite a summer already, and it’s only barely August. While I normally like to keep these posts about design, I just can’t help but to write about a few of my summer high- (and low-!) lights. None of it is exactly newsworthy, but it’s all certainly blog-worthy.

Keller Issue #1

For starters, my darling William broke his little 3-year-old arm. Maybe not a big deal for those of you whose children make routine stops in the ER, but for us Kellers, it was a bit of a traumatic situation. I mean, just check out the X-ray.

Here’s the story that Will’s stickin’ to: Charlotte was pulling him in a wagon, on the grass, when suddenly it tipped over and Will fell out. How that’s cause for such a crazy bone break, I’ll never know. Anyway, when I looked over at him to see why he was crying, I noticed what appeared to be a second elbow. I said a quick prayer hoping I had lost my mind rather than what I was seeing was true, but sadly I had not lost my mind. Will had in fact cracked himself a second elbow. Yuck.

In the next four hours, Will was put under, reset, casted, awoken, and made happy as a clam with all his new Sponge Bob stickers. If only all our problems went away with a few good stickers. What a trooper he’s been, though…and thankfully, he hasn’t realized his straight cast could be used as a “light blue lightsaber”. GREAT news for the rest of the family!

Keller Issue #2

Not quite as traumatic, but our second medical issue of the summer was Andrew’s tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (fancy language for “he got his tonsils and adenoids removed”), which happened just last week. Poor little guy is still taking it easy…I have been told it is a 2 week recovery, and we have 1 week under our belt. I am sure that the ice cream and popsicles will help him out, and oh, yeah, the TV and Wii…..an 8 year old’s dream!

Keller Fun!

And now for the good stuff! We’ve had several wonderful mini-vacations this summer, including a trip to Houston, Minn., in my parents’ camper and another camping trip with B. J.’s family in Hayward, Wisc. Fun get-aways, despite the raging heat and humidity! We have another camping trip to Lake City coming up (who am I?!?! I’m an Embassy Suites kind of girl, but suddenly I have three camping trips under my belt in one summer!) with our dear friends. And at the end of August, the kids and I are heading to Nisswa, Minn., with my friend Katherine and her four kids for a few days. Yep, eight kids and two moms…we’re like “Renae & Kate Plus 8.”

The 3-Day Walk

Oh, and in between all these camping trips is The 3-Day Walk Aug. 19 – 21! My team and I have been getting up early Saturday mornings for our long training walks in preparation for our big 60-mile walk in less than three weeks. Our golf tournament and silent auction last night were a huge success, but we still need more! This is the last time I’ll bug you (well, except for one little reminder on the 15th…!), but please, please, PLEASE consider donating to my Walk. Knowing you’re all supporting me will be a huge factor in making it all 60 miles, blisters and all. Visit www.the3day.org and click on “Donate to a Participant.” Type in my name (Renae with an “a”) and enter whatever amount you want…even $5 helps! And thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Love to all!

Renae