Actress Anna Kendrick has landed some star help to decorate her new home - comedienne and passionate interior designer Ellen Degeneres has offered to take charge of the project.

The Twilight star recently moved into a new property in Los Angeles, but she's struggled to find the time to focus on her decor needs and moaned to DeGeneres about the difficulties she has been experiencing when she appeared on the funnywoman's U.S. talk show on Wednesday (09May12).

She explained, "I just moved in a week ago... Right now I have a mattress on the floor and just suitcases, well, cardboard boxes along the wall...

"When you move into a new house it's like every day you discover, 'Oh, this faucet is leaky' or 'This light's out' and it's my responsibility now. It's terrifying."

Kendrick admits she has no idea where to start when it comes to decorating her home, but she hopes to model her place on DeGeneres' Beverly Hills property, which was featured in trade paper Architectural Digest last November (11).

She told the TV presenter, "I don't really know what I'm doing, but I'm trying to learn. I'm sort of buying design magazines and stuff and I have your Architectural Digest on my vision board. Your house is on my vision board. Is this creepy, or flattering?"

DeGeneres was delighted to hear Kendrick is using her home as inspiration and when the actress jokingly asked if she'd like to do her house, the comedienne jumped at the chance, insisting, "I would love to. I really would... If that's your vision, I will do your house."

She added, "It's flattering, because it's my passion, I really love doing houses. I love decorating and I love buying houses."

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Anna Kendrick - Anna Kendrick Lands Ellen Degeneres As Her Interior Decorator

Actress Anna Kendrick has landed some star help to decorate her new home - comedienne and passionate interior designer Ellen Degeneres has offered to take charge of the project.

The Twilight star recently moved into a new property in Los Angeles, but she's struggled to find the time to focus on her decor needs and moaned to DeGeneres about the difficulties she has been experiencing when she appeared on the funnywoman's talk show on Wednesday.

She explained, "I just moved in a week ago... Right now I have a mattress on the floor and just suitcases, well, cardboard boxes along the wall...

"When you move into a new house it's like every day you discover, 'Oh, this faucet is leaky' or 'This light's out' and it's my responsibility now. It's terrifying."

Kendrick admits she has no idea where to start when it comes to decorating her home, but she hopes to model her place on DeGeneres' Beverly Hills property, which was featured in trade paper Architectural Digest last November.

She told the TV presenter, "I don't really know what I'm doing, but I'm trying to learn. I'm sort of buying design magazines and stuff and I have your Architectural Digest on my vision board. Your house is on my vision board. Is this creepy, or flattering?"

DeGeneres was delighted to hear Kendrick is using her home as inspiration and when the actress jokingly asked if she'd like to do her house, the comedienne jumped at the chance, insisting, "I would love to. I really would... If that's your vision, I will do your house."

She added, "It's flattering, because it's my passion, I really love doing houses. I love decorating and I love buying houses."

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Anna Kendrick lands Ellen DeGeneres as her interior decorator

Tara and Chris live in a gorgeous old storybook home with a ton of character. Its crowning glory is a romantic turret that gives the house a royal air. The turret is what first attracted the couple to this home, but they quickly discovered that turning that awkward space into a multipurpose space was a story with a not-so-happy ending.

With only one closet in their entire top floor, storage was virtually nonexistent. Dim lighting and odd angles contributed to a choppy layout that lacked flow and functionality. Creating a new bedroom, office and lounge on the top floor of Tara and Chris' castle was a tall order, but with some ingenuity, the right materials and a royal touch inspired by the turret itself, we got the job done.

To make the most of this space, I created a plan that moved the bed out of the turret and over to a more convenient location beside the bathroom. The TV and media cabinet moved to the wall across from the bed, and in the corner I designed a luxurious lounge area. To expand the precious closet space, we added on to the outside of the existing closet, and installed a comfy reading nook in front of the window. As for the turret, it is the perfect space for a very funky office. It inspires creativity while segregating the work space from the bedroom-and-lounge area.

We found some wonderful vinyl flooring that looks like reclaimed wood, and laid that down throughout the entire space. A subtle-patterned wallpaper was hung on the room's long wall, helping the eye transition from TV and entertainment unit to lounge area. The rest of the space received a fresh coat of delicate green-gray paint.

One of Chris and Tara's biggest complaints about their multipurpose third floor was the lack of lighting. To brighten things up, we chose some classy black-and-gold pendant lights and hung a grouping of them over the lounge area. Floor and table lamps, a ceiling fixture with fan and a couple of bedside table lamps all help banish the shadows, but the piece de resistance is the cylindrical beaded chandelier that hangs in the office. Now that's a light that really means business.

The third floor of this charming old home is accessed by a narrow staircase. That fact really limits the type of furniture you can bring up there, so we had to choose carefully. I was excited to find a lovely modular L-shaped gray sofa for the lounge area that breaks down into separate pieces. We positioned it under the pendant lights, added a throw and some cushions that bring in the colors found in the bedding, and finished it off with an area rug and a round wooden coffee table with intricate carved detailing.

We had some fun incorporating royal touches throughout this space. One of Tara and Chris' existing chairs was recovered and now features a silk-screened crest with the couple's initials. A dresser and the new closet doors were adorned with stick-on vinyl lettering spelling out regal terms like "lord," "lady," "duke"and "duchess." The reading nook in the window beside the closet is built on top of a custom cabinet base, and features a cheery striped cushion with even more throw pillows. This is one window seat that invites you to stop and stay a while.

Finally, we tackled the turret, also known as the office. The beaded chandelier drops down over an elegant, open-legged table desk. Gold draperies and a red patchwork area rug continue our royal theme. Since the turret is not a very large space, I was careful to keep it uncluttered.

When the lord and lady of the manor were permitted to return to the turret, they were amazed at the transformation. The third floor of their elegant old home now feels cozy and comfortable. Decorative and functional lighting helps give the space a lot of character, while the grouping of black-and-gold pendant lights is pure artistry in itself. Immediately, Tara and Chris gravitated to the lounge area, which is the focal point of this space. The new layout is functional, and flows easily from turret to television area.

We were able to make the most of an awkward space, turning it into a welcoming retreat for the king and queen of this lovely old castle.

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The trouble with turrets: A royal pain for interior design

CINCINNATI - It's that time of the year, when home owners are getting started on home improvement projects, both indoors and out.

Beau Bolce isone of lead interior designers in Cincinnati, and the proprietor atQuince & Quinn, a furniture anddecorating store in Oakley. Besides running the store, Bolce does design work for clients around the Tri-State and around the country. On Saturday morning he stoppedby the9 News studio to chat with Brian Yocono aboutsome of his favorite tipsand trends forgreat summer design .

Bolce says a great place to start this time of year is "spring cleaning". It may sound cliche, but it's important to get a fresh start for the summer. With the change of season, Bolce suggests taking time to clean out closets and get rid of clutter.

Bolce says a great way to get your house ready for summer is to change out rugs, furniture, andaccessories, and give your home a beach house vibe. You can replace heavy wool rugs with sisal rugs, for a more light and airy look. Sisal is a woven natural fiber that is popular for rugs this season. Bolce sayssisal rugs areinexpensive and easy to maintain.

Another hot trend for summer is driftwood-colored finishes for furniture. Bolce says the light gray driftwood color is replacing espresso finishes this season. Using driftwood-colored furniture in your home can add to that vacation-house feel. Bolce suggests mixing gray tones with oranges and pinks for a pop of color. You can also add tropical plants to create a fun beachy look.

The pink and gray color trend is also making its way into the kitchen. Bolce says this color scheme is a retro throwback to the 1950's. The pink color palate is making its way onto walls and fabrics, and is beingpaired with stainless steel appliances. To complete the 1050's look, Bolce says vintage-style aprons are making a comeback as well!

Beau Bolce'sdesign store is called Quince& Quinn. It's located at 3235 Madison Road in Oakley. For more information you canvisit the store's website , or Facebook page .

Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Local decorator shares great summer design tips for your home

Historic homes like the Jackson Street classical revival house chosen for this year's San Francisco Decorator Showcase evoke visions of the lives that were lived in such a place.

If only the mahogany-paneled walls could talk.

This 30-room yellow brick structure built in 1902 was a wedding gift from the president of Wells Fargo Bank to his daughter Clara upon her marriage to attorney Emanuel S. Heller. Over its 110-year history, it's been home to wealthy philanthropists, attorneys, nature preservationists, psychiatrists, shipping magnates, jewelers and interior designers.

The austere facade hides a romantic interior that has seen many incarnations of fabulous home design, and the rooms reworked for this showcase house are no exception.

On view through May 28, the annual showcase benefits University High and features exquisite interiors by more than 30 of the Bay Area's best interior designers. The "bones" of the home remain as glorious as they were when the 1906 earthquake forced displaced financiers to set up shop inside its magnificent halls. The ornate woodwork, grand double staircase, large stained-glass window and stunning views stand as a testament to the luxuries attained in San Francisco's Gilded Age.

"The architecture really drove the design," says Geoffrey De Sousa, who created an intimate gentleman's study off the great hall. "We wanted to embrace the colors and pattern of the period in order to make the space more

The study

For this room De Sousa took his inspiration from "The Cult of Beauty" exhibit at the Legion of Honor, working in a color palette of coppery oranges and blues to take familiar elements of the late Victorian era into the 21st century. A hand-printed and appliqued rust botanical wallpaper extends onto the vaulted ceilings, while the blue and gray rug recalls exotic peacock feathers. Handblown glass spheres in a custom lamp by John Pomp hang over a craggy mahogany and brass desk by Sylvan Fiss. The modern photograph of a robed woman in nature evokes the ginger-haired muses favored by the Pre-Raphaelites.

The living room

A striking contemporary photograph of another red-haired maiden hangs over a plush French sofa in the elegant living room by the interior design firm of BAMO, a San Francisco-based design firm. Principal designers Steve Henry and Michael Booth upholstered the walls in a deep burgundy ribbed silk to complement the mahogany walls while the grand coved ceiling is papered in a pale gold de Gournay tea paper.

Original post:
San Francisco Decorator Showcase: Classic design, modern sensibility

John Edwards leaves the federal courthouse in Greensboro, N.C. on Friday. (Chuck Liddy/AP) She thought maybe you should probably pay for your girlfriend yourself.

Bunny Mellons reaction to learning that her secret payments to the John Edwards campaign were used to cover up his relationship with Rielle Hunter, as described by her interior decorator friend Bryan Huffman in his court testimony Friday. Even the former senator on trial for alleged campaign finance violations cracked a smile at that line, reports the Associated Press. The heiress, now 101, had a complicated romantic history herself and wasnt about to judge him for an affair, Huffman said just the financing of it.

Read more: Lawyer for wealthy heiress says John Edwards knew money was for him (AP), 5/4/12

Read earlier: D.C. insiders line up to testify in Edwards trial, 4/24/12

John Edwards trial: Andrew Young is one confused witness, 4/24/12

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Quoted: Bunny Mellon’s thoughts on the Rielle Hunter affair

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Marysia Rybock of Scavullo Design updates the dining room, above, with a blue Venetian plaster ceiling, resin-and-iron tables and Jonathan Browning's Sputnik-style chandelier. Speech bubbles left add playfulness to the frieze, left.

In this year's San Francisco Decorator Showcase, a chalkboard speech bubble beside one of the many toga-adorned figures in the frieze that wraps around the dining room reads: "If these walls could talk." Indeed, the Classic Revival mansion at 2020 Jackson St. has quite a storied past.

Designed by Julius Krafft, it was built in 1902 by Isaias Hellman, president of Wells Fargo. In the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake and fire, it served as the bank's temporary headquarters. Hellman later gave the 11,500-square-foot residence to his daughter, Clara, upon her marriage to prominent attorney Emanuel Heller. In the decades that followed, it hosted myriad high-profile functions - including the 1945 international conference that led to the creation of the Charter of the United Nations.

In 1991, the Pacific Heights abode took its first turn as a Decorator Showcase, the spring ritual benefiting San Francisco University High School's financial aid program. This weekend, it opened its doors to the public again. Many of the 30 or so participating designers sought to infuse a modern sensibility into the historic dwelling.

With no actual client to design for, Heather Hilliard devised an imaginary one for the master bedroom: "A young couple in their 30s and 40s. ... They want a grand home without the heavy fussiness of their parent's generation."

Citing a quote by French designer Christian Liaigre as her inspiration - "Sometimes the beauty of a space is the empty space" - Hilliard designed a serene environment with a neutral palette: white and cream 16-inch stripes on the wall; a headboard that, by matching the alternating stripes, is almost camouflaged; simple white bed linens; a cream boiled wool felt carpet; and white glass table lamps.

Hilliard also incorporated blue accents - a kidney-shaped royal blue sueded leather sofa; an ivory bench with a navy wave hand-appliqued on the seat; blue wool curtains with a triple-pleated edge - and contemporary art from Dolby Chadwick Gallery. A sculptural white bronze fire screen by John Lile adds a bit of sparkle.

In the dining room, Scavullo Design, led by Marysia Rybock, may have inherited one of the bigger challenges: the aforementioned frieze that depicts a bacchanalia. "While we didn't create clients, we were totally inspired by the characters in the frieze - taking their jovial, hedonistic spirit and creating our interior from that concept," she says.

According to Rybock, a single massive table is no longer compatible with the way most people entertain and dine. So within the existing formal space - which includes paneled walls, Gothic-style built-ins and a coffered ceiling - she and her team introduced a whimsical scheme with five resin-and-iron tables that can be arranged in countless configurations.

Original post:
Pacific Heights mansion to host Decorator Showcase

Ms. Salk is also the author of Rooms for Children: Stylish Spaces for Sleep and Play and Weekend Retreats. She is a contributing editor for 1stdibs.com and iVillage.com. She also regularly produces decorating segments for NBCs Today Show, according to her Web site.

According to the Web site, she grew up in Essex, Mass., and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Vassar College. She then moved to New York, where she helped launch Elle Dcor as its interior design manager, and later became a contributing editor.

In 2003, she joined House and Garden Magazine, where she was special projects editor until its closing.

I wanted to stay in the world of design. I love it, I love the people in it, but I wanted to do it on my own, she said.

Ms. Salk said she thinks social media gives more people a voice and, because of that, she has been able to go out on her own.

Putting this book together included researching all of the designers portfolios. Once she had established the chapter categories, decisions had to be made about what would go into each of those categories.

When you see a great room, you can put it into any of those chapters, said Ms. Salk.

The chapters include color, mix, arrangement, balance, whimsy, accessorizing and rule-breaking.

Ms. Salk said designers have taught her to be fearless, to go for a mix of textures and layers in rooms and to combine layers of visual interest.

I know that a room should delight your eye on different levels. I just learned not to play it too safe, said Ms. Salk. Continued...

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Interior Bliss in New Design Books From Litchifeld County

Photo by Jason Palmer

BELOW: Lynn Moran, seen in this file photo from 2010, has added her aesthetic to this weekend's Decorator Show House, 2101 Avondale. The event benefits Faith Refuge for Women. Times Record News file photos

Photo by Times Record News file art

LEFT: Merrill Sweatt of M. Lynne Designs is one of 17 designers and businesses participating in the Decorator Show House this weekend.

Some people have interior motives, particularly the organizers of the Decorator Show House, where those with interior design cachet have culled their creative skills to put together some spectacularly decorated rooms.

Seventeen interior designers, furniture stores, landscape designers, arts organizations and other businesses have the run of the house, so to speak, and have put together several spaces at the Decorator Show House, 2101 Avondale, corner of Avondale and Harrison

The Country Club home, owned by Susan Saied, is open for viewing for three days, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

"They painted about five or six rooms and it just looks fabulous," said Shirley Craft, co-chairwoman of the show house with Kris Gossom. "We're real excited about it."

Craft on Tuesday was at the home, where designers were busy bringing in and setting up furniture, rugs, artwork and other decorative items to convey as best they can their particular aesthetic, whether whimsical, like the very colorful painted furniture of Merrill Sweatt of M. Lynne Designs; fun, like the items from the Polka Dot Penguin; sophisticated, like the work of Lynn Moran Interiors; or creative, like the work of Wichita Falls artist Pamela Moller.

This is the second year for the Decorator Show House.

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With 17 designers, more than a touch ofstyle

Craig Lee / Special to The Chronicle

STYLEMAKER SPOTLIGHT: Emily Mughannam

"I've always been interested in interior design," says Emily Mughannam. "For as long as I can remember, I've been affected by space, light, texture and color. Even as a kid, I'd rearrange my room regularly, and that play turned into a passion."

In 2007, after years of consulting with a number of design and architectural practices, Mughannam launched EM Design ( http://www.emdesigninteriors.com). "I enjoy being surrounded by beautiful things every day, and I love the relationships I develop with my clients and my vendors," she says. Many of her clients are families with young children - something she, as a mother of a 3-year-old son and 19-month-old daughter, can relate to.

While previously working with local firms Jeffers Design Group and Steven Miller Design Studio, Mughannam had the opportunity to contribute to the prestigious San Francisco Decorator Showcase. This year, EM Design was awarded the teen room; and she's participating on her own. (The annual event started this weekend.)

Mughannam's space features seating that she describes as "a super-huge sofa sectional pit," modern patterns and a neon sign. "It's fun to let my imagination run wild and have that be the guide in my design decisions," she says. "The little Emily who loved to make over her own room as a kid now has a chance to do it for real, and the sky is the limit!"

Color splash: "I have a very clean design point of view, but something I always love to integrate is a splash of color in unexpected places. Maybe all of the trim is navy blue, the ceiling is painted a wild color, or wallpaper is applied on just an accent wall or on the ceiling. A new product that I used in my Showcase room is a perfect example: Timothy Sue's Hearts Apart in chartreuse is a colorful pattern on the ceiling that is completely unexpected and easily removable." ( http://www.timothysue.com)

Family-friendly design: "Don't be afraid to buy and really put to use that sofa you love - just be smart and upholster it in a durable fabric. There are lots of options these days that look and feel great and won't get ruined when your kids draw on them. For example, consider outdoor fabric such as the Kravet Soleil collection for indoor upholstery." ( http://www.kravet.com)

Pattern play: "I am a nut for great patterned pillows. For larger furniture pieces, I tend to go safe on the colors and patterns, but then dress them up with fun pillows. If you outgrow the colors you loved last year, it's not a huge expense to revive your room with new pillows. Layering adds dimension and interest. Lotus Bleu is one of my favorite local sources." ( http://www.lotusbleudesign.com)

Inspiration and ideas: "My design process often includes creating a look book or inspiration board. Whether it's on a computer or bulletin board, I find that seeing all of your favorite items or fabric swatches together in one place helps you visualize the vibe of the space. I love using Pinterest with clients because we can both pin our ideas and communicate virtually in between meetings. You'll begin to see a pattern in the items you like and the colors you're drawn to." ( http://www.pinterest.com)

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Emily Mughannam, passion for interior design