Denise McGaha Interiors

texas

OUR NEW MR. STEAM HOME SPA FROM THE VIEW OF MR. MCGAHA

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As you already know, Scott and I are so thrilled with our new master bathroom! We specifically love our steam shower, thanks to Mr. Steam! Thanks to Mr. Steam we were able to have the the very best steam shower around. We love the iTempoPlus Steam Shower Control and the Linear Steam Head. We also are able to control the steam from our SteamLinx Mobile App. Another great part of the Mr. Steam shower is the Audio Home System. We are able to listen to our favorite music in the shower!  I can’t forget the aromatherapy option and how we are able to pipe in eucalyptus and lavender at the touch of a button.

Recently I asked Scott how he feels about the new bath::

DENISE::  Talk about the process of creating our home spa, our bathroom was completely overhauled. How did you manage not to “peek” while the construction was going on? What was it like living in the guest room?

SCOTT:  Well,  you asked me to trust you and not to look until the entire project was installed.  It was our bedroom, bathroom and closet.  I knew you had some purpose for asking, so I chose to oblige:). I completely trust your ability to design a beautiful space.

Living in the guest room was a different challenge.  You know that wasn’t easy. All of our clothes were on rolling racks in the living room and dining room.  It’s not a lot of fun getting dressed in front of huge open windows every morning.  That lasted about 90 days. Luckily we survived the chaos of a renovation.

DENISE::  Obviously, I know you extremely well!  Talk about which of your favorite bath preferences that I took into account when creating the space.

SCOTT:  I had no idea that you were putting a steam shower from Mr. Steam into our shower.  You kept telling me you had one really big surprise for me.  I was curious, but I didn’t go nosing around.  With running my own business, managing the schedules of our family and everything else we have going on, I don’t have a lot of time to be nosy:)

You do know I love a great soak in the tub.  You installed a deep Japanese style soaking tub as well, which makes me happy!  Because we have traveled together often and enjoyed spas all over the world, you know I am a fan of a perfect bathroom.  The steam shower was a huge surprise and I love it.

DENISE::  How does the renovated bath fit into our lifestyle? Are there aspects of it that have improved your quality of life?

SCOTT::  One of my favorite technology features is the ability to open an app on my iphone and turn on the steam shower. I can program the perfect temperature and the length I plan for my steam before I ever leave our bed.  I also forgot to mention the Bluetooth sound system that you included in the shower. I love being able to connect to the speakers and play music from my phone while I shower or soak!  Starting each day with a steam and your favorite music  is perfection:)

DENISE::  According to the Kitchen & Bath article, you were uncharacteristically silent during the reveal.  It’s true!!  Now that you’ve had a chance to get used to the bathroom, what would you have liked to say at that time?

SCOTT::  I am laughing as I hear your question. If you know me,  I am rarely at a loss for words.  But  I was truly overwhelmed at everything you designed.  I completely understand the television reveal process and the emotions that come with it.  You completely transformed our bedroom, bathroom and closet. I am not embarrassed to say that I was overcome with grateful emotion.

Now that I have been able to live in our new environment and appreciate all the perfect details that you created, I would love to say thank you so much, darling.  I love you, and thank you for taking the time to make our home as perfect as you do so many other client’s homes on a daily basis.  I am blessed to be married to such a talented and gifted lady.

I swear I didn’t pay him to say those things!!  But being able to share my design talents with those I love makes all of the late nights and trips away from home completely worth it all.  Thank you Mr. Steam for transforming our lives with healthy steam and a home spa.  WE LOVE IT!!

 

MCGAHA MAKEOVER THE CLOSET – PART 4

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If you have been following along, you know that we embarked upon a full master suite remodel in April of 2018.  When Luxe Magazine published the bath in their 2019 issue we were ecstatic!  But there is more that you haven’t seen yet!

When we had the major shower leak, it destroyed our master closet and the wall to wall seagrass carpet we had installed.  In addition to remodeling the bath, we needed to take a long, hard look at our closet.  IT WAS A COMPLETE WRECK.

I am going to admit my problem here publicly…..I am a horrible closet organizer.  While I love creating beautiful interiors for my clients, my closet is often a jumble of handbags, suitcases, shoes and more.  It is a complete reflection of the chaotic schedule I keep.  My poor husband suffers the most as he really does keep a neat side in his closet.  My side however is atrocious.

Enter Staci Ferber from ReOrgit.  I seriously could not have tackled this project without her and when we had to move our entire contents of our closet into our living and dining room, it became evident what a horrible problem we had.  I needed help!!

Staci helped me tackle this huge project while our bath was being renovated and we met several times during the process to achieve our goals.  The first two times we met, we completely emptied the closet into our living room on rolling racks, folding tables and the floor.  It was completely embarrassing to see everything I owned in broad daylight.  Staci assured me this was run of the mill for most of her clients and helped me sort through what to donate, what to toss and how to think about organizing it all once we were done.

Then we set about making a plan for the space and we installed a proper closet system.  Staci helped me get designer items to the proper channels for selling online (I made money….but don’t tell Scott), as well as donating items I no longer wanted.

She also worked with me to design the storage we needed and we used lots of great storage from The Container Store.  She picked them all up and showed up at my door ready to organize.

Staci folded, hung and installed every inch of our closet.  I seriously could not have done this without her help in addition to everything else I was managing at work and during our remodel.  Below are the results of her hard work and the result of my daily JOY when I walk into my closet.

 

 

 

 

It is time to have her out again this season to help me get it looking in tip-top shape and I can honestly tell you that when your life and your closet are completely organized you feel 50 pounds lighter.

Thank you Staci!!

If you want to learn more about how Staci works or call her for a consultation, just contact her HERE.  She does much more than just closets, so make sure you tell her I sent you!!

MCGAHA MAKEOVER THE REVEAL – PART 3

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I mentioned in my last post how I had a HUGE surprise planned for Scott when the folks at Mr. Steam asked me if I wanted to install a steam shower in my bath makeover.  Uh…..YES!?!  So as part of that partnership, I am going to not only share with you our BIG reveal video…..I plan to share with you how much we use our new steam shower and what a difference it has made in our lives.

I am going to link the video below, but before that, a little background.  I decided to repaint our master bedroom and change from a queen bed to a king bed.  This was a huge change for us, and I installed a beautiful collage of photography from my friend Brownlee Currey.  When you see the video, Scott had just seen the bedroom for the first time.

 

 

 

He was so overwhelmed at the space, that we was literally speechless.  If you know Scott, he is NEVER speechless.  But there were tears…… and I love making my man cry with JOY!  So when you see the start of the video, you are seeing an already shocked and overwhelmed man who has just seen his new master suite.  Then we walk into the bath.

Watch THIS!!

https://youtu.be/W7018EsBxbg 

So as you can see, Mr. Steam offers not only an amazing steam shower.  They also include music, technology and more into their systems.  I am a huge fan and recommend them every chance I get when designing baths for my clients.  Take a look at what it takes to build a steam shower HERE with Mr. Steam.

I plan another post soon on everything you need to know about Mr. Steam, so stay tuned for that.  In the meantime, just know that a steam shower has seriously changed our daily lives for the better.

xo

Denise

 

MCGAHA MAKEOVER BEFORE & AFTER – PART 2

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In my last post, I shared the before images and our design plan for our bath remodel.  I hope it wasn’t too traumatic for you!  Today, I want to share the marvelous partners we had in bringing my design vision to reality.  As a designer, we have access to every beautiful product imaginable and it can be daunting to make decisions with so many options.  Even for a designer.  We are often our own worst clients.

In true fashion, I spent about 3 hours making selections for the entire bath and then never looked back.  I have learned over the years that my original ideas are the ones I end up going back to, so I trust my gut now.  It took years to get there, but I am still so happy with our bath design.

For plumbing fixtures, I chose Rohl and the designs of my super talented friend, Michael Berman.  The Graceline collection was the perfect mix of classic, masculine and modern I was hoping for in our bath.  We chose a hand shower for the tub deck, as well as a hand held shower on an adjustable rod for a shower.  It has been the perfect solution for cleaning the shower, bathing my dogs and offering adjustable height for both Scott and I (and the kids when they want to use our shower).

 

The beautiful porcelain wall and floor tiles, as well as the marble mosaic on the shower floor and ceiling, as well as our closet, are by Crossville.  The Statuario Venato, unpolished, 12 x 24 porcelain is extremely durable and offered the bright and classic look we were wanting.  The Yin + Yang, 1″ x 3″ mosaic in Black Dragon is soft to the touch and the shape felt modern as well.

We also turned to Rohl for their Allia porcelain sinks made in France.  I wanted a rectangular sink with rounded corners for easy cleaning and Rohl had the deep option I had been searching for everywhere.

In the photo above, there are so many wonderful product partners shown.  In addition to the beautiful Rohl plumbing, you can see the blush cabinets I designed.  The paint is Sherwin-Williams Blushing (SW 6617).  I love using Sherwin-Williams in all of our projects and our entire home is painted in SW.  The hardware on the cabinets is by Addison-Weeks and I love the long, acrylic rods with polished nickel to match the plumbing finishes.

We also installed my dream medicine cabinets by Robern.  These have built-in, dimmable lighting that is PERFECT for applying makeup and shaving.  We love them!  They also have wonderful storage and have electrical plugs inside for charging toothbrushes, electrical razors and iPhone chargers.  We love how they are dimmed by touching the sensor and we can control how bright we need them.  Scott prefers dim light while I like them on high.

Next up – Currey & Company tole pendants over our sinks offer the perfect directional lighting.  The metal finish holds up to moisture in the bath and the black and white finish was the perfect for our color scheme.  It doesn’t hurt that they are part of the Bunny Williams collection with Currey and I love everything she designs.

I also added an original oil painting that Scott and I purchased on our second trip to Paris in 2007.  It was the jumping-off point for the color scheme and a perfect reminder of our first trip to shop the flea markets of Paris many years ago.  I love looking at it each morning when I am getting ready and it brings such energy to the space.  Scott often goes to bed long after me, so I leave the art light on above it as a night light for him when I turn in early.  I also use it when waking for my early morning workouts so I don’t wake him with bright lights.

The countertops are from Cosentino and are the Et Marquina in Eternal Quartz countertops.  I also used them on our tub deck and created panels for the front of the deck.  This is one of my favorite features and the one that gets the most questions when people see the bath.  We carried the slab into the windowsill and I love the black and white pattern against our wallpaper and fabric.

Last but not least, is the wallpaper and roman shade fabric from my collection with Design Legacy.  The Array pattern in Cinder was the perfect artistic addition to the space.  I not only included it on walls, it is on the ceilings, the roman shade over the tub and even in the water closet.  Our bath is oddly shaped and the pattern helps blur the edges of the room and is a statement to my love of layering patterns.  Adding pattern to our bath took it from basic to dramatic immediately.

The most important addition to our remodel was the Mr. Steam steam unit.  This was the surprise that I kept from Scott for the entire remodel process.  He had NO idea he was getting a steam shower, which now gets daily use.  If you don’t have a steam shower you NEED one!!  The essential oils we use in the steam include Eucalyptus which has been wonderful when allergy season is in full swing in Texas.  We also have speakers in our steam unit and are able to play our favorite relaxing tunes while experiencing a therapeutic steam.

I use the steam after a workout (I personally love Lavender oil in my steam) and cannot tell you the difference in my recovery.  I feel healthier, breathe better and start my day with a relaxed mindset before heading to the design studio.  I also have found that my muscles heal faster and I have less soreness after a long workout when I steam afterward.

I hope you can see that our remodel was so much more than just creating a beautiful bath.  It was creating space where Scott and I could retreat from the world, relax, rejuvenate and find peace in our hectic lives.  We both work long hours and have the stresses of owning two separate businesses.  I would have embarked on this remodel years ago had I known the difference it would make in our lives.  Let me know in the comments what your favorite part of our remodel is?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

xo

Denise

DENISE MCGAHA AT HIGH POINT MARKET

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Hello Friends!

High Point Market starts tomorrow and I am super excited to share new lighting designs launching with Currey & Co.

 

 

 

 

A fun event that I will participating in is the launch of the new KBB magazine. The event is hosted by NKBA and Emerald Expositions. The event will take place at the Currey & Co showroom at 6:00 pm on Saturday, April 6th.

 

Another great event happening at High Point Market is a panel discussing “Curating Trend-Proof Interiors Using Timeless Design Elements” hosted by Mottahedeh and New Growth Designs. I will be on the panel and joined by Shayla Copas, and the talented guys from Parker Kennedy, Lance Jackson, and David Ecton. The moderator will be Steve McKenzie. This discussion will take place on Saturday, April 6th at 11am at 422 N. Hamilton Street. I hope to see you there!

 

Xo,

Denise

DALLAS DESIGN WEEK APRIL 15-18

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Dallas Design Week is coming up next month and I am so excited!  I will be participating in several places throughout this three day event.   It will be taking place April 15-18, 2019.

One of the many highlights of the week will be Carson Kressley teaming up with Dallas Market Center & Feizy for several appearances!

Here is a complete schedule of Dallas Design Week Events:

Dine + Design: Gary Inman & Donna Vining
Creating Beautiful Designs While Crafting A Successful Business
WTC 1 Atrium & WTC 6
12PM – 2PMJoin us for an inspiring afternoon and earn IDCEC credit at this anticipated event. Cocktails, vignette viewing and networking take place at noon in the World Trade Center Atrium, followed by a luncheon presentation at 12:30PM on WTC 6 featuring award-winning design industry experts Gary Inman and Donna Vining.RSVP HERE
Dallas Market Center & Feizy Present Carson Kressley
WTC 1 Atrium (outside Feizy)3:30PM – 5:30PM
You’re invited to a special event featuring Emmy-winning TV personality, style expert and New York Times best-selling author Carson Kressley. The star of the groundbreaking series Queer Eye and Bravo’s new hit Get a Room with Carson & Thom will step up to the mic at 3:30PM, followed by a meet-and-greet cocktail hour at 4:30PM.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Mike Peterson: Design Therapy
Design’s Influence on Health & Pleasure
WTC 1 Atrium
9:30AM – 10:30AM
Are you getting credit for providing health and pleasure for your clients?Mike Peterson, President of Vision Marketing and former publisher of Country Living, House Beautiful and LUXE Interiors + Design magazines, leads an insightful panel discussion on the value proposition behind these benefits and how designers can market the emotional reward they provide to clients.
Taste of Lightovation Luncheon, Tours & Giveaway
TM 1 Grand Pavilion & Lighting Showrooms
11AM – 3:30PM
Join us for Taste of Lightovation, your exclusive opportunity to experience a “taste” of the largest residential lighting marketplace in North America. The afternoon begins with a hosted luncheon in the Trade Mart Grand Pavilion, followed by guided showroom tours of select lighting exhibitors. The event concludes in The SMART Center (TM 4826) for the launch of Better Homes & Gardens’ latest Lighting special interest magazine—produced in partnership with the American Lighting Association—and an opportunity to win up to $15,000 in product from the showrooms visited. Note that these showrooms will also continue to host hospitality for designers until 5:30PM. Sponsors include Eurofase (TM 4002), Progress Lighting (TM 3840), Quoizel (TM 3200), Swarovski (TM 4926) and Hammerton Lighting (TM 4523).RSVP HERE
Cambria Stone & Dann Foley Pop-Up & Presentation
WTC 190, Accent Décor (Hallway)
4PM – 5:30PMJoin celebrity designer Dann Foley for a lively and interactive discussion about what makes Cambria Quartz his only choice of natural hard stone surfaces for his high-end clientele. Dann will share how he has come to rely solely on Cambria – the only family-owned, American-made luxury quartz brand – and share both his portfolio and a plethora of tips and tricks for maximizing your brand, your bottom line and your client referrals through his own sales techniques. After more than 30 years as a successful interior designer, product designer and television personality, Dann offers a unique perspective on what really works!

Thursday, April 18, 2019
Interior Design Society Meeting
IHDC 1D209, Global Views
11AM – 12:30PMConsidering a membership in the Interior Design Society? As one of the country’s largest organizations of its kind, the IDS is dedicated to serving the residential interior design industry and helping its members grow their businesses. Learn more at this informative meeting.
Lighting Theory Essentials
TM 3840, Progress Lighting
11:30AM – 1PMJoin Progress Lighting for an IDCEC CEU credited seminar that will cover a variety of topics including Color Rendering and the Color Rendering Index, Human Centric Lighting and Circadian Rhythm, the Basics of LED and Spectral Power Distribution, and much more. Seating is limited, lunch included.Please RSVP to Jennifer Kis, jkis@progresslighting.com
Coffee & Dessert Reception Featuring Denise McGaha
IHDC 1D228, Currey & Company
1PM – 2:30PMVisit the stunning Currey & Company showroom in the Interior Home + Design Center for coffee, dessert, giveaways and a meet and greet with award-winning interior designer Denise McGaha.
Stephen Karlisch: Smart Photography
Getting the Most for Your Photography Budget
IHDC 1, Registration Area
2:45PM – 4PM
In today’s changing media landscape, professional photography is critical to marketing an interior design business. Learn strategies for planning the most effective and successful photo shoots from expert interior photographer Stephen Karlisch and award-winning interior designer Denise McGaha. This CEU credited event covers topics including the importance of planning your shoot, photo styling, using photos to market your business, social media and more.
Launch of Linea d’Luz by Jan Barboglio, Represented by goetzinc
IHDC 1D202, The Gallery
4PM – 5PM
Join us for the Jan Barboglio Signature Tequila Bar and see the new Linea d’Luz collection of lighting and furniture.
Dallas Design Week Closing Party
IHDC 1D202, The Gallery
4PM – 5PMJoin us in the Gallery at IHDC to toast a week to remember! Dallas Design Week’s closing party will feature light bites, cocktails, music, fabulous giveaways and more.

 

I look forward to seeing you all there!

Xo,

Denise

DENISE MCGAHA INTERIORS MAKES D HOME MAGAZINE BEST DESIGNER LIST FOR 2019

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We are so thrilled and honored to be a part of the D Home’s Best Designers List of 2019! D Home Magazine held an event for all of the designers recently hosted at Craighead Green Gallery.

The March/April edition of D Home will feature all of the designers that were honored with lots of tips and recommendations from all of us!  I was excited to share work from our St. Albans project as well featuring my tips for kitchen design.  We also gave our view on mixing pattern and how I did it in our clients’ study to create a fun but sophisticated space for the Mr. of the home to work and watch late night television.

Below are some of the images from that night and our features.  Make sure you pick up a copy! Click HERE for more images.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Xo,

Denise

30TH ANNUAL ARTS AWARD FOR INTERIOR DESIGNER 2019

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Scott and I recently attended the 30th Annual ARTS Awards where I was honored and humbled to have been nominated in the Interior Design Category.  I am not a stranger to this beautifully produced Awards ceremony as I have been a presenter, as well as being nominated in the Interior Designer Category for the past 3 years.  I have never won this coveted award and the week leading up to the awards was quite hectic.

I managed to schedule a manicure and a blow out the day of the ceremony, but didn’t really have time to shop for a dress…..so I shopped my closet.  I have always opted for a ballgown but this time, it was a ball skirt from 10 years ago and a draped jacket from last season.  I actually felt comfortable and relaxed and honestly didn’t prepare a speech.  Sitting at the table with my great friends from Currey & Co., I had a fun dinner and prepared for the ceremony to start.

I think you probably know where this story is going, but when our category was called and my name was called out as a winner, I was seriously stunned.  I really was shocked and when I went on stage, I couldn’t contain my excitement.  I thrust that coveted statue in the air and squealed with excitement.

What a wonderful honor to be recognized in my 18th year of business.  I want to thank the judges, Sharon Davis, the ARTS Nomination Committee and this industry I call family.  I am really so excited to have this recognition of my team and our firm because without them this wouldn’t be possible.

As always, having my loving and supportive husband by my side made it all the more special.  Photos below by Beth Tilley Green for Currey & Co. – and a huge thanks to my Currey & Co family for all of their support and for hosting us at their table!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interior Designer – Denise McGaha, Denise McGaha Interiors

 

DENISE MCGAHA AND CURREY & CO. AT DALLAS MARKET

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Hi Friends,

This week is Dallas Market as well as the Grand Opening of the new Currey & Co. showroom.  Another exciting, event filled week and I am having a debut party of my own! The most exciting part is that my darling friend and artist Kelly O’Neal is doing a live painting demonstration and painting lampshades for my lamps that debuted with Currey & Co this season.  IF you want original artwork on your lamps, please come to the event and purchase these one of a kind pieces.  See below for all the details:

What: Denise McGaha for Currey & C0. Collection Debut

When: January 19th from 3-6pm

Where: Interior Home + Design Center, Suite 1D228

Xo,

Denise

WINTER COOKIE PARTY

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Christmas has come and gone and as hard as I tried, I just didn’t get this fun post up before then!  This year has flown by and everyone (including me) was so busy with holiday parties, gift giving, and getting ready for Christmas! My daughter, Jori, planned a cookie party for her friends the weekend before Christmas and I wanted to share how we made it happen in record time thanks to Paperless Post and Amazon!  We went online the weekend before and got everything we needed for the party. From cookie cutters to baking pans, we got it all!

 

A cookie party is great way to mix up your ordinary holiday party! It is fun for the guests to get creative. And the decorated cookies will also act as a take home gift for your guests.

Click on my Amazon Shop button below to make sure you have everything you need for your winter baking.  This is such a fun thing for teen girls to do and they basically did everything themselves and even helped with clean up!  I hope you try a baking event for your kids before Spring arrives, especially on those long weekends where weather has them bored to tears or they don’t want to get off of their phones or Netflix!

XO,

Denise