Because I took a spur of the moment trip to Santa Fe last week and need to share the spirit of one of America’s favorite locations for a “get away”.

We were thrilled to be able to fly right into Santa Fe on American Airlines, rather than the rental car ordeal and trek from Albuquerque. The airport is vintage in Santa Fe-even the public restrooms have the fabulous original terra cotta tile with black and turquoise accents.

It was near bitter cold, but the pure, fresh snow covering the Village made it worth suffering the freezing temps.  This is not the “tourist season”, unless you are skiing, so the streets were very quiet and the shopkeepers and restaurateurs were especially thrilled to see us.

The new Auberge de Santa Fe, a few miles outside the center, is a modern interpretation of Santa Fe that was perfectly executed and very contemporary. I would love to be there for a destination wedding or a celebration of sorts.

Even if you are not a fan of the region, one cannot help enjoying the food, shopping, culture, and architecture of Santa Fe.

I hit all my favorite spots, and especially enjoyed the furnishings offered in the cozy setting at the ACC.  I love the antique wall hung medicine cabinet I bought for someone’s future powder room; and the Valentine’s chocolate I am thrilled to being giving away form Todos Santos.

After looking for almost 2 years for an antique Santo to complete the Spanish residence we wrapped up last year, I bought it in Santa Fe!! Camille and I had been communicating with the dealer via email and phone for many months, but I was reluctant to make the deal. When I saw the ancient beauty of St.Jose and learned he was the patron saint of the home, I knew I would find nothing more suitable. I also learned Santo is the generic name for any carved religious icon-the correct term for a figure carved on all sides is a Bulto.

On the final morning of this delightful week end, I celebrated my birthday with great friends and a delicious brunch at the historic La Fonda Hotel. The dining room has been restored to its authentic grandure, and the renewed fireplace was sensational. The original back painted glass had been cleaned, restored, and refreshed-a whimsical, artistic touch of Santa Fe charm.

Sometimes you can run across that diamond in the rough while rummaging through the local garage and/ or estate sales.  I never start the day expecting to find that fabulous jewel,  but when I do it turns out to be a real gem.  Below are two pieces that were rescued and revamped to create spectacular new additions.

Before

After

This old stereo cabinet with broken record player and speakers still inside was found in the back room of an estate sale covered in junk and easy to over look.  Removing the stereo and speakers made this a great sofa console with plenty of room for storage inside. Painted in a blue grey with charcoal glaze and new upholstered decorative panels, it is hard to believe that this is the same piece.

Before

After

This petite little chair and ottoman had a very worn and tattered  japaneese toile silk, but the legs were in great shape with minimal wear. Though it looked pretty sad shoved in the corner of a estate sale I knew it was a steal at just $40.00 for the pair. With a simple change in fabric only, this little chair became a great accent.

Jean Mauze, 3rd in a series

The really good, professional General Contractors who are successful and gain the respect of their community are a designer’s best friend. Jean Mauze was that person who came into my world some 20 years ago during a new home project where I was just honing my skills at the design/build teamwork.

I knew of Jean by his reputation as “the” builder to be associated with, and I was nervous to meet him that first day on the Bloom/Swartzman site.  I expected a tough, abrupt macho guy because I had been told he was one of the few builders who was able to command the City’s best subs in a timely manner.  Instead,I was warmly  greeted by a strikingly handsome gentleman with a soft voice and a smile that said,”welcome, glad to have you working with us”.  We could all let our guards down with Jean, and to this day, I know he is one of those entrepreneurs who have been successful in the real world by being kind to all people and exhibiting ultimate trust in all who work with him.

Sometime in the spring of 1990, Jean offered to show one of his new home projects to my client.  She and her husband were in the process of hiring a builder for their extravagant new home.  We met Jean at the designated spot; in his white Ford pickup truck he instructed us to follow him.  We all entered the highway together, and I never saw that pick up again that afternoon. Jean had a reputation for driving fast, and I was witness to it!  This happened the year’s pre-cell phone, so that appointment had to be rescheduled for another day.

Jean always enjoyed the creation of these beautiful homes we worked on together.  When we wanted to make changes or look for a better way to do some detail during construction, he was patient with us, and only offered a calm advisory about the budget or cost.

There have been countless projects that Jean and I have worked on together, and to this day, when BDG is hired for any home that Mauze Construction works on, I have a peace of mind that I do not experience so easily otherwise. Jean assures the architect and designer that all the preliminary planning and designing will be brought into reality just as they intended.  And, best of all, if there are questions about design intent or details that require further refinement in the field, Jean will always ask them and never assume.

Jean knows the roles each of us play in the design/build profession, and he honors them all.  I am so lucky to have been a part of a few of the multitude of Mauze built homes that grace our San Antonio neighborhoods!

A well-designed room demands well-deserved attention, particularly as the backdrop for social occasions.  Tabletop elements must come together to compliment both the interiors and occasion at hand.  Though the heirloom silver tray never goes out of style, current designs on the marketplace offer everything from contemporary to traditional, timeless to whimsical, and formal to casual.

L’Objet’s EVOCA 21” Oval Platter/Ruffle Oval Platter Gold by Annie Glass

Nambe’s Ridge Tray with Wood Insert /Wave by Lawrence Essential

Simrin’s Botanical Ottoman Rectangular Tray/Simrin’s Raja Large Rectangular Tray

The Fruit Loop Fruit Holder by Alessi/The Triton Laquer Tray by notNeutral

The Resonance Centerpiece by Alessi/Karim Rashid for Nambe, Morphik Chip

Mac Chesney, 2nd in a series

I grew up in West Texas.  It is a barren land with few trees and lots of big, open sky.  There was not a lot of stimulation there in those years so kids were forced to make their own fun; the imagination was  the best escape.

For this reason, many famous musicians, collectible artists, and fine architects are products of this culture.  We all had a lot of time to create during our youth, and it shows as I cross paths with those whose branches grew from those  same roots.

What a surprise to me that my first, big new home  project with a local San Antonio architect was with one who hailed from those same parts of Texas as me.  My compadre, Mac Chesney, was raised with the same “your handshake is your word” work ethic, and  we both hold dearly the gratitude we feel for all the wonderful clients who have allowed us to practice our crafts and continue to hone our creative powers on their own dwellings and work spaces.

For the past 20+ years, Mac and I have done remodels, modest family homes, large family homes, and a career benchmark residence as a team……

Mac has taught me volumes of knowledge about architecture, construction, and the creative process which he always links to his client’s dream and budget.  He is not an architect whose ego overshadows the client’s vision; rather he gently guides them to make good choices based on his acutely precise drawings and renderings….and even his whimsical ones!

Our first project together was as beautiful as any we have done in the more recent years.  By so sincerely engaging my opinions and collaboration on this first project, he set me off on a course to be as skilled at my part of the design team contribution as he.  He taught me to write specs that contractors would read and follow.

There have been many a time I have sat next to Mac at his conference room table, with clients opposite us, when his descriptive phrases to describe the project progress have brought me to tears of laughter.  An example would be his use of analogy when describing the project as ”nine months pregnant” to a couple wanting to rethink a fireplace decision long after that structural change could be easily re designed.

Mac is a larger than life character whose emotions and exuberance come through to both entertain and embrace all of us who have been lucky enough to work with him.  I consider him my gifted teacher, my endearing friend, and the best of what comes from those West Texas roots.

Joe Ely \”All Just to get to you\”

Many things today are not made quite like they used to be, so when you spot that little something hidden in an estate sale you can’t help but want to revive and resurrect it.  These two little antique relics were found in a Dallas salvage yard.  They once served as feet for an old cast iron tub, but now they have a new destiny.  They were restored and re-plated in a brass finish by Metal Touch Plating, and are now the focal point of a new custom platform bed.

Before:

After:

Installed:

Carlton Church, 1st in a series

arranged somewhat chronologically….

It all began with a funky house on Morningside that had enough natural light to convince me it could be a home for my young family settling here in San Antonio, after 9 moves in 13 years.  I had been influenced by the urban-ness of Chicago, the tropical Latino beat of Venezuela, and the old world sophistication of Madrid; but the move to Texas came on the heels of a second stint in Miami, where overt hipness was emerging in architecture there.  The collision of postmodern design with the influences of euro-Latino modernism had been pressed on me.  I needed a home in the old neighborhood that would allow me to transition my design sensibilities, once more.  It could not be too traditional, but it could not be too eclectic either.

Our Realtor presented local contractor, Carlton Church, to us one fall afternoon.  He looked so different from the builder/contractors I had been exposed to in the urban areas we came from-he wore boots, jeans, a white starched shirt, and drove a work-type truck.  He was obviously not a “promoter-type” builder like the ones I had come into contact with in the other areas.  I liked him right away, and I knew to trust his judgment.

He was so trusting of me, and as we worked together to remodel and renovate our modest family home, he gave me genuine compliments for the way I selected and documented the work he and his crew had to do.  As the project came to a close, he told me that he thought I had an especially good eye for interior construction and a practical knowledge of how to budget; and he suggested we try to do a speculative project or two together.  He also led me to a solid interior design project in the historic area of the City where I met the two architects who became my colleagues and landlords for the next several years.

Carlton was a master builder, and he had a love of the authentic materials native to our area.  He loved to see things be put back together as they were intended to be.  I do not think he would have approved of all the mac-mansions built in this area the past few years.  He was a man of integrity who loved people; he treated us all like we were something special.  Not only did he open the first doors to me professionally here in my new city, he taught me to trust my instincts about design.

I can only hope he is looking down on us now, knowing we were all made better by his guidance, friendship, and solid encouragement!  I know he would love seeing a totally sustainable home being built in his old Alamo Height neighborhood today.  He was thinking that direction long before it became fashionable.  Bless Him.

Follow Debbie on Twitter @DebbieBaxter1

Not the kind of rehab that plagues the tabloids, but rehab for your furniture.  It is only natural that our style, taste and ideas change with the seasons, so what does that leave us with?  It leaves behind pieces that are still in great condition but seem to be stuck back in time, or out of place with our other items. Well you don’t have to keep that unwanted eyesore hidden in a spare room or send it packing to the landfill anymore.  A simple refinish or new upholstery could jolt it back to today’s style and make it a focal piece once again. Though, it is hard to see their potential in the beginning just dive in and be amazed at what is to come.

Here are a few fabulous pieces that recently rehab’ed!

Check Mate:

Before                After (with new sectional pieces added)

Flower Power:

Before (with broken rattan base)                             After

Reprint:

Before   (Bold Print)                                         After (Soothing Solid)

Skeleton Key:

Before   (Mellow Yellow)                            After (Bold Black andWhite)

In Celebration of My 25 Years at BDG

25 years ago I decided to be a “professional” interior designer here in San Antonio Texas. I have a long list of people to thank for the opportunities that blossomed into success and allowed me to build this design firm. There are so many “stories” and so many people dear to my heart; I have decided to devote my next 25 blogs to 25 of these people.  But,today,I want to put some historical perspective together, especially if you are a young, aspiring design-er types reading these dialogues.

Back in 1985, an entrepreneur would only be taken seriously if one had an “official” office-working from  a home office immediately pegged you as not being serious about your work. I was lucky to have met a talented contractor who helped introduce me to a couple of young, female architects who were inclusive enough to make room for me in their building.  We were all way ahead of the curve in our desires to run sophisticated business models; we just lacked the clients. This was a particularly tough economic time for Texas, and I was lucky to be able to pay my share of the rent for this renovated space in a somewhat marginal part of town.

A few years later, I met master contractor and a prolific San Antonio architect, on my first really big, custom-designed new home up in the hills just outside the city.  Since I had been doing mostly health care related work, I had met some doctors who wanted me to work on their homes. By then, I had enough business to move to a little larger office, but needed to be close to home and school, so I could meet the challenges of being a working Mother with a spouse who spent his business week in Mexico. The 2^nd floor of Broadway Bank was my next office space for a few lean years.

The Texas economy got a little stronger, and I started getting some nice referrals from both the contractor and the architect, so I was able to lease an office on the ground floor of a nice building on Sunset Road. The street name appealed to me as did the location. It was mid way between downtown and the newer, rapidly growing areas of our city. My professional life really grew there-I had the room to host a few small events, take in a partner/designer, and increase our resource area.  Word got around that we knew how to build, we were great at project management, and there was a high sense of style hovering around the staff.

In 2002, something happened that I had never even considered a possibility for me or for my professional life…………I was able to build a beautiful office building in partnership with a young architect I had just started working with on some amazing projects-right across the street from my lease space on Sunset Road!! It was a dream come true, and I loved being in that space-Good Thing! Since I was working 80-100 hour weeks routinely at that point.

As BDG started to grow with the addition of an associate, more designers, & additional support staff, I gave up my office to my new associate and started working out of my car, and on a laptop. We were forced to lease a space down the road to house our exploding resource room. All of a sudden, we were popping at the seams-the economy was brisk and a lot of new, very extravagant construction projects were at our crowded doorway. When a trusted client told me I needed to address the overcrowded office situation, or I would lose valuable personnel, I started looking for another building to move us into.  It would mean leaving the space I had designed and retrofitting an older building, but we were focused on the growth of BDG, and the main goal was to be able to provide a nice, but spacious workplace.

25 Years, 5 moves, and countless stories to tell…….but, it is the people who have crossed my path that have made all the difference for me.  Stay tuned….

Man’s best friend, always loyal and forgiving.  The dog.  They come in all shapes, colors, textures and sizes.   Baxter Design Group is a very dog friendly environment. We welcome all dogs.  Our clients, visitors, mailmen are greeted by at least one of our fury friends every day at BDG.

Below is a feature presentation of the dogs proudly owned and loved by the employees of BDG.

Chully Boy Baxter (Shihtzu)

Photo courtesy of Debbie Baxter

Murphee Chamberlain (Miniature Schnauzer)

Photo courtesy of Camille Chamberlain

Gigi Harrison (Boston Terrier)

Photo courtesy of Karen Harrison

Dexter Finnegan the Great Hickey (Dashchund)

Photo Courtesy of Holly Hickey

Bentley Jung (Shihtzu)

Photo courtesy of Susan Jung

Molly Lancaster (Yorkshire Terrier)

Photo courtesy of Kelly Lancaster

Bunni Lebowski Misiong & Lelu Dallas Misiong (Boxers)

Photo courtesy of Shawna Misiong

Samson Peacock (Shiba Inu) & Gracie Peacock (Black Mouth Cur)

Photo courtesy of Tara Peacock

Mr. Puggy Roy (Chocolate Pug)

Photo courtesy of Casey Roy

Beautiful Baby Kennedy Sands with Ace Sands (Golden Retriever)

Photo courtesy of Kristen Sands

Sydney Seidler (Chesapeake Bay Retriever)

Photo courtesy of Allison Seidler

Campy Taylor (English Lab) and Maddie Taylor (Grey House Cat)

Photo courtesy of Christie Taylor

Izzy & Elsie Warnock(Black & Tan Dachshund & Lab Retriever Mix)

Photo courtesy of Meredith Warnock

Since we love our fury friends so much and everyone else in this world does too, (our clients, family members, close friends and coworkers) I have featured the artists and photographers who bring out the true character of or our dogs through their paintbrushes and camera lenses.

Yorkie & Boxer by Russian Artist Svetlana Novikova

Long Haired Dachshund and Pekingese painted by native Texan Suzy Moritz

Bear & Chip painted by Natalie Erwin, Artist out of Dallas, Texas

Sleepy French Bulldog & Boston Terrier by Carla Smale

Winnie & Buddy by Cindy Jerrell

Pug puppy photographed by Shelly Guberek. (http://www.doggystudio.com/) Shelly works for Doggy Studio, a professional dog portrait studio located in Miami Florida.

Daschund and Whippet photographed by Ixianna Hernandez (http://www.petographs.com) A photographer based out of New York City.

Shiba Inu, French Bulldogs and Ann’s Fawn Pug photographed by the owner herself, Ann Hamilton.  Ann Hamilton is a wedding and pet photographer based out of San Francisco.

Beagle and Yellow Labs photographed by Amanda Jones.  Amanda’s studio is located in North Adams, Massachusetts

Lulu, Kengo and Winston photographed by Jamie Pflughoeft. (http://www.cowbelly.com/dogs.html)  Jamie is a pet photographer based out of Seattle.

Shihtzu and Boston Terrier photographed by Erin Vey, a Seattle Dog Photographer. (http://www.thebarkives.com/index.php/)

And last but not least, here’s to all of you Tim Burton fans out there!

1997 Polaroid by Tim Burton (http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/art/2009/11/tim-burton-opens-at-moma.html)

Just remember to “wag more and bark less” this new year!

Feliz Ano Nuevo!