Mackenzie Collier Featured Interior Designer on Half Hour Intern Podcast / August 13, 2017 by Mackenzie Collier

“Design is a visual language... Everything kind of has an emotional attachment to it, so understanding what that means and how to manipulate all of that to create an experience for someone is what we study.”

Ever been curious about the ins and outs of the interior design world, or what it means to be an interior designer? Check out Mackenzie's recent interview on Half Hour Intern, a podcast that explores the interesting paths people take in life, and why and how they take them.

Thanks so much to Host Blake Fletcher for an awesome time! Check out all the other incredibly interesting episodes of Half Hour Intern by subscribing on iTunes and Soundcloud. And don't forget to check out their blog too!

15 Interior Design Products To Get You Through the Dog Days of Summer / July 29, 2017 by Mackenzie Collier

Fun, functional, and stylish: these 15 products are guaranteed to make your summer a little more bearable.

West Elm Jardine Expandable Dining Set — Jardine Expandable Dining Set

Take your backyard parties to the next level with this versatile, weather-resistant dining set! Made from sustainably sourced wood, this picnic-perfect table has a "rugged, driftwood-inspired finish that feels cured by sun and salty air." The set comes with an expandable table and six chairs, which makes it great for outdoor entertaining!

Source: West Elm

Urban Outfitters Watermelon Keg Tapping Kit — Watermelon Keg Tapping Kit

When you are having an identity crisis about the fact that your keg tapping days are over and you're more excited about Pinterest-worthy party details, this fun little accessory will help bridge the gap. Plus, when you're trying to beat the heat, you may as well have a fruity drink in hand.

Source: Urban Outfitters

Outdoor Throw Pillows

A colorful set of outdoor pillows are an inexpensive way to refresh your exterior decor. We love the Golden Girls vibe of this bright palm pattern. Pair it with the structured geometric cushion for maximum effect—the modern graphic pattern will bring it right back to 2017.

Source: Target

Urban Outfitters Pineapple String Lights — Pineapple String Lights

Summer design is all about being playful. What's more playful than pineapple lights?

Source: Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters Floating LED Orb Set — Floating LED Orb Set

So maybe your clubbing days are over; that doesn't mean you can't enjoy these colorful waterproof LED party lights for your next pool party. The magical illuminating orbs only light up when floating in water!

Source: Urban Outfitters

CB2 Wind Chime.jpg — Trent Wind Chime

Sight + sound. Simple, earthy ceramic matte chimes suspended from a single jute cord. Understated style and ambiance for your terraces, balconies, patios, and gardens.

Source: CB2

Anthropologie Canyon Fringe Hammock.jpg — Canyon Fringe Hammock

You'll be in your own personal paradise lounging in this woven, island-inspired hammock from Anthropologie. We love the way it drips with netted fringe. "Finished with braided loops for hanging, it's the perfect addition to your porch or sunroom,"—and a wonderful excuse to take a load off.

Source: Anthropologie

Sunday Supply Co Beach Umbrella — Sunday Supply Co. Beach Umbrella

Australia knows how to beach—these vintage-inspired beach umbrellas from Sunday Supply Co. are made for shade... "The result of a lifetime spent chasing sunny days — an exclusive selection of boutique beach essentials designed for an endless summer. Conceived by the sea, residing in the sun, these unique pieces are designed to accompany every trip to the beach and create beautiful shade. Bold patterns inspired by the world around us make each piece something special for your place in the sun." Bonus: all their umbrellas come with a matching carry bag.

Source: Sunday Supply Co.

West Elm All-Weather Wicker Woven Lounge Chair — All-Weather Woven Lounge Chair

This is perfect to accent a bland beige outdoor lounge! Pair it with a simple chunky stool-style side table and the frozen cocktail of your choice. You'll have an outdoor oasis in no time.

Source: West Elm

Deny Designs Summer Fresh Cornhole Set — Summer Fresh Cornhole Set

Who knew lawn game accessories could be so stylish? This cornhole set by Deny Designs has a sleek baltic birch printed top and and tapered wood legs. Feeling inspired to freshen up? DIY a set of your own!

Source: Domino

Crate and Barrel Allta Indoor-Outdoor Rug — Allta Multicolor Indoor/Outdoor Rug

For high-traffic houses, durable indoor/outdoor rugs are essential—especially during the summer, when muddy feet abound. This multi-color, basket-weave floor covering adds a nice graphic layer to a space while holding up to the elements.

Source: Crate & Barrel

Anthropologie Cabana Round Beach Towel.jpg — Cabana Round Beach Towel

A stylish and functional pool or seaside essential! This plush towel comes from a line of beach and bathware by Kassatex. "Crafted from super soft cotton velour and adorned with hand-knotted tassels for a boho chic look, our Cabana Round Beach towel is all you need for your beach escapade."

Source: Anthropologie

Terrain Blossom Soy Citronella Candle — Blossom Citronella Candle

Bugs be gone! Late summer evenings are much more enjoyable when the insects buzz off. These hand-poured soy-based candles come in cute containers and soften bug-repellent citronella with notes of jasmine, hibiscus, and subtle peach.

Source: Terrain

Terrain Madison James Flyaway Sticks — Orange Oil Flyaway Sticks

Use these citrusy sticks in addition to the citronella candles to keep your outdoor dinner parties and afternoon barbecues extra bug-free. Non-toxic orange oil naturally keeps bugs at bay without harming local populations of bees.

Source: Terrain

Urban Outfitters Moxi Leather Roller Skates — Moxi Leather Roller Skates

Because why not?

Source: Urban Outfitters

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Color Me Impressed—New Trends in Interior Design / June 17, 2017 by Mackenzie Collier

For a few years now, a crisp white background with color or neutrals layered over it (very Scandinavian) has been all the rage in interior design. I still adore this more minimal scheme, but lately, I'm noticing a shift toward something a little more unconventional—a sort of late '60s/early '70s French bohemian palette—and I am totally digging it.

Colors

Chartreuse
Marine Blue
Forest Green
Mustard
Cornflower blue

Poppy Red
Blush Pink
Tangerine
Apricot
Cerulean
Hunter green

At first glance, the colors may seem to be paired somewhat haphazardly, but on closer inspection, they truly compliment one other quite nicely. It kind of reminds me of Alice in Wonderland honestly—and it’s rad.

Typically, we associate certain colors with specific seasons, but this look combines them all and pulls it off really well. The pinks and oranges keep the look cheerful, while the blues and greens ground the palette. The mustard keeps it optimistic.

The palette can be used for anything from a really bold, boho hippy look to a more restrained classic French look, and it works well with both. The key is to balance the solid colors with the patterns, keeping more than 50% of the surfaces solid. The more patterns you layer, the more psychedelic the look will feel. More restrained patterns and tailored silhouettes will give it a more classic look.

If you're going for the folksy beatnik vibe, pair it with rich neutral textures. Or forego neutrals altogether and use saturated earth tones in their place. For a richer, more rock 'n' roll look, throw in some black, burgundy, or dark plum. I really like to incorporate faded black (anything with a “folk” vibe will work great) to ground the color scheme and make it a little more dramatic. Then, I'll pair it with rough, natural wood and vintage hand-carved accent pieces. Aged brass goes really well too!

Images: Anthropologie — Images: Anthropologie

Anthropologie is really honed in on this look right now, and Jonathan Adler has some cool pieces as well. For the cost conscious, World Market and Target both have a lot of great products out right now.

Mother's Day Interior Design Giveaway! / April 23, 2017 by Mackenzie Collier

Moms rock.

We've heard so many stories of how motherhood, while wonderful, means putting others' needs before your own. Many times, moms are the last to sit down, the last to eat, the last to sleep, and the first to offer support for their family. They deserve far more than one day of celebration a year. We believe that living in a well-designed space is good for the soul—it can make home life easier, more inspiring, and generally more enjoyable for the whole family—and if anyone deserves that gift, it's Mom. That's why this Mother's Day, we're giving away a FREE in-home interior design consultation to one deserving Phoenix-area mama!

Think you know a special lady this giveaway would be perfect for? Head over to our Instagram or Facebook page, tag them in our Mother's Day Giveaway post, and tell us a bit about why you think they should win (you're going to get brownie points no matter what)! The winner will be announced May 14 (Mama's Day!), 2017.

Inside Mackenzie's Bohemian Midcentury Phoenix Home / April 15, 2017 by Mackenzie Collier

Welcome to my house!

Mackenzie here! Shannon and I recently opened our doors to Phoenix New Times for a personal tour of our newly remodeled home in Arcadia (read the feature here!). Not long after, I had some of the interior design progress photographed by the always amazing James Stewart, and now that the pictures are in, I thought I'd dive a little deeper into some of my decor choices. Your shoes can stay on, if you like...

Guitar Wall Hangers & Vintage Record Console

Bohemian Hangs

Shannon and I aren’t really “formal living room” people, so we saw this area as a place to play or listen to music, kick back with an issue of Arizona Highways and a craft beer. This is also the best spot in the house to catch a sunset. The vintage console-style record player is perfect for Sunday morning NPR and coffee. Shannon is a great guitar player and sweetly only has a few design requests, one being that her guitars are handy. Guitar wall hangers are a cool way to display prized instruments while keeping the floor clutter-free.

You'll see fun, personal touches in every room, like the wooden box labeled St. Louis Anheuser-Busch (I was born in St. Louis) and the baskets—both family pieces that I grew up with. Oh, and I bought the framed piece for Shannon as a surprise on closing day because we saw a UFO one time at the beach. Just kidding… or am I?

The Dining Room

We literally never eat here. Ever. We do walk by it 1000 times a day though and really appreciate the storage bonus of having extra cabinetry just off the kitchen. And it’s great as a spillover spot for miniature relatives who can’t cut it at the adult table. When I was working my butt off in design school, I swore I’d buy an Eero Saarinen Tulip Table with my first paycheck (I grossly overestimated how much interior designers make after graduation). I wasn’t able to afford it, but years later when I saw an original one on Craigslist for a steal, I was out in Fountain Hills buying it within the hour. I never imagined a day that I wouldn’t mind our sweet nieces coloring on it, but that day has come and gone and we all survived just fine.

On the left we have the original watercolor sketches of Shannon and my tattoos done by Austin West with a framed photograph of a canyon we found on Society6 that reminded us of our first backpacking trip together in the West Fork. The light is a vintage barn light that I picked up at Zinnias at Melrose. It was one of the very first pieces I nailed down when we were planning our remodel; everything had to revolve around it and a picture of a Golden Retriever named Aspen in a canoe on Lake Louise. I don’t know Aspen the Mountain Pup personally, I just saw him on Instagram, and he happened to be the same color as our cabinetry.

Brunch Banquette

This wall has the best view in our entire house—that’s why we wanted it to be cozy and multi-functional. I have my coffee here each morning and watch the hummingbirds play while the sun rises on Camelback Mountain. I like to take advantage of the few hours in the day where our neighbor’s children aren’t screaming. We invested in the custom banquette bench and the extra thick custom Sunbrella cushion. We saved money in other areas: the dining table was donated from a client who was getting rid of it, and the chairs were on clearance at World Market, which was awesome because I had pinned them for the house months earlier! I lucked out and found that large acrylic of Saguaro National Park at HomeGoods.

Vintage Vibes

I was lucky enough to snag this midcentury Takeshi Nii Ny Chair on Craigslist for a photo shoot and absolutely had to bring it home. Find of the century! [Fun fact: Inspired by the classic director's chair, Nii’s innovative, foldable creation was designed in 1958 and is now part of the permanent collection at MoMa.] The little bird pillow was another Zinnias at Melrose find. To add a little texture, I rounded out the seating area with the faux fur ottoman.

I’m obsessed with round mirrors—you’ll find them in pretty much all my designs. Whenever there is a great view, I like to put a mirror on the opposite wall to repeat it. Notice the royal palm reflected in it—I’m really jazzed that I have been able to keep this plant alive for more than three months. On the right, the shelves are filled with items that are meaningful to us in some way: my grandparents' wedding photo, embroidered art I found at a women’s art co-op in Mexico, family books—all mementos of things we value in life. Nothing wrong with holding on to things that bring you joy.

Built-In Reading Nook

We needed a solution to hide our TV components (they live behind the baskets), create storage, and add some seating to the space, so we had this bench and cushion custom made to match the dining banquette on the other side of the room. Textile wall hangings add a softness to the space and dampen sound, so I went that route over hanging framed art to keep it cozy. I picked up this mid-century style marble table at Target because I needed a place to set my coffee. [Do you see a theme here? All of my design decisions are based on creating places to drink coffee comfortably.]

Master Bedroom

Truth: we like camping more than living our “real lives,” so we decided to take a stab at achieving a campsite feel in the bedroom. Full moon, bonfire, sticks, camp blankets, triangular mirrors that subtly suggest mountain peaks… you get the idea. We’ve even got a fur rug in front of the fireplace because our Golden Retriever thinks he’s Barry White. The sticks are from bigger hikes we’ve done in Olympic National Park and Glacier National Park. We need a rug, but have yet to find the perfect one that is cozy, casual, and low-maintenance.

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This has truly felt like an episode of MTV Cribs. Thanks for stopping by!

Keep an eye out for our next post where we'll be announcing a sweet Mother's Day giveaway!