New Year ..

Well.. it's just about a month into the new year and there has a lot that has changed. I finally had a chance to go to the Dallas Market and I was a tad disappointed. I have heard many great things about High Point in North Carolina so I was expecting something of that magnitude at the Dallas market, but was a little let down. I did happen to come across this great piece!

I saw this piece and absolutely feel in love with it. I always enjoy a great architectural piece! I also feel in love with this piece because in school I am in a studio called Adaptive Reuse. In this studio we have to research a historic building that inspires us (I chose the Milan building in Italy) and then we have to choose a "theme," which I chose Mechanics, and finally we have to convert the historic building into multi-family lofts using the theme we chose. This is a great exercise because I have to really do research on the building as well as my theme and also a TON of research on building codes so I know what I can and cannot do. I am excited to work on this project and will definitely post the final project.

Another thing that has changed since the last post is that I had a chance to work on a staging project. M Designs received a call wanting us to take on a staging project that we had to turn around within a two week time period... ah, another day at M Designs, haha. We were definitely on for the challenge! Denise and I pulled together almost the whole house within a few days and I think it turned out very well!

This is the dining room. We purchased the wing chairs from a local shop, found some great fabric at a local fabric shop and our amazing upholsterer, Nitia, turned both of these chairs around in less than 2 days!!

This set up was in the entry. I love the scale of it as you walk into the front door. I also love that is very symmetrical.

Lastly, here is a cute picture of Zander.. just because :)

M Designs is picking up a lot and we are starting to see great projects coming our way. These will in fact keep me busy! This is the last year of school as well so it is getting pretty intense. I have noticed that only the competition is getting a bit tougher. I am not worried though!

Well, that is all for now. One of my resolutions is to update this at least twice a month... We will see how that works out for me. :)

More to come...

J. Aparicio

All I want for Christmas..

Uhhhmaazing pieces that I want and NEED! Ha-ha. Christmas Presents??

Restoration Hardware

Aviator Chair

Restoration Hardware

1920's French Drafting Table

Lexington Furniture

Andrew's Entertainment Console

Restoration Hardware

Cast-Iron Sewing Factory Task Table Lamp

Well, these are just a few pieces that I have absolutely fallen in love with. A lot has been going on in the world of Joe Aparicio. We have finished a couple of projects at M Designs.. I will upload photos shortly.

More to come ....

J. Aparicio

Residential One Project

Lately, most of my time has been focused on my Residential One studio class. I have to design a 2,600 sf floor plan and then decorate a few rooms. I will be posting my progress throughout the class. Luckily I work for a design firm so picking furniture and fabrics will be somewhat easy. I am designing this home for appeal to an outdoors kind of family. I made the back yard the focal point of the home. The home ultimately surrounds the back yard with windows and doors to make he home feel more open and larger. The kitchen opens up to the breakfast nook and the living room for a more inviting feel. My next post I have have furniture and finish selections :)

As for work, the M Designs team has been focusing most of our time for a full installation in 3 WEEKS!!!!!! We have picked everything from the wash cloths to the remodeling of the master bathroom. It has been an intense process that I am very fortunate to have had a part in. M Designs has also picked up a few furniture lines that I am super excited about!!!

More to come...

J.Aparicio

A Work In Progress..

I'm finding out that rendering a picture is harder than it looks, but if a designer can do it- they are that much more unique. As a beginner I am just trying to apply solid fabrics to a rendering, but I can't wait until I can apply a patterned fabric. This is going to be a short blog because I do not feel to well, but as I grow in my rendering experience I will post my progress!

More to come..

J.Aparicio

First Installation

Hey Blog Buds..
So this week has been INSANE.

My first full blown installation started on Monday and I am pretty exhausted. Its really awesome to see the clients house come together. The client had the house built and M Designs picked out every detail of the house from the toilet to the art work. It is an amazing process and I'm ecstatic to be a part of it. Anyways, back to my insane week.

Monday started off hectic- phone call after phone call, checking to make sure furniture will be at the clients house, making sure drapery installer will be there to install drapes, people coming in an out of the office for deliveries and pick ups, Denise is out the door to the clients and Alicia is right behind her.

About an hour later I head out there tool box in hand ready to do the manly part of design!! Steam Drapes: Check; Hang some art:Check; Measure some areas to order more art: Check; Put some art work in my car to be framed: Check; Head back to the Studio: Nope.. forgot 2 art pieces and have to turn around and get them.. Alright NOW I can head back to the Studio. Get back to the studio and find that a side table has arrived for another client BUT due to scratches its unacceptable and I have to take pictures and file a claim so the vendor can send us another table. The rest of the week is pretty much a blur between endless e-mails and phone calls. On Wednesday mirrors for the Monday installation finally arrived but 2 of them are broke so we had to reorder them but one of them is out of stock. To top the week off, I just bought yet another iPhone and for some reason it turns off on its own for about 15 min.. I am not happy.

Ah, the life of a designer.. if only there were more hours in the day..

On a lighter note. I absolutely adore this line called Soicher Marin!!! It is a phenomenal art vendor that we carry. I will attach a few pieces so you can marvel over how incredibly amazing it is!!

These are are few of the ammmazing pieces. I am in love...

More To Come...

J.Aparicio

I Survived the Texas blizzard!!

Ah Mondays...

Hello blog buds!

We are pretty lucky here in Texas to survive that massive blizzard we had last week. A whole 6 inches of snow-- very rare that us Texans see that kind of weather! But as much fun as it was to make snow angels and have a snow ball fight with my 5 lb yorkie (I won) Mondays always find a way to sneak their way into a great weekend.

Today was somewhat more intense than my usual schedule of 9-4:30 job then school right after that until 10. M Designs has a pretty large installation on Monday for a client. This is my first project that I've been there from the beginning to the end. I have dabbled in the process of picking items out for the client and saw what really goes on, stuff they don't teach you in school, and I have dealt with different vendors until I had a migraine.

Some GREAT advice that Denise McGaha (owner of and designer for M Designs) gave to me was FOLLOW UP, FOLLOW UP, FOLLOW UP!!! I cannot stress that enough for my friends who are in school and have yet to find a design job. Although most of the clients items will be here for installation, there are a few things that are straggling behind. I have had endless conversations with vendors telling me I will have an item on time and come to find out its actually backordered a week or two past installation-- my first thought is "if our rep knows its back ordered, shouldnt he/she contact me and let me know??" ... nope..I have to hold their hand and make sure I follow up!! Baby steps... I learn something new every day thanks to Denise McGaha, Alicia Segal, & Valerie Ventura of M Designs.

School was also pretty interesting.. My professor is obsessed with Hanson and The Hills.. he is a boy and in his 40's, its interesting. OH and he likes to sing like Michael Jackson. Ah, what an interesting guy.

Well I think that is all for the evening. It about to be eleven and I have to get ready for bed, then work and school tomorrow :))

More to come...

J.Aparicio