Our family had talked about buying a home in Door County for a long time. I had saved pictures from magazines of what I had in mind for years. Our family would talk together about how we wanted it to be. When I met with Marilyn I described how I wanted the house to feel and basically, she found exactly what I wanted. – Barb Martin

I’ve heard from many clients that other designers they’ve worked with wanted to create “their” design instead of listening to the client. I pride myself on getting to know my clients, their tastes, their personalities, their lifestyle, and how they want their home to feel. Then, I help them create their space by listening to their feedback and finding just the right fabric, furnishing, tile or wall color. It gives me great joy to see the smile on my clients’ faces when they walk into a beautiful home!

Using the outdoors for your inspiration, here are a few tips for you to open your home to Door County’s beauty.

• In Door County, there’s no need to be formal. Stroll through your own back yard and find a garden piece to incorporate into your room. Who says an Adirondack chair can’t “live” in the living room?

• For a touch of whimsy, try an old birdbath or fountain as a table base. Add a glass top and make it summer all year long.

• Bring in colorful watering cans to fill with fall sunflowers and wild berries.

• Use garden planters and birdhouses filled with greens to scatter through your home.

For inspiration take a morning walk. Integrate the colors you see into your home to see Spring throughout your home.

At Sister Bay Trading, we believe community service lifts all of us to a better place. We believe generosity isn’t about just donating a percentage of the sales on a certain day. It’s about living and breathing…

Consider a gift to Door County non-profits this holiday season!

“giving back.” That’s why employees serve on the board of directors of the Door County Humane Society and donate time, talent and resources to other local non-profits.

From decorating the interior of our non-profit health clinic to providing internships for local high school students interested in design, the act of giving locally starts with the generosity of each member of our team and spreads across Door County to make our little corner of the world a special place.

If you are looking for a last minute gift idea please consider giving a donation in their name to a Door County charity:
Door County Humane Society

HELP of Door County

Wellness Center of Door County

Northern Door Children’s Center

Hardy Gallery

Altrusa Club of Door County

Gibraltar School District

Door County Maritime Museum

May the holiday bring you joy!

Let your creativity flow at Sister Bay Trading. Create a beautiful centerpiece for your home or cottage, as a gift, for a special occasion or simply, to take home a remembrance of Door County that will last. Bring your own vase or unique container or select one of the many varieties at Sister Bay Trading. We have vases, decorative containers and baskets for any season. Create one for the holiday season to brighten your home.

Fall in Door County is Mother Nature’s most sensuous time. Let her colors be your guide. Thanksgiving decorations should feel earthy incorporating Door County’s natural elements.

This is your opportunity to show your loved ones how important it is to you that they are sharing your Door County table this year. Pull out all of your fall tablecloths and festive napkins. If you don’t have any, you can buy inexpensive green or amber bed sheets. Need more china? Borrow from others. Just keep the arrangement of each place setting the same and alternate.

Get imaginative and make candle holders out of small gourds and mini pumpkins by cutting out the top and inserting a small candle. Don’t forget to bring in the natural elements. For an innovative flower vase hollow out a pumpkin and fill it with fall flowers.

Try this for a unique centerpiece: place a large glass vase in the center of the table. At each place setting have an colorful index card for each guest to complete about his or her fondest family memory or tradition. At the end of the meal take turns reaching into the vase and reading each card.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Social sustainability begins with being green, but extends far beyond to understanding our role in caring for Door County’s future — our schools, the art groups, and all of the non-profit organizations. We need to look for ways to reach out to raise individuals to a higher level.

The problems of our nation and our county belong to all of us. There’s an urgency to change the way we think, the way we live and the way we do business through social responsibility. Robert Louis Stevenson said it best: “Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.”

Economic and social sustainability model the ‘chicken or the egg?’ argument. A profitable Door County creates systems to improve lives. A strong quality of life generates a healthy local economy. All begin with managing resources responsibly. All begin with individuals.

In the “Necessary Revolution,” author Peter Senge states, “We are but one of millions, and our merit depends not on our ego, but on our contribution.” I encourage you to begin your green movement by planting your first seed of hope with the HELP of Door County, the Wellness Center, Door County Humane Society, Altrusa or one of the many other organizations that build the social structure of our special Peninsula. It’s through our actions that the social wellness of our community will become, once again, green and growing.

Get us involved at the blueprints to get it done right the first time.

A client of mine is building a home in the Little Harbor area. She recently did a walk through with the electrician deciding where to place the lighting. During my next appointment with my client, I suggested we schedule another walk through so I could hear the lighting plans. During our climb through the rough construction and up ladders to the second floor with the electrician and client, we almost doubled the lighting.

For example, a high ceiling in a stairwell lacked lighting on a large wall; an upstairs bedroom didn’t have a light in the closet; a large bonus room was under lit with only three cans; and the master bedroom became warmer adding electrical boxes for sconces on the wall where the headboard will be. It’s always less expensive to add lighting during construction than later. The client was so appreciative and surprised at all the places she had missed with mood and functional lighting.

Interior designers are experts at details. Sister Bay Trading Company specializes in complete project management. We are able to guide you through the entire process from excavation to roofing. Get us involved in the blueprints and we can help you get everything done right the first time.

Second, you can create new energy in an older room by simply adding a new wall color or by painting your ceiling an unexpected color – like Sky Blue!  Experiment with a color you’ve always loved but were hesitant to use.  Live with it for a few weeks and you will be surprised and amazed at the compliments that pour in.  And finally, to top it off, bring in an unusual piece for an end or cocktail table.  It could be something you pulled in from the garden just to add that touch of whimsy!  Splash on more color with pillows and brightly colored throws.  Beautiful!! 

Remember it’s not about just filling your space, it’s about creating your space.

Create your space with color, lighting and furnishings

Remodeling or redecorating takes confidence. You need to make educated decisions about decorating projects prior to making the investment. There’s always the lingering question of ‘What will it look like when it’s done?’

Fortunately, the informality of life in Door County invites home decorators to create their own rules about style and comfort, which may include mixing Grandma’s antique chair with Scandinavian furniture. A variety of styles and themes exist in homes though out the county. Whatever you do, it’s important to have fun selecting the perfect wall color, window treatments, sofa and flooring to pull together your home. Don’t worry about the filling the space. Focus on creating your space.

Good interior design not only adds value to your home, but also is a creative way to express yourself. Whatever your budget or style it’s important to remember that beautiful rooms are always the result of someone’s effort. It takes time to think about your surroundings and create an atmosphere that’s comfortable, functional and reflects who you are in the world. Once you’ve achieved it, you’ll know there’s no place like your home.