Donna Outlaw
Co-Owner & President, Dwellings
7405 New LaGrange Road
896-2990
"Design should be sensible – you need function as well as aesthetics."
Business: An "everything" design shop, Dwellings (formerly D&S Designs) features 8,000 square feet of transitional furnishings and accessories. One of only two area firms carrying the prestigious Baker furniture line, Dwellings is the source for more than 30 local designers, in addition to Outlaw and partner Shane Pearson. Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursdays until 7 p.m.
Experience: 10 years
Professional Bio: Outlaw got started in the design business 11 years ago when she and Pearson participated in a Lake Forest show house. Referrals flooded in and a year later the duo formed D&S Designs. Outlaw believes one of the reasons for Dwellings’ success is its emphasis on accessories. "We’re not just interested in selling furniture," she says. "We get the whole job done."
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| "With its central location, the kitchen gets very little natural light. Porter Burnt Ivory paint on the walls and cream-colored glazed cabinets over the cooktop keep the room from being too dark." | "To tie the kitchen’s color scheme into the adjoining breakfast, dining and family rooms, we chose iron drop lights from Miami-based Fine Art Lamps. The natural mica shades have a soft terra-cotta glow and are accented with fleuron and diamond designs." |
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| "Painted black beadboard with a rubbed finish is used behind the alcoves above the built-in refrigerator and cooktop mantel. The contrast accentuates the Italian ceramicware on display above the refrigerator and makes the mantel stand out." | "For the floor, we used a slate-look ceramic tile. The rest of the floors in the home are wood, so the texture adds interest to the room. And it’s much easier to care for than wood." | "For the island and countertop, we used Giallo Beach granite. It doesn’t show water spots and dust the way dark granites do. We also decided against a step-up bar for seating, opting instead for a flat island. It makes the room look larger and provides more usable counter space for holiday cooking." |
