Designer Series: Curating a Home Design That Matters
Our October 2023 feature designer hits a little closer to home for a variety of reasons. Each year, Mor Furniture partners with St. Jude to stage homes for their dream home raffle events. Mor Furniture’s very own Eric Fontes custom-designed every inch of the space for the Bakersfield Dream home and we could not be more pleased and proud of the end-result.
Before we get into the design itself, here’s a little bit about Eric. You may not know, but here at Mor, we have incredibly talented team members who are responsible for the look and feel of all our showrooms known as the In-Store Display team. We’re very fortunate to have someone like Eric with that group. After starting in sales over 8 years ago, Eric was quickly recognized for his keen eye for design and detail. As a furniture industry veteran, he’d held previous roles where he was offering design services to clients and does real estate staging. For his in-store display role, Eric is given corporate direction and then can play up his strengths on what will work best for our customers. He says function is always at the forefront along with the overall look of the furniture.
Inviting Living Retreat
Final Looks:
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Now, back to the Dream Home (or ‘dreamy home’ we should say!). As soon as you enter the home, you’re greeted by an incredible display that looks like an art installation. Eric got creative for this space and layered the Ronan, Pabla, Ana Sofia, and Thames Wall Clocks above the Aurora Console in Gray. Stepping into the living room, Eric chose the Cordoba Sectional and matching Chair in Splash Linen. In keeping with his advice on function vs. fashion he selected the beautiful Americana 4-Piece Entertainment Wall Center, Lift Top Cocktail Table, Chairside Table, and End Table that gives you both! The tables provide storage and lift features, while the entertainment center gives a great esthetic while also providing great storage - the touch lighting is also an amazing benefit to this piece. Eric pulled the entire room together by mounting the Sethal Floor Mirrors to the wall, adding the Jamon Table Lamp, Vollingsly Wall Art, and Brockham Wall Art and then finishing it all off with the White Comfort Shag Rug.
Dreamy Bedroom Escapes
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The bedrooms took on a luxurious feel of their own starting with the primary room. The Willowbrook Bedroom Collection in Pebble which includes Willowbrook Panel Bed, Nightstand, and Dresser was front and center as the bed-scape was decked out with layered pillows and linens. The look was cozy, comfortable, and coastal as Eric encourages the use of colors. He recommends a few sets of good quality sheets as an easy way to change out colors in a bedroom seasonally as a less expensive way to achieve multiple looks. Complimented by the Joplin Floor Lamp, Dusan Accent Mirror, Shavon Table Lamp and Aniyah Wall Art we were swooning over this dreamy space.
For both kids’ rooms he wanted to create something that would give style today but grow with the family. The Valentino Bedroom in Silver did exactly that as it can grow from girl glam to teenage dream. The set includes all versatile pieces such as the Panel Bed, Nightstand, Vanity Mirror & Stool, and Pajama Chest.
Neutral Dining Bliss
Final Look:
Lastly, the dining and office areas were a great play on function and design. The dining room showcased the Miami Adjustable Dining Table and Chairs in White, accented with the Hurston Candleholders, Milesen Tray, and the White Comfort Shag Rug. The Americana Counter Stools flanked the massive kitchen island bringing together the perfect family gathering area.
Home Office Nook
The office featured the Pure Modern Office Desk in Moonstone and plenty of storage in the Bay Creek High Back Bench w/ Storage in Light Gray. The Corinsville Small & Large Shelves in Brown add an element of interest when holding the Ashlea Sculpture Set along with the Avanworth Wall Art Set. Anyone who spends a lot of time in their home office would appreciate the attention to detail.
Eric is a proud partner of the St. Jude Dream Home organization and we’re a VERY PROUD PARTNER of Eric! For more information on the St. Jude Bakersfield Dream Home visit https://www.stjude.org/give/dream-home/bakersfield.html