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Darla L. Blake, ASID

Company: Darla's Unique & Chic Interiors
74 Murica Aisle
Irvine, CA 92614-0254 map
Phone: (949) 333-3692
Email: darla@uniqueandchic.com
Website: www.UniqueAndChic.com

Designer Profile

DARLA BLAKE, ASID, CID

BIOGRAPHY

Two words that describe interior designer Darla Blake are unique and chic. Not only is that the name of her thriving interior design showroom in Orange County, California…Darla’s Unique & Chic Interiors…but those words also capture her personal and professional style.

An award-winning California-based designer, Blake has traveled all over the United States, as well as internationally, to bring her creative visions to reality. From the restoration of a formal Beverly Hills mansion, to a 1920’s farmhouse in Minnesota, a villa in Mexico, a high-rise condo in Hong Kong and a ski lodge in Mammoth Lakes, California, nothing is too big of a challenge for this talented designer.

Blake’s original, colorful personality and design style have been the hit of numerous design television shows, including Lifetime Television’s “Merge” and USA Network’s “House Wars,” where Darla was a regular on the series. Blake also appears regularly on Home and Garden Television (HGTV), having made many appearances on their popular series’ “Designers’ Challenge,” “Awesome Interiors” and “Kitty Bartholomew: You’re Home.” Additionally, she was one of the featured designers on an HGTV pilot entitled “Surprise Decorator.”

Blake’s designs have been featured in magazines and newspapers around the country, including the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, Soap Opera Weekly, Malibu Times, Hollywood Reporter, Denver Post and Daily Variety. Her work can also be seen in the international coffee table book “Ultimate Decorating.”

Blake is a professional member of The American Society of Interior Designers and California Council for Interior Design Certification. She has worked with many celebrities, entertainment industry executives and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

Darla Blake’s philosophy is simple. “Style is like a compass, constantly changing direction; but design should be timeless, creating an atmosphere rather than simply a look.”

Services Offered

Whether it’s collaborating from the first meeting with an architect on a vacant lot, to bringing in the general contractor and crew, to the finishing touches of paint color, custom furniture, lighting and accessories, Blake works with each client to create environments that celebrate creativity and versatility. Functional and fabulous. She uses a kaleidoscope of styles to create innovative and captivating, yet classic designs. Blake can walk into a room…any room…and see it as an artist sees an empty canvas -- just waiting for her creativity, innovation and design to turn it into living art.
Areas of Services:

Awards & Publications

Two homes designed by Blake are currently under consideration for publication in Architectural Digest.

Contractor's House of The Year Award

Fee Structure

Initial 30 minutes "to see the project" is at no charge.
$200.00 per hour for design time + 30% markup over COST
Shopping @ $200.00 per hour
Measuring & drawing @ $125.00 per hour

A modern living room, yet lots of warmth is added by rich colors and textures. A Murano glass light fixture floats from the 19-foot ceiling. A slate fireplace, two sided chairs and a wine bench add to the drama of the room. Darla Blake also designed most of the furniture. Photo credit: Dan Steinberg
The combination of woven tapestries, silks and chenilles and the warmth of the beautiful wood fireplace and bookcases create this very comfortable room. The beautiful color palette of willow, dill and aloe greens mixed with various corals, work perfectly on the pecan floors and against the woodwork. Photo credit: Dan Steinberg
This sensuous guest bedroom was designed using luxurious fabrics and a luscious color scheme. Hand painted furniture and an upholstered headboard complete the look of this romantic retreat that envelops you the moment you enter the room. Photo credit: Dan Steinberg
This beautifully custom designed kitchen is everyone’s dream. The tile was imported from Italy and the tile mural was hand painted by one of our artists. Randomly laid limestone floors with Pecan cabinet’s makes the painted island a treasure. Cabinets and drawers galore and gleaming stainless appliances complete the look of this stunning kitchen. Photo: Chuck Bankuti.
A kitchen that is contemporary with flare. It has metallic two tone painted ceilings & beams. The tile floors are from Italy and they appear to be “stainless.” The coffee colored stain on the cabinets against the random colored glass tile backsplash is a real WOW factor. This kitchen happens to belong to the designer, Darla Blake, ASID, CID. Photo: Devon Meyers
This country chic kitchen was a design challenge due to the narrow, long architecture. We removed the eating area that was in the original space, which allowed us to add more windows and created an arched opening with a counter/bar for eating on the side of the family room, allowing us to give our client loads of cabinet space and brightened up the family room with light because of the new opening. Photo: Chuck Bankuti.
A beautiful master bath with imported tiles and limestone floors, recessed lighting in the ceiling with various shades of paint and various sizes of crown mouldings to add architectural interest. This is a very traditional bath and the fabrics are coordinating to the master bedroom. Photo: Chuck Bankuti
A bold, contemporary living room where color is the name of the game.
Imagine coming home at the end of a long day to this peaceful, warm, inviting corner of your world. The bowed wooden mantel has hand painted bamboo and Chinese lettering to carry through the Asian theme. Photo: Chuck Bankuti
The big challenge of designing this family room was what to do with all the books! Darla designed the custom curved sofa and the curved bookcase to “hug” the sofa following the same lines and to display the books in a creative way. Photo: Chuck Bankuti.
This is the reverse side of the semi round sofa/bookcase
Black & White & Red All Over…This modern den adds drama to the entire house, with the bright colors scattered here and there, it has a feeling of fresh, new and contemporary. Photo: Dan Steinberg.
Velvet stripe wing chairs flank the ends of this dining room. The side chairs are in a woven fabric. The “puddling” draperies, custom wood carved fireplace, two tones of paint and the beaded chandelier all combine for a rich, sumptuous gathering place to dine with friends and family.
This whimsical bedroom is featured on pages 222 and 223 of the international coffee table book, Ultimate Decorating, by Megan Fulweiler.
This Asian inspired master bedroom transports you to another part of the world. From the custom designed and built bed and Tansu chests, to the richly textured colors, fabrics and Asian art, the room is a true design experience. Photo: Chuck Bankuti