Painted Built-ins

I am so embarrassed at how long it has been since I've last blogged.  I hate to say it, but instagram is just so much easier.  I promise (hope) to get better!

One of the projects I've been working on is an office design for a local client here in Louisville who recently moved into a new home over the summer.  When discussing ideas for their home office, we agreed that built-ins were a great way to increase the cozy factor and inject a sophisticated library feel!

My client also wanted the office to have a slight masculine feel since her husband will most likely be using the office, so we ended up painting the built-ins a beautiful, rich navy color.  See below.

It was a bit of struggle for her to agree to shaker style cabinetry because she wanted a more traditional look, but I'm so happy she went along with my suggestion.  They look great and we will be installing brass hardware pulls and knobs.

We plan on painting the walls a light sage green and we will be using her current desk and club chair.  The plan now is to install new window treatments and an area rug.  Below is the design board.

I think we are down to selecting the final choice of the rug (different from what is pictured), but stop by tomorrow and I'll share some of my top finds for modern vintage rugs.  

ORC: Week Six - Final Reveal

I can officially say that I have completed Linda's One Room Challenge and survived to tell about it!!!  I might've neglected my family, our pet fish and the house for the past week, but I am very, very happy with the outcome!!  AND I can also officially say (and my husband will agree) that our guest room is soooo much nicer than our master bedroom - and there is something completely not right with that!

I am happy to share it with you.  Here is my guest room reveal….

Those beautiful brass nailheads caused a couple of gray hairs and took so painstakingly long.  For every one I got right, I ruined about twenty.  No joke.  But, it worth the hundreds I saved from buying a new headboard.  

If you remember, below is a picture of our guest room BEFORE:

And, this is our guest room (and which also pulls double duty as my office) AFTER:

Below is a snapshot of my huge homasote DIY bulletin board that also serves as my catch all inspiration and design planing board. 

And, my little desk below surrounded by all the many things I love and treasure.  

For those of you who have followed along, thank you so much for sticking with me!  This was a great challenge for me personally and professionally!  If there is enough interest, I'd be happy to put a blog post together about my DIY headboard.  I think I spent approximately $180 in materials and supplies at the end of the day. 

If you are just tuning in, I've just spent the past six weeks participating in Linda's One Room Challenge and you are welcome to read more about my guest room's transformation during the previous weeks here.   Thank you Linda for hosting my first ever ORC.  Hop over here to see the other participants and their crazy transformations. 

Also, I'd like to thank Nicole Pullen who helped me with the photography! She is based in Louisville.

Sources are listed below.

Paint // Euro Fabric // Lumbar Pillow // Coverlet // Scalloped Sheets // Bed Skirt // Sconces // Headboard Fabric // Headboard Nailhead // Bench // Bench Pillows // Desk // Desk Chair // Mirror // Desk lamp //

One Room Challenge - Week 5

One more week left for the One Room Challenge (ORC) and still lots to wrap up!  With a chest cold and 20% of my voice left, I got sidelined this past week but slowly getting back in the saddle. (I hope)!

I finally hung up my Serena and Lily mirror  above (that I've had for a while) and some art (that I have also had) above the desk that sits on the opposite wall of the bed!  Since the mirror is small, I need to balance the size of my desk with some artwork around the mirror.  I want to keep it simple and not have a cluttered look.

My desk is a black french inspired desk from Ballard Designs that I got long ago that I will pair with a white slipcovered parsons chair from Ikea.  Desk style similar to below minus the gold detailing.

I finally hung up my  DIY bulletin board (a huge piece of homasote that I reupholstered with ticking fabric) and this will sit above the bench. 

Hanging this was a lot trickier than I originally thought and planned!  Below you can see the bulletin board hung on the wall above the bench with the bed's euro sham and bolster!

So, where am I now?  Oh yes, the headboard.  The headboard has been the most interesting component of this challenge.  I have a new found respect for all the DIY-ers who have made one of these before.  Here is the headboard upholstered with the raffia fabric (bad picture). 

I'm 70% completed with the nailhead and I'll be honest I am not sure I love the headboard with the nailhead.  I know - the horror!!  

I can't put my finger on it as to why, just yet, but I'm hesitating whether to move forward with completing the nailhead or not.  It breaks my heart because I want to love it and after five hours of your life that you won't get back, that is a hard pill to swallow. 

But, that is where I am and I guess both you and I will have to wait for the reveal to see if I decide to keep the nailhead or not.  

But, I know one thing, I'm ready to get this room done!!!  Looking forward to next week - see you then!!  Go here to check out what my other fellow ORC-ers are doing!!  

One Room Challenge - Week One

I've been blogging long enough to know about Linda's One Room Challenge and I thought it high time I give this "complete a room in six weeks" thing a try.  Hopefully, this will give me the kick in the you know what to complete our guest room.

If you follow me, then you probably remember my guest room inspiration, see below.  If you're new, welcome!

I had this inspiration right before the summer, but then summer happened and I've done nothing.  Zero.  Zilch.  Nada.

So, if Linda's One Room Challenge, can't kick this room into shape, I honestly don't know what can.

This room not only serves as our guest room, but also as my office.  I need to make this space not only pretty, but also functional.  So, no more papers, fabric, magazines lying all over the floor or as my little E likes to refer to this space as the 'messy room'.

This is what this room looked like when we bought the house almost two years ago.

BEFORE:

Right BEFORE the room got a fresh coat of white paint:

Over the next six weeks, I'll be sharing my design plan and progress every Thursday here on the blog and with updates on IG.  This weekend, I will attempt to make my the headboard!  So stay tuned!

I hope you follow along and please check out the other participants here!

My Little Haven

A couple of weeks ago in anticipation of house guests, my husband painted our guest room.  It originally was a very ugly yellow color.  I chose BM White Dove to paint it.  Partly because, I prefer a neutral background which will allow me to add pops or hints of color.

I also plan to use the guest room as my office. Hopefully, it'll provide a space where I can sit down in the wee hours of the morning and be inspired!

In progress...

This snapshot houses some of my favorite things - a vintage painting from etsy (love Amy's shop), a victorian antique chair my husband's great grandfather carved, a blue and white porcelain lamp, bamboo pens gifted by a friend, a sliver plated footed bowl found antiquing, etc.  

When I first inherited the victorian chair, I wasn't a big fan, but I knew how much it meant to my husband.  Now, I really like it.  Isn't it funny how your style changes over the years? Personally, I think the chair makes this little space come to life.

Not only did my husband's great grandfather make the chair, but his great grandmother needlepointed the seat. There is so much more to do to this room (isn't that always the case?), but at least I have my little work space set-up!  Happy Monday!

Blue and White

I love when I find design elements that influence me so much so that I want to try them at home.  I am currently on a blue and white kick.  Perhaps, summer is rubbing off on me.

via

An oversized fern plant in a blue and white porcelain planter.  That fern plant is huge!  (What size do you think that is?)  If you're interested in finding great blue and white porcelain planters, jars, vases, etc., go here.  I love her planters and am currently saving up for one!

Of course, I am also loving the antique pine table paired with the glossy black bamboo stool with ticking fabric and nailhead!

via

How cute is that blue and white vase holding those paint brushes?  I love the mix of metals - the brass pen holder and the silver julep cups.

via

I can't tell you how much I love this tablescape.  I love every detail!

via

I love how Amber mixed in blue and white pillows in a rather neutral color scheme (green, brown and black).  I think the blue and white pillows really make this couch stand out.

Hanna's Home Tour

Many of you have already seen Hanna Seabrook's home tour via glitter guide or pinterest,  but I just had to capture some of my favorite images for future reference and study.

What amazes me is she has already achieved such a collected, lived in and comfortable space at such a young age (I don't believe she is even 30 years old).  Her home has that perfect 'undecorated' style that really resonates with me.  

See more here.

A Great Deal!

The other day I spotted this sawhorse desk on sale at World Market.  I've always liked the minimalist and streamlined look of this desk.

This price ($115 reduced from $230) can't be beat especially for a piece of furniture that is so versatile.  Of course, since I have this piece on my mind, I've been spotting sawhorse desks left and right.  Does that ever happen to you?

I really like the idea of using this desk as a console.  The styling with the baskets really creates a layered look which I love.

For an office, this desk is great.  I really like this look.  I'd take my world market sawhorse table, paint the legs black and replace the top with a piece of custom cut glass.  Do you notice the striped ikea tray on the desk?  Isn't it cute with a vase of flowers and a candle?

You can't go wrong with all white. Clean and minimal - perfect backdrop for a clutter free and fresh office.

Have you seen the most recent issue of Matchbook magazine?  It features the editorial director, Katie Armour's home.  I like how she paired her masculine, streamlined sawhorse-esque desk with a feminine french chair.  

I've always liked the idea of a workspace spanning the length of a wall.  At this price, I'd buy two sawhorse desks and put them next to each other to create a similar look to above.  I would then put a huge bulletin board above the desks just like above.  

So, if you're looking for a versatile piece that won't break the bank, I'd say you can't go wrong with this piece! 

Dining Rooms Turned into Home Offices

Lately, I've been seeing this quite a bit where people are turning their dining rooms into home offices.  It makes sense if you have the space and don't need a formal dining room.  My friend is currently considering doing something like this.  And, if you follow Emily A. Clark, she did the same thing, see here.  The other day, I hopped on over to Emily Henderson's amazing blog and it looks as if she has done it too.   I couldn't believe the transformation, see below.

Dining Room - Before

Dining Room - After - Emily Henderson's New Office

I tell you, Emily, knows how to do blue (SW Loyal Blue - flat) and green.  I love the saturated colors and how moody the room feels.  

So layered, so vintage, so timeless.

She actually installed Ikea flooring over the existing dining room floor - I think it looks great.  To see more of her transformation, go here. 

I'm telling you these recently turned dining rooms into home offices have me convinced!  How about you?

A Chic Brooklyn Heights Greek Revival!

  

I stumbled across this incredible Brooklyn Heights Greek Revival via CWB Architects.  This project entailed a complete structural and mechanical gut renovation of this four story, 3200 sq. ft. row house and extension.

The designer?  Jennifer Eisenstadt Design and Decoration, LLC.  Why have I not heard of her before?  Check out this incredibly chic home (I believe this might be her home.)

I am completely speechless....

Keep a look out for her use of modern and vintage light fixtures.  I believe this and the kitchen's fixture might be Lindsey Adelman's bubble light which I posted about here.  I am in love!

Pocket doors, brass fixtures, modern lighting, oh my!

For real? A leopard print runner!! Brilliantly done.

Black and white graphic wallpaper and mirrored furniture - I love it.  Do you notice the ruffle trim on the curtains?  Such a nice feminine detail.  And, the brass doorknobs?  I love the dark walls in the adjourning room.  I just wish I could see more of this bedroom.  

How chic!

The marble veining in the shower, the vanity's lucite legs, hexagonal floor and wall tiles and the brass hardware are all so wonderful!

I am so using balloon shades in our next house.  Remember this post?

So tastefully done.

Do you notice how glossy the trim is?

This is probably her office, no?  What an amazing space to work in!

And, just when you thought you were done with the surprises - she throws this into the mix!  Holy Cow!  She is incredible!  The mix of the chinoiserie wallpaper with the inlaid wooden chevron floor - crazy good!

I love the primary colors and the kilim rug!  

Oh my goodness!!  So amazing!

Okay, how incredible is this home?  I can tell you that I will be studying each and every one of these pictures for a long time.  I haven't felt this inspired in a while. 

Can some magazine publish her space so I can get all the sources, please??

Jennifer Eisenstadt is my new hero!