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.  

A Living Room's New Look

A new client from the Palmetto State recently contacted me because she wanted to spruce up her formal living room.  If I remember correctly, the subject of her email was titled, 'Design Help' and then preceded to say, "I know you are the person for the job!' which made me laugh.

She had all the furniture in place and was happy with her layout, but she needed help pulling it all together with new fabric selections and accessories.   In her words, she wanted 'styled', but cozy and approachable!

She ended the email saying, "Please help me as I am going crazy thinking about this room and on the verge of divorce if I can't finish this room!"  Ha!  A Southern girl with a sense of humor - my kind of girl! :)

Here is the final scheme!!

I really feel attached to this project because I adore every detail that will go into this room and selfishly want it for my own home! I can't wait to see it all come together - it is going to be beautiful!

And, now I can sleep better at night knowing my client will be married happily ever after! Wink! Wink!

A Martha Vineyard's Home

There are so many elements I love about this home.  The nautical touches, the subdued, but fun use of color and pattern and all the classical elements running throughout the home.  

I love how colonial this dining room feels.  The above room was the inspiration for my dining room; see our dining room progress here.  

Is that Katie Ridder's Peony pattern in a rug? (above).  I've never seen it as a rug before.  

This home has all my favorites - striped walls, painted floors, spindles, empire lamp shades, gold framed nautical oil paintings, Katie Ridder fabrics, blue and green colors, antique furnishings and colonial touches.  To see more of this home designed by Molly Luetkemeyer (m. design interiors), go here.  

A Quick Fix - Before and After

Moving stuff around (#MSA) the house gets my creative juices flowing.   Nine times out of ten it is all I need for the room to feel 'fresh' again.  

This week I found a window of time and decided to freshen up our built-ins in our family room.  I recently purchased a Ralph Lauren blue and white porcelain lamp from HomeGoods and wanted to see if it would work well in the space.   So, here is the after (with lamp in picture)….

After

And, here was the before. 

Before

Major improvement and I am definitely keeping the HomeGoods blue and white lamp.  See how moving stuff around #MSA works!!!  Nothing is new (except the lamp).  

Of course, now I want to paint the back of the built-ins a blueish color.   I played around yesterday with samples and here is one option (see paint swatch behind lamp)…

I like it, but I think I want darker! :)  Now, just to find the time to do this!  Happy weekend!

Long & Narrow Living Room

If you live in West Hartford, CT., chances are you live in an older home where you have a challenging room or two.  Our challenging space is the living room -  it is long and narrow.  I am considering having a set of casegoods/bookcases flank our front facing window like the picture below.

via

I would love to see the rest of this room.  I believe it is designed by the design team duo Good Bones, Great Pieces.  Below is a picture of my bookcase that I would like to use to flank our living room window (picture from my old home).

Green Street

The problem is I have only one which I bought years ago for a steal from Lillian and August.  I would like to find its twin so I can create symmetry next to the window.  I don't know what the likelihood is of finding it's twin??  I need to look into it.  

But, for now, I am thinking about this look.  This would give us the necessary storage and shelf space we currently lack.  But, I'm a bit on the fence if I really like this look.  

The two images above probably illustrate best how narrow our living room is and I wonder if the bookcases make the room seem cramped?

This room seems wider, more spacious and the bookcases don't feel like they are dominating the room.  I would have to play around with the bookcase styling as I'm sure that can make a big difference too.  Decisions, decisions.  Who knows, I might not even find it's twin and will need to do something like this instead.  

While not exactly symmetrical, the desk and large yellow piece of artwork help balances the secretary on the opposite wall.  Design at it's best - working with what you have and fooling the eye to make you  believe that everything works seamlessly.  

Let me introduce: Flamant Home Interiors

The other day, while wandering through the cobblestone streets of the Vienna, I stumbled across Flamant Home Interiors.  Let me just start off by saying, "Why is this store not in the US?"

What started as a family run business in Belgium has grown into an globally recognized home interiors brand.  

Run by the three Flamant sons, they have expanded their father's antique store and started producing reproductions of antique furniture and decorative objects.

Flamant Interiors has a Belgian feel, similar to Restoration Hardware, but a bit fresher, in my opinion.

When I walked into the store, I could see they have realized their vision.  You're encouraged to take your time, sit, relax and enjoy the beautiful furnishings and ambiance.  And, this is exactly what I did. 

Here are some pictures I took while browsing...

After doing some research, I did find that while not physically located in the US, there is a US based store called, Copper Strawberry, that does carry their products!!   Their prices are similar to Restoration Hardware. 

BTW, they have the most gorgeous linen lampshades in beautiful colors.  Case in point....

Go check them out!  Mark my words - given their growing success,  I wouldn't be surprised if they open a store in the USA.  Watch out Restoration Hardware.....

Dreaming

I had fun putting together a mood board for a dining room.  I designed it with some elements that I am currently loving at the moment.   

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

Contrast.  I've been so drawn to rooms lately with lots of contrast.  To create more contrast, I'd paint the back of the bookshelves a dark color.  

Floor to Ceiling bookcases.  I would flank an entire wall with built-in bookcases.

Rustic.  I'm loving rustic dining tables.  

Unexpected.  The gold shell chandelier, the mix of french chairs with the rustic table create a bit of the unexpected for me.

  

So, are you feeling it?  What elements do you like?

Can I move in, please?

I was catching up on blogs this week and came across an amazing home for sale in Ft. Worth, TX.  You might've seen it on La Dolca Vita and Nursery Notations.  Anyway, if you haven't, feast your eyes on this!

Amazing, right?  The interiors were designed by the couple and Leigh Taylor Interiors.  Live in Ft. Worth?  Check out the real estate listing.   Go over to La Dolce Vita or Nursery Notations to see more pictures. 

One Room, Two Looks

Two Martha Stewart editors, Rebecca Robertson and Kevin Sharkey were recently challenged to decorate a similar room in a week.  Rebecca Roberstson took her love for bold colors and graphics and created an "ecletic modern room."  Kevin Sharkey went back to his Parish-Hadly roots and created an"updated traditional" room.  Let's look at the two looks in more detail....First up, Rebecca Robertson.

What initially attracted me to Rebecca's room was her bold use of colors; and I couldn't ignore her use of  Madeline Weinrib patterns!  But, after more review, what really won me over was her creative DIY projects.  For example, she reserached and found unpainted victorian gingerbread baulsters and used them on her walls. Talk about a graphic statement!

She bought generic Ikea ready made cabinets with built in shelves and used punched MDF radiator material to cover the glass fronts of the cabinet doors for a custom look.  How genius is that?

Lastly, also seen on Karen's Strictly Simple Style blog, Rebecca covered simple bakers trays with a bold zig zag fabric she designed on spoonflower and topped them with plexiglass.  Love it.

All pictures above from Room Remix.

Now, let's see her competition - Kevin Sharkey. 

He first began with the gingham check grasscloth wallpaper - the scale reminds me of buffalo check which I really love. And, then he added Schumacher's floral garden wallpaper to the ceiling to add a fifth wall.  This is very different from how he decorated his current home. 

He said his inspiration was a garden room, hence you see the garden stool, wicker furniture, floral wallpaper, etc.

Similar to Rebecca, he bought unfinished ready made bookcases and added molding to make them look custom.

All pictures above from Shannon Berrey Design.

So, there you go - one room, two looks.  Have a favorite?  I do and would love to hear yours.  Go here to vote. 



Annsley Interiors

Every once and a while, I like to profile an interior designer's work as a way to capture my favorite designs and designers.  Annsley McAlleer is no exception.  

The styling of these bookcases are perfection.  Notice the small nesting lucite tables?  How about the fabric on the chairs?  Looks like Albert Hadley's Fireworks for Hinson & Company?  Love it.

Who doesn't love a banquette with a zinc pedestal table and a chippendale chair?  Oh, and of course, french doors!

So relaxed, adorable and functional!  

I love the blue & green color combination! 

So serene!  Blue and yellow - I love it.  I'm curious as to what fabric she used for the curtains?

I love the sconce she chose for this bathroom!

I can't tell if the color palette is blue and green or black and green.  Either way, I love it.  Very dramatic.  All the above pictures are from Domino where they featured Annsley's home in Boston.  

Do you spy a blue ghost chair, David Hicks La Fiorentina pillow and I believe Alan Campbell's zig zag fabric on the chair?  I do!!  Hope you enjoyed her portfolio as much I did!!  To see more, go here.