A Dining Room Refresh

I recently completed a design for a client's dining room who I have been very lucky to work with for a while now!  She wanted to update her dining room and wasn't sure where to start. We initially talked about just changing the paint color and well, one thing led to the next, and you know how that goes! :)

Here is a breakdown of how her space will get a new look:

1) The things that couldn't change were the aqua colored window treatments and her mahogany chippendale dining room set.  To start, I wanted to break-up the all the brown in the furniture and so my client boldly agreed to PAINT her dining room chairs a creamy off-white!  The dining room table and chairs pictured above in the design board are actually hers (after she painted the chairs)!!

2) My clients LOVES audubon artwork.  I suggested a large framed audubon print over her buffet table.  It's the perfect spot for something dramatic because you immediately see it in when you enter through the front door.  The audubon's colors are fantastic and determined the rest of the color palette for the space.  Below is a more detailed shot of what I was envisioning....

3) We decided to go bold and paint the walls a beautiful blue green teal.  

4) She also has a beautiful hutch I suggested that she re-paint in a chalky, plaster like off-white color with distressed edges.  The hutch will be flanked with two Ballard Designs Louis chairs upholstered in green velvet with some contrasting welt.  

5) I suggested the Brunschswig and Fils Les Touches fabric for the pillows on her Louis chairs and a warm peacock hue check for the seats of her dining room chairs.  

6) Lastly, we will be accessorizing with a lot of blue and white accessories and bamboo accents as a nod to the hollywood regency look!  

Visiting Draper James

My husband and I escaped for a one night getaway to Nashville this past weekend and it was exactly what we needed (other than more of it, but I will take what I can get)!  It took a combination of friends and neighbors to watch my little ones at home, but I guess that is what they call, 'parent life', huh?

Nashville was great!!  First time there and I absolutely LOVED it.  The beautifully manicured residential areas with pea gravel driveways, the cool/hip stores on 12th Ave South, the pedestrian shopping areas, Franklin's downtown, Leiper's Fork, and it's very down to earth, southern hospitality and friendliness.  It all was so good.

Of course, I visited Reese Witherspoon's flagship store, Draper James.  I love Mark D. Sikes, interior designer who designed the store, and his use of all things blue and white!!

It was so MUCH better in person and I truly was inspired.  I  'geek-ed' out ALL over this store and it wasn't until I came home that it struck me why the interiors of this store really left an impression on me.

It had every element of design that I love (and I mean really, really love when creating a home).  It was one of those Oprah 'A-Ha' moments where you get to experience everything you love in one space.

The store is designed much like a home which is such a brilliant idea and concept.  When you walk in you're greeted with a large table similar to a large round pedestal table in a foyer and a beautiful plaster chandelier that hung in the store's entry.

I am obsessed with the store's lighting choices and this chandelier had a Stray Dog Design feel, but I don't believe it is from them.  It was large, beautiful and made a statement.  And, I LOVED that it was whimsical.  It seriously was the last thing I expected as one of the design elements in this southern store and it was so perfect (in my humble opinion).

Next, your eyes are immediately drawn to the back wall where dark navy grasscloth hangs showcasing gorgeous artwork and serves as a backdrop to the store's countertops which are meant to mimic a kitchen island.  And, yes, the counters are thick slabs of marble!! 

Here, the built-ins are meant to mimic kitchen cabinetry or a butler's pantry.  I adore the antique brass utility latches on the glass fronts (I recently recommended this style of hardware to one of my clients) and the style of brass hardware pulls used for the drawers.  The combination of white and gold really speaks to my love for things a bit feminine, but the brass keeps things grounded which is classic and timeless.  The library boston sconce installed above the built-in cabinetry ties in the gold and white and looks brilliant next to navy. 

Pictured above are the modern counter stools pulled up to the store's countertop.  Another element I love is the bit of California thrown into an otherwise traditional, classic and all-American mix!  

This beautiful brass and navy lantern hanging near the vibrant blue whicker chairs imitate the 'family' or living room.  

Pictured above is the 'family room' and I love how Serena and Lily's blue tonal striped dhurrie is layered over a natural fiber rug coupled with the blue Bielecky Brothers wicker lounge chairs. The chairs were SO comfortable!!

I saw dentil molding, vertically planked walls and beadboard.  Above, an example of the store's full length mirror encased in beautiful molding!  The store's walls were either pristine white backdrops or wallpapered in either beautiful paper or fabric, as shown below.  

Above is Quadrille's Palampore Stripe fabric draped on the walls with navy grosgrain trim.  Beautiful!!

Above was another favorite spot of mine. It did the perfect job of resembling a kitchen nook.  Obsessed with everything about this space.  I love Carolina Irving's Palermo (whimsical) print and Patmos Stripe on the banquette.  All these fabrics work beautifully together!  

A close-up of the gorgeous textiles with the beautiful navy and brass sconce!!  LOVE!  

The store's fitting rooms - gasp - obviously, resembling a home's bedroom and/or closet area.  I am dying to use Farrow and Ball's closet striped wallpaper in someone's home!!  Again, dark navy doors with brass fixtures!! Here, we see a repeated design element of stripes.  

I love the play of vertical and horizontal stripes in the same space!! So fun!  And, the closet hooks!!  I need these!  I found a similar type here, but not in the brass finish.   

I've used the sconce's shade fabric in a client's project before and I love it!!  Perfect for a fabric covered lampshade.  

The color scheme was definitely blue and white, but I love how Mark Sikes threw in 'yellow' to keep things fresh, young and modern.  He has such an amazing eye and love all his touches of playfulness.

I will have to save the artwork for another post - it definitely was a highlight of the store as well as, the store's bathroom, believe it or not!! 

Visiting this store did not disappoint and it confirmed all the things I love and would like to emulate in my own home.  It gave me loads of inspiration and perhaps the little shove I need to finally finish some projects. 

Case in point, I immediately purchased this rug to go in my kitchen nook! :)

Ideas for our Kitchen Nook

So, I need to put some 'lipstick' on our pig kitchen nook (so to say).

In other words, make our kitchen nook pretty but on a shoe string budget.  Using things I already have or purchasing on the super cheap while saving for the long-term and bigger project - renovating our kitchen.

Here is a little design board I threw together.

Here is some more inspiration:

For starters, I'll be using these woven shades I picked up from Lowe's 6 months ago on clearance for $5 each.  Next, I purchased a beefy oak pedestal table on EBTH for next to nothing (see below).  I'm 90% sure I'll be painting this baby white!

What's left - paint walls, new light fixture (am considering this in nickel) and perhaps new chairs (am considering these)!  I also would like to keep this space kinda of fun and would like to use white gallery frames to hang my kid's artwork. 

So, there you have it!!  Hoping to get things started relatively soon!!  Gotta find mojo to sand and paint that table! :)  Happy Monday!

Inspiration: Little Girl's Room

Last week I was waiting to pick up my son at school and I was casually talking to a mom there who was waiting for her daughter.  We got to talking about kid's rooms and how she wanted to update her daughter's room.  Her frustration was trying to keep the green and pink palette without it being too in your face (a.k.a. 'gaudy').

I devised the below design board to give her some ideas and I absolutely LOVE how it turned out.

I would paint the walls a very pale pink like, SW Verbena, and use an aqua green, BM Palladian Blue, for the accents.

Sources: Pillows (Galbraith and Paul Lotus, Quadrille Bangalore Paisley, West Elm), Daybed, Lamp, Nightstand, Basket.

If you need help designing a room, feel free to contact me.

Our Dining Room: Progress

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Well, this has nothing to do with St. Patricks day and all to do about my dining room!  Ha!  Anyway, I'm trying my hardest to make progress on some rooms in our home before May arrives (translation: lots of family and friends visiting).

Here is one combination I am considering for our dining room (the fabric is for the drapes).

At first, I was ho-hum about the fabric, but my husband really likes it and lately, it is really growing on me.  I like how the navy and red keeps the color scheme grounded.

When picking out the paint colors for the DR walls, my sticking point was this cabinet/bookcase below which I plan on using it in our DR.  I wanted one of the paint colors to match it so it looks cohesive.  It took a lot of paint samples, but I got it.

I always feel that if you have one painted piece of furniture in a room it adds some whimsy and casualness which I really admire.  I did that for my daughter's room and really liked how it turned out.

The plan is for the lantern to hang over an antique dining table (have yet to purchase).   But, something along the lines of this…

I am considering two ideas for our DR when it comes to painting our walls.

Idea #1: Is to paint the all the walls ivory and to paint the trim the blue greenish grayish color.  Remember that the cabinet will also be the blueish greenish grayish color too.  Here is some inspiration:

Idea #2: Since my DR has a chair rail, another option is to paint the chair rail and the wall below the chair rail the blueish greenish color along with all the trim and keep the ivory above the chair rail.  See inspiration…

What is your preference?  Honestly, I like both styles so I think I am going to try both and see what I like better.  I'll be honest though, I am so nervous to paint the trim!!  Have you ever painted your trim a different color than white??

E's Bedroom - Finally the Reveal!

In approximately two weeks, we will have lived in this house and in Louisville, KY for one year!  Woohoo!  I can't believe how fast the time has gone. When we first moved into this house, one of the first rooms I was determined to work on was E's room.  For the past three years, the poor girl has not had a proper room!  When we lived in Vienna, her bedroom was a large walk-in closet (with a huge window), but still, it was a closet.

So, I set forth designing her room with gutso.  If you remember, this was the inspiration board I created for her room.

I mainly stuck to the plan, but had a departure here or there as things got underway.  Here is her room now and I am happy to say that my little E loves it (and so do I)!

The window is the first thing you see when you walk in the room and I wanted it to be the focal point.  I picked a neutral buffalo check fabric and had it made into a custom balloon shade that will grow with her as she transitions to a big girl room and so on.  I painted the walls a soft cream to complement the biscuit color in the buffalo check fabric.

I had a scalloped slipcover made for an old glider we had in a white matelasse fabric and created a cozy reading nook.

The framed watercolor above the chair is of the town my mom is from and grew up in - Trier, Germany.  The watercolor was given to us from my mother's family as a wedding present.

The book shelf is actually an Ikea Hemnes bookcase that I painted BM Prescott Green.  I LOVE this color.  Painting the bookshelf wasn't part of the original plan, but as the room progressed I felt it needed a cooler color to offset all the warm tones.  I am so happy how it turned out.

Here are some close-ups of some of the really special things on her bookcase.  

We love reading Little Bear! 

The mirror below is from Target that I whitewashed.  My blue and white lamp is from my step mother and dad given to me for my birthday which I love.  And, her monogrammed baby cup is from her grandparents.  

The dresser below is from Restoration Hardware which I am very happy with and I love how the gray tones work well with the cream walls. 

E just turned 3 and will be transitioning out of her crib soon.  This was previously Luke's crib.  Her crib is very simple nothing fancy, but I love the bolster and touches of blue.  The bunny plates above her crib are my favorite and I had them custom made from etsy. The picture below was taken at a different time so the lighting is a bit off.  The walls and fabric are much more saturated.  

Below is my husband's rocking chair when he was a little boy and I had a custom toile slip made for it. I found the hooks at an antique store and painted them BM Prescott Green.  That is Peanut sitting in the rocking chair! 

E's grandmother made her tooth fairy pillow hanging on the peg hooks.  

So, that is it!! It was a labor of true love as I guess all children's rooms are!  If you are interested in seeing this room when we bought the house, see below.

BEFORE:

Yes, those are some really purple walls!!  I hope you enjoyed my little girl's room and have a wonderful weekend!!

My Dining Room (as it stands now)

First, a huge thank you for your sweet comments on yesterday's post.  I was flattered.

Now, onto our dining room, I wasn't able to completely finish my dining room.   Don't get me wrong - I think our dining room has come a long way, but the finishing details are definitely lacking.

If you remember, this was the inspiration.  

The goal was to lighten up the room.  So, how did we accomplish that? 

- We painted over the current wallpaper.  

- Purchased a natural jute rug.

- Installed custom made roman shades.

- Painted dining room table and chairs.

- Painted sideboard. 

What did NOT get accomplished?

- Painting of chandelier, hanging my federal eagle mirror and accessorizing.  So, here is our 

Dining Room BEFORE:

Dining Room AFTER:

It definitely is brighter and softer.  The wall color provides a calming backdrop, the natural rug is perfect for everyday use, the roman shades (more below) provide that much needed dose of color and pattern and the painted table and chairs help break up all the gold tones in the room.  

Another picture of the painted sideboard with the unhung mirror.  You can see the chandelier I was suppose to paint and never got around to it.

The DwellStudio Gate Citrine fabric used for my roman shades.  Isn't it lovely?  Melissa from Windows by Melissa really did a fantastic job (yet again).  They're perfect for our dining room.

If you need window treatments, don't hesitate to contact her!  She is a pleasure to work with.  Well, that is our dining room - What do you think?

Stay tuned for tomorrow, because I will be hosting an amazing giveaway from Melissa!!  It's a doozy!