Install of the Day !

Hi !

Ran by Kassie Hunsgate's the other day with Mekenzie to shoot her family room.  We installed it just before Christmas but recently stopped by take a few pictures.  Having Mekenzie working with me has not only spoiled me but help built such a good looking portfolio.  Good photography is everything and while I would love to do more of it,  I will be the first one to let the professionals do their thing.   This project also included my new design assistant Maggie.  With such confidence in her, it was so nice to just send her over for a little bookcase styling for me and not have to worry, I knew she would do fine and she did.  With all the multiple installs we did the week before Christmas, we were all scattered, Bree included, another one I have complete trust and confidence in.. so thankful for such a great team to help me pull off 7 installs in 10 days !!

So back to Kassie . . . she came to me in need of a sectional not too long ago and if you know me at all, I didn't really want to leave it at that.  Yes, a sectional was a great idea for that space, but I really wanted to help her tweak the rest of the space. That new sectional not only was custom to give her the perfect style and size for the space, it pulled the area together.  But I wanted a few more things to really tie it all together - accent pillows, maybe a console behind it, and her existing chairs a little recovering action.  She was game.

Kassie's colors are very tone-on-tone, neutral, shades of tan, brown, and cream.  I stayed with that but decided to layer in more patterns and textures.  Neutrals don't have to be boring.

I worked around shades of hazel, coffee, sepia, mahogany, umber, beige, buff, fawn, cafe au lait, chestnut and camel - had fun with the thesaurus .. sorry, but all sounding so much prettier than "brown."

Kept her existing wall color, window treatments and area rug, but filtered in shades of grey and a little warm gold paint color on the back of the bookcases. 

I worked on a quick design board for Kassie to give her a visual of what I was proposing . . it helped her see it.

With the new sectional, the room looks more encompassing and cozy.  The neutral color allows for layering of patterned pillows.  

I recovered her existing club chairs in a grey graphic and added yet another pattern for those pillows.

Her built-ins needed some styling.  I sent Maggie over to give it a stab.  She did a great job, wouldn't have changed a thing.  I knew I had a keeper when she #1 stayed on budget, #2 took it upon herself to hand paint a few of the accessories the night before, that is so something I would have done.. love that.


The key to styling shelves, in our opinion, larger items.  A few tips on styling these bookcases in this particular style room:

> Books in both horizontal and vertical positions

> Try turning them backwards for a cleaner look

> Larger frames

>  Keep the amount of pictures at half of what you want to do

> Mix in art

> Stagger the shelves

> Add a contrasting back paint color

> Similar vases, pots and boxes

Meet Maggie (with Izzy),  filled with enthusiasm, eager to help and has a great eye.

When doing a tone on tone room, remember that patterns are the key and layer then a lot !!

Happy to get all pieces in prior to Christmas for them to enjoy and loved this email I received on Christmas.  It made my day and loved she stopped for a minute during all the craziness to glance around and say thanks.  I appreciated that so much.

Install of the Day !

Howdy . .

I have been so looking forward to Shannon Avason's install and I give her major credit for doing this at the beginning of the holiday season.  But now that it's installed with a week to spare, she can sit on that new sectional, take a deep breath and enjoy the space (literally) for the holidays.  I take all the blame for the last minute pre-holiday craziness.   You see, while standing in her kitchen trying to look around a big, fat wall into the family room we were re-doing, I said . . . "we should take that wall out." We did.  I called my contractor and the demo began right at Thanksgiving.  Demo is always a drag, it's dusty, a pain, and throws your routine off, but the outcome - totally worth it.  Her space seems huge now with the wall down and all the new lighter colors.

When Shannon came to me wanting to update her family room I knew it would be a fun job.  I did her "lego" inspired kid's bonus room about two years ago and she was game for whatever I threw out there and this project was the same.  She's open to new ideas, colors, and when it came to all the details, she let me surprise her with a full vision, I love that.

It was time to leave the dark and heavy colors behind and bring in the crisp, light and clean look.  All the pieces I chose reflected her fun personality, while being kid and George friendly.  George, the funniest bulldog you will ever meet.  So without further chatter, take a look at the finished product.

This space all started with the rug and window fabric I chose.  With such a gorgeous view of the lake I wanted to bring the outside in.  I then took both 2 boys and a big bull dog into consideration with the leather sectional.  This particular leather has a slight distress finish, so any kid and dog scuffs wouldn't be too noticeable.  The ottoman too is covered in a tough vinyl and has a more interesting leg shape.  There's nothing my upholster can't do for me.  With the TV to the side both chairs swivel which was as must for all those boys.  The main thing about this room is the wall and bookcase color.  We went from a dark khaki and even darker khaki bookcase to light grey and white.  Major difference.

It's all about unique shapes, textures and details in this space.  The console table has a hammered metal top with distress wood legs, the nail heads on the ottoman define the shape and the rug - a high / low pile in a bright green and cream pattern.

I had fun styling her bookcase with lighter, more whimsical accessories included a wire "bulldog" as one of my gifts to Shannon for being such a joy to work with !  I shopped her house for a few thing of sentimental value and then filtered in a few more pieces.

photos by mekenzie france

Where did it all start?  With design boards showing a new look.  I love the response I got when I emailed these to her and her husband Frank... simply "love it, I am so excited, when can we start."  I think that was it . . . trust factor . . .  high.

Shannon and I wanted to change all the tan, all the heavy, all the furniture and I think we accomplished that.  

Big change I would say !

Merry Christmas Shannon . . . it was a fun - day and thanks for dealing with the demo mess !!!

Stay tuned for install no. 2 we managed to pull off same day  . . . a fun bonus room on a whole other lake . . .

Install of the Day !

Hi There . . .

Ashley Burlingame called in the hopes of bringing my husband Keith, out of retirement and re-do the stained, diamond pattern floor we had done about 10 years ago.  He agreed . . . and after we finished we decided to take on a new paint color and decor in the kitchen and adjoining family room.  She was ready for a fresh look.

Ashley and I go way back . . . years.  We worked together forever ago on her daughter's room as well as her remodeled kitchen.  Way back when "faux finishing" was the thing, I glazed her family room and kitchen walls in a warm gold - yep sure did.  At the time (circa 2002 maybe) that French Country gold look was fab.  Today, not so much.  I haven't done a faux finish in about 8 years and not sure it should ever come back.  The color palate as well, was very late '90's.  It was time to freshen up, and change things.  We all wanted a cleaner, crisper feel.  Less cluttered and brighter.

Take a look at where I started . . .

Now Ashley loved the bright Kelly Green with just a touch of pink.  I couldn't wait to show her these boards for the kitchen and family room.

We finished up late last week, while they were away for Labor Day, and it was a nice surprise to come home to !

A clean color palate of white and pale grey.  The bookcases also received an eye popping kelly green back wall color.  I took the curtains down completely, didn't need them.  Recovered 2 of her chairs and added new pillows.

Keith created this simple and bold piece of art.  Venetian Plaster and Tar, it's striking over the mantle.

A little bookcase styling was key.

And always my go-to for a little something fresh and beautiful.  Campbell's Greenhouse here in Charlotte - Thanks to Jessie for these gorgeous hot pink orchids.

The details always make the room, a little Asian inspired leg, a little nail head trim.

We moved into the kitchen as well with new cornices and romans, recovered the chair seats with a pop of hot pink snake skin vinyl and also recovered two more chairs.  

I am still waiting for my F.Schumacher trim detail for these chairs . . . just have to pop it on later . . (back orders will be the death of me)

It's such a clean and crisp space now !  

Thanks Ashley.