Install of the Day . . . Week !

Hey There . . .

I have been excited for this install for a while.  I have known and worked with this client for some 10 years, but this installation was extra special. The last of the pieces came in and knowing Holly and Stavros Liakakos and their kids were heading out of town for Spring Break,  I thought it was the perfect time to tackle all five spaces.  Holly's birthday came up as well, what a fun thing to come home to!   So I asked Maggie to camp out in their home for several days to oversee all the deliveries.  She did an amazing job placing all the pieces and finding a few last minute choices.  We had painters, electricians, wall paper installers and movers all filtering in and out for a week. Bree and I were juggling two other installs so between the three of us, we managed to pull off all three on site installs.   It was quite the week of running between houses, shopping for needed accessories, cleaning, staging and lastly shooting them with Mekenzie.  A team effort this was !

I had an entire first floor to think about.  Where did it all start?  The lounge.  Holly had purchased the coffee table and chandelier.  We needed everything else.  I chose a color palette of indigo, mushroom, teal, and ash grey.  This palette was pulled from two chairs she already had in another room.  I loved them and wanted to work around those colors.  Her "lounge" a.k.a. drinking lounge needed to be rich and cozy and filled with interesting finds.  No kids allowed in this space.

The Lounge


The fireplace is the focal point, but lacked anything flanking it which, in my opinion anchors the wall.  My carpenter Chris Havey created these tall, freestanding pieces designed to fill the space with visual interest while housing all that booze, just kidding, but it does hold tucked away glasses, and martini paraphernalia.  I wanted a dark space, loaded with texture, so I chose to paint the entire space a charcoal.  We painted the walls, the trim and the windows a semigloss for a little luster.  For the cabinets, I chose a slightly lighter grey.  To give them some interest (and the simple fact I was dying to incorporate this new Zoffany paper) I backed them with a lapis lazuli like wall paper.  We shopped for accessories, large ones, as not to get lost visually.

The four chairs create the ultimate conversation space for a lot of grown up talk and unwinding.  Paired with two heavy, very symmetrical floor lamps in a large scale to balance the tall cabinets.  I added two mis-matched side tables atop an amazing rug from Stark.  I love this pattern and this week I used it in both the mushroom and navy version.  So much pattern, and warmth.  Simple, tone on tone art and graphic, hand painted like curtains finish off the look right by the front door.

I created and used this board while shopping for all the finishing touches.  

The Foyer

Your view from the front door does create the mood.  Each space, the lounge, dining and great room are also visible from the foyer, so my goal was to have all the pieces in these spaces relate to each other, yet have their own unique qualities. My favorite thing about this first floor are the collection of pieces.  I took my time hunting for something different and paid close attention to their individual details.  The foyer is wide allowing for a long bench, side chest and long runner.  The stairwell, large as well.  With tall walls and wide areas I designed large, meaning big accessories, big lighting, big pieces.  It's my opinion to do less, but pay attention to scale and be unique.  I am not a big fan of numerous and small chotskies. (per the Urban Dictionary . . . "generally useless crap of little or no value.  Similar to knick knacks, popularized in Weird-Al Yancovichs eBay song" . . . hilarious)

We have a bone inlay chest with a simple single accessory atop, layered rugs, round glass light fixture, two huge scones and large framed wall paper art.  I came up with this idea back in 2009.  I wanted a huge piece of art in my own living room (mine is about 10 feet x 8 feet), then I came across Trove.  Their papers are art in themselves and will allow you to do something on a large scale.  My mirror didn't make it in time for the shoot, but we found this gorgeous circle mirror at Slate.  I have a home in mind for the original mirror, both are gorgeous!

The Powder Room

The powder room is a space you shouldn't neglect.  It's the one space to have fun with, everyone will see and use it.  This powder had a dated, traditional, dark and heavy vanity.  I thought about painting it, but the lines were bothering me so bad I had Chris also make me a new one with more modern doors.  We then added horizontal wood wainscoting painted with a lacquer grey.  With four kids using this space and the fact I wanted a killer paper in there, this woodwork will save the paper from little hands, grime and water splashing.  Holly loved, and chose a piece of art from Keith's collection which pulled all the colors together.

The Dining Room

Ok I love this space !  I could sit for hours.  We chose to do a large rug, a large table (for those big Greek gatherings) and really comfortable - sink into - chairs !  The fabric on the back of the chairs started it all.  New from one of my vendors it combined the palette on this first floor in a nubby, high texture feel and look.  I paired it with a solid grey flannel on the front.  The walls, covered in a Phillip Jeffries grasscloth, it has a navy lacquer underneath a grey grass weave over top. The windows, a silk in the prettiest bubble pattern.  The standout piece in the room, a custom dining table by Josh Utsey.  Local artist, carpenter, furniture, lighting creator.  It's is simply gorgeous in it's size, finish and sleek Lucite slab legs.  It's a stunner! Check out Josh's work here.  He was amazing to work with on this project, which also included their new light installation in the family room.

The Great Room

This room is visible all the way to the front door.  It's fireplace, the focal point, was covered in stacked stone in the beginning of this project.  Holly really wasn't a fan.  Rather than just working around it and ignoring it, we tore it out.  Chris's team and a really big scaffold traded in the rock for a large grey wash, wood like tile. The look is much sleeker.  The space also had a undersized,  lack-luster ceiling fan.  I worked with Josh to create this lighting installation.  Rather a big deal to surprise Holly with it, but I went for it.  It's a stunner and at night with the dimmer, it just glows.  We switched out the large sectional for two lower back sofas, added another Stark rug and moved the gorgeous teal leather chair from her master to this space. 

all photos by Mekenzie France

A labor of love for someone who gets me.  This project was nothing but a fun time with Holly and a chance to do some really amazing things !

Great job by everyone involved.  My many, many thanks !


Here's what Holly had to say . . .

By the end of my project with Lucy & Company, I had a mantra: "Beth Knows Best." Let me explain what this means... After working with Beth the last 7 years to complete rooms for all of my children, I decided it was time for my own big girl rooms. My family had recently moved into a new home and it had sat relatively undecorated for four years - enter Lucy & Company. I had a lounge, hall bathroom, dining room and family room to decorate and I had all kinds of ideas but needed someone to reign me in and make it come to life. While I proclaim to love design and can Pin and Houzz with the best of them, let me be honest, I'm not a trained professional designer. I needed the expertise, the creativity, the innovation of a designer to take my ideas and make them bigger and better than I could ever imagined. Every detail was taken care of and every desire was satisfied. What I thought I could have done myself would have taken years instead of months - and trying to hire someone else that might be less expensive with less experience will cost you in the long run. If you want your house to become a home - and a reflection of you, but the really, good, well put together you, hire Lucy & Company. 

Beth and her team knew best every step of the way - from my snakeskin print wallpaper, to the live edge dining room table, to the dark grey walls in the lounge, to finally convincing me to get rid of a very expensive custom ordered sectional that was just wrong for my space... the list could go on and on. Trust your instincts and go with the best designer in town. She's an original (that many try to copy) with innovative ideas that work for your lifestyle. Who wants to live in a house that doesn't feel like your own? Again, Beth creates the best version of you possible - because Beth KNOWS BEST!

Install of the Day !

Hey . .

When you are asked to help with the first floor of a home, room by room it only gets better and better (if you have a client that was happy with the very first thing you did and allows you to then pretty much do what you want).  Having completed the family room, breakfast room, powder room and my favorite dining room thus far - working on the front music room is like the icing on the cake.

This space, on the front of the house opposite the dining room, could serve several purposes.  A lounge, a study, another living space, it was built with wood paneling and large wood beams overhead.  All the wood was lightly stained a warm honey color, not my favorite and not the look I was going for in this home.   I convinced my client to paint it all white with black accent beams.  A dramatic change.   I pulled my colors from the dining room of navy blue splendor, but focused that color on the new carpet, then pulled the some of the colors from the other parts of the house in the new hand painted grass cloth, accent chair, art, accessories and amazing new window treatments.

Take a look at how this new music room and the nearby dining room now compliment each other.

This space, we decided needed to be bright, cheery and loaded with unique pieces with pattern and texture.  I started with these gorgeous window treatments.  The colors alone pull ALL the colors we have used in the home together which was perfect.  The win win was the pattern.  The floral was not too traditional, but more free spirited and artistic which I loved !

Another funny part about this design was the chair.  It was a piece my client had purchased prior and while loving the comfort and style, the color had never turned out quite as she expected.  With these curtains and new area rug it's now found the perfect home.

The stained paneling is gone and the gloss white allows all the colors to pop.  I really wanted to paint the beams and doors black to add a little weight.  Visually with the black piano it seemed to me a strong accent to pull it all together.

It's a lot of pattern on pattern but with the different scale as a whole it's pulled together.

 I love the new Lucite hardware I am using now !

This curved shelf is another favorite pieces of mine.  It creates such an enveloping corner and when accessorized with simple pieces in the right size it provides just the perfect backdrop.

Now when you walk through the first floor the flow it's very cohesive, yet each space has it's own individual personality.

Let me take you through a walk through . . . 

All the colors from downstairs even tie back perfectly with the kids rooms upstairs - the very first thing I worked on a few years ago.  

It has been such a labor of love working on this home and getting to know such an amazing, fun and spirited client.  As we move from room to room it just keeps getting better and better.  We are creating such an amazing overall space and I am so thankful to continue the process !!!

Love xox

Install of the Day !

Hey There . . 

The Foyer . . . an introduction to your home, expressive of your personality, your style.  I have been working with Jill Pleune of Sloan (best of . . . as far as cool clothes and shoes for us girls) on creating a look for her entire home, room by room.  I have had the most fun surprising her and with each install and it gets better and better as we go along.  We started with her family room (see here), moved to her dining room (see here) and moving to the living room or master will be next to continue the first floor.

When designing Jill's space I looked at her personal style.  A fan of black and white, classic yet edgy with a bit of whimsy and a lot of chic.  I love working with Jill.  Enthusiastic, open and just fun to be around.  Each project I have worked on with her has been a welcome home surprise, in that she has an idea of what I am doing but not the whole picture.  I love that - it's a win win for both!

Mekenzie always manages to capture and image that explains exactly the feeling I want for a space and this is the one that reminds me the most of Jill. 

Her foyer, like many homes I have been into, is your typical two story, turned stairs, big chandelier type of space with a dining room on one side and a "formal" living space on the other.  With a plan in place (in my head) for her first floor,  I continued with an eclectic mix of furniture with high levels of texture and pattern yet all black and white and cream.  We have a little leopard, a little cream fur, antique brass, cane, sequence, embroidery, lacquer, metal, distressed wood, lucite, burlap and corrugated paper!

I love the birds and I love the white on cream.  Just a little something to backdrop a vignette.  Check out the floor lamp.  Vintage, highly ornate.  I paired it with a burlap shade with rough, frayed edges.  I couldn't find what I wanted so we made it, or should I say Carson made it for me.  Great job creating the soft pleats and exposed wire.  Love and love even more her attention to detail.  I give her a project and with very little instruction she creates something beautiful and exactly what I am looking for.

The ceiling medallion is the only thing I kept in this space.  Love that it is similar to the embroidery on foot stool underneath.  The large metal and distress wood chandelier is delicate and simple, and beautiful through the front window.

Keith did this amazing piece for me not too long ago.  Floating on plexiglas, Veronica once again came up with the most amazing frame.  It's large 5 x 6 foot scale is perfect for all that dead space overhead on the blank 2 story foyer wall.  The tone on tone colors are simply beautiful with my palette but the high texture keeps it interesting.

My biggest piece of advise in this space is the size of the rug.  There is nothing I dislike more than a postage size "mat" by the front door.  My installer did a template for us, cutting this area rug equal distance off each baseboard.  Now this foyer appears to look more like a room than just a cut through to the home.  We painted the banister and stair treads high gloss black rather than the more casual stained look that they were.   Now when you enter the front you have a welcoming sight to greet you.

If you do a little "fur" keep it rich in color and use it only once in a space.  Don't overdue it and it will be amazing.  And what girl doesn't love a little glitz, again just a small dose!

The small table top, a gold metal clover, also has that small detail that makes it interesting.

Maggie created a design board in this case for us - it's the way we keep track of everyone on the "big wall."  Jill loves the surprise and now that I think about it, the extent of our meetings are a text that say maybe . .  "I have some money, do some more . . ."   What's next ?  I already have the living room in my head . . . 

Happy Sunday !