Install of the Day !

Hi . .

I tell people it can be a slippery slope and this project is exactly what I mean.  I worked with Shannon Avason just recently on her main living room, kitchen and breakfast room.  We took down a wall and opened it all up.  We changed ALL the colors from tan / red / brown / gold to a lighter combination of grey, green, white and a touch of teal.  Major color difference and major style change.  The slippery slope is wanting to continue that palette and style into the other rooms, which is just what we did.

Now because I took out a wall between the kitchen and the family room and closed up a wall from the kitchen to the dining room to move the fridge over, it required that we fix what was behind it in the dining room.  Rather than just painting the same color back in the dining room, I papered it with a green grass cloth to jive with the new color scheme.  Shannon happily accepted my teal showroom curtains (which were up for grabs with my re-design) as well as my beloved white twig chandelier.  I have loved it, but was ready to let it go for something new to come in.  These few changes in the dining room, now work with the new colors in the family room.

Shannon really wanted to do something in her master bedroom which was just across the hall from the dining room.  I came up with a plan to continue the colors, as well as work in some other showroom pieces as well as new pieces.  These showroom pieces saved quite a bit and allowed us to completely revamp the master !  We changed it all . . .  Take a look at the boards I did for Shannon for a visual.

We installed the other day and,  being the slave driver that I am, Mekenzie (still wearing her Florida flip flops) jumped from her car into mine minutes from returning from her trip to head to Denver to shoot.

I absolutely love these images !

Isn't this the dreamiest bedroom.  We relocated the bed up against a sea of pattern, both in the paper and curtains (which made Shannon nervous, but got it when I was done !)

A new upholstered headboard, side tables, lamps . . . all these pieces of different styles but in a cohesive color palette.  So bright and airy now !!!

We did a large gouging over a new sofa of mis-matched pieces, all that work as a group.

Mix art, photos, empty frames (why not.. the frame itself is gorgeous) mirrors.

Take a closer look at the pattern on pattern . . . as well as the contrast of somewhat formal in the tufted headboard, painted tree lamp and open side table.  I love the legs on these tables.

A few vintage finds made it in the room as well (thanks Slate) as well as a very modern bench.  We mixed all sorts of woods, paint, stains, fabrics, papers.  I think it works!  You?

Shannon's new color palette is now really coming along !  Take a look at all the colors together that I am bringing into the house.

Installed just recently over the holidays . .  Shannon's new family room focuses on the greens, greys and whites with a touch of teal.  We started the dining room with new grass cloth, curtains and chandelier.  Carrying the paint colors in the foyer and up the stairs I am sure we will next . .  Phase 3

I am in love and she is a joy to work with . . . the "surprise me" element has been a win-win!

Thanks Shannon . . .

Install of the Day . . . Part Deux.

Hey !

I don't do "theme" rooms, kids outgrown them and they can be, well, pretty cheesy.  I will, however, incorporate pieces of a theme, and that's just what I did with Kate's room.   I have a 9 year old who's a hopeless romantic.  She loves candles, she loves pretty music, she's artistic, she love beautiful things and finds them in the oddest places.  She notices everything.  We can be walking and she will point out the shape of a leaf or exact hue of the sky.  I love that quality about her.  She loves  a magical setting. She will spend hours outside, but will "dress" every time we go out, even for a cheese burger.  So I wanted to create something beautiful and woodsy at the same time, but the story starts here . . .

A while back, I wanted to know what all the talk was about when it came to the Twilight Saga and I watch the first movie one kid-less weekend.  I will admit I got sucked in and watch all 5 of them on the same day.  Lucy thought I was a big loser, Kate was a different story.  After I watched that wedding scene, I have to say, it was beautiful.  I let Kate watch it along with some of the other parts showing all the  gorgeous scenery  (and who are we kidding, we both pretty much decided Taylor Lautner was easy on the eyes, too).  

So when I moved her in Lucy's old room I knew right away I wanted to bring in the feel of her new found obsession.  I already had the tree wall paper !  I flipped the bed around, found a new, yet vintage side table and twiggy, yet elegant lamp.  But I need a whimsical kid factor in this somewhat sophisticated room so I thought about our favorite scene - the wedding.   I wanted  the look of those pretty flowers dripping down from the sky.  I played around with some ideas on how, but will have to hand it to West Elm.  I walked in there recently and saw they had strung paper leaves on twine from the ceiling.  That was how I was going to do it.

I take zero credit for actually creating them.  Carson Duffy (my part-time help) and her architect Dad, Don (Charlotte's best) cut some 100 leaves and strung them up for me !!! They were perfect . . . Thanks so so much guys!!  

Take a look at what just a few "theme type" details can do.  Kate was in on the room swap, but had no idea I would tweak hers.  Who would have thought paper leaves strung from the ceiling would make a kid so happy!

I also found, at Slate, the perfect pillows - soft yes . . . and  the look of moss !

Jumped on this twiggy lamp as well.

 . . . and what is a Christmas surprise without something funny . . . like a life-size cardboard cutout  . . hilarious.

Unfamiliar with the wedding scene . . . here's my inspiration.

I have two happy kids and a sore back.  But TOTALLY worth it.

I love surprises . . .