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 . . .

Install of the Day !

Hi There !

And Merry Christmas !!!   The other day my parents took the both of my girls for an overnight to return them on Christmas Eve.  Keith and I, along with six painters, and two movers were in high gear for a bedroom flip surprise !!  Lucy had no idea but Kate was in on it and what a sweet sister to give up the big room and keep a secret.   We had 1 day to pull it off.

Now I know, my kids have it good when it comes to pulled together, pretty bedrooms and both were recently shot for BH&G, but being in the biz with access to my own inventory, changing the look happens around here - it's a nice perk, and with all my clients under control, it was time to have a fun reveal at my own house !!  

I decided that Lucy needed the bigger room - high school girl you see.  She loved her tree wall paper, but there wasn't much room for the things she loved and the look, while I loved it - wasn't really "her."  She is a huge comic book fan.   Batman in particular - go figure.  Not a girly, girl, much more simplistic and edgy.  She has started going to comic book conventions with Keith, and well if she hooks up with the likes of Tim Burton, these two artist parents would be fine with that!

I wanted to give her a look that was all her with the main focus being her growing collection of art - comic book style.  She has a few new pieces by CJ Draden she loves and wanted to show them off.  To give that art a showcase we painted over the purple glazed walls and cream trim of Kate's room to this stark black and white !!  We had to work fast - had 4 hours before the movers came - I'm not scared, think I've done this a time or two.  So with 3 coats on the walls and one heavy black oil coat on the trim, in came the furniture - we just kept it all a few inches from the wet trim !

She now has an upholstered black and white textured headboard with simple black and white bedding. I loved the fabric I recently used on an install, ordered another yard and made two pop pillows.  It was the perfect pattern for this overall look.

We brought in a grey, flannel love seat, new- yet vintage black dresser and side table and the perfect black and grey rug I had at the store.  Kate's desk was perfect, so I kept it in there.

Take a look at how the art really jumps out now.  We hung the pieces she and Keith recently got at Comic-Con and we had framed for the surprise.  A very random order leaves space for new pieces.  Keith also created this special piece for her using a second copy of the comics he bought.  Check out the detail . . . he's good with an x acto knife !

I thought this lava lamp would be funny and cool.  I reused her duvet cover, with a new one layered on top in teal.

It was such a fun surprise, she had no idea and was so happy with her new digs, it was hard to get her to come out to hang with us on Christmas Eve !!  Now this space is really "all her," and we lovingly call it Lucy's "Bat Cave."  The funniest of all is the fact I never do "theme" rooms and look at me !

What about Kate? . . stay tuned . . 

Gold Digger . . .

Hey There . . .

Bring on the gold.  It' not only warms up a room, it can have the vintage appeal I love.   I have been using gold rather than silver for the past couple of years when it comes to hardware, fixtures and trim detail and I can't get enough of it.  I just finished setting our table for the holidays, pulled out the gold charges, dipped some magnolia leaves in gold paint for a center piece and as I sit back and take a breath from the crazy month long work schedule, I am get more excited for the next couple of days off.

Get inspired by gold.  

Install of the Day !

Hey There . . .

My client Barbara Peterson is one busy working woman!  Her job with Ebay has her traveling  a lot and when home her work space fills the front - former, living room.  It needed some "pretty" as it's the first thing you see when you walk in the door.  We got together not too long ago to talk about just how to create a space filled with color and comfortable pieces, yet be a space she could work from.  Barb's existing colors I felt didn't suited her personality.  She fun, vibrant and one of the first things she showed me that she loved, were the painting she had done of her puppies.  Using the teal and green, I went in a more eye popping direction for her space.  Funny enough, she came to our meeting wearing just those colors.  Score.  While working on the back of the house and exterior porch, I knew at some point all new colors and style would come into play so I created design boards for this office and the adjacent dining room (and while I was at it did a family room design to show her how it could look when they were ready).  The colors and look will soon bleed throughout the home.

But first off, we needed to get her work space organized and comfortable.  This room will set the tone for the entire home.  Take a look at what we installed yesterday !

 A vintage teal chair and simple ceramic stoop

 A comfortable sofa with the splash of color in the pillows.  A new custom ottoman large enough for paperwork and lap top when wanting to move from desk to sofa.

 I found this great sideboard at Slate to perfectly accommodate her files in a pretty way.  The doors side to the side and the depth is enough to hold file boxes.  She found this piece of art she loved.  With it's reds, oranges and pinks, it keeps the space from being too "color coordinated." And the mid-century style lamps tie back to the look of the sofa.

Now take a look at what you'll see when you want in the front door!

We added a wall paper splash on the focal wall as you enter the room, but kept the other walls a solid pale gray so when she incorporates her large push pin work board behind the desk it won't seem to busy.

I love all the mixture of textures and furniture styles.  Very eclectic, just like Barb.  The wall paper, the ceramic stoop, the marble top teal desk, the pop of a rose covered file box and pillow, the metal second side stoop and the upholstered - nail studded ottoman.

My color inspiration . . .

Now Barb can get some work done in a space that is visually energizing not draining with drab file cabinets and dull office furniture !!!

I love seeing the design board come to life !

Take a peek at the dining room (and potential future family room) we are tackling after Christmas.  The wall paper alone brings it all together at the front of the house !

Great to see Barb so happy yesterday !!!!

Install of the Day !

Hi !!

While installing Jill Pleune's family room not too long ago with it's crazy -  fun faux boxwood walls, we went ahead and papered her dining room in anticipation for this install.  It was the first this week.  Just prior to the Wagoner's bonus room and Avason's family room we ran over to Jill's and installed the chairs, lighting, windows, rug, art, and a gorgeous lamp atop her existing sideboard.  The room really came together with all these amazing new additions just in time for Christmas . . .

Take a look . . 

Jill's current dining table is now much more dramatic with the re-upholstered dining chairs in a soft, pattern teal velvet.  I yanked her sideboard out of the living room and think it's perfect in its new home.

Jill has been nothing but fun these entire projects and I cannot wait to continue into the foyer, living room and master.  She's one that is game and I love that we have the kind of relationship where I can just go over there and put a room together for a nice surprise to come home to.

The paper and rug were my key pieces in this space.  Both played off the living room we just finished.  Using black and white with touches of teal and gold in that space for just accents, in this space I used it as the main focal point in the busy, glamorous paper... love !

Keith did a big black and white art piece for me. With busy paper, you can do art !!!  I chose something in stark contrast style wise, but mellow in colors.

Used a big, fabulous jewelry box on the sideboard, tray out - great for small serving pieces, we just love the look  . .  The chandelier - dreamy, and the simple seagrass graphic rug - perfect.

What's next !!  We are moving room by room and creating a cohesive but room-unique look, the best part - reading Jill's text messages when she gets home !

Think the look from room to room is coming all together - you?

What a fun week, seeing all these different spaces come together for all these great clients !!!

Stay tuned . . few more to finish up.