Install of the Day !

Hi. .

Well we are getting dangerously close to having taken over each room in the Crowder's home.   We installed their dining room and master bedroom the other day.  The dining room started off with simply a new rug and chandelier, but we all decided we were on such a roll that we would update it all.

We kept the chocolate brown walls.  Originally when designing all the nearby rooms I pulled that color into the palette and added plum - Lori's new color choice.  When we decided to update the dining room Maggie actually found this fabric for me for new curtains and have to say I am totally in love.  It was perfect !!!

It looked so beautiful with the choice we made for the back on the new dining room chairs, it was coming together !!

We created these boards to give Lori a good idea of the finished product.

A new storage console, two amazing lamps and mirror finished off the new look for the dining room.

Take a look at the finished product.

I love this new buffet with it's rich burl wood and modern silver knobs.  The lamps are just gorgeous and that mirror !

We wanted a unique chandelier, something longer as oppose to wider to center over the table.  This piece, filled with oyster shells is an eye catcher !

And of course at the last minute I came across this piece by Marcy Gregg, local artist.  Thought it was perfect and filled a big, empty wall.   I love her work and was thrilled when Lori did as well !!!  Art is so subjective and I often want my clients to pick what speaks to them.  In Lori's case I have chosen several pieces she has loved!

Center pieces.  I often am asked to create something "permanent" for dining room tables.   Thought I'd try a little something different here . . . look at those colors !

Mekenzie couldn't resist a side by side of the peacock foot and fabric detail ... the eye of a photographer !

all photos by mekenzie france

Install of the Day !

Hi There ! 

We have been working with the Crowder family for a while now, and they could not be a nicer family! As you have seen in previous posts we made our way throughout the downstairs starting at the front door and making our way back. We have now made our way up the stairs. . . first stop the master!

The room had large wooden furniture that looked heavy and dark. The lines of the furniture were bulky and very traditional.  I immediately thought that the room need to be brighter and have a fresh clean feel. The house itself is not a contemporary house, so the design still needed to have a classic feel with a touch of color, softer lines and transitional furniture.

This fabric was my jumping off point ! 

I really liked the mix of the grey and browns this fabric had, with the pops of color which lead me to the curtain fabric. . . 

                                                                        

 The metallic embroidered detail in the curtains is gorgeous . . .

To me this is a more masculine fabric, I think it's important to have a balance of masculine and feminine touches in the master bedroom.

Like I said before, our main goal was to lighten up the space and make it feel larger. When choosing the case goods I chose a mix of white and dark woods with clean lines to help with that. I anchored the room on a fun, light, animal print rug in a cream color. Layering different shades of cream and white give the space a warmth, where as sometimes all while can read stark. 

Take a look at the finished product !

                        

These blue mercury glass lamps might be my favorite thing in the room!

This art brought all of the colors together in the room and filled a big void about " his " dresser

all photo's by Mekenzie France

First words out of Lori's mouth were it "looks so much bigger". . . mission accomplished! 

The Vast Landing Wasteland . . . Project Eight

Hey !

Have a big, boring upstairs landing and don't know what to do with it?  A lot of new builds do.  You come to the top of the stairs and have this vast area of walls and floor.  A photo gallery is the typical solution.  I say there can be more to it and you can add a lot of style to a landing.  Create a vignette. Every time I go to the Kips Bay Designer House I am always amazed at how the stairwells and landings are equally as beautiful as the rooms they lead to.  We have two landing we are working on for the Robbin's.  With a front stairwell and back, our goal is to tie them together and have them both tie back to the first floor.

This is the largest, with room enough for an 8 x 8 foot square rug.  We are adding two large art pieces, two chairs,  an ottoman and a really cool, tall bookcase.

This one fabric is where we plan to pull everything from.  So beautiful with the look of hand painted botanicals which is so hot right now.  I found a great vintage teal ottoman to mix with two new chairs.

What ties the two spaces together, a wall paper down the two opposing walls and wandering through the hallway to the front landing.  Vertical stripes this time in a slight yellow and silvery, taupe.  These colors are used downstairs so it will all have a cohesive feel.

The second landing has another large footprint with a long wall.  Rather than a photo gallery we are creating two long, upholstered benches with two tall wall mount, upholstered backs!  I cannot wait to see those go in.  All atop the stripe paper this should fill the space with pattern and color and really give you something to look at as you come up the stairs !

Stay tuned !!

Growing Up a Playroom . . . Project Seven.

Hi.

Yep, purple is hot and this room has a nice dose of it as well!  I have been working with the Crowder's on overhauling their entire digs as oppose to moving and this room wasn't left out of our room by room overhaul. Their three kids have a great space just off the main first floor hallway but as we all know, playrooms can be just a collection of plastic trucks and Barbie dream houses that we wish they would hurry up and grow out of.  The solution for most playrooms is to just shut the door. With this space so visible on the first floor we are working to give this space a little love, make it functional and fun with a lot more style.

I started with a rug and windows pulling all the new colors we used in the other rooms of the house, greys, purples and taupes.  I love mixing patterns and this space is no exception.  Take a look our what we are combining in this space.

We replaced all the white blinds with functional romans and added to large custom, upholstered storage ottomans on either side.   Some fun art and a new overhead fixture.  The new sofa is a lot sleeker and will change the feel of the space completely.  Kid friendly fabric and a tight back to keep it looking clean and tight.

The biggest problem with this space is storage.  Along the largest wall are bookcases.  Sounds great, but their depth is only 8 inches.  I really didn't want to ripe them all out and start over so came up with an idea to added 12' double door cabinets within the shelves.  The overall look will feel really modern with it's checkerboard look and deeper storage (behind doors a bonus) to hide all the plastic.

Two new swivel chairs and there you have it !

On such a roll at the Crowder home !  Stay tuned.

Purple Is Big Right Now. . . Project Six.

Hey !

Yes,  purple is big.  I love purple and there was a time I didn't.  Purple is warm, rich and vibrant.  My thought about purple is that when used in abundance, not so good.  When used as an accent - gorgeous.  This living room project for a new client in the Longview neighborhood has just the right amount of purple, her favorite color.

What we love about this design is the overall grey grass cloth for texture and the perfect backdrop.  With this space opening into a beautiful new kitchen the flow is seamless and the pop of the rug adds a bit of drama.  I love all the grey grass cloth choices from our favorite Phillip Jeffries, it was hard to pick.

So how about this rug for the purple lover?! So pretty.

The flanking bookcases get a new coat of grey as oppose to their current white, but leaving the mantle white. Mixing in a new cream, round coffee table and cream leather swivel chair.  A grey sectional with new pillows .

We have several great contenders for pillow options, but want to get that rug sample in to really pick the best one.  We found this one the other day and kinda love !

Our client loves a little shimmer and "glam" this piece would be way too much if it were not against that calming grass cloth . . should be really pretty and cannot wait to pull it all together at the install.

Stay tuned !