the green desk

I did it.  I actually completed a project in a timely manner, AND took pictures before and after, AND finished it in time for Monday's Linky parties.  This must be a first.

Actually, finishing the project was easy...this was one of those that I was very excited about doing.  I've wanted to replace that white melamine sewing table for five years.  I ordered it on impulse and have hated it since the day it arrived.  It was relatively expensive (for melamine) so I hated to spend even more money to replace it, even though I longed for a writing desk instead.  Several times I've been tempted to go ahead and replace it, but something held me back.  I'm glad the design gods intervened because I love, love, LOVE the lines of the new desk.  Best of all...it was free!  It was a part of the old decor of a hotel project I'm working on, and the owner's wife let me have one of them.  I even already had a can of paint in the exact shade of green (I'm not even sure why I bought it...I found it cleaning out my studio), so the painting portion cost me nothing as well.

My inspiration was this beautiful show house room below by Peter Dunham.  I loved the pop of the emerald green and I the colors and tone on tone inspiration board reminded me of my guest room walls.  And, in the wider shot, you can see that the color and pattern are balanced by wide swathes of white in the trim, ceiling, and other furniture.

I took a couple of pics of the other side of the guest room to show you that I have a similar situation.  While the walls are dark and heavily patterned, that is balanced by a creamy white ceiling,  bone bedding, and creamy white draperies on the windows and used as closet doors.

Here's the original sewing table against the inspiration wall:

Here's the inspiration again:

 

And here's my version:

It's certainly not an exact replica, but I think it captures the feel very well.  In any case, I love it.  I also found some small, strong magnets that let me finally use my magnetic primer inspiration wall the way I had hoped to.

I did go with a heavily distressed "fauxtique" finish on the desk:

Here's what the desk looked like before:

My sewing box was a little too big for the desk, so I tucked it away beneath it, raised on a salvaged child's chair:

 

I've realized that I do all big sewing projects downstairs in the dining room, so I used the sewing table less than I thought.  What I would like it a peaceful place to write, so I styled the top as a writing desk.  I used things I already had:  a vintage lamp moved from another location, a Beni Hana figurie as a vase, a mock croc stationary holder, and my grandfather's christening cup to hold pens.

I have a great view from the desk to my window seat and love that light that streams in:

I absolutely love the way it turned out.  This was one of those projects that just worked out exactly the way I planned.  Those are rare, so I am savoring it.

the green desk

I did it.  I actually completed a project in a timely manner, AND took pictures before and after, AND finished it in time for Monday's Linky parties.  This must be a first.

Actually, finishing the project was easy...this was one of those that I was very excited about doing.  I've wanted to replace that white melamine sewing table for five years.  I ordered it on impulse and have hated it since the day it arrived.  It was relatively expensive (for melamine) so I hated to spend even more money to replace it, even though I longed for a writing desk instead.  Several times I've been tempted to go ahead and replace it, but something held me back.  I'm glad the design gods intervened because I love, love, LOVE the lines of the new desk.  Best of all...it was free!  It was a part of the old decor of a hotel project I'm working on, and the owner's wife let me have one of them.  I even already had a can of paint in the exact shade of green (I'm not even sure why I bought it...I found it cleaning out my studio), so the painting portion cost me nothing as well.

My inspiration was this beautiful show house room below by Peter Dunham.  I loved the pop of the emerald green and I the colors and tone on tone inspiration board reminded me of my guest room walls.  And, in the wider shot, you can see that the color and pattern are balanced by wide swathes of white in the trim, ceiling, and other furniture.

I took a couple of pics of the other side of the guest room to show you that I have a similar situation.  While the walls are dark and heavily patterned, that is balanced by a creamy white ceiling,  bone bedding, and creamy white draperies on the windows and used as closet doors.

Here's the original sewing table against the inspiration wall:

Here's the inspiration again:

 

And here's my version:

 

It's certainly not an exact replica, but I think it captures the feel very well.  In any case, I love it.  I also found some small, strong magnets that let me finally use my magnetic primer inspiration wall the way I had hoped to.

I did go with a heavily distressed "fauxtique" finish on the desk:

Here's what the desk looked like before:

My sewing box was a little too big for the desk, so I tucked it away beneath it, raised on a salvaged child's chair:

 

I've realized that I do all big sewing projects downstairs in the dining room, so I used the sewing table less than I thought.  What I would like it a peaceful place to write, so I styled the top as a writing desk.  I used things I already had:  a vintage lamp moved from another location, a Beni Hana figurie as a vase, a mock croc stationary holder, and my grandfather's christening cup to hold pens.

I have a great view from the desk to my window seat and love that light that streams in:

I absolutely love the way it turned out.  This was one of those projects that just worked out exactly the way I planned.  Those are rare, so I am savoring it.

Wanted: My Own Beautiful Launderette

One of the first things I learned when I first entered the design business is that there is a seasonal design demand cycle:  in the spring, when people start cleaning their houses and planting their gardens, the nesting instinct takes over and the decorators' phones start ringing.  Then, as summer hits, vacations start, and the kids leave school, most clients are distracted and, as projects end, the phone stops ringing.  However, as soon as the kids get back in school, the holidays approach, and cooler weather again starts the nesting instinct, business revs back up.  The point to this info?  Spring is here, and I'm ready to tackle another problem room in my home: the laundry room.

While my laundry will not be this elegant, this is the feel I want:  cottage inspired, bright, a vintage feeling.

I'm really excited about  this project because I love laundry rooms.  In fact it probably speaks to my peasant roots that, while I admire grand dining rooms and elegant living rooms, what I'm most enthusiastic about are service areas---impeccably organized closets, efficient kitchens, thoughtfully furnished workrooms, etc.  While I'd much prefer to LIVE upstairs at Downton Abbey or Gosford Park, I was much more interested by the service areas and servant's lives.  At any rate, after almost 5 years back in the house, I'm ready to tackle my laundry room.  Note:  this is kind of a bittersweet project though.  It's going to be my last major home project for a while.  I've gotten to that wonderful, but sad place where I've perfected my home as much as possible (well at least as much as my budget and current lifestyle allow).  I've still got plenty of small projects: organizing closets and drawers, remaking slipcovers, painting some stripes, etc., but other than that, I'm happy with the colors and room layouts.  On the one hand, it will be nice to be able to simply enjoy my home without the feeling that I need to do SOMETHING about this or that problem room, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit I'd miss the need to decorate just a little.

I know it's a kitchen, not a laundry, but it's the feel I want:  muted colors, some aqua, mix of old materials.  I love it, except those hideous stools---what were they thinking?

But enough moping.  To paraphrase Pollyana, if having a decorated home that doesn't need any major work is my big problem, I have no problems.  I'll show you a pic of the laundry room later, but suffice to say, disaster is the best way to describe it.  It's actually in a lean-to addition to the house, and has some assets:  it has a window with the original, delightfully distressed wood frame.  It's a decent size, about 8 by 12, and has a deep laundry sink.  But of course, there are issues.  Number one, it has a toilet.  While this is great for outdoor parties, it does distract from the look of a cottage like laundry.  Number two, in addition to storing laundry supplies, I need to also store a barbecue pit and the variety of coolers and the trash can we ice down beer in since I use the free-standing garage as an art studio.  It also has miss-matched appliances.  *quick story:   We ran into many problems and delays on the house, some unavoidable, some the result of human error.  At any rate, I was having one of those days when I COULD NOT COPE.  But trying to be all Pollyana, I had one thought, "For the first time in almost 20 years since leaving home, I would not only have my own laundry room, I would finally have a matching washer and dryer."  That thought had me calm and happy when the phone rang.  It was Thomas, excited over finding an expensive front load washer and dryer on a major clearance as they were floor models.  Then he dropped the bomb, " I mean, they're not the same color, but I was like who would care about that........."

I definitely want a counter and skirts to hide my mismatched washer and dryer

The vintage poster I'm thinking of replicating large scale on the accent wall

Anyway, a plan is evolving.  I'm planing to partition a corner and hang a drop cloth curtain to serve as a closet for the coolers and provide hidden storage, sell an unwanted bookshelf that is just taking up space, repaint the sink cabinet, hang a shelf with a rod for hanging clothes to dry, make a counter to cover washer and dryer, which I will then skirt, and finally paint a vintage travel poster inspired piece of art.  I'm also planning to paint the accent wall (the back wall where the art will hang) to look like reclaimed wood.  I'll keep you posted on progress.

I'm planning to use this palette and paint the back wall to resemble these boards.

My whole inspiration board so far is at pinterest.

Finally...A Finished Guest room

detail of finished guest room.

Well, it's taken me about 4 months to finish one small (12'x14') room that required nothing more than painting and re-arranging existing elements, but it's finished.  In fact, it was finished (except for adding linings to the matchstick shades) just in time for my first guest, my sister who was staying with us for Christmas.

 Here's how it began:

it's actually pretty and calming and on trend with its pale grey/blue walls and cream bedding, but i was in the mood for a change.

I gathered my inspiration:

Jamie Drake's guest room

architectural digest

And, then in the  middle of painting, I started having doubts:

But I pressed on, and came across other inspiration:

I don't have a good place in another room for an inspiration board, but it seemed natural to have one in the guest room, which also serves as my sewing room, over the sewing table.

Anyway, the paint job was finished, and I loved the color, but it was missing something, something the room had missed in its first incarnation as well....pizzazz.  Then, Valorie of Visual Vamp who has enough pizzazz for two, turned me on to just the design element I needed for that visual excitement at the blog La Maison Boheme:

Pic of Jamie Meare's store Furbish by Honey & Fritz

I am a long time fan of Jamie Meare's and her blog I Suwannee, and have followed the creation of her brick and mortar store Furbish, and its subsequent move to a much larger space.  Luckily, blogger Dina of Honey & Fritz was there for the opening and took a ton of photos.  Of them, I  especially liked and noticed this bold black and white graphic backdrop, filing it away for later use.  But I thought it was way too bold for a bedroom.  Then Valorie suggested I look at the application used by Sarah of La Maison Boheme, where she translated the pattern into a more tone on tone look in her entry:



Shazaam!  I now had my pizzazz.  Then work, two trips to North Louisiana, a 40th birthday, and a trip to NYC popped up, and it took months to complete the circles and put it all back together, but now it's finally finished.  These are unpropped, unstaged photos, but i know myself well enough if I wait to take "real" pics until everything is perfect, that might never happen:

 All the bedding is pre-existing, expect the striped sham in the front--I made that with fabric left over from a project.  I still need to find a lamp for the right nightstand, but for now fresh foliage stands in.

 Here you can see a hint of circle and a vintage lamp from my partner's mother.  The circles are not overwhelming because there is actually little wall space:  most of the room is windows, a built in bureau, and a large closet draped in the same sheer linen-colored curtains.

Finally, an inspiration board, though magnetic primer is less than awesome.

Anyway, getting that room finished and ready for use has taken a load off.  Hopefully, I'll prop it and get better photos later.  At any rate, one unfinished project down and 1,222,348 to go!