Wednesday, February 1, 2012

#1ROOMCHALLENGE: Week 3


Hi All.

My assistant Hillary's last day was yesterday.  SAD. SAD. FACE!!  As she was coming to work, she had a wreck and totaled her car.  She's fine but I haven't felt right about it or her ever since.  It was a sad "non-goodbye" as I didn't see her at all before she left for her new ventures in St. Louis.  So, Hillary, if you're reading, just know that you are in my thoughts.  I LOVE you and know that your future is SO bright!  I'm excited to see what you do!!  And you deserve 100 times as many posts about what you've done for my business in this past year!  More to come on this girl...

Okay, so I have got things going a mile long here...

To do list:
1.  Have the secretary painted in a hard coat, high gloss, deep salmon color.  {Benjamin Moore-Pink Mix-Color Preview-2089-30}
2.  Then a second layer of fretwork design painted over the deep salmon color in a satin creme color.  Painting done by a muralist and then delivered to Nixa, Mo.
3.  Be looking and waiting patiently for several online orders to arrive and/or ship out...pillows, sheets, ikat duvet cover, ottoman empire bench for the end-of-the-bed, framed artwork by Lee Ufan.
4.  Find a chandelier that suits a man.  "No frilly girl stuff".  Something good enough to justify the removal of the ugly ceiling fan.  Client's hubby is quite attached to his ceiling fan.  This is one of those things that I run into with couples.  The wife wants a chandelier and the hubs wants his fan.  Any suggestions on coaxing or counseling between the two differing opinions here?  I mean I see the need for moving air, but isn't the need for sexy lighting/dim lights in the bedroom so much more fun with your hun?
5.  Coordinate with Kendra {my seamstress} on drapery + valance design.  She was given fabric on Monday and has two weeks to complete them.  eek...But she is so good that way.  I can throw anything at her and she whips it right up.
6.  Find a screen to go behind the bed and have it painted either green or salmon.  Not sure which. What do you think?
7.  Find a little tiny frenchy styled table to go between the navy queen annes.
8.  Figure out what "splashy" pillow will go on the bed.
9.  Have an upholsterer recover the seat for the secretary chair.
10.  Have my contracter build and install simple frames for the window valances.  Add screws for art, and finally install the drapes and valances.
11.  Have the chinoiserie cabinet painted in a bright Lizard Green from Benjamin Moore.  See if it works in the space.  Not sure that it will.  If it doesn't, I'll just sell it at the shop.
12.  Have scrolly-gustavian chair painted white {secretary chair}.

AND, finally accessorize and photograph the room so we will HOPEFULLY have something pretty to show you. {Fingers crossed, OY!!}  It will take a full day of preparing and staging for the photoshoot + an assistant on hand to help me iron everything out, stylize and add any needed flowers/props.

As you see I still have a lot left to do!

AND, it's not been without it's glitches.  Every single project has it's glitches, of course.  To give you a run down of some of those so far on this project.  Here goes...

1.  After I purchased the secretary, I found out the back legs were completely rotten.  UGGGH...That was my mistake for not checking it over really well.  In addition, the chinoiserie cabinet had a cracked leg and had been jimmy-rigged back together with glue to the point that it stood sorta crooked.  I noticed this and thought at the time it wasn't a big deal.  Then my contractor told me differently.

{All of this goes without saying, as I'm sure you know that most anytime you purchase antiques or thrift store finds, the sales are always final.  Once it's in your hands, you cannot go back and ask for a refund or discount.  So always check a piece over really well.  Don't be in a hurry.  Most of the time I try to check things out really well and if it has a flaw or two, I always ask myself first "Is the flaw something we can see as a "character enhancement", or is this a trench I'm digging for myself?  One, do I want to have to mess with one more call to see if it's something fixable.  And two, is it worth the amount of having to fix it?  If I decide it's something worth trying to salvage and use on a project, I'm always up front with the client first and foremost.  What I've found is that every person is different when it comes to these flaws.  Some either embrace flaws or shutter.  The people who shutter make me laugh sometimes.  I laugh at myself too now mind you. A LOT in fact!}

ARe you one to get hung up on perfect pieces or do you like a little FLAW--er {FLAIR}?

Okay, I was getting side tracked...back to the glitches!
The next one is a sort of glitch...but a "smart one" I caught before purchase. As you'll see, catching the glitches before purchase can be MOST beneficial to your pocket book. After going to the flea market two or three times to inspect an oriental rug that I'd been eyeing and negotiating on, I finally purchased an oriental rug.  When they were rolling it out, the owner discovered a bad spot right in the middle of the rug.  They ended up taking $400 off the total price, in addition to coming down in our initial negotiations to begin with.

I was just sick about these damaged secretary and chinoise cabinet.  $200 in repairs! But, in the end, I just told myself to look at the overall picture here.  First of all, I have two amazingly lined, good pieces with good bones. These are good ones that one rarely runs across. I also have a client that will hopefully hire me for the rest of her amazing house.  I sure hope so, because she is a dream client.  AND, my client is spending a good amount of money on this bedroom project alone...which always reflects nicely on my portfolio-ol-ee-OH!

So, in this particular instance, these pieces were things that I felt I needed to "make right" in this particular instance. I don't only do it for my client, but I also do it for myself.  I wrap myself up in these projects as if they are my own.  I do this job because in the end, it's the high that I seek in seeing it thru to the best it can be.

Okay, enough, enough, I hear you say.  Here's some progress I hope.  Tell me what you think.  I'd love to hear your thoughts/questions/suggestions.  Don't forget.  I need SERIOUS help on deciding what color to paint the screen behind the bed.  Dark Salmon...the same as the secretary?  Or, Lizard Green {think kelley green}?

Progress:


Before of  the secretary.


The Secretary in progress.


The finished product of the Secretary!


Here is the Chinoiserie cabinet that had a broken leg. 


This is one of the Lee Ufan prints I ordered. 


This is an antique tapestry that is going to be used as an overlay for the bedspread. I found it at Greater Ozarks Garage Sale this past weekend.


This is the waverly fabric being used for drapes.  We're doing valances that I'm super uber excited about.  More to come on that...


I hope you enjoyed this week's update and be sure to check back in next week!  And don't forget to check out the other bloggers to see what they have been up to...



9 comments:

The Pink Pagoda said...

Can't wait to see it all come together -- you've been very busy!

Linda {Calling it Home} said...

Ok, the secretary is so fine. What is with the portrait on the wall behind it? Sorry to hear about your assistant's car accident. It is hard to suggest a paint color without seeing the screen. Sorry. Your choices are looking great. Are we supposed to have our rooms professionally photographed? I missed that memo. As for the husband and the fan...Happy wife,happy life!

Janet @ House Four said...

Oh no re: the rotten legs!! It looks so fab! Very creative :)
CanNOt wait to see this room!

A Lifestyle Thing said...

Thanks guys! Linda, I didn't see a portrait. Okay, now after going back I see what you're talking about! LOL! That was from my muralist's house I guess. Funny you noticed it. I guess the lady in portrait is happy with what she's got! I would be too if I was her.

I will get to the screen next week I guess. I love your little line about "happy wife, happy life".

Thanks Pink Pagoda for the vote of confidence! Janet, I hope the rotten legs are not a sign of what's to come!

I'm going to check all your blog progress out after I have another glass of wine and get the kiddos to bed.

Thanks for checking in. LOVE your feedback!

xoxx
sharon

Kim said...

Love the secretary ... what a fun pop of color and whimsy! Antiquing is my favorite thing ... and I am a "flaw-er"!! I love to see the incorporation of antiques with new! Looking forward to your screen choice!!

Emily said...

Oh I laughed when I read the fan vs. chandelier couples commentary...it was a frequent topic at our abode until I let him have his way and got an elegant white fan that I zhooshed up with a ceiling medallion and did the same thing in every bedroom upstairs in our house for continuity.

Jennifer Bewerse said...

The secretary looks great - really fun! I'm in the "I love flaws" camp FOR SURE.

A Lifestyle Thing said...

Thank you all for your comments.

Kim, love that you like some flaws!

Emily, LOVE your fun choice of zhooshing! I think that's pretty clever along with the idea or ceiling medallions too. I love medallions!!

Insideways, join the flaw club! My whole house is made up of flaw-ers.

Suzy www.savedbysuzy.blogspot.com said...

How did I miss this post last week? I love the colors you are using. I can't wait to see more of this room!

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