RUBY DELIGHT Olioboard by SharonTaylorDesigns

Okay, so you remember how I went to Design Camp in October?  It was life changing for me and the business.  I won't bore you with talk of that deal, but wanted to share one of the biggest topics/tools shared there.  Leslie Carothers {twitter link}spoke on behalf of this great new tool called 'Olioboard'. Have you heard of it?  It's an online tool for drafting 2D and 3D room inspiration boards... using a full market of millions of items and brands to pull from.  Once you've created the room at the drop of a fingertip, you can 'shop the look'.  You can shop other user's boards.  Anyone can use it.  Including you.  And it's free. 

For designers it's great, because it's a quick and easy way to present a visual board to your clients. 

Many designers at camp had never heard of it.  I had, but kept resisting using the tool because I really didn't think I had time to learn one more thing.  And i didn't know you could pull antiques and oddities.   {WRONG}

Since returning from camp, I've kept Olioboard at back of my mind.  I remember Leslie encouraging us designers to expand to their larger 'PRO platform', to make more money and also promote the biz. Leslie made most campers leave camp with 'Olioboard' at the top of their priority lists.  Not me. haha.     

Fast forward four months.  Well you know how much of a fan I am of Tobi Fairley, right?  Great luxury designer, inspiring business woman and coach, and overall life-coach for all of us who strive to be better.   Elevating not only our practice, but our inner spirituality and physical strength.  I greatly admire her as a positive business woman and mom!  

RUBY DELIGHT:  A Sharon TAYLOR Designs board

I, of course, follow her on IG, and twitter and noticed that a couple weeks ago she was mentioning her upcoming  "Get Published" for April 9th. Now, I tell you, I've been trying to get to one of her camps for the last few years, but timing never was right with babies and kids activities.  

Then about a week later,  Ronda Carmen of All The Best,  announced that her forth coming book, Designers At Home,  will be launched at the Tobi Fairley camp as well.  And to top it off, Traditional Home editors are guest sponsors and speakers.  Then I was like, WHAT?!  I have to go.  

It's in Little Rock, Arkansas.  I could drive, right?   

So it just so happens that Olioboard is a Team Tobi sponsor, and is hosting a contest right now with the winner to receive 2 tickets to the camp valued at $2400 each.  I'm putting that challenge out there not only for myself, but for all of you designers who would like a chance to win it too.  But, I'm pulling for mostly me.  Haha. 

{No, but even if you're not a designer, it's something you could play with too.  It's like playing in a dollhouse.  Join in and try it out with me!  My profile is:  sharontaylordesigns}

 Well, you know what I did last night after reading about the contest?  Slept maybe four hours, woke up with a catapulting leap, and started plugging away...

This is my first room above.  I know I'm duplicating the one above it, but I had to showcase the amount of clutter I amassed while creating it.  I'm so proud I completed a board.  Not sure if this will be an entry into the contest yet and don't judge me for the wampiness or my untidy, unkept house I keep.  Haha.  I really wanna break out the online paper dolls now.

 Alright, so I named the room Ruby Delight.  Needs some help, but here's the Description:  This room is for the girl who is charmed by all things chic. Delightment filled by all things french, antique, adventurous travels, books, film, science studies and tea!

It was great fun and pretty easy.  With a click of the mouse, I could slide an antique One Kings Lane table out from under a crrrrrrrystal vase, and it SO didn't crash into jillions of pieces.  It was fairly easy,  and I'm already majorly addicted and I think it could work really well for me with my clients' presentations too.  Can I tell you how happy I am that Olioboard offers antiques too!!  I was really pleasantly surprised.

I published this one before I realized I forgot to put away all the things I had scrapped that are up there to the right.  Haha.  And I still don't know how to edit those out.  Anyway, I'll work on that, but I need your help, because, you see, I realize this room is very 'girly'.  And that girly stuff may not be a 'winning style'.  One plus to the contest is, I can enter as many boards as I want.

Okay, SO this is where I need your help.  Tell me what types of moods, styles, trends, products you might like to see created.  I'll incorporate some of those things into boards to create for my multiple, winning entries in the contest.  Be thinking about what some of your favorite things are, and please, please tell me.  {thank you in advance!}

I may need your help at some point too, on voting. It's a judged contest, but viewers can vote daily on their faves.  Not sure that sways the judges, but it might.  Sort of like American Idol?  Haha.

Okay, I know this is a long post, but I thought I'd leave you with an inspiration image and woman to 'glide around on the ice with' today.   I love this painting.  It's of Florence Nightingale.  I think that's one of the prettiest girl name I've heard in a LONG time.  Why has no one in my massive family used it?  Even the last name would make a pretty middle name aside from Florence, I think.

Anyway, did some reading on Florence and thought she was the perfect inspiration for my 'Ruby Delight' board above.  "She was a precocious child intellectually.  Her father took particular interest in guiding her through history, philosophy, and literature.  She was able to read and write French, German, Italian, Greek, and Latin at an early age.  Never satisfied with the traditional female skills of home management, she preferred to read the great philosophers and to engage in serious political and social discourse with her father." ~ You can read more about Florence here.

                               One more:  Miles Redd room.  I LOVE Miles fun with color!

Wish me luck, folks, and try out Olioboard, and tell me what you think.

Happy ICE DAY. Be careful out there, locals!!

xx
sharon

Pickwick House is a full service design/build company in the heart of the Midwest!  {Springfield, Missouri's Rountree Neighborhood}.  We handle all aspects of residential renovations from small to large projects and are available for full service and consultation design, and/or stylizing from East to West Coast.  Call or email us today.  We may be on location, but we'll get back to you in no time.

 417-459-8988 *sharontaylordesigns@yahoo.com

xx

sharon

One Room Challenge: Week 6

Long time no see!  I've had some REAL issues arise with internet at home and the shop.  It's a season of change for phone, internet, and utilities in both of my spaces.  I've been updating things both internally and externally.  But, hopefully, as of tomorrow, we will have U-verse and I won't be constantly trying to gain access thru a "sometime operable word they call "tethering"".  Fingers crossed {With as few glitches as possible}.

The one room challenge was a REAL challenge to complete for me in six weeks.  I want to thank the sweet and talented Linda for inviting me along for such a fun and fabulous ride.  Thank you Linda!

All in all, my one room challenge literally was done and complete by six weeks.  My last installation took place on week six.

I love it.  My client loves it and I hope it will be loved by many of you. What do you think?  You can reserve your comments for the real photography, in case it's hard to see or if you just plain hate it.  These are just snapshot sneak peeks by me.

See the tapestry that we decided to mount to a frame?  I found that at the Ozarks Greater Garage Sale for a song. That has been my most favorite find.  I think it ties so well with the drapes and bohemian styled console.

The drapes are by loniemae.  Kendra and her mom exceed my wildest expectations every time.  Quality work.  On a deadline.  With some slight hurdles.  Thank you ladies!  I love you and I love your work!!!

Pillows from sweden are from zincdoor.com/.  They are my absolute favorite.  $192 a piece.  Which is a bit expensive for my liking, but well worth it for tying all my colors together.  A little luxurious touch that goes a long way!

The bed is not quite ironed out yet.  We never found a screen to go behind it..  But I found the most amazing sconce thru one of my best friend's Joann, who's also an antique dealer.  I think the sconce screaming for tall kelley green candlesticks, like Barry Dixon shows in all his interior design projects.  I messaged him to ask him where he got his.  He was kind enough to reply!  Did you know he's from the Ozarks?  Check his work out if you have time.  He's an inspiration and a gentle soul.

Okay, jumping back to where I was...What do you think of the bed setting?  Maybe a screen behind it too??  Just haven't found a cool one I like as of yet.

The bedspread is by sferra {Fine luxury linens}.  The pillow cases are again my logo design template that I had screenprinted onto some overstock.com Euro shams.  I absolutely love how they turned out.

The wall art and bed-bench are from onekingslane.com/.  Ufan is the artist.  The bench is by by ottoman empire.  I love it's classic lines which transition from casual to luxurious so well.

The blue and white ikat duvet cover is from cb2.com/.  I feel like it mimics the Ufan water droplet-type prints.

So as you can see I love to use a mix of flea market finds mixed with online/new purchases.

What is your favorite part?  I'd love to hear.

DO please take a look at the other's final one room challenge end alls. They are quite inspiring!


Suzzanne ~ Saved by Suzy

Jayden ~ Dutch.British.Love

Nicole ~ Nicole Scott Design

Kim ~ Kim Macumber Interiors

Emily ~ Rue De Emily

Jennifer ~ The Pink Pagoda

Lisa ~ Trapped in New Jersey

Kelly ~ Refresh Designs

Danylle ~ Nana Moon Shop

Taylor ~ Taylor Morgan

Jen ~ Inside Ways

Linda ~ My Crafty Home Life

Janet ~ House Four

Tiffany ~ Living Savvy

I will be back for many more updates I've been dying to share with you.

xx
sharon

#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...

Suzzanne ~ Saved by Suzy

Jayden ~ Dutch.British.Love

Nicole ~ Nicole Scott Design

Kim ~ Kim Macumber Interiors

Emily ~ Rue De Emily

Jennifer ~ The Pink Pagoda

Lisa ~ Trapped in New Jersey

Kelly ~ Refresh Designs

Danylle ~ Nana Moon Shop

Taylor ~ Taylor Morgan

Jen ~ Inside Ways

Linda ~ My Crafty Home Life

Janet ~ House Four

Tiffany ~ Living Savvy

xx

sharon