Three Ways to Style a Dresser

This dresser is one of my all time faves at the shop.  The brass hardware gives me crazy-highs it's so cute! {Cannot believe it's still here.}  This week, I wanted to get my juices flowing after having a brain freeze on a project, so I decided to give myself a little one hour furniture-moving retreat at the back of the shop.   Vignette above is called 'wicker-treat'.  haha.  I hope you get my corny joke.  And yes, everything pictured is for sale in all of these vignettes.

I call this one 'babe-changer'.

And here's the 'deep blue' vignette.

If you'd like to buy this dresser or anything else you see here, or maybe you want to have me come to your home to put a fresh spin on things for you, just give me a call. I'm selling the dresser for $450.


Happy Friday!

xx
sharon

Golden Shoot

                           Here I am on-site looking for good angles on a project that's almost finished!

Tomorrow is the photo shoot for this project.  It's a room that's slowly evolved and even as I write this, the muralist is cutting a stencil for painting something a little extra special on the walls {think gold}between now and tomorrow morning.  I will be loading the van with extra props today and also going to buy a gold fish w/blue rocks to bring life and movement into this space:)  It will be a special outing for Sylvia to go pick one out.  Hopefully we keep the gold fish alive 'til the shoot and I'm also praying that this is a 'golden' shoot too. haha!!  {Shoots stress me out a bit because placement is a lot of heavy work, steaming and pressing, and taping, and never as easy as what they should be or what they look like in the mags.}

Come back for tomorrow's post where I'll be sharing something entirely new and exciting with you!

Happy Tuesday!

xx
sharon

One Room Challenge: Week 5

And week five of the #1RoomChallenge is here.  This week's post was supposed to be about the drapes.  The drapes are done.   But the valances have gone back to the drawing board for a final edit.  So needless to say I won't have any pictures to show you of final drape installations for this week's post.  But, wait, don't stop reading.  The tail end of the post is better than any project I could ever have done or will do.  So, read on!

Okay, so the valances I designed were pretty experiential and not completely thought out, but I know they will be well worth it right?  They are exactly what I wanted for my client, and heck, for any room I would design...indoor or out.

The picture above is the template my mural painter drew up for the wrap around fretwork she painted on the salmon colored secretary.  You can see the secretary in the previous post here.  Anyway, I decided to use the bottom part of this same template for the scalloped valance design. 

And below is my inspiration for the valance design.  Take note of the darling scallops across the top of this outdoor room.

via pinterest

I have to admit that I did a "No, no thing".  I had the valance design drawn up and given to the seamstress before we found out the exact, EXACT dimensions of the cornice boards.  Reason being, I got a little ahead of myself with this 6 week time crunch looming over me.  Another testament to the phrase "good things can't be rushed".

Fact is, I had no idea that the seamstress would work as fast as she did at sewing them up.  She had them all completely sewn up before the cornice board dimensions were set in place.  So, naturally, the valance strips were about 1 inch too short on each side..with no hope for changing the sizing of the cornice board dimensions...due to the hardware bracket depths.


When does it ever happen that the seamstress works too fast?!  This seamstress doesn't work with a workroom, obviously.  Although she could, because she's that good!  Back to my original point...workrooms are extremely, extremely slow. For example, workrooms around here are backed up at least 8-12 weeks!  I'd be curious to hear what they are like for anyone else out there?  Other designers, what are you used to working with?

As you can see, I'm going to be real hard pressed to have the whole room done by next week.   The pillows have not arrived from the manufacturer.  And when I call the manufacturer every other week, they tell me that they are waiting for them to arrive off the ship {from Sweden} any day now.  Which will probably be another ten years from now.  The pillows are the clinchers and sinchers to this room.

And, yes, the whole other half of the room is still needing some major fluffage.  Still no bed screen yet.  The lamps need cool shades.  Monogramming needs to be done on pillow shams....blah, blah, blah!  I know I'm boring you with all the details.  This is not at all unlike most projects I do, though.   Just want you to know that patient attitudes are definitely needed with projects and works of art that are unique and not just purchased from the big box stores.

Since the valances are white, I designed them to be detachable and washable with velcro backings.    

Okay, so here above is a pic of my cobbled together approach...the Benjamin Moore "gentle breeze" wall color, the waverly drapes, the Sharon Taylor Designs valance {at top}  Do you see it up there?  Like or not like?  Swatch color of the secretary, and that tapestry is a new find I got at a recent fancy estate sale.  It's from France and I think it'll match the "fresh-take secretary" pretty well.   My inspiration for this room comes from the central and middle eastern styles and also from textile designer John Robshaw, with whom I have a slight-mad crush on.  

Speaking of the name John, here's another John that is my main crush for life. He mellows my storms and approves all my paint choices. He comes to work with me everyday and smiles at everyone and accepts that he sometimes has to sleep in his car seat in the back bathroom {my explanation will take too long}.   I don't know how much longer he will want to keep hanging with crazy ol' me, so I try to savor every moment he's in my arms... because I know that time will fly, he'll become papa's boy soon, go to school, and then he'll be a teenager before I snap my fingers.

heathercheriphotography.com

Be sure to check the others posts out here....

My Crafty Home Life

Living Savvy

Dutch. British. Love. 

(A Lifestyle Thing)

House Four

Insideways

Taylor Morgan Design

Nana Moon Shop

Trapped in North Jersey

The Pink Pagoda

Rue de Emily

Kim Macumber Interiors

Nicole Scott Designs

Saved by Suzy

Thanks!

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

Relief to The Abused

Front Side of Relief Effort.  Back Side still unfinished and waiting for brushed nickel tacks.

Remember these chairs?  I got these from a place called STD's.  Of course, I WOULD be attracted to a place with a name like that.  Funny little thing... after I licensed my business name a few years ago, I realized the initials of Sharon Taylor Designs actually match up with this place.  Probly a good indicator for why I fall for and want to rescue things that are abused, germy, bruised and overlooked.

These chairs had mouse droppings caked into the the crevices of all the seats.  No worries, they have been relieved, disinfected and stripped to the wood.  I did not touch them!  Only purchased them.

What are you all doing for the fourth?  We're making it a stay-cation in our back yard.  I want to see the fireworks at Hammons Field.  Glad there is something going on in town.  Don't forget Boca Mocha Opening.  Let me know what you think of it.  I'm pretty proud of it.  Also, happy that I worked with amazing owners who had great input, ideas, and trust.  Thanks Trimbles and Kellys~!

xoxo
sharon

Spring Fling Workshop at Pickwick House

All Images by Adie, of Twin Town Studios

The Spring Fling Workshop was held this past weekend in the brand new showroom at Pickwick House.  I have been so excited and looking forward to doing this for many months now...but when it came down to the thought of speaking, I got struck with some shake-nerves.  I am not a natural-born when it comes to speaking, but I figure I'll only get better with practice and I like that challenge, so I plan to keep doing these workshops.  Normally, I need a glass of wine to calm my nerves before presenting..., but with being pregnant, that wasn't an option.  By the time guests started arriving, oddly, my nerves disappeared. Everyone was so nice and just seemed happy to be here.  Patty Wingo, the amazingly talented culinary guest {star} of the workshop also lightened the mood with her spirit and "spirits"too...  her special spring fling cocktails.  She owns Simply Delicious and I had the wonderful opportunity to work with her last summer when she catered the wedding that is being featured in REAL SIMPLE Weddings {on news stands now}.  Not only has her food always been simply delicious, I am so impressed by her gusto and beyond personalized attention to every detail and carefully scheduled timing of events for serving fine cuisine.  She is exactly what every wedding planner dreams of for a caterer. 

While Patty shared refreshing drinks + recipes and how-to tutorials, I then shared a few table top inspirations and inexpensive DIY decorating tips.  Kendra of Lonie Mae {you need to follow her blog...by the way!} shared a place mat stencil how-to and then, lucky for us, we got to hear some inspiring feedback and ideas from the whole group.  The group was made up of artists, chocolatiers, and architects! Quite an impressive group!!

 Sweet-Sweet Adie of Twin Town Studios photographed {with her amazing-ness} all of the photos in this post. 

It was a good day.  We sold out of the workshop and even enjoyed our own little party! 

Green Thumb Hostess Take-outs 

Inspirer, Kendra Skinner of Lonie Mae

Honey-Dew Melon atop our Honey-Do List-Making Chalkboards

Pencils for note-takers...in a biodegradable coconut fiber pot

Our showroom 

Every guest took home a small chalkboard

Kendra's finished place-mats on yellow burlap

Patty Wingo's Virgin Champagne Recipe
A little sparkly/bubbly with Peach and Pear Juices

Spring Fling {hard lemonade infused with vodka, mint, and cucumber}
Patty has never shared this recipe, but she was so generous to share it with us!

You can't see it very well, but I wrote "Welcome to Spring" on the floor with Chalk

Looking forward to our Easter Basket making workshop on Sunday, April 3rd.

xo
sharon

Pretty Little Things + Behind The Scenes at ST. Designs

HELLO AND HAPPY FRIDAY!  

I am finally figuring out how to enlarge photos on the blog. All by accident, of course.  My kids shutter at how much I don't know.  "Seriously, mom!"

Here are a few noteworthy inspirations below....Three to be exact, from my trip to NY.  I seriously stood and studied the seductive Ralph Lauren vignette, pictured below, for a good half an hour.  I loved everything about it... The rich, deep jeweled tones in the oil painting and how it pared so well with the vibrant red velvet upholstered headboard/side rail.  I also couldn't get over the funky, split personality chair {as my friend Meg called it}. It's two opposite fabrics give it such a fresh take on a wonderfully sculpted Old World chair design!  

 

I have so many little truffles in my little camera box...just like these, so I think it only appropriate to hand them to you in small doses. Because they are so rich, no?!  

 

Ralph Lauren's Showroom @ ABC Carpet and Home!  {INCREDS!!}

Well, what do you think?

AND...CAN I have you, you STUNNINGly beautiful original upholsteried Settee?  PLEASE, come to me!

Cutest shop I have ever seen.  Called "The Best Chocolate Cake in the World"...in SOHO. 

Beautiful Foyer of a house I've been consulting on. I decorated for Halloween on the credenza with the homeowner's things. The home is being renovated and is GORGEOUS!

Giving it a go on oxidizing mirrors.  I am going to attempt to make a wall of oxidized mirrors.

Vases for a dinner party.  The tablescape theme was "Mysterious".  I collaborated on with Kendra of Lonie Mae...{should have pictures soon of the end result.}

Contemplating the purchase of a quite seductive gypsy painting.  She stands seven feet tall and appears to have a gun in her holster? ..very Darrell Carter-ish style.

 Taylor Made pillows are made to order.  These just came in and  I sold four out of five to the first customer I showed them to today!

My sister Rosie, threw a shower for a Mom to be of Twins!

Niece Goldie siting on Pinkie Velvet Chair

Rosie had the cutest decor... Miniature babies in bunkbeds on the cake!!  INCREDS!

Wish my camera could show you that the stork brought two darling dears.

Hope you all have a fantastic Friday and MUCHO fun festivities to you all on this weekend before the weekend of Halloween!

xo
sharon