House Update

The weekend was refreshing for us, how 'bout you?  Me, Will, and the babies went flea marketing and found several area rugs for the downstairs.  That's my favorite kind of family day, what about you? 

This rug above was a good find.  Will spotted it with his good eye.  I love that it's so finely detailed, hand knotted, antique,  not a 'rumpler', and it has some black in it. Our floors are currently being sanded, and the cabinets, leg-kicks, moulding, tile work, and walls are still a work in progress, here in the kitchen.   We are waiting on the custom made brass etageres, and reworking some of the hardware to match them.   We will probably have a small free-standing island on the rug.  Can I tell you how happy I am that this kitchen has plenty of free walking space?  I see a lot of kitchens with monster islands that are way too big for the space.  They 'lock' people in at parties in a claustrophobic way.  Kitchens seem to be where people gravitate when entertaining, so I really wanted this space to feel open enough to throw back some wine, feel welcome, and make people want to linger.  By having a free standing island-table, we can move it in or out to make accommodations.

Here's the back hallway rug we found too.  It's hard to see what it looks like with the lighting, but it's going to pair well with our other downstair rugs.  

              Doesn't Bubs look like he's a poor peddler from the Oliver movie?  "Looking fo some bwead", he says.

I couldn't be any happier about the honed marble slabs we got.  

These two colors have been a source of great debate.  Will and I have always wanted ebony floors, but after hearing from everyone [including other designers], how hard they are to keep clean looking, we're now unsure of what to do.  I understand the hardships of cleaning, but I still want the ebony.  Will wants to go even lighter than the one on the right.  That's when we really got 'into it'.  HA!! I finally gave in and said, 'Whatever you think, honey.'  We'll see what happens. What would you choose?  

Thank you for following, and thank you for your comments!

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

Throwback Thursday: Mod Condo

Throwback Thursday:

Here's a mod-condo we did for a really cool single lady last year right after bubs was born.  The living room turned out exactly how we wanted it to.

This is one of my favorite spots in her condo.  An inviting spot for reading, listening to piano music, or admiring a worldly collection of nature.  I love her modern sofa with inviting pillows in tone on tone texture. Our client was extremely happy with the way her condo turned out.

We took a flea market console table and had an oxidized mirror placed on top to pull things together.

{All image by Scott Cotton Photography}

Hope you like what you see here.  If you are in need of residential or commercial design, give us a call!

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

Design in a Day Package!

Crisp fall air has arrived!  I'm in the mood for pumpkins, wheat grass, bittersweet, and goard decorating. How about you?  I found these pics of our house from a few years ago.  I was obsessed with the heirloom pumpkins then, and still am now.  All the varying shades too.  You might think, 'Wow, that had to cost Sharon a pretty penny to decorate her house with the price of those pumpkins.' It did.  But, I actually bought up a bunch of the heirlooms for inventory to use on clients' outdoor spaces so these were just for my own stylizing fun.  

Our stoop.  I'm gonna really miss this house when we move.

Here's one of the homes we decorated.

{A nice little welcome to a side gate path.  I used a $3 thrift store stand for this one!}

Difficulty in finding the time or motivation to decorate inside, outside, or for personal parties? Let us help! And don't forget that the other Holidays are fast approaching, {keep in mind we are already booking early November dates}.  

AND....Pickwick House is offering a one time special "Design in a Day" package to spruce your house up inside an

d/or out. You can choose 1/2 day or full day personalized, experienced, award winning decorating and/or party planning for the most amazing pad/bash you've ever had! $350 for two designers for a 1/2 day and $600 for a full day. At the end of the day we'll provide you with a list of priorities for moving forward if needed. 

Happy Monday!!

xx

sharon

Welcome

Welcome back to the blog. In case you hadn't noticed, I took a long break from the blog over the summer.  I'm back in full swing now and am committed to sharing more of the projects we've been busy working on over the summer.  So, welcome.  And Thank YOU for your support and for visiting!

The front of the house was painted this week!  What do you think?  It's a Benjamin Moore paint called Dragon Breath.  {Funny name, I know...hehe} I've used this color before and love it.  It looks sort of black here in the photo, but it's definitely more of a brown.   Will did such a nice job cutting in on the molding, don't you think?

Okay, here's my question for you.  What color do we paint the front door?  We initially were thinking red, but now I'm not so sure.  The tile color might conflict.  Thoughts/suggestions welcome.

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 4

Hi Everyone.  It's the #1RoomChallenge again.  Thank you so much for coming to see my progress.  This is week 4 of 6. I'm pretty sure I'm the last of the bloggers to post for the day.  I always have good intentions to get it up earlier in the day, but dilly-uh-dally stuff gets in the way!

 I figured since I'm last on the list below, maybe no one really gets to mine until a day later anyway, right {If at all....ha!}?  I DO so much appreciate all of your feedback.  It's really keeping me from abandoning it all together.  Just kidding. I really am enjoying it.  It's a fun project with it's challenges.  To see my three previous posts, you can go here and here and here.

I'm starting to freak out that several things still haven't shipped out yet, but maybe I should just focus on what we DO have.  

Remember the mucky green chinoise cabinet?

I decided to give it the Lizard Green Benjamin Moore High gloss.

I was actually green with envy when I saw the final product.  It turned out better than we imagined.  The picture I took here is way blown out because I took the photo while it was laying flat in the back of the truck on a really sunny day right before it was delivered to the client's house.

Then the navy queen anne chairs got their "frost-n-tips" this week.  Doesn't it look like they are wearing the caps from the old hair frosting kits?  I imagined that the queen anne twin chairs felt pretty proud of themselves that they were getting pampered these past few weeks. 

They also got a round-about trimming of tacked edging.   My upholsterer only charged $75 for both chairs to be blinged-ified out like that.  Say what?!  

Here's the next chair makeover.  This chair will be used as the secretary chair.  I'd say it's a victorian chair.  Probably one of a set of six or eight dining chairs.  This one would surely be a king or queen chair.  That or some type of chess playing chair, haha!  I paid more than I would usually pay for this type of side chair.  But because this one just looked so stately and solid, I had to have it!  I have a thing for royal looking stuff.  

I think it was something like $185 to begin with.  

Stripped down to it's skivvies or royal undergarments {if you will}. SOILED foam.

This fabric for the seat cushion was found at my local wholesale fabric store.  It's a waverly outdoor fabric.  I chose to use the wrong side out to give it a more matte looking effect.  And then, we'll be using the other side of this very same fabric for the window treatments.  I'm hoping this will help me give a layering of different textures, all while using the same tone on tones.  

Meanwhile, here is a rough snapshot of what's been brought in thus far.  

It's a lot of different colors.  Am I crazy? Will you ever even come back to visit my page?  I won't hold it against you if you don't. But is there anything you DO like about what you see?  I would love to hear your thoughts.  I know it's not for everyone.  Actually it IS for everyone.  I'm now breaking into song in hopes that you'll be charmed by my praise songs for god, if not by the mere sight of what you see here...

"All the children of the world.  Red, and yellow, black, and white."

Are you laughing or chiming in with my song here?  

  Yes, it's many styles.  I may be trying WAY too hard.  "Early American-made-mod. Chinoise. Bohemian.  French. Indian. Persian."  I may need to add some russian, african, brazilian...No, It's not going to go too much further, because you know I can only go so far with a baby in tow, and a beat up van.   I love  melting pots though.  That's what I feel this room is.  What are your favorite blends of melting pots?

So, if you don't like this week's post, maybe you'll like next week's?? It's all about the drape design and where I found my inspirations.  In the meantime, visit my facebook fan page at Pickwick House.  I'm starting a contest soon.  I invite you to "like" it to be in the running.  Or follow me on twitter where I do daily updates.  Thanks in advance for coming.   If you've made it to the end of this post, I'm beyond humbled and jumbled with excitement and will ask you now if

you've checked out the other blogger's posts yet?  If not, be sure and do that.  There are some really good ones.  Great writers/decorators/and people who explain their processes very beautifully and fully, unlike me.

{Apologies for my rambling late night post.  I've been up WAY too late.}

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

NOT Quite Done...

Nothing quite like a deadline to get my projects wrapped up! I would so rather be shopping, wrapping gifts, and eating truffles right now, but there are deadlines right after Christmas. What about you? Are you all ready for the Holidays?

Here's a project that is not even close to being done, but I will toil like cinderella to put the shiny touches on it. LOL!

Do you like what you're seeing so far? You don't have to say yes. It's a work in progress. Here's what I can say I like about it as it is today: The painted trimming accents the storybook-styled peak.

We just ordered a vintage kantha throw for the daybed that literally has me salivating on it and the bed itself.

I was struck by this room pictured below on pinterest today when I was searching for rooms with colored trim. I wanted to show you that there are ways to bring colored-details into a room in an unexpected way that doesn't overwhelm. Do you like it?

I love the designer's color choices. Does anyone know who the designer is? Its funny that we share a love for the same violet.

I hope you enjoy your weekend. Please visit me at the shop. I'll have baby Jack there to give you good cheer!

Need design services, stylizing, or fluffing up your nest? Contact me thru here.
xx
sharon

...Get Busy Do It

Happy Friday! Here's a before and after of a big chandelier I found...

It's going to be the "glam" in a soft baby's room.

Here's big boy...

He looks to be a serious baby, huh? But he goes really, totally crazy when I sing...

"Get up, get up, get busy do it
Get up and move that body
Get up people now get down to it before the night is over
Get up, get up, get busy do it
I wanna see you party
Get up people now get down to it before the night is over"

Well, it's the weekend and what are you doing? We're seeing lots of cousins and hoping a new baby arrives too. Baby Zelma is due any minute.

Hope you have a trillion good moments with family and friends over the weekend and Holidays!

xx
sharon

Revamping: Tiny Tips with Large Impact

In need of some revamping your home or office space after the new year? I look forward to January for several reasons. It's a time to get reorganized AND revamped! Give me a call if you're interested in booking for January.

Pictured above, is the jellybeans design center that I designed. I wanted the center and/or desk area to feel like a little inspiration island in the middle of the sensory overloaded store of many sweet things. As a general rule of mine for any small space, I am a firm believer in creating "islands" or "pockets" of creative think spaces. This one happened to be only a 4x5 foot space.

What We Used:
For the jellybeans store, we repurposed MUCH of what was brought over from the old store. The desk is old, but given a fresh coat of paint. The chairs are vintage flea market finds. The curtains/pelmet/canopy are newly made and the boxes are from Lowes. The geometric valance at the top is attached with velcro. I thought if we ever wanted to update the look, we could always have another one made in a different style and/or color with a simple switch-a-roo.

I painted the edge of the table peach to match the valance edging. Then to tie the chandelier in, I painted some of the crystals peach too. I feel like painting more of them peach and coral could've given it more of a "punch"...

I hope you're enjoying your holidays and this week! Boy, it's flying by.

xx
sharon

Foyer Blazh

Greetings to you, my friends and Happy November!  Various projects are taking shape.  

I'll share with you the before's of a project that is beginning to take shape this week.  The homeowner tidied things up by tearing out gross carpet and laying hardwoods before we took this picture.  

It's a good start.  I chose the paint color, Rare Grey, for all of the interior walls from Benjamin Moore.  I love it and so does the homeowner.  

I really dislike small, skinny floorboard trim, but this homeowner's keeping it.  I feel like painting the skinny trim a glossy white would only be accentuating something that should not be accentuated.  So, the question is... How do you NOT accentuate it?  My solution is that you just paint it the same color as the walls.  The cheaper quality trim then disappears and blends in with the walls.  Suddenly the walls seem taller too!

The first thing you see when walking into this condo, is the ugly louvered laundry room door.  It adds a blank feeling to my life that makes me want to slam doors and shout at all the things I really don't care for, like flourescent lights, crooked lamp shades, and faux tuscan decor in the Ozarks. Well, I didn't even come close to yelling at the door.  I just said, "See ya door."  And, then said, HELLO to "fun" door from Lowes.  It's the second time I've used this door for a project.  I love it.  

So, what do you think?  Do you think the hallway needs a long console table for the right hand side?  I say, yes.  A long rug, and a few cool, trendy fabric-cubes tucked underneath. I hear the foyer needs to wet the appetit.  First impression is SO important. It needs to be major-statement-hor-dourves.  I think I learned that from Nate.  My main goal is to make this foyer go from blazh, to ding-ding-ding!   I'll know it when I see it, hopefully.  

Well, look what I found.  A funked-out, grooved-out table with pink/red granite.  It was a deal of the day.  Super cheap.  Like $55.50.  I told the dealer to keep the granite.  I shoulda sold it on ebay, but then again, some things aren't worth dealing with.  Then I had my carpenter take a look into what it would take to oxidize some mirrored panels to adhere on all sides underneath and atop.

         Someone actually built and welded this thing really, really well.  I love the knobby legs.  So different. Unexpected and beautiful.

My friend told me about this sunburst mirror.  It was huge.  Pretty cool.  Almost a tad bit, new-age, 80s-ish-icky gold.  Not something a little paint won't tone down. Just the thing to go in the entry way.  Hanging over the console table.

Well, that's it for this post.  Be sure to check back in to see more progress this week!  I have lots to share.  My interns will be posting about some upcoming events we're working on, but I ALWAYS like taking suggestions on what you'd like to hear, read, see, eat, etc...!  Please share.

xx

sharon  

Inspirations + Mom + Family + Client Progress

Hi ALL!!  I haven't blogged in a while.  I'm still trying to find the balance of work and new baby on Pickwick Street.   I admit that I really could handle a full time job of canoodle-schmoodling this good, sweet baby all day long.  Here's a snapshot of the 100% juice box.

                                                          Jack has grown 4 inches in 6 weeks!  

Loosening the seat belt straps this time hasn't been so easy for me.  Partly because I'm sad that he's the last one + the old saying, ... "They grow SO fast"... but mostly because Sylvie stuck her a.b.c. gum inside the mechanics of the lever on the baby car seat. Gum hardened that lever...so now it requires a hard-press-down from a screw driver every day or so that Jack grows again.

Sylvie, Raleigh, and Payton 

Sylvie was a flower girl this past weekend for her uncle Michael and aunt Gabby's wedding.  She did a good job throwing the petals down, but refused a bath beforehand because she was a little obsessed with these older girls.

In the swirly whirl of the things going on in my office:

Can't wait to use this AMAZING chair for another office design!  Just scored this off the truck of one of my favorite vendors.  Chocolate Upholstery with GOLD legs = Truffle Delight.

Sneak Peek of Client Progress:  an old pedestal table in it's primer coat before it gets a pickle finish.  Thomasville Chairs are being reupholstered in a beautifully worn turquoise leather.

My big boys are finishing up their own busy soccer season this month and Eleanor just had her senior pictures taken.  Eeek.  Yes, they do grow fast.

I feel very lucky + happy with all my loves around.

I'm going to leave you with one more love.  This interior inspiration from Veranda's recent "House of Windsor".  The room is sheer perfection to me.  The windows letting in the light and I love the mostly white restraint, but not overly minimal.  The vintage chairs are what make it.  Wish I knew what kind they were.  Any one know?

I hope to start blogging more regularly and also, I hope you have a wonderfully, pretty Friday!!

xx
sharon

Take a Load Off and Could You, Would You?

One of the main questions I hear when customers walk into the store, is "What do you do?".  The phrase I also hear in response to their walk-thru is..."Cute Store." Thank you so much for that.  But did you know I offer more than just a little shopping experience?   

 I just found out this morning, that one of my interior projects is going to be published in book form.  That's a first for me...and I'm pretty proud.  But what me makes me most proud is that it's not just about a good looking space.  It's about building a trusting relationship where we {me and you, the client} hit the goal together. I hope to do this and that with a lot more of you.  Opening the store is sort of like a first step towards building new solution-solving relationships, trust, and de-mystifying the myth that decorators can be snobbish and/or not real.  

For those of you who know me, you know I'm far from putting on airs. I'm the first to tell you that I haven't cleaned my house in weeks, I hardly have a social life, and that my back room is pretty much a day-care for Sylvie and baby-on-the-way.  

 That said....Take a load off, browse my work, visit with me, and ask yourself.

Could you? Would you? Let me do these things for you?

1.  Design a Space You LOVE

2. Find "Unique-ness that reflects YOU"

3.  Plan It and Make It Happen for you.

{photo source:  }

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!!

  Big wedding decorating weekend in store for me. Can't wait to share this "famous girl's" wedding with you.  She's so sweet, real, and fun.

xo

sharon