Showing posts with label One Room Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label One Room Challenge. Show all posts

Monday, March 5, 2012

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
Tiffany ~ Living Savvy

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

xx
sharon
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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

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.





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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...



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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

One Room Challenge: Week 2



Hi all.  It's week number two here of the one room challenge!  Last Wednesday I shared with you the 'before" pictures of the room I'm redecorating...as well as some sketches for structures/things I thought the room needed.  To see that post, go here.  This week, I'm here to share my inspirations.  

I put together the room inspiration board above.  It all started with two amazing chairs that my sister found for me at a yard sale down in Branson, MO {second home to country music...which, I think Branson made it's name known in a phrase from the movie "Horse Whisperer" with Robert Redford, and Kristen Scott Thompson}.   But ....ME....I'm just a hop skip and a jump from there.  A little town called Springfield, MO.  Brad Pitt's hometown. Not that these are facts too relative to design, but moreover facts that relate to BEAUTY, and "hollywood-ish excellence", which I'm hoping to accomplish with this here room.


Pretty vintage blue velvet.  In great shape.  

NEEDS: 
1. serious cleaning by my rug cleaner.  
2.  Wood to be painted white. {white paint just makes it much more slick!}
3.  Tacks to be added to all of the edging {we all know that tacks just look MMmmm..}

I'm going to make it look somewhat like this beautiful and AW-mazing chair that Aerin Lauder sits in pictured here below {from one of the most recent issues of House Beautiful.}



Okay, so the client's bedroom is grey.  I know grey is a current color and it's pretty much a great color, but I'm tired of doing it in every single client's bedroom.  I want to give the room a facelift that refreshes and says "HELLO!".
  
SO, I chose Benjamin Moore's finest aura paint in their Gentle Breeze from their Preview deck.  Sort of a minty-greenish-soft-robins-egg-blue.  

 As you can see, and I WARN you, this room is going to be colorful.  

STYLE: Mixed Eastern style, meets Classic English, Meets Early American goes to Hollywood with a dash of Branson salt and peppa.  YES, it's one where the client trusts me completely.  EEEK.  I love it.  And, you know I really just hope you love it too when it's done.

APPROACH:   Sometimes I have a set, clear plan, but usually, it's a piece by piece experiential approach where I'll be mixing and layering styles, colors, textures, eras, flea market finds, and online products.  I'm sticking mostly by the inspiration board however.

INSPIRATION IMAGES:
The minty blue on the door will be the color of my walls.   And the red-ish tone will come into play with the oriental rug I found pictured below. 


This rug is pretty, huh?  I will be pulling some unexpected colors and textiles to join in with it.  
Love the idea of mixing salmons, corals, peaches, greens, blues.  Also going to add a screen behind the dark headboard.  I may add a painted embellishment to the screen.  NOt sure yet

God is a designer.  How did he think to make rocks not boring?




I found an early american secretary, but who's to say it needs to stay early american?  Why not twist it into hollywood mod?  Pushing the envelope with my attempt to twist two eras together.  



Beautiful, huh?  Did you notice the reflection of the chair in the mirror?  This reminds me of an old dutch painting.


IKAT.  A Little boho style.  Always good in any room.  


Miles Redd...the unorthodox king.  Traditionally rooted.


Beautiful figs.  I'm going to turn them inside out.  




LOVE the plum against the greenish-blue walls.


Great color scheme.

LOVE Olatz Schnabel's sheets.



BLUE and WHITE ware.  I'm hoping to bring a lot of it in.  Deeply rooted in chinoise-chic.  

More to come from Branson/Springfield next week, including floor plans, elevations and a curve towards "box office" records.  HA! 

Be sure to check everyone else's progress.  That's where I'm headed now...  

Bloggers


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
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The One Room Challenge!

Hi everyone. I have a new little venture for the next six weeks. It's called the one room challenge. Linda, from My Crafty Home Life invited 15 talented designers from across the country and even Canada to make over one room and then blog about it.







I like challenges! And I know some of you out there do too. Sometimes you just need an extra push or a helping hand to do it. Call me if it's that "helping hand" thing you need...

Okay, here goes....

My one room challenge is for a client's master bedroom. Here are some before shots.

























Here are my sketches of what I am thinking about doing in this room.



More to come next week!!

Below are the links to the other 14 bloggers so you can check out their rooms.  I can't wait to follow all of their projects, can you?

Suzy ~ Saved by Suzy (girls room)
Jadyn ~ Dutch.British.Love (dining room)
Nicole ~ Nicole Scott Design (master bedroom)
Kim ~Kim Macumber Interiors (living room)
Emily ~ Rue De Emily (boys room)
Jennifer ~ The Pink Pagoda (laundry room)
Lisa ~ Trapped in New Jersey (dining room)
Kelly ~ refresheddesigns (office)
Danylle ~ Nana Moon Shop (TBA)
Taylor ~ Taylor Morgan (living room)
Jen ~ Inside Ways (spare bedroom)
Linda ~ My Crafty Home Life (dining room)
Janet ~ House Four (master bedroom)
Tiffany ~ Living Savvy (master bedroom)

xx
sharon
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