"Light and Airy Great Room Reveal"

If you're like most people, you probably love a good before and after.  If so, you're in luck.  This reveal is all about the transformation.  This is indeed one of my absolute favorite projects to date.  It's amazing when your clients not only hire you, but trust you completely with the design plans for their homes.  Such was the case with this project. 

Honestly, from the very start, my clients didn't have a lot of opinions about what they wanted the space to look like.  What they communicated, more than anything, was how they wanted it to feel.  They both expressed a desire for a light and airy space.  I got to work at the end of last year putting together a plan (read more about that HERE) and things quickly began to come together. 

Before we get into the details of the transformation, let's see some before and after pics, shall we?

I told you!  Big transformation, right?  I love how it all turned out.  Let's take a closer look..

We began with a backdrop of Sherwin Williams' Agreeable Gray.  I love what it did for the space. It immediately seemed so much larger. The clients also sprung for new flooring. The espresso engineered wood provided the perfect foundation.  Although, I'll admit I voted for cappuccino instead.  Hey, you win some, you lose some.

As I mentioned previously, the design began with this Century Furniture ottoman I scored while home for Thanksgiving.  The Duralee/Tilton Fenwick Collection Soskin fabric in coral is to die for and was the impetus for this little reading nook.  It's not a DBC project without a furniture makeover, so I went with a classic wing chair.  Baity's Custom Upholstery did an amazing job with this cream lovely.  The light blue welt and the nickel nail head trim are my FAVS!

The clients have a young child, so storage was key.  This Hooker Furniture console was just what the space needed.  It was low, long and packed with storage.  The wood tone works perfectly with the coastal airy vibe.  I also knew a large bonded leather (a.k.a. pleather) ottoman was the way to go.  I love the fact that we maximized durability without sacrificing style.  I drew up a plan for this functional piece and Baity's made it come to life.  The addition of casters makes it super easy to push aside should play ever trump pretty. 😊 

I made a conscious effort to go more minimal than usual on the accessories.  I knew this would help with the airy vibe. 

Since the home has an open concept living/dining/kitchen, it was important that we address the kitchen space as well.  The color of the cabinets was a major hindrance.  We decided it made more economical sense to paint out the existing cabinets.  We went with Sherwin Williams' Mega Greige to complement the wall color and provide just the right amount of contrast. 

We opted for glass subway tile in gray to keep things super simple and clean. These two simple and affordable changes changed everything in the kitchen.  It's pretty astounding actually.  Same countertops, same tile floors; new kitchen.

Lighting was a big part of this project.  We used a of mix of what they already had (kitchen peninsula fixture minus shades), and a few budget friendly options.  Late in the project we even decided to address the entry and hallway fixtures. 

Absolutely obsessed with this project!

ADDED BONUS:  During the initial consultation, I think we all knew that addressing the living areas without tackling the formal dining space would be a huge mistake, especially considering the room was red.  Yikes!

Since an entirely new space wasn't in the budget, the clients asked for wallpaper and lighting suggestions.  I provided three options for both and the result is, well.....

 

Wow! 

This project may have just topped the list of my favorites.  It's such a blessing to get to do what you love and help clients love their homes in the process.  This was the perfect way to kick off my new year and my new career!! Cheers to many more!

Photography by: Cam Richards Photography

"Coastal One Day Design Plus Reveal"

I'm back!  I've been M.I.A. for a while, but it was for good reason.  Last Wednesday I celebrated my 40th birthday and spent the week on vacation, speaking at the Black Southern Belle event (more about that soon) and taking a little girl's getaway to celebrate with family and friends.  Today, I'm back at it and excited to share with you my latest project. 

Recently I shared that I was working on a One Day Design Plus project for a family who needed to spruce up their guest bedroom fairly quickly, well we completed the project last weekend and I think it turned out great! We began by pulling together a quick idea board utilizing some of the homeowner's existing items.

While the client had a number of foundational pieces (i.e. pillows, duvet, furnishings), essentially began with a blank slate.

We utilized the existing drapery to build out a blue and coral scheme with a bit of a coastal flare. 

As usual, pattern mixing played a huge part in pulling the color scheme together.

The client requested a fresher and more modern looked to balance the traditional look of the furniture and the existing wall color.  We chose to begin with a simple what matelassé bedspread and build from there.  This navy organic dot duvet cover and sham set struck the perfect note with the geometric drapery.  As I've been known to do, I added a touch of animal with custom taupe and white animal print pillows.  The coral and blue crewl pillow is likely my favorite thing in the entire space.

This gallery wall was just what this room needed to add a bit of personality and to mask the television.  Adding in a bit of variety with the turtle shed and the paddle keeps it interesting and adds visual interest and texture. 

The client's existing chair was given a makeover with navy blue linen and antique brass nails. Baity's Custom Upholstery never ceases to amaze with what he can do with a piece of furniture.

You'll notice that the blue and white lamps didn't make the cut.  It turned out to be just a bit too much pattern, so I went with this classic white gourd lamp instead.  And, how cute is that flamingo print?  We scored a pair and used both in bedside vignettes. 

I love how it all turned out, and can hardly believe that the project was just one month, start to finish. Mission accomplished!  

So, what do you think? 

"Coastal One Day Design Plus"

Last year I began offering a new service called One Day Design Plus (ODD+).  It was born out of a need to offer an option for those seeking expedited decorating services for spaces that can be easily pulled together without custom selections and major furnishings. The bonus to ODD+ is that in addition to providing all the benefits of the One Day Design service, it also includes additional designer sourcing and an installation to bring it all together.  I shared my first ODD+ project HERE. 

I'm currently working on a ODD+ project that we'll install later this month.  I'm really excited as the client and I have really similar tastes.  We'll be creating a relaxing retreat for the family's guests.  We are essentially starting from scratch. 

We toyed with the idea of painting but in the interest of time we've decided to hold off on it.   The walls are a neutral tan and I think we can make them work.  We'll be adding drapery, bedding, wall art, lighting and accessories.  We'll also be reupholstering the existing wing chair.  The client already had a pretty clear idea of what she envisioned for the space, so I took the initiative to put together a plan prior to meeting.  I wanted to ensure that we were on the same page.  Thankfully, we were. 

The project began with my original One Day Design service.  It's essentially six hours with me accessing the space, moving things around, shopping what you have and then hitting the road to see what we can score.

We hit the jackpot at just a couple of locations and decided we were off to a good start. 

So good in fact, she was fine with me taking things from there.

For the past two weeks, I've been shopping up a storm, making certain we have everything we need for the project.  As a courtesy to my clients, I don't typically share retail sources for their projects, but here are a couple of items we'll be incorporating. 

via West Elm

via Pottery Barn (Apricot Brandy)

They'll be a bit of a coastal theme.  I'm working to keep it subtle and tasteful, because themes can sometimes get a little out of hand.  Know what I mean? 

In addition to the ODD+ project, I'll be beginning another kid's room this weekend.  I'm so excited!  This one is a teenage boy's room and I'm totally up for the challenge of defining his design style.  Why should the girls have all the fun?  Until next time...