"Bright and Airy South Charlotte Home- Part 1"

Every now and again, you have the opportunity to complete one of those projects that is so "you", that you don't want to leave when you're done.  This is one of those projects.  Early last year, I was contacted by a recently retired couple looking to relocate to Charlotte from the DMV area.  As native Carolinians they longed for the slower pace and milder weather down south.  They had decided on a Classica Homes property and were getting close to completion on their new-build.  Being new to the area, they realized that furnishing and decorating their home would be a tall order...that's where we came in.  

The couple was clear that they wanted a bright and airy vibe and we were able to pull together a design plan for their home that struck just the right note.  

Lots of soothing blues and greens to create a comfy livable environment, thanks to tons of Revolution Performance Fabrics. The color palette wasn't our typical flavor but it was so much fun playing with hues and pattern to create interest.  The project was a bit large for one blog post, so I'll be breaking it into two.  

Beginning with the entry, which was a late addition to the project, we addressed eight areas in the home.  The entry is an often overlooked area of the home but I encourage clients not to forget about it.  The entry sets the tone for what visitors can expect upon entering.  Nailing it is essential in my humble opinion. 

Entry

The art was the showstopper in this narrow entry.  We went with something that had a relaxed feel, but that was a nod to the client's culture and heritage.  We amped up the console with Addison Weeks hardware and upholstered vintage stools beneath. 

In the same way that entries are often overlooked, powder baths can also receive the cold shoulder when it comes to upgrading the home.  Remember, if your guests are staying for any length of time, they're likely hitting the powder bath.  Do yourself a favor and address it. 

The good news is these are small spaces so you can get major bang for your buck with wallpaper.  We went with this beautiful floral from York Wallcoverings and it immediately changed everything.  

In the kitchen, the homeowners had worked with the builder on finish selections, so we just needed to add a little color with accessories, floor coverings and stools.  

I love the clean and airy feel in this space.  The area provides a nice place to rest the eye since the adjacent spaces are filled with color.

In the dining area, it was wallpaper to the rescue once again.  This blue and green abstract floral from York Wallcoverings was just what the space needed.  We kept the furnishings casual with a whitewashed oak finish and gray faux bamboo chairs. The table expands to seat six, perfect for holidays and family gatherings.

When we're completing a dining room, we always inquire about China.  In this case, the client had wedding China that we used to build upon and created a beautiful table setting with the help of Replacements Ltd.  The client and I both loved the bird print salad plate that adds interest each setting.

 This home had such a fresh feeling about it.  We couldn't have loved it more.  Stay tuned for the remainder of this reveal.  Trust me, there's so much more to see! 

Until next time...

Photography by: Cam Richards Photography

Project Binford Reveal: Part II

It must be your lucky week because I'm back for a second time. That hasn't happened since...well, in a lonnggg time. As promised, I'm back to reveal another part of our recent whole home project. Today I thought I'd focus on the more formal spaces. The client had a pretty clear vision in terms of style and color to some degree. There was also a need to reutilize some of their existing items.  We used color as a unifying element throughout the home, with warm earth tones appearing in nearly every space. 

Let's begin with the formal dining room.  It was literally a blank slate. 

Pretty nondescript right?  As mentioned in the previous post, the floors were darkened to an espresso color throughout the main floor, including the dining room.  We had a number of drapery panels we needed to rework from the client's previous home so that drove the color scheme to some degree as well.  I knew wallpaper would be a great solution for adding instant impact to this space. The formal dining space is the first room you see as you enter the home so we definitely wanted a wow factor.

After presenting several selections, the client chose this beautiful gold and burnt orange Thibaut paper.

Thibaut - Madrid (Rust) 

The client was also interested in adding some sort of paint accent to the ceiling and was particularly drawn to Venetian plaster.  We sourced an awesome product from Modern Masters and it turned out to be beautiful.

The furniture in the space is by far the showstopper.  The Bernhardt Jet Set Collection with custom upholstery including fur backs was so my client's style.  Personally, I'm much more into the gold leaf finish.  

Throughout the home, it was important that my client's art be on display.  The piece in this space was picked up during their travels.  

The large gold leaf mirror is the perfect accent to the furniture grouping. 

Opposite the formal dining room is the formal living space.  In this room, we needed to account for the reuse of two large modern wing back chairs, a shag rug and silk drapery my clients already owned. 

 

We opted to keep the existing wall color but needed to add a couple of furniture pieces to better suit the scale of the larger space.  I proposed the addition of a petite sofa and a coffee table to anchor the seating area.  We didn't want to add a lot of unnecessary pieces, as the client expressed early on that this wouldn't be an area that would be used very often. 

With a general plan in place, we got to work pulling it together.  We opted for a Lauren studio sofa from Bassett Furniture in a warm neutral fabric.  

Bassett Furniture 

Previously, the drapes included elaborate pleated valances.  We stripped it down to the essentials and reworked them into simple panels.  

I really love how art and a few unifying accessories really make this space work. 

What a great place to greet guests.  Don't you think? 

Miss the reveal of two cozy spaces in this same home?  Check out Part I --HERE

Photography Credit:  Cam Richards Photography 

"Grown-Up Glam Dining Reveal: Part 2"

I'm back to reveal Part 2 of my last client project.  Believe it or not, I actually haven't had the opportunity to do many formal dining rooms.  I think it speaks to the way we leave these days.  There's likely not a lot of formal entertaining going on in most homes.  Unfortunately, my home doesn't have a formal dining room.  If it did, I'd totally use it. 

So the plan was to update the existing dining room with a few key accents, including a new rug, drapery, wallpaper and chairs.  This is where we began....

 

An awesome sale on this trellis style rug took us in a bit of a different direction from the start, but it worked out for the best. 

 

I'm really pleased with how things turned out.  So here goes...

 

 

 

 

We needed to spruce up the seating but didn't want to get rid of eight perfectly good dining chairs, so we opted for reupholstery. 

 

For maximum impact and minimal costs, we used this black animal print to dress things up a bit.  We kept the head chairs as is. 

 

 

Once again, Baity's Custom Upholstery knocked it out of the park. 

 

 

I was dead set on adding a bar cart to this space.  There wasn't an over abundance of floor space so I knew I needed something small and round.  Thanks goodness for antique shows, but I scored this baby for a song!

 

Needless to say, one of my favorite things was outfitting this cart with barware.  Drinks anyone?

 

 

So, what do you think?  The client love it so much.  The front entry opens into a foyer that's connected to this space so it really does make a great first impression.

 

There's just one more component to this three part reveal and I'll give you a hint.....it includes another amazing Craigslist furniture transformation.  Until then....

 

Photo Credit:  Cam Richards Photography