Spring 2020 One Room Challenge - Week 3

The Foundation 

Welcome back y'all!  This week we'll dig into the foundational selections for Project Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue.  Whoa that's a mouthful. 😂

The foundational selections set the tone for pretty much everything that is to come.  As in the case of this project, I almost always begin with textiles.  They're my favorite and I often draw the most inspiration from them.  So, with the drapery fabric, upholstered banquette and the wood tone of my cabinetry already determined, I set off to determine the tile, paint and wallpaper selections for the space.  These would become the foundational elements in the design, so getting them right was paramount.

Let's start with tile, shall we?  

 Check out this video of my trip to The Tile Shop, official sponsor of The One Room Challenge™

The Tile Shop has a ton of great tile options.  With numerous locations across the country, I'd highly recommend them for your tile needs.  If you go be sure to tell them Dwell by Cheryl Interiors sent you.  I was pretty certain that I wanted a patterned tile, but I envisioned using it on the flooring.  After quickly realizing that nothing quite fit the bill for the floors, I landed on this beautiful Annie Selke ikat ceramic wall tile.  

Annie Selke for The Tile Shop
Shadow Navy Ceramic Wall Tile 

I knew it was perfect almost as soon as I spotted it.  I love that it was fun, yet classic and would infused a little culture into the space as well.  It was also pretty much a dead ringer for a preliminary window cornice fabric I'd been eyeing.  

Man I love it when things just seem to fall into place.

Next, it would just be a matter of finding a complementary selection for the flooring.  Since this Annie Selke option struck just the right note, I decided to explore other options in the collection.  Turns out there was a pretty great selection of floor tiles as well.  I was immediately drawn to these two options:

I have no doubt that it's because they both remind me of fabric and provide an awesome visual texture.  Ultimately though, I decided to go with option 2, which I affectionately named "seersucker".  I mean it looks like pants to me.  😊  Once I narrowed the pattern down, I had to figure out the size and color I wanted.  

They seem pretty similar but once I got the samples and viewed them at home, there was a pretty big difference.

I ended up going with the darkest option of indigo in the 6" x 20" planks.  It seemed to work best with the wall tile and I figured the darker might be a little more forgiving in terms of daily wear.   As soon as the installation began, I knew I had made the right decision. 

The plank style just felt like the right option for my cottage home.  I was right!  I have a tendency to lean a bit more formal in my tastes (upholstered skirted banquette, full length drapery, vintage dining table...), so this more casual tile style would be a nice juxtaposition against the more traditional options.  I also don't have a huge kitchen so the smaller scale seemed like the better option. 

Eek!! So freaking exciting! 

Once I had the tile selection done, it made selecting a paint color so much easier.  Sherwin-Williams graciously agreed to partner with me on this project and provided the paint.  I wanted a neutral hue with a little warmth.  Of course, I have my SW go-to's but I wanted a little less gray neutral than our clients tend to want.  In the end, I decided on Accessible Beige.

It's a really neutral...neutral (lol!).  Not quite warm, but also not quite cool in color.  It reminds me of a really light pair of khaki pants.  There I go with the textiles again.  😜

Sherwin Williams
Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex Paint

My painters were really excited to hear that we'd be using Sherwin-Williams' Emerald Paint, informing me that it was their favorite.  We went with a 20% Accessible Beige/80% white mixture on the ceiling.  This helps to provide a more seamless transition from wall to ceiling rather than  simply painting the ceiling white. 

So much fresher!

Lastly, but certainly not least among the foundational pieces was the wallpaper for the corner nook.  Here I wanted something fun and classic that could serve as an exclamation point in my kitchen space.  This space would be all about function but also pretty things.  As soon as I heard that Milton and King would be a ORC sponsor, I headed over to check out the options.  

I landed on these two options-one in three colorways.  

Tulip Seeds

Wildflower - 1

Wildflower - 2

Wildflower - 3

All were really beautiful options.  I really wanted a large scale floral wallpaper, so the Wildflower just seemed a little too dainty pattern.  I selected the Tulip Seed!  It was a really striking paper, but something about it just felt classic.  The deep navy had a grounding effect that I felt was missing, making it the perfect option.

The folks at Milton and King were awesome and wasted no time in getting us the wallpaper so we could get the installation scheduled.  Jordan's Wallcoverings is my go-to for professional installation.  Zach and his team are second to none.  Installation was an absolute breeze.  Especially for me.  Lol! It was a small space, so they were done in no time.

I mean, the cutest corner ever right!? It's only two small walls, but the impact is astounding.  I love wallpaper! 

Paint, Tile (Backsplash and Flooring), Wallpaper - ✔

Talk about a good foundation!  These are the pieces that will serve as the base for a really pretty kitchen.  Stay tuned...

Check out the progress of the other featured designers.  There's some pretty incredible stuff going down! 

A Glass of Bovino | Beginning in the Middle | Beth Diana Smith | Clark + Aldine | Coco & Jack

Deeply Southern Home| Design Maze | Dwell by Cheryl | Erika Ward | Home Made by Carmona

House of Hipsters | Hunted Interior | Kandrac & Kole | Kate Pearce | Katrina Blair | Liz Kamarul

Veneer Designs | Rambling Renovators | Renovation Husbands | Studio Plumb | Media BH&G

Client Project Reveal: "The Next Chapter"

In light of recent worldwide health developments, I thought it might be a good time to get back at blogging.  Ok...so that may not be the whole truth.  Actually, the current recommendations have forced us all to slow down a bit and that may not be the worst thing.  I don't know about you guys, but I've been going non-stop since the start of the year and the thought of some mandated time at home sounds pretty good to me.  Of course, I hate that it had to come as a result of a pandemic.  Who would've thought?  But since we're here, I figured this would be a great time to reveal one of our favorite projects from last year.

With so many workers now at home, I think we've all become more aware of how important your environment is to your productivity and well-being.  We were approached by a client who was looking to create a more functional and beautiful home office.  As an entrepreneur, she was no stranger to hard work. She'd literally built her business in her home from the ground up. Over the course of nearly a decade she'd found herself working in hallways, her kid's room and the kitchen table.  It was finally time to create a space all her own.

The space was pretty much a blank slate.  It was barely functional for our client.  The desk was too small, she wasn't able to accommodate visitors well and the layout was totally off.  

There were however a few things she wanted to keep- the bulletin board where she kept notes and memories, the branded dry erase board for goal-setting, the gold etagere she had recently purchased and the overhead light (well at least so she thought 😉). 

We began with revising the layout.  We knew etagere would be better placed on a smaller wall and that we needed to add a secondary surface for documents and task lighting. After relocating the utilitarian items to the room's closet we opted to float the desk in the center of the room, adding a console for lighting and additional storage.  Since I met this client at the public launch of my furniture line, Belle by Cheryl Luckett for Sylvester Alexander, I thought it only appropriate to pitch the idea of adding a piece from the collection in her space. 

Room Layout

The color scheme for the space was driven by one of the client's favorite pieces of art, this Chica painting by local Charlotte artist and friend, Windy O'Connor.  

Art by Windy O'Connor 

Needless to say, there were no objections from me.  We got to work pulling together a design plan that pulled from the colors of the painting but adding a little more intensity and sophistication.  Knowing that we'd be focusing on adding color and pattern we went with a neutral wall color.  Sherwin Williams' Perfect Greige was just what the space needed to add a little warmth and provide a neutral foundation with major staying power. 

Design Board

Early on I suggested adding wallpaper to the ceiling and I'm so glad we did.  The room isn't large and this bold yet classic floral print on the ceiling added so much interest without closing in the space.  It also gave us a cornucopia of color from which to work.

Mood Board 

One of the features in the space became the Ivy from the Belle collection.  I'm so glad she agreed to go for it.  

Ivy Settee - Belle by Cheryl Luckett for Sylvester Alexander 

We went with a lush velvet on this french-inspired settee.  It's the most comfortable office seat I've ever seen.  It provides the perfect seating for our client's small team meetings. 

Take a look at how it all came together...

When I first walked into the space, I knew the chandelier was a little undersized for the room.  It took a bit of convincing but we ultimately went for something larger and relocated the smaller light to the hallway. 

Who wouldn't love looking up at this everyday?  The art set just the right note in the space and became the focal point as you enter the room.  We couldn't love it more.  

We kept some of the client's collectibles on display and added layers of color and interest with small art pieces, vintage finds and lots of color. 

You can never go wrong with a well-styled shelf. 

When you work from home, a comfy seat is a must (trust me I know).  This pleated velvet desk chair is stylish, sophisticated and comfortable to boot. 

A few personal touches, like freshly custom-framed degrees and a branded throw pillow and the space came together beautifully.

As much as I love how the space looks, my favorite part about this one was the reaction from our client at the reveal.  She was overcome with emotion.  I think we all knew that for her, this was much more than just a pretty space.  It was the reward for nearly a decade of hard work and sacrifice and the beginning of her next chapter.  

BEHIND THE SCENES: Take a look at how we pulled it together...

Photography: Cam Richards Photography

Resource List:

Paint: SW Perfect Greige

Wallpaper: York Wallcoverings

Task Lighting: Robert Abbey

Settee: "Ivy" of Belle by Cheryl Luckett collection for Sylvester Alexander 

"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