Charleston Completed! A Week in Review

After arriving early Thursday morning to finish the last few details and take professional photos, we looked back ahead and felt a sense of accomplishment and success. The house is cozy, stylish and colorful. I think I could live there and be quite happy.

Reloading the car with the excess to return home turned out to be quite a challenge!

Good and faithful BES van ready to load...

The problem..,this is what has to go in in addition to 3 passengers!

...another view

Linda pondering.,,she decided to turn the project over to Sneelock. Good thinking.

So, he's a miracle worker in all ways!

Here is a sample of the finished rooms. Let's just call it a week in review, no words. Just photos. Hope you enjoy the overall...I'm really happy with the final result, and happy to be headed home tomorrow.

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All approved....just sayin'

Charleston Day Five...and into Six. Holy Moly.k

We spent the entire day working and stopped to celebrate my birthday (64 years) then went back to the house and worked right through to Thursday...I'm telling you how old I am because I'm thinking of something my darling mother used once told me, " I always tell people how old I am in case they think I'm older!"

As we are just now leaving the house I'll share just a few photos. Tomorrow is photography day so soon you.ll have the big picture.




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I'm telling you, there's a lot a designer will do to get the work done the way she wants it...we used these new plate discs and applied them two times with a 24 hour dry time. I've used these before and been delighted. They would not stick. We followed and re followed the instructions to a tee. This is Linda used some super strong transparent duct tape to secure the plate discs...I could have secured her to the wall with this stuff it's so sticky!


We templates the plate collection on the floor and then set out to hang the vast collection intermingled with some of my favorite mirrors from Oly. I'll show you the finished product tomorrow. I love it!

Here are some funny shots from the work day...



Sneelock's space...it actually spreads throughout the house from room to room.


Linda can't be far behind a cup of ice with her power drink...that would be coke zero.


Susan's space is full of accessory choices from orchids to exotic leaves, books and beautiful mosses, plus any possible succulent variety you can imagine.


Jackie's space houses all receipts and so much more. need a phone number, measurement or order info, she will have it. ( those files scare me a little... )

Tomorrow we return early, complete the last few details and document the entire project down to the last detail with professional photography .

We feel a real sense of accomplishment and I am ever so grateful for the combined efforts of my team.

This 64 year old is going to bed.

Charleston Day Four

It was another long productive day, we are still working and I'm pretty sure by the time I get back to my hotel, it will be too late for the post. We are at that stage where we are feeling overwhelmed by soooo many pieces of art yet to place, three rooms of draperies to hang...finishing touches and a photo shoot...never mind the master bedroom hasn't been touched yet!!

In light of all this, we took a few photos and will share them with you. I'm posting from my iPad, so don't have the creative license to use as I do on my laptop....this is the choice for tonight!

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At the end of a long day, Fred asked me to steady the back hall desk while he leveled the legs...




Living room is progressing...love the art, and roses nestled with succulents.


How about these chartreuse vessels from Global Views?!




Linda is wondering how she is going to keep these white sofas clean with this large black cat!





We reinvented an former console used in the former family room by reprinting it...you guested it, SW Warm Stone. The art is new and the accents combined from old and new. But, the new Bling flush mount chandelier is spectacular!!!

Tomorrow will be crunch day for sure. It's all coming together in a very satisfying way.

Charleston Day Three

Wow. Some real magic happened today in the design process. With a very early start at 8:00am, the delivery truck rolled up side by side with the owner's contractor and the electrician. Full house!

Fred (Sneelock) instantly got to work hanging blinds, draperies, mirrors and art.

Jackie made all the beds with the new bedding ensembles, directed the delivery and helped me with the placement of the rugs, I think the young moving team was needing a stiff drink by the time I had them change each rug an inch over and three inches down. Rug placement is a real challenge!

Linda and I rethought the tween room I designed and  tried about three different layouts (in real time!). This involved moving two twin beds, two dressers, one rug, one chair and a desk . We tried three different layouts, each having its own merits. We decided on the perfect design and I'll tell you the comments of the cute occupant of the room in a bit.  I took some photos of the room as it sat as the family had placed it when they moved in.

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It's a bit difficult to show the true impact of this room layout, but it was really a great design move. Linda has has teenagers a lot more recently than myself and it was her thought process that lead to the end result. She had an idea that the room needed to be more like a suite, a real personal living space for this young girl and her friends. It worked. This is where the beds originally were placed under a sloping dormer, giving the space a very lopsided design.

This is the entrance into the room as originally placed...it almost made a long narrow hallway with the beds on the left.

This is the alcove that we placed the twin beds in the new room plan. They still sit perfectly under the dormer roof, but in a symmetrical setting with a bit more space between them. Cozier than ever and in the process, creating a true living room area. We took the cool graphic rug out from under the beds and grounded the seating/study area with it instead, defining that space as comfortable and personal. I'm sure it will become the favorite gathering space for the hip young crowd.

Just a corner shot of the dining room...

When the living room pieces were delivered and placed, it took restraint not to put everything else aside and seek out the dramatic accessories I selected for the room. Here is a corner shot of one of the flanked sofas with the colorful accent pillow. I can't wait to show you the rest!

 

This photo is so disappointing, but I'll share it anyway. Lots of riff- raff in the background, my accessory stash. The colors are graphite and orange accents.It's turning out to be a great room.

Tomorrow we have another full day planned. Lots of finishing touches, draperies to be hung, art placement and some of my favorite work in the finishing touches. We have a few errands to do to find replacement lamp shades for some lamps we want to re-purpose and several small accents we just realized that we needed. 

I'm glad you're along for the ride. It's a really rewarding transformation.

Wednesday magic!

In the lateness of the hour of leaving the store, I forgot to photograph the main thing I wanted to publish most! Yes, Spring! On this first day of Spring, the cherry blossoms and quince and pear blossoms all hit the floor to breath that "ahhhh" feeling into the air. So, although no photo to share with you...you really must come in to see the fresh promising hint of what is to come in our beautiful Bucks County. You'll get in the spirit. 

My comment to the staff tonight was how, even though I love a  certain visual display theme we create and personally am not tired of it yet, I make it a habit to change things up often to reinvent the space and give fresh ideas to my followers. That's what we did tonight and I'll share a few snapshots of a few of the changes. Like I have said, Thursday is always the best day to stop by to see the fresh offerings and newest inventory for immediate gratification.

I updated a favorite table with the fresh drama of white. Topiaries, succulents, hydrangeas...all beautiful, clean and crisp.

I love the modern twist of these porcelain vases. I was inspired to add this new exotic succulent (well, three to be exact!) and one tender willow cutting. I like it!

Here's a closeup of these bisque insect bottles that just came in! So cute. Well, bugs painted on things are cute...not the real thing! Just sayin'.

This fabulous segmented mirror came in today and I love the natural beach feel I felt. Of course, you could use it in any variety of rooms...I use mirrors as art often and this one really fits the bill. I'm sure it won't last long...but secretly, I really hope it doesn't go tomorrow. There is little that peeves me more than the disruption of a great visual the day after I've created it I also love the little cloche with maps, bookpages, driftwood and moss. It represents a collection of personal interest from any shore destination.

 

 

 

 

I love this solid stone top urban coffee table and the oversized pear and apple sculptures. They have real carved wood stems! But what I really want to draw to your attention is my new private label sofa that can be ordered and delivered in about two weeks! Better yet the price is just a bit over $1600.00 From the factory that manufactures for Restoration Hardware, this is a dream come true. I ordered it in an oh-so-current grey, but it is available in these three other colors, in stock and for quick delivery;

Cocoa, cream and linen...or the grey that I selected! This is a real find and is bound to be a standard go-to from now on. There are many new things to see and to inspire. Snap a photo on your phone and come in for a personal design from Susan or one of her staff members. Voila! Pure style.