New Face

I just finished a total flip-flop of the retail space...at least 6000 sq. ft. of the 10,000 sq. ft. footprint. Holy moly....I was missing my little 900 sq. ft. darling of a Yardley store about half way through!

After the manpower went home about 9:00p.m. it was a one woman show.

My arms are sore.
My feet are aching.
My brain is hibernating.
My legs hurt.
My eyes are tired.
My stomach is growling.

After 16 hours on my feet, I'm dead.

I might be missing my little Yardley boutique, but at midnight, I'm loving the 5 minute ride home.

I'll try to post some of my favorite vignettes in the next few days. I didn't think to capture the chaos.

Come see the magic!

Bedroom Makeover Reveal!

VOILA!

Although we completed the bedroom makeover (remember the contest many months ago?!) in early December, it has taken me this long to finally compose the post to include you all in the final outcome.

Thanks greatly, to Suzanne, for many of the photos.

The scope of our project seemed to grow and grow! Our initial consultation was to work within the basic framework of the existing furniture, change paint and bedding and possibly window treatments. Of course, accessories would complete the update!

By the second appointment, Suzanne had decided she liked the idea of a new headboard, something more current and soft than the Arts and Crafts style bed that was a part of an entire set. We intended to work around the rest of the pieces!

(Before shot of former bedroom furniture)!

Suzanne also decided that the master bathroom needed to be included in the face lift! (And, it did.) Using the same color pallette, we began to put together a complimentary vision for the bathroom.

Check out this "vanilla" master bathroom!

No surprise, that as we went a little further, we added painted furniture pieces from vintage collectibles for both bedside tables, a beautiful chest and a desk, an engaging chair, and the list goes on and on!

Vintage chair and desk. *Note the monogrammed "S" on Suzanne's desk chair! This was one of her absolute "must-haves" on the punch list!

Vintage dresser hand painted, hardware and all. Lamp and accessories from Black-eyed Susan. It's a little difficult to make out the framed photo, but it is a stack of books in the exact colors of the room from The Paris Flea Market! Susan found the mirror. Suzanne added the artist's touch to the paint for the mirror! Too perfect!

The photo below shows off the stylish chest we found for one of the bedside tables. I happen to love the height of a chest of drawers for bedside use. Lamps sit well and make for easy reading.

Also note the framed botanicals, compliments of handy Sneelock's work. I purchased the original botanicals and Fred (Sneelock) photographed them. He tinted them a slight and fabulous aqua just for this application! They are quite stunning and original in this color.

This perfect chair was on clearance from Black-eyed Susan. The last piece, left from an entire collection in these colors...finally, a home for one of my favorites! And, I must say, the perfect home.

The color was a dramatic change, from deep rusty Tuscan colors to one of my favorites, SW Halcyon, a soft gray/blue that is perfect for any room and sets the stage for cocooning. (Of course, the ceiling was included!) Inspired by a project I completed in Sullivans Island, S.C., Suzanne was totally immersed in the color pallet of aqua and soft lime green. After some searching, we found a fabric that tied everything together, and finding that this particular fabric would break the bank, so to say, we decided on this accent pillow with some fabulous trim to be the impact pattern for the bed.

Monogrammed boudoir pillow---found at Restoration Hardware! Custom monograms can be ordered from them on several of their pillow selections.

Suzanne had a stylish and dressy off white tone on tone patterned rug that was the perfect grounding for the new look.

Suzanne spent countless hours on Ebay searching for chandeliers! Her efforts were rewarded and you can see several places where they are used. Each one required extensive work, rewiring, painting, cleaning...well, you get the picture! The results--priceless.

Black-eyed Susan furnished the painting labor (thanks to Sneelock and my son, Ryan!), all of the design labor and fees, as well as the installation to completion. Suzanne and Joerg furnished the budget! Hmm, a pretty good combination! The budget grew and grew...the labor grew and grew, the design ideas grew and grew...I guess you could say that the ideas were plentiful and the budget didn't disappoint! That being said, we did the whole project from start to finish on a relatively moderate budget. Suzanne did some of the shopping, Black-eyed Susan resourced the vintage items and the fabrics, bedding, and custom pillows. Yes, indeed, a great team! Did I mention that my sister, Denise, who was in town for my retail Holiday setup, was a great help for the installation. She also provided the entertainment and energy for the night!

I had the vision of using plates above the bed from the beginning. Often this shape of a headboard determines the art or mirrors used in a room. Arched headboards provide an unusual challenge. Suzanne and I collected these plates, which were the absolute perfect color for our wall! I arranged the plates on the floor within a "tape template" of our usable space. Denise took it from there, made the measurements and working off of a digital photo with notes, set out to hang the plates while Sneelock hung draperies while Jackie and I dug into the rest of the details of the room.

Perfect! What can I say?

Layers of pillows in just the right colors.

View of the silk dupioni draperies with the "fabric to break the bank" used sparingly for a contrast hem!

And, check out the armoire between the windows. That was the last piece of the original bedroom set to succumb to the paint brush! A good primer is always required to insure bonding. Suzanne and Joerg had had their share of painting by now, but it was the perfect finishing touch and it could not be denied.

Beautiful view of the chest of drawers reflecting the tinted botanicals, plates hung in harmony with the mirror shape, and that fabulous chandelier find! You do good work, Suzanne!

Closeup of details on one of the bedside tables.

This is the top of the painted armoire. Suzanne found the hand blown vase! I provided the small potted orchid and ceramic dove. The photo frame came from Black-eyed Susan and Suzanne and Joerg put a sentimental favorite historic building from Austria in the frame. Suzanne, comment on the significance of that building! I'm afraid I wouldn't get it right.

Here are a few shots of the bathroom completed. The reverse pallette (green on the walls, blue as the accent) was used to compliment the bedroom. Suzanne selected this Robert Allen fabric with a leaf motif in just the right colors! This fabric brought the chocolate in as a third color. Towels repeated the accent.

I selected this pair of brushed nickel beaded oval mirrors, along with these rather hip light fixtures! I has a love of lids (!), a rather strange fetish...and we hung one right between the two mirrors!

Just another shot of the mirrors from another perspective. Paper whites in acrylic water add some drama to the vanity.

I just had to show this fabulous bead trim on the bathroom valance. Sometimes, it's worth going over budget to get the perfect finishing touch!

This wonderful towel rack had been collecting dust in the basement of Black-eyed Susan for quite some time! I decided that if the engineer, Joerg, could assemble it, it should be used in the master bath. And, I might say, he took no time at all to put the puzzle together! And, there you have it! Pretty cool.

I brought these vintage buttons back from Paris. Oh, my heart sings! The color of the buttons and the color of the border on the card. It was meant to be! I hung them with a single decorative tack within a vintage frame.

Before.

After.

A special thanks for Jackie Macli, Susan's project manager for countless hours of time and support; Ryan Taylor and Fred Taylor for painting, crown molding and installation; Suzanne for trusting me and following my promptings, hours of painting furniture and chandeliers, and many nervous indecisions conquered; Denise for installation support and attention to detail; and Joerg for blindly pushing forward with any assignment!

I'm happy with the result, completely. A job well done by all.

Now, relax in your beautiful new room!

About 50 trips later...

In between our Holiday setup, I staged the Slate River Farm for the Trinity House Tour. The tour was last Saturday and even though the weather wasn't fabulous, the turnout was , and about 700 people came through the house.

I gave you a preview of the charming cottage prior to our staging, and here's a little view of what we did. My friend, Lisa, her husband Rob, and Sneelock were my right hands. Linda and Bill Lowe filled in every other blank, as they were the liaison for the house tour committee. Thanks to all!

This kind of an event is always creatively inspiring for someone who loves details and old homes...but does not come without extracting dues of hard work (to paraphrase Anne of Green Gables!). We spent a few days doing the setup and today tearing it down and replacing the accessories back in my home.

I might add that I really felt a loss during the week that my home was depleted of my favorite things, including art, collectibles, books, favorites of all sorts...while replacing them today, I enjoyed handling and loving each one again! I'm really hoping that someone in my family will want to love them as I have when the time comes!

Black-eyed Susan's signature guilded pumpkins graced the kitchen island.

Vintage books are always a part of interesting visuals, anywhere, anytime!

This silver tray of old door knobs caught my eye at one of my favorite vintage haunts. It was the perfect touch for the library coffee table. Oh so cool!

Another shot of the coffee table, complete with old ledgers (a pheasant feather for a bookmark!),

maidenhair fern and standing magnifier flanking the silver tray of doorknobs. Love it!

A collection of globes completes the remaining deep sill in the library. A few old books and one open on the right side seems to be perfect here.

We staged the laundry room to be more of a potting room, with trays of orchids in the dry sink, birds, nests and a personal favorite original framed piece of art, this toad! The setting was perfect for this vision. Complete with ferns, used clay pots and straw hat. Charming!

Deep window sills everywhere provided the greatest surfaces for all manner of collectible accents. Check out this great lamp that I recently reinvented with paint and a new shade! And for me, a personal favorite, old trophies and an unusually thick old leather book!

The library mantle made perfect with this collection of old books, trophy urn and Susan's moss!

This original equestrian painting was enhanced with an old clock, matching urns, an orchid, and, or course...books! I later added a boxwood sphere to each urn! Just imagine them there!

Lisa and I deemed a small sitting room off the master bedroom "the Ralph Lauren room". Riding boots, riding hat and old suitcases seemed to set the stage. We added these vintage homing pigeon trophies (!), a framed hound, and what else...books! I love these trophies!

The master bedroom was cozied up with the addition of a lamp, natural linen shams and cases, a beautiful coverlet in cream,and a tea tray with Paris themed dishes and chocolate transfer ware.

I could be totally happy in this room!

A small area at the top of the second floor landing proved perfect for an inspiration area for a would-be writer, Lisa perhaps! This old typewriter, old letters, photographs and multiple collections of small books brought the area to life. (That blotter is pretty bright!)

Here's a view of my van with the last trip from the cottage. Sneelock and I figured collectively, we all made about 50 trips from the cottage to the automobiles to load everything to return...that's the real truth!

I'm really glad I like my work. Creativity is indeed, rewarding.

That being said, I don't think I could have done 51. Until next time.

The Personal Touch!

Tomorrow is a big installation day for one of our whole house client projects we've been designing for several months! When I say installation, it means that the furniture will be delivered for multiple bedrooms, living room, family room, center hall, beautiful upstairs hall, and sun room.

It's always a rewarding day for me, the designer, and for the project manager who has driven the project through to this point. It's a big day of anticipation and very fulfilling to see it all come together.

Occasionally, there are surprises, like something is too big and won't fit up the stairway (even though we always consider that when furniture pieces are chosen......) What happens, do they grow,expand, change the pattern?! Once in a while something is not as expected, but for the most part it's a day long looked forward to.

You wouldn't believe what is involved in full service design! We really turn into little workers with magic wands (or so it seems when the homeowners come home)! We make up the beds with the new bedding that we have purchased, direct the placement of the furniture-an inch this way or that....some projects involve hanging new towels in the bathrooms, selecting the soap dishes and glorious accents around the soaking tub, well, you get the picture!

Tonight, in preparation for tomorrow's installation, I spent the evening washing and ironing the sheets! First, let me say, oddly enough that I enjoy ironing! If you have never slept in a freshly made bed with ironed linens, you haven't lived. Try it. You're not likely to go back! This labor of love is a gift to our client. Ahhhhhh! 600 thread count 100% cotton sheets, yes! (My daughters gave me 1000 count cotton sheets for Christmas-pure luxury!

Pressing the last hemstitch perfectly. You need a very hot iron to make your work easier.

Check out the plate to my iron! (My mother gave me this iron as a gift after I coveted hers! It has something like 2000 steam holes) It is the Rowenta Advancer. It's one fabulous iron.

All finished and folded. Very rewarding.

The car is loaded, the sheets packed to go, iron in hand (touch ups on bed skirts and the like)! and the anticipation is high. I'll show you some in progress photos tomorrow! It's going to be quite a day.