Fruitfull Shopping!

We're on a roll, now!

Suzanne and I met at Princeton Market Fair and hit Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn for some fill-ins to the bedding collections. We had reviewed some good possibilities in the mail order catalog, but felt the need to match them up in person to our current picks!

Success!! We found a fabulously luscious green blanket to fold at the bottom of the bed (this will take the place of our saldino (Italian foot warmer). Oh, so pretty and soft! Now this is the comfort factor we've been looking for. We also found a high thread count boudoir pillow, perfect for monogramming. Oh, and did I mention the perfect hand soap---aqua liquid soap in a clear and classy pump?!

We headed straight over to Pottery Barn and found silk dupioni drapery panels for a steal! (Perfect color in a chartreuse-y green) We'll doll them up with either trim or interesting hardware, not sure which.

I had brought along a personal favorite silk block plaid that I had used in my Sullivans Island project. Just as I thought, it was the finishing touch to our pallet and I think it's a "must have" splurge category for the project!!

And, just around the corner, we found a super stash of aqua Italian pottery plates that look as if we painted them with the walls.....where? Marshalls, of course! Wait till you see what we do with these!!

Bathroom color: SW Wheat Grass, walls and ceiling

Bedroom color: SW Quietude, walls and ceiling

We'll toss the cups (or, put them to good use in some one's kitchen!), and hang all of the plates as art!

Yes, it's coming together! Good progress. Good finds. Good time.Good design.

Yes! Progress Report on Makeover!

I'm so excited to report that we are now ready to set the date for painting our bedroom makeover! No surprise, one of my favorite colors: SW Quietude. A soft, lovely grayed blue that wraps you in soft, quiet thoughts. Suzanne, you're going to love this one! If time permitted, I'd be having my own bedroom on the painting schedule for the same color, it's a tried and true favorite.

This is what our work surface looked like as we began to narrow down the selections! As you can see, lots of choices and lots of inspiration. I love the green accent pillow and the cotton duvet with the modern twist! The colors are all coming together. This is a good example of the importance of not stressing over the "exact match" of every color. While we don't want to have colors that fight each other, there needs to be some blend and some part of the picture that is unexpected so as not to make it predictable and boring. Now this combo is anything but boring!

For some time, Suzanne has not been able to put my "Charleston pallet" out of her mind. This pallet was developed for our Sullivan's Island project long before it was trend...making it a much more challenging design at the time! I haven't tired of it, and prior to the Sullivan's Island project, my own basement was the first to use this delightful color scheme. It is a true breath of fresh air, happy and bright without wearing on the eyes.

So, here goes! We're off. Sneelock has been put on task for the painting. Suzanne and I will most likely dig in to the furniture painting and orders will begin to fly!

We selected an upholstered headboard with a soft arch to anchor the focal point. Suzanne's husband,Joerg (way cute German man!) was a great supportive and agreeable addition, adding his opinions to the mix. I think we have a winner and we're on our way! It should get exciting fast.

Here is one of the Robert Allen patterns that Suzanne selected. The colors don't show up exactly correct here, but the blend is great and the bonus---she loves leaves!!

I brought a fabric book with the general pallet of colors and she choose the patterns that spoke to her heart.

Here is one of the coordinates, also a Robert Allen fabric. The scale is larger and very Jacobean in nature. I recall her saying that she liked Jacobean florals very early in the project, so this is a great find!

This is a shot of the overall pattern on the larger scale print.

One of the surprises in our design turned out to be the development of a more casual, summery collection (the more modern floral pattern) and the more wintry, slightly more traditional look of the later floral. Both florals go with the aqua and green color story. The summery, lighter one will use a soft white coverlet and the more wintry Jacobean floral will use a grey/blue matlesee coverlet found at one of the off-price retailers. Using our budgets wisely, we have been able to come up with two seasonal looks on the same wave-length!

And, by the way, Suzanne and have established a budget of $5000.00 for furniture, paint , lamps, accessories, and art. We're on our way! I'll be posting our progress, so check back and let us know how you feel about the design as we go.

First Look!

After working all day with the most inclement weather, Rita and I made a pretty good dent in the final stages of the designer house. I'm going to tell you, when you really need a helping hand, and one who is an engineering type thinker, practical and down to earth.....Rita is your girl!!



We carried about 18-20 total loads of books, accessories, lamps, platters, and art into my room! The day started out with a terrible downpour! We tribute our combined prayers for the parting of the storm clouds just long enough for us to empty the van with multiple trips before the downpour resumed! Now that's the kind of friend I want on my team! Thanks again, Rita!



(Due to a very bad hair day for both of us, no photos!!)



Obviously, the lack of natural light combined with my accent wall of black (!) did not bode well for photos.....the mantle was in progress, and after viewing this shot, I am certain that my final change was a good move! It's coming along.



Sneelock won't be too impressed with this one either! I guess I should have tried one without a flash, or turned off the chandelier! But take a look at that great chandelier! As you can see, there was a lot of "noise" about the room with other clutter!







This shot is one of the window sills with the exotic fan-tail pussy willows, several nests and one of my favorite vintage dogs....



Tomorrow, I'll try to take a better snapshot when all is fairly well in place. (Can't wait for the drapes.....!)

It is rewarding to see the whole thing coming together. Once again, thanks to my dear friend Rita for putting in another day of hanging crystals, loading, unloading, polishing, handing, climbing, sorting, labeling, and in general, woman of all trades!



Stay tuned for more updates. Tickets are still available at Black-eyed Susan!