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New Office Space

Friday, April 12th, 2013

pinkoffice

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I have been working with a client online who finally found a little room in her home that she can call her own:

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The room is small and she asked for help finding pieces that she can use to design a beautiful office space.

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Starting with the largest piece, the desk, I inquired if she would be using a large computer, but she only needs room for a laptop. The first item that popped in my head was the Durham Desk at Ballard Design:

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The openness and clean lines make this desk a perfect choice for a small space. Here are two bookshelves also open and contemporary:

bookshelves

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And what office does not need a great comfortable chair? This is a chair she recently purchased that will work great in the room:

chair

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I suggested a soft, light grayish blue color for the walls:

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Benjamin Moore Horizon 1478

And here is the office design board she loved best that was in her budget:

Office Design

She is going to keep her white sheers as window treatments in the room which will work well. She is so excited to get started! Even if she can not afford everything right now, at least she now has a plan to begin. I have already ask her to please share photos when complete!

If you would like a custom design plan for your next room, contact me today.

Have a great weekend my friends!

Kelly

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Posted in Dear Kelly, Design Boards, Interior Decorating | 1 Response »
Tags: Ben Moore Horizon, decorating, Decorating ideas, decorating office, mirrors, new office, Shades of Light, update

Creating Architectural Details

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

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One reference book that I look at often for ideas and inspiration is “Decorating With Architectural Details:

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I love this book because it is a great reference for architectural styles, resources and well written, easy to follow basic information to help the homeowner understand everything from your basic trim work to how to make add-ons look built in.

Most of this book deals with more elaborate architectural details such as mantels, window seats, shelving, passageways, shutters, staircase accents and so many other ideas. Plenty of photos and directions to follow. Check it out if you can.

arch3

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So you can imagine my delight, when a lovely reader, Kathleen, sent me a few photos of her home showing me her living room before & after:

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Wow! Doesn’t it look so great? I am really impressed with her originality and unique molding ideas that she built by herself. And also look at what a huge difference she made in the room by painting the balustrades white. Now they do not stand out and seem to actually make the room look larger. Beautiful!

I asked if I could share her photos and how she made them and she said,

“ Hi Kelly…

Sure go ahead, I don’t mind at all, you may use my name… I share my tips all the time … if you’re somewhat handy with tools and have a place to do it, I would say : Go ahead, it’s fun and worth it… just always make sure you start with a plan, measurements and … calculate everything twice I’m sure it will turn out beautifully… share pictures.”

Directions:

“I knew how much of that wall I wanted finished, so I paneled and painted that bit white (Benjamin Moore, Dune White). Then I went to Home Depot and bought a big board of MDF and had the men cut it in strips of 12 cm height each. When I came home I started with the horizontal beams first (screw in the studs), followed with the vertical ones (glue in place). I had some beadboard left over from our stairs (that’s another project we did with success) and used that to bring some interesting architectural texture in place. Then I filled in the cracks with caulking and had the whole thing drying for a day… next day, I painted the whole paneled wall… 2 times. I bought 3 mirrors in a hardware store and glued them in place, this way it was reflecting some natural light into the place. I guess the whole project took me a weekend (and no hubby and was very cheap….”

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Bravo Kathleen! I would be so proud of myself. Thanks so much for sharing.

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In either a contemporary or traditional home, just a few separate pieces of molding can create a spectacular and original architectural design in your home. What do you think of Kathleen’s project? Do you have any questions for her? Very creative and original idea! Love it! Thanks again Kathleen!

More beautiful architectural detail:

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Lauren Leonard Interiors

Look at how this five-color paint scheme plays up the architectural detail of this home:

happyhouse

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So pretty, don’t you think? A very happy house!

If you need help designing your next project, contact me today.

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Posted in Dear Kelly, Decorating Hints & Tips, Interior Decorating | 6 Responses »
Tags: decorating, Decorating ideas, detail, dramatic, focal wall, living room, molding, trim work, update, wallcoverings

A Well Dressed Bed

Saturday, April 6th, 2013

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Today I worked on a design plan for a client that recently purchased a new upholstered headboard. The color she chose was Flax Boucle:

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The challenge was trying to work the flax color in with all of the white in the room. She did not want to change anything else in the room (paint color, window treatments, etc.). She just needed help selecting bedding:

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Here is the headboard with the existing blue bed linens:

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I feel the existing blue linens are too light/clean to work with the beige of the headboard. I suggested trying white bed linens as our base:

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Which I think is a good starting point to tie everything in the room together. See the artwork above the bed?:

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It works perfect because it has the white, the flax color and different blues. (I did suggest to change to a darker frame closer to the flax color.) The existing wall color is Ben Moore Steel Blue 823. I did not want to try to match exactly, but find a stronger blue color to bring in pillows and a throw. Next, I gave her a few accent pillows to choose from:

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pillow2

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pillow3

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Which one she chooses will give us a color direction for the pillows and throw. Against the flax headboard, I suggested a layer of three white euro shams, then two king shams ( in a darker blue) and then accent pillows. Normally for a king bed, I suggest a layer of two standard shams over the king shams, but she did not want so many pillows. A boudoir pillow would be nice, but that would have to be custom made.

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Here is the design board so far until she chooses which accent pillow to use:

dianebed

Which pillow is your favorite? I would have a hard time choosing! All three would work beautifully in her room and will tie the new headboard in with the rest of the room. I will share the completed design board when we are finished!

If you need help decorating your home, contact me today.

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Tags: bedroom, ben moore, blue, BM Steel Blue, decorating, Decorating ideas, euro shams, king shams, making a king bed, update

New Bed = New Bedroom Design!

Sunday, March 31st, 2013

It only makes sense that when a new bed is purchased, you should continue to redecorate the whole bedroom! Don’t you agree?

I knew you would back me up on this! My husband actually picked out our new bed. It reminds him of a bed we owned years ago that he has always missed. It’s style is British Colonial:

britishbed

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I like that the bed sits up higher and that I do not have to deal with a bed skirt:

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I just purchased the white bedding that I will keep. I put a little design board together for myself starting with the fabric I ordered for the window panels:

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I am also going to use this fabric above to make a boudoir pillow for the bed. It is such an easy way to decorate the bed:

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Here is my plan:

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Since the furniture is heavy looking, I tried to lighten it with crystals, mirrors and other light accessories. I could pick so many different rugs but I think this one works well with the light and dark together. I love my new fabric! I will post pictures when room is complete. Soon I hope!

Any other suggestions my friends? I would love to hear your ideas.

Thank you!!

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Posted in Bedrooms, Before & After Pictures, Decorating Hints & Tips, Design Boards, Interior Decorating | 5 Responses »
Tags: bedroom, bedroom redesign, blue, blue and green, British Columbia bed, color, decorating, Decorating ideas, update, window treatments