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Stained Trim Color Consultation

Monday, April 29th, 2013

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I know that I have used this picture above before, but I just love this room with the stained trim, wall color, Chesterfield sofa and that fabulous rug!

I went on a local  color consultation today to an older home with dark stained trim. Beautiful home, it just needs a little color love and updating:

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The furniture is staying so we have to work with it. The homeowner thought the only color that would work was maroon or burgundy:

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I did show her a color sample how the burgundy would look and she was not happy with it. I pulled out a medium blue gray, Benjamin Moore Stillwater, 1650:

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She loved it! She never even noticed the blue in the sofa before.What I really loved was how well it looked against the dark trim:

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Beautiful! She loves it and I think it will make a huge difference in the room with the furniture and trim. Whenever I am consulting with stained trim, I always start with the mid-tone colors, which you can read about more here. I hope she will invite me to come back for after pictures.

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Another recent consultation was for a kitchen with oak cabinets:

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Ben Moore Agave AF-420 was chosen and it looks great! Agave has just the right amount of yellow in it that really works well with the oak cabinets. She also has dark woodworking and look at how pretty it is with the Agave:

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I hope I have shown you how unlimited your color choices can be when you are working with stained trim. Keep in the mid-to deeper range of colors and I think that will help you find that perfect wall color.

If you need help choosing colors for your home, contact me today.

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Simple And Beautiful Window Sheers

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

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I don’t know if window sheers are becoming more trendy, or I am just noticing their simplicity more:

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I like them not only in the traditional way:

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I love the way they are being used non-traditionally:

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That room above is by designer Eileen Kathryn Boyd. So Gorgeous!!

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I like the way they tied this window sheer. Different:

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So light and pretty! Now I am inspired to try window sheers somewhere in my home! It is a good time to try for the Spring/Summer season. Don’t you think they are beautiful? Are you using sheers in your home?

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

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New Navy Blue Sofa!

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

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Like many of us, my budget for home beautification only allows me to afford one big purchase at a time:

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Ever since I started our living room project, I have been dreaming of a navy blue sofa since I saw this beauty:

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A very beautiful and very expensive sofa. But I want it and the color navy fits right into my color scheme! What to do? The sofa I have now is only about five years old. It is still in great shape and I have always loved its Chesterfield look:

I love the rolled arms and it is so comfortable with the ottoman. I wanted to keep it but the fabric was not working anymore. Since the fabric is the most expensive part of having anything reupholstered, I have kept my eye out for a good price on fabric. I found this navy blue velvet on sale:

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To have a couch reupholstered, a sofa this size takes about 16 yards of fabric. The price was $14.00 a yard, plus 2 extra yards for the ottoman. 18 yards x $14.00 = $252.00 for fabric. That is a pretty good price! A reupholster price for labor on both the sofa and ottoman should cost you around $500.00. Not too bad for a ‘new’ sofa!

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Next step is finding a great, affordable rug to go with my new sofa. I ordered  rug samples from Ballards in Natural that I think will work great in the room and is pretty reasonable in price:

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I need to balance the white over to the other side of the room and the rug will do just that:

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But wait!! I just found the perfect rug! Love, love, love:

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Well, perfect except for the price (sad face). I am still going to order a sample ($10.00) to be sure it will work. I noticed Company C does have an online design program where I might be able to get a designer discount. When you find ‘the’ perfect item to work in your design plan, you have to decide if you want to wait and save up for it or find something comparable that will work but not be so costly.

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I am not a very patient person when I get a great idea! I just want to keep moving forward to get the project completed. But, because of the budget, I am going to have to wait a bit to make another large purchase. Does this happen to you too? Isn’t it frustrating?

Well, it is another step toward my design goal. I love my new navy sofa and am very grateful! On to the next step!

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Here is a helpful link to an upholstery guide here that helps you determined how much fabric you will need for your upholstery project.

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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.

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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:

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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 »
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