Mammoth Lampshades

Today's Makeover Monday is another re-vamp of a thrift store find.  I fell in love with the scale of these lampshades and had to have them.  I was so excited to be able to use them in the Design House, but they weren't very exciting in their original state.

Using a great Waverly print (Sea Scallop) from U-Fab, I gave them a new, even funkier look.  Here's how:


Use the lampshade as a guide to cut out the fabric. 
Start at the seam and roll the lampshade along the fabric, guiding a pencil.

Add 1/2 inch to this line and cut along that line.

Starting at the seam on the lampshade, run a line of hot glue and secure the fabric. 
Continue with the glue gun at the top and bottom of the lampshade rim. 
Score the excess fabric and bend over the rim, gluing with the hot glue gun.
I chose to finish the inside with gimp to leave clean edges.
And here it is:

They make a great statement!

Like these shades, but not into the crafty bit?

I'd be happy to help!

Desk Makeover

Hopefully I've given my readers some time to recover from the all of the Design House postings.  I really needed some time to focus my energy on something new, but realize I need to fulfill my promise to post some how-to's from my pieces there.  Today, I am featuring the desk re-vamp.

I found this guy at Goodwill for a song.

 The top had seen better days and how about those federal-style drawer pulls?!  But the size was perfect.

I gave it first a coat of glossy white paint all over. And then I found this:

 It's a crocodile embossed scrapbooking paper.  Not sure who would cover it with photos, but that's another story.......  I'm no expert in decoupage, but if you're really intrigued and looking for inspiration for projects, check out Mod Podge Rocks.  So many cool applications for this stuff!

Anyhow, I chose to put this awesome paper on the fronts of the drawers.  Using a straight edge cutter (I am physically unable to cut a straight line with anything else), I cut the paper to the size I wanted.

Because I am messy and impatient, I squirted the mod podge directly onto the drawer and spread it with a paint brush.

I put the paper on top of the wet mod podge and  used a wooden skewer to punch a hole in the paper where the drawer pull needed to go.

Another coat of Mod Podge to seal it,.

I found some funky new drawer pulls at the Habitat Store to finish off the drawer fronts.  After some drying time, I installed them and covered the damaged top with fabric topped with glass and "voila".....new desk!

 

Of course, with that gorgeous chair from U-Fab in front of it. the desk looks extra fabulous!

What a stylish place to do homework!

Need some help incorporating crafty pieces in your home?
Contact me! 

Makeover Monday: Color and Reflection Injection

My client for today's makeover truly couldn't be any cuter and she and her boyfriend are great young DIY'ers.  My job for her has been to generate decorating ideas and they have been hard at making them come to fruition on their own.  We started with her living room.  It's a great space, new construction, but the homeowner was not thrilled with the placement of the television or the flow of the room.  Here it is before:

I suggested adding a some color with fabric and a new rug and then found a great console to anchor the television.  It's not too deep to use up too much of the space and the mirrored doors actually add depth visually.

 I suggested a new furniture arrangement to open the room, but still allow for conversation.  Beautiful plaid taffeta drapes dress up the windows and a new chandelier gives this space some character.

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

This chandelier is a great illustration of my client's hard work; she refinished a brass chandelier she already had to coordinate with the space and added shades.  Great job!

Need some direction with your projects?

Contact me. 

I'd love to help!

Volumes of "Volumes"

When I first entered the home featured today, I thought I wasn't really needed.  Then I saw this:

Look familiar?!  I see it all of the time.  A myriad of color choices, flat builder's paint on the walls and a perplexed homeowner.  There was no question the old paint had seen better days and my client really wanted to change the color and make some slipcovers for her chairs..........I couldn't help but interject that what the room really needed to pull it all together was some window treatments.  Clearly, my client has great fun taste and is not afraid of color.  Here is the rug that was already in the room:

Such amazing color and print!  And the room had great pieces.  Check out the orange chairs and amazing art above the fireplace:

This is the BEFORE!!

To finish the room I suggested a neutral paint color in a taupe from the rug (it's there if you look hard).  But to really pull it all together, I wanted a graphic print on the windows in the colors from the rug. I found this amazing amazing print from Anna Maria Horner called "Volumes".  Check out the colors:

Just perfect with that rug!

And here they are:

We did a little furniture shuffle and added some turquoise frames on the wall.

The homeowner is still working on a coffee table, but the effect of the drapes makes the room feel much more finished and ties all of the color together.

I'll keep you posted when the room is complete.

Needing help deciding how to finish your room?

Contact me! 

I'd love to help!

Beach Inspiration

We spent Memorial Day weekend in this cute little cottage my sister found on the Outer Banks.  It was full of cute beach-y decor sure to inspire!

A garland of starfish tied to jute dresses the window.

Another cute use of starfish.  These guys are glued to a stake and placed in a vase hung on the wall.

A fresh vignette with a happy citrus painting and distressed seafoam console table.

Cute casual fabrics with a hint of beach theme -- see the quilted shells on the bench and the fish in the damask print?

I love some zebra print -- at the beach?  Why not?!  Check out the cute frames spelling out BEACH in the entertainment unit!

More beachy details.

Love these ideas for the kitchen!  Seagrass lampshades, a vintage looking large clock and wine bottles simply spray painted in fun colors on top of the cabinets.

So, if you're not lucky enough to be heading to a seaside retreat, maybe you can incorporate some of these cute ideas into you decor at home.

Need some help?
Contact me! 

Design House Tween Room

So, my room at the Design House is now empty.  For those of you who were able to come and view the house, thank you so much for your support.  I am proud to have been a part of the event, happy to be able to support the Shelter for Help in Emergency and satisfied with how my room turned out.  I know I've been talking about it a lot and I hope you're not getting too tired of it all, but I have to share my room for those who have not yet seen it and I'll hopefully get around to posting some how-to's as promised as well.

When the designers toured the house, I was not overly impressed with this room:

So little, in fact, that I did not request to work in it.  Such a challenge -- a small room (not quite 12 x 15) with a door or window on every wall and a big radiator!  The red walls were dark, the table covered the balcony door and the drapes were heavy and floral.

When asked, I accepted the challenge; none of the designers had chosen this space!

 I decided to highlight the room's positive characteristics.  It has high ceilings, a beautiful window and an amazing balcony.

I chose to paint the walls a very neutral off-white shade, kept the trim a glossy bright white,and added crown moulding and a pop of color in turquoise to emphasize the ceiling.

My plan for the room looked like this:

I chose to place a daybed in front of the window and radiator and have a cover built for the radiator to serve as a sofa table of sorts.  Bolster cushions sit on the radiator cover and a window scarf dresses both the window and the bed.  Custom cabinetry ties the whole thing together and provides bedside tables for storage and a place for those huge lampshades.  The window becomes the focal point of the room.

Before:

Heavy drapes and a big radiator

 After:

The bed is made of two headboards constructed by U-Fab.  The duvet and bolsters are also from U-Fab.  Custom cabinetry by Maya Wood.  Fabulous fun oversized lampshades were recovered in coordinating fabric. 

 Before:

 After:

A custom floorcloth painted by Susan Brodie of Muses; Art for Living grounds the furniture arrangement.  Fun pouf ottomans provide extra seating or a place to rest your feet.  The cream drapes with fun circle trim draw your eyes to the balcony beyond.  Before, a table cut off both the view and the access.

What a spectacular feature of this room -- I couldn't leave it empty!

A gorgeous white Murano glass chandelier from Shades of Light really adds sparkle to the ceiling.  While this room now only accommodates one bed, I was able to add a refurbished decoupaged desk (tutorial to come later in the week) with a fabulous re-upholstered chair also done by U-Fab.

 

Here's a little vignette featuring a white lacquered dresser with a mirrored top from Shades of Light, a Snow White mirror and some fun accessories -- love the whippet from Patina, Anitques, etc.!

And, I can't leave out my daughter's one-of-a-kind painting to fill up the wall-- so proud!!

Best wishes to the Shelter for Help in Emergency.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to showcase this fun idea!

Check out my Transformations Tab for more Before and Afters.

And, don't forget to

Contact me

with your design dilemmas!

Coastal Living Inland.....

Today's post is actually an addendum to the post that follows.  Waiting for custom furniture pieces can seem like forever, but we finally got the chair for the desk in for this makeover and I wanted to share what the rest of the room looks like finished.
Here's a refresher:

This home is brand-new with gorgeous tall ceilings and lots of natural light.  I worked with the homeowner to incorporate what she already owned from her previous home to make it work in the new one.  We added the chandelier and pediment that you've already seen, but we also introduced a bit of color and softness to the French doors with long linen panels in a spa blue. We placed a tall upholstered chair at the desk built by my client's father and displayed a painting by the homeowner above it.
Before:

Now:

 Finally finished!!

 And, in case you've forgotten, here's the rest of the room:


 Despite living in her brand-new home only six months, this homeowner was already talking about moving.  Convinced that she just needed to make it more her own, she and I came up with a plan to make the space more inviting and personal.  Using her love of Coastal Living and her beautiful artwork, the room was transformed from this:  

To this:

The large chandelier helps to bring the soaring ceilings to a more inviting height.  By separating the bookcases, adding a bench in between and an overscale weathered pediment above, the furniture pieces aren't dwarfed by the tall walls.

To make the space more personal, the homeowner's own artwork is featured throughout the room with a gallery for pictures and art up the steps.

Before, not much going on:

Now, a whole lot to see!

 

A beautiful striped cotton rug gives a nautical feel and blends with the slipcovered sofa.  A new oval mirrored and glass coffee table has a modern edge but is still comfortable and doesn't take up too much visual space.

We're still waiting on a desk chair --I'll post photos of that wall with the linen drapery soon!
Hopefully, the homeowner feels more at home now!

Looking for help making your house more home-y?

Contact me!

I'd love to help! 

Maybe your home will be a Monday Makeover Feature!