Kitchen Makeover & Metallic Ceiling Envy

 
Recently, I worked with a client who was looking to make some changes to her kitchen in preparation for wedding festivities for her daughter.  It was an exciting time in her life and I was glad to be of help and be a part of the occasion! 

The kitchen did not show her true style that was seen in the rest of the house.  The cabinets, walls and accessories were all very warm tones and really the homeowner is into more of cooler toned colors.  We looked at several approaches and talked about the possibility of even painting the cabinets.  We met with the painter and quickly found out that she could almost replace the cabinets after having them painted!  I was up for the challenge and wanted to prove that we COULD work with the cabinets and make them look good!
 
The kitchen had a beautiful tower ceiling over the octagonal breakfast room extension of the kitchen.  This was the first area I noticed because I saw the potential right away!  It was painted white and sponged with a gold pumpkin color. 

 
I saw the tower ceiling as being the focal point of the room.  I recommended doing a metallic faux treatment in copper.  After it was finished I definitely had metallic ceiling envy!  It added the drama the room needed.  Isn't it beautiful?!?

The cabinets had some damaged places here and there on them and you could tell the finish was wearing off.  Being a decorator, I knew that all that was needed was a little elbow grease and some furniture restorer.  It was amazing how they looked refinished afterwards.  The addition of contemporary knobs and drawer pulls was all that was needed.

Changing out the doorknobs and drawer pulls was a simple way to update and begin adding some of give them more of a contemporary look the client desired too. 

 

We decided that the transom windows in the breakfast area did not need additional window treatments but I wanted to do something with the window above the kitchen sink.  The window is low so I wanted to give it height.

 

I created a custom window treatment and hung it higher.  The fabric had a great mix of contemporary but was still traditional enough for the room.  It also helped to add color to the space. 

 The kitchen table and chairs were beautiful but the seat coverings did nothing for them. 

 

Chairs are a great and easy way to change a room.  I reupholstered these to give the room even more of a pop of color. 

 

 The bar stools were great but they didn't blend with the breakfast room chairs and they
tended to be somewhat of an obstacle to get around because of the backs. 

 

Those were replaced with backless bar stools.  Again, this added more of the contemporary flair the homeowner wanted. 

 

 

All that was left to do was to rearrange some of the accessories in the room and to add more items in that went with the new color palette and gave a contemporary feel.  I love how this vignette above the kitchen desk turned out.  With a few directions, the homeowner created this and the arrangements above the cabinets.  She did great! 

 

 

By far the cutest accessory in the room was Belle though.  Isn't she adorable?  I think she even loved how the room turned out herself! 

 

 

It's amazing what you can do with a space even when there is so much you don't like about it but have to work with.  There are always things in our home that we may not like.  You either love or hate blonde wood.  All you need is a decorator who knows how to work with those elements accentuate other features in the room to give you the look you want.  That is part of what makes me love my job!

 

Until next time remember that Great Design Takes Time! 

 

Lisa

French Settee Makeover

For quite a while, I have been looking for a settee for my living room.  We have lots of guests and needed more seating space.  I finally found an antique one that had been stripped down to the bare bones.  When I saw it, I could see the potential right away!  It's a 1940's piece piece.  The cane backing was in good shape which was great because caning is dying art and it is hard to find someone who can replace the caning. 

I first painted the settee with my creamy white chalk paint that I made with Plaster of Paris.  It took 2 thin coats then I sanded it around the edges.  I have never tried glazing so I decided to try it.  I learned pretty quickly that I couldn't control the glaze the way I wanted.  You'll see that the glaze unexpectantly cracked here on the arm which was a welcome suprise.  I thought that it added an aged character as if time had created it. 

 

However, on the back of the setttee, it bubbled up with a rough texture.  I didn't like how that looked at all! 

 

Not a problem though! I just just sanded it lightly, painted over it and proceeded to finish the rest of it with wax.  I definitely can tell you that I prefer wax over glazing anyday because I can control it better! 

 The settee still had the springs entached but they needed to be restrung and the seating needed to be rebuilt. Originally the settee probably had an upholstered bottom.  I wanted to facelift it by making it more like a sofa with an overstuffed lose cushion.  I talked with my upholsterer and he said, "No problem!"

The paint facelift really made it looks like an entire different piece.  Before, the wood was dull and old look.  Now it is light and airy and looks like it was aged to perfection! 

 

When I picked it up, I couldn't wait to get it home to see how it looked in my living room.  This is how it turned out.  Isn't it an amazing transformation?

The upholster was actually working on 2 pieces I had taken to him.  He took the nailheads from another piece of mine and reused them on my settee to tack the material down at the bottom.  Also, I asked for an overstuffed loose cushion.  I sent him pictures to show him what I was looking for.  I still wanted it to be firm but have the overstuffed look.  He used foam, wrapped it with batting and then gathered the material just a little to give it the look I was going for.   

I had pillows from another piece in the room that I wanted to use to try to pull the furniture together.  They worked perfectly together. 

I was very pleased at how this piece turned out!  I love creating far better than just purchasing something.  Sometimes you just have to step out on a limb and give your creativity a try. 

My grouping isn't quite right in this area so I am still working on that, but you know what I always say, "Great Design Takes Time!" 

Lisa

Staging a Home for Resale

Part of what I do is help people stage their homes for resale.  It really helps to have a second opinion to help you prepare for your sale.  Your home is one of your biggest assets and you want to make sure it looks its best prior to trying to sell it! 

My most recent client, has a home for sale in the Inverness area.  If you like what you see and are looking for a spacious 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home with an unfinished bonus room area, I will have that information at the end of my post. 

The tour of this home starts in the foyer with the entryway to the master bedroom suite and then a staircase and hallway leading to the great room. 

The hallway leads to the living and dining room area.  The living room is to the right with the dining room to the left.  The sofa was tucked on the wall across from the fireplace and a beautiful console table was against the large set of windows.  I felt myself walking into the space not seeing any seating until I turned my head behind me.  I wanted to make it more inviting so that the buyer immediately walked in and saw the spaciousness and seating and wanted to sit down and stay a while.....or forever!

Here you'll see a picture of the beautiful console table I mentioned and I love the modern accessory piece on it.  I didn't feel like this vignette was getting noticed either. 

To my left was a beautiful dining space area.  It was nicely decorated and there was plenty of space for a table of 6 or more depending on how you chose to use the space. 

In the end, I decided that the living room space needed to be rearranged.  We moved the sofa to the window area.  This made it easier for potential buyers to see the seating area right away.  It also gave more presence to the tall ceilings and the beautiful windows.  The beautiful rug was centered properly which gave it more presence as well.  This is what it ended up looking like in the end.

 

On the wall adjacent from the fireplace, the console table worked perfectly under the beautiful painting.  Then I placed the modern sculpture under it. I love the look of  "traditional meets modern."  This is a great way to go when you are selling a home. 

I positioned the coffee table directly in front of the sofa.  A book, finial, and crystal turtle sit on the table as a way to welcome potential buyers sit down to relax, read a book and feel like you are on vacation. 

Floral arrangements bring life to a room.  Every room needs a little bit of life.  My client had 2 floral arrangements that I decided needed to be spiffed up.  A small silk plant sat on one of the end table.

 

In the end, I used the container to create a new arrangement.  I found some succulents in the dining room arrangement that were not getting noticed at all and added a few more along with some pebbles.  Doesn't this look more inviting? 

In the dining room area, there was another arrangement.  Again, I felt like it needed some refreshing and wasn't adding to the space like it should. 

If you know me, you know I love to reuse items and make them work.  I decided to use all the flowers and remove some of the dried out greenery.  Really what it needed was the presence of a main flower.  There were red hydrangeas in the arrangement so I added a few more, then added some fresh green eucalyptus.  This is how it looked afterwards!  Can you tell the difference?

 

 My client has really done a great job in upgrading the kitchen and bathrooms.  Personally, I like seeing a bathroom and kitchen space that looks brand new, clean, and unused. We decided not to do anything to those areas.  Hasn't the kitchen been beautifully remodeled?

This is a view of the space above the great room.  Right now my client is using it as an office but the possibilities are endless.  Also upstairs is the unfinished bonus room space.  I wish I had taken a picture of it.  It could easily be turned into another bedroom or playroom.  There was a great space where you could have a built-in bunk bed.  What a cool space for a child that could be!

 

In the end, I was able to use most everything the homeowner had.  Only a few items were needed to make this space ready to sell.  Many of the items in the home already were from consignment stores.  Many pieces were purchased at Classic Home Decor Consignment in Pelham, Alabama. 

 

If this home is of interest to you, you can get additional pictures and more information by going to:

 

 http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/304-Bradberry-Ln_Hoover_AL_35242_M86851-64458?row=2

 

Remember, your home is one of your most valuable assets!  If you are preparing to sell, consider having someone stage your home before putting it on the market. 

 

Until next time, remember Great Design Takes Time!

 

Lisa



Chalk Paint

There are many ways to make chalk paint.  You can use baking soda, calcium carbonate, Plaster of Paris, and a number of other chalk type materials.  I chose to go with Plaster of Paris because that is what I have heard more about.  To get started, you’ll need:

• Plaster of Paris
• Water
• Flat Paint
• Mixing Stick
• Paint Brush
• Sandpaper
• Wax (My choice was Minwax)

Basically, mix Plaster of Paris with water and create a pancake batter consistency.  Make sure you get all lumps out of it.  You’ll want to do 4 parts flat paint with 1 part batter.  Stir, stir and stir until it is evenly mixed into your paint! 

 
A couple of tips to keep in mind:

1. Mix small batches because the Plaster of Paris thickens quickly.
2. Add water to your mixture as it thickens.  If you notice that it is going on really thick, thin it out!
3. It’s better to do several thin coats instead of 1 thick coat.
4. After your first coat, sand any imperfections that you may see and reapply chalk paint if coat is too thin.
5. Paint in the direction of the grain of the wood.

Once you have painted your piece several times, you’ll want to choose the look you are going for.  I suggest at least finely sanding your piece to again get rid of any imperfections in the chalk paint.  You’ll want to sand with the grain of the wood.  For a piece that you want to distress and show the grain of the wood use a heavy grit sandpaper.  For a piece that you don't want to distress, use a fine grain sandpaper.  If you are working with real wood, you will want to focus on the edges of the piece where you would find natural wear.  I sand with the grain of the wood but I’ve seen people sand against the grain and in all kinds of directions.  It really just depends on the look you are going for!

Next, you’ll want to apply a thin coat of wax with a clean soft cloth.  I worked on my pieces one side at a time.  When I got my first coat on then I would go back and buff before it actually dried.  Again, I applied and buffed with the grain of the wood.  Then once the tacky is gone I buff, reapply, buff and buff again.  The wax will give more dimension to your piece and will somewhat age it to a somewhat darker color.  You can also choose to use a wax with stain to darken the piece. 

 

My first piece was an antique Tom’s Peanut cabinet from my grandparent’s old Gulf gas and mercantile store that was on Old Highway 280 in Westover, Alabama.  I have had it for years and painted it a number of times.  This time I decided I would try distressing it to give it more of an antique look.  I decided it was perfect to display my keepsake blankets. 

 This is an antique door from an armoire I had.  I have taken it over to my neighbor, Joanne, who has a magnetic chalkboard business.  She is going to help me re-purpose it into a chalkboard.  I hope to soon have photos of how it turned out.   

 

The armoire door is made out of oak and was stained dark.  This was a great piece to distress along the edges which is exactly what I did then I put a clear coat of wax on it and buffed it out. 

 

I painted these candlestick holders for my daughter's fall auction at school.  They turned out cute.  The high bidder has already told me that she has them on a tray on her ottoman in her living room.     

This is my latest adventure.  It's a settee that I am having upholstered.  This is what it looked like before I began.
 

 
This is how it looks now.  I plan to finish it by glazing it to give it more depth and more of a french finish.  I'll have to show later how it turns out but here it is for now.  Isn't it amazing how paint can freshen things up?

 I have always wanted to try chalk paint but had never used it.  Being a decorator, I have distressed a number of pieces with other techniques but never done anything for myself so these were my first pieces.  If you are thinking of trying chalk paint and have never distressed furniture before, I suggest you try something small, like a candle holders or any kind of wood accessory. 

I love the process of distressing furniture.  It can add character to your home and help re-purpose a piece you may otherwise discard)

Until next time, remember that Great Design Takes Time!



Lisa

Year in Review of 2013 and Forecast for 2014

2013 was a great year for projects in our home.  Being a decorator, there is always something in progress in my own home.  I work those projects in as time allows and I completely see why people need a decorator of their own.  It takes A LOT of time, preparation and energy. 

I had a long list of projects at the start of 2013 and I completed most of them.  In looking through them, here were my favorite ones. 

Before I started the blog, we had started a master bathroom project and were finishing it up.  It started out with white tile and lovely dusty rose counter tops.

It ended with beautiful tile, a warmer paint color, an antique soaking table, a custom designed shower and reconfiguring and adding to the existing cabinets.  Here's a refresher of what it turned out like. 

In 2013, I created a family wall collage for my living room.  Wall collages are fun!  They are a great way to display a collection and fill a wall.  I love being able to help clients do this in their home and I was glad to finally put my own family collage together. 

 

Since I have lived in my home, I have looked up at the empty space over my foyer door.  It was really driving me CRAZY so I decided that I had to figure this space out.  I knew I didn't want a floral arrangement or statues in the space.  I was glad that I was able to come up with someone to draw the eye upward when people come to my home. 

I created a number of florals for my home.  This one turned out to be my favorite one. 

I have distressed furniture for a number of years using latex paint.  I had wanted to try chalk paint but had not.  In 2013, I finally decided to give it try and IT IS ADDICTIVE!  I have since done a number of techniques using chalk paint and have learned a lot.  An old Tom's Peanut cabinet that came out of my grandparent's store was one of the first pieces I finished.  I turned it into a linen cabinet to store some of my cherished pieces. 

So what is instore for 2014?  Here is my list: 

1. Complete my upholstery projects - settee and chair.
2. Complete my living room makeover.
3. Add window treatments to our master bathroom and a few final decorative touches. 
4. Purchase a sectional sofa, ottoman and window treatments to our downstairs den.
5. Give the guest bedroom a makeover.  I am going to distress the furniture and have been researching what route I am going to go in this.  I can't wait to get this project started.
6. Give my master bedroom a face lift with fresh paint and nightstands.  This will complete what I have already started in there.
7. Turn my office into more of a sitting room/office.
8. Paint my dining room. 
9. Decorate my patio and landscape around it.
10. Finish face lifting the exterior of my home with farm shutters.

I know it is long but it is attainable.  I can't wait to share more with you from my home in 2014.  I have lots of new ideas coming that will include tours of other homes, designer stores and craft projects.  I can't wait to get started!

Until next time remember, Great Design Takes Time!

Lisa

The Enjoyment of Christmas

After all the decorating is done, I love to sit back and enjoy time with family and friends.  As I wrap presents, bake and make crafts with my daughter, I enjoy the ambiance that Christmas brings. 

In my foyer, I created a Winter Wonderland scene with trees and snow on the ledge. 

 

I love sitting in different parts of my home and looking up at the lights from the foyer ledge.  I can't help but be in the Christmas spirit with this scene. 

My Christmas tree is full of memories.  I have ornaments that my aunts made me as a child; ones that were my fathers; ones my uncle painted with us one year; and now ornaments that my daughter makes.  It is tied together with burlap ribbon, rust woven ribbon, copper bells, and white lights.  As I look at it, floods of memories come to mind and bring a smile. 

Hanging in the windows are small wreaths with fresh green mesh ribbons. 

 

In the dining room, I keep my centerpiece fresh with different types of greenery from my yard.  It reminds me of Mrs. Self, a friend of our family from my childhood, who taught me you could always pull things together from your home and yard to create a centerpiece.  It brings a smile to my face to think of her. 

 

 

When we come home at night, we are greeted with the twinkling lights in the palladium window and the ring of the jingle bells in the wind. 

I love this time of year.  It's a great time to be creative with decorating, crafts and cooking.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas and look forward to blogging with you more in 2014.

Remember, Great Design Takes Time!

Lisa Wills