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Client Files: Virtual Bedroom Makeover

January 15, 2013

A big part of what I love about this business is being invited into people’s homes and lives to help them create spaces that will make them feel happy, cozy, excited … rooms that will make them swoon a little bit every day.

What has surprised me is that in this crazy, connected digital world we live in … people in different cities across the country still invite me into their homes and I am able to work with them without even hopping a plane. It’s pretty fun too.

When Brittany who lives outside of Atlanta contacted me about helping her with her Master Bedroom this fall, she sent me these pictures and wrote:

“As you can see its really drab and boring. I want it to be a cozy, comfy space but also elegant and kind of my “getaway”. Unfortunately there are some pieces that have to stay for now (headboard, bench and furniture … night stands, dressers, etc). Depending on your thoughts I could be open to replacing the nightstands or something but my budget isn’t huge so that will probably dictate a lot.

Obviously that huge blob…aka the dog bed can go and everything else is free game….even wall color. In regards to color I will send some pics from Pinterest to give you an idea of what I like, but I am open. I like a basic color scheme with pops of color. I want it to look fresh and modern but something that won’t look dated in 3 years. I LOVE your master bedroom!”

We wrote back and forth via email for awhile and I began to create an inspiration board for her with a list of specific things to purchase for her room. We changed the paint color from what was originally more of a baby-blue to a pretty gray-blue. In order to keep within her budget, I decided to work with the existing nightstands.

Of course, it is fun to start with a completely blank slate when decorating a room … the rooms you see in magazines have every last detail selected by the designer. But in real life, a lot of us have furniture we already purchased, spent good money on and just can’t replace after only a few years. I really enjoy helping people work with what they have. You can still transform a room without buying all new furniture.

Here was the initial inspiration board I sent her:

I wanted to keep the colors soft and light but to add some pattern, texture and touches of elegance.

Brittany got busy buying and ordering and sent me some progress pictures along the way. Just after New Year’s she sent me the following note with these “After” shots:

“Here are the final shots!I still need to pick up the lamp for my dresser and want to get a few more accessories for my husbands night stand and dresser, but all in all right now it looks amazing. I can’t tell you how many people have come over and just swooned 🙂 over how great it looks. It seriously is my favorite room in our house now.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!”

I think Brittany did a great job of executing the plans I sent her and the room now has a fresh, modern feel. The gold drapery panels add a touch of warmth to the otherwise cool tones of the room. What a fun project to work on and a fun client to work for! A big thanks to Brittany for letting me share this peek inside her home!

Shades of Gray …

September 18, 2012

No, not that kind of Grey … I’m talking paint.

I’m looking for the perfect shade of gray for my dining room. Something light with a little bit of blue in it. There are lots of options. I thought it would be easy.

But blue-gray can be tricky.

Or so I’m learning.

I narrowed it down to 3 by Benjamin Moore.

Pretty, right?

Feather Gray, Metallic Silver and Pelican Gray.

They all look fairly similar, don’t they? I thought one of them had to be perfect.

Here’s what they look like in the can.

Almost white! What?

But then on the wall …

… they all look blue … powder blue, baby blue and periwinkle blue.

I want a tinge of blue … but not a blue room.

So, I had also brought home a bunch of gray paint squares from Benjamin Moore’s Affinity Collection … but I didn’t really think any of them would work. They were too dark gray or green gray or blah-gray. None of them seemed to have my blue “tinge.”

But I taped the Eternity square up on the wall …

… and you know what? I think it might be perfect!

In the store, in my car, laying on my table … I just wasn’t feelin’ it. But on my wall, in that room … it somehow transforms into the perfect shade of blue-gray.

I think I have a winner!

So, the moral of this story:

1. Always, always, test a color in the room you plan to paint.

2. A little blue goes a long way … in my experience with this and other blue paints … the shade of blue always is more intense on the wall.

3. Unless you are you’ve got a gray with warm undertones, grays can take on a bluish-tinge in certain light.

4.If you’re looking for a pale blue … check out some of the gray swatches. You might be surprised to find a perfect blue that’s not too bright.

Unfortunately, my dear hubby, who was going to paint this room, broke a rib last week.

Poor guy … my painting project may be on hold for a little while.

Swoonworthy Color Combo

February 8, 2011

Do you watch Sarah’s House on HGTV? I absolutely love the “country house” she did for Season Three. Ever since I saw the bathroom and kitchen of that house I have been loving yellow and gray together …