A good equation

Sometimes it doesn't take much to completely change the feel of a room.  Look at what just adding a couple of new lamps does for this bedroom:

This ...

Before

+ a couple of these...

Nora table lamp from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

= This:

After 

The new lamps are better proportioned and the contemporary feel of the lamps with the more traditional room makes it come alive. Don't you think?

("After" photo courtesy of my client)

White is Monday's color

If you know me, you know my favorite color is white. It calms me.

White is the color of purity.

White means kindness.

White is Monday's color.

White daisies are a symbol of loyal love. (That is so sweet - I did not know that!)

Strictly speaking, white is not a color, but the manifestation of the presence of all color - the complete energy of light. It stands for wholeness and completion. In many cultures it represents openness and truth. 

Put some white in your life when you want: 

• to clear clutter and obstacles away
• to start a fresh beginning
• to bring about mental clarity

Friday night I was reminded of another reason why I love white:

Spiders and other crawling things are visible.

(Disclosure: Heather G. -  if you are reading this you will not want to see what I am going to show you next!)

blurry photo from my iPhone

Friday night I went in to my room to get ready for bed and when I turned on the light, THIS went running (and I mean running!) across my bed. Can I tell you how grateful I am for my white bedding that allowed me to see him? I was even more grateful that I was able to catch him. I promise you I would not have been able to sleep in that bed if I hadn't. As it was, I spent an hour vacuuming underneath and all around my bed - so hoping he didn't have a family anywhere near. Yikes.

This is a better image to leave you with ...

Happy Monday everyone!

images via , facts about white taken from here

Love in action

I went to a memorial service Saturday for a beautiful young girl whose life was cut way too short. She was only 13 years old. Memorial services are never easy but this one ... beyond hard.

I don't think you can go to a service where death is being acknowledged, especially one like this without coming out thinking more about life. And love.

etsy

One of the scriptures read during the service was Romans 12:8. It was a description of this young girl's life they said. I added the verses that precede it to give it context:

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

 Later, as I was reading the passage they had quoted, I read on ...

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.Be devoted to one another in love.Honor one another above yourselves.Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord."  - Romans 12:1-19

And as they said during the service, hug those you love a little tighter today.

Form AND function

I went by to check on the kitchen remodel I am working on ...

I love this phase of construction. You can really start to 'see' the kitchen come to life. Next week the counters and back splash will go in and then from there on everything will go really fast - paint, then all the plumbing and electrical fixtures, the cabinet hardware and glass fronts. Today is day 'nine' of the remodel. We started demo on June 4th. My client has a bet with her brother that the kitchen will be done from start to finish in 8 weeks. It is looking really good that she is going to win! I'm wondering if I get a 'bonus' if I can cut that time in half!

This is what the cabinet looked like before demo. Can you see how we changed the long pantry doors to a split cabinet with all drawers on the bottom? Drawers increase functionality by 100% in my book!

And speaking of functionality ... I am working on a small upholstery job - recovering some barstools for a long distance client - and had more fun perusing through all the vinyl books. Have you ever considered 'pleather' or vinyl? It is a must for this eat-in bar where little kiddos will be spilling ... but I have to say, there will be no sacrificing for style!

Temptation

So recently I talked about how I am trying to be satisfied with what I have and stop buying new things. It is a challenge for me because I see so many great things and new ideas and want them all. I also fall in love with the homes I design for my clients and then come home and wish I had theirs. But like I have said, I am committed to stop.

But I tell you, it is really hard when I see beautiful things AND great deals. I have been spending a lot of time at HomeGoods lately shopping for clients and have been tempted beyond belief! The chair above was only $199.99. I really wanted this chair. Did it matter that I don't have room for it? Not really. 

I felt the same way about this lamp ($59.99) and even had it in my cart for a while. 

This chair is worth every penny of the $299.99 price tag.

I love this cabinet ($399.99). It has velvet lined silverware drawers inside.

And it just about killed me to let these rugs go by. The one above 4.6' x 6.6' / 100% wool was $199.

When I see something like this ... even though I don't have a place for it ... I want to get it and then design a room around it. 

These two were $99 each (100% polyester / 5' x 7') and the navy one was calling my name. 

When I saw this one I was hanging on by a thread. I think I need a support group.

And speaking of support ... Thank you everyone, old friends and new friends, for such lovely comments about my home and my blog after Kirsten's Feature Friday home tour. I have met some wonderful new blog friends and am thrilled to see so many new faces on my follower list! :D xoxo

Pillow love

I picked up a large pillow order from the workroom today ...

Half of the pillows will go inside ...

And the rest will go outside.

 The indoor pillows are going to bring new life to this sofa:

 I pulled the colors from the artwork above the sectional:

And because I won't be personally "installing" these in the home they are going to ...

I thought I would photograph them on my sofa to give my client an idea of how to place them. One of the outdoor pillows will double as an indoor pillow as well.

I noticed that the trellis pillow looked pretty good with my own pillows:

And I started thinking ...

I wonder if my client would notice if a couple were missing!

Curtains for closet doors

I am still working on the general plan for the two little girl's rooms and went back to HomeGoods to pick up a few more options (you know, just in case). I cannot tell you how many comments I got from other shoppers while wheeling around these new treasures in my cart - this stuff is so cute!  I'm in love with these quilts and they are only $30 each.

The closet doors in one of the little girl's rooms are large and very heavy mirror doors. On one of the doors the mirror is broken near the bottom which is not good but the bigger problem for me honestly is the fact that they are so heavy the little girl cannot open and close them.

Apartment Therapy

One of the things I have been hired to do, besides making these girl's rooms look cute, is to make them more organized. I have said this before, but being organized is not necessarily about being neat (although I do think part of what these girl's mom wants is to have less clutter showing); being organized is really about function. And if you cannot get your closet door open easily you are probably not going to be putting your things away, right?

via

Because the budget is tight on this project I thought it would be fun to take the doors off completely and hang curtains instead. It will bring in some color and pattern and softness to a room that is very heavy on furniture and has very little wall space. And most importantly it will give the owner of this room, an adorable 8 year old, the ability to access her closet easily.

Apartment Therapy

I was excited to hear from the little girl's mom, that her daughter was really excited about the curtains. My hope is to make the closet neat and tidy and easy for her to keep it that way.

Real Simple

What about you? Would you ever take off your closet doors and replace them with curtains?