Design Board Giveaway!

What better way to launch my Design Services and Online Design than a Design Board Giveaway... That's what I'm thinking!  Interested?

I'm going to give away two hours of Online Design to create a board for one of my readers (a $250 value).  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and subscribe, or let me know if you already receive House and Home Defined in your email or reader.  Tell me in your comment what space you'd like to re-do!

The deadline to comment, subscribe, and be entered is Friday, February 3rd at midnight. I will use a random number generator to choose the winner and announce it on Saturday.

C'mon, enter!  And I'll talk to you soon,
Carol

Do You Have That One Thing?

Well, maybe it's a group of things, but I'm wondering if you have one thing in your home decor that really expresses who you are.  Here's mine...

I made this pillow about 10 years ago, when the living room in my old house was red/pink and green. (Still love that classic combination.)  It's now on my bed.  I can't imagine ever getting tired of it.

Why is it the one thing that is all me?  I will always adore toile (though my style is far from romantic as this toile suggests!).  I love mixing patterns and texture.  It's classic with some twist. It's my style in a pillow.

What is the one thing that is you and only you in your home?  (And if you don't have one, why not? :)

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Bathroom Makeover with Grasscloth (Sneak Peek)

Remember this client?

We're meeting this weekend to go over some of my ideas for the master bedroom, bath, and powder room.  Lot's of work yet to do in the next two days, but the powder room is coming along and I thought I'd share, because, well, I'm totally excited about it.  Probably because I covet grasscloth.  Every time I see it, I want it.  And, it will be the perfect style fit for the powder room (around the corner from the living room above).

So here's a peek at the plan.  The embroidered linen to the left will be a roman shade, with the trim on the right dangling off the bottom of it.

And then there's the grasscloth in the middle.  I.  Love.  It.  Oh, yes.  I do.   The tile in the background is representative of maybe the countertop (it will be marble, perhaps), or the floor.  As I said, some work to do yet.

This is a choice for the mirror over the vanity cabinet...

I'm going for lots of texture in this bathroom as it is a plain box/rectangle.  I'm playing around with some molding designs to propose from a chair rail height down to the floor.  So really, I should be working instead of posting!  (My constant inner conflict!!)

Who else out there feels the call of grasscloth?

Talk to you soon,
Carol
 

Thibault Wallpaper's New Collection

I have a serious thing for Thibault wallpaper.  The love affair began years ago and continues to this day. Our rep came in the other day with the new book, Geometric, and I have to share.  Thibault is brilliant in capturing style in both its papers and its inspiration images.

(I think I sound like an endorser, but really I am just a groupie.)  Check these out...

 

These are just a few of the room settings in the book.  I love that they are all rooted in traditional style, but have a fresh interpretation. 

And....who's happier than me....Thibault is about to launch its own upholstery line!  Gorgeous, I tell you.  The pieces are stylish, current, and timeless all at the same time.  They are available through the trade.  If you want more info, email me.  To see the entire Geometric collection, click here.

Are you a Thibault fan?  Or a wallpaper fan in general?  Who's your favorite, I'd love to know.

Carol

Design Board Part III. Done!

So, I finished the Design Board for my client who asked me to create a plan for her family room.  You can read about the progress of this board here in Part I and here in Part II.

Here is the completed Design Board...

Here is one of the pictures she sent me of the room, to give you an idea of the space...

 

This client has 4 children, two of which are teenagers and it is a very busy house!  She needs to maximize seating, so there will be another sofa at a 90 degree angle, to the right of the one on the board.  All family-friendly fabrics, of course. :)  Down the road, there will also be two small square ottomans flanking the media piece for extra portable seating as needed.

The sofa will be in the textured fabric in the upper right of the board, and the stripe in the lower left will go on the wood-framed chair and ottoman.  This client will receive a list of all the items I included in the room, how to get them, and an estimate of what they cost.  

When I post my Online Design Services, coming soon, you will see all the options available to you, and what they cost.  I can help you with anything from paint color to an entire room.  Your choice.  Of course, I always want to hear from clients who want to work with me in person! :) 

Stay tuned for more on this ahead.

What's up for your weekend?

Carol

Design Board. Part II

I'm in the "gathering ideas" phase of the design board I shared with you in Part I.  This is not glamorous work, people.  And, risking you saying "hmm, not so impressive," I'm showing you how I put my ideas together, try them out...

This looks nothing like what the client will see in the end, but as I am going to be offering online design services, I think you ought to know what goes into what you are paying for.  In this case, I'm furnishing an entire room, including window treatments and accents.  Online design is not about just grabbing images off the web.  As I said in Part I, the process is much like an in-person project.  Finding inspiration, and getting it done within a budget.  (Budget is a critical element, folks.)

Stay tuned!

Carol

Design Board. Part I

I'm putting together a design board for a client and I thought it would be the perfect project to show you how the process works.  I haven't "officially" opened for online business, but it's coming soon.

I'm treating online design much as I would any face-to-face client during my full-time work week.  I ask questions about the space, the home, the client's likes and dislikes.  And the list goes on.  In this case, I am designing a family room that is open to the kitchen in a beautiful southern home.  The client wants an updated, fresh take on a traditional southern feel.  She sent me two photos for inspiration...

 The very large fireplace has both cool and warm stone colors (love that combo, so much flexibility)...

And here's the media piece she wants in the room...

Pottery Barn

It looks like the finish on this media piece is brown with a red undertone.  That will work great harmony with the fireplace, as it has lots of red and pink undertones.  There is a wall of windows, which I will share in the next post,  needing both the softness of drapes, and the privacy of shades.  Here is the fabric I am considering...

 
The pattern is traditional, while the color palette is lively and bold.  In actuality, it is more muted than it looks here.  I'm deciding which woven wood shades (a great compliment to the style of the media piece on the opposing wall) I will use, but I am leaning toward this one...

I love the vertical "striping" of the dark chocolate threads on the shade.  It speaks to the brown wood floors throughout and the brown of the media piece directly across from them.  Now lets look at all three elements together...

Lots of work yet to do -- finding the sofas, chairs, accessories, etc.   I'll get to that this week. Stay tuned!

Talk to you soon,
Carol

PS  And if you live in New England, are you loving this weather, or what?

Mark Twain's Good Words

Don't you wish you could meet Mark Twain, or Emerson, or Thoreau, or any number of brilliant writers from the way back when, whose words are so pertinent on any given day?

We are halfway through the first month of the new year.  Listen to Twain...

Twenty years from now 

you will be more disappointed 

by the things that you didn't do

than by the ones you did do.  

So, throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.  

Catch the trade winds in your sails. 

 Explore.  

Dream.  

Discover.

-Mark Twain-

 

Hmm, I say to that.  I'm challenging myself this year to go further from shore.  Are you?

Talk to you soon,

Carol

PS Thank you, For the Love of A House, I read this Twain quote in your sidebar!

Tulip Table Talk

You know the tulip table, right?



Check out Cris Angsten Interior's Blog to read the fun opinions of a few different design bloggers, me included, to see what we all had to say when asked if we like this iconic table.

Then, have yourself a very happy weekend!!

Talk to you soon,
Carol

My Dining Room Design Board and Thanks...

You know how I've been thinking about selling my dining room drapes and moving on?  Well, plan B is to use them for a while longer, and just change the trim to tie them in with the new wallpaper.  Nix the valances.  Start anew.

This is what I'm going for -- a bit traditional, a bit dramatic, a splash of French, and a whole lot of home.  My style.

I'm on the search for some great host chairs to redo like above to break up my wheatback chairs a bit.  Some monogrammed "B" pillows, new wallpaper, perhaps a seagrass-like rug with some black specks.  A great mirror yet to be found (I love a mirror in a dining room, mostly to hang a wreath on at Christmas!).

If you'd like a room of yours done over on a board like this, I'll be offering online design services very soon.  You can have a room redo and shop for it as you can on your own.  Or, I'll be able to provide some of the items you need.  What fun is ahead!!!

Thibault Luxembourg Damask in Metallic Gold

Now for some thank yous...

To Abby at A Delightful Design, for highlighting my blog today.  Check out her modern, eclectic and sassy style...

And thanks to Shalon Estrada at Pretty Lovely Designs, for all her patience helping me with my blog redesign.  Check her out, too, she's done some great stuff (including Abby's, above.)   (Hi Shalon!  I couldn't grab your header!!)

Lots to look forward to in 2012...

Carol

Sneak Peek and An Ode to Orange

Back in August (it really can't be that long, blogger is lying I'm sure), I did a quick post about some orange fabric I was going to use in my daughter's room.  Here's a peek at the window treatments I just completed and installed for her this past weekend...

I'm particularly excited about the blue buttons/tufting I did to tie in the wall color.  (Yes, that's a pat on my own back.  Can't help it.  I get so excited!)  The rest of the room is still in progress, and at the rate I'm going, maybe you'll see the rest in May!  Oh man, I hope not!

On another note, who knew back in August that Pantone would declare 2012's color of the year as Tangerine Tango. 

Maybe I should go into the business of predicting Pantone's colors! (Hardy lol.)  Remember this post where I showed my office nook in progress with my wing chair (that I'd reupholstered the previous year)  in 2011's color of the year, Honeysuckle, before it was hot?  (Pat, pat on the back.  Shameless.  I know.)

Are you in or out on my favorite color of all time?  (That would be orange, my personal signature color.)

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Dedicated to Developing Yourself in 2012? Read This Book...

I mean really, this book is worth plunking down your dollars for... 

I've been reading Tobi Fairley's posts about new year goal setting, etc., and she recommended this book.  Totally intrigued, I ordered it on Amazon.  Hello.  I loved it. 

In a nutshell,  Stenghtsfinder 2.0 turns the common "work on your weaknesses" theories of bettering yourself, upside down.  Instead,  it introduces you to a whole new way of thinking -- what if you worked on your strengths and made them even better?  I'm totally on board.  Completely positive.  I say, yes indeed, I like the way this author, and all the statistics behind him, think!  As part of the purchase of the book, you get a code that allows you to go online and take a 30 minute assesment of your strengths.  It's amazing. 

So if part of your thinking for 2012 is to make the most of who you are or what you do, buy this book.  I'd love to hear what you think.  (And no, I wasn't asked to review this book.  Just thought I'd share!)

Carol

Custom Drapes for Sale

I'm doing a wee bit of redecorating.  My dining room.  New wallpaper that takes my breath away.  So naturally, new drapes are part of the package.  Naturally?  Yes.  If you are a window treatment nut like me.  (Okay, obsessive is a better word, I admit it.)

I actually love my current drapes, on display below amongst the Christmas bling.  They are Fabricut Topaz in the color Duck Egg.   They are available with or without the valances.

One pair is a width and a half per panel, the other pair is one width panels.  Here is a close up for true color...

 They are 84" long, have custom 1 1/2" side hems...

 Bottom hems are 4", and they are lined and interlined for lushness...

And the header on them is a nice clean cartridge pleat (actually, no pleating at all) for a more modern look.  The image below is taken with them hanging on a rod next to some woven wood shades.  Without the valances, they can go in any decor.

Measurements -- The long valance is 90"W x 15"L.  (my window is 63"w).  The shorter valance is 46"W x 15"L  (my window is 37"w).  The length of the drapes is a standard 84".

They were done three years ago, with a price tag of about $1,500.  I'm asking $450 for all if, or if someone is wanting just the drapes, $350, or make me an offer on what you might want.  I can break it all up if necessary.  Oh, and you can see from the trim that it is raspberry, cream, blue green, a smidge of olive green, and beigey gold -- very current, yet classic colors.  Shipping will be additional, but if you are local (Massachusetts or Rhode Island, we can arrange a pick up).

Don't be intimidated by the sizes.  The drapes on the long window would be perfect for a slider, for example.

Email me by clicking on the little blue envelope in the green bar at the end of the post if you are interested, or just want more info.  Or just email me at HouseandHomeDefined@gmail.com.  They need to go to a nice home!!  Maybe to your friend's house, or your mother's?

Thanks for reading and talk to you soon,
Carol

Window Treatment Wednesday: Two-Story Windows

Okay, I know it's late on Thursday, but I was waiting for my blog design update to be finished before I posted.  So, here's my new look, and here's my day-late window post!

One of my pre-Christmas installations was for a two-story window treatment.  I thought this might interest you, because a lot of homes have windows that just make people shake their heads with the "what do I do with THOSE" frustration.  My before picture is hiding on me at the moment, so we'll start in-progress...

Cozying up this family room (which was already lovely) could only come from a lot of fabric.  My job in this room was to find a fabric that was in harmony with the walls and the fireplace, easy on the budget, and would drape well over the distance.  Umm.  Not easy.  But I'm happy with the results (and so is my client :).

Why do I insist that these types of window arrangements need floor to ceiling treatments?  Because treating only the bottom window would cut the room in half.  Not a good look.  Don't do it. Your eye should take in the whole wall at once, not stop to look at the bottom half and then the top.  Going all the way up also frames the fireplace and the entire wall is seen as a whole.   That's a good look.

This is not an easy installation, and I'm glad I work with a total pro.  (I was also psyched when it wasn't me on that ladder!)

Here's the finished installation...

I'm planning to get back to my somewhat weekly posts about windows on Wednesdays.  I have a few readers waiting to see their window problems solved, and if you'd like to be one of them, just email me with some pictures.  (Click on the envelope in the bar at the bottom of this post.)

Talk to you soon,
Carol