Should You Use Grasscloth in a Bathroom?

Grasscloth or any natural wall covering should definitely not be used in a high-humidity bathroom.  But in a powder room?  Perfect!

Here's a look at what I've been thinking about for my own powder room...

Maybe this Sanderson embroidery on linen as a Roman Shade, with one of these Thibault grasses.  I've been obsessed with finding the perfect grasscloth since I did this client's powder room.

I picked up this Weller pottery jardiniere (circa 1920's) at a consignment shop last weekend.  I thought that if I go with one of the looks above, this might make a great planter on the vanity top.  We'll see.  With my own stuff, I usually go through several (ok, about three hundred) looks before I ever decide on anything.

Hope you have a great long weekend!  Thanks for reading, I appreciate it so much.
Carol

Before and After: Reupholstered Chair

Call me crazy, but I really enjoy doing reupholstery.  Have you every tried it?  It's a ton of work when done right.  But so worth the effort.  Here's my chair, complete, in my living room...

I'm in the middle of a redo of my living room, completing projects one at a time.  You may recall I did this chair a while back.  It sits opposite the new ikat...

And, here's the before of the ikat.  It went from this...

Through this...

And ended up as this...

Sometimes, being an avid DIY'er makes redcorating take forever (when you work full time and have a family)!  But, the satisfaction is something I'm addicted to.  It's a high of sorts.  Know what I mean?

Have a good week,
Carol

A Dreamy Lake Front Porch

designer Francie Hargrove

Well, that's what I imagine this to be, anyway.  As the summer winds down, I picture myself perched in front of that gorgeous fireplace, toasting my toes...good friends hanging out, kids running around, on a late summer evening.  Maybe drinking Irish coffee.  Maybe the kids sticking marshmallows in that fireplace.  What do you think?  Can you see yourself there?

Happy Weekend,
Carol

Fish and Bruschetta. Because I Couldn't Grill Another Thing

Fish?  With Bruschetta?  Yup.  I did it.  It was delicious.  If I do say so myself.

Here's the thing.  Every summer, I get to the point where I cannot eat another grilled anything.  Can't do it.  Seriously. Sooo sick of it.  Tonight, I hit the wall.  I had some gorgeous garden tomatoes that my mom and dad gave me, and my daughter wanted fish.  What's a tired, worked-all-day-on-other -people's-homes mom to do?  Combine two cravings and hope for the best.

It was totally fast to prepare and it was really good, even without the crositini I wanted so badly to make. (I'm in a bet over new shoes with a friend to lose 10 lbs, and I'm determined not to be the barefoot looser.)

So you know that bruschetta is (for me anyway), chopped tomatoes, fresh crushed garlic, olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, finely chopped red onion, salt, pepper, and lots of fresh basil.  Simple and fresh.  The fish?  I just bake it with a tiny bit of melted butter and a kiss of seasoned breadcrumbs.  No Giada here, very basic.

Give it a try.  And if tomatoes over fish doesn't do it for you, go ahead and put them on the crositini.  I'll be thinking of you.

Mongia!

Carol

Coffered Ceilings...Design On The Ceiling

Don't you love detailed mill work in a house?  For me, coffered ceilings rank right up there with my lust for love of thick white moldings and a home full of nooks and crannies where window seats and down pillows abound.  Anyway...

A few posts back, I showed some paint transformations going on at my friend Lisa's house. Here's the before of her family room (right after moving in) with a great coffered ceiling.  Pinky-beige paint and the same on the ceiling.  Bor.ring....

Today, she sent me the completed ceiling...

Coffered ceiling in Sherwin Williams Backdrop 7025.  Walls in Ben Moore Yosemite Sand AC-4

What a difference, yes?  I choose the BM Yosemite Sand for the adjoining kitchen, and we then decided it ought to go right into the family room.  It's an interpretation of the gold in the fireplace stone.  The SW Backdrop adds the perfect amount of drama to the space.  Now, even though the fireplace has pink and purple in it, the room no longer feels so overly pinky-beige.  It has balance.


Here are some more coffered ceilings that have my heart singing a happy song.  Check them out...

blog.wainscotsolutions.net

elitecrafthomes.com

mitrecontracting.com

 

ths.gardenweb.com

Source: houzz.com via holly brooke on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via coghills on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Clare on Pinterest

Source: delightbydesign.blogspot.com via Gina on Pinterest

So, what's your opinion?  Do you like coffered ceilings painted or would you rather see them white?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

                                   

Garage Doors

Garage doors can make or break a house, don't you think?

I took the following two images while on vacation in a colonial district, and it got me thinking about the impact garage doors can have.

 

I think the direction of the boards on this one is great, it made it stand out on the street, and the black doors below, on an antique colonial garage, were so appropriate...

All of the doors I'm showing are indicative of the type of home I like.  While I'm not one for stained-wood millwork inside (you're laughing if you know me), I do love stained garage doors...

texasgaragedoors.com

texasgaragedoors.com

I'm loving the wood, above, with the brick and green-gray trim.  Hello!  I'm home.  Actually, if I'm picking, the one below is more me (in my dreams)...

idcdoors.com

This next one, from Pinterest, says home to me...

Source: img2.timeinc.net via Mary on Pinterest

Source: sweet-southern-charm.tumblr.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: highstreetmarket.blogspot.com via Nicole on Pinterest

And, well, these doors would be great on my spread by the ocean...

Wouldn't this be a charmer to come home to...

Painted doors, something other than white, when right, gets me every time...

Source: houzz.com via Simply on Pinterest

Source: thevisualvamp.blogspot.com via allaboutvignettes.blogspot.com on Pinterest

But, white can be soooo right...

Source: houzz.com via Allison on Pinterest

As with everything in decorating (as in life:), it's all in the details...

Source: google.com via J & J {Jen} on Pinterest

I think garage doors are like a face on your house, and they should make you feel as welcome as the rest of it.  That said, mine have a sad face.  Boring and standard.  But a girl can dream, yes?

Have a great Friday,
Carol

John Derian's Fantastic Plates and So Much More

from John Derian.com

 Does everyone know about John Derian, and I'm just late to the party?  I discovered his brilliant decoupage work this summer, in one of my favorite shops, Cottage and Garden, in Newport, RI. 

John Derian at Neiman Marcus

I picked up a gorgeous plate, similar to this one with the rabbit, and I fell in love.  With the plate. Okay, and then everything about the guy when I checked out JohnDerian.com.  

John is a decoupage master.  His isn't the stuff of a kitchen-table craft project.  Every glass plate he creates is art.  He works out of his studio in New York City, and has a store in the East Village.  If you check out his website, you'll see his work is carried in shops everywhere.  Who knew.

I took a few images from his site to show you, but don't be fooled by the ones I chose -- his subject matter is highly varied.

You really have to check out his collection.  On line, he also shows his additional offerings...

Furniture he designs...

Heaven help me, I want these pieces in my home.

Vintage lighting...

Linens...

Who wants to visit his store in the East Village with me?  Uh huh.  Knew you'd like him :)

By the way, I don't know John Derian, and I've got zero personal connection to his stuff, other than I wanted to share it because I found his plates, in person, to be gorgeous.

Hope you have a fabulous day!
Carol

Decals and Stencils -- Low Cost Impact

Yesterday I posted about the power of paint using my friend Lisa's new house.  Now for a decal and a stencil.

Her powder room is, like many, fairly uneventful save for the nice wood flooring and mill work.  So, I suggested she stencil the walls with these colors and add a little wow factor.  It's a work in progress, but here's a peak...

background: Ben Moore Warm Springs with Ben Moore Apple Blossom stencil color

Now for the gorgeous progress she's making on her daughter's bedroom.  The blue paint is Behr Peaceful Night, and the branch decal comes from Stickerbrand.com.  (She did this all without me, I can't take the credit.)  I did, however, convince her not to get rid of the dresser, and instead paint it white. :)

Clearly, the room is in the middle of chaos and redo, so don't mind the mess. :)

Keeping it short today.  Have a great Thursday!

Carol

Making Rooms Feel Complete With Paint

Paint color can go a long way when a house needs to become a home.   It can fill the void in an unfinished room like nothing else, and be a great bridge from undone to warm and homey.

Take my friend Lisa's new house, for example.  It's got gorgeous bones (I have total molding envy), but with four teenage kids inside, completing the decorating is a challenge.  Paint to the rescue!

The living room, above, was off to a great start with furnishings from the old house.   (Except for the builder's pinky beige on every wall and ceiling.)   So, in came Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray...

The paint color was inspired by the fabric we chose for the cornices, which will have cream drapes underneath...

A library feel is the goal for this room.  The SW Comfort Gray helps balance the warm/cool affect in this room perfectly, I think. 

The adjoining dining room color was next.  Here's the blah before (fyi, the rug is now in another room, too matchy)...

When Ben Moore Trout Gray went on the walls, and BM Rich Cream got slathered on the tray in the ceiling, this happened...

Goodbye builder beige, hello home!

Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray, Ben Moore Trout Gray and Ben Moore Rich Cream (with white trim)

What a difference the right paint makes, yes?

Here is the progress on the paint change in the foyer.  From total pinky beige...

To a well-defined staircase with Ben Moore Northern Cliffs (looking a bit cooler here than in reality)...

In this picture, you can still see my roller marks on the wet paint!  And yes, Lisa and I did all the painting (in three days, in between entertaining 6 teenagers!)  Never underestimate the power of paint or the determination of women on a mission :).  The back wall (facing you) of the upstairs hallway will also be the Northern Cliffs.

Now, with the addition of the right paint colors, this house is starting to look like home.  Color will be Lisa's bridge to completing her gorgeous spaces.

It's nice to be back in blogland...
Carol

Need help choosing the right paint colors?  

I'm ready to help -- email me about a paint consult.