Client Design Progress

I've been tossing around some ideas for finishing this room, while the drapes are being made and the grasscloth is on backorder.  Perhaps I shouldn't show this board yet, because I am not at my final presentation, but I thought you might like to see my thought process.

Here is the living room, where I am now...

While I love the textures shown on the board, I really need to choose between the ottoman and the bar cart -- they really are too similar in feel, especially given the grasscloth on the walls.  I could use an ottoman like this in a fabulous fabric...

or a bar cart in a metal...

I also have a thing for this table lamp, which would give the room a bit of depth, and tie it to the adjacent dining room and the suggested artwork.  In my heart, thought, I'm feeling it's too modern...

This might be a better choice, especially with the floor lamp, if I don't do a metal bar cart...

A room can go in so many different directions, which hopefully you see a glimpse of here.Too much of the same texture, and it becomes redundant.  Too many different elements, and well, chaos can take over.  Yikes.

I really do know what I want to present, but I thought it would be fun to show what I've been considering.  The rug is a meaningful mate to the drapes, I believe, so that's definitely part of the final plan.  And I do love the chair on the board, but I suspect the husband may find it a bit too neutral. 

Done in the right fabric, this stunner below could steal the show...

I don't usually begin a design  with window treatments and wallpaper, but my client's wanted to address that first, as the walls had been redone and were at sheet rock, and they wanted to go slowly in completing the room.  So, these elements, which do work so well with the rest of the house, are now the inspiration.

I'll let you know how things end up, and I will show you my next version of the board.  What would be your choice -- woven ottoman or rattan bar cart?

Talk to you soon,

Carol

Oh, and I've gotta say, Instagram is my favorite social media of late, and I am constantly "chatting" design, food, dogs and other inspiration there.  To follow me, click on the Instagram in the right column.  See you on IG! @6Wilson...

Finding Great Design on Vacation

I've been on vacation since the 4th, with reality making a strong comeback Monday morning.  I'm actually excited about getting back to work, because I have so.much.going.on.  But before that happens, I want to share some pictures I've taken, first in Rockport, Mass, and then in Newport, RI.  I love seeing design everywhere I go, and I thought you might like to see it, too...

Whether design is grand or humble, in a home, restaurant or garden pot, there is always something to learn from the way a caring hand or thoughtful mind has put together color, texture and materials.

Is it a stretch to find design in the asymmetrical balance of a raspberry floating in champagne?  I think not ;-)

Now, on to Newport.

 
These copper pots in a fudge shop speak to my inner cook/designer every time I see them, from their beautiful form to their fantastic arrangement on the wall.

These two front doors just begged to be included in this post, because really, are there prettier colors for two antique colonials in a very summer town?

There were two restaurants that had me snapping my camera.  The next few are of 41North.  The design is spectacular...

These two images are in the same space, an outdoor function/lounge area...

All the white was so crisp and high-end nautical.

The next several shots are from Midtown, a new place in a totally refurbished building.  LOVE.IT.

There are three bar areas, and this my favorite, because the mood the high gloss red walls added to the entire place was just fantastic and unexpected...

Here's more of the first floor dining room...

Great texture and tones, yes?

I even though the ladies room was well done...

Great lighting, too.  Kudos to the design team on this restaurant.  They paid attention to every detail.

And, just because I love garden design, whether in a landscape or pot, I'm ending with this one of a pair of hanging pots on a beautiful store front...

I love when attention to detail is so obvious on the outside, you just have to see what's on the inside!

I hope you all are enjoying your July.  I will be back soon with project updates and other fun happenings.

Till then,
Carol


PS  To my blog friends who don't see yourself listed in my reading list, I promise it's coming!

A Teenage Boy's Room

Teenage boys.  Hmmmm.  Decorating their bedrooms, trying to make them personal but not young, is tricky, I think.  But fun, too.

Here's one board for my client's 14 year old son, who had the bed and night table, but needed the rest.  I'm playing around with a few different options before I present it, so there will be another board to show soon.  My client wanted his son to be able to have a say, so options it is!

This young guy is a sports and basketball fan, so I found the cool artwork on Etsy, and I am soooo loving the baseball mitt inspired desk chair.   Next to the roman shade is the trim I'm thinking will be a great accent down the sides and along the bottom.

The next version of this room will put more focus on the bedding, less on the rug.  It's fun to play with pattern and scale in a space.  Remember, you can mix lots of patterns, but make one the large, dominant pattern (here it's the rug), and then vary the rest.  A space is never happy when the scales of patterns compete.

Stay tuned for version number two, and thanks for reading...

Carol