A Wallpaper I Love and Bathroom Plans

I'm planning a face lift for my powder room/laundry on the first floor of our 25 year old house.  It's very tired.   Like I'm yawning as I write this kind of tired.

My starting point is this Sanderson wallpaper I fell in love with the minute the rep showed it to me.
Here's the paper against my bathroom floor, which will be staying for this project...

I love the movement and scale of  the wallpaper pattern against the rigid lines of the floor tile.  The room is small, so I didn't want to get too big with the pattern, but I really wanted something fairly large and airy.    I couldn't get great lighting for the picture, so rest assured it's not as cold as it appears.  The background of the paper is a warm white, not quite true to color in this image (the bottom right of the paper is truest to the color).  All the shades of gray are a great compliment to the warmth of the wood in the space.

I think adding an aged brass sconce would be a great addition.  Here are some contenders...

I'm really excited about the lighting.  Right now, there is the cheapest, $2.95 box store flush mount that has been there since the house was built, even though I swore it would go the minute we moved in 7+ years ago.  Why do we do that to ourselves?  Live with what we hate?  Anyway, one sconce will make a huge difference in the room, as will a new ceiling fixture.

Here's a mirror I'm thinking about, but I'm not really sure yet what color direction I will go on the mirror.  I adore the lines of this one, though...

This bathroom has a window that looks onto the deck, so  privacy is a must.  I'm thinking a roman shade with a great trim.  More on that to come.   All of this is just in the "what if I did this?" stage, but I will share the final plan soon.

The need for spring definitely has me thinking about freshening up our home.  Does that happen to you at the end of the long cold winter?

Plaid Ikea Chest

When I saw this on Scot Meacham Wood's Blog -- The Adventures of Tartanscot -- today, I had to share it because I think it's brilliant.

His post was about his office space, and while I'd seen these fabulous plaid chests on the blog in the past, I never knew their pedigree until now.  And, I'm stunned.  Ikea!  His own DIY project.  Black paint, wallpaper and bevelled mirrors on top.  I can't stand how much I love them.  I know there are a lot of Ikea projects out there, but come on, this rocks :) if your a traditionalist.

For more of The Adventures of Tartanscot, click here.

Talk to you soon...

Zebra Wallpaper

Um.  I'm in love.

Okay, this is not original material.  I saw the staircase on A Delightful Design, and then the staircase and upstairs landing on Chattafabulous.  Both today.  (Thanks, ladies.) I couldn't resist sharing them with you.  I apologize that I do not know the original designer or photographer.  I know Abby sourced the staircase from Pinterest.

These images speak to my very core.  My design soul.  I could live with this for a very long time.  Am I the only one who gets moved to the core by certain interiors?  Say I'm not...

Talk to you soon, Carol

Wow Wallpaper and Inspiration Art -- Project Updates

Yesterday I had a drapery install for an ongoing project, and today I was three hours from home measuring for window treatments in my client's cottage in the Berkshires.  Thought I'd share some updates.

Remember this post about my client who agreed to silver metallic walls in the living room?

The reason metallic was the only way to go is because we put a flocked wallpaper (by Stark) with a silver metallic background on the accent wall.  Plain old paint would have died on the other walls, and it would have taken away from the depth and richness of the paper.  Sometimes one element tells you what to do with the next one.

Here's the same view before the drapes went up, with the two swivel chairs I did in a silver and black weave fabric.   The black cut velvet sectional was the only thing in the room when we started...

We have a long way to go with this room, but I'm pleased with the way it's coming along.  Keep in mind, the clients' wish for this space and the dining room attached (coming), is that it be lounge/glamour/chic/edgy.

Here is a look at the purple drapes going up (albeit messy as they weren't dressed yet) with the black velvet ruffle...

Yes, all windows will have drapes.  The one on the right, above, has a sheer, embroidered roman on it, which all the windows will have.  Here's a (poor quality) close up...

The pattern on the shades mimics part of the pattern of the wallpaper.

Switching gears/styles, remember the carriage house I did back in the fall (here)?  I was out there today measuring for the window treatments, and my client had hung the artwork that had inspired the color palette for the entire home.  I just love its whimsy and girlishness...

The windows in this room will have white cafe-height shutters, and oatmeal colored drapes with great texture.  Can't wait.

So, that brings you up to date on my week.  I'm getting ready for a bridal shower at my house on Saturday, and I hope to share the tablescape from it.  How I love doing tables!!

Have a great weekend, and a Happy Easter!
Carol

Client Living Room Sneak Peek!

Of course, don't you know, I left the befores of this living room on the computer at the office!  I'll have to show them when the room is complete.  But in the meantime, I stopped at my client's house today to see how the painting was coming along in the living room.

It's been sprayed a Modern Masters metallic silver.  The depth of color from metallic is incredible, although it's a bit hard to see in these pics (iphone pics, not the greatest)...

Three walls of this living room have been sprayed, and the focal wall is being wallpapered.  While the metallic adds a sheen and depth to the wall, it is by no means cheesy-shiny.  You'd be surprised if you've never seen it done.

Anyway, this couple's wish for their dining room and living room was to have it feel like a lounge, like a glamorous place to entertain and relax.  The wallpaper, by Stark, has a silver metallic background and the flocked pattern is similar to a black velvet.  You can see (modeled by my lovely and patient painter), both the paper and the depth of the paint in the corner between the two...

What's to come in this space?  Lush, dark purple draperies puddled on the floor with black velvet ruffled trim along the edges, with sheer roman shades underneath.  Then there's the black, very modern existing sectional, two new custom swivel chairs in black and silver, a white shag rug, and occasional pieces.  If all goes according to plan, there will also be a floor to ceiling glass chandelier in one corner.

Can you stand it?  Total glam lounge.  Can't wait till it's done.

If you want to see more of what I've been up to, I'm linking up to Wow Us Wednesday's at Savvy Southern Style with my dining room redo.  There are always great blog projects to look at!

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

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

Color Harmony on Walls and Windows

There are times when keeping window treatments close to the color of the walls helps enlarge the space.   I have shown this client's room before, when I was suggesting a wall color.  Now that the window treatments are hung and some of the furniture is in, I thought you might like to see how the walls and windows work together to hug you when you're in the room.

This room is roughly 12x12. It's a cozy space, serving the purpose of television watching, library and work space, and play space for the little ones.  I didn't want the window treatments to jump off the walls, but I wanted them to have a great fabric with interesting design and texture.   The fabric is a favorite of mine, (you can get it through Calico Corner) -- it's a fresh take on classic.  Just like this entire home.

The treatment is a tufted cornice with nickel nail head.

There are two opposing windows in the room, one set into the built-in bookcase wall, the other flush with the paneled wall.  See how keeping the molding the same color of the wall, and the fabric in the same family, keeps the room cohesive and cozy?

Sometimes, simple really is better.  But simple doesn't have to mean boring or plain. 

We are waiting for a fantastic tufted ottoman to come in, (in a fun animal-inspired print) which will bring the gorgeous leather chair (to the right), the sofa and the window fabric all together.  There is artwork to be hung under the long horns, too.  I wish you could see the weave of the rug with all the right colors!

Do you have any window treatments in your house that blend with the walls?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Before and After: Holy Horse Mural!

I spent today with my friend Matt, helping him hang a horse mural in his daughter Erica's bedroom.  Remember "the Clients" from this post...

After doing their bathroom, we are now working on the eldest daughter's bedroom (on the right), indulging her love or horses and riding.  The girls' bedrooms are on the top floor of a bungalow style house, where the entire space is hugged by slanted ceilings.  She wanted to be surrounded by horses, and we certainly gave her that today!

This bedroom is a work in progress, but I thought you might like to see the mural.  Eight wallpaper panels installed on a slant.  It made for lots of laughs, some unmentionable words in the air, and a close resemblance to a game of twister to hang those panels.

Here is the newly painted room before we began.  While it doesn't show well, the color, by Behr, is one I took from the colors in the coat of  the gray-white horse.

Imagine the before of this 13 year-old's bedroom (because for the life of me I can't find the picture!).  Justin Beber posters taped on the walls, riding ribbons and trophy's, numerous other posters and pictures scattered along the walls, and in short, a bit of a cluttered space.  Before the mural went up, the full size bed seemed to dominate the room.

Now for the mural...

Believe it or not, the over sized image makes the room feel so much bigger, and the bed has seemed to shrink, making the overall space far more open.

Matt and I were completely psyched when the job was done.

I am in the process of  designing and crafting a window treatment and fabric "door" for the closet.  The room is coming together, but you'll have to stay tuned for the final tour.  I also can't wait to show you the transformation of the "hang-out space" (formerly the "playroom"), outside this bedroom door.

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Before and After: Our Stairs

Our last house, which we moved from four plus years ago, has within its walls too many DIY projects to count -- new stairs, all new floors, moldings, window seats, and the list goes on.  We had gotten it pretty much the way we wanted, and then of course, we decided to move in favor of a little more space and privacy.

Taking on our current house meant doing some projects all over again.  The worst of which, in my man's mind, was the stairs...

(The day of our inspection, me in the kitchen).  It was almost an insult, being assaulted by the super cheap, blue-gray, worn rug in this picture -- it was the exact same rug we had lived with and hated in the old house for ten years!  And, alas, we were haunted by it anew.  (Oh, and I know you are checking out the $.99 tile, two different styles, no less, in the hall and the kitchen.  Put your green eyes away, lol...that's another story.)

Anyway, this past summer, my man reached his breaking point and ripped up the carpet and the pine builder's board stairs and replaced them with oak.  Admittedly not my favorite species, but we had to coordinate with things existing, so there you have it.   He did a gorgeous job. He can do anything.  I'm seriously lucky.

After we'd finished painting the outside of the house all summer, the runner went on in the fall, followed by my drawing molding boxes on the wall and wallpapering them two weeks ago (a great girl-power day, teaching my teenage girls how to measure, cut and wallpaper)...

My man then cut and installed all the molding pieces I'd painted (BM Standish White) and finally, the finished product...

In reality, the wall is darker than it appears here, and the Versailles pattern wallpaper by Jaima Brown has the exact BM Crown Point Sand color in it as the walls are painted.  The stained woodwork is reflected in the warm brown tones in the paper, too.

What a difference it has made in the plain and tall front hall and stairway.  Just enough English meets French country.  I just wish the pictures showed just how nicely the colors of the rooms layer with the hallway :(, but you get the idea.  (Oh, and the floor in there will eventually be a limestone look, in varying size tiles, to give a stony feel -- another thing left behind in the old house!)

So, that's part of what I've been up to lately.  I took some time off from blogging to attend to some other commitments, but I couldn't stay away too long.  Blogging is such an addiction. :)

What's got you busy around the house?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

I Love Wallpaper!

No one has been happier than me to see the resurgence of wallpaper in design.  While it never actually became obsolete, wallpaper for some years, I think, took a serious back seat to faux-finish paint techniques. (Come on....raise your hand if you at least tried sponge painting...I know you're out there...) If you are a wallpaper person, you know the industry had its issues a few years back, and some lines merged.  My guess is this happened because of faux finishes, but I am by no stretch a market analyst.

So don't get me wrong -- faux finishes can be gorgeous, and I did a few of them in my last home.  (And Venetian plaster, when done right, is something to behold, and the look of it on wallpaper cannot compare.)  But in the end, nothing on the wall makes my heart sing like wallpaper.

Below are some images from two of my personal favorite wallpaper companies -- Jaima Brown Home and Thibault.  (I just ordered this Jaima Brown pattern for my stairway, and I'll post pictures when it's complete.  This image doesn't do it justice -- it's a warm beige with cream and green in it.)

Jaima Brown pattern Versailles

Enjoy the magic of the following images.  Paint just wouldn't have the same affect...

Jaima Brown

Jaima Brown

Thibault

Thibault

Thibault

Thibault

Thibault

Thibault

Thibault

Aren't those GORGEOUS?  If inquiring minds are wondering, no, I don't have any association with either company.  My own personal experience draws me to their products, and I find their price points to be more palatable to my budget than some other fine wallpaper companies.  Having never hung a Jaima Brown paper, I'll let you know how I think it is to work with when I complete my stairwell and post about it.

On the Side...

My dear, close friend Lisa and her fabulous family of four kids and husband Jerry, are moving to North Carolina from our town of Franklin in two days.  (Stupid economy!  Yes, I was just juvenile and said Stupid.) Tonight, Lisa, her mom and kids came for dinner (Jerry's already started his new job down south), and at Lisa's request I made Chicken Saltimbocca, one of her favorites. (Click on Welcome to Sofas & Sage in July for the recipe.)  Food, like music, can evoke very specific associations and memories.  I'll always associate this dish with Lisa and Jerry, and their sweet comments about how dinner at our house was like going to "Beck's Bistro."   These are memories that will make my heart ache for a while; until, that is, we visit them and cook some new dishes in their new home.  We're always needing to move forward, aren't we?

What dish or recipe carries with it great memories for you?  I'd love to know -- post a comment and do tell!

Talk to you soon,
Carol