Before & After: Southwest Meets Traditional Finished

Remember this post about my challenge doing a living room for a couple who wanted to mix traditional with a Southwest feel?  Well, yesterday we hung the artwork and we are just about done.  The only things remaining  are the chandelier, a lamp, additional custom pillows and a bit more styling.

This is where we started.  The brilliant rug was the only thing I was working with. (Horrible phone picture)...

Now onto the transformation.  This is a highly eclectic space.  The first round of furniture was delivered...

Kind of boring, yes?  Big room, vast wall, no window treatments.  Now, here it is today...

There is a lamp coming to the round table to the left of the sofa. The metal artwork is copper with a dark patina. Here is a closed up of the roman shades.  The diamond pattern on the fabric is actually twine, and the beads are wooden. (The colors don't look great.  Pro photographer I am not!!)

When you enter the home, this is the foyer design I did, and you can see the rug peeking out in the corner picture after it.

Corner before...

Now...

My clients had some great pieces to start the styling for the coffee table.  I want to add some books and a candle or two.  Isn't this rug the most gorgeous thing??  I wish I could take credit for it.  The wife told me yesterday that she was actually disappointed with it after it had arrived.  Just goes to show, not only can a rug provide great inspiration, but when a room is properly built around it, it can really be art on the floor.

I mentioned that we still need to hang a chandelier.  This is what I am suggesting for the space.  It is very large -- 42" diameter.  Just what the room needs for a finishing touch and to provide this very open floor plan with some much needed lighting.  This isn't the greatest image, but it's all I've got.  It will fill the two-story cathedral ceiling beautifully.

I'm thinking it's just the thing to complete the space.

I have to say that the most gratifying part of my job is seeing my clients happy, and let me tell you, these clients are so fun to work with that making them smile is what I look forward to.  After this, I believe we are moving on to a new bed for the master bedroom.  Can't wait.  This has been one of my most favorite projects.

Hope you all have a great weekend.  In the next day or so, I'm going to be posting some pictures of furniture and lighting that we are clearancing off of our showroom floor.  Great buys.  Stay tuned.

Talk to you soon,
Carol

 Let's work together to define your home.  Contact me by clicking here.

Celebrity Magnet or What?

Yes, I'm talking about me.  It really is a laugh.  And it's actually related to my work as a designer.  Well, sort of.  Okay, so here's the story of my two encounters of late, and because I believe things happen in three's, I'm just wondering who I'll meet next...

Have you ever had a moment when the filter in your brain froze and you said something that you couldn't believe came out of your mouth?  This is what happened to me back in September.  My friend Steve (from An Urban Cottage) and I were antiquing in Maine,  where we were visiting some of his favorite haunts -- he was shopping, I was seeking out new sources for clients.

As we're coming out of one of the shops, walking out the door right in front of us, about as close as you get to someone in front of you in line at the market,  is...I didn't know!  I instantly knew this guy was famous, and Steve and I exchanged a quick "is that who I think it is?" glance, and then.  Out.of.my.mouth.flies "You're someone famous, aren't you?"  Can you believe I actually said that to someone?  Loser.  But then this guy turned around with a big grin...

And I so charmingly said "How do I know who you are?"  Pa.Lease.  Thank heavens Steve came to the rescue and said, "You're Steve Santagati, right, the relationship guy?"

And that started  a 20 minute conversation with Famous Steve, me, and my friend Steve.  Of course, I still couldn't place him (hello?), so as we all walk out into the parking lot having a laugh, I said "Relationship guy?  No, I know you from  tv or something."  (Or could it be his Armani modeling images?)  And then to add to my eloquence, I added, "I've seen you on Extra, with, ummm...what's his name, oh, Mario..."  "Yeah, Mario Lopez," says Famous Steve.  "That's it!" I said.  And then the three of us had a great chat like we had known each other forever.  Very fun.  I won't bore you with the rest, but Steve summed it up pretty well in his post here.  When all was said and done, and we were on our way to the next shop, all we could talk about was how we didn't get a picture for the blog!!

So, on to celebrity sighting Number 2.  At High Point two weeks ago, I was standing in the Althorp showroom of Theodore Alexander, talking with my colleague Robin, when a tall guy in a navy blazer comes over to us and puts his hand out to me to introduce himself.  I turned to face him as he says in his lovely British accent, "Hello, I'm Charles Spencer."  O.M.G.  Princess Diana's brother!  Are you kidding me?

 

For those of you who don't know, Theodore Alexander is a manufacturer of beautiful traditional furniture, and a few years back, Charles Spencer helped develop a line of reproduction pieces based on the antiques from Althorp, the Spencer family home.  So there he was in High Point, mingling with the common  folk(he was so gracious and real).  I now know the true definition of "my jaw dropped."  Anyway, it was a thrill to talk to him, as I am a total Anglophile.  But, it gets better...

The next day, when we were heading back home through the Charlotte airport looking for a place to have lunch,  there at a sushi bar with open seats next to him, was, you guessed it, Earl Charles Spencer!  So, I asked him if the seats were taken and would he mind if we took them.  Okay.  The guy couldn't have been nicer.

We chatted, my colleagues and me, and at the end, when his bill came, I asked for a picture with him.  I wasn't going to let this go without proof like the last one!

I was talking with a friend today who is going to assist me with an install next week, and she said she'd make the trip with me (it's three hours away) if I guaranteed a celebrity meeting.  Hmm.   I do believe in the power of positive thinking...  I'll keep you posted.

Who's the most famous person you've met?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

For help defining your house and home, click here.  

What A Difference A Drape Makes

You know I am a window treatment nut.  (If you were reading this blog in its former life as Sofas & Sage, you know what I'm talking about.)  Anyway, I just installed drapes and roman shades in a single guy's beautiful home.  He needed the space warmed up.  I think he got it.

Here is the tv and music room off the kitchen before (okay, the phone pictures are really bad)...

Add some drapes and roman shades and this is what happens...

Another view...

Now...

The fabric on the drapes is Fabricut (If I remember it right) and the romans are Calvin Klein for Kravet.  The fabric is called Crinkle and it has the most fantastic texture, all of which is lost in these images.  :(

The room was so hard to photograph as it was very bright, and I had about two minutes to do it.  The room still has a way to go, but it's coming.  Accessories and pillows are on their way.  What a difference a drape (or a day) makes, don't you think?

About House and Home Defined, you'll be seeing changes to the design as I go along.  Just too much for me to tackle all at once.  My "Who I'm Reading" blog list on the left is in the process of being restored from Sofas & Sage, but I couldn't bring my Followers with me.  What a bummer.  So, if you are new to House and Home Defined, or coming over from Sofas & Sage, please consider becoming a Follower?  Thanks so much.

Talk to you soon, Carol

For help defining your house and home, click here.  

High Point Highlight: Lighting

Oh, there is nothing like lighting to create mood in a room.  On a dimmer, it's magic in a fixture.  Whether you like yours sleek or dripping in crystals, you gotta consider something fabulous for your space.

At High Point furniture market last week, lighting inspiration was everywhere.  I'm not going to identify each manufacturer, but feel free to email me if you have questions on anything. (Check out the suspended daybed in the showroom above.  High Point really is incredible...)  When I was shopping around, I couldn't help but think of a couple of my favorite bloggers when I saw certain fixtures.

 Here are a couple for Abby at A Delightful Design.  Modern, classic, edgy all at once...

 Drum shades and shapes still prevail on the market...

Lots of cut metal overlays in both gold and silver finishes...

The linen shade on this one was beautiful...

I couldn't help but think of Nita at A Mod Vintage Life with these two.  I guess because they are vintage more than anything.  Wouldn't this be a great chandelier in a breakfast nook?

Or this one over the island of an avid cook with vintage flair?

This one I'm actually presenting to a client tomorrow.  I want it to hang over a creamy pub table and upholstered barstools in the Nantucket-inspired family/pool room of an antique colonial.  (There second home is on the island, and they want a bit of that vibe).  This little pendant is blown glass and is nicknamed "jellyfish" by the showroom folks.  Love it.  Hope she will!

Here's a cool shot of how they hung them in the showroom...

Steve at An Urban Cottage, I couldn't help but think of you in this particular showroom.  Everything was repurposed into some fantastic looking pieces.  These lamps were something else in person, and the table they were on was incredibly creative...

On blogs and elsewhere we see a lot of modern happening, but classic and traditional will always be fresh.  Here are some pieces that I thought were super pretty...

Great detail on this chandelier, with hand applied quartz beads...

This one would be stunning over the island of a formal kitchen.  I've got a crush on this...

Changing gears, here's a rope-wrapped chandelier that would look great over a highly distressed white table surrounded by industrial looking chairs.  Of course, having the french doors open to the ocean might help the look :)

These are just fun.  Really fun...

More simple ? (haha)

 

 Now, something for me.  These two wall fixtures are different in size and statement, but they are both. so. me.

Well, I'd love to know which of these you find inspiring.  My comment link is finally working!
Talk to you soon,
Carol

If you need professional help defining and decorating your house and home, please click here to contact me.

High Point Highlight; Color

Welcome to House and Home Defined!  If you've just found me, I'm glad you did.  If you've come over from my old blog, Sofas & Sage, thanks, and I hope you will follow me again.

I spent three days last week at the furniture market in High Point, NC, the place to be to see what's new in the world of design.  I'm going to share some amazing inspiration over the next few posts.  I hope you enjoy!

 Here's a look at some of the bold, beautiful color we'll all be seeing in the near future...(orange, yes orange! my first love)...

Color for the home is moving in a bold, new direction.  What do you think, is it for you?

House and Home Defined is a work in progress -- I couldn't stand not posting, so I'm doing it anyway, despite the fact that it's not perfect.  Oh well, how often is life perfect, anyway, lol?

 Talk to you soon,
Carol

PS  Help!  Of course, as luck would have it, my comments are not working!  I've tried everything and can't figure it out.  If you have any suggestions other than enabling comments and making sure my text isn't white, I would be so glad to hear them.  I've tried everything.  Please email me at HouseandHomeDefined@gmail.com if you can help.  I appreciate it!!  Thank you. :)