Miscellaneous M: Interior Design

Showing posts with label Interior Design. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Marisa's Pink/Red, London/Paris Bedroom Retreat Design Board

Ah, another year's Church Christmas Cookie Walk and Gift/Craft Fair has come and gone. I did very well. I sold many of my facial cloths, polish star ornaments, mugs, etc.

But the ending of another year has me itching for some change. I have been trying to declutter and organize our home, i.e. my life, but it hasn't been going so well.   It's organized chaos around here, with three households combined into one: that means three households of stuff, six people, a dog, a cat, and even a fish all in one place.

But my bedroom especially is in need of some help. When I returned home last year I didn't ever fully organize and set up my bedroom because I wasn't sure at the time when I'd be moving again. But when you work from home and your bedroom is your creative space, it gets really stifling to live somewhere that is so clearly "in transition" when you are trying to be efficient, productive, and innovative. It is mentally draining to look around at the mess.

So, to boost my morale, I made a new inspiration board for myself. I'm not sure if I will be revamping the bedroom this winter over my work holiday break, or if I will wait until I move into an apartment again in the late spring, but either way, this incorporates mostly things I already own with some small changes.

I could also label this, "I am a Basic White Girl and this is where I sleep."   I could have also called it, "I will never have a man in my room again."

But officially, this board is entitled, "Marisa's Pink and Red London/Paris Bedroom."   I have had a red, white and black bedroom. And I have had a pink, white and black bedroom.   But never before had it occurred to me to combine that bright cherry red and hot pink, but I am really digging the effect. And I will never have to decorate for Valentine's Day specifically again.

Everything here I already own, or is from Ikea, Target, Partylite Candles, Overstock.com, or Michael's Crafts

Enjoy!

Monday, November 16, 2015

Jean's Woodland Spa Bedroom

I have been in a major interior design mood lately. I have been watching and re-watching Genevieve Gorder's show "Dear Genevieve" on Netflix (hello, I miss HGTV since we canceled cable) and seriously admiring her eye for design. One of my favorite lines she ever said: "Mama don't do papasan. Never have, never will." Amen. I am not a fan either, unless it's for a porch.

Any hoo, I digress. I had another restless night last night even though I was dead tired. So, I took some time out to do a powerpoint slide design board (mood board, vision board, whatever you want to call it) of a bedroom idea for my mother. She is a notoriously hard "customer." She has excellent taste, but she's not at all into trends (you won't ever find her buying anything chevron) and she has a very specific vision for what she likes and doesn't like. Unfortunately for her excellent taste, it often runs in opposition with whatever the color / it thing / pattern of the moment is, therefore making it difficult for her to even FIND things that she likes at the retail level. I swear, she could look at fabric swatches for hours and hours and only find one or two she truly loved, if that.

So, with that in mind, and knowing her love for blue, I thought about what feeling I would want to evoke in a bedroom for my mother. She has had a tumultuous couple of years in her personal life, and I kept thinking that for her, the bedroom should be a peaceful, uncluttered retreat. Unclutter the life, unclutter the mind: I really believe that.

So here it is. I entitled it "Jean's Woodland Spa Bedroom."

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

A Morrocan Inspired Red Living Room Vision Board, for Jennifer

Hello,

I have been itching to do something creative today but I am tired and although I have a million projects in various non-finished states, I decided to do something easy.

My sister Jennifer is inheriting some lovely brick red furniture (a sofa and loveseat) when she eventually moves down South this spring, and she and Joel are going to be house-hunting. It had me thinking about Jennifer's style.

Now, while Jennifer is a traditionalist, the thing I love about her is that she is VERY far from boring. She's not a neutral girl, if you know what I mean. While she would not take as many design risks as I might, and in general, she is attracted to traditional or transitional furniture with a modern spin, she isn't afraid of color.

Jennifer also has a thing for Moroccan inspired prints just like I do (hello, quatrefoil for everyone. Quatrefoil kicks chevrons behind any day of the week.) And she also has a thing for Pier 1, so at first I browsed Pier 1 for some throw pillow inspiration. And this is what I came up with for an inspiration room.

I used some items she already owns (some red, gold and brown mercury glass style tall candleholders, those Marrakech brown metal lanterns in small and large from Partylite, and the type of couch she will be inheriting, a Capiz shell wall clock.) And then I inserted my own spin. Those chocolate colored poufs seemed perfect for the children to lounge on, and I hope she would agree, that while this is sophisticated, it could also be family friendly. That coffee table is from La Z boy, and the top lifts up and toward you to become a tv tray. Busier patterns and darker colored couches are ideal for a little Micah Kevin and his tendency to spill. I know, because I live with him. I thought that rug (also entitled Marrakech) from Target was perfect to hide dog hair and stains while still remaining fun and colorful but mature. This is definitely an adult space with room for the kids and the pets to snuggle in.

I hope you all enjoy, and Jennifer I hope you like it.

Source List: Media Console, Endtables and Coffee Table: La Z Boy
Poufs, Slipper Chairs, Quatrefoil Mirror Set, Turquoise Throw Blanket, Storage Shelf with Baskets, Rug and Lamps all from Target.
Throw Pillows, Gold Quatrefoil Hurricanes, Capiz Shell Clock, Birches Painting, Tree with Bird Quad Painting, Capiz shell Vase, and Mosaic Red Tall Long Artwork, and Antique Red Bookcase all from Pier 1
Chocolate Brown Trellis Curtains: Christmas Tree Shops
Mosaic Hurricane and Marrakech Brown Lanterns: Partylite

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

World Market Rocks for Adding Farmhouse Style

I have been sadly neglecting my craft blogging duties and I have several projects going that aren't even close to being finished and I haven't added anything new to the Etsy shop of late.

I have a lot on my mind, a lot on my work plate, a lot on my to-do list and a very cluttered personal space that needs attention.

But yesterday, I got to thinking about Cost Plus World Market. Someone I follow on Instagram posted some awesome mason jar themed finds from that store, and although I have never been in a brick and mortar (nor am I sure there is one in the Connecticut area) I fell in love with the online shop when I was searching for glass, gasketed pantry storage containers last Spring (you might recall.)

And here's a picture if you don't recall.

Anyway, I found myself browsing last night. Also as some of you know, my budget is on lock down as I save, save, save for our pending move in Spring 2016. I can't and frankly don't need to buy any more home décor items. But that doesn't stop me from admiring and coveting from afar!

I thought I'd share some farmhouse style finds with you, that are surprisingly cheap considering. And you know I like cheap décor. I don't believe in shopping at the fanciest places. Instead, I like to gain inspiration from those places (like Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma or Ballard) and find cheap sources of the same types of products. Saving money yo. Saving money.

It's really not that difficult or that expensive to change the look of your home a little bit at a time. It surely is, if you do a full makeover, but I prefer to switch it up progressively. It's more fun that way and more affordable. Choosing a color scheme or a new theme (such as farmhouse, or floral or beach cottage or nautical) can get you started. Be creative but be true to yourself. Think about your hobbies, your family interests, your favorite colors, the feeling you want the room to evoke, and the functionality. (Do you want to Relax? Read? Or do you want a vibrant space to inspire you creatively? Do you entertain in the space or is it for private family use only?) Function is just as important as style.

As you know, my personal style has evolved from a sleek, bright, contemporary love of red and black, to a more casual, country vibe that draws from the English and French countryside. But, I still like bold modern prints, and I still love my red and black, only now I temper it with teal, turquoise, and white and an appreciation for more natural fibers/fabrics (hemp, burlap, linen, etc.)

Here is the link to this item. 27.99, and it's barn metal:

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/aqua+barn+metal+4-photo+frame.do

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/charlotte-lined-wire-baskets.do

These lined wire basket would add practical, but attractive, farmhouse style storage on a media console or a bookcase in the living room OR kitchen pantry storage OR bathroom / linen closet storage. These range in price from $7.19 to $22.49 depending on which size you are ordering.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/wire-3-tier-glass-drying-rack.do

French drying racks work wonderfully as display stands for mug collections. You know: for those of us that have extensive mug collections. Want! This one is only $14.99 which is a steal. I have seen similar items at more expensive retailers for about one hundred dollars.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/single+white+cast+iron+switch+plate.do

One easy and cheap thing you can do to add personality to any room, is to change out the light switch plates. When I painted my bedroom when I first moved in, I ditched the ugly almond broken switch plate in favor of a matte finish black one from Target. This plate is country and distressed but also an elegant and refined touch. $6.99 a piece!

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/linen+clare+tufted+upholstered+bench.do

I had to include one splurge item. I love the idea of using a tufted ottoman as a coffee table, with a serving tray on it as the hard, storage surface. This particular piece is expensive because the upholstery is done custom for each order, and personally I adore this antique red. This would be a statement piece in a living room. While it seems pricey, it's linen and it's made in the USA and hand tufting is no joke: very time consuming. $343.99 each.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/aqua,+black+and+white+floral+rosie+table+runner.do

This fabulous, aqua and floral table-runner is only $12.49 right now and I adore it. Modern and yet, evokes a French or English country aesthetic.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/red+villa+stripe+table+runner.do

And speaking of French Country, you can't get any more French than a table runner inspired by a French ticking striped grain sack. $12.99! I prefer table runners to table cloths for everyday use so that you can still see the table underneath but it adds a pop of color.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/metal+3-tier+stand.do

I love the versatility of serving pieces like this. Right now, I use a wooden three tiered server that belongs to my sister Jennifer but I'd prefer something like this because it adds another material to a room (I like combing wood, metal, ironstone, glass, etc for visual interest). It also reminds me of a project I recently checked out on the Dear Lillie blog where she made an Ice Cream Station on a 3 tiered grey wooden server. See link here: http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-little-tiered-ice-cream-station.html

But really, there are so many things you can do with a piece like this. If you have a buffet or a larger coffee bar, it could make an excellent storage piece. You could do a variety of themed stations, such as Hot Chocolate in Winter, or perhaps it could serve as a dining room table centerpiece during the holidays (can't you just see pumpkins, ornaments or greenery in there! I can.) So many ideas, and so much room for creativity. $39.99 from World Market for this particular model.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/blue+geometric+cast+iron+teapot.do

Not much needs to be said about this awesome, turquoise, cast iron kettle. World Market has a large selection of awesome kettles and teapots / infusers in a variety of colors, and I love tea kettles just as much as I love mugs, so at some point I will take advantage of their excellent selection and affordability. $24.99 for something truly unique and far beyond your basic Farberware kettle.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/floral+concealed+tab+top+rosalie+curtains,+set+of+2.do

Now that I have begun dabbling in sewing, I finally understand why curtains are soooo expensive. Fabric is not cheap. A decent home décor fabric ranges from $8 to $50 dollars PER YARD and you need many yards to make a pair of curtains. It's worth it to invest in curtains that you KNOW you are going to enjoy for quite some time. I know they say that you should not design around one element in a room, but for those of us on a budget, curtains (like area rugs) can be a commitment. My Threshold brand Farrah floral curtains (black and linen) inspired my modern French country redesign and I waited to purchase them until they were clearanced and actually traveled to THREE Target stores around Connecticut to find all 8 panels that I wanted/needed. So, to make a long story short, curtains are not cheap for a reason. Yes, these are stunning (and notice they are the same pattern as the table runner I admired above) and I wouldn't mind owning these for a long time. These are $69.98 to $93.98 for a PAIR depending on which length you order. Not bad.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/teapot+chalkboard.do

At $4.99 this is a ridiculous steal, and I would love to hang this over my coffee bar.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/distressed+gray+aria+oval+mirror+sconce.do

These definitely look like they would cost a fortune at Ballard or Pottery Barn. They really evoke a French or English cottage style, and I would LOVE a pair of these to coordinate with my white distressed wooden finish pillar holders I currently have on the mantel. $17.59 a piece! You can't beat that at Pier1 or Partylite or the higher end department stores.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Living Room Vision Board

Even though we are probably six to eight months out, Mom and I have started to prepare for our inevitable downsizing move. Back to apartment living for us! That means saying goodbye to our 3,000 foot Craftsman rental, which I will miss for sure.

But new adventures and places await. As I said, Southern Vermont is our target area. But in the meantime, we have to weed out the furniture, kitchen stuff and home décor we can live without. And in the process of discussing this, and debating how we will put together our living room stuff, this is the Vision Board I made. As much as I swear against beige, with all of this color going on, I am planning on the Ikea Ektorp sofa in beige as our new living room seating of choice when we move. Most everything else on here we already own or something really similar to it!

Red and teal forever!

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Upstairs Bathroom Makeover

I have been slow at posting this: mostly because I suck at taking pictures and I hoped that my brother in law would come around when the bathroom was clean, but alas: that was not to be! So, you will have to settle (emphasis on the "settle") for my sad depiction of the after. Just trust me when I tell you that in person this is leaps and bounds better than it was before.

First of all, I will finally reveal my color choices! I used Behr Ultra Premium Plus in Semi Gloss for the record. The color above the wainscoting is Toasted Chestnut (a beautiful copper brown color.) The color beneath and on the vanity is Parchment Paper (an aged white that I just adore.)

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http://www.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-Premium-Plus-Ultra-8-oz-240F-5-Toasted-Chestnut-Interior-Exterior-Paint-Sample-240F-5U/202182273

4b72c38d-c6cf-47db-9b5f-4ec0e97d39ad_400

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-Premium-Plus-Ultra-8-oz-710C-1-Parchment-Paper-Interior-Exterior-Paint-Sample-710C-1U/202182798

And the bathroom set that Mom loved and we purchased last Christmas, was an ensemble from Bed, Bath and Beyond entitled "Leaf Study."

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/3/leaf-study-bath-ensemble

Here is a reminder of the crappy "Before!"

And here is the "After!!!!!!"

If you recall, this corner had a hideous, weirdly mounted white cabinet. Instead, I took it down, patched the wall, and purchased an espresso colored linen tower from Bed, Bath and Beyond to be our storage furniture instead. Only $79.99!!! Here's the link in the caption.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/summit-tall-cabinet-tower/3252290?poc=213218&skuId=42479154

Last but not least, was my light fixture make over project! The light fixtures were covered in splattered paint from past paint jobs. I hated that. They were kind of neat old fixtures. I tried to sand the old paint off but it didn't work. So, I went out, purchased a Krylon chrome metal paint from our local hardware store, screwed the fixtures loose, took newspaper and taped it to the walls carefully tucking it under the edges of the fixture so it covered all of the toasted chestnut wall: and sprayed away. It's not perfect, but 2 coats covered the old paint stains and gave it a brighter, newer life.

Well, that's it! The linoleum cleaned up surprising well and I think the new coat of paint and newer, more traditional but still modern style hardware on the vanity just made the space look cleaner. I think that the toasted chestnut color makes the architectural details of the room (like the molding around the window and door frame and recessed built in cabinet) really pop out.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Blue and White China plus a new Living Room Vision Board

So, I've recently come into possession of my grandmother's blue and white china collection (which was, to my satisfaction, almost complete.) It turns out that it's not quite as old or important as she might have thought (she tends to reason that things of great sentimental value to her MUST be worth a great deal) but from what I can tell, this pattern is beautiful but not anything altogether special. From my internet research, I've determined that the set must date from 1913 to 1920. The maker was Furnivals LTD out of England, and the pattern name was "Cluny." It is clear to me that some of my pieces are replacement pieces, as some are missing the gold trim, and the sizing/ink colors are not consistent throughout. But to me, that just gives it all even more charm. My sister Jennifer and I split the set, although ultimately if we ever sell it, we would put the set back together. We divided all plates, soup bowls and cups evenly, and then haggled over the special pieces. I took the teapot, the over-sized sugar bowl, a small serving bowl, and several small to medium serving platters including what I would consider to be a pickle dish or butter dish. Jennifer took the soup tureen (the ladle has long since gone missing), the water pitcher, and several larger serving platters.

I've always felt that this blue and white set would blend well with my Ironstone collecting plans. But, as much as I love blue and white decor, I love red and black as well and I wasn't sure how I could remake my living and dining spaces to incorporate all of the above in a cohesive manner. I personally find the combination of red and blue to be appealing. My best friend is getting married this fall, and we are utilizing a cherry red/turquoise color scheme. But blue/red can be difficult because of the potential "patriotic" effect it might have. Now, I want my home to have a modern french country feel, NOT be reminiscent of July 4th all year round. So, I was pleasantly surprised to realize that the faded ink of the china is more french blue or a very blue turquoise than navy.

So, I came up with this vision board for the living room that incorporates a few "blue" pieces in and overall, softens the harshness of the red/black color scheme. I think I like it.

Starting in upper left corner and working my way down: The red bowl with balls is mine already, the bench is mine (i.e. the one I recovered from Elephant's Trunk, that Teal lampshade is from Target (Target Floral Toile Teal Lampshade $22.99) ,that M is something I already have in my house (a painted letter from Michael's), that lamp base is also from Target (Threshold Black Orb lamp base, $34.99) the curtains I already own (Threshold Farrah Floral pannels in Black which I got on clearance for $14.99 a piece), the light blue toile throw pillows are a purchase I am about to make from Amazon (Camella Toile Pillow) , the rug is a steal of a deal from IKEA (Tarnby Flatwoven Rug, $99.00 for a 6 x 8) the clock is also from Target Oversized Red Wall Clock $35.99) the IKEA black Lack side tables already belong to me, the blue accent table with glass doors is another Target steal (and also comes in a console table which might interest me) (Threshold Windham one door accent cabinet $76.99) , those are my curtains again folded up, a French Country color scheme I pinned on Pinterest, the IKEA round black/white floral lamps I already own, another beautiful accent cabinet choice from Target: (Threshold Fretwork Accent Table $62.00) some red stand-in couches to represent my loveseat and chair set from Bob's Furniture (Big Kahuna was the set name, now discontinued, in red) , my red metal wall art to bring in a modern touch, that same IKEA Tarnby rug again, my IKEA lack white tv bench, another gorgeous Target lampshade choice (Threshold Flocked Floral Shade Lamp $22.49), my framed rustic picture of Micah (frame came from Michael's crafts) and inspiring barn painting from http://www.wickartwork.com/Images/images_2005/PrarieBarn.jpg, and my IKEA black/white Stockholm cushions that I already own, plus another shot of my curtain fabric.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Weekend Pinterest Picks: Future Farmhouse Glam

I am a woman with a bad habit. And that habit, is visualizing the future. This has been a problem since I was a child: I like to look ahead! Pinterest, is, unfortunately, the haven for those of us who spend our time planning for later. It's an addiction!

Well, anyway, I spend way too much time thinking about the house I want to have when I have a house again. I miss being a homeowner! That last house (and life) was just not meant to be. But the future looks pretty bright! (On my Pinterest page!) haha.

I don't want anything grandiose. I've never been the person who wanted a veritable mansion. I prefer cozy and intimate. To me a "big" house is like the 2500+ square foot Craftsman I was living in with my family most recently. The house I owned with my ex-husband was a 1500 square foot three bedroom and that was perfectly sufficient. I'm into the bungalow, I'm especially into New England style farmhouses. That is what I am envisioning. I want a home that combines my love of french country and rustic decor WITH bright colors and a slightly glamorous feminine style. (P.S. Take this HomeGoods quiz: you won't regret it. It's a fun way to figure out how to define your personal style.)

http://www.homegoods.com/stylescope/

My results are "Farmhouse Glam with a touch of Classic." That sounds about right! Except, I have these ultra modern inclinations thrown in with the bright, bold color palette I gravitate toward. I'm not as into the whites, browns, and neutrals that seem to typify this style, however, I really appreciate the beauty of simple, white shabby chic homes that I run across constantly on design blogs.

Anyway, I cannot stop pinning inspiration to my Future Dream Rustic Farmhouse Board. Here are my favorites of the day. Think of it as a virtual tour of my future home.

ENTRYWAY: