Journey to the Wow

We are all looking for inspiration that will ignite excitement and set the wheels in motion for what we want for our own homes.

However, as happy and glossy as that ^ sounds I do realize that sometimes the wheels a turnin' are the least of our problems. Sometimes the funds are just not available. But fear not, every room's journey to the wow is going to be different. So, how does one go about improving their own space if ripping out the contents and starting over just isn't an option? Well.... I'm happy to report there are some face-lift-ish things you can do in a DIY (do-it-yourself) way to really turn your space around without breaking the bank. A few weeks ago I shared a laundry/mudroom project that was very well received. So, this week I want to show you two more laundry rooms that are equally as exciting but highlight a different journey to their individual wow results.

I think it's time to introduce you to one of my favorite blogs, which showcase a fair share of projects that are price conscious but pack a lot of punch. And no, I'm not talking about pinterest projects. I'm talking about real life laundry rooms that fellow bloggers revamped and improved in creative relatable ways.

Both laundry room projects were done by the happy couple at Young House Love. YHL is a blog written by a pair of husband and wife DIY'ers. They are uber creative, energetic and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoy reading their blog each and every day. If you visit their page you will see they've had two houses and two laundry room projects, so double the inspirations from this source! Weee!

Photo from Young House Love Blog.

Above is a before shot of the first laundry room - look familiar? I think we can all relate to this shot. The above is what happens when our laundry rooms become the catch all's catch all.

Photo from  Young House Love Blog.

And here is the after shot. What a transformation, right?! While the space did receive a new front load washer and dryer, everything else in the space is relatively inexpensive and doable for all of us. Let's start with the bamboo blinds they used to cover the open shelving. The shades act as a DIY cabinet door, but better. The unexpected use of these blinds not only adds a covering for stored items that may or may not always be in place but they add texture and interest to the space. Like the laundry room I showed you a few weeks ago, this space features a countertop over the washer and dryer but here this top is plywood that was painted! How genius! The countetop provides a perfect surface for folding laundry and because they used plywood instead of a stone surface the price tag can't be beat.

Photo from Young House Love Blog.

Above is the before shot of laundry room number two. As you can see, the space is rather drab and offers very little in terms of storage.

Photo from Young House Love Blog. 



And here is the after...I love it - so bright, so happy, so organized! As you can see the existing cabinets remained and new open shelving was added in what was the vacant space to the right of the washer/dryer units. Just like the laundry room from a few weeks ago, the use of baskets not only help organize the contents of the space, but add some flair and texture to the room. I love how they added hooks under the window to create their very own mudroom effect - the perfect place to hang little jackets, mittens and hats. The fresh coat of paint, new flooring, art work and cool lighting bring the whole space together.

So, there you have it, two laundry room face-lifts that are sure to get your wheels a turnin'. Going forward, as you make your own "to do" list for your house, keep in mind that every space is different and it doesn't always take a lot of money to turn a space around.  Sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves and get creative. For more info and pics on these projects and more (oh so much more) check out the Young House Love blog here. OH... and even better, they're coming out with a book.....

It releases 4 days after my birthday............could be a great present...hint hint :)

All photos are from Young House Love's Blog.

Three Shades of White

I love colors - paint colors, nail polish colors, Prismacolor marker colors, basically if a color comes with a name I'm all over it. In truth - sometimes I fall in love with the name first and the color second, example: cinnamon toast (Prismacolor (rendering marker)) or Gray Owl (Benjamin Moore paint color), or "You Don't Know Jacques" (OPI - nail polish color), what can I say, some names just make me happy.

As fun as colors can be, they can also be tricky, especially when it comes to paint. Earlier this year I talked about my long and painful journey to find the perfect gray. During that process I quickly learned a few key things: one, not all paints are created equal and two, sometimes the most basic colors can be the most complicated.

Over the last year or so I've become increasingly color conscious due to my close workings with Bell Cabinetry. Bell Cabinetry is a custom cabinet company where all finishes are custom. Because of this I've become very aware of the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to paints, but more importantly I've realized possibly the most complex color of them all is white.

White is an important color for interiors. Not only are shades of white the most popular hue of choice for house trim such as door and window casings, baseboards, house crown, etc...,but white is - has been - and will likely continue to be a hot, classic trend for cabinetry, specifically in the kitchen.

So, why is white so complicated? Easy - like most colors there are an abundance of white options, all of which differ slightly. Do you want a white-white, a gray white, a creamy white? So many options, it can make your head spin!

Above are just some of the paint samples I have around my office. All of these are in the white family. As you can see they all have a little something different going on and their difference really stand out when placed side by side.

White becomes especially complicated when it needs to marry up to something else white. This has had a tendency to be problematic because one of the hottest trends in kitchen and bath design is the forever lust worthy white cabinets with white countertop trend. So many times clients pick out their white marble and choose a white paint only to find that the white paint makes the marble look yellow, or even worse, pink... oh the tragedy!

To aid you all in your personal voyage to the perfect white for your projects I've put together a little collection of some of my favorite white options. One is my go-to ol' faithful, and two others are actually new shades recently introduced to me by clients.

Let's start with the bees knees of white paint. Not only does it marry well with most white countertops/tile but it's crisp true depth whiteness makes for a great great choice for trim as well.

White Dove - 


Benjamin Moore''s White Dove - OC-17

See it here on the cabinetry of this kitchen. Notice how it creates a nice backdrop for the Calcutta marble tops and backsplash. It's like a white dream - lovely. 

This photo is my own.

 Above is an example of the White Dove on the trim in this dining room. Notice how the color really pops against the gray/green color of Benjamin Moore's Sea Haze (I'll have to write about the journey to this color one day - another doozie!) So crisp - love it!

Shoji White -




Sherwin Williams' Shoji White - SW7042

This photo is my own.

Here is a sneak peek of my #ChattanoogaProject which showcases Shoji White on the perimeter cabinets as well as on the trim throughout the kitchen. This kitchen doesn't have it's countertops yet, but you can see this shade of white is pure with a hint of beige - no yellow, no gray.

Frostline -

Benjamin Moore's Frostline AF-5.

You may recognize this color from last weeks post. Frostline was the paint color for the mud/bench area.

This photo is my own.

Frostline has a more icy blue-green undertone which makes for a cool wintry white.

Obviously there are a bazillion other white paint options out there, but these are three that I've had success with recently. If any of you know of other great go-to options or better yet, paints that should have a skull and crossbones on the can do tell. Lord knows we can all use all the help we can get in this crazy, options galore world of paint.

Unless otherwise noted all photos are from google search.

Details are a Rooms Best Friend

I've got a lot of projects rockin' and rollin' right now. It's been a busy summer and it doesn't look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. The jobs I'm working on at any given time can range from new construction projects where we are doing cabinetry for an entire house, to remodels where we may be working on a powder room vanity. Regardless of the type of project, those projects with heart and consideration ALWAYS turn out the best. Earlier in the summer I talked about the importance of details and with every project I start and finish I'm reminded of what a difference the details can make.

We recently completed a fun laundry/mud room project that takes functional to a whole new level. The project consists of new laundry room cabinets and the addition of a mud bench right outside the laundry room. The space is not very big, but the homeowner is SUPER SAVVY and was determined to get as much functionality out of this space as humanly possible. Every square inch of these spaces was considered. Countless items such as the ironing board, iron, laundry detergent, spray bottles and baskets have been measured and re-measured to ensure they will fit in their designated areas. We have literally squeeeeeeeezed every last drop of usable space out of this room and it turned out great.

Is this not THE cutest little mudroom/bench area? In order to create this space the contractor, Chris Pfahl of Dreamweaver Properties, had to modify the wall to the right of the door by pushing the wall into the garage to create this niche'.  This space is just big enough to house the little backpacks and jackets on decorative hooks. Additional storage space was captured in the drawers under the wooden seat and the open shelving at the top of the unit is the perfect place to house baskets. 

What you see above may seem like a pretty, updated shot of a laundry room, but it's oh so much more....

This wall of cabinetry literally explodes with storage! As I mentioned above, every inch of this space was considered to ensure that as much storage was captured as possible. We installed a partition in the far left tall cabinet to house the ironing board. Adjustable shelves were installed to the right of the partition. The partition as well as the shelving sit back 4" from the front of the door so the broom, mop and other items hung on the back of the door have a place to land when the door is shut.

 
 
The tall cabinet to the right houses three adjustable rollouts, adjustable shelves and a pullout trash can. As you can see the homeowner is utilizing baskets both in the mudroom/bench area as well as on the adjustable shelves. It's a great way to store miscellaneous items in a drawer like setting without having to actually have the drawer or rollout. Also, the adjustable shelving lends itself to a lot of flexibility in that the shelves can be moved or removed to accommodate stored items in various shapes and sizes.

A countertop was placed over the washer and dryer which creates a nice uninterrupted folding area.

 Wall cabinets & a hanging rod were installed above the washer and dryer. This addition offers plenty of drip-dry hanging space and even more storage.

 The washer and dryer take up most of the space on this wall, but it should come as no surprise that leaving valuable storage space on the table just wasn't an option. The homeowner gets 100% credit for thinking up this smart little cabinet sandwiched in between the washer and dryer. This cabinet serves as the perfect space to house laundry detergent, dryer sheets, fabric softener, etc...

The adorable shirt/short hardware was another customer find and really adds another layer of personality to the space.

All cabinetry for this project was Bell Custom Cabinetry and was constructed in Paint Maple. The Mudroom/Bench area was painted in Benjamin Moore's Frostline AF-5 and the wooden seat was stained to match the floors. The laundry room cabinets were painted in Benjamin Moore's Metropolitan AF-690.

There is no doubt about it - this client had done her research, she had talked to friends, surfed the web and utilized sites like pinterst and Houzz to find inspiration photos of what it was she was looking for. She gathered all of this ammunition and then set out to make her space work for her and her family. All of her hard work paid off because she has a truly functional and aesthetically beautiful space that others will be pinning and adding to their idea books for years to come!

All photos in this post are my own.

If You Give a Blogger a Diamond Ring...

She  goes on a blogging hiatus.

 

I know, I know it's been a hot minute since I last blogged, but I have a good excuse.....

 I got engaged on September 7th! 

 

The proposal came as a huge shock, my now fiance, Brent surprised me with the sweetest proposal in Highlands, NC on our five year anniversary. After the initial proposal we went back to his family's mountain house where I was further shocked to find both of our families there to celebrate! It was awesome and I couldn't be happier. But, since the moment the words, "yes, yes, yes" (while bouncing up and down, ugh they even caught this on camera) came out of my mouth my world has been ROCKED! Engagements require a lot of attention. Everyone wants to see the ring, offer congratulations and find out alllll the details not only on the proposal but on the date, the dress, the colors, you know all the decisions we haven't had a chance to make. It's been a whirlwind, a fun and exciting whirlwind, but a whirlwind nonetheless.

 

Amidst all of this engagement fun I have a lot going on at work too. We have SO many fun projects going on right now and a lot of them will have blogs attached. I have a post in the works right now that will  showcase a recently completed laundry/mudroom project. Plus, my Chattanooga project installs TODAY, so I'm hoping to post some shots of that one too.

 

We are hoping for a Spring wedding, so until then....my brain will consist of: wedding planning, kitchens, baths, blogging, laundry rooms, designing house of my own, wedding planning, mudrooms, powder rooms and a little more wedding planning.....sounds like fun on the brain to me!

Here we are in Highlands!

Look, I've already made it into a wedding magazine....

 



Photo - Instagram
This little treasure was courtesy of Holly Hill Floyd. She knows how much I love being in magazines ;)

As far as the wedding goes I've decided I'm going to treat it like a kitchen remodel, one decision at a time. Piece of cake ;)


Unless otherwise noted all photos are from Lori Foster.

At Home With Christian Louboutin

When fashion and interiors collide, consider my interest sparked.

 I love and appreciate fashion almost as much as interiors, so needless to say I'm always very excited when the opportunity arises to get a sneak peak into the lives of fashion designers I admire. Because I believe how someone chooses to decorate and furnish their home is a direct reflection of their style, interests and personality, I always feel I "know" the designer that much better after seeing photos of their home.

This month the Wall Street Journal Magazine has a feature on shoe designer, Christian Louboutin's home.

September 2012 Issue.

For all of you shoe lovers out there, it's no secret that Christian Louboutin is one of the most influential shoe designers of the 21st century. His shoes are easy to spot as they feature the highly coveted red sole.

The red sole has become a symbol of the highest level of luxury in shoes. His shoe designs are a dream and range from uber elegant and classic to outrageous.

As is the case with most creative genius' Christian Louboutin is a bit eccentric, which is one of the many reasons I so enjoyed reading this article. He enjoys collecting pieces from across the world, regardless of if he actually has a specific place in mind to house them. The magazine states, "Nearly all of the decorative pieces in Louboutin's home were purchased on impulse.  I'd say with 5 homes across the world - in Paris, Portugal, Egypt, Los Angeles and the French Countryside he has plenty of space to house his treasures. 

This particular feature focuses on Christian's regal 13th century manor in the French Countryside.

Entry Hall.

 I love the grand curve of the mahogany stairway, it gives the space a very elegant vibe. Notice the venetian crystal globes at the base of the stairs.

The orangerie.

This sun room of sorts is the perfect mixture of foliage, earthy tones and textures. I would love to see the whole room, there are clues in this photo that suggest the room holds even more interest than you can spot in this shot. If you look closely you can see a tiny bit of what looks to be a very interesting and rustic beam structure in the ceiling. The sofa, chairs and table are from 1910 and were found in Egypt.

Living Room.

 To me, this room just looks so french and elegant. I love the soft color palette mixed with the gold furnishing and detailed trim work. The mirror and marble countertop shown in this photo were bought at auction.

This is a photo of Christian Louboutin in his archive.

The above photos shows Christian in his shoe archive at his home in the French Countryside. Yes, you read right -  SHOE ARCHIVE! This space was completed earlier this Spring and houses eight THOUSAND pairs of his shoe creations spanning twenty years.

The archive is housed in an oak barn. How ironic, right? Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of shoes housed in a barn. Love it.

This photo shows off the spectacular interior of the shoe archive. The space is filled with treasures Louboutin has collected from all over the world. The shelving you see to the far left houses all of the shoes and is decorated with pressed botanicals from his garden. The two large searchlights you see in the middle of the space are from a Paris Antique shop and  the Suez Canal. One was purchased in Egypt while the other was found at a Paris Flea Market. In addition, there are two Aztec totem poles, a pair of Indian rococo columns and Syrian columns that were picked up from Mexico City and a Paris antique shop.  The magazine states, "the mirrored 'basin' on the floor was modeled on the Canopus pool in Hadrian's Villa near Rome. " Finally, the walls are lined with  photographs, including a series of nudes wearing fetish shoes Louboutin designed. I really love how the space is a hodgepodge of all things loved by this artist. The space is bright, airy and filled to the brim with inspiration. Maybe the best part of all is the irony of the collectibles, expensive shoes and art work being housed in a barn. But what beautiful backdrop it offers.

Louboutin said, "I prefer buying things and figuring out where to put them later than regretting not buying them." I really admire and relate to this concept. I can't tell you how many times I've passed something up while shopping only to find myself obsessing over it hours later. More times than not, when I return the items have been snatched up and the opportunity has been missed.  I truly believe the most interesting spaces are those filled with decor and furnishings with a story attached. Stories describing the journey to finding those one of a kind pieces, handmade pieces, passed down pieces or random finds always intrigue me and make rooms feel warmer and more personalized.

All photos are from google search.

Spotted - Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

Grab a copy of September's edition of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. The issue features the National Kitchen & Bath Association of Georgia's 2011 Calla Awards including my award for Large Kitchen!

Isn't the cover beautiful?

Here's a glimpse at the article. The kitchen I worked on is shown on the bottom of page 34. This project features beaded inset cherry cabinetry, a custom copper hood, and custom ice-box refrigerator hardware. This kitchen went through a major re-design requiring walls to be removed and reworked. The new kitchen surpassed all expectations aesthetically and functionally and will definitely be a place this family of four can enjoy for years to come.

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles is one of my favorite publications. Each month I anxiously await the newest copy, excited to see page after page of inspiration. I'm so jazzed to finally have a project I worked on featured in the magazine - I've arrived! ;)

Unless otherwise noted all photos are from google search.

Throw Some Glitter On It

You know, there's just something about things that sparkle. Sequins, glitter and other forms of sparkle have been prevalent in fashion for sometime. Interestingly, as of lately I've seen a trend towards the integration of more and more bling to interiors. As fun and exciting as this trend has the potential to be, it could get tacky REAL fast.

As always, less is more - let's explore.......

 The savvy use of the randomly placed glass tiles give this bathroom an additional layer of elegance. It's funny how something so small can make such an impact when hit by the light.  

How snazzy is this? We've seen the use of the glass tiles to add shimmer, but here the glass tiles were installed in a striped pattern against gray walls. The sparkly stripes and pops of pink scream feminine chic' - love it.

Photo from Cambria's website.

This is Rosslyn, one of Cambria's latest creations. I was SO excited to hear this slab as well as Berkeley were introduced this month! I saw this quartz slab in Chicago back in April at KBIS. At that time Cambria was teasing us with samples of several slabs that "could be" based on interest. Obviously I was not alone in my love for this surface because here it is and what a beauty! This photo truly doesn't do it justice as it is so warm, so sparkly and has so much potential to add a fun punch to any space.

Photo from google search.

These are toss pillow covers from West Elm. What a fun way to easily add some sparkle to your space without over committing. 

How feminine and fabulous is this sequined shower curtain over that claw foot tub?  I'm not sure I would cover up a claw foot tub with a shower curtain but if for some reason it was necessary I think this curtain is a fun choice.

OK, maybe this doesn't completely go with my above less is more comment but what a fun statement wall! Obviously you would have to have the right type of business to make this work. Love the mixture of the gold sequined wall with the black and white rug and pink walls - very Beyonce' meets Mackenzie Childs.

Elements with a little sparkle have the unique ability to demand attention. If done tastefully a little sparkle here and there can add an unexpected layer of elegance and sophistication to any space.


Unless otherwise noted all photos are from Pinterest. Check out my boards here.