Budget friendly office make-over for Design Smarts - Before and After

Good Morning, excuse the low-quality iphone shots, it is all we had time for. This shoot was set up for tv and filming! Here is a peek of what I spent Monday and Tuesday doing. As most of you know, I work closely with Ace Hardware as one of their design experts. (there are three of us) This week I had the opportunity to re-design a small, dark, cluttered office for a busy family. The segment will air on Design Smarts this November. My aim was to transform this space with an updated floor plan and a make over that included new furniture and a fresh paint and color palette. I worked within a budget of under $5,000 and only had one day to purchase and arrange many of the items. (Thanks for all the help Megan!)

The updated design includes plenty of storage, whimsical, colorful accessories and a bright and organized work area. I used a neutral paint palette and unified the busy architectural details by painting the trim, ceiling and walls all in the same color - Shady Lady by Valspar. I varied the finish on the trim, walls and ceiling. I painted the niche and inside of the doors in a pretty navy shade - Blue Fedora by Valspar. I also added lighting to the perimeter of the room in a number of areas to fill the dark corners. I was happy with the layered results on such a quick turn around and small budget. 

lights, camera - setting up for filming

I included a mix of textiles including these African fabric pillows.

Here is shot of me! I somewhat tried to blend with the room. You can also see the doors are painted navy blue. This is a great way to add some color into your home. Not all interior doors need to be painted white or left natural! Also, don't be afraid to paint dark brick. I would not opt to paint antique bricks but I did propose to paint the 70's brick in this room!

links to outfit: plaid shirt, jeans - on sale, blazer, leopard loafer similar (I live in these)

 THE BEFORE SHOTS

Pied-a-terre

Good afternoon lovies! Sorry for the silence....I flew to NJ for a quick trip on Monday and Tuesday and spent the day playing catch up. I worked with Ace Hardware and Valspar paint on an office make-over. We had two days and under a $5000 budget to rescue and remake a small, cramped office...more on that exciting make over tomorrow!

On my quick flight (gotta love a 40 minute plane ride) I breezed through this month's House Beautiful. The cover shot was of a colorful, layered project by Ashley Whittaker. I love her neo-traditional approach to design. She mixes patterns and shapes fearlessly! I hopped on over to her site for a little inspo today.
I have been pulling the final details together on a small city condo myself and was reminded of this beauty by Ashley! I love everything about this beautifully designed pied-a-terre!

Loving this art. Anyone know the source?

Shelter Loves

I am winding down my busy week with cozy and warm thoughts today. The wind is whipping and the leaves are falling in Boston. Cheers to a fabulous fun filled weekend my friends! xo

1. I love the warmth of tortoise shell. These over sized earrings would look flattering on everyone. Earrings. 
2. I've always had a love for colorful tweeds. This dress is amazing, Jules does it again.
3. I agree!
4. I'm in a cozy sweatshirt mood. I'm loving the creamy white shade and raglan sleeves on this one. 
5. One of my fall favorites is squash soup. I am due to make a batch and need to buy a slow cooker! Recipe here. I may just do both this weekend. 
6. This is a sweet design moment. I could snuggle up right now and take a nap next to that pooch.

Revisiting antlers in decor

 In 2014 I wrote a post about the popularity of antlers in home design:  I had reservations about their overuse.  Whenever anything becomes too popular I am automatically reticent about employing the trend in my own home or  the homes of clients.  I decided there was a middle ground when it  comes to using antlers in an interesting way  as described in my initial post.

My antler gift finally moved indoors this summer once I decided it was suitably bleached.  The other one  was left in the flower bed.   Once moved inside it took up a  nomadic existence as you can see from the photos below.  You never knew where it would turn up.

 

On the trunk in the living room for an evening of company when you want some ambiance.  The antler served as a place holder for the remote start candles.  I love this invention;  they flicker like real candles, smell like real candles and you don't have to worry about fire.  Thanks Costco!

Or on the dining table if you want to use the the trunk for food or drinks.

or

as part of a console table vignette.

Our summer place was featured  in a local design magazine called Home and Cabin.  I needed an organic shape to add dimension to  a  vignette I created for the shoot.  My antler was perfect in scale and form.  It almost looks like writing and relates well to the other collected items on the tabletop. 

And when not in use, it resides on the floor in the corner  ready and willing to leap into service when called upon. 

I saw this  Fall application today on Pinterest and it gave me a new idea for Christmas.  Guess I'll be dragging antlers to my city home next month! This works so well because everything is bleached even the table top.  Did I mention I love bleached wood? 

Perhaps you have an antler in your life and have ideas for  its use.  I would love to hear from you. 

French Dressing Part Deux - 12/24 pieces!

There isn't much I like more than French style. In fact I adore almost french any and everything!

This post is part "deux" of a French Style Dressing. The part une post is from last February. Read the first post here.  I covered the French basics every woman shown own for the warmer season. Today I'm finishing the piece up with the final Fall/Winter essentials - 12 pieces to own!! I would also add a little black dress and a great pair of pumps to this list!!

I've always admired the french culture's ability to refine their lifestyle. They edit what they eat, they curate their homes and most have surely perfected how they dress. Many french women never over coif their hair but somehow it looks perfectly messy. This goes for the typical skin care and make-up routine too.

They seem to know exactly what to do but never appear to try too hard. I'm liking that philosophy, it speaks to my design sensibility. Things should look perfectly imperfect and never forced. With this said, I plan to edit my closet this weekend. Cutting back on the clutter in my life has been fabulously freeing. (now if I could get to those boxes in my basement!) Every time I purchase something new, I donate something I don't wear any longer.

Hope you enjoy this post as much as I liked pulling it together.. A bientot!

Here are a few of my favorite french fashion icons:

Marion Cotillard

Ines de la Fressange - I worship her fashion sense

Melanie Laurent - like Melanie my hair is often swept back into a pony or braid.

And of course Emmanuelle Alt

Here are the pieces and the details (below)

(links in red)

BOTTOMS:
1. Fitted black pants - match anything!! And are comfy for busy ladies and mommies. 
2. Cropped flair pants - a look like this can be dressed up or down. I am loving the splash of color.
3. Leather pant or pant with leather details. A must have. I wear mine all the time!

TOPS:
1. A v-neck sweater - (I usually layer a tank underneath - see part une)
2. A great fitting denim shirt. (which I will be wearing today)

OUTERWEAR:
3. A gorgeous coat! Camel is timeless!
4. A velvet blazer. This can be layered a zillion ways! - this is 25% off!!
5. A leather jacket. Another piece that will last for ages!

JEWELS - French women choose these wisely. They are often better quality and they never wear too many baubles at a time.

1. Earrings - statement earring are fun with a simple outfit!
2. Bracelet - loving this entire collection 

THE BAG:

1. A great quality bag is a must! I adore satchels...

BOOTIES:
These are the perfect Fall to winter boot when it's not snowing!

HERE IS THE FRENCH DRESS PART UNE! Combine all of these pieces in your closet, add a little black dress, a great pair of heels, a cozy oversized chic sweatshirt about five scarfs and you are on your way to a perfectly edited french closet!

Minted Monday

Good Morning and happy Monday! I recently received a wonderful piece of art from Minted. Yes, Minted sells amazing stationery and printed cards for every occasion you can imagine but did you realize they also sell art? Minted collaborates with independent artists from around the country to bring you an array of limited edition prints. The website is very user friendly and the selection is vast. Each print is available in a number of sizes and there are a beautiful selection of frames to choose from.

I had fun over the weekend styling my mantel. Mantels are a wonderful place to exhibit art and unique objects in a gallery style. Mix and match various pieces depending on your mood and the season. Here are some shots of my mantel and living room. I'll be sure to change it up for the upcoming holiday season. Speaking of the holidays. Art is a wonderful gift idea for the holiday season. My minted selection arrived in less than a week from the day I placed the order.

The piece I chose is by artist Kristi Kohut and is titled Free. I've been recently loving Kristi's artwork. Kristi was chosen by Elle Decor as a "7-next-big-thing artist". Take a peek at the rest of her work on Minted.

Here is a detail shot of the herringbone frame I chose. I am loving the white washed look and arrow detail. 

I also like the look of the print alone on my mantel. It has a clean feel. 

Here is an asymmetrical layout.

And a shot with mini-pumpkins

Minted also sells customizable children's art. I love this idea and am also adoring their foil pressed art. Here's an example that was custom printed....

Shelter Loves...

Hola, I'm keeping things short and sweet around here today! I snuck in a "chill" yoga class with my friend Tammi this am! I need to do that more often. I'm feeling relaxed and colorful today. Here is what is on my radar this week. Happy Friyay!

1. It's sweater and fair isle season. I would wear this Boden version in a smaller size with skinny jeans and great flat boots.
2. I was sorry to miss Eddie's book signing last night at Hudson. I had a birthday dinner so I could not make it!
3. Ahhh, yes! Or at least throw the room off with something unexpected! 
4. I wear glasses to drive. In fact my night vision seems to be getting worse. eek. I need a new pair of glasses and am going to try the free at home trial with Warby Parker. The prices are right and I would rather not feel rushed at a store. I am kinda liking the Baxter and the Jennings. Heavy glasses over power my face, these feel a bit lighter.
5. + 6. Okay so I am slightly obsessed with team Gen + Ben's style. Their colorful and graphic designs really resonate with me. Check out the duo's amazingly creative firm here and their home feature on One King's Lane here. ONE WORD: GAH!!

Thrifty decor: Bring on the green

Do you like a little nature inside your home?

Do you love to find something that looks good and costs little or nothing?

Do you like quick  pops of texture and colour ?

Barnacle vessel by Anita Singh

Then think ferns.  Wild ones, the ones you see growing in the woods or other damp places.  They are  a constant in my summer decor mostly because I don't have ready access to cultivated options and also because I love to create interest and a homey, nature inspired look without spending money.


Living on the edge of the ocean, in a meadow with thick woods behind me is the perfect spot for foraging for bargain accents.   I often combine sea related objects, some found and others hand crafted.

Another trick I use is to continually move around objects I have to create new looks.  My summer place is small and there isn't a lot of storage for "accessories".  The candle replaced the sculptured vessel in the photo  above.   

.   

 Then an old oil lamp replaced the candle.  So three objects different heights, different textures and different shapes is a simple formula for display.  Another trick is to mimic the shape of the table in one or more of the objects.  The circle is repeated a number of times in this vignette.

As the ferns started to wilt,  I removed them and cut some grasses and alder leaves to flesh out the display and moved it to another spot.  Leading the viewer's eye is another great trick to use for simple displays.  Your eye pops from the rope ball, to the bouy and then through to the ferns and lamp.  Again I have different textures, heights and shapes.  The added texture of the lamp base and the table creates a very inviting vignette.  

If you don't have a meadow or woods near you buying several ferns at the florist has the same effect.

Do you have a favourite go to wild plant to use in your  arrangements?

Insta peek and happenings!!

Hello loves! I honestly want to take a minute to say that I look forward to blogging and sharing inspiration with you everyday!! Here is what's going on 'round here.

I took a trip to Memphis a couple of weeks ago. As I mentioned, I had the privilege of meeting Amy Howard. More on that below!

I love layering jewelry, especially bracelets. I also got one more day out of my Lilly Pulitzer jump suit cause the weather was warm in TN....Here are the links on what I am wearing!

1. Tag Watch - similar (I have had this classic watch for years)
2. Bracelet
3. navy infinity bracelet - similar
4. Lilly knot bracelet - this is brand new but not on the site.
5. Denim jacket - similar plus 25% off on Shopbop!!

I'm still a fan of Domino. I love taking the time to peruse a magazine when I fly. I don't do that enough!

I had the honor of having dinner with Amy Howard, people from the Ace team, DBC PR team, my two fellow design experts and a panel of bloggers. It was amazing. Every detail in her home was perfect!! Here's a peek at her living room. Check out the mirrored panels around the fire place. Amy achieved this look with one of her fabulous products. I attended an all day training session with her products, so I got the skinny on it all. Ace Hardware will be selling her line now!! I am soo excited about this.
Let me just begin by saying her philosophy on not only rescuing furniture and making it shine but on life was pretty moving. Our similar back story of being a single parent resonated with me!! Sometimes your life can be flipped upside down but you need to make the most of it!

The lacquer product is like a dream and I had a blast learning how to lime and gild wood!! Stay tuned for the revamp of a dresser for my son! So excited to finish that project up!

Here is a look at her powder room. Amy lacquered the mirror and the wallcovering is by Schumacher. This print is one of my favorites...I am a sucker for anything Chinoiserie. I will never tire of it. (my gawd, I never take selfies)

My pants are from ZARA - similar (you cannot beat their pants for the price tag!) and the top is Tracy Reese - love her clothes!!! (I have had this for some time)

Amy Howard's collection!!! The Amy Howard One Step paint is amazing!!

I attended Erin Gate's bebe shower a couple of weeks ago. It was perfect, they did such a beautiful job. I am so thrilled for Andrew and Erin, we go way back and I adore her.
See more of the images at Elements of Style.

I had this floor painted (project Surf) in a graphic pattern and the kitchen chairs sprayed navy...It's looking good!! Now we are moving onto the dining room!

This kitchen (project West Newton) is almost done. I had shelving installed on the wall of tile...They are hung with brass brackets and look pretty gorge!!! Can't wait to style this and have it photogaphed!!

I spent the weekend at my parent's vacation home. This is the view from the porch!! I always return from VT so refreshed. The mountains and fresh air will do that for you!! Can't wait to get skiing again this winter!

I opened this beautiful bauble for my bday from Matty this morning!! Nice job baby. Available here!! It looks so nice on!

 HAVE A FABULOUS DAY!! xo I appreciate each and every one of you stopping by!