Fall favorites

Happy Thursday! How is it already mid-September? It still feels like August around here, so this Mama is a happy one. I'm working on some really exciting projects right now. Here are six interior design trends and classic looks I'm eyeing and/or using!!

 1. BLEACHED OR LIMED WOOD FLOORS

2. CEMENT FLOOR TILES

these come in an array of designs and this company has a great selection.

3. BRASS GLOBE LIGHTS

4. LARGE PHOTOS AND BOHEMIAN THROWS AND PILLOWS

5. BRASS SHELVING

6. PAINTED LANTERNS

Shelter Loves....

Happy Fri-yay!! I had a great design meeting today with a client I have worked with in the past! A big part of my business involves building relationships. I love watching my clients lives evolve and their families grow. The personal connections I make through my job is one of the most rewarding aspects!
I was working away on quite a few projects this week so my brain is in need of a day off.. Here is what caught my eye in the process! Peace out, have a relaxing weekend!

1. I designed a nursery yesterday. I love creating spaces for children that they can grow into. Designer, Nick Olsen did just that with this beautiful nursery design. Image via Veranda.
2. I'm kinda digging the platform wedge shoes that are out right now. They are stylish and comfy..A win, win in my book!
3. God, don't we all know this!! I've got to learn to move on a bit better.
4. I've decided to finally finish my personal photo wall in my home. I loved this mix of images and the simple framing used here.
5. + 6. My wonderful client and I walked through her new home today. It is a beautiful house with so much opportunity. We talked about injecting her home with moments of black and white stripes. The classic combo is perfect when done right! This Dorothy Draper designed floor is a great example of the look I adore! I'm also loving this moto jacket layered over a summery striped dress. Find a similar dress here.

Office Update - Shelter

Hello, hello!! We have been working away on a number of projects at Shelter but today I squeezed in some time to put together our new office boards. Don't cringe at the before photos of the area - (images below). This is what we are working with for space. I can't rip out the floor tile but I will be covering as much as I can with a rug. We are painting the walls a very pale grey and recovering the windows in simple woven shades. I may even custom order a large seagrass rug to lay under the black and white rug. I want to cover as much of the tile as possible!!

I wanted to create a clean, fresh office. I will be setting up a large inspiration board to tack fabrics and design ideas to. (I love Kelly Wearstler's over sized board - image below). I also own a number of the items that we will be using. (I'm sort of a chair addict so I have collected a number of random chairs). I have linked to the rest of the items. This space will also be created on a budget. Meg (my fabulous design assistant), myself and Matty hope to finish it up by the beginning of May!!
I will be sure to share the after photos with you!

BEFORE: 

Painting the walls a very pale, pale grey. Clark+Kensington's CW-C3

1.  Brass lamps
2. We will use a mix of vintage containers for our pens and pencils. Via Etsy and thrift shops.
3.  Melltorp Ikea table x 2 (using as desks)
4. + 5. I own two Eames chairs and will throw sheep skin rugs over them for comfort.
6. Hustle print
Ikea rug - Stockholm rug
7.  Storage baskets for samples and project fabrics
8.  Cheery artwork
9. Kelly Wearstler's design boards
10. Smaller pin boards for business cards, calendars etc.
11. + 13 I own two chairs similar to these. We will use them around a round glass top table that I already own. This will serve as a meeting and secondary work area.
12. Two pillows to use on the wooden chairs. Loving these!!

Happenings......

Hola! Happy Thursday! I thought I'd share with you what is going on around here at Shelter. I'm working on a few great design projects and wrapping some others up as well! You might as well focus on the interior of your home when the exterior is covered in snow......

I've been working with one client for over a year! They are wonderful people and I can't wait to share their beautiful home photos with you when the project is completed! Here is a peek at their foyer design and a malachite console I had custom made for them. I work with some fabulous work rooms and the sky is the limit to what they will fabricate for me. I simply provide the drawings + inspiration sketches and viola! Perfection....Photography: Sarah Winchester

WORKING ON.....

I used Ace Hardware's Clark+Kensington paint for these two projects in the following color: Walls: Abstract Gray N-C26

FINISHED UP this bright and cheery kitchen for another client.......Photography by: Ann-Marie Rollo

Paint colors: Cabinets: Designer White - 1066

Walls: White Moon 35A-1

AT SHELTER: 

My assistant, Meg and I are going to begin to set up our new office space. We will be co-sharing the space with Matty, so he would like to set up his area (understandable ;) ) "The girls" area will be inspired by these images. We just need to wait for the 6' of snow to melt a bit before moving in but I suppose we can begin to paint. Stay tuned for the before and afters of the space this Spring!! I'll be sharing an office design board soon.

The office is going to mix clean white, smokey pinks/greys and brass. I want it as open and bright as possible. I will have a work area and a central round table. I already own most of the items I want to use, which is a good thing!

I prefer to work on a large flat surface such as a table as opposed to a small desk. So I'll be heading to Ikea for two white tables/desks.

The space will combine these elements...

This is Kelly Wearstler's office...I mean don't get me wrong, my office could fit on that table top but I'm liking the mix of smokey colors..

I also LOVE these colors

I love a clean white desk and organized work space. Image via

Peek: Project Photos

Here's a little peek at a job I finished up this Fall. The clients were fabulous to work with and the job was located in the Back Bay of Boston. We also had an amazing foyer planned with this mirror, a round decorative table and an over dyed rug but they had to move unexpectedly to NYC. I'm so happy we finished up what we did! The cubes and two off white chairs were custom designed by moi. I'll soon be offering both through my Shelter furniture line on my website. Don't hesitate to email me for any information on them.

Giving Back - After

A couple of weeks ago I posted about an event I took part in to raise money and awareness of the furniture bank for the Mass Coalition for the homeless. Well I'm happy to say it was a great success, we raised $6,000 for the cause and had a great time doing so. My good friend and fellow blogger Danika Herrick of Gorgeous Shiny Things set up an entire room. I chose a vintage piece of furniture from their furniture bank and revamped it for the auction. Here are the before and after shots. A big thank you to Ace Hardware for donating the paint for this project.

BEFORE: A tired Lane Furniture table.

AFTER: I needed to choose a gender neutral shade, so I chose a color from Ace's: Colors for Your Life paint deck - Shady Lane - A36-6 (semi-gloss finish) but I had them mix it in Ace Hardware's Clark+Kensington, paint+primer in one line.  I used gold leaf paint on the inside of the handle and leg caps.

"copyright Ace Hardware Corporation 2012"

"copyright Ace Hardware Corporation 2012"

" copyright Ace Hardware Corporation 2012"

The rug is from the Nate Berkus collection for HSN.

The photographs are by Ann-Marie Rollo, see her amazing work here.

Here's a picture of my friend Danika Herrick from Gorgeous Shiny Things and o'verlays (far left), another designer, Susan Wornick who is a local news anchor and myself (far right) at the event. Dana's room came out amazing, see it on her blog here. Girlfriend is crazy with a paint brush, I'm not sure where she finds the time to do it all. 

Win: Ace's Merry Paint Makeover!!

As one of Ace Hardware's three design experts I'm so excited to announce our holiday contest, Ace's Merry Paint Makeover. Simply, like Ace Hardware on Facebook, then submit your photo and story to win the grand prize of a $10,000 room makeover by one of Ace's design experts! The contest runs November 14th - November 26th, 12pm EST! Hurry and enter now, myself or one of the other designers may be redesigning a room in your home if you're chosen! Best of luck to you!! For more details and information on the runner up prizes please see Ace's website and Facebook page.