My latest labor of love!

Please take some time to click the following link to see how I transformed an old "paint on pottery" spot into a successful financial planning firm's new office space!

Before:

After:

See the full album of before and afters here!

Pretty as a picture!

Isn't this a fabulous find?! 

A local second hand store had it for only $75 and a friend of mine snatched it up before I did!

I hate when that happens!

Oh, well. We set to work coming up with a plan to transform it into a picture perfect bench to sit at the end of her daughter's bed. We selected some perfectly girly and fun fabrics through Interior Image and then had the girls in our workroom do their magic on it by skirting it and creating a bench seat.

And before we knew it, our pretty little bench was complete! Sweet, isn't it?

Love it, Kate! 

xoxoxo

Room Redo!

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, a room just doesn't come together 

the way you hoped it would.

When you're dealing with a small budget and a mish mosh of items, 

you can end up with a room that might have been better off the way it was before.

Let's take a look at the room above and see what we might do a bit differently.

1. Focal walls can go really wrong, really fast. And this one kinda did. 

The color is too jarring against the creamy walls and 

doesn't work at all with the rest of the space.

 Additionally, it really isn't the right wall to have done it on to begin with.

 A focal wall here should have been the window wall, or none at all. 

2. The items hung on the walls and the accessories on the stools

are not providing any wow factor or punch.

They aren't functional, beautiful or family mementos. 

3. The window treatments are just not working. The color, the pattern and oy, the length. 

Short curtains or drapes are a sure fire way to date your home...

and I don't mean that you went out to a nice dinner and a movie. 

Add on to that that the short length and lowered cornice 

only make the ceiling height feel shorter and squatty and you have a big problem.

4. While sitting at the desk, you wouldn't have a view out of the window 

and I for one don't want to stare at a wall.

5. For a woman's office, the red isn't feeling sophisticated, sexy or even pretty. 

It kinda feels 1990. Where's the Nagel?

A dramatic change could be had for very little money, 

time or effort and here's how:

1. Paint the entire space a color that inspires you. 

Make sure to test out the colors

on poster boards before you paint all the walls and have fun!

It's not a main living area, so you can get a bit crazy. 

A fresh peony pink would be super girly and change the space on it's own!

2. Change the way the desk is placed. 

I'd face the desk into the space and use the small stools 

that were there as a place for someone to sit and chat with you. 

I'd put it in your plan to look for a whimsical, upholstered desk chair. 

These can be had at all price points and should again 

say something about who you are and what you love. 

3. Bring something functional into the space! 

Repurpose a dresser in your home by painting it white and the hardware black. Don't have one? 

Goodwill is your buddy here.

 Easily found for not much money, you'll not only have

a place to store files, papers, pictures and such, 

but it provides a place to sit a couple of lamps to light up your beautiful new space! 

4. Go bold or go home!

Add on to the two framed mirrors you had on the wall by going out and buying four more.

You'll bounce more light off with the additional mirrors and 

really create a wow factor with very little money.

Have some fun on that hall wall as well! 

Bold wallpaper would be great, but even painted black and white stripes

 would jazz it up and make you smile every day.

5. Soften up!

Simple white drapes can be banded in ribbon and as long as you go up and out, you won't cover up the window area allowing all that natural light to come in and shine on you!

At some point, you can pick up a simple jute rug which sort of 

grounds the feminine color palette and brings some earthiness in.

Need help with your own spaces?

Email me for more information!

Happy Plaid Friday!

Plaid Friday is such a great thing! 

We all know about Black Friday and the mad rush to make it through all the big box stores to save a buck or two. Some people love it, my mom for one who is probably currently planning her map of stores, but I, for one, am not such a big fan. It's not that I'm against saving some money, it's that I don't like all the hubbub and I'm not good with crowds. 

Plaid Friday is the idea that the "little guys" need you to!

 Plaidfriday.com describes it as "The name Plaid Friday celebrates the diversity and creativity of independent businesses. Plaid Friday is the fun and enjoyable alternative to the big box store "Black Friday," and is designed promote both local and independently owned businesses during the holidays."

So, don't forget to shop and support your small local businesses and independent shops and artists.

To encourage this, I'm happy to offer 20% off all consultations with me through the end of December. Need a great gift idea for friends and family? How about a gift certificate for Interior Image or Jen of All Trades? We're happy to offer 20% off gift certificates through December 20th!

To celebrate Plaid Friday, I thought I'd pull out some of my favorite plaid inspirations and share with you. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and make sure to check back tomorrow for a fabulous giveaway!

(via desire to inspire)

(williams sonoma home)

Enjoy your night!

xoxo