Diana's New Home - Update

Sometimes clients really know how to put the pressure on. Just tell the designer that they are having a party in two weeks, "Can we be ready??" EEKKK!!!

After the initial wave of panic passes, I'm kicking it into high gear and I am on a mission. Party ready in two weeks.

What is on our "to do list?"

Window Treatments
Area Rug
Mirrors
Coffee Table
Lamp
Art/Accessories

And of course, as with any project, if you have gobs of money you can do most anything quickly, however if you have a budget to stick to (most of us do), it is a little more challenging. I'm on it!!! Let's see how we do...the clock is ticking.

FLOR Conservatory Rug

We purchased a FLOR Conservatory Rug Kit and a few extra tiles and had our carpet installer customize the area rug to follow the angled wall in Diana's Dining Room.

The Dining Room showing the area rug following the angled wall. Our installer, Steve, (not hubby Steve) did a terrific job cutting the tiles to make the angle and attaching the little stickies at the corners of all the tiles.

Note how we followed the angle of the wall.

What a beautiful area rug at a great price, and so functional too! If Martini (Diana's beautiful kitty) damages one of the tiles, just pop it out and replace it with one of the tiles from Diana's attic stock.

Restoration Hardware Savoy Mirror

We are using the Savoy Mirror from Restoration Hardware for the Dining Room. In stock and ready to ship - perfect. It's a nice size at 40"x60" and will look wonderful in her Dining Room reflecting the light and opening up the space.

Kolkka Dining Table Base


I am in love with this table base from Kolkka furniture. It just arrived at Design Resources in the Ohio Design Center. SOLD! It is stunning in person. Now to find a 54" top that will fit our budget. Glass will show off the beauty of the base and make the room feel larger, however stone would not show fingerprints. Let's see what I can find.

Our new Milling Road stools have arrived and fit nicely under the breakfast bar.

Restoration Hardware Marisol Mirror

Love this mirror too!! I recently read a post from one of my favorite blogs, Cote De Texas, where Joni Webb talks about what what some folks are saying is "in" and what's "out" - sunburst mirrors are out. Psst. I agree with Joni - I think not! Use what you love and enjoy!

Restoration Hardware Whitney Coffee Table


This table from Restoration Hardware is perfect for the space. Diana can easily move the table if she would like to use the Living Room for another purpose - say workout space in front of the TV. Easy - and it was in stock and on sale. :)

I met our window treatment person, Tom, on site yesterday. We measured for roller shades which will give us a clean look, privacy, and a nice base for any future top treatments. And the best part - WE CAN HAVE THEM INSTALLED FOR THE PARTY!!!

Now I have my fingers crossed that the mirrors and the table arrive on time, the window treatments arrive, and that I can find our last few items (art and a floor lamp) and stay within our budget.

Just another day in the life of an interior designer. It's the best!!

Stay tuned....

MASTER BATH REMODEL - DAY 16

Our master bath renovation had come to a screeching halt when Steve's mini-vacation ended and it was back to work for both of us. Two weeks have flown by and I am itching to get back to work and finish our little renovation.

Part of the delay was my fault. I just could not seem to settle on paint colors for our cabinets and walls.

As with many things in life, the decision isn't a simple one. The rustic, dark feel of the slate (we used it because we had it) had me longing for something to brighten up the room - so I turned to paint to accomplish this task.




As Steve will attest to, I spent many hours sitting in the room flipping through paint colors with no success. I just could not find any color or combination that made my heart sing. Purple is prevalent in the slate, but I know that I don't want a purple bath, or any shade there of. I have a red dining room and living room and that's enough red in one house. Gold can be beautiful but I have done that too. Sage green looked nice, I felt bored with it, but it was nice...nope...just not doing it for me. (Plus - I try to avoid green in baths - makes my skin color look dreadful.)

What's a designer to do??? Color block!!! OH NO!!! It can happen to the best of us.

And why is that - I had to ask. I think that I was stalled and unable to make a selection because somewhere inside I knew I had not found the "right" answer yet. In my mind the masculine slate was running head on into the clean, bright, beachy feeling that I really wanted in my master bath. Nothing felt right because I was trying to force a solution that went against what I really want. I sensed it wasn't right and I couldn't make a choice.

And then...quite by accident...I saw a magazine photo of a kitchen that made the light bulb go off for me. Would you like to see the inspiration photo??

I had to stop fighting the slate, accept the "look" and work around it. This style pictured above is a clean, fresh look, could be beachy, and will accommodate an accent color (think shower curtain or towels.)

I am really drawn to the natural beams. Won't work in my tiny bath but I can find a way to incorporate that natural wood some other way. My current plan is to use a piece of a beam and mount several sconces on the beam to create a bath light above the mirror. I mostly dislike the typical bath scones and would like to find something different. Why not make my own and I will use some exterior sconces to do it. That is...with some help from my partner in crime, Mr. Electrician.

So the lesson for me is - when I can't find a solution (read color, chair, stone, drape, etc) I am thinking too narrowly and in one way. Step back, relax, and approach it from another avenue. The answer will come. :)

Back to work with new excitement. Can't wait to finish the job, see the finished results, and enjoy our new bath!!

I think that I previously mentioned how much I dislike oak. Drawers sanded and awaiting paint, pictured above.

Doors all lined up and ready to be painted. I removed all the knobs and hinges and have been scouting for new hardware.

First coat on the cabinet doors, drying on the porch. Ahhh.

Stay tuned....

PS - Thanks to Lawry for providing the magazine photo. He gave it to me for his own home, but I love it too!