Lamp: Before & After

Hey All, We're back from our weekend trip to the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, Australia.  We had a great whirlwind trip with the highlight, actually, being the ranch B&B we stayed at.  I'll have a post all about it and pictures soon. 

In the meantime, my mom recently posted an after photo of a thrift store lamp she purchased, while I was in Texas, back in March.  While I was there helping her with decorating projects, I painted the lamp yellow, but we didn't find a new shade for it before I left.  A few days ago she decided to recover a plain shade in some black and white chevron fabric and here is the result...

BEFORE

 

 

 

You can also see the formal dining room, that we decorated, in this picture.  The blue table, the lamp is sitting on, is the old one from the breakfast room that we moved out and was on its way out to the garage.

 

 

AFTER

 

 

 

There you go.  For, I would guess, under $10 she now has a 'new' lamp on her repurposed TV cabinet....another DIY project we tackled during that trip.  We were very busy!  Remember the breakfast room bench we built too?  I'll share some before and after pics of the TV console soon.

Texas Client Project {Gallery Wall}

This is something I talked about the other day.  Remember those cool prints I shared?  Today, I want to show you guys the full concept for the gallery wall, I'm proposing, for above the sofa.  Of course, this can be a gradual process, but I think I like this better than what we have going on right now with the driftwood and oyster shell mirror.  Decorating is definitely a fluid (costly) thing...always adjusting and changing. 

Here is how it will look with the newly striped walls. 

You can find all the art sources on my Texas Client Project board.

Before & After {Ottoman}

Today, I want to share a before and after DIY my mom did.  She bought this old vinyl covered ottoman at a second hand shop and recovered it in a great bold and colorful geometric print.

BEFORE

 

AFTER

 

 

 

So, what do you guys think?  My mom is pretty talented!  I'll be sharing those after photos of her striped walls, soon.

Texas Client Project {Art}

The wall striping is now finished (more pics coming soon) and now it's time to add a couple prints to the wall above the sofa.

So far we have a collection of three large pieces of driftwood and a mirror covered in oyster shells hanging above the sofa.  To round it out and make it feel like a gallery feature wall, I think we should add some abstract art.

Here are my two favorites and the ones I'll be suggesting...

I really love this blue print...I may even order one for myself!

{image: print by Samantha Hallenus}

{image: print by Douglas David Walker}

To keep costs down, I suggest using the same RIBBA frame from Ikea, to unify the pair.

Client Project Photos {Striped Walls}

Remember when I shared the after shots of my Texas Client's (a.k.a. Mom) breakfast room?  Well, it turns out that it wasn't quite finished, after all.  While Skyping the other day I suggested she add painted stripes to the walls in the breakfast room and the one long wall in the family room that's connected to the breakfast room.  Two days later, she started. 

Today, I thought I'd share a couple in-progress photos.  By the way, she loves how it's looking, but is not happy with me, because the taping/prep is a pain in the butt.  Kind of glad I'm on the other side of the world for this project.  Just a reminder...Who helped build that huge window bench in the breakfast room?  Oh yeah, that would be me!

 

 

 

She's doing a great job!  So what do you think?  Do you like the stripes?  I really like them, I think it adds another layer to the room.  



Design Board: Guest Bedroom Makeover

My Texas client (which you all know is also my Mother) will be turning what currently is her sewing/craft room into a guest bedroom.  She's moving her hobby room into a larger bedroom, once my brother moves into his own place. 

We've been working together, on her home, since the pre-construction phase (about 2 1/2 years now...wow, that time flew by!) so, when she mentioned decorating a guest room I was eager to give her my thoughts.  I was trying to think of an overall concept or palette for her room and happened to be looking around, online, at Target and saw this bench covered in an adorable bird fabric.  Immediately I thought, "I just found our jumping off point!"  Then I thought that since I was already on the Target site, I may as well look around for some other fun stuff and before I knew it, I created the entire room using only items from Target.  This wasn't my intention, but I think the concept board came out really cute and it will flow with the rest of her home.  Also, being that it's a guest room, it won't receive daily traffic.  Plus, can you say budget friendly!

{Design Board by Amanda Brown of One Girls' Style-All merchandise sources can be found on my Texas Client Project board}

The bedroom is already painted in a light smoky gray/blue color with white trim and has a light tan carpeting.  My mom loves color, so the hits of yellow and orange will be right up her alley.  I prefer rooms that are not matchy matchy, but rather have an eclectic mix of furnishings.  Adding in personal photos and some vintage family pieces will make the room warm and inviting. 

As far as accessorizing goes, this is what I'd do...The yellow faux tortoise shell would look cute hanging above the bed, maybe in a little gallery style mix with some colorful prints and travel photos in simple white frames?  Adding a colorful lacquered tray on top of the nightstand with the lamp sitting on it and a pretty little jewelry dish and the clock would add some nice detail.  On the bottom shelf of the nightstand I would add a wire basket with stacks of magazines and on the dresser I'd stack some books with the agate as a bookend and maybe a few beautiful shells and a framed photo.

So what do you guys think? 

You can see other posts about this project and some photos of completed rooms by clicking here, here, here,  and here.

TX Client Breakfast Room: After

Hi everyone!  I'm back from my month long vacation.  It was a whirlwind trip for sure.  During my visit I managed to finish up a few projects and start a few more.  One of the finished projects (actually we'll say 99% finished...still want to add bamboo roman shades to the windows), which I think turned out quite well, is the breakfast room of my Texas clients new home. 

From the beginning I'd envisioned a settee for the room, but after taking a closer look at a few of the photos, I realized that the room had plenty of space for a built-in window seat.  However, we'd already installed the beautiful full length suzani curtains, so to make room for the curtains we opted for a freestanding bench.  Yes, a freestanding window seat bench that we built all by ourselves.  It was tedious, time consuming, and quite heavy, but it turned out just as we planned! 

Here's a couple in progress photos and some afters...

{there are so many screws and so much glue holding this puppy together, it's never coming apart!}

we cut the foam to fit and it's all ready for the custom slipcover...

 

I chose the bright coral fabric and assisted (cutting and ironing) in making the slipcover for the bench cushion...



me with my client who happens to also be my Mom! I'm on the right...it's not the most flattering photo, but it's the only one with us in the breakfast room.

{definitely needing those bamboo roman shades!}

 

 

Giving her pendant a mini makeover took a bit of arm twisting (especially when it came to adding the pom poms), but I think it makes a world of difference and elevates the fixture.  It's quite striking in person and it give off a fun, funky and bohemian vibe now.  You can see a past post with my trim plans here.

 

there will be more vaca photos and project photos to come.  Plus, I have many things planned for my own house, now that I'm back home and looking around after being away for a month....yikes!   

Console Sourcing...

It's almost that time!  Six days until I leave on my trip.  A month long trip may seem like a good amount of time, but I'm trying to pack in as much as possible and the list of things to buy, to see, people to visit, projects to complete, etc. keeps growing.  Did I ever mention that I'm a big-time list maker? Well, I am, and I've already started a packing list, project list, and a list of items I want to purchase. Can you tell I'm getting excited?  Somewhat nervous and anxious, about leaving the boys for a month, but excited nonetheless.

With this in mind, I thought I'd better start sourcing some places to shop with my Texas client.  Remember the post, I just did, featuring that beautiful Asian red lacquered console?  Well, my client loved it, so I'm trying to track down some options, in her local area, via the Internet, before I arrive. 

So far, I've found this awesome antique 1890's Painted Tibetan Console Cabinet.  It's super fab, but is a bit more than I think we're looking to spend.  Reproductions may be a better option.

This shop has some cool stuff though, so it may still warrant a visit...especially, if I want to pick up this gorgeous Tibetan Collar!  How great would this look with just a simple white t-shirt and jeans and when not being worn, it makes for a great display piece that would fit in quite nicely with my decor?  Oops, guess I got a bit sidetracked!

Anyways, the store definitely looks like it has many interesting pieces...

loving the above cabinet too!

{images via Eastwind Asian Antiques}

Well, the search continues.  Can't wait to start it in person too.  Better start getting myself organized and start packing.  Although, I'm not planning to pack too many outfits or pairs of shoes, since there will be much shopping happening!  Let me know if you guys know of any great places to find reproduction Asian furnishings or of any great furniture/import shops in the Houston area that I need to check out.  Thanks.

Client Project: Asian Console

The family room in my client's Texas home currently has a rather large armoire housing the TV.  However, with todays streamlined flat screens, there really isn't a great need to hide a big monstrosity behind closed doors. 

Wanting to eliminate the armoire, we have been brainstorming TV console ideas.  My favorite, and something that I'm going to propose, is a red lacquered Asian console.  Something similar to this one...

{via eastern curio}

As I've mentioned before, her home is full of pattern and color.  The colors travel from a pumpkin spice (orange), to yellow and then to red, as you wander through the house.  All with a backdrop of shades of gray (not fifty...more like three) and blues.  It shouldn't be hard to find something similar in Houston.

What do you guys think? Would you propose the red console?  You can also check out the, Texas Client Project, board I created on Pinterest, to see other things I'm proposing, items we've purchased, fabrics we used, and finished projects for this home.

Pendant Trim...

In my last post, Client Project, I mentioned giving my client's breakfast room pendant a little makeover.  The existing pendant is one we replaced the builder grade one with and is similar to this one from Ballard Designs...

With her space becoming much bolder and brighter than I ever anticipated and with the fun and funky mix of pattern we have going on, I thought it only right that the light fixture join in. This is the trim I'm picturing...

Yes, this will allow the fixture to join the party!

Client Project...

Two weeks from today, I'll be in Texas doing some work on my ongoing client project.  We have a few things we want to get checked off the list while I'm in town.  First we're planning to make a slipcover for her settee, in the breakfast room (well, she'll be making it.  I picked the fabric and will be more of an assistant.  She has all the sewing talent, for sure!). 

The fabric has already been purchased and she requested pattern and color.  With that request in mind and thinking of all the other patterns in the room...ikats, suzani, chevron, stripes...I decided to go with a natural ocean inspired, coral fabric.  She draped it across the settee for me on Skype and I loved the scale of the print and the weight of the twill.  I told her that all we're missing now is an animal print!  Hmmm...blue leopard?


{ocean twill tropic}

Another project we want to tackle is her kitchen island.  We want to have the cabinets painted, which is the front half, but the back half is sheet rock.  So, we were thinking of doing something to tie it all together.  I've been bouncing ideas around like board and batten or a wood chevron treatment?  We shall see.  The whole island will be painted out in the same color, eventually.

{cheetah Jacquard azul blue...what is that?  you would like to be a pillow on the settee?}

This week the homeowner has been busy stenciling the walls in the formal dining room with a great large scale stencil.  I can't wait to take a bunch of photos to show you guys what's been going on with this project for the past year and a half.  I'm going to bring some goodies with me to possibly jazz up the large burlap shade light fixture in the breakfast room...think real branch coral beads, chevron ribbon, and pom pom and tassel trim.

fabric love...

Wanted to share some great fabrics, I spied, while browsing buyfabrics.com, for a client (and for myself, who are we kidding?)...

Loving the Conchas fabric.  Great color and I heart shells!  I proposed using this to slipcover the settee in my clients breakfast room, but I'm pretty sure it will make an appearance somewhere in our future Hawaii condo too.

How about this Manaco Linen Ikat...

 

Utopia Afterdark would definitely make a statement in any room...

 

 

I could keep going forever, so I should probably stop now!  Such a great site with really awesome prices.  This will be one of my go-to fabric sources, for sure.

Before and After...

It really is a shame that I've fallen so far behind with updates on the, New Home Build, client project that I have been sharing for over a year and a half now.  The project has come a long way and today I wanted to share some before and after photos of the dining chair makeovers. 

We always planned to save money by reusing most of the furniture and just updating it.  The dining table was left with it's original finish, but I knew that I wanted to paint the chairs and that the gold damask upholstery had to go.  Luckily my homeowner is super talented and redid all of the chairs herself and I must say they look totally professional.  This project has been finished for quite a while now, but lucky for us she snapped before and afters...

{you can find the grey suzani fabric here}

You also get a little peek at the ikat curtains my client made for the space, in the background of the first photo.  We also plan to paint the china cabinet and are still deciding on the color, but we have a great stencil that we plan to use on the inside of the cabinet. 

 

The homeowner lives in Texas and as you may recall I started working on this project long distance from Hawaii and now from Australia, so I've never seen any of it in person.  However, this may be about to change.  I'm planning a trip back to the states in the coming months and I'll be in both Texas and Florida, so I'll snap pics of some of the finished spaces and projects.  Plus I'll be able to make some more decisions and selections in person and move some stuff around and style it up.  So fun, I can't wait!

The after really is so much better. The chairs feel light and modern and not so heavy and traditional.  If you want to see more of this project click here, here, here, here, here,...these are just a few links.  Like I said before, this project goes back over a year and a half.

Pom Pom Trim...

I've had it in my mind, for a few weeks, to add some extra large pom pom trim, to the inside edge of the yellow suzanni print drapes, we had made, in my clients breakfast room.  I'm not too sure that she'd go along with it, but I think it'd look AMAZING!

{you can find the extra large pom pom trim here}

the turquoise is my favorite, but we'd have to go with the white, since the breakfast room is visible from the family room and turquoise isn't part of our color story. 

If you haven't noticed yet, it seems that the pom poms are popping up everywhere.  From decor to fashion.  From tiny to extra huge...

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{necklaces by Nicole Akong, but find out how to DIY your own on Honestly WTF}

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{purple ikat pom pom pillow by Amber Interiors}

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