Katina's House

Yes, it's been a couple years since this project was completed and I'm just now sharing a shot of the space, but better late than never!  For those of you who don't have a clue as to what I'm speaking of...my cousin, Katina, and I decided to decorate, most of her house, while I was visiting her, in Miami, a couple years ago.  We had a ton of fun, finished a bunch of projects, and I'm sure we gave her husband a minor heart attack with the amount of spending that went on.

Today I thought I'd share the design board for her entry/foyer area and an after photo.  I don't have a before photo, but just picture the space empty, because that is how it was before...

she snapped this photo a while back with her iPhone...I'm going to try to talk her into adding a juju hat above the Indian console, for a burst of color and maybe adding a printed fabric to the shades (like that otomi covered shade...love)?  We had an amazing custom frame made for the print above the settee (wish you guys could see the detail...the frame looks like a wooden printing block from India).  The shelves are made of split bamboo and were purchased at an awesome import store in Naples, FL.  as were the green ikat pillows.  The settee was a lucky find at HomeGoods.  The cowhide is Ikea and the lamps were purchased at Marshalls.

Client Foyer: Before & After

We're still working away on the decor of my clients new home and I'm happy to be able to share some before and after shots of her finished foyer...

Some of you are probably quite familiar with the design board we worked off of for this project...


we had several revisions that I shared with you all over the past few months, but we finally hit on the winning combo.  Here is the space before:

Before

{we had the builder paint the entire interior in a great shade of a gray-blue and decided to save money by changing the wall color in a few areas themselves after moving in. You can see the test patch for the new foyer color next to the front door. Also notice that the builder grade light fixture is still up in the before and the metallic bronze ceiling has yet to be painted.}
the homeowner sent me the after shots she took today...

After

{you can see a little peek of the pumpkin spice color, we chose for the wall color in the study, along the left side of this photo}

We did the entire project online and via skype, since the client lives in Texas and I've lived in Hawaii and now Australia during the duration.  I think it has come together very well, with not being able to choose anything in person (which is hard with color and scale...I love being able to see and touch everything). It was quite funny, having the client hold up her laptop, while on skype and saying, "hang that mirror there and move that basket an inch to the left..." 

The most important thing is that the homeowner loves her foyer!  My favorite part, all along, has been changing out the light fixture with the wonderful lantern from Wisteria, but I have to admit those great baskets from West Elm are right up there too!  Big props to the homeowners...they worked really hard and did a great job!

Client Project: Final Touches...

A few posts back, I mentioned that I'd be adding some baskets as wall art as the finishing touch to a project.  Well, surprise, surprise...it's the entry that keeps on giving!

I knew that once the mirrors went up they would be out of scale with the length of the wall and the height of the ceiling, so I had a plan in my mind and knew the exact solution I wanted to present.  Right when I sent over the photos of the West Elm baskets and explained my plan to hang them to surround the mirrors, my client was immediately on board and headed straight to her local West Elm.  The store only had 3 baskets in stock, so she got 2 of the small ones and one medium basket and the other two are on back order and are due to arrive sometime in February.  We already hung the three baskets, via Skype (got to love Skype) and let me just tell you, they're the absolute perfect finishing touch to the wall! 

You may also notice that there is now a runner as well.  There was always a plan to add a runner, but we were still searching for the perfect one.  The other day I found this sisal one on Overstock.com and knew that it would play off the Ikat cushion perfectly...the homeowner finished making the cushion a couple days ago and it turned out wonderfully!  I can't wait to share the after photos with you all, once the 2 baskets and runner arrive.

Guess I Wasn't Kidding...

OMG, it's the 4th and, for sure, final revision!

we switched out the bench, once again, for this great Aman Trunk from Cost Plus World Market...the look and quality is just much better than the bench with the baskets.  It's already been purchased and is sitting in the clients foyer.  Now all that's left to do is hang the two driftwood mirrors and make the cushion.  Some before and after photos (probably won't have cushion ready in time) will be coming very soon!

Now, we're moving onto having the formal dining chairs reupholstered...Just looking for the perfect fabrics.

Another Revision...

So, remember the two design boards for my clients foyer I presented last week. (plan 1, plan 2) Well, just when you think you've figured it out, you get thrown a curve ball.  The "perfect" little entry bench we found at West Elm would have been great, but the cost for shipping was crazy, so we went back and forth a bit...wanting to just go for it and then not wanting to just throw money away.

In the end we decided to try looking around, again, for a more cost saving alternative that wouldn't be too much of a design compromise.

Today, my client sent me a link to a bench she found at Cost Plus.  It's on sale for $99, marked down from $230!  I think it's a great compromise, since we'll be able to use an existing ikat fabric we have to make a bench cushion.

And, yes, I did make another quick design board, just to see if the new bench will meld well with our existing driftwood mirrors and Wisteria lantern.  I do like it, and I also like that the baskets will serve as a place to stash shoes, purses, shopping bags, etc.

stay tuned for a possible 4th revision...just kidding (I hope)!

Client Project: Driftwood Mirror

About a week before Christmas my clients closed on their new house and have been completing projects at lightening pace.

They've already changed out most of the light fixtures, painted the front entry hall (walls and ceiling), painted the office in a pumpkin spice color, had crown molding installed throughout the family room, kitchen and breakfast room, knobs installed in the bathrooms and have hung most of the drapes!

Today, I wanted to share the design board for the foyer and a possible DIY mirror idea:



{the foyer turned out perfect, now we just have to dress it up with a mirror and possibly a bench...lantern via Wisteria}

 the client has a large collection of driftwood, so I thought it might be an affordable and stylish idea to DIY a driftwood mirror...

{mirrors: crate and barrel, pottery barn and blue fish}

I think I'm leaning towards a large rectangular mirror?...  What do you think?  Yes or No to the DIY mirror.  At first the client was wanting a wrought iron mirror, but with the lighting being metal and some other pieces being wrought iron in a nearby area, it just seemed a bit overkill.  I'm biased, I love driftwood! 

Perhaps we could still bring in a bit of wrought iron in the form of a bench base, with an upholstered top...maybe one of the great Ikat pillow fabrics we used in the family room.

{via fabric.com}

Ideally, I'd really love a pair of these under an extra large rectangular driftwood mirror...

{image via 1stdibs}

I can't wait to see it totally finished!

I'll get her to take some photos soon, so I can share them with you all!

Foyer Table...

You may recall this recent post where I discussed table options for our entry foyer.  When I found the brass hall table I was enamored and was very tempted, but that price...ouch! 

Today, while searching the Wisteria site I saw an affordable, yet stylish table that may just be p.e.r.f.e.c.t.

It may not be a forever piece, but at $249 for the table with the table cloth, it'll be quite useful for now.  Yes, I do think that it will work nicely under our vintage painting...


The Foyer

needs a console table, now that I've moved the halltree out and hung the large painting....

Here is the foyer now...

my first thought was to add a console and tuck two ottomans underneath (to be used in the adjacent living room, when needed).  However, while looking around online for potential consoles, I stumbled upon this brass beauty that just may be perfect, but alas, no room for ottomans.

{found here}

it's $700, which is a bit pricey for a console table, but it is pretty amazing! 

I could place a Moroccan Pouffe off to one side of the console and even use the top of the console as my "bar".  I'd place a great large trey on top with my leather ice bucket, vintage milk glass decanter, tortoise shell glasses...and some liquor of course.

{found here}

some bar inspiration...

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it's fun just throwing some ideas around...I'm sure eventually I'll land on something.  Anyways, Happy Halloween everyone!

A New Entry Rug

Needing to add more color to our house, I couldn't pass up purchasing this great Navajo style rug at Tree of Life (couldn't find a website, but you can check them out on facebook), for our entry foyer.

Here is the foyer before:


and with the rug:

AAHHH...much better!  The black and white photos, on the ledge, were taken by me when we lived in Korea. 

On another note...all our stuff, from Hawaii, was delivered yesterday...so our house is now full of boxes, once again.  Although it is quite overwhelming trying to find storage space for another whole household of belongings, it is nice to have some more art and area rugs...welcome home cowhide! 

AND...WE HAVE INTERNET!!!!