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)!

Perfect Stool...

to be used as a side table...

{Handcarved Wooden Accordion Stool $199 Wisteria}

It would look perfect next to a couple different chairs I have in storage!

1GS Picks

Just a few things from Wisteria I'd love to add to our home when we move...

what I love most about these finds is that, everything fits in perfectly with the look and feel of our existing decor!