Room Rx: shifting a dining room to a library

The start of 2014 has had me lucky to be busy with some great new clients and fun projects.  That means that this little blog has not had my full attention....

In order to remedy that, today I thought I would share my plans for one of those projects.  

I love when a client is not constrained to use a room as it was intended but rather as it makes sense for their lifestyle. Such is the case with this project in which what the family really needed was not a formal dining room, but a room that could function as a library and study room for the family's 3 children. My client was already moving in that direction when I was called in to help.

I was asked to design a room that incorporated a built-in work area as well as a sitting area. Knowing that the family might not live in their home forever and that the next buyer might want a formal dining room, I planned a built in that could easily work in a dining room as well, allowing for use of a dining table and chairs.

My plan includes a large rug to cover the hardwood floors and add some warmth to the space and pair of chairs that will sit in front of the 2 windows and share a table, ottoman and lamp.

The built in will have 2 work areas which down the road can be used for serving, with the space underneath housing wine storage or even a wine fridge.

We chose to keep the wall color as it works well with the rest of the color scheme in this home.
My client requested incorporating an animal print, and I suggested using pieces that were flexible and could be used anywhere in her home.
In this plan the pop comes from the vintage poster as well as a lovely rug.
A mix of textures from the rattan chairs to the leather pouf and mercury glass lamp keep things interesting.

Since my job was to plan the space and share ideas for how it would look in the end, with my client doing the purchasing, I gave her a couple of additional looks using different products.

I am excited to say that the built-ins are being constructed and a pair of chairs has been purchased. A ceiling light fixture has been chosen and as for the rest, it's still in the works. 

My client has terrific taste and I can't wait to see this space come together and put to use!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Shared girl's room with vintage touches

A new offering in my CSIL's etsy shop, Therese Marie Designs inspired me to create a bedroom design for my cousin's two little girls. 

Jesse and I worked together to create a darling nursery for her older daughter and now that there are two girls, the idea of a shared a room down the road seems just right.

Could this pillow be any more adorable? 

Custom made with the name and letter of your choice this is the PERFECT baby gift...

or gift for a "little" who's room is getting re-decorated, 

or maybe even as a teacher gift - T is for Teacher!

A little vintage fun was what I was after for this room. 

After rounding up

a pair of Jenny Lind beds

a fun DIY wall treatment

some bold wall art

a vintage inspired braided rug

a graphic fabric made into shades

colorful sheets

 a little pop of turquoise 

and of course the pillow that got the ball rolling

Here is my design plan....

This room feels so happy to me, just the place for sisters to become best friends!!!

Did you share a room as a kid or do your children share a space? Do tell....

Today I am excited to share that Erin at House of Turquoise is featuring some 

Cathy Wall Designs spaces! 

I love Erin's blog and have become familiar with some of the most inspirational and creative people and businesses through it. What a thrill to share some cyberspace with all of them.

Thank you Erin!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Room Rx: bold & blue family room

Repeat clients, music to my ears! Nothing makes a girl feel better than the opportunity to have another shot at working with someone whom you totally enjoyed working with before. Previously I helped this client with her Jazzy Rumpus Room (which it now occurs to me I never gave a reveal on... oops, stay tuned!) She brought me back to help with her family room. She had a vision for the room as far as function and color and the fact that we had to work with the pine paneling. 

Here is where we are beginning....

The space will become less of a family room and more of a cozy hangout for two, no large sofa, just 2 comfy chairs for reading and tv viewing, a work table and pair of chairs and some closed storage. The room will be updated with new carpet, window treatments and lighting, helping to brighten it up.

The nook in the front of the room was the perfect place to use the pedestal table that's a family piece. Trolling Craigslist I found the pair of funky caned chairs pictured below which will get a fun makeover. This spot will soon be perfect or playing games, doing paperwork or working on a puzzle.

Blue and white were my client's color request... and this before Pottery Barn and many others were showing indigo as a big color story, she's a trend setter I'd say.
What fun I had pulling the look together...

Here is my plan for the chairs....

Work is in progress on this room, new carpet was installed last week and the chairs are being painted and will soon be off to the upholsterer.

 I promise to keep you posted on this one!

If you are a fan of blue & white you need to head over to The Pink Pagoda today where Jennifer is hosting her blue and white bash, you will marvel at all of the inspiration.

I have a thing for blue & white too, 

go here

and here

to see!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Rx Reveal: Harwood family room

As promised, I am sharing the remaining shots by Reverie Photography of my "Harwood" project. Today it is the family room which began as a tired, dark space which had served it's family well but was was in need of a "brighten-up."  I posted previously about the space here.

As with the kitchen my clients, again, did a ton of work themselves from the removal of the wood paneling, to the arduous process of painting the beams and ceiling and the building of a bar (using pieces of the old wood paneling.)

After the paneling was taken down, the walls, despite being repaired, were in need of more than paint so another textured, paintable wall covering was installed.

There were several "family pieces" in the room that got a little fix-up including the "smoking stool" and the side table with  TV tray drawers. 

We also incorporated the many framed, stamped wildlife prints collected over the years.

One of my favorite transformations was the re upholstery of a pair of Overstock chairs with a stunning embroidery, which happened to be the inspiration fabric and jumping off point for the room.

I'll stop talking now and let the pictures finish the story….

My clients love to hang out and entertain in this revitalized room and who can blame them?
I may have even imbibed on a little bubbly from "the bar" to celebrate a wonderful collaboration and a job well done!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

Contact me for more information about my design services.

A winner and a Room Rx master bedroom plan

First up, thanks to all who entered my Therese Marie Designs pillow giveaway!
You did a great job of showing Therese the love by jumping through all of the hoops to enter.
Rafflecopter, once I got the hang of it, made this giveaway easy to manage and chose a winner for me.

Congrats to
Cassie B.!!!!
Therese and I cannot wait to see which pillows you end up with and know you will love them!

Now for my Room Rx.

When my newlywed cousin asked for a little help in pulling the master bedroom in her new home together I jumped at the chance. I love a project that starts with a tiny budget and relies on bargains and elbow grease to come together. She was game too and was already in possession of a few things to get the room going so my job was to create a plan to give it a pulled together look.

Their home is a charming Cape Cod, so the bedroom is chock full of angles and sloped ceilings making the furniture plan a bit of a challenge.

My goal is to move the bed to this wall..... but we shall see. If that doesn't work then figuring out how to work with the off centered window is next up.

Back to the design plan, my cousin's husband has a pair of these awesome nightstands as well as an upholstered headboard which all belonged to his grandmother.

A little clean up of the wood and some pretty paper behind the doors and these will be looking fresh.

The real inspiration for the space is this fun rug….

So here is my plan:

And this is what I am proposing:

1) Add a graphic patterned duvet and shams in gold to pick up that color from the rug

2) Use additional throw pillows in another bold pattern

3) Re upholster the headboard in a textural solid

4) Utilize matching gourd lamps and storage baskets with the spruced up nightstands

5) Hang the wood slice wedding guestbook on the wall over the bed and add a pair of chalkboard "slices" on either side for messages that can be changed on a whim

Things are underway with the bedding on order and the furniture arrangement decided upon. I am anxious to see some progress shots.
What I love about this space is the bold choice of a rug (great place to start for a first time decorator!) and the fact that Grandma's furniture is being re purposed and put to use.
Nothing like a little bit of history to make a first home feel right!

Do you remember decorating your first home? I do, like it was yesterday, even though it was an eternity ago.



--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Bump up the Look: A kitchen update using accessories

A client recently contacted me for help in upping the style factor 

in her adjoining kitchen and family room. 

Today I am sharing my ideas for the kitchen.

The room has a beautiful foundation with the gorgeous cherry cabinets, a custom backsplash and an amazing reclaimed wood ceiling,

 but it is lacking the finishing touches that really make a space say 

"WOW!"

This client's budget is limited, but she loves an easy DIY. She will not be changing anything big like lighting or the existing furnishings, so updates will be accomplished with the addition of a few key "accessories."

Here are my recommendations for how she should
 "Bump up the look."

You may have noticed that I specified an item called WeMontage for this client's gallery wall.
This incredible reposition-able photo wallpaper is new on the market
and was created by James Oliver, an innovative Wisconsin entrepreneur.

I was lucky enough to meet James in the infancy of his product roll out and am excited to share with you one way that I would use WeMontage in a design project.

To learn more about this amazing product be sure to check out this video:


You can also follow WeMontage on
facebook
Pinterest
and
Twitter

I am excited for my design ideas to become a reality in this kitchen and look forward to sharing the finished room with you.

Have you done anything to "Bump up the Look" in your home lately?

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

Contact me for more information about my design services.