Chairish Challenge

Are you familiar with Chairish?

A treasure trove of unique, high quality, pre-loved home furnishings and decor.

Chairish is a great on-line resource for buying or selling such pieces and the site is easy to navigate. Searches can be done by the piece, style or city, further narrowed by price, maker, 

color and shipping options.

There are so many interesting offerings, I could loose track of time wandering the Chairish website!

A challenge was presented to me by Chairish of choosing an accent chair and creating a bold, 

bright room around it.

This pair of quirky vintage Broyhill chairs in lime green caught my fancy...

Vintage chairs

In searching and discovering Chairish, I also found this fabulous rug, perfect for the look I was envisioning.

Abstract Turkish rug

Nothing is more fun than designing a room where the sky is the limit and budget is no issue. 

My aim was a neutral, yet textural background 

with a high voltage dose of color delivered with the chairs, the rug and a glorious piece of art.

The rug inspired a collected, global feel, achieved with interesting textiles like the Hmong homespun pillows and the Moroccan Wedding poufs.

A simple, classic sofa, a few other Mid-Century pieces and 

this room came together as I had hoped.

For sources, check out my Pinterest board, Global Bright

What do you think? 

Go check out Chairish 

and leave a comment 

telling me what accent chairs you would choose 

to create a bright, colorful space!

--------------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.

5 essential elements for a teen bedroom

One of my latest projects is helping a client transform her daughter's room into a sophisticated retreat.  Today I thought I'd share some of the advice I have given on this process. 

 I'll start with the design concept I created for her....

one.

Of the utmost importance is to involve the teen at every turn, this is about them after all. The space  should reflect who that person is, what they need and what they love. This young woman was looking for a feminine, sophisticated space that reflected her love of fashion and her need for a soothing retreat.

two.

Purchase or add pieces that have longevity. Well made doesn't necessarily mean new,  Grandma's chair could be reupholstered or new life could be given to the chest that Dad had when he was a kid. A classic, but stylish bed frame/ headboard, you get the idea. A comfortable mattress is key, it's time to invest in one to support that growing, changing body. Every piece could potentially be part of your teen's first apartment so keep that in mind. 

three. 

Storage...and more storage. Teenagers have lots of stuff...clothing, mementos, sports equipment, etc it needs to have a place to go otherwise it will be all over the floor (which honestly, if my own kids are any indication, that's where it is likely to land anyway!)

four.

A place to lounge. This might be a nook or a desk, a chair, large pillows, etc.  for when friends come over, for reading, studying or sulking. 

five.

Artwork with meaning. In the room above, my client is a girl with an interest in designer fashion so we added the framed fashion illustrations. But maybe your teen is a budding photographer or a huge sports fan, while you want to skip the theme, make sure to inject meaning.

If you are in the process of designing or re-doing a teen's room I hope you'll find my tips to be a good starting point!
Have you recently done a teenager's bedroom? I'd love to hear if you have anything to add.....

--------------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.

Fresh Fabrics Friday: Designer's Guild Home Accessories

Last week I had the pleasure of having a look (in the comfort of my home, I might add, Thanks Betsy!) at the new collection of Designer's Guild Home Accessories. I have long been a fan of Designer's Guild fabrics as well as the other products offered by the company as they are not only unique, colorful and of the highest quality, but also beautiful. My go to for inspiration fabrics when the project allows for the price point, I am excited about the fact that many of the fabulous DG designs are now available in ready made products and at prices that are attainable for a wider range of projects and clients.

Here is just a sampling of the line's fabulous offerings and amazing patterns:

Rugs:

What some call Cushions (and I call pillows, though I may have to change as "cushion" sounds so sophisticated doesn't it? ):

Throws:

Bed Linens:

Quilts, blankets, towels, fragrance and a few ceramics are also part of the line. The entire Designer's Guild Home Accessories product offering is available through select retailers and Interior Designers. Go here to check and see where you can purchase in your area and if you are a designer, be sure to contact a rep or go to a show room to find out more.

I was so inspired, that just for fun, I  pulled together a bedroom design featuring a few Designer's Guild goodies. This is a sophisticated retreat for a hip, young woman, hope you like it!

What do you think, are you a fan of Designer's Guild? Do you love this new line like I do?

Have a great week-end! 

I hope you'll think of me tomorrow as I send my daughter off for her semester in Chile... I can't believe it is already here! I am so excited for her, but also feeling many other emotions as you can imagine...!

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx.

Room Rx: A Jazzy Rumpus Room

Imagine fixing up your basement family room, just as your kids are fleeing the nest, what a great way to be sure they come back, right? Or, what a great space to host some grown up fun, which is just what this client and her husband were after now that the space would be more available for them to use. Ping pong, poker, darts, ball games on TV and maybe a bit of Dance, Dance, Dance on the Wii, it all sounds like fun, no?!

 

First up, major drywall repair and the build out of a bar area, then on to the fun stuff, an updated, cohesive seating area. A collection of framed Jazz Fest posters was the inspiration for the space, lending bright color and a lively vibe. 

 

art4now

My plan for this rumpus room gives a good shot of color with a bold rug and bright textiles, complementing the vibrant posters and echoing the fun loving nature of the clients. Different zones, including the bar area,  room for games and TV viewing, flow together with use of the posters.

Done on a budget, nothing is too precious in this space, (like the barstools found curbside) because grown-ups like to have fun and can get a little crazy too....!

With the "dirty work" complete, we are in the "pulling it all together" stage. I should have some after photos soon so stay tuned.

Don't forget to enter my NOVICA giveaway if you have not already. 

Who can't use a $75 gift card, to a company with a great purpose, to help with their holiday shopping?

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx.

Room Rx: A Kitchen Update

Wondering what I have been up to of late? Today you get a little preview.... 

A local client, who I have worked with previously, was looking to give her kitchen a little update. Several years ago, this kitchen got a full overhaul. While the big elements in the room were not changing, the room needed a little oomph in order to give it a fresh look. In addition, it was time to replace the fridge, which presented an opportunity... more about that later.

My client's husband built this cabinet..... how awesome is that?!

Time to say goodbye to the wine and hunter green....

So what will we do??? We will start by eliminating the patterned wall paper and replace it with a linen textured paper that is paintable. With a talented hubby, we have a fabulous cabinet project in the works and we are bringing in new artwork, fabrics and rugs. The window treatments will get changed out as will the cabinet hardware and light fixture. Simple, easy to execute updates.

Here is the Room Rx I presented initially:

Based on the artwork my client ultimately selected, things have evolved already from this plan. The project is well underway, but with a key fabric on back-order, we are not yet finished. I'll be sharing a peek at the cabinet project soon, so be sure to check back.

Have a great week-end!

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx.

Mood Board Monday: building blocks

Hi there!!! It's been a while, I know. Don't get too excited, I am just popping in to let you know I am still here. School does not start until after Labor Day, so I am still on my "blogging vacation." However, since I love Sarah's Mood Board Mondays so, and her choice of John Robshaw Textiles was right up my alley, I couldn't resist!

All of the textile combos that Sarah chose were fabulous, making it difficult to choose. The idea to do a sophisticated nursery brewing in my head, when I came across this crib, (a high style, screaming deal)...

 the choice was simple....

 The pattern on the crib prompted me to tweak the textiles a bit, but I love the way this room came together. The various pieces from the chair and ottoman, to the desk are high quality, "building block" pieces that can follow this child through all phases or move to another room in the home. 

The Madura Vista fabric would make sumptuous window panels mounted on traditional brass curtain rods. The other fabric, Twine Light Indigo, would be used for pillows, basket liners and other accents. A pale chambray blue on the walls and brass accents throughout the room give this space a soft, timeless look.

Click on the icons below to follow the link to each product.

That's it for now, I'll be back after Labor Day! I can't wait to share with you a few of the projects I have been working on. Enjoy what's left of your Summer!

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx.