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.

Adding Style to the Dining Room: Final Reveal!

If you have been following along since the beginning,  you know that my CSIL has been DIY-ing her way to a dining room with sass and style.

Remember what it looked like when she bought the house?
(Wide angle lenses really make a room look large, this is actually a very compact space!)

Therese did a couple of updates soon after moving in by adding the light fixture and making the 

built-ins more functional with the panel coverings, 

but the space lacked the kind of style that reflects who she truly is.

But no more!!!! 

A Craigslist dining set and some lively Duralee fabrics got the ball rolling and now the room is an eclectic and inviting space that reflects Therese's style and personality.

The opposite view via the MLS photo.... 

after the initial fix up...

And now! 

My CSIL completed this project in record time. We joke that the reason we get along and work so well together is because I am the idea person and she is the do-er. While I am still thinking through how something will come together, she is already on it.

Like the Craigslist chairs, which she re-did to perfection....

And the gorgeous reupholstery job she did on the World Market host chairs:

 Then there are the cornice board window treatments...

 

And the accessorizing...

Did I mention that she painted the room twice?

The pale pink wasn't doing it for her...

As usual for us, this was an amazing collaboration, all done long distance by combining my vision and her incredible talents with results that exceed expectation! 

Great job Therese, when is the party???

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

Adding Style to the Dining Room: Week #4

This week it's all about window treatments in this cozy dining room. 

Based on the room's small size and large built-in, my CSIL & I decided that adding panels to the two windows just wouldn't do. We needed something clean and crisp to add a jolt of color and interest without all of the bulk. Therese is no stranger to cornice boards having used them in her last dining room, so it was settled. That was the easy part, the not so easy part was what they should look like.....

After much back & forth, texting, emailing and pinning.... we finally narrowed it down to 2 shapes.

We chose one and the basic structure was built, thanks to some well specified cuts from Lowes and some sharp jigsaw action by my BIL.

Then the height at which they would hang was determined..... 

 With single minded focus, lots of hard work and attention to detail, 

Therese knocked these guys off and now.....

the final result!

Aren't they gorgeous? And I never cease to be amazed by my CSIL's talent and patience to produce end products like this!  I keep telling her she needs to go into business!!!!

I love the layering of the 2 fabrics and the beaded trim for interest.... not to mention how they perk up the room and give it a sophistication.

Finally, because Linda asked, here are some close up shots of the built-ins with their "curtains." The inspiration behind these was purely utilitarian as with such a small space, not all storage can look picture perfect all of the time, some things are best left behind closed doors so to speak. 

I had used this solution in my office last year and loved the look and function so I suggested it to Therese. She of course, got right on it and gave it a flawless execution, especially with the stripe on the bias!

And as you can see, artwork and a few of the accessories are moving around a bit...more to come on that next week.....

Isn't this dining room shaping up beautifully? I think we may be ready for the final reveal very soon!

What will Therese and I do next? We have nearly wrapped up the first floor in their "new" home... 

Fear not, as they make this home "theirs'" my CSIL and her husband have plenty more projects. 

And of course I will keep you posted on all of them! 

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

Client dining room reveal

There is nothing better than a side by side, before and after comparison to lend a feeling of satisfaction to the hard work and end results of a project well done. So let's start at the beginning... I have shared much about this project as it unfolded. I asked for your help with fabrics, here, here and here. I shared our choice and the cute little slipcovers that were made and today you get the whole banana!  

The before...

A neglected room, trying to be a library of sorts. Good bones, a nice size, a pretty bay window, nice mouldings. The room had a non-functioning light fixture and the chair rail looked wimpy and dated. Outfitted with the home's hand me down furnishings, it just wasn't working, it needed to be a dining room again. My client had a table, chairs, china hutch and side board we would be re-using, but the rest was fair game.

Since I was working on other rooms with this client, a cohesive plan was in order. We started with a color palette and floor coverings. I knew that we needed to soften the heavy look of the wood furniture, so fabric host and hostess chairs were added as well as roman shades in the bay window.  The clean look of a banded sisal rug on the floor was the perfect beginning.

By adding some moulding, the chair rail was transformed into a painted wainscoting, further lightening the look. We had fun collecting plates for the wall, inspired by a collection given to my client by her aunt.

The light fixture adds a dash of black, a bit of whimsy and feels modern paired with the rustic furniture.

Crisp and clean Roman shades grace the windows.

These slipcovers make me smile...

I love the mercury glass lamps on the sideboard and at some point a piece of artwork will grace the wall. In the meantime hanging the mirror vertically makes a difference.

Bottom line? I could not be more delighted with the result and my client concurs! What do you think? How did we do?!!!

In other news, the cross country pot luck was a smash success!

My house was filled with shoes, teenagers, laughing and fun. I am not sure that the menu was quite what I would be looking for at a pot luck, the kids brought more chips, brownies and juice than main dishes and salads, but I don't think anyone went home hungry!  

How was your week-end?

P.S. I am sharing over at Cottage and Vine today where Rene is hosting a before and after party as well as a give away. If you love a good make over be sure to check out what other clever folks have been up to. You are gonna die over Rene's family room.....

 

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.