Monday, July 18, 2011

Massachusetts Make-Over

 

I am back from my trip! We had a great time seeing the sights and getting quite the history lesson. Massachusetts is a MUST SEE!

Of course the was work to be done.  I did an entire home, 3 levels in 12 days! I am exhausted, but so glad the client was happy with the result. 

One of my favorite comments was from one of the contractors, “So are you Extreme Makeover in one person?”.

I sure was glad it all worked out. A few kinks here and there, but all in all for a long distance design job, I really feel it went pretty well.

 

Here are some of the highlights…

Entry BEFORE:

Entry AFTER:

              

 

Kitchen BEFORE:

Kitchen After:

Dining Room BEFORE:

Dining Room AFTER:

~A burlap French rug was used as a wall hanging.  This really warmed up the space and a touch of the unexpected really gave some charm to the space.

Living Room BEFORE:

Living Room AFTER:

Family Room BEFORE:

Family Room AFTER:

~ The homeowner was amazed that we got three distinct spaces in one room. A space to have family game night, watch t.v and relax by a warm fire with a cup of coffee or tea.

~The bookcases really transformed the whole space.  I turned all the books around to give not only texture, but also to give the monochromatic feel to the space and let the accent pieces take front stage, not the color of the books.

4 Seasons Room BEFORE:

Homeowner attempted to furnish with a few items…eventually the kids took over that room too!

4 Seasons Room AFTER:

~Now it is a space for relaxing family time or an adult retreat in any weather.

*The chandelier that I found at an antique store, needed to be rewired.  So instead, I hung it by a heavy gauge rope and then took out the electrical components and put in candles. This really made the space feel special.

 

The table pedestal legs were from a dump and the glass top was from a desk the homeowner was no longer using…FREE TABLE!

 

~A Chaise to relax in is to the left of the sliding glass doors.  This is a great little reading nook. The accent table was from the same dump…FREE!

Master Bedroom BEFORE:

Master Bedroom AFTER:

Little Girls Room BEFORE:

Little Girls Room AFTER:

~ I replaced the wood knobs with glass knobs and added a ceiling medallion and chandelier.

Boys Bedroom BEFORE:

Boys Bedroom AFTER:

Loft Family Area Between Bedrooms BEFORE:

Loft Family Area Between Bedrooms AFTER:

~ Coffee table was the homeowners as well as, quilt rack, chest of drawers and red chair & large mirror found FREE at the dump.

Basement BEFORE:

Basement AFTER:

~ Unfortunately the pictures did not turn out well.  I am having more pictures taken of the space, which include a now guest room that was previously the office down here.  It now houses a whole toy area and space for not only the children to have their OWN space, but now a guest suite that guest can retreat to when the kids have gone to bed on the 3rd level.  This made the homeowners and their children very happy!

All of this was done in a quick amount of time.  The homeowner had waited several years to decorate.  This was due to fear of buying the wrong items and not sure where to place them once purchased. So it was all done in hyper speed, but it was DONE! No more waiting.  They can entertain, have fun as a family and no fear of feeling embarrassed at their space. It is now a space for all to enjoy and everything in the home now has a permanent HOME. 

Never be afraid to decorate. But, more importantly never be afraid to ask for help! Your home should reflect who you are and how you live. If it doesn’t, then it is not a space that will make you happy.  So ask your friends and family for advice and most importantly have fun!

Happy Decorating!

This is part of Get Your Craft on Tuesday at Today’s Creative Blog.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Why Buy a Chandelier That Needs Re-wiring and A Broken Instrument?

 

Here are some ideas…

For this chandelier, the destiny is to be hung in a 4 seasons porch filled with candles!

         

 

Then, I found this well used instrument and let’s be honest VERY distressed.  It was $28! What a little amount to spend, for a big impact to a shelf and to the room.

             

I am going to use this for a “unexpected item” in a book shelf.  This is just for a bit of whimsy and visual interest. 

Bookshelves can be hard to fill and hard to decorate in a fashion that looks effortless and still interesting at the same time.  These are the items that bring life not only to the shelf, but also to the room.  The feel of your home that you desire, as well as your personality traits, should be reflected in the things you display. 

This family loves music and living life to the fullest.  What a perfect way to give music to a shelf, and a bit of whimsy, to a family that loves life and knows it isn’t always perfect…much like the instrument.

“I will have more pictures to come…I am putting the Massachusetts home together this next week. So be sure and check back for Before and After Pictures!”

~Jen

Happy shopping! Look for those items that make you smile, but above all, gives you Goose Bumps!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Recycle Reuse Renew

Do you want to know how to save money and reuse what you may think is ready for the dumpster? Then you are in the right place!

I happened to look around at my neighbors trash and see this great fiberglass urn.  I called her and asked if she wouldn’t mind me grabbing it from her garbage. She said yes and was surprised! I told her I loved the urn and she offered to give me her other one that matched when she found a replacement.

She was shocked when she saw how I transformed them into a design piece in my home that can change with the seasons.

So what was I going to do with the urn?  Oh let me count the ways!

                    

Spring Easter Display with Moss & Paper Mache’ Eggs

                     

                 Centerpiece on Patio Dining Table

                       

             Entrance Table with a Fresh Fruit (Faux Fruit) Display

So, don’t throw away your used outdoor urn! You can paint it a fun color to match your décor, paint it with a metallic finish to make a bold statement. I have put a small Christmas tree in it for a fun Christmas display. you could also put this on a kitchen table with a tree of fresh rosemary in it and give a great aromatic smell to your kitchen.

They key is to be creative and let pride go out the window when it comes to trash.

There is a reason for that very famous phrase….

“One person’s

Trash,

is another person’s    

        Treasure.”

 

Happy TREASURE Hunting!

*This is part of Get Your Craft on Tuesday at Today’s Creative Blog.