Paint it Black

Before (During)

After

There isn't much to say, except I have been going back and forth on this for some time. Should it be red? Should it be black? Black paint chips went up, red paint chips went up. Large black sample boards went up. Large red sample boards went up. I was happy to hear Sarah Richardson admit to the same design paralysis in her own house. Well, paralysis may be a bit too strong. Though I have design creds, I sweat color in my own house. Want to knock out a wall? Rearrange the kitchen? No problem! But, color? Well, let's just say I can contemplate beige with the best of them. See those randomly place paint chips? I am currently contemplating a warm taupey grey for the walls. In fact, under that white piece of paper with the hole cut in it to expose only one color in the fandeck strip, there are two colors side by side. Back up 10 feet and tell me which one is Benjamin Moore 1522 and which one is 1530! For that matter, which one is actually the same as OC-48?

Sometimes you just have to go with it. As I have black paint on hand, satin enamel suitable for wood work, the door was changing now. After all, as I was taught in design school, "Paint's Cheap! Just do it. You can change it if you don't like it."

Be sure to head over to Susan's for more Metamorphosis Monday!

Chrome

Chrome is the new oil rubbed bronze. For bathrooms, if you are planning a new bathroom rehab, plan it using chrome - and Victorian Chic. This doesn't mean that you should start ripping out the oil rubbed bronze yet, do go ahead and finish that bathroom that is part ORB and part brass all oil rubbed bronze. Oil rubbed bronze is a classic, as is antique nickel. Frankly, polished brass is also a classic, it fits the Georgian style, though it is on the wane now, it may come back around as soon as we are grow tired of the everything-painted-white-shabby-chic and it's variants.


Cursed with builder grade faucets? No, plastic handles never looked like the crystal it ws attempting to emulate. Upgrade them to a curvacious Fin-de-Siecle look for very little money.


Frankly, there was a time when we wouldn't have dreamed of planning an all white kitchen, or bathroom, it was simply too Post-WWII. Also, the WWII generation tossed ball an claw tubs out of their houses with a vengenace, too uncomfortable, not modern. Now all white with a ball and claw tub is the epitome of elegance again. take a look at these beauties from Overstock.



This is a basic color board for a master bath, based on a Fin-de-siecle look.

And they are all mine!

I am very excited! I just received my first batch of samples of my fabric designs from Spoonflower. I ordered the 8" by 8" samples of my favorites and they arrived yesterday. Since they are small, the patterns are not completely visible on many. For example, two yards of the black, green and blue fabrics would look something like this. The fabric which they use for the samples has a very fine hand, I chose the lightweight cotton sateen.

The Guest Room

Remember this? My very first blog post, was about this Concept or Mood Board. That month and the summer was full of Prom and College so I never got back to the results.

Be sure to head back to Susan's for more metamorphosis Monday postings!

The guest room had become a dumping ground for laundry, stuffed animals, and cast off furniture. The swing arms lamps are touch lamps, which don't work with a wall switch, hence the need for a regular style table lamp, the little bronze lamp on the table. Tables and their cloths, cast off from other rooms, found their way into the room. Pictures banished upstairs to give a home to Christmas decorations, never returned after Christmas and never recieved just treatment. In short, the room had become a dumping ground of last resort.

The original plan for the room was a major attempt at trying to out-Buatta-Buatta, or out-Faudree-Faudree, or however you want to say it, the plan was w-a-y over the top and not really my style or a reflection of what I want now. In fact, the plan never really progressed very far past being painted. I no longer wanted 5, 6, or 10 different fabrics. I no longer wanted a fussy, over-stuffed room. Now I am increasingly fond of high contrast, clean lined design. White furniture against a black or deep mahogany wall. Simple one color fabrics, preferably cotton or linen, paired with one accent fabric. No or fewer faux paint finishes. Simple, calm, relaxing.

When I first started to remake the room, I created a mood board. Prior to this, my Mood Boards or Color Boards were begun after many hours at the drawing board, creating the plan. This time, I wanted to work in a more conceptually free starting place. I found a photo of an Oscar de la Renta Marigold silk faile ballgown with an embroidered skirt. This became the center of the board. If you squint just right, you might be able to see it on the mood board picture.




Additional images followed, fashion mixed with interiors, most of which were cabinetry, not bedrooms.


The swing arms had to go, happily, my daughter wanted them in her room, where they 'fit' better. The white down comforter was fine, but, for warmer weather, it was replaced with a matelasse coverlet. I found "Blanc de Chine" style lamps at Target. I might have gone with gourd lamps, were I shopping today, but I like the height and the black, slightly flared, drum shades on these. I kept to a yellow and black and white scheme, using the image of the Marigold dress as a model to shop for accessories, most of which were from Target and TJ Maxx. The center pillow will be replaced with a matelasse sham, soon, though I like the pattern and the black and white, the pink is too much. The print, which I originally used in a Designer Showcase, many years ago, was moved to another wall and replaced with a photo gallery. Most of the frames were purchased at Michaels.

Luxuries in Light: James Beebe Hawes

Decorati Access is a beautiful site where you can be inspired, shop and get design advice. Today, McLean, Virginia based James Beebe Hawes is featured. A few of my favorite photos from Decorati and his site are here. More of his beautiful portfolio can be found on his site and on Decorati, Luxuries in Light: James Beebe Hawes


I adore the artwork, above, reminiscent of a window, over the fireplace.



This is one of my favorite uses of symmetry, I jokingly called it "two chairs and a tall thing" after I realized how many were in my favorites file.




The light pours into these serenely beautiful rooms.



The Chandelier and fireplace lift the eyes up, while


the neutral colors and low furniture reinforce a calming effect on this deck.
Which is making me rethink that deck stain, just kidding.

ThinkGeek :: Penny! knock knock knock Shirt

Mrs. Lane and I are fans of Big Bang Theory. I know a theoretical physicist, I can attest that she is equal parts Penny, Leonard, and Sheldon. Maybe when life gets a little saner, I will be back to posting about decor and other things. In the meantime, I can at least enjoy that a shirt exists out there which makes me smile, then burst out laughing!
ThinkGeek :: Penny! knock knock knock Shirt

Snow Damage Redeck

The snow damaged many things about the yard. A five year old Japanese maple just starting to grow to be a beautiful tree snapped off at the top. Four foot hollies were bunny munched. The snow covered them completely such that only the tops rose above it. The bunnies could easily reach them and had a feast! The plants will grow back, but other things need more direct intervention.
We have a bench with a beautiful back. The original cushions were never wonderful. After the weight of snow, and summer sun damage, the cushions were torn and needing replacement. A year ago, I set up the mood board for the plan to rejuvenate the deck. The local home improvement store now stocks tall chair cushions which are close to the plan.









Be sure to head back to Susan's for more Metamorphosis Monday transformations!