Traditional Living Room Inspiration Board~

Today I thought I'd share an inspiration board I made recently for some clients of mine who just redid their kitchen and decided that their living room was now in need of an update as well.

The color scheme for this design is inspired by some new pale blue rugs they purchased for the space, as well as their current wall color.

Although they already have a soft gold color on their walls, I suggested that they bump it up a notch to an even warmer gold similar to that in the living room photo pictured.  In this case, I suggested Fresh Butter by Benjamin Moore.

That living room photo is there for another reason as well...my clients currently have a fireplace with a dark wood surround and painted brown brick.  I suggested they lighten it up to match their new white kitchen by painting the woodwork out in white, adding a lovely crown moulding similar to that pictured, and flanking it on either side with white built-in bookcases. (hence, the pictured bookcases.)

They currently have a set of matching loveseats in a rich floral.  I suggested that they slipcover them in a soft cream, and add two ottomans (similar to that pictured) in front of the fireplace for extra seating.

Blue curtains, pretty beach-inspired pillows, and round end tables covered in complimentary cloths (not the white one pictured) complete the coastal feel.

I hope to be able to share the befores and after with you soon!

Have a great day~

E-Design Services

I am so happy to announce that the Shabby Nest is now providing online design consultations! I have been receiving so many emails with design dilemmas and questions about my rates. Now I have assembled all the pertinent information on one page.

To learn more about my E-Design services click here. There is also a new E-Design button on my sidebar for your convenience.

I eat, breathe, and sleep interior design, and now I can share my passion for design with you.

As one of my readers once said, I "have an eye for pretty". Let me help you pretty up your nest!

xoxo

Wendy

Don't forget...Tomorrow is the Frugal Friday Linky Party....MckLinky goes up at 12:00 am EST for all you night owls!!

Design Consultation for Danna~

A few weeks back Shabby Nest reader Danna sent me this email...




Hello! I am one of your blog readers! You are so talented and every time I see photos of your work I fall in LOVE! :) We are expecting our second baby! It's a girl!!! I'm due in about 6 weeks and I'm way behind on her room and wondering if you could help me. I need inspiration! I'm sort of stuck and having a hard time with the "vision". Our house is around 100 years old. It's a great home full of character. All original wood work and wood floors. I love all things old and eclectic. I would say my "style" is farm house/shabby chic.




I just love designing children's rooms and nurseries in particular, because I can let myself imagine!! And I was particularly excited to help Danna because she already has a great start.




Here is the bedding Danna has chosen for the nursery...Delilah by Cocalo Couture. It's absolutely fabulous!!

I just love the fact that it's not "traditional girly". No pink here folks. Don't get me wrong...I love pink for a baby girl's room...but I love a mom who isn't afraid of brown and blue in a baby girl's room!

Danna also has a gorgeous cherry crib and changing table, red accents and warm gold walls.

photo from Danna

photo from Danna

So let's get to it.

Danna needs help finding a lamp, a chandelier and a rug. She also wants a little bit of advice on what to do with some of her existing accessories.

I asked Danna if she wanted to go for the blue or downplay it...and Danna said to embrace it!! Awesome....

So here are two great ideas for rugs...

First, the Tempo Rug by Home Decorators ($199 for a 4x6)

This rug plays off of the damask/geometric feeling of the bedding with a bold oversized motif.

If Danna wants something a little more understated, the Grimsby Rug by Home Decorators($199 for a 4x6) does the same thing, in the same color story, but on a smaller scale.

Now since Danna has already chosen the bird mobile for above the bed, she'd like to play up that theme a little bit. So I ran with that. You all know how I love birds. ;-)

First up, the branch lamp base from Pottery Barn Kids. (Currently on sale for $39.99)

I would pair this base with a plane white barrel shade (easy to find at your local Tar-jay).

Next up, three chandelier choices...

I included this first choice because Danna mentioned that she liked a Shabby Chic aesthetic. This is a mini chandelier (29.99) so it is quite small, but the cream color would play nicely off the lamp base, and would contrast with the darker walls and bedding.

Second choice chrome and crystal (86.99). This choice is over-the-top bling. I love it. I think it would really create a girly statement of its own among the rest of the color choices going in the room.

Finally, to go along with the bird theme...this iron and crystal chandelier that reminds me of branches or twigs. (133.99). It would still add the bling, but in a more understated way, and the darker iron would blend with the brown in the bedding.

For a little bit of whimsy, I suggest these wonderful re-usable fabric wall decals from Mae. This set called Twitter for Girls (44.95) adds to the bird theme and would be perfect art above a crib or changing table.

Now for some of the accessories Danna already has that she asked about...

Danna wanted to get a birdcage to go along with the bird theme. I say definitely....and for a soft glow, fill it with twinkle lights...a perfect light to snuggle a tired baby in the middle of the night.

Danna found this oversize frame and painted it red, but isn't sure what to do with it...

photo by Danna

I would suggest running a single wire from side to side across the frame and then hanging the baby's christening gown (or a vintage gown of Danna's or Grandma's) on a pretty hanger from the wire.

Danna also had these two red shelves she wasn't sure if she should use.




I say, "use them!" I would hang both shelves near (not over) the changing table and use them for storage. On the longer shelf, find a pretty basket or other container to hold a few spare diapers or other changing needs.


For the "doorknob" shelf, borrow this fabulous idea from Martha and make an embroidery hoop hamper out of a pretty pillowcase to hang on the doorknob, and to catch all the inevitable baby laundry. (I had one of these for the Princess and adored it!!)

Well, Danna, I sure hope these ideas help!! Please send photos when your nursery is all done!

And now, my dear readers, an announcement...

Beginning next Friday, I'll be bringing back my Frugal Friday Linky Party! I'd love to turn this into a weekly event. What do you all think? Yes or no? Please weigh-in on your thoughts in the comments section!! THANKS!

Have a great weekend!

Stairwell Inspiration: A design consultation~

A few weeks back I received an email from Kim who said:


Dear Shabby Nest...I NEED some inspiration for the wall up my stairs. It is SO sad and boring... but it has much potential... can you help? ~ Kim


Of course I can help! I live for this stuff!!



Here are the photos Kim sent me of her stairs in their current state.

Kim is right....the space has loads of potential...

The first thing I would do for this space, would be to paint it. My suggestion would be to continue that fabulous green from the downstairs wall up the inside of the stairwell. This would have the effect of making the stairs a part of the living space rather than pointing out their utilitarian side.

One of my favorite looks for a staircase is a collage. Now Kim could go with the idea she started...a family photo collage. And this could be outstanding. She would just need to take it to the next level. If Kim wants to use this idea, I would suggest sticking with one photo color....either all black & white or all color. Frames don't necessarily have to match, but keeping the photos in the same tone helps to create a cohesive feeling. And Kim, go for broke. Don't chicken out with just a few photos. And don't think you have to only have photos of the family. You can throw in a pretty art print. Or something a little unexpected like marquis letters. Check out these two examples from the Pottery Barn catalog.

Another fabulous look, is to hang a collage of empty frames all painted one color. I love this look because it creates "architecture" where it didn't exist before...similar to putting up mouldings. Here are a couple of my favorite examples of this look.


Photo by Mimi Charmante of Kasey's Amazing home

Photo from Nesting Place

I personally like the idea of using a mirror collage in a stairwell. This helps to bounce light around and makes what could be a dark spot lighter! Although my personal preference is to use frameless mirrors like the ones pictured from Pottery Barn, any mirror will do the trick. Just look for some with unique shapes or frames to create interest.





But if Kim would rather do away with the collage look, she could try using one large statement piece. I have always loved this stairway from Brooke Gianetti's home. The giant clockface is amazing.




Because a huge vintage clockface might be difficult to locate ;-) Kim might consider purchasing a new large clock online such as this one from Ballard Designs.




And because I like to offer inexpensive design solutions, Kim might also consider finding a fabulous piece of fabric and simply wrapping it around a wood frame or canvas. This is one of the least expensive ways to make a large "statement" piece of art.


Finally, you may have noticed the little basket at the base of the stairs. From a mother's point of view I totally understand needing a catchall. And since the landing looks to be fairly substantial, why not consider adding a small demilune table like this one from Ballard design on the wall facing the long staircase? And add a pretty basket or hatbox underneath to stash whatever stuff needs to find it's way upstairs!

I hope these ideas help Kim and anyone else out there who needs a little stairwell inspiration!!

A little sidenote: Serena & Lily featured yesterday's post on their Facebook page! And for anyone that wonders...No, I am not being paid by Serena & Lily...I just love their stuff. But if anyone from Serena & Lily happens to be reading this....I know of a master bedroom in desperate need of a king size ruched quilt and a sparrow chair. ;-) Just sayin'.

Have a great weekend~

Design Consultation...Baby Girl's Nursery~

A few weeks back I received an email from one of my readers asking for some ideas for a nursery for baby girl #2...

Tara writes:

HELP!! We are having girl #2 and I am drawing a blank when it comes to what to do in the nursery. I am going to use the same quilt and bumper from the first. It's one that I made with reds and all sorts of polka dots. I need some inspiration. Any ideas? I love your blog and always find lots of inspiration there.

Tara's baby quilt...


A portion of the room with the crib...

Tara described her style as Pottery Barn-inspired and IKEA-realized. I hear ya, Tara! So keeping that in mind, I came up with a game plan that would incorporate a classic PB style and add in the whimsy that I think is necessary in children's decorating.

All of these ideas can be adapted to fit a budget, and I've included (on the more expensive items like rugs) a variety of choices at different price points.

So let's jump in, shall we?

First, although Tara and her husband live in a rental, they are allowed to paint! Hooray!! Tara mentioned that she was thinking of a creamy white for the walls. I love that idea. But to add a subtle bit of interest I thought it would be nice to use stripes.

This can be accomplished in one of two ways. (1) Tone on tone - two shades of white, one slightly darker than the other or (2) The same shade in two different finishes, one being matte and the other glossy. Option (2) is my personal favorite idea and is very subtle, but also sophisticated. Although this would be done in creamy white, here is a picture of what I'm suggesting done in blue.

Tara mentioned that she is re-using the bedding from her first baby girl which is red and white with polkadots, and that her crib is dark cherry wood. With this in mind, I went with a color scheme of red, pink and white with touches of green. This will contrast beautifully with the dark wood.

Tara wanted to find fabric that would coordinate with the bedding and pull the red out. She mentioned the idea of a toile. I found these two very different toiles that I think would work equally well in the space.

The first is P Kauffman Animal Tale - mint. It is a slightly more gender neutral and quite sophisticated. 15.99/yd at thefabricfinder.com.

The second is P Kauffman Over The Moon - Antique. This print is very girly and I just adore it!!
15.99/yd at thefabricfinder.com.

Tara has one large window in the space. I would flank the window with straight panel curtains in either one of these toiles and use the following curtain panels in place of sheers underneath (because they will give offer some - albeit limited - light control).

Swiss Dot Ruffled Curtains from the Simply Shabby Chic line at Target. 19.99 per panel.

Continue the ruffled feeling with a fabulous pillow such as this one found on Etsy. It could be used in the crib to add softness (although it would have to removed when baby was in the crib, of course) or on a chair to add softness and femininity.

Every room needs artwork. Here are a couple of great ways to personalize the space just for baby.

This first idea comes courtesy of my good friend Kasey. Each letter of baby's name (in a different font) can be framed in its own mismatched frame and placed whimsically above the crib. Tara could use either shabby white frames like Kasey did, or dark cherry frames to match the crib.


And what could be more classic than a silhouette? Tara can choose from a number of different silhouette styles and can change the color from red to either pink or green at Sarah and Abraham. Custom name prints 8x10 - $20, 11x14 - $30.

Tara also mentioned that there is a lack of light in the space. What could be prettier in a nursery than a chandelier?

This little number is from IKEA and costs a mere $39.99.

Although it is meant to be hardwired, any chandelier can be converted to a plug-in with a swag kit available at your local hardware store.

Finally, every room needs something soft underfoot. I've chosen three fabulous options for Tara.

Option #1 This happy little rug from IKEA. It is very whimsical and continues the polkadot theme from the bedding. Measuring just about 4' it costs only $24.99

Option #2 The Andrea Rund rug, also from IKEA is the boldest of the three choices. Its round shape also echos the polkadots. It is large measuring 8' and costs $299. (This choice would give an eclectic feel to the room...it really depends on how adventurous Tara is with her decor.)

Option #3 The Alvine rug by IKEA. This rug is my personal choice because it is classic, fairly understated and incorporates all of the colors in the color scheme without focusing too heavily on one. It measures 5'x8' a perfect size for Tara's 12x12 room and costs a reasonable $149.

Put it all together and what do you have? A fabulous nursery that is both sophisticated and whimsical and ready to welcome baby!!

Congratulations Tara on the impending arrival of baby girl #2! I hope these ideas help!

Have a great weekend~