Design Boards

I've been working on several projects and
wanted to share some design boards I put together:

After a few years, the existing curtain panels in this great room
turned an awful shade of orange something/or other?  From the sun??  Not sure.
We replaced all the panels with ivory panels trimmed in black.
Updating pillows, bar stools, lighting and art.

In this den, we are doing similar updates.

New lighting; new throw pillows in leopard print, ikat and houndstooth.

Pottery Barn curtain panels that I will add a neutral greek key trim to.

Would love to replace the current coffee table with a glass top and shelf on the

bottom for books to put on display.

Last thing I'd like to do is rearrange all the beautiful paintings

to create an art wall above sofa.



Love this for a young girl! 

Nightstands from IKEA, monogrammed pillows, new wall shelving for desk area,

fun accessories and updated curtain panels. 

 Can't wait to share the before and after pictures!



My Passion for Photography

There are two things I'm passionate about: Interior Design and Photography.

One of my oldest and dearest friends put me in touch with a friend of hers 

that happens to be a professional photographer, Adam Brennan.

He was kind enough to let me tag along on a photo shoot 

he did this past weekend in Bagdad, KY.

He was also trusting enough to let me use some of his equipment (thank you!)

Here are a few of the pictures I took:

 Annie and Toly

 Annie

Annie and dad

Toly

Annie

 Toly

we spotted deer!

You can find Adam here, or on Facebook. 

He's the best.

Thanks Adam!

Finished IKEA Rast Hack

 

 My laptop is still at the Apple store, I feel so lost without it.
So while this project has been finished and waiting for me to take pictures with my canon,
I decided to use my phone in the meantime. 

 

 

 You gotta love IKEA.  5,000 pieces of wood for one chest of drawers.

 

 

 The assembled but unfinished Rast chest of drawers. 

 I used two coats of Minwax Dark Walnut wood stain.

 

Semi-gloss white paint on the drawer fronts.

And finished with 3 clear coats of polyurethane.

Found the drawer pulls at Lowe's.

 Martha Stewart bedding from Macy's.
Leopard print pillow is vintage.
Framed daisy photograph taken and developed by my dad for my mom.
{smile}
Ivory quilt is from Home Goods.

 

 

Lamps from Target. 

Not sure if they're going to be permanent but I like the idea of having

brass lamps on the night stands. 

 

For this room I still need: Rug, window treatments and art.

Slowly, but surely, things are coming together....

 

 

 



DIY Le Touches Curtain

I've been seeing more and more DIY's in an attempt to replicate this fabric.

 

 

(authentic)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

******************

 

 

(faux)

One of my favorite DIY's.

An IKEA slipcovered chair ends up looking sharp.

 

 

 

 

Recovered vintage dining chairs with white vinyl (and a sharpie).

 

 

 I love these!!

 

 

 

So I had a (blah) cheap white curtain that hangs in the window over my desk.

I added some black ribbon and started drawing.

(Took a bit longer than I thought it would. Like, all afternoon). 

 

 



My laptop has decided to quit on me (grrrrrr) so these were taken with my phone.

Kind of looks like a dalmation print in this picture, much better in person.

Either way, a definite upgrade from the solid white.

 

 



Brass is Back

They say what goes around comes around, and brass is back!
Unlike shiny brass from the 70's, the current trend has an aged or antiqued look.
Brass is showing up everywhere throughout the home:
accent pieces, figuirines, lighting, and my favorite....hardware.

 

 

One of the most popular IKEA hacks is the Rast dresser.

 

(before)

(after)

Although you could add any type of hardware,

I'm partial to the standard brass ring pull.

I am currently in the process or replicating this hack.
I've stained the outside in a dark walnut.

Painted the drawers a glossy white.

Only thing left to do is add some polyurethane! 

For my next project, I'd like to do the MALM 6 drawer dresser.
Add some overlays and brass drawer pulls and it looks like a million bucks!

I especially love seeing brass used in kitchens.
It adds a warm feel and a touch of class.

Black and brass are just meant to be together.

 

 

I really dig the brass bamboo chandelier in an all white kitchen.

Hardware, sconces and pendant.....all in brass.