My Dining Room Needs Help!

Wanted to mention that Remodelaholic is featuring some of my design projects today! Be sure check it out here! I'm pretty excited about it since I'm still new to all this blogging stuff like getting and doing features, guest blogging, etc. If any of you have any advice, I'd love to hear it!


Now for the dreaded dining room........

Ever since I've moved into my house a little more than a year ago, I've always felt like my dining room hasn't been quite right. We rarely eat in here and most of the time it ends up being the place where I dump all my projects so it's always a mess.

 This is what it first looked like after I loved in, which is probably a little better than what it looks like now, haha. I know the photo quality is terrible but it's the only one I have.

I wanted to change my furniture so I bought a neat Danish Modern dining set off Craig's List for like a 100 bucks a couple of months ago. Score! The table and chairs are in really good shape but the china cabinet really needs to be refinished.

This is a gorgeous hand embroidered silk piece my father picked up in Japan back in the 70's. I just had it custom framed last week......and apparently was too lazy to remove the plastic, haha.    Actually, I'm using it in an upcoming staging job and don't want to remove the plastic until the last minute. See, there is a method to my madness! (the lamp shades on the brass lamps are also brand new and I'm not 100% sure I'm keeping them yet so there's tacky plastic on them as well) I told you the dining room needed help.

Overall the dining room has a lot of warmth and character. I love all the windows and the french doors (unfortunately I didn't get a shot of those). It's one of the brightest rooms in the house. It just needs some attention that I haven't had the time to get around to yet.

So this what I have in mind: First and foremost, the walls need to be painted. I want to either paint it a pretty emerald green like this room by Miles Redd:

Or I want to attempt to make my walls look like this:

What do you guys think?

Things to do:

1. Paint walls
2. Rug for under the table
3. Refinish china cabinet and table and chairs to match
4. Reupholster dining chairs
5. Rearrange furniture, accessories and artwork (including move wine fridge to basement)
6. Pillows for side chairs

This ought to keep me busy for awhile!

Friday Feature: Keith Powell

This Miami-based interior designer began designing windows for Ralph Lauren by chance after moving to Florida to be a Marine Biologist. His windows were so beautiful and so well known that he began doing more for the likes of Gucci, Tiffany & Co, Calvin Klein, and Versace. Shortly after he moved into the realm of interior design after being asked to completely redesign the home of a professional polo player.

His work certainly reflects Miami's luxe party and beachy vibes. I especially love his darker, moodier rooms. Be sure to check out A. Keith Powell's website here.

 

My Studio - Finally Finished!

My studio has been open since January but it's been a long and slow process getting it all setup and organized....especially since I'm only there two days a week. I'm excited it's "finished" (is anything really ever done when you're a designer?) and am still hoping to have a Grand Opening Party when I'm finally feeling better.

I recently had some photos taken of my space by Kathryn Farmer of Pix by Kathryn and I'm proud of how it's finally coming together! Kathryn is a great photographer and does portraits, among other things, and has a studio in Middletown. Be sure to check out her website!

The Birds and the Bees

So I admit, part of the time I was sick I spent home at my parent's house for extra comfort. And to hang out with their new baby chicks and bees that they just got and my brother John will be tending to. This is the first time they've ever had chickens even though they have plenty of space for them. Fingers crossed for some baby goats in the future!!! (pretty sure I'm the only one in the family that wants them but I'm not giving up that easily)

John designed and built this Beehive himself. I was impressed.

Tuesday Tip: Photo Arrangement

Found this image on Pinterest and I love it! It's a good way to get started on an arrangement for your walls - minus the "family" words. Anyone else out there highly annoyed by "word art"? It never used to bother me until I had a friend tell me her roommates had huge letters in their dining room that said "EAT" that she hated. I had to agree that was pretty dumb and ever since then it's gotten on my nerves! :)

Monday's Updates: New Bathroom Project

 Went to the Tile Shop a couple of weeks ago with a client, yes, I'm that behind on my blog now from being sick! While I'm feeling a million times better than I was, I'm still not at 100% and still can't hear out of my left ear......it's driving me crazy :(

Anyways, The store recently changed their displays and I think they did a really great job with most of them. It's so much fun to walk around and get some different ideas.

The above tile is what we're going to be using in a bathroom project I'm currently working on. It's a small bathroom but it's going to be gorgeous!

We are also doing something very similar to this herringbone patterned floor.......

.......and a glass door like this

And here we are with a few of the selections. Can't wait to start construction!

I'm Alive!

Just wanted to let you guys know I'm still alive and although I feel like I've fallen off the face of the earth for the past two weeks with seemingly every infection imaginable, I'm back again!

I have a ton of cool projects I'm working on so I've been doing what I can from bed with my laptop. Next week I promise to have some good updates.

For now, I JUST bought this rug for like $80!! I'm going to use it for the EcoRehabarama house I'm decorating........More on that next week.

Have a great weekend and fingers crossed I'm all better by Monday!

-Laura

Rube Goldberg Machine

This Monday is a little rough for me since I woke up feeling sick. So I'm going to be a bit lazy and share with you my favorite music video ever (which by the way, totally relates to design!) You may have seen this already since it's been around awhile but it's worth watching again....I promise it will blow your mind!

DIY Headbaord Ideas

1. 
   I love how varied headboards can be these days. Just about anything will work! Some of these ideas are great......and some of them not so great (in my opinion!). Sorry, but I don't want chalk dust anywhere close to my bed! Whether it's a found object, hand painted or handmade, hopefully these ideas will inspire you to create something new. 

This first one is cut out of sheet metal. I love the look of it but can't imagine sleeping next to such sharp corners! Let's hope the edge was treated.
 

1. 
2. 
   

   

   via FunkyJunkInteriors

   

   vie Dreamy Whites

   
   
   

   

   via Funky Junk Interiors

   
   
   

   

   via Adeeni Design Group

   
   I love this one!!
   

   

   photo by Daniel Bodenmiller

   
   This one would be easy to make and looks great:
   

   

   via roomzaar

   

   via HGTV

   
   
   

   

   via Lakeitha Duncan

   
   
   Painting it a fun color helps make the bed even more of a focal point:
   
   
   
   I love how tall this one is:

3. 

   via Isabelle & Max Rooms

   
   This one is slip covered:

4. 

   via Holly Mathis

   
   I love this alternative look to an upholstered headboard. Using nails, it gives it a slightly more rustic and comfortable look.
   

   

   Designed by Dan Faires

   
   This headboard is just a wall decal that pops against a bright wall color.
   

   

   by Vanessa De Vargas

   
   
   
   
   
   This one is a blown up picture they found and had framed!
   

   

   via messagenote

   
   
   
   I think we've all seen this before in the blog world. It never seems to get old though! That would be terrifying to have a plate fall on your face in the middle of the night, haha!
   

And here is the ever popular chalkboard paint. Like I said above, I think it's a cute idea but the thought of chalk dust on my bed and pillows creeps me out. I can't even stand the way chalk feels on my hands!

1. 

   via The Inglenook Decor

   
   
   

   

   via Design Sponge

   
   This one is fabric just glued to the wall using liquid starch and an iron.
   

   

   via metalandmud

   
   Tufted!
   

   

   via Apartment Therapy

   
   
   
   A Mantel? Cute!
   

   

   via Apartment Therapy

   
   More chalk, ugh
   
   
   Pretty Fabrics always work.

2. 

   via I Suwannee

   
   Salvaged doors?
   
   A large mirror....seems like it would get dirty
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   I love this one! It's so bright and cheery!