A Man's Master Bedroom Re-design

I was hired to re-design a master bedroom for a gentleman in Allentown PA.  This was the first man's bedroom I had done and I did not want it to be overly monochromatic, and NO BROWN! I asked him "What inspires you?"  and he mentioned the Scottish painter Jack Vettriano.  Perfect jumping off board.  The great contemporary artist Vettriano (born Jack Hoggan) is also an inspiration to me for the romance he creates in his work, and for his belief in himself and his art.  He chose art; it didn't choose him.  

Jack Vettriano left school at sixteen to become a mining engineer. For his twenty-first birthday, a girlfriend gave him a set of water color paints and, from then on, he spent much of his spare time teaching himself to paint. He put his artwork out there, and it paid off!!

-For those who dream of taking a different path in life, think of Vettriano and go for it!

MY DESIGN PLAN AND FLAWS:

I didn't let the traditionally mission style furniture he already had stop our plan for a contemporary feel. We 'contempo'd' it up with steel grey walls, lots of chrome, including three new framed Vettriano's, deep 'manly' eggplant window treatments, and of course a bit of zebra and mink.  I also added a wall tattoo to cut the squareness of all the hard edges and add 'whimsy' and interest (the decal was bigger than me).  

When I presented my ideas to my manly client, he said 'Shosh, that's not eggplant, it is purple."  I said 'eggplant is the new purple'.  Then he said "Shosh, animal print?" I said "Grrrr...don't get me mad."  And he shook his head and rolled his eyes when I showed him the decal idea.  Design should be fun; there is no right or wrong-just opinions.  He gave me the green light and I went to work.

Here is the before and after:

BEFORE

AFTER

These drapery rods were a splurge but so worth it!!  To bring the budget back down I found the pillows on sale.  Changing the doors and door hardware made a HUGE difference.

BEFORE

Bye bye blue walls and doily sheers.....

AFTER

BEFORE

"Is that the sun rising from that faux stucco sconce?

AFTER

 

A sleek Zylinder satin black with chrome wall sconce fits in like a long lost friend.

 BEFORE

This dresser was actually against the closet wall first. I recommend placing a high piece of furniture under a high window to conceal the awkwardness, then ditch the doily window treatments!  Also what you can't see is an unorganized closet that we quickly addressed. And are those doors or shutters?

AFTER

Roman shades are more functional on a high window.  And for this long and narrow window, they add height and fullness.

Bring on more glitz with this mirror and chair from Pier 1.

I found this decal at www.walltat.com and thought it was beautiful.  It is called‘Graphic Floral 3-Wall Decal’ and is 63" x 40".  I played with the positioning of it using painters tape, and I have to say, it was easy to put up (just took an hour to make sure I didn't rip it and to get all the bubbles out).

So how is my manly client enjoying his bedroom?  He chuckles and nods which is his way of saying 'he digs his new 'diggs'.  Actually we just made changes to his upstairs bathroom and he was all for more purple-

Add Personality to A Family Rm & Dining Rm

This seven foot gallery of frames will capture lots of colorful memories in my client Kims' family room (including her little girls' sweet smile as shown).  These frames and the throw pillows are just a few of the added decor details to make Kim's home feel fun, unique and personal.  I dedicate this blog entry to creating spaces that express your personality and shout 'Ahhhh....I'm home and loving it here!' 

Kim is a very hip and fun working mother and wife in Lansdale PA.  She is so busy that it is hard for her to find time to shop for decor items that express her personality.  After discussing what made her unhappy with the current look of her family room and dining room I set to work to find furnishings that would make her shout 'Ahhhh....I'm home and loving it here!'

PART I - THE FAMILY ROOM

I found some great buys and colorful decor pieces including this very cool art display frame (see above).  This frame allows you to easily change out your kids artwork and has a pocket to hold more art.  It, along with all the other frames, were purchased from Target (click here to see how this design came to be).  Combining black and white frame finishes create drama on such a large wall space, and the touch of yellow give interest and make it unique.

After hanging the frames we concentrated on bringing in light, color and warmth to the rest of the family room.  We were working around a large brick wall to wall fireplace, that felt dark. 

BEFORE

AFTER

The new furnishings give this room a comfy, cozy feel, and all the small sentimental details placed around the space, warm the heart and shine.  The brick wall is no longer taking over the space;  And now there is lots of storage for the kids toys and dvds.  Also, see the blue grey color framing the photo?  That is the color the walls will be painted in a few weeks, giving the room a relaxed state of mind.

 

I found this 42" mirror for a great price.  I loved the detail in the frame but it was grey.  No problem - a quick makeover using celery green spray paint changes the look completely.

BEFORE

AFTER

PART II - THE DINING ROOM

Dining rooms are allowed to be over the top and more dramatic than a soap opera.  This is the place to 'go big or go home'.  Kims' dining space needed a focal point, some sparkle, and punches of color.  A bit of architectural impact was also needed because she did not want any fabric on the windows.  

BEFORE

AFTER

Be creative with your decor; this is not the room to be shy in.  I add lots of different lighting in dining rooms from candles to overhead and accent electric lights so you can really turn up or down the volume.  The crown and chair moldings you see will be added soon (I drew the ones in the photo to visualize the finished look).

BEFORE

AFTER

This room is now dramatically set for Susan Lucci to step in and give one of her sneaky temptress performances.

Its All About The Details

Hi from the road! I have my Honda Pilot back today and feel like a bully heading on 78E toward Easton….rrrrrrrrrr.   By the way, Mike (phenomenal carpenter), I was not a half hour late for our meeting, and yes, I am extremely hurt (ouch says my heart)  that you made fun of my seal clapping; yes, I do seal clap and do the robot when I get excited over incorporating architectural detail, doesn’t everyone?? 

Back on the road after a shot of something from a little coffee place off 22, I am headed to Tuesday Morning to get last minute details for a client.  I had luck picking up a 4’ canvas art piece for under $90 and a spectacular mirror that I may keep.  I had to arm wrestle a great grandma of sixteen over it-it was worth it.  

My tip when shopping for those details that finish off a room- think about color and volume.  That’s right, go big or go home.  Size does make a difference and so does color.  Its the funky table accent that visitors will gravitate toward; its the art piece that explodes with cranberry and lime that make a space fun.  Go for a bright yellow, orange, or green.  

Here is a mirror, lamp set and vase I put together to go on a buffet table for a dining room painted grey blue.  The mirror is oversized and artistically designed.  The lamps are clear yet, the black shades create the drama, and the vase is that bold color detail that brings it all together.

 

Lodge Style Makeover for a Master Bedroom

I am the daughter of a true nature lover. From an early age my family would take our annual July vacation, camping near North Lake and Taconic Lake in NY. Dad made us oatmeal pancakes with berries we picked near our tent, and we spent our days catching turtles, lizards and frogs. To me there is something so romantic about being near nature, the smell of the open air, and I still love the sound of zippering up a sleeping bag. Don't get me wrong, I love living it up in luxurious hotels also. Maybe a good fit for me is a log cabin. So charming, cozy and full of fine craftsmanship (I love the one pictured above). My dream log cabin would be sitting next to a lake just like a scene out of On Golden Pond, and I would be lying in my hammock with a good novel, watching the sun go down. The inside of my log cabin would be full of arts and craft style furniture and the colors on the walls would feel warm. There would be lots of stone and finishes that feel natural. And of course a big beautiful fireplace so I could snuggle up to it wrapped in my quilt with a mug of hot chocolate full of marshmallows!

Lodge Style can be both rustic and chic. Resorts that use a Lodge style for their suites make sure their bedding is lush and furniture is comfy. So when Scott and Karen, my skilled DIY clients in Whitehall PA asked me to create a design plan for their master bedroom that would transport them to their dream lodge every night, I was up for the challenge, hot chocolate in hand! 

BEFORE

AFTER

What a transformation-from floor to ceiling! The new paint colors create the scene, and the natural looking furniture pieces, upholstery, traditional fabrics, and accents, add that rustic comfy charm. To find out more about my initial design and see how I dealt with the angled walls and entrances to the eaves, click here.

The far end of the bedroom was just calling for a cozy reading nook. Soft fabrics, mission style recliners, mood lighting, and a very cute little deer,  give the space Lodge appeal.

BEFORE

AFTER

All the original furniture stayed in the bedroom but the pulls were changed to fun hammered oil bronze swirl knobs. Some of the pieces were then moved around for a more cohesive look. And of course an electric fireplace was added. There were so many interesting fireplaces to choose from, but this one made me say 'wow'. It was so easy to install also.  

Total rustic luxury! 

Part II - A Living Room Is Used For What??

In November I wrote a blog article called A Living Room Is Used For What?? and showed you the beginnings of a Living Room turned Library/Game room for a family of four in Breinigsville, PA. I promised you a peek at the end result.  I just love happy endings:

BEFORE

The Living Room used to be unused space with three bookcases on their last legs.

AFTER

The re-designed space is now full of wall to wall built-ins on both sides of the room, perfect for this book collecting family.

A bench with storage that hides board games and is long enough for friends to read together. 

 

BEFORE

A traditional Dining Room didn't work for this busy family whose large kitchen did the job of hosting family and friends. 

AFTER

The new space is less formal and more toasty chic.  It multi functions as a place for family game night/homework station and. ...

.....a quiet sanctuary to snuggle up with a good book.                  

Decadently Yours,
Shosh