Update Your Candle Wall Sconce

The candle wall sconce.  Everyone has at least one.  The quickest accent you can nail into your wall, light up, and get instant romantic ambiance.  Raise your hand if you have one of these.  Now raise your hand if your candles are dustier than the tops of your kitchen cabinets.  Although your sconce is a nice accent, it is time to update it.  Try spraying it a bold color, try replacing the candle with something else.  Here are some simple ideas:

-In a kids space, prop up a small stuffed animal;

-In a kitchen, use fake or real fruit;

-In bathroom, use decorative sea grass ball;

-For holiday sparkle, use an ornament, and hang more from it;

-Flowers work well also!

For this family, I used a plump artificial succulent.

My Split Personality - A Tropical Eclectic Living Room & Modern Glam Bath

I have a split personality lately and loving it! I began work on two totally different spaces, two totally different clients, who want two totally different looks.  One is a living room in Bethlehem and one is a bathroom in Allentown.  I thought I would share the progress so far.

A TROPICAL LIVING ROOM WITH A TWIST OF ECLECTIC WORLDLY PERSONALITY

Aren't these fabrics fun-so full of texture and curves! This couple's design style is truly a reflection of their passion for life and bright personalities.  Their living room, which opens into their dining room, will get a creamy coat of Convivial Yellow (SW6393) on the walls.  A nice warm backdrop glow for introducing the tropical flavored fabrics above on the windows and furniture.  We bring on deep finished woods and furniture pieces, which are, to say the least,  one-of-a-kind and shapely!!  And the lighting will make you 'EEEP'.  We've just begun and I can't wait to see the vision in my head-in person!

 

MODERN GLAM BATH

This full bathroom is the size of a six foot person in length and five foot person in width.  It is tiny, to say the least.  BUT the new reno will make it feel big and G-E-O-R-G-O-U-S!  This space does not represent my contemporary client at all.  The bathroom has a stand up shower that takes up way too much space, little room for anything else, dark wood paneling everywhere, and a vanity, that has me shutting one eye in distress.  We will be replacing it all!

  

We will install a smaller shower that is all glass and add built-in shelves on one side to hold towels and essentials. We will wrap pure white subway tiles around the space, halfway up the walls and completly around the shower. It will be very minimal- then comes the bling! Adding sleek and sexy tile down the center of the floor and all the way up the shower wall. Yes, like a runway. And also around the walls as a border above the subway tiles. With the Hep Green (SW6704) paint, new lighting, new vanity, niche, and accents I have planned-it will be a show stopper!

I will show the before and after pics when I have finished the projects so stay tuned! I am also working on a very cool master bedroom with a rustic lodge theme, a fun library, and contemporary asian style family room.

Tikkun OIam's First Good Deed is A HUGE Success

Tikkun Olam is hebrew for 'repairing the world'.  It is now also the name of a new committee dedicated to helping people in need.  I had been ready to do something good for my community for a long time.  This recession has hit us all so hard.  I approached the Jewish Federation in my area, in November of 2009, and founded Tikkun Olam, the social action branch of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley's Young Adult Division (YAD).  There are nine of us, all amazing, caring, friends, committed to three worthwhile projects a year. 

We just completed our FIRST good deed-a winter wear drive benefitting Central Elementary School's clothing closet and the United Way.  Twice a month anyone from the community can get the outerwear items from this closet and they were running low on coats........well we more than filled their need.  We raised over 700 coats and over 200 gloves, hats, boots, and scarves.  Today we dropped off all of our items at the elementary school and we were thanked by the asst. principal, the clothing closet program manager, and United Way spokesperson.  It was such a wonderfully fulfilling moment for me that I will never forget.  Below are some photos.  ENJOY!!!!!  Can't wait to begin our next initiative.

We filled up 2 cubicles!!

Everyone was involved including my daughter!

We used 2 trucks, a mini van and an SUV to transport it all!

This is a few of us at the Central Elementary School!

Way to go my friends!!!!!!!!! - Shosh

Little House On The Prairie Dining Room Gets a Makeover

I look back at this photo of my client, Waynes', dining room and laugh!  Major changes happened to this 'little house on the prairie' flower wallpapered, baby blue room. 

Wayne has a very contemporary take on rustic style.  So we said good bye to the wallpaper and added crown and box molding.  We used bold Spicy Hue paint by Sherwin Williams on the walls and warmed up the floors to reach a more caramel tone.  We found a hidden electrical box in the ceiling-why someone would sheet rock over it is a mystery but we saved on electrical costs!

Wayne even humored me by going along with my clever but very heavy mirror project.  I found a bunch of inexpensive IKEA mirrors that Wayne nail glued to a large piece of wood.  Brings that wow factor with out the wow price tag!

We purchased a grown up sleek double pedestal table in a chestnut wood tone and black X back chairs upholstered in a microfiber that looks like a leather bomber jacket.  It is by Canadel. 

The new window treatments, modern chandelier and wall sconce, and red accents create a romantic, cozy, dining room.  Wayne, when is your next dinner party?

Live in the Lehigh Valley? Donate Your Coat to Someone Whose Cold

It's for Central Elementary School's Clothing Closet

 -Click on this flyer to see it larger-

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

Good Bye 2009

I sat outside my house in the blistfully cold air today and watched the sun set behind the mountains. With all of the changes we take in (like it or not) throughout life, the glow of that yellow orange fireball descending behind the horizon is a constant-and that is why I treasure it; finding joy and inspiration from it.  As an Interior Decorator I get to design spaces that, no matter what the day brings, one can find joy and inspiration in their home. 

Feels like a lifetime ago when I worked behind a desk in my past career.  This was my office on the 25 floor of the MetLife Bldg in Grand Central Station, NYC. 

This was my view.

Now my office is anywhere I can get wi-fi on the road and my hours depend on how little sleep I can get away with.  I mean, when you can create something like this:

Out of this:

And make someone so happy because you could turn a pair of treasured settees into funky chic pieces of art that befits them, I can't think of a better thank you.  Stay tuned for the rest of the redesigned space in 2010 (the hot pink pillow is a hint)!

Thank you 2009!

Looking forward to 2010!

My Bedroom Retreat

I just re-decorated my own bedroom, creating a little cozy cove out of the16'x16' box shape room in my home which can get chaotic. So this is my version of an elegant and serene retreat.  It starts with the walls and the ceiling painted a watery blue green color called Quietude (SW6212 by Sherwin Williams) and adding chunky bright white ceiling moulding.

Instead of just adding wall art above my bed, I turned the wall into art by building rectangular wall boxes out of panel moulding and inserting grass weave wallpaper in the center.  I love this wallpaper for two reasons. #1. great texture; the look and feel is so interesting to look at and touch.  #2.  nail hole forgiveness.  You can hammer in a hundred holes and the grass hides it.

It became a great natural setting for my shell and strange sea crustacean collection that includes a large odd shaped piece of coquina from Flaggler Beach, Florida, a cone shell from Queensland, Australia, and a very cracked purple snail shell from Aruba.  I hung some wall boxes up and literally wrapped a few of my shells with string I bought from my local craft store.  I suspended them from nails i placed in the center of each box.

The bedroom furniture has that Dutch West Indies style with a deep rich brown finish and rattan textured inserts on the bed and the long classic legs on the end tables.  The king sized bed is key!

I added lots of green, blue and creamy white pillows in silky fabrics that shine like a reflection off the sea. My comforter is a soft and casual cotton that is easy to wash.  It has the same relaxing colors I used in the room.

This very cool faux Fokati fur rug adds coziness to the cool colors on the bed.  I bought it from Kohls for 1/2 price.  I now have a laid back sophisticated getaway....where's the Mai Tai?

Decorate Your Mantel For the Holidays With $6

I was at my local Dollar Store the other day and was happily amazed at the selection of holiday decorations they had.  I picked up a few cool colored sparkly snowflake ornaments, these shiny rainbow cones, and a silver rope, to dress up my mantel.  Total cost was $6.

Here is another decorative inexpensive mantel idea:

Try purchasing $1 boxes and fill them with faux greenery.  Then add candles and a ton of ornaments in different shapes and finishes.

Happy holidays friends!!

Office Makeover in 2 Days

I received a call on Friday from a local business that was in need of a quick makeover by Monday morning, just in time for them to be interviewed by the media about a new unique product.  Ok, time to start humming the entire Rocky Balboa anthem. 

Step 1: take on the 2 spaces that will be seen on Monday:  Reception Rm and Conference Rm

Step 2: Decide what changes to make & measure measure measure

Step 3: Run around like mad to local stores because no time for custom anything

Step 4: stop for deoderant and new hammer

The RESULTS:

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Sorry about the poor photo quality.  I used my i-phone (pretty good for phone quality I say).

Thinking Between Appointments

I am sipping my coffee at a Panera chain, between my last client's home and my next appointment.  It has been a day of traveling for me.  Maybe its all the Regina Spektor I have been listening to, or the season, but I am thinking about time and how fast it is pushing me into tomorrow.  Maybe it's the thirties; Ever since entering this new set of numbers I don't sit around looking forward to something that is over six months away, because so much can happen between now and then.  Earmarks of time are no longer signified by birthdays, but by events that have changed me.  And what I want, who I am, is evolving every day.  My empathy has grown, my self-consciousness has shrunk, and I want to put myself out there, and I want to be surrounded by people that put their feelings, passions, opinions, out there.  Time is but a word, because as soon as you say it, you lost one second; I have to run to my next appointment, as a chill runs down my spine, and a lump mounts in my throat, and yeah, I have listening to Regina Spektor too much.  Go out there and jump into whatever you have been putting off!

A Living Room Is Used For What??

A kitchen is used for cooking, a bedroom is used for sleeping, a bathroom is used for...well you get the picture.  Every room in your home has a purpose except.....the living room.  I mean who actually lives in a 'living' room?   Most times it is used as a good spot for that sofa you have been holding onto, a dust collector for the knick knacks, and the perfect place for that once a year propped up christmas tree.  Other than that it is dead space.  So it's time to re-think it. 

If you could add another room to your home, what would it be used for?  An office space, a library, a game room, a wine room, a bar, or a gift wrapping, scrapbooking, label making, fix it, cut it, hot glue it, space (you know who you are!).  By adding closed doors, french doors, or long drapes, you can conceal a kids play space, or guest room, when it is a mess. 

 

I have turned a living room into a Library/Game room for a family of four in Breinigsville, adding wall to wall built ins and a bench to hold board games, a painted pedastool table and all the little things, not to forget re-thinking the lighting (see the progress above. I owe you the finished reveal). 

Right now I am working with an amazing couple in Allentown, turning their living room into a Library Lounge by installing a gas fireplace, two double bookcases, new flooring, and a large deep chocolate upholstered leather sofa.  When finished it will be a comfortable soft lit room perfect for a pre-dinner or late night drink.  See above for the colors and finishes in the works.  I will post the finished look, along with the library in Breinigsville (just as soon as I get a minute). :)