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.

 

Preview Your Frame Design Down An Aisle

I am sitting at my desk, putting the finishing touches on a home design project I am presenting to a client in Easton this Monday.  I am very excited because there are so many rooms involved and I am diggin' the design and how they flow well together.  I can't wait to share it with you after they review it.  I am also working with another client in Lansdale, helping her add design features and decor pieces to a few rooms in her home.  I am having a bit too much fun with the details.  

I found myself at Target looking at frames for her home.  I want to do a photo gallery that will fit on a very long wall.  I started grabbing frames and placing them in front of me, arranging them, adding more, and more, until I had just about the entire aisle filled with black and white frames.  This is a great way to preview what your frames will look like, and how much space they will take up.  Try this the next time you want to do a gallery of frames. Take a photo of the finished arrangement in the store, then when you get home, just check out your snapshot to remember what it looked like!

Like me, I am sure you will get a lot of head turning and smirks from people passing by your aisle.  But as one Target employee said to me after asking if I needed help 'as long as you are buying them, you can take up two aisles.'   One last tip, don't try this during the store's busy hours or people will be tip toeing over your collage.   

Decadently Yours,

Shoshana

It's Friday..Friday..Friday!!

I just came back from my last appointment this week and am now home with my daughter and her friend. I am watching them use the slip-n-slide in the backyard.  As a kid, I loved the slip-n-slide so I had to get one for my kid. When I pulled it out the first time, none of the kids that were over knew how to use it.  They were just drinking the water and running through it.  So finally, fully dressed, I demonstrated.  I don't know who laughed harder, me, on the ground, clothes drenched, or the kids.  So here I am watching my daughter and her friend drinking the slip-n-slide water and running through it....oh well.  Maybe I will go out and demonstrate again :)

Yesterday, Kayla, a very sweet college student with an old soul and hip fashion sense, babysat my daughter.  Together they worked on the Greeting Card Art I demonstrated on the news a few weeks ago (CLICK HERE to watch the video). This is a great project to do with kids, age 5 and up, with parental supervision.  It put a big smile my child and turned out awesome! I was very proud of them and their artwork!  

Kayla used a wedding invitation as her card, and is giving it as part of a wedding gift to her friend tonight!

My Weekend at Rehoboth Beach

"This is the life" I said as I walked the boardwalk at Bethany DE last weekend.  The sun was shining, there was fun to be had everywhere, and I had a drink the size of 2 large chihuahuas.  My dear friends Mel & Marc, and Jen & Geoff invited my family to their Rehoboth beach house for some R&R.  When you are lucky enough to be tight with friends who happen to build a place minutes from the beach, you never pass on the opportunity to go.  

I have been slowly assisting them in bringing together a cozy beachy-chic home that was recently built for the purpose of having fun with lots and lots of friends.  Needless to say, we purchased a bunch of pull out sofas, bunk beds, and large tables.  For me, a beach home is not overstated, not stuffy, and easy to take care of.  It is all about the view, about friends and family, and should feel serene.  Here are a few of my favorite things so far that we have done. 

Like life, it is a work in progress! 

Bring simple punch of color to the lower back porch.

Add a lot of seating to the best room in the house so 

everyone can enjoy the sunrise with eggs and a cup o' joe.

A little cozy spot to curl up with a game or glass of wine.  

We customized the chair upholstery in a sand dollar pattern-ahhh.

Added a dining table for the kitchen that seats 12 with a long bench for all the kids to pile on.  The back striped wall will be a great backdrop for the decor going on it!  And yes I know, the chandelier needs a facelift.  

Tip-a beach house table should be well crafted with that old farmers tabletop look because when it gets beat up, you won't be the wiser. The chairs are from a different manufacturer but the white finish on the table legs and the chairs brings it all together.

This is one of the bedrooms. White and blue shout 'beach house', and these southing tones, along with the natural window covering, pillows and accents, keep the space calm.

But the kids bathroom bring in the mouth watering fun and colorful emotion..a truly happy place.


That was just a sneak peek; a tickle if you will.  When we get time to dig into the new homes' overall design, I will blog again!

(this is some of the DE gang-we are a content bunch of shoveling fools).

Don't expect any pictures soon though because when you can do this all day, how do you find the time to decorate?

One Day Spa Bedroom Makeover

One year ago I drove out to Easton PA to meet with Sheryl who was very sad about the current state of her bedroom.  She had nothing but a wrought iron bed.  We sat on her bedroom floor and talked room color, bedding, window treatments, accessories, lighting and adding architectural interest to her walls.  She wanted a spa like space that was bright, calm, and airy.  After choosing the rooms color palette I figured out that Sheryl was a very visual person I looked at her and said “let’s just go out now to some local stores and I can show you exactly what products will completely change your space.”  We hit the road and had success.  She didn't buy anything but seemed inspired to start on her room.  So I waved good bye and drove away.

A year later Sheryl called upon me once again to help with a kitchen renovation.  When I arrived she took me by the hand, up the stairs and smiled from ear to ear as she opened her bedroom door.  It was EXACTLY the vision we wanted a year ago!  Using the products we had looked at a year ago she pulled it off beautifully! It is simple, classic and tranquil.  And best of all Shery is very happy with it.  It meant a lot for me to see it because I do a lot of consults, giving ideas for spaces, then I leave, and sometimes, I never know if my design came to fruition.  I don’t have the ‘BEFORES’ but here are the ‘AFTERS’:

The spa like feeling comes through by painting the walls AND ceiling a greeny blue like the color of the Mediterranean Sea.  It completely covers you and calms you. Everything else in the room is natural and airy, including the woven roman shades and sandy golden drapes.  And the simple creamy yellow bedding looks and feels soft, casual and cozy. The mix of lamps brings in more light and color.

I suggested wainscotting the wall behind the bed and paint it white so the black wrought iron bed would really show through beautifully.  We took it 3/4 way up for more visual effect.  Sheryl's husband did a great job!

The nightstands we chose are not traditional nightstands but work great for Sheryl because they are high for easy access and since she didn't need storage, add to the airy feel by not boxing the bed in.  A chair is always key and the contemporary high legs and simple lines and fabric on this one keep the space open.

The black furniture pieces coordinate with the finish on the bed and the cluster of framed art pair beautifully with it.  Size was very important to give this wall substance all the way to the ceiling, and balance the opposite wall with the bed.

I am so very proud of Sheryl for adding this piece!  She used her own jewelry as art on her wall.  I talk about doing this all the time!  Why hide such beautiful pieces.  

Thank you Sheryl for sharing your fabulous space with me!  I can't wait to come back and see your kitchen (this time I took BEFORE shots).

p.s. - I knew you would love that granite store!

How To Make Greeting Card Wall Art

 

If you missed watching me turn greeting cards into wall art yesterday on ch 69 News at Sunrise you can catch it HERE (there are two segments-1. how to create the art work 2. how to hang artwork).  It is so hip to mix bought art or framed photos with homemade art, and SO SENTIMENTAL to include a card that someone chose just for you. You know the thought involved with picking a card- you roam up and down the card aisle at Hallmark looking for that perfect card.  Well if you have some of these stuffed in a drawer this project is perfect for you!!
Supplies you need:
-greeting card (you can use an invitation or announcement also)
-8x11 canvas board
-1 piece of square scrapbooking paper
-8 white push pin
-4 nailheads

I created one on the show for a little girls nursary using these supplies

Finished Greeting Card Wall Art:

Catch the second segment to see how to hang art without making those annoying extra holes!


Decadently Yours,
Shoshana

Come Back Friday For Info About The Greeting Card Wall Art News Segment

Oh baby!! After a busy day planning out spaces and creating product lists for clients, I am ready for dinner and to concentrate on my channel 69 appearance tomorrow.  I am excited to share my Greeting Card Wall Art project with Eve Tannery and viewers on WFMZ News Channel 69 at 8:40 am.  This craft is so easy to create and brings sweet sentiment onto your walls.  Then at 8:50 am I will demonstrate how to hang the Greeting Card Wall Art on your wall in a gallery form.

After the show airs I will blog about it and attach a link to the segment video if anyone wants to see it.  So come back to this blog Friday for the craft details and photos ;)  

Decadently Yours,

Shoshana

Little Girls Yellow Flower Bedroom

Kids bedrooms are so much fun to design.  I get to think big, and let my imagination take over totally.  Kids spaces should be over the top and very personal.  This is where children create and make believe on their own.  I loved working on this particular kids bedroom re-design.  It was inspired by the striped comforter you see. The colors reminded me of a beautiful bright summer day.  The mother of this little cutie showed me paper flowers she had purchased a while back that she wanted to incorporate some how into the design.  And thus the room plan was established and within days, the room was complete.   

After the yellow paint went up (two tones of the buttery yellow) I began work on the wall treatment.  With a pencil, I drew flower stems at different heights.  I painted them a deep green, highlighting certain areas with a lighter green (to get that 3-d look) using a thin paintbrush.  I then added leaves.  Using small nails, I hammered the flowers on to the tips of the stems-such an easy project.  Took a few hours.

BEFORE

AFTER

Kids Camp Barn Makeover Part 2

This is the kids camp.........

That has the white barn...........

That hasn't been used in years.....

And this is the group of gals that cleaned it up for the kiddies!

please note that not all the volunteers are pictured above and I want to thank each and every one!!!!  It was another worthy cause that gave us reason to help and bond with pretzils and music from my nano that not everyone appreciated (you know who I am talking to ;) .

Using only donated paint and fabric, and many helping hands, this very old barn received a little facelift that will be perfect for indoor use when it rains.  After we left lots and lots of fun kid friendly game tables and furniture was added. 

Drama/Creative Room

Before

AFTER (minus the furnishings)

More Camp Transformation:

Game Room

Before

After (minus the furnishings)

This blog entry is part 2 of an earlier entry I wrote.  To find out more about the fabulous volunteer Tikkun Olam team that worked on this camp, click here.

A Library and a Foyer Get Transformed

I remember when this Library was a kids playroom.  When I first walked into this space the walls were bare and there were toys scattered about.  This home has a large finished basement so my clients gathered up all the toys and wanted a new use for the room.  We transformed it into a contemporary hollywood glam loungy library perfect for a glass of wine with friends or a good book.  Its warm rustic orange walls become the perfect backdrop for the deep rich woods in the large artwork, bookcases, and leather chairs.  Silvers, blues and green sparkle as tables, pillows, chandelier and accents.  To keep the room intimate and dramatic we added chocolate drapes.   

Next we turned our attention to the dining room.  I hope to have a photo for you soon.  

Lastly we worked on the foyer.  This was a simple one hour re-do.  We brought in a large mirror and re-used a bench.  The bench's cushion was a plain white fabric.  Instead of spending money to re-upholster it we wrapped a table runner with black circles around it.  It added a fun detail.  Pop some color using more throw pillows and  bold small accents and you create visual interest.  

 

Sexy Little Bench I Picked Up for a Steal

I had to share with you this chic little faux zebra upholstered bench I just bought yesterday for my ever evolving bedroom.  I found it at Big Lots for $169 and think it is a great buy for the size.  I am happy with the construction, it has so much character with its nail heads & curvy black legs on castors, and mostly because a little bit of animal goes with everything!