...a fireside surprise!

I started this project months ago. It started out with just furniture selection, but once I saw how badly the entire room needed a facelift, I suggested just that. It is still an ongoing project. There are several finishing touches that need to be done before I can say that it's complete, but since I'm so excited about how different it looks, I thought I would share a little early. I hope you enjoy the before and afters... the fireplace mantle and top treatment were done by Jeff Tawney at tawneywood.com. He is wonderful to work with and great at what he does!


Here is the before....


...and the after



All furniture by Ethan Allen.

Powder Room know how...

If you're throwing a dinner party or hosting a summer barbecue, your guests may not see your master suite or your den, but they're likely to visit your powder room. The prominence of a powder room is one reason many homeowners want theirs to make a strong design statement. Adding a powder room or remodeling an existing one is an opportunity to impress visitors with materials and fixtures -- not just any sink and faucet will do. My cousin Michelle is in the midst of a powder room remodel, so I thought I would provide some tips and resourses to make her project go a little smoother... Good luck Michelle!!

#1 Play up texture. Wall coverings are back in style. Make a statement with new textural designs.

#2 Consider scale. When choosing a vanity, mirror, or other fixture, make sure it suits a small room. A toilet with a lower tank also can make a small room feel larger.

#3 Pick a good location. Placing a new powder room above or below an existing bathroom will simplify plumbing hookups and cut down on cost. But keep the powder room away from the home's entry; you don't want visitors greeted by the flush of a toilet.

#4 Add drama. A powder room sink doesn't need to stand up to the daily wear and tear of sinks in other bathrooms. Go ahead and choose a glass vessel sink.

#5 Light it up. Incorporate several sources of lighting, including sconces that provide adequate lighting for applying makeup. Install a dimmer so a light can be left on when you entertain.

#6 Make use of molding. Install crown molding or a chair rail to imbue a note of formality. Adding cove lighting 6-8 inches off the ceiling and behind the crown molding gives the ceiling a beautiful glow.

#7 Remember ventilation. Because powder rooms often do not have a window, ventilation is very important.

The following are two articles on the National Kitchen and Bath Associations website...

Powder Room Pizzazz

Trends in Bathroom Lighting

...and one makes three

My baby sister is pregnant! So, in her honor this post is all about the nursery... I have found some really cute ideas to share and some tips on how to make your nursery more functional, because after all... once the baby comes, who has time for dissaray!


This one is my favorite! So simple, so vintage, so BEAUTIFUL. The fabric flowers on the wall add that little touch of whimsy that every little girl deserves...


A beach theme is so much fun for either a boy or a girl!! This design uses aqua and orange to add sunshine to even the gloomiest of days! The wainscotting on the walls and the use of a vintage dresser give this room that special touch. I love it!




Nursery designed by Little Crown Interiors


This nursery is a little over the top as far as budget goes, but boy is is it gorgeous! The glamourous color pallette of lavender, pink and grey mixed with crystal and metallics give this room a modern, yet tranquil feel.


Nursery designed by Little Crown Interiors

I absolutely adore birds... birdcages, birdnests... there's just something serene and beautiful about them, so I was so excited when I saw this bedding!!
"Wren" crib bedding by Serena & Lily



There can be quite a few expenses associated with having a baby, but creating a beautiful and comfortable nursery room for your child doesn't have to cost a fortune! Imagination and inspiration are far more important than spending a lot of money when it comes to decorating a cozy space for your new arrival.

Here are some tips for a beautifully functional nursery!

-Nurseries tend to be a smaller room in your home, so the key is buying furniture that serves a dual purpose. A low dresser or chest can double as a changing table. Also, buy furniture that will grow with your child so that you aren't having to replace the furniture when the baby is older.

-When deciding where to place the crib, you should choose a convenient spot that's easily accessible because your baby will be spending most of his time there. You should avoid putting the crib under a window or near heating and ventilation vents.

-No nursery is complete without a comfortable rocking chair or glider. Comfort is the key word... you will be spending alot of time here.

-Storage is also an important element in the nursery. You will accumulate quite a bit of baby paraphernalia, so you'll want to decide well ahead of time how to best store it. If floor space is limited, you might consider a hanging diaper bag or laundry hamper. Portable drawers could also be placed under the crib and hidden with a dust ruffle for additional storage.

-Decide on a theme or a color scheme for your nursery and carry it out in the bedding, wall coverings, draperies, framed prints, etc. Don't just limit yourself to the usual and ordinary ideas when deciding on a theme. Nothing against teddy bears and bunnies, but you may also want to consider other theme ideas like ocean, rainforest, garden, race cars or a rustic cabin. Choose a theme that will grow with your child. Decorating is alot of work. It's not something you want to do all over again in two years!

-Try stenciling your favorite nursery rhymes on the walls or furniture for a unique style. Another neat idea is to incorporate vintage pieces into the room like a repainted dresser or old antique frames.

-To help keep diaper products organized and out of baby's reach, hang a spice rack or cloth shoe organizer near the changing table. Believe me, they only lay still for a little while. Before you know it your little bundle of joy will be twisting and kicking all over. The easier you can make the diaper change, the better.

-Have a soft night-lamp in your baby nursery. Lamps with adjustable brightness are best as they allow you to brighten the light if required.

Hope this has been helpful...

Lisa

A Sophisticated Bachelor Pad

One of my clients was in desperate need to update his newly acquired bachelor pad. This was a fun project because of the fact that he pretty much let me take the wheel on this one. He knew what he wanted, just needed a little guidance...

Here is the before...




...and the after.





The end result was a contemporary place where my client could gather with friends and watch football in style. All furniture pictured is Ethan Allen. Please click here for the website. ethanallen.com

It's Complicated...

So, last night my fave roomie and I went and saw the new movie "It's Complicated" starring Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin. I have to say that it was a great movie and kept me laughing HYSTERICALLY throughout! The only downfall to the movie was that I had a hard time concentrating on what was going because I was too busy admiring Meryl's house. What great style and so simple. I downloaded some pictures of the house for everyone to see... ENJOY!

click here to view source traditionalhome.com

Ringing in the New Year!!

With the coming of the new year, comes the quest for "out with the old, in with the new". So we ask, what are the hot design trends for 2010? Well, here you go...resolutions for the fabulously chic, forever trendy, habitually haute!!

Trends of 2010

•Metallics are hot this year and it shows – furniture takes on a new finish with metallics – out-glitzing the mirrored Hollywood Regency trend of last year.

•Asian styles that fell out of favor decades ago are taking a peek into rooms this year. Look for Japanese art inspired fabrics to start leading us down the path to a kinder, gentler Asian style in furniture.

•Bright sofas are front and center in living room furniture – out of the picture are neutral sofas with bright throw pillows, in the picture are bright sofas with neutral throw pillows.

•Curvy couches in heavier styles are often used in black and white decorated living rooms. Look for the couch to stick around when color hits the walls again.

•Comfort and Joy – Comfort keeps in the forefront for the year, thank goodness, and bright colored furniture will be all the rage.

•Modular furniture is flexibility personified for the cost-conscious consumer – urban dwellers in particular will be taking advantage of these new styles and choices.

•Eco-awareness continues in home furnishings, with natural and environmentally friendly furniture continuing the go-green trend.

•Gray is the hot neutral to showcase the bright furniture – a twist on the hot metallics for the year.

•Simple, understated styling graces furniture shapes.

•Reinterpreting the past – traditional with a twist will be hot in furniture – taking the furniture of the days of old and adding tricks of the trade to put a new face on them.

•A little Bohemia goes a long way – with the more clean furniture styles comes Bohemian pieced bright bold fabrics to add interest and spotlight the simplicity in the room.