Our Living Room Design Board!

So all that I can say is.......it is a lot easier to create design boards for clients than it is for yourself! I have been agonizing over choices for several months now but I have finally come up with a design that I would describe as a transitional bohemian if there is such a  thing! A mix of wood, metal and linen is included in this design. I already have some elements like drapes and curtain rods that I will continue to use but I will add some of these new pieces with some antique pieces too!  I haven't picked the perfect light creamy gray that I will paint the wall with yet but that will be done sometime this week! So here are some of my favorite pieces and I have already purchased one of them to be delivered sometime next week, so thrilled!

These are just some of my all time favorites! I am going to scour antique markets and shops to see what other interesting finds are out there to complete my living room. It will take a while for this room to evolve but I will update with photos along the way!

Photographer's Office and Studio Design Dilemma!

I am so excited to bring to you my two latest e-designs for a local New Jersey photographer Stephanie Sherwood! She contacted me a few weeks ago to create a design for the amazing space she has. She is so talented and has a great eye, this combination made me a little nervous because I really wanted to make sure I was giving her something she loved! Here is a part of her email:

"The vibe I am trying to achieve is an "anthropologie" antique, eclectic, happy, sunny, chic, warm, sophisticated kind of thing. I like artsy sophisticated."

 I have given it a lot of thought.......My initial plan was a dark, moody room that would be used as a backdrop for her amazing photographs. But sunny, warm and happy just didn't seem to fit in with that scheme!?!?!

So again, I decided to do two designs and give her the option to choose which one she like better. That means you too! So, please vote for your favorite design in your comments! I always enjoy reading them and look for constructive suggestions too! So be open and share!

Let's begin with the the photos of her great office!

Don't you just love this room! The amount of windows is wonderful, the french doors fabulous and the woodwork is really nice too!

What first came to mind was to create two separate areas in the room using placement of furniture. The room is a more of a rectangle shape and has plenty of space to do that. She already has the concept implemented with her great antiques! So let's get started to design number one!

Option Navy

Here are the two design inspiration photos that drew me!

You probably guessed it! Dark navy, white and gold accents are the colors and finishes I wanted to use in this space. Why? Well,  one of my biggest concerns was making sure her photographs become the focal point in the room, the dark navy wall would make the pictures just pop! Similar to the photo above. I also wanted to keep it fresh and youthful and not too "grandma-ish" with antique overload either. So the choices of color, furniture and accents in the design below are a really great combination!

Let's begin........

Color Ralph Lauren Club Navy for the walls including the chair rail is really good. You can also paint the baseboard and crown molding the same color with high gloss for visual impact and keep the molding around the doors and windows white. It is really up to you!

Add drapes in this amazing fabric by Drape Palace to really bring drama into the room. The room has enough natural light to do it!

The first seating area I will highlight would be in front of the french doors. I wanted to create this seating space using this beautiful rug from Anthropologie. It combines black, navy and teal and I just fell in love with it! 

Placed in front of the window to the right when you first walk in, this vintage inspired settee from Horchow. My favorite piece of this design! 

Horchow runs furniture sales with 25% off, this settee is not a bad price for $750!

Throw a couple of these silk pillows on from Etsy.........

place two of these great tables from Clayton Gray side by side in front of the settee and display your favorite magazines......

The wall you look straight at when you walk into the room would make a great gallery wall! To keep the space open use this great console table from Brocade Home to display some of your favorite decor pieces.

Nothing too high to block the view of the upper part of the wall.

A floor lamp in the corner between the settee and console table would add a nice touch. This black and gold one is perfect!

The great vintage mirror Stephanie already has can be used anywhere in this room and work with this scheme!

Now for the seating area which includes that great desk, which she is keeping.  Love it!  The desk is in a great position already but I think having two chairs in front of her desk to meet with clients would really be practical. These chairs from Ballard Design would be just perfect!

each chair having its own small pillow and this little end table in between is just the right fit!

I would love to see a great lamp on the right side of the desk. Something substantial...... the computer screen can moved to the side at an angle when a meeting is in progress so you can speak directly to the client without the screen in the way. Just a thought. OK back to the lamp, I am loving this one from Worlds Away!

add some awesome vintage photographs with matting and gold frames on the wall behind the desk

If the color scheme is lacking something in your eyes add these fantastic ORANGE accents. Yes, orange would complement the navy perfectly!!

Completed Option Navy!

Option Turquoise!

Inspirational photos to share!

Taupe, gray, turquoise and gold are the colors that I wanted to bring together for a warm, sunny and vintage vibe that this design has! Stephanie lives near the ocean, so incorporating  just a touch of a beachy vibe was also on my priority list. So here it goes!

Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray is a great choice for the walls and against the white trim.

These cotton/linen blend curtains from Half Price Drapes, stunning!

To ground the entire room, use one natural jute/wool rug like this one from Home Depot. You should be able to find remnants or even carpet off the roll and have it bound to the exact size you need.

In the seating area near the french doors use the same placement as above. This great settee from Ballard Design is irresistible!

add one throw pillow like this larger one from Michele Varian.....

and on the floor right in front of the settee, place these two sweet gold poofs from Nate Berkus

along the gallery wall, this gold leaf and reclaimed wood console table from Clayton Gray brings another natural element into the room

and into the corner this cute, funky modern floor lamp from Clayton Gray again!!

Now for the opposite end of the room. The same placement of furniture used in the above design using this pieces instead. Two chairs like this one from Ballard Design with the same smaller pillows as above!

hang this chic and cheap chandelier from World Market above the desk for a little shimmer

place this sweet vintage lamp with a drum shade from Etsy on the desk

and for my favorite piece of the this design, this coveted storage cabinet from Horchow placed right under the wall mounted TV

add a vintage camera photo from Etsy and a mirror from Wisteria like to the walls and this design is complete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope these designs have given you some ideas that may work for your own home!

Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend and I look forward to reading your comments. Don't forget to vote!

Dana & Steve's Lake House, Part 1!

A few weeks ago, I reconnected with a friend I knew years ago! We happened to cross paths and she came across my blog  and has given me the fun opportunity to help with some designs of the their new lake house! So exciting!  Dana and Steve conveyed to me that they wanted the house to have a chic loft feel with a bohemian twist! This was very interesting and so much fun for me to come up with some ideas. As you can see from the picture below, the open staircase with the warm, dark wood trim and posts together with the flooring provide a nice backdrop for the loft feel. Bohemian decor usually has lots of details and uses warmer vibrant colors with beading and shimmer here and there. The living room has a lot of natural light with all the amazing windows with wonderful views but it does limit wall space, so that needed to be taken into consideration. They also have three adorable younger children, so the house needs feel comfortable and welcoming as well. So, as you may have guessed by now, I couldn't come up with just ONE design! I did TWO. There are similarities with both and most of it has to do with the palette of color. One is a warmer neutral and the second is a cooler neutral. Both have added color with accents in the room. I need your opinions readers, so please VOTE in your comments for Option 1 or 2! I'll be waiting to read your comments!!

Warmer Option 1


My inspirational piece in the room was that unique, worn, vintage trunk serving as a coffee table! The dark brown and brass hardware is what helped me tie in all the elements of this design. Great piece! 


First of all, wall color! This warm brownish gray wall color is what I totally recommend. Benjamin Moore Roosevelt Taupe is the name and I saw it on the wall for the first time when a client recently repainted their family room. Use it on the entire wall including the decorative woodworking but leave the trim around the windows white. I love it!

A touch of brass which is totally in right now, is highlighted here in this window hardware....

 Add a few silk drapes in creamy white.....and things are starting to come together!

My favorite piece of the whole design has to be this beaded chandelier! Bohemianish??? Definitely and yet modern and chic at the same time.

Every room needs an area rug and this cream cow hide does the trick for me! Set that trunk at the same angle in the above picture and it would look stunning!

A storage piece which can also serve as a TV stand is also a nice touch. I was so excited when I found the antique piece below because it also has that touch of brass and then add this cute vintage brass lamp.

Now for the accessories!

Throw pillows for the sofa!

Add this amazing IKAT pillow for the added punch of color!

Some beading in the this pillow is fantastic!

Some brass accents like this side table on the left!

A great brass vintage tray to set on the trunk.

Add a rustic lake house touch!

Stacked horizontal books on the chest starting with the amazing Leonardo Da Vinci!

And then punches of mustard yellow in these great accents that you could put anywhere in the room. The warm yellow color will look great against the wall color and brass accents and also bring out the touch if it in the pillow!

All of these choices can give you some ideas as you begin to accessorize. Honestly, the choices are endless!

Cooler Option 2


This is my more traditional set of choices that have such subtle, tranquil and monochromatic look that I love too! My focus piece that brought this design together for me is one of the pillows.

This soft gray color for the wall would be my first choice, it can either be painted above the wood molding on the walls and then onto the ceiling or again the entire wall leaving the trim white. It is also a Benjamin Moore color called Smoke Gray!

Again this same beautiful hardware.....

Holding up this amazing cream belgium linen drapery.

 These vintage glass beaded dome pendants would bring that bit of shine into the space!

 Hanging over this aged muted area rug....

Soft lighting adds romance and interest to any room, so these great lamps would look really good.....

sitting on my favorite piece in this design! This three drawer chest!

 Accessorize with these great finds!

Pillows

Ikat again!

Does this beaded delight seem familiar? I would use it in this design too!

The soft blue color in the pillow above could be highlighted with this interesting stool/side table!

a french vintage wine bottle as a floor vase.....

some Egyptian artwork adds some interest to the walls....

or maybe that rustic feel is more your thing........

and finally some stacked books!

 Well, there it is!

I absolutely loved doing these designs for Dana & Steve!  I wanted to specify that all of the resources for the decor selected can be provided via email. Hopefully, they will also give all of you readers some ideas when you do go shopping for your own home.

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