GRRRReat Baby's Room

Momma is expecting in September and wanted to get her little guy's room all suited out. We did quite a lot on this small room.

Before Photos:

First, covering up the lilac and plum walls with soft beige and warm light brown with a high chair rail. Then we accented all the trim and doors by painting them in a deep espresso brown - even the window ledge. Finally we wallpapered a border above the high chair rail and started the mural. Three sweet animals to protect the new baby - an elephant, a monkey, and, momma's favorite, a shy lion. A special touch was added to the animals.

After Photos:

Each has a tactile feature; the elephant's ear is looped terry cloth, the monkey's feet are super-soft sherpa and the lion's mane is clipped felt strips. Not only will the little bundle had lots of visual stimulation, he will also have interesting textures to play with! I enjoy doing baby rooms and think each one should have that something unique - just like the little babies who will make it their home.

The forest hides the trees

Everyone has a personal style...you just might not know it.

I have a client who was a bit color shy. Her sister had done a great job decorating her home and my client decided to follow her lead. She had her home in San Antonio painted with the same colors as her sister's home up north. Sometimes that works...sometimes.

After several years living with these colors, my client realized something was not clicking so we set up an initial consultation. It was very clear to me that the walls were actually hindering the decor. The furnishings were rich and ornate with a bit of old world detailing, but I could not "see" them. The pale yellow walls distracted me from seeing the richness that my client so loved. "Let's paint" I said. "You have great pieces, but the wall color is doing nothing for them." So, we painted. Transforming the pale yellow to a warm, rust-tinted golden hue and instantly her rooms felt cozier and her furnishings seemed to fit. Window treatments and some new light fixtures gave the rooms sparkle. "I can't wait to show all my friends!" For the decorator touch, I faux finished her columns and really called out those architectural details.

We continued to assess her home and her bedroom suffered as well. No bedding, curtains or sparkle. It didn't take long to create a retreat for her and her husband that they both love. Now, they feel that their room is a stylish getaway. "We have spent an entire Saturday in our new sitting area in the Masterbedroom. It's so luxurious!"

BEDROOM BEFORE: khaki green paint; no bedding or draperies

NEW BEDDING: Soft blue and gold silks with coordinating jaquards and taffetas

NEW MASTER BEDROOM SITTING AREA: Custom embroidery silk drapes with custom chairs, pillows and coordinating ottoman. Paint color is now a soft blue/grey.

So, when you feel something isn't just clicking in your home...give me a call. Let's look it over. You may be hiding some of your best pieces in plain sight.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It seems that 2009 just flew by! I was very busy this year with a wide variety of projects. Curtains, cushions, redesigns, painting rooms, murals...all filled my days with joy. I want to thank you all for being such a great part of my year.

Since I have not posted photos on here for quite some time, I would like to just load up some of my latest projects with more to follow! Feel free to drop me a line with any questions/comments. And remember, if you are ready for a change in your home or need help with your remodel, I would be happy to help!

Enjoy 2010! I'm sure it will roll by just as quickly as 2009.

Dollhouse Mural

One of the best things about working for a mother of twins....

TWO MURALS!

Here is a kinda "making of" video of photos...enjoy!

I hope the girls have a great time playing with their dollies here. And, yes, those are real mirrors and real shelves...I just couldn't help myself!

Where does the time go!

I know exactly where it went! On Monday, I was painting for a funny client; on Tuesday, I was consulting for a tile project; on Wednesday, I was calling stores for a certain fabric for some curtains for a living room, on Thursday, I was painting a mural for a sweet girls bedroom, and so on and so on and so on...

First, let me say, THANK YOU! I have had so many wonderful experiences and clients in the past months and it's all your doing. Thank you for thinking of me when you were ready to change your kitchen colors or when you were out with friends and they wanted help with their living room decor. My blessings are boundless and your friendships mean so much to me...so...thank you so much.

Second, I have so many things I want to share with you, but I will start with my most recent project...completing a mural for a darling little girl. First, we painted the room a perfect pink color...then it was time for some real character. Mom knew what she liked and the style she wanted and I know we are both excited for the outcome. This project took me about 7 hours and was a blast. I hope you like it. The next layer will be to hand some bird houses from the "tree" with a variety of ribbons. It will be super cute then. Remember, I'm booking about 2 weeks out so if you have

something in mind you would like to accomplish or change, just give me a call and I will put you on the calendar!
Best summer wishes to you all!

Taking time to say "Thank you!"

Today, I had the opportunity to meet some wonderful ladies and I want to thank Brooke so very much! I don't normally name my clients, but I cannot help it! She is such a dear friend and I appreciate her opening her other friendships to me. As soon as possible, I will post her GORGEOUS twin girls' bedroom on this blog that I was able to help her design. She knew what she wanted and, together with her hubby's strong arms, we created a truly stunning room for her baby girls to grow up in. Thank you so much, Brooke for your friendship and the opportunity to help your circle of ladies enjoy their homes a bit more. I feel so blessed to constantly be meeting the most sincere ladies who just need a little decorating help. Thank you all so very much!

Curtain call!

Hello all!
I wanted to share a great, little project with which I was honored to help a client. She knew exactly what she wanted for her dining room window. A curtain that will "frame" the window, still let in light, but allow her to still see the kids playing in the backyard. She had found a photo of a curtain in a book, but it was custom and not available in the stores. Luckily, for us both, I have a knack for bringing images to life! As part of my fashion design training, we often were given only sketches of garments and we had to construct them. This skill, along with my ability to see things as they can be, not just how they are, made for quick work of these curtains.

Here is the image:


What made this valance so rewarding for me was the problem solving. Instead of having four fabric sections, we took a pre-made, purple curtain panel and turned it sideways to create this valance for this rather large window. The linen panel below the purple is also a "turned" panel. Next, we needed to find 7 "hooks/hangers" that matched the decor theme but could still hold the curtain ties. These are actually black, fleur de lis drawer pulls that we glued a double sided screw into and just screwed them into the wall (with anchors of course!). The trim was the most expensive part of the valance, but really gives it that final, polished touch.


I know the client is very happy with the outcome and I feel great having helped her make her curtain "dream" a reality.