Category Archives: Current Projects

What I am doing now and the design strategies it illustrates.

Decorate Your Space on the Road: Part Four

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Posted by Denise Smith on March 16, 2009 – 12:53 pm
Filed under Bathrooms, Bedrooms, Current Projects, Rooms

My final installation of Decorate Your Space on the Road features perfect finds and another less than unanimous decision. 

I have mentioned Pottery Barn a lot in these four posts because it is the only major mid line chain in Myrtle Beach.  It stands without its usual competition in a very nice mixed-use-New Concept-Town Centre-format-outdoor Mall.  Being the only people in the store on all three occasions, we had excellent service.  But the best part about shopping here was the deals:  I selected drapery panels for all three bedrooms at 75% off!  Silk Panels for $45! And the complete hardware set  for $35!!! This is cheaper than Wal-Mart.  I was positively gleeful about this.  Like a doctor scanning MRI film showing no cancer or Senator whose pork has passed, these are the moments that make my job. 

We were not able to complete a room with the stock available, but at such crazily low prices, we decided to buy larger panels than we needed and have them altered.  Out of 8 windows, we needed to alter only one panel in length for the Master Bedroom, split two 105″ width panels into four 50″ width panels for the room with the full bed, and split one 105″ panel into two for the room with the pair of twin beds.  The alterations expense came to $180, which is less than the original price from only one panel. 

We had more perfect finds.  Two lamps, exactly right for the Master Bedroom, were just sitting on a shelf and waiting for us at HomeGoods.  A solitary picture containing all the proper colors for the Guest Room hung on a peg right under an ideal black lamp with a green leaf shade at Target.  A pair of prints framed in an exact complement to the pair of twin bed frames was found on clearance for only $30 each. We loaded the van again and again, happy with our purchases, our bellies full of fresh seafood. 

I created a plan for the half bath rather late in my trip because I just couldn’t grab a vision for this space.  Since wallpaper was off limits, I felt tapped out.  Until I saw it.  A pretty little chandelier, coral and green and white, of painted iron with tiny flowers.  This was it.  I instantly saw a more feminine space, true to the color story in the Great Room.  In the showroom, wordlessly, I pointed up.  Jim’s face lit up.  He, too, received a vision of it hanging in the half bath. 

The perfect little chandelier for a vision-less bathroom.

This time Roseann was the holdout.  “No way!”  “Too grandma!”  “Not my taste at all!!” 

It was the last day.  I was flying home in a few hours.  I had to get tough.  “WRAP IT UP”, I said to the salesman (all along knowing that today the credit card was in JIM’S wallet…)

Silk Panels for under $50?? Unheard of!!

The cutest lamp from Target, and a pair of pillows from HomeGoods

I called this MY bedroom!

Master. We got the drapery panels and the chair from Pottery Barn, the table was the second attempt, purchased at Pier 1. The first was returned to Target.

Lamps were waiting to come home with us.

Decorate Your Space on the Road: Part Three

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Posted by Denise Smith on March 12, 2009 – 2:00 pm
Filed under Current Projects, Kitchens, Rooms

Kitchen

Let me start by saying: Jim and Roseann know the Myrtle Beach area restaurants better than Tom Sietsema knows DC.  I heard much about which has the nicest staff, the best view, the freshest catch, the fluffiest omelet, the best grouper sandwich…and of course, Jim and Roseann do not agree as to who is the winner in each of the said categories.  (Read my post from Tuesday to experience a little of my culinary tour.)  So it was a bit obvious that the Kitchen in their new home will never be properly loved.  Still, I had amazing spa-like breakfasts of precisely sliced grapefruits, juicy blueberries, plump sweet strawberries and moist zucchini bread. 

The Kitchen allows plenty of options for relaxing with a cup of coffee.  A tall bar divides it from the Great Room.  My clients had this area wired for pendant lights, but have not been able to find something they both like.  Lots of Venetian Gold granite counter space, tall warm cabinetry and bay windows leave little wall space to inject personality, but a pair of Banana Leaf Mini Pendants will do the trick. 

Banana Leaf Mini Pendant Image from Bellacor

And a nice grass green, Benjamin Moore’s Ivy Lane, will complement the bit of wall there is.  They chose-without my help!-a wonderful glass and wicker dinette set.  When it arrived, two pairs of different chair backs were mistakenly shipped.  But both Roseann and Jim thought it contributed to the interest and decided to keep them.  Do I need to explain how proud of that I am?!?  I am still working on finding just the right drum shade pendant to hang over it.  I need pattern and color here…

There was some discussion about decorating the space at the top of the upper cabinets.  This is one of those areas where I have a strong opinion.  I say NO WAY.  Just a repository for nasty grimy kitchen dust, if you really want to know how I feel.    Roseann wanted to collect some large colorful platters and display them there, so when we found a large metal art piece at Pier 1 she was very pleased.  This would satisfy her wishes nicely except…

Hand-Painted Plates Wall Decor Image from Pier 1

Jim hated it.  A few times more around the store we went, debating various shelving units for the half bath.  Roseann slips into the conversation admirations of the piece with unwavering commitment.  Jim meets them with a steadily increasing agitated “NO” until it crescendos into, “THAT IS THE UGLIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN!”

So as we began to collect our purchases at the register, Jim tells the clerk, “Don’t ring it up.”  But since the van was already packed, and we had just bought two more substantially large items and a bevy of littler things, he had to go to parking lot and rearrange.  Roseann took the opportunity of his absence to return the art to the pile.  Seconds later, the manager walks to the register, on a mission from Jim to see if Roseann had done just that.  The poor girl, forced to choose between satisfying her best customer all week and actually INCREASING the sale.  This is why the couple has been so loyal to me: I know when to step in and make the final decision before any feathers fly. 

The piece has found a perfect home nailed horizontally above the pantry doors.  Jim hung it where I asked him and I ignored the mutterings under his breath.

Den

Still some work to do here, but is that the biggest monitor you've ever seen?

This is Jim’s domain.  He has a large desk, a credenza, and a file chest and hutch.  A console is still on backorder.  Jim displayed his collection of old cameras on the hutch, so when he expressed an interest in the Photographer’s Tripod Floor Lamp from Pottery Barn, I agreed.  We picked up the Adeline Rug as well, since if you remember from yesterday, finding rugs was such a challenge. 

Adeline Rug Image from Pottery Barn

This room has wide, dark cherry planked wood floors.  Crisp white beadboard would really add architectural detail.  And Jim agreed.  I imagined a richly textured green grasscloth to grace the upper portion of the walls.  And Jim disagreed.  Again and again.  I worked on him over three days and many meals, and as often as I thought I could get away with it.   I flew back home understanding my place as the employed one and before I left I chose Benjamin Moore’s Chopped Dill.  But insisted it be done in the Matte finish.  Maybe I will come back and faux finish it…

Decorate Your Space on the Road: Part Two

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Posted by Denise Smith on March 11, 2009 – 3:00 pm
Filed under Current Projects, Dining Rooms, Foyers and Entryways, Living Rooms, Rooms

Here is a break down of some of the things I accomplished with homeowners Jim and Roseann during my trip to South Carolina. Today I will highlight the most public spaces, the Great Room and Dining Room.  (Remember- we ordered the furniture last summer before they moved.)

Great Room

The Great Room was designed to showcase a view.  We discussed treatment options for large bank of windows looking out the screen room viewing the pond and the new landscaping with gorgeous lighted palms.  Neighbors have fabric covered verticals which Roseann really likes.  My recommendation was to have window film professionally installed and then address if treatments are still needed.

Just finished built in unit houses a stereo for calypso music and family memorabilia.

A new shelving unit had been designed and recently installed.    I accessorized with family photos and added orange pieces with intention to collect more.  I decided not to accessorize the fireplace as the speakers and television are already crowding the space. New accessories were purchased for the sofa table.  Two huge ceramic spheres and a long row of tea lights in the same two colors follow the horizontal line of the table with texture, color and drama.  We purchased four large metal platters with hammered designs to hang on the siding in the screened room.

Long, low and graphic ensure unbroken sightlines.

Concerning the large empty area to left of fireplace, Roseann loved a photo of a basket display in Pottery Barn catalogue.  We used this as inspiration and purchased a wonderful array of highly textured woven trays and shallow bowls and hung them in a pleasing, random pattern.  The arrangement will look less harsh once the walls are painted Ralph Lauren Crab Apple, a very complex taupe.  We still need to procure a long low bench for this area to ground the basket display and to hide the sub-woofer.  The bench will be easily moved to the conversation group when Jim and Roseann fill the house with neighbors and margaritas.

A basket display will be capped at the bottom by a still-to-be-purchased bench.

I designed a tile pattern to be installed on the wall area under the bar using colorful glass tiles and matte ceramic squares.  I tried to convince Jim that tiling the entire 70 square feet of an angled and awkward wall visible upon entry with glass tiles would be completely amazing.  My rough-estimated cost of 3K combined with the permanence of it seems to have overshadowed my enthusiasm.  (Trust me–IT WILL REALLY ROCK!!)

Not a good shot of the wall, which is calling out for drama!

Dining Room

After much searching, we decided to purchase a colorful, graphic wool rug at Pottery Barn.  Roseann was very unsure, as her taste is more traditional, but loved it once it was in place with the Dining set.  (The Dining table, chairs and buffet were some of the only pieces to come from the Woodbridge house.) 

The chairs have been reupholstered in the sofa fabric, but this group came as is from the old house. The wall is marked with tape where I want the canvas to hang.

The rug set the tone for the accessories.  We found a wonderful squat glass vase in a gorgeous orange.  I filled it with oversized tropical fronds.  The perfect giclee canvas presented itself in our shopping frenzy for a crazily discounted price of $15.  We found a small wool rug in a perfect mustard for the Foyer on clearance.

We took this picture at the Ferguson showroom. Instant crush.

We ordered a beautiful new chandelier from Ferguson sight unseen.  It’s partner, a carriage light, was on display and we all immediately fell in love with it and decided it would be exactly right for the foyer.  We felt a bit of economic desperation at the store and received both at a fantastic price.

I chose silk striped panels at Pottery Barn for the pair of windows.  I advised them to wait for an inevitable sale.  The colors in the stripes are lighter, slightly off versions of the paint I chose. 

Jim has an irrational phobia to wallpaper.  (…Which has absolutely nothing to do with the miles and miles of square feet I forced him to remove in the old house…)  Texture is necessary in this space so I chose Ralph Lauren River Rock in Sandstone Cliff for under the chair rail.  The rest of the Dining Room and shared wall in the Foyer will be Benjamin Moore Adams Gold.

Tomorrow:  the Den and the Kitchen.  And Drama over Plates!!

Decorate Your Space on the Road: Part One

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Posted by Denise Smith on March 10, 2009 – 12:59 pm
Filed under Current Projects

I long for the beach...

I spent last week in South Carolina, just south of Myrtle Beach, working with longtime clients that have retired there.  I arrived late due to a freak snow storm, so my entire stay lasted 72 hours.  And we filled each one, resting only to eat seafood on the beach and to sleep half as much as we needed.

We visited every retail establishment within thirty miles that we could find and many of them more than once.  We discovered the best tailors, lighting suppliers, tile showrooms and how hard it is to find a decent wool rug in a beach town.  By my count, we shopped at least 15 different brick and mortar sources, and twice that again online.

Jim and Roseann presented me with a list of 48 items, broken down my room, listed by whose concern it was-working with them can get a little like Designing for the Sexes-and highlighted by priority.   Working nonstop allowed me to address all but about three things.   …Which is why I have spent the last three days complaining about how tired I am. 

The hard work of the selection and ordering of furniture we did when they were still living in Northern Virginia.  All but two pieces have arrived, so most of my job consisted of finding accessories, rugs, lighting, and paint color selection.  It was fun to see what I only imagined in my mind’s eye and had plotted out on the computer actually in situ.  I appreciate having a chance to see the wonderful open flow of the space and the little details with my own eyes. 

In order to keep my posts short enough to actually be read-and if you read, feel free to comment!-I will continue the story tomorrow and Thursday.

Here are the pics I took with my phone.  I told you I ate a lot…

Shrimp Salad and Fresh Fruit from Nibels in Garden City. Absolutely perfect.

View from my table at Nibels. It was cold outside, like 48.

She Crab Soup at Conch Cafe. OMG where did all that gray come from???

  Grouper Sandwich at Conch Cafe. Yea, I ate it all...

Fried Oysters at Nances in Murrels Inlet. I was an oyster virgin...

Crab and Cheese Balls from Bovines in Murrels Inlet. This was shared!

A Rare done Wood fired Steak topped with fresh shrimp and jalepeno and fruit salsa from Bovines. Crazy good and my last meal.

View of Murrels Inlet from my table at Bovines. Fishing boats coming in and going out.Yea, I like to eat.  Now please be kind and refrain from nominating me for Biggest Loser…

What I’ve Been Doing

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Posted by Denise Smith on March 5, 2009 – 8:20 am
Filed under Current Projects

Boatloads  vanloads of shopping…

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Celebration Preparation

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Posted by Denise Smith on February 23, 2009 – 1:27 pm
Filed under Accessorizing, Current Projects, Design Principles

I felt like I was participating in an episode of America’s Top Decorator  Design Idol  Top Design. I confess I’m not a big reality show watcher.  But to the point, I spent my weekend on a tight schedule helping my friends prepare for the huge gathering they were having in their home to celebrate their registering a civil union.

The painters were leaving as I arrived on Friday.  The Living Room walls were now clean and glowing in the palest pink (Benjamin Moore Wild Aster 1240).  The first and immediate task was positioning the furniture to accommodate guests and heaping trays of food.

You may recall my series on this gorgeous home.  The owners have upset the cosmic balance of talent by remaining together for 18 years; Kirk is an artist and Arijit is an architect.  They have piles of art.  Literally.  Piles in baskets and stacked on the floor.  It was my job to display it.

Here are some photos.

The green rectangular vases are vintage. I tried to put them in my suitcase but I got caught.

Fire Supplies tucked away in vessels.

Kirk's art on the right, folk art on the left.

Arijit created a customary welcome with flour paste.

The necessities for partying.

More importantly, booze. More art hung in the distance.

When you enter. We added huge bunches of yellow roses and purple tulips just before the guests arrived.

Ready for food. The paintings in the distance are Kirk's own work.

Wall o Words

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Posted by Denise Smith on February 10, 2009 – 11:34 am
Filed under Current Projects, Living Rooms, Rooms

JoDee and I are working hard on her new house. Walls are getting painted, furniture is being delivered.

I envision a wall of quotes in her Living Room. If you remember, we are creating an unconventional space by rejecting the normal sofa and two chairs. Televisionless and focused on the conversation circle, this space is for connections. A table of family photos and this mural will reinforce the theme.

The difficulty has been deciding if we are going to use readily available vinyl lettering or actual paint. I am leaning toward having the quotes hand painted for many reasons.
1) I like the organic look of paint. The variation in pressure and color will make the total image dynamic rather than static.
2) Overlapping the words will add dimension (a good thing) and I am unsure if vinyl can be layered (a bad thing).
3) Paint can be changed. How often can you move the vinyl before it looks bad?
4) I would love to support a local artist if I can find one.

I have begun to layout some of the quotes JoDee wants included.

A rough draft

It all started with this mural at the Starbucks on Hoadly in Woodbridge.  The principal of the high school pointed it out to me.  He wanted it in the Teacher’s Lounge.  It still hasn’t been done, but it has not yet been deleted from the Windows Files of my brain.  When JoDee mentioned a family quote mural, this file opened first.  I really like the dimension and all the quotation marks.

I took this photo at a local Starbucks.

She found this online.  Nice, but too small and rather expensive.

From Wonderful Grafitti

Looking for inspiration, I found these on Flickr:

A tribute to Warhole from narcotic.glitter

From Flickr

Interesting and cleanly framed with Pink from Flumpster

From Flickr

Smalbloc gives us a wall from a vegan restaurant in Phoenix

From Flickr

Samuel Mann’s photo from the Queensland Museum

From Flickr

This photo appears to be one huge quote.  Maybe a few pages from a favorite book? 

From Flickr

I need to find an artist that is willing to work in Fredericksburg and is very good at lettering.  (Which I am not.  Have you seen my handwriting?!?!)

 

 

Inspired Originality

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Posted by Denise Smith on December 22, 2008 – 9:32 pm
Filed under Current Projects

Thank you Pier 1 for having just what we needed.

It has been said that no idea is original. I am not that cynical, but I understand the context. Great ideas flow from other ideas. I like to call it ‘inspiration’.

JoDee has a friend who uses her Living Room as a space for coffee and gossip by rejecting the traditional sofa and chair set up for a circle of rocking chairs. Perusing a furniture store catalogue, we noticed a similar arrangement with Wingback Chairs. So it was as if the Decorating Fairies put a new collection of perfectly sized and relatively inexpensive occasional chairs into Pier 1 just for us.

We still need to hunt for the perfect round low coffee table and a chandelier with the right balance of sparkle and iron. We borrowed an idea from the internet when we planned to create a mural of family words and quotes as a background to children’s portraits. From feng shui we took the idea of a tabletop gallery of family snapshots.

All these ideas are incorporated into one unique design, perfect for a special family.

More Hangin’ Around

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Posted by Denise Smith on December 11, 2008 – 2:25 pm
Filed under Accessorizing, Current Projects, Design Principles

The Board Room Before

The Board Room After

I do things at my job that I never dreamed of when I planned the operation of Decorate Your Space.  One thing I didn’t imagine was how many times I would hang and rehang pictures.

I spent a long day hanging portraits of board members for a government office.  I was hired to choose and order the frames and the information plaques, designate a spot for them, and arrange them.  

But aside from such obvious hanging jobs, I often find myself rehanging the pictures in clients’ homes.  And in the majority of cases, I’m simply moving down the nail.

Note to all potential hangers:  It’s probably too high!!

The Space Above the Sofa

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Posted by Denise Smith on December 9, 2008 – 1:57 pm
Filed under Accessorizing, Current Projects, Design Principles, Living Rooms, Rooms

Many companies sell units ready to hang. Use a laser level for precision.

Most sofas spend their existence sitting against a wall. But it needn’t be this way. Sofas look wonderful in front of a bank of windows. Mine floats perpendicular to the fireplace.

But since in most homes the sofa is in its expected place against the largest open wall, there is an area above it that needs addressed. A large picture will suffice. Or a collection of smaller prints, grouped as one large.

Rebecca purchased a wall system from At Home America. I worked with her yesterday to hang it. We incorporated a large clock from their collection. Two of the rods have clips that will hold four yet to be bought black frames.

Coincidentally, when I got home I had an email from a client who has been working with me on her apartment. She sent me a picture what she had just done with her blank space above the sofa. She hung squares of Amy Butler fabric on canvases. The colors are wonderful and give life to the white walls.

Squares of Amy Butler fabric, purchased from ebay, hang above a sofa.