Gracious Home

POWDER ROOM Renovation: Week 3 ORC

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 00:54:00 +0000

Week 3 of my Powder Room renovation!

To see my previous two blog posts click here for Week One ORC and Week Two ORC here.

The walls are prepped and I'm pretty much ready to move forward with the decoration aspect of this renovation. The only thing nibbling at me is the shower tile. It's just your basic builder-grade small white square tiles. It's nice, it's clean, it's white. But, heck! I'm a designer! I feel like the One Room Challenge Gods may be looking down at me and cursing me for taking the easy route!

So, yes - after several days of mulling it over - I decide that the existing shower tile has to go. But, I know that there is a window behind all of that tile. Am I opening up a can of worms? YES! I think we can all agree that removing the existing tile will certainly create new havoc with the renovation.

So, my tile guy is here. I tell him that he's got to get rid of the shower tile now before he lays the new floor. He's quick, efficient and careful. Within about 30 minutes all of the tile is gone. And

VOILA!

BEAUTIFUL DAYLIGHT in my shower! I am soooo excited that the sun is shining in here, I am thrilled with my rash decision. David, my tile man, starts laying out the herringbone pattern I've decided on. This is no easy task. The marble didn't come in narrow planks like I envisioned from all of those Pinterest pictures. Rather, I had to buy a large rectangular tile and he had to cut all of them in half to get the narrow width that I was anticipating. Plus, there were too many dark grey tiles in the mix - so, I had him eliminate all of those.

Needless to say, David was patient and did a fantastic job with the floor. I am THRILLED with how beautifully it came out.

So, now back to the exposed, yet rotting window....

I was in a bit of a dilemma last week. I knew there was a window there - but I wasn't able to get accurate measurements for it because it was behind the tile. Therefore, I wasn't able to order a new window ASAP (meaning, in enough time to finish off the ORC in 6 weeks). But, I did order the window. I really wanted a decorative casement window like this:

This is one of my windows in the front of my house. However, wouldn't ya know - the diamond pane windows are the most expensive ones! (sigh...) Okay, so I just ordered a regular 9-pane casement window. It's due to arrive the 1st week of November (no earlier) - the same week that the ORC officially ends. (double sigh...) But, as I said a while back - this is real life and I want to make my renovation the best that it can be within my budget. So, I'll still finish the ORC - it will just be on my own timeline! (but aiming for November 11th).

THE VANITY

INSPIRATION VANITY PHOTO

WORKING DRAWINGS FOR CARPENTER

Happily, my vanity is coming along VERY nicely and very quickly! The above (left) photo is the inspiration piece and the drawing (above right) is how I envision the custom piece.

Mitch Mitton, my carpenter extrordinaire, took my basic drawings and ran with it. Here are a few photos of the doors being created.

Another photo of the door and here the front legs, too.

There's a laundry list of what's left to be done.

1. Install new toilet

2. Seal marble floor.

3. Paint window.

4. Install Window - remove old termite infested and rotting wood surround

5. Put up green board in shower area

6. Tile shower area

7. Reinstall existing Shower head etc.

8. Finish installing base. Install crown.

9. Wallpaper.

10. Install vanity, vanity top and backsplash.

11. Reinstall sconces

12. Install towel bars and toilet paper holder.

13. Accessorize and prep for professional photos.

And, sadly, only items #1 & #2 can be done before the window is installed. But, the window delivery should be in about 2 weeks! Gotta look on the bright side!

In the meantime, please see what the ORC Linking Participants are doing here and click here to see what the ORC Guest Participants (like me) are up to. We post every Thursday! Tootle-oo!

ORC Week Two: Powder Room Restoration

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 12:15:00 +0000

It's the end of Week Two for my Powder Room restoration - One Room Challenge. Thanks for checking back in!

For those of you that may be new to the post - the One Room Challenge dares you to design/redesign a room in less than 6 weeks. There's no prize - just the satisfaction of being
able to complete a project under the gun. However, I've realized that in order to masterfully "finish" in time - you REALLY need to have a good plan mapped out for ultimate success.

I'm telling you all of this because I didn't "map out" this particular powder room renovation before I took the plunge and joined in the ORC fun. Obviously, any kind of renovation work will have it's fair share of bumps in the road, but this week, I uncovered a small pothole.

Read on...you'll see. It's something that I knew about, but wasn't mentally prepared to make a decision on until it was revealed- nor could I.

ORDER VANITY
I saw this gorgeous beauty of a vanity last winter in a showroom while sourcing tile for a client. She didn't need a vanity, but I took a photo of it anyway to remember it for another client. Who KNEW that the deserving client would be "little ole me"! How FABULOUS! As it turns out, my champagne tastes and beer budget didn't really allow me to be able to purchase this particular model. So, I improvised and called up Mitch Mitton, the cabinet-maker extrordinaire! I was lucky enough to catch Mitch in between jobs, so he was able to take on the task of recreating a vanity similar to this one for me.

I absolutely love the fret work on this piece. However, the wallpaper that I selected is a Chinois pattern and I thought that I ought to use a more simple Chippendale-type of style fretwork to go with it. Here's the Pinterest photo that inspired the look for the new vanity fretwork:

Via

So, Mitch has taken on the project and he'll create a more simple fretwork pattern (like this) for the vanity.

PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER

The next task in this powder room was to strip the walls. I was a little more than bummed about the damage to my Thibaut wallpaper. But, I should be happy that I got nine years worth of looking at it. It was so easy to strip, I think I did it in 20 minutes! HA!

My jack-of-all-trades man, Luis came to patch the walls, install the baseboard and prime.
But, before he came, I knew that I had to get rid of the shower arch. It wasn't planned, but, the arch was driving me crazy. It was low and kind of made the space feel a little claustrophobic. OFF it went! Yahoo!! Immediately the difference was amazing - as you can see!

It gets better! Luis hasn't even repaired the walls or primed yet. I'm SOOO excited to get rid of the blue walls.
VOILA!

And, here we are at the end of Week Two. The space is taking shape again and looking bigger. I love the white and am excited about the next steps. Or, am I?

Stay tuned for next week. There's a WINDOW behind the shower wall. A rotted window. I'm trying to cut costs with this renovation. But, I'm not too certain that I want to keep the existing ceramic square tiles when I found such a gorgeous pearl shell tile to replace it.

DILEMMA
1. Should I tile over the existing window, even though it's rotted? (seems to be the least expensive route)
2. Should I spend the money on a new window and tile over it using the pearl shell tile as the focal point on the wall? OR,
3. Should I spend the money on a new window, tile around it while forsaking my original design and apparant LUST for this pearl shell tile (and use the Pearl Shell tile, but at a minimum)?

Regardless, whatever I do, I can't do much until the shower tile is removed and I'm able to look at the damage and measure the window and order a new one. That happens tomorrow.

Ah the life of an interior designer! Decisions, decisions! Stay tuned for next week and I'll tell you what I've decided.

In the meantime, please see what the ORC Linking Participants are doing here and click here to see what the ORC Guest Participants (like me) are up to. We post every Thursday! Tootle-oo!

Fall 2016 - ONE ROOM CHALLENGE: Week One!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 08:07:00 +0000

It's BAAAACCKK!!

Yes indeedy folks - it's Linda's semi-annual ONE ROOM CHALLENGE again and this week I decided to throw in my towel and participate with the best of them!

After completing my Family Den project last Spring (see Final photos here) - I didn't think I'd be attempting to complete another home project for the Fall. But, I think "The Man Upstairs" had something else in mind for me. While out of town this summer, my 1st Floor Powder Room flooded - ruining the existing 1st Floor Powder Room space and pretty much wreaking havoc (read: Mold City) in our basement.

The Powder Room floors and toilet were ripped out and dry wall was cut where the mold was growing. Insurance covered a lot of the mold and flooding issues. But, having an insurance agent come and itemize things along with a contractor and receiving the replacement cost check is a tediously slow and agonizing process.

During that time, I tried to imagine how I might redecorate the space and make it more to my liking. The old Powder Room was pretty, but dark.

I'm excited to renovate this Powder Room because I'd like to renovate more bathroom spaces for my clients. I'm going to use this One Room Challenge process as my sounding board or guinea pig for future use.

Here is my scope of work:

1. Remove existing Thibaut wallpaper
2. Drywall walls, install baseboard, prime walls
3. Remove exising ARCH in shower area
4. Retile Shower Area
5. New Vanity, top, faucets and sink
6. New Toilet
7. Install crown moulding
8. Wallpaper
9. Paint an existing free-standing cabinet
10. Shower Curtain

A lot of hiccops occur during renovations. So, I will start this process with my fingers crossed. I don't know if I'll be able to finish in the 6 week time-frame. But, I have a goal!

Stick with me, I'll try and keep it interesting!

In the meantime, please see what the ORC Linking Participants are doing here and click here to see what the ORC Guest Participants (like me) are up to. We post every Thursday! Tootle-oo!

ORC: Week 6: THE REVEAL

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 12 May 2016 05:15:00 +0000

CatMax Photography

Okay - finishing this Challenge was AMAZING!

After six weeks of blogging, making quick and fast decisions, my Den makeover is DONE!

CatMax Photography

And, I am pinching myself over the transformation!

CatMax Photography

Remember these sad BEFORE shots?

And now my family has a beautiful room to sit their sweaty bodies on and jump on the sofa with their clay covered cleats! YEA!

That is why these professional shots are so important to me.

It won't get better any prettier after this! But it's DONE!

CatMax Photography

Putting together a room in 6 weeks sounds pretty easy on Day 1 of Week 1. And, it is actually. If you know what the plan is and what you're going to order - it should all run smoothly. Right?

CatMax Photography

HA! Not always so! But, I was very fortunate for this project and didn't have to worry about fabrics not being in stock, deliveries not coming in on time, or workmen not being available.

In fact, all of my workrooms, vendors and photographer were really helpful and obliging. So, first and foremost I have to thank them for all of their hard work (making me look good) and finishing on or before the deadlines.

CatMax Photography

What makes this 6 week Challenge challenging is that you have to make firm decisions and then run with it. You have to handle any type of decisions or problems quickly and efficiently. Although I had all of my major pieces in the room by last week, the room lacked the finishing touches. The window treatments weren't up, the pillows, artwork, lamps and accessories were mising.

ART

I'd previously purchased a large 60" canvas from Wisteria.

I knew a more contemporary piece would help the room "pop", but as it turns out - the artwork that I bought - although pretty - was more of a flop than a pop for the room. It took a bit of courage, but on Mother's Day, I brought out the acrylics and completely painted over the existing canvas. While not a masterpiece, the new version brings a fresh vision to the room and brings the color around the space. Exactly what I was looking for!

END TABLE LAMPS

As it turns out, the painted Tea Canister lamps weren't "all that". I needed something a bit more sophisticated and young for the room. I grabbed a pair of these crystal column lamps from my basement and added the Ballard Design green linen shades. I think their simplicity was needed in the room (I mean, don't forget, we have a pair of those Blackamore lamps across the way with the crazy spotted shades!).

SHEER ROMANS, DRAPERY PANELS & RODS

In truth, the biggest and best transformation to this room was the addition of more light.

Taking down and throwing out my faded (and ugly) mahogany wood blinds (that came with the house) was probably the best day for me. As that was the day this room saw natural light! WHOA!

But, a difference it made!

Thanks for following along with me for these past six weeks! It was a blast!

If you'd like me to transform one or all of the rooms in your house - please don't hesitate to contact me. I work with clients in Atlanta and around the country and would LOVE to transform your
room too. Call or email me!

Thanks Linda @ Calling It Home for this amazing and fun opportunity!

If you'd like to go back to the beginning and
see how my room transformed, click HERE .
If you'd like to see how the other 200 Guest Participants finished, click HERE.
And, the Featured Designers rooms, click HERE.

ORC: Week Five - Details Make the Difference!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 05 May 2016 04:24:00 +0000

You know those little design details that your interior designer keeps suggesting you use in your room? You know, the "over the top", "silly", "not worth the expense" design details? Well, you ought to listen to your designer because those subtle details are the key elements that can turn your room from Hum-Drum to HELLO!

CHAIRS

Thibaut Cheverly Chairs
My chairs arrived! I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! The lime green leopard (which may seem a bit garish) is tempered by the chair's classic, English design. Plus, I was struck by the feminine bamboo legs, button tufts and nailhead trim. I added a lime green tape underneath the nailhead trim to draw your eye down to those fabulous legs! Did it work?
DRAPERY

I was so excited to pick up my drapery panels last Friday. They turned out so well!

I specified details to help make the simple panels look a lot more special. My workroom created goblet pleats with a "knot" design at each base, and we added a solid lime green contrast fabric trim along the top and leading edges of the panels.

DRAPERY ROD

As I mentioned in my last post HERE, I found all of the elements for my lucite rod/rings and brass bracket through the helpful posts from three other amazing bloggers. Thanks to them and the abundance of amazing information one can find on the internet, I was successfully and quickly able to order all of the drapery hardware and have it shipped within a week! UH-MAZING!

END TABLE LAMPS

I'd been dreaming about using these GORGEOUS celadon green slag lamps from Times Two Design. They were a bit pricier than I wanted to pay. However, this is how I feel about lamps. Lamps are the jewelry to the room. Part of the design details that I was talking about earlier, lamps can really change the feel of a room. Undaunted by the price, I SO wanted these lamps to work. However, the celadon green color seemed to dramatically clash with my lime green chairs (and not in a good way). The lamps didn't seem as "important" as I wanted them to be. I'm picking at straws, but I also thought that maybe they were a bit too thin for the table....

Anyhow, after that crushing blow, I had to think quickly about what type of lamp should go there. Simple. Dana Gibson's Tea Caddy lamp! But, I wasn't so sure that her greens would work in my room. Plus, I was kind of hoping to have a mix of green and blue in the lamp. So, I called my lighting rep and she found me a pair of these green tea caddy lamps. The green was fun- but, overall, the design was too serious. Definitely wanted to lighten up the mood a bit!

Out comes my handy-dandy paint brush!

And, as I posted on Instagram this week.....

hashtag #EPIC FAIL!!

But, with some sound advice from a trusted facebook friend, I am now on the right track. Not finished, but one can is painted white.

If the color works, I found these green lampshades. Otherwise, white shades to the rescue!

CONSOLE TABLE LAMPS

Look at the adorable SHADES that Kristi from Sassyshades on Etsy created for me! Made from Caitlin Wilson's navy Spotty fabric, these shades are the exclamation point in my room! I can't thank Kristi enough for working with me and finishing way before the deadline! Love her and the shades!!

ACCESSORIES & ARTWORK

I purchased this oversized canvas from Wisteria. It looks pretty and works "okay" in the room. But, I don't like it. It's too representational. I'd like something a bit more abstract and contemporary with a bit more color. So, down to the wire - I'm thinking that I'll try and paint over it. We'll see. It's one thing to paint lamps, but it's another thing to try and tackle a 60"wide canvas a couple days before I have professional shots taken!

To see what I did last week, please click HERE. To see how the other One Room Challenge Guest Participants are up to, click HERE and to see what the Featured Designers are doing, click HERE.

That's it for this week!

See you at the REVEAL next Thursday!

Tootle-loo!

This post is linked up with Poofing the Pillows, Decor to Adore, At Home with Jemma, and the White Spray Paint Blog.

ORC: Week Four - Coming Together!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 06:46:00 +0000

All of the pieces are slowly coming together, full circle

It's great to see everything in my Den plan slowly coming together!

WALL CONSOLE
Last Thursday morning, I was happy to receive the Spencer console that I ordered from WAYFAIR .

It came within less than a week after ordering! I was VERY impressed!

And the quality was top knotch.

The glass has a beveled edge!

SOFA
The next morning, I was lucky to receive my new Lee Industries sofa!

After years of spreading out on a short loveseat, this new, longer sofa will be the hit in my "girlie" mancave I'm creating!

Notice the blue/white banding trim around the bottom of the skirt. I am pretty passionate about details like that. The small details are what really transforms a room and makes it truly unique!
I selected this style sofa for several reasons - it had a masculine, tailored look to it, which I felt the room needed. I also liked the simplicity of the "unfussy" bench-seat cushion and the angular arms.

OPEN ARMCHAIR
And, I was thrilled to pick-up my newly upholstered chair this week!

What a transformation!

Note: the lime green double welt detail

So, all-in-all, things are coming together in my One Room Challenge Den design.

PAIR OF BENCHES
TO BE PLACED UNDERNEATH WOOD CONSOLE
However, I did have to relinquish one piece of my design. I very much wanted to order a pair of Hickory Chair faux bamboo benches and upholster them in a blue velvet squares fabric.

I have the fabric, but due to time constraints, I decided to not order the benches. I was hoping that I'd be able to find something else. However, I've been thinking about using these benches somewhere in my house (for years!). I will probably order them and install later on.

DRAPERY HARDWARE
This was a fun and easy selection/decision for me. Thanks to three FANTABULOUS blog posts that I read and pinned - from Kristen Jackson at The Hunted Interior blog, Grace from A Storied Style blog and Kris from Driven by Decor blog. Thanks to their help,I was able to affordably order lucite acrylic rods and rings and brass bracket holders for my Den project! I'm just waiting for all of the pieces to arrive.

via Driven by Decor blog

via Driven by Decor blog

ACCESSORIES
Lastly, I've been mulling over what type of accessories to use in the room. I find accessories to be the most difficult part of an install. Mostly because accessories are so personal. But, because this is MY install and MY room, I think it's even harder! After trolling around the internet, I think my best accessorizing tool will be to find large blue/white porcelain ginger jars. I'm cutting it down to the wire, but I'm going to head over to my local resources and see what I can find. Here's what I'm thinking about - I think the blue will help punch up the room a bit and bring the color around.

My TO DO list: What's left?

1. Blackamoor Lamps - finish painting them

2. End Table lamps - make a decision - purchase shades

3. Artwork over Sofa

4. Install window sheers - already purchased and received

5. Finish purchasing and install drapery hardware

6. Select & Purchase blue/white porcelain accessories for room

7. Receive & Install chairs

8. Pick-up and install pillows and drapery treatments

9. Photograph

10. Final REVEAL!

To see what I did last week, please click HERE. To see how the other One Room Challenge Guest Participants are up to, click HERE and to see what the Featured Designers are doing, click HERE.

That's it for this week! Tootle-loo!

This post is linked up with Poofing the Pillows, Decor to Adore, At Home with Jemma, and the White Spray Paint Blog.

ORC: Week Three - FRAZZLED!?&%$@*!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 04:09:00 +0000

I don't know about the rest of you, but I pretty much had a meltdown yesterday regarding my ORC plan. I came to the realization that we're at the half-way point already and I'll have to ditch at least one (hopefully not more) of my planned items - due to the time contraint! Good Heavens!!

WHERE is everything??

Well, I shouldn't complain - I received my newly lacquered coffee table. It looks shiny and blue with it's new coat of Denim by Sherwin Williams!

And, I was lucky. Instead of having to order my area rug - I found this one already made up and ready to purchase at Myers Carpet.

So, IN THE CAR it went! - along with a rug pad!

SEE YA SOFA!! "Hasta La Vista, baby!" (Hello Goodwill)

I dropped off my drapery fabric to my workroom last week. I liked the look and details of this goblet pleat panel that I found on Pinterest and used this as my inspiration photo.

This is my drapery fabric and I asked my drapery workroom to replicate the knotted detail.

I also sent out my mother's old white Living Room chair to get a much needed Botox injection! Because I was in a rush to get things done, I completely forgot to take a Before photo of the chair in the room. The chair has a great shape and is very comfortable. It just needed a fresh and youthful makeover! Here's the BEFORE of the chair. You'll have to wait until next week for the AFTER.

I'm upholstering it in this vibrant Raoul Textiles fabric and adding a bright pop of Lime Green as a contrast welt.

And finally, my LAMPS.

After mulling over lamp options, I've decided to use some existing Blackamoor lamps that I own.

To get an idea of space, I moved in a console from another room and added a lamp for size.

But NOT THOSE Blackamoor lamps. The color is all wrong! I selected THESE Blackamoor lamps!

I'm a hopeless collector of Blackamoor lamps (long story). Maybe I'll write a quickie blog post about it this week. Anyhoo! Although these pups may look decent enough in these photos - the paint was chipped everywhere and the "white" was extremely dingy. So, I grabbed my paint brushes this week and started their makeover! They're still a "work-in-progess" - but here's what they look like so far (don't judge)...

And, what's going to make them UBER-FABULOUS is their topper!

Now THIS custom shade will certainly bring a bit of the WOW factor to my room!

You can find this shade and other equally stunning and fun shades at Kristi Uvence's

ETSY Store - SassyShades.

That's it for this week! If you'd like to see more rooms, please click HERE to see the ORC Featured Designers.

Here's what I did Week 1 and Week 2!

Tootle-loo!

One Room Challenge: Week Two

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 12:36:00 +0000

Okay! Week One went off without a hitch. I seem to have made some great strides in my DEN make-over. Made lots of decisions last week and started ordering items. Here is my FLOORPLAN:

ORC - DEN - new Floor Plan with new furniture

As a decorator, I always like to start the design process with a FLOOR PLAN. It is like a road map for the room. It tells me where the furniture should be placed and what size furniture will be appropriate for the space. Also, it helps me identify the traffic pattern for the space.

BEFORE - dirty old chair in front of chest with boat, no mirror

After I have the floor plan tackled. My next step is to try and find inspiration fabrics and pieces that will help me narrow down my choices. I usually like to start with fabrics - as fabrics and trims are what I'm passionate about.

The fabric I started with is Pondicherry by Scalamandre.

I have loved this fabric since it first came out. Attracted to it's cornflower blues and limeade greens, I bought a huge memo sample of it years ago and vowed that I would use it SOMEWHERE in my next house. So, after I moved into this house, I started accumulating yardage of it. I knew that (one day) this would be my drapery fabric.

Next up was trying to figure out how I wanted the overall look of the room to feel. I'm a color fanatic and love seeing rooms with happy but tasteful bursts of color. I, briefly, thought that my room should be all beige with the drapery treatment as the "pop".

Beige = Sophisticated, texture Color = Fun, Flirty, Happy

However, I realized that if I had a beige room that wouldn't be true to who I am as a person. Although I love the look of a sophisticated and serene beige room - that's not who I truly am. So, I decided to put in more colorful upholstery pieces. Because in the end, colorful rooms make me more relaxed and happy. I wanted this Den project to reflect that.

So....LONG story short. For my Den: I ordered my sofa in a Pale Blue - Cowtan & Tout solid fabric. It has a great texture to it. I also trimmed the bottom edge of the skirt with a Stout Brothers wide trim band.

I ordered two Thibaut "Cheverly" chairs. This was a big splurge for me. I wanted a pair of matching chairs in this room. I also wanted the chairs to be comfortable, masculine (but feminine) and comfy. The Cheverly chairs have faux bamboo front legs. And, I emphasized the nailhead trim by adding a banded tape around the bottom edge. I upholstered them in a green/white Leopard fabric that I fell in love with (bring in the feminine!) from Lewis & Sheron.

I bought a coffee table online from the girls at Palm Beach Regency. I hated to paint it - as it was painted white with pink details. But, pink/white wasn't quite my vision. Hence, I had them lacquer it "Denim" blue from Sherwin Williams.

Sherwin Williams, DENIM

I was definitely struggling with end tables. I envisioned a pair of painted creamy, transitional end tables. I found them at Tritter Feefer - the Wynn Chest. But, after adding up my costs for the room, I had to abandon this dream and settle for something more economical - like this end table from eBay.

As luck would have it - I got an email for a house sale about an hour away and came home with these two LOVELY BEAUTIES!! SCORE!!!

While buying these end tables, I thought that I might paint them a cream color. But, I've since changed my mind. I like the mahogany - it's too pretty to paint over!

HERE ARE MY BEFORE SHOTS:

Please don't forget to look at what the Featured Designers are doing HERE. And, click HERE to see what the other GUEST BLOGGERS (like MOI) are doing. That's it for this week - stay tuned and don't forget to comment!!

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE - Let the Party Begin!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 11:21:00 +0000

That's right - if it's April - then it's the start of semi-annual THE ONE ROOM CHALLENGE created by Linda over at Calling It Home.

Now in its tenth season, The One Room Challenge is a competition for bloggers and interior designers to re-design a room in just six weeks and document its progress in weekly blog posts. You can read more about it here.

I participated in my first ORC about 3 years ago in which I transformed an unused room in my basement into an Office/Design Library. I learned a lot that season. Basically, my biggest take-away was that if I ever did the ORC again, that I would put a lot more planning and thought into the process (before just randomly signing-up a few days before....)!

ANYHOO....I'm very happy to say that I will be transforming our DEN for the 2016 spring One Room Challenge!

Our Den gets a lot of use as it's the family gathering spot. It's where we watch television, gather as a family, play monopoly and huddle before dinner.

In essence, it's our everything room. But, it's probably the room that's gotten the least amount of "design attention", since I kind of throw all of our leftover furniture in there.

But, this April/May, my DEN is going to have a makeover! (woot woot!!)

LOVE these colors!!!!

But, here is my TO-DO List. It is a bit overwhelming and I may not get everything done, but...C'est la vie of ORC!
1. Order area rug.
2. Order sofa.
3. Order chairs.
4. Order benches.
5. Lacquer coffee table.
6. Order fabric for drapery panels and send to drapery workroom. Install.
7. Order sheer blinds to cover windows. Install.
8. Select sofa end tables.
9. Select end table lamps/shades.
10. Select console table. Order.
11. Select console table lamps/shades.
12. Art over sofa. Create new or paint over existing canvas.
13. Paint existing ceiling fan.
14. Reupholster existing open arm chair.
15. Reupholster existing child's open arm chair.
16. Decide on fabrics and have pillows made for sofa and maybe chairs.

Hopefully, I can tackle everything on my list and not get shingles or hives or BOTH during this process (no joke - I've had shingles before and hives seem to magically "appear" when I'm super-stressed!). But, not to digress....

I'm thrilled to be a Guest Participant with the 2016 One Room Challenge. I hope that you will follow me on this journey and keep me entertained and positive with your awesome and uplifting comments! (did you get the hint?) PLEASE make comments!

In the meantime, please see what the ORC Linking Participants are doing here and click here to see what the ORC Guest Participants (like me) are up to. We post every Thursday! Tootle-oo!

Tales and Tea with Lord Charles Spencer

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 11:59:00 +0000

What an interesting afternoon I had yesterday!

The ASID Chapter of Atlanta invited 40 members to join Lord Charles Spencer (the late Princess Diana's younger brother) for tea and conversation about Theodore Alexander's Althorp Living History furniture collection at Matthews Furniture, here in Atlanta.

A little over ten years ago, Earl Spencer threw open the doors of Althorp, his family's 16th century estate, to the furniture manufacturer, Theodore Alexander and allowed them to take over 10,000 photographs of furniture and accessories collected by 19 generations of Spencers. From these photographs, Theodore Alexander was able to narrow down several thousand pieces of furniture to a mere 300.

What makes this line so special is it's attention to detail. Over 50% of the line's pieces are direct replicas of furniture or accessories currently found in the circa 1508 Althorp estate. The other 50% have been modernized to be more comfortable for today's standards of living.

Marlborough Dining Room at Althrop - featuring the Seddon Chair
(otherwise known as the "Squiggle Chair" by family members)
designed in 1800 by George Seddon

Charles Spencer, after being introduced to the intimate group, spoke very graciously and knowledgeably about pieces from the line. He would point out specific details from each piece and explain its history or importance. I was exceedingly impressed by his breadth of knowledge regarding each piece. So, when he ended his presentation, he graciously said that he would be more than happy to answer any questions while we took our tea. I took this as my cue to quickly go over and monopolize him before the rest of the crowd did.

I was very curious to know how he knew so much about the history of the more important furniture and accessory pieces. Did he have to investigate the history of each piece? Although he is an historian by trade, that doesn't necessarily mean that he has an interest in the history of each piece of furniture. He said that growing up he had an interest in the art and portraits at Althorp, as they all "told a story". However, he did not know much about the "stories" of the furniture. Happily, his great uncle (also an avid historian) had collected the stories and details about the more iconic pieces and had written it all down in a notebook. And some of these stories he passed along to us.

The Washington Blanket Chest

One such notable piece in the collection was an oak chest owned by a poor relation of George Washington's, who lived on the estate. This blanket chest, which currently houses the Earl's tennis clothes, is so perfectly replicated that the finish includes a wine glass stain on the lid!

They've even replicated the note written by the village priest in 1877 authenticating that this chest was once owned by the Washington family before they emigrated to America

The Theodore Alexander pieces are so well crafted that no one will know the difference. The Earl confirmed this by saying that he purchased a dozen of the Wootton Hall chairs for the Entrance Hall (as the originals are very delicate) and when the estate is open to the public, many want to sit on them. The newer versions are much sturdier!

Wootton Chair by Theodore Alexander

Wootton Hall at Althorp

Although Lord Spencer did not mention it, he has a new book out called Killers of the King. It's "an investigation into the grisly fates of those who ordered the execution of Charles 1st." Because I'm an anglophile at heart, I felt I needed to read this juicy and riveting story and ended up purchasing a book and having him sign it! I can't wait to start reading!

CHEERS!

EYE-CATCHING, COLORFUL & BOLD: DANA GIBSON'S HOME ACCENTS LINE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:20:00 +0000

I've been a fan of Dana Gibson's work for a while now.

I first recognized Dana's work when it was sold under the Moses Spring name. I worked at The Kellogg Collection in Washington, DC and we carried her line of ceramic lamps (I'm guessing it was about 10 years ago). These lamps were notable because of their uniqueness - the hand crafted bases of pink pigs, spotted cows and blue primula flowers - were a quiet, but humorous nod to the English countryside style (which was still influencing the design world in early 2000). But, what really caught my eye were the hand painted lampshades that accompanied her one-of-a-kind lamps - bold pastel stripes!

Since then, Dana Gibson's home accents line has greatly evolved.

She uses TOLE to create her lamps, trays, waste baskets, and picture frames.

But, the contemporary use of bright colors mixed with pattern and chinoiserie chic - always make me pause!

And, well, WHO doesn't love a little bit 'o leopard every once in a while! I DO!

This past spring, she teamed up with Jane Wilner to create a line of custom bed linens.

And, teamed up with Stroheim to distribute her eye-catching and bold fabric and wallpaper designs!

Here are a few of my favorites that I found at the Fabricut Showroom here in Atlanta.

Canton (Vases), Kira Kuba, and Twig wallpaper

Little Lanin, grass (wallpaper), Montenegro, Bombay

Canton wallpaper

Ocelot wallpaper

Trot wallpaper in Persimmon/Brown

Trot wallpaper in Lime/Brown

Via

What's not to love?

Did you find anything that you want in YOUR home? If so, call or email me - I can get it for you!

Have a great Monday!

EMERGING ARTISTS at GREGG IRBY

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 12:22:00 +0000

I am in the beginning stages of redecorating my Den - okay, VERY beginning stages! Oh alright! - let's just back up and say that one day soon - I hope to get my act together and re-design my Den! Right now I'm heavily thinking about my scheme and the art work I want to buy to put in the scheme. There are way too many options - just look at some of the art works I'm trying to decide on! - which is why I'm posting today.

Here are some of the kickin' contemporary art works that I'm in love with!

(I apologize in advance, I grabbed most of these photos from Gregg Irby's web site and they are all a bit on the blurry side, no you aren't drunk!)

Michelle Armas "Spencer" 36x36

This particular piece, by Michelle Armas, is one I quickly fell in love with. Her works are currently being shown at Gregg Irby Fine Art here in Atlanta. Gregg Irby specializes in showcasing emerging artist's talent. There are several pieces works of Michelle's that I like at Gregg's. Sadly, this is not one of them. I found this piece, "Spencer" on google and clipped the photo for my "Den wish list". I'm assuming this piece is old and sold, since I haven't been able to locate it on Michelle's or Gregg's web site (yes, I've been stalking!).

Here are a few other pieces by Michelle Armas. They don't necessarily work for my Den project - but, I particularly love the vibrant colors that she uses and the movement and energy they invoke.

Michelle Armas, unknown (from Pinterest)

Michelle Armas, "Splendid Splinter"

Michelle Armas, "OK Great" 48x48

Michelle Armas, "Joie" 36x48

Some other powerful canvas contenders for my Den scheme are by Eileen Power, whose work is also being shown at Gregg Irby Fine Art.

Another standout artist featured at Gregg Irby Fine Art is Britt Bass Turner. Her work was recently featured on Jennifer's blog over at The Pink Pagoda. With so many beautiful pieces to choose from, it's probably best if you check out her web site. She's got a gorgeous array of drool-able artworks!

Britt Bass, "Mike N Ike"

I very much am in lust with this "Hot Pink Lemonade"! It would be a gorgeous addition to my Living Room!

Britt Bass "Hot Pink Lemonade" 48x48

To see more of these artist's works and other emerging artists, go visit the Gregg Irby Fine Art studio! It's an extremely charming studio with a wonderful selection of beautiful and affordable art.

GREGG IRBY FINE ART

3725 Powers Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30342
(404) 941-9787

The Quatrefoil Craze

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 16:00:00 +0000

I'll admit it - I'm still crazy about quatrefoil.
I can't help myself. I know the "Quatrefoil Craze" has been around for several years now and some of you are probably groaning and screaming - ENOUGH with the quatrefoils already! But not me - I still get pretty excited when I see a piece of furniture or accessory that has cleverly incorporated the quatrefoil motif in its design.

via Pinterest

Suzanne Kasler has mastered the look. She's practically branded the quatrefoil as her own design!

This chair is a classic with a WOW factor!

Great paired with a vanity or as an accent piece in your Living Room.

Suzanne Kasler for Hickory Chair

Depending on the finish, this would be a stunning Center Hall table or Breakfast table

Suzanne Kasler for Hickory Chair

Suzanne Kasler for Visual Comfort

The quatrefoil which means “four leaves” in Latin - is a shape composed of four equally overlapping circles with the same diameters, creating a delicate and feminine shape.

Here are some of my other favorite Quatrefoil pieces!

The thoughtful planking design on the top of this cocktail table hints at the gorgeous iron frame underneath.

A rustic table with great iron details!

I, especially, love this mirror! It's hard to get, but the wait is worth it!

I think I will be purchasing a pair of these Arabelle lamps for my own use!

This cabinet is a great storage piece! It comes in Ebony (as shown) and White. The mirror reflects light in the room and will help make the space feel bigger.

Please don't hesitate to call me if you'd like to have any of these items in your home!

MONOGRAMS: Elevate Your Style

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 13:28:00 +0000

If you're anything like me, you may have a small obsession with monograms.

monogram design by Monogram Inc.

Antique monogram - RBR

I've always appreciated the beauty and elegance a monogram brings to the object it adorns. I mean, take a plain white towel for example...a colorful and beautifully executed thread monogram can instantaneously elevate the mundane into a luxury good with unique charm!

monogram by Leotine Linens

Powder Room design by Melissa Rufty

What about personalized bed linens? Caroline Brackenridge's New York City company, Monogram Inc., can create spectacular custom monograms for you. THIS is how I would spend my extra money. I could just drool over all of her designs - love the color combinations!

Embroidered sheet monograms by Monogram Inc.

Kathy Kincaid

You don't necessarily have show off your monogram on just your bed linens or stationary these days - what about on your shoes?

Stubbs & Wootton

Jack Rogers monogrammed sandals

Or your Wedding Cake?

via Pinterest

Or Christening Cookies? (by Amber Spiegel)

custom monogram cookie by Amber Spiegel

There are lots of unexpected and fun ways in which you can use your monogram.

Leotine Linens adds a monogram to a chair back

Betty Burgess paints a monotgram on a Dining Room chair slipcover

But, I have to say...back in time, craftsmen REALLY knew the true value of a monogram! Look at this antique handkerchief! The detail that went into this piece is amazing!

And this pin!

Monograms are classic and, happily, will never go out of style.

If you'd like to read more about the history of monograms, read Cynthia Brumback's book

The Art of the Monogram.

Add caption

Thanks for reading - have a great weekend!

HOME GOODS Happy!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 17:15:00 +0000

I spent Friday morning touring thru one of my favorite furniture and accessory discount stores - HOME GOODS! As an interior designer, I feel pretty lucky to have easy access to at least three phenominal Home Goods stores. I live closest to the Buckhead store - however, cool items sell like hotcakes there. If I'm willing to make an adventure out of it - I'll head up to the Marietta mega-store (if you're good at multi-tasking, this store is also a high-end TJMaxx). But, the store I went to on Friday (and it's just as FAB) is the one in Smyrna - close to Costco.

I was looking for Mirrors on Friday. And, although they didn't have one that worked for my project - I did find some great mirrors with great price tags!

The circular wood frame mirror with the quatrefoils was fun. If I had a client for this particular mirror, I paint it in a fun, bright laquered color - Pink or Robin's Egg Blue! Painted, it would be a GREAT addition to a powder room or girl's bedroom!

I was debating whether I should get this Starburst mirror. I think it was $129. The silvertone finish doesn't work with how I've decorated my home, but I could always Gild it. Amy Howard sells a DIY line in which you can purchase the tools to easily gild projects yourself! Here's a link to her Gilding project How-To: How to Gild.

Home Goods had several of these pierced wood/mirror chests. I thought it might be a perfect fit for my bathroom - but then thought better of it. I didn't come here to shop for myself! My husband would've had a COW!

But, look what I DID find! I love the beach and anything beach related (to a point - nothing trés tacky) - especially now that it's summer. This glicee print was only $49! It was screaming at me to take it home. It would be a perfect fit over my headboard. Actually, a newly gilded Sunburst mirror would look great over my bed too! I, also, thought it would be a fun addition to a boy's bedroom - maybe my own son's bedroom..

I think that's when I decided that I needed to get out of Home Goods- FAST!

Enjoy your Monday!

my flower sculpture obsession

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 19:47:00 +0000

On my family's recent trek to DisneyWorld, we visited Epcot. And, to my delightful surprise - Epcot had their annual flower show going on, which also included numerous Characters in Bloom! "Hidden" in the gardens throughout Epcot were these magical Disney characters created out of floribunda. And, quite honesty, some were so fantastic that I had to stop and take photos of them. It kinda ended up being like a game for me - how many Characters in Bloom could mom find? (apparently - too many) My kids started to make fun of me for taking so many pictures. Anyhow - this is Captain Hook! I mean, seriously, he was a showstopper! There was even a Peter Pan on top of the roof next door! (I mean, talk about creative!)

Of course, I LOVED the Alligator, Tick-Tock, too! But, to me, he looked more like Louis, the gator in
The Princess and the Frog. Great teeth!

The Lady and the Tramp dogs were sweet - and captured a lot of attention from passers-by.

My kids thought the Lightning McQueen and Mater sculptures were the coolest (well, WHO wouldn't?!)

And, here were a couple other sculptures that caught my eye......

But, as my sister might say......"Seen one sculpture, seen'em all!"
Naturally, I disagree...but, there were quite a few of them!

For any of you that might be interested, the Atlanta Botanical Garden has added more floral sculptures to its, now, permanent exhibit Imaginary Worlds - Mosaiculture. I highly recommend a trip there to see some magnificent floribunda art! or, read my blog post about it here. I can't wait to go back!

The Ogre from the Atlanta Botanical Garden's "Imaginary Worlds - Mosaiculture" exhibit

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Overcoming my Fears

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 17:24:00 +0000

Sorry that I haven't been involved in the Blogosphere these past....uhhh...(I don't know...) about seven months! I think I've just been paralyzed with fear about blogging. I'm not sure why I'm so fearful - no one reads my blogs - so there's definitely no one to judge my blog posts. Therefore, I've come to the realization that if I just write what I want to write about it'll be a helluva lot easier for me. There won't be anyone that I'm trying to impress (except for myself). And, in the end, I'll be conquering my fear of publicly posting.

One of my last written posts was the day I started my MBA Camp with Tobi Fairley. I promised that I'd write more about that experience. And did I? Nope. I think I was too exhausted and too overwhelmed for too much to register in my head. But, seven months later - I think I have my head screwed on a little bit better. I also know that I need to conquer some of my silly and unfounded fears before I can truly be successful in my business. Of the 10 goal-setting tips - these are the four that I need to and am going to implement!
1. Go Big or Go Home!
2. Don't be paralized from Taking Action!
3. Don't waste time trying to figure out the How - just DO IT!
4. Be specific.

My goals:
1. In 2015, I'd like to be asked to participate in a Designer Showhouse. I am ready. I am qualified.
2. In 2015, I'd like to be published - somewhere, anywhere! pu-leeze! Of course, that means that I'll need to get more clients, have their rooms styled and photographed. But, I'm definitely worthy. Hire me!
3. Immediately. I want to send out my Barclay Stone Interiors newsletter ASAP. Overcoming my fear of just sending it to friends - I've decided to send it out to so many more people than I originally planned. Because, what have I got to fear? If someone doesn't want to receive my newsletters, they can unsubscribe or delete. At least I'm helping myself to get my name out there.
Plus, I've got my awesome graphic designer, Carl Chiocca, working the newsletter template. My first article is already written up - so, the big hurdles are kind of over - I'm ready to go! And, help me out, if you are reading this blog right now, maybe you'll be kind enough to sign up for my newsletters? Send me a comment and I'll add your name to my list - because I'm not certain that I've connected the newsletter sign-up correctly to my Mailchimp feed!

Okay. So - I've thrown out there a couple of my big goals. I think blogging will help me loosen up a bit. I love writing. I'll just write to my pretend audience out there and write about stuff that interests me and makes my heart tick.

Nantucket Tropical Coastal

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 22:51:00 +0000

Nantucket Tropical Coastal by barclaystoneinteriors

Palm Beach Coastal - Living Room

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 22:29:00 +0000

Palm Beach Coastal - Living Room

I'm playing with Polyvore today! I just spent some time and put together this Preppy Palm Beach Living Room decor for Linda at Calling It Home's blog Polyvore contest. I truly appreciate Linda having this contest because it helped motivate me to learn how to use Polyvore. It's a fantastic tool and will enable me to show all of my client's mood boards for their projects.

Hmm.....I happen to love this room! Preppy, cheerful and pink! All of my favorite colors! Wish I had a small pied-a-terre near the beach to decorate! Anyone on the coast need an interior designer? I'd love to help you!!

HGTV's CANDICE OLSON & SARA PETERSON in Atlanta

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 17:18:00 +0000

HILARIOUS!
Okay - maybe not so hilarious! But, I just learned how to create mood boards with Polyvore. And, I've become a near-fanatic when pinning new items to Polyvore! But, I had absolutely NO idea (until this VERY instant) that every item that I'm pinning is going directly into my Blogger account and becoming a post! Yikes - I better check my Facebook account next to see what's happened there. Clearly, I didn't "uncheck" something in Polyvore... Oh - well. I'll figure out how to stop it (eventually). At least....I guess, I'm posting frequently - I mean, it WAS my 2014 resolution!

Next topic, please! The Design Bloggers Conference was held in Atlanta for the first time!

I debated and debated whether to go or not. It was a hard decision and not going - won. I didn't feel like I warranted a spot at this bloggers convention. Not yet. But, I'm going to sign up for the 2015 Conference, which, happily, will be hosted in Atlanta again! Yea! and Yea for me!

In the meantime, I was thrilled that Candice Olson, Canadian designer and host of HGTV's "Divine Design" and HGTV Magazine editor, Sara Peterson, came and spoke at ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center) on Tuesday. Candice Olson's first television show Divine Design (with Chico) was inspirational for designers - because in 23 minutes - she showed us the real-life process of how she assembled her design plan and sometimes, the show would show us un-avoidable mishaps that are bound to happen on design jobs - like a sofa not fitting through a doorway. Her shows are fun and charismatic. But, ultimately, the after-product is usually a stunning room that her clients thrill to see. But, one of the reasons why I love Candice's show so much is that she is an extremely talented rendering artist. Her 2-D renderings always make me drool. I've always wished that I could emulate this unique talent. Candice and Sara, as predicted, were fun to listen to and very approachable. Sara seems to be a master editor for her HGTV magazine. I very much look forward to my copy when it arrives every month. Sara makes sure that it is packed with lots of information and new ideas. I agree! As a designer, I enjoy seeing the unique ways in which stylists, designers or home-owners put a new twist on everyday things - to make them more unique. If you don't already, read HGTV!

Blackland Road Living Room concept

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 18:07:00 +0000

Wow! It's been a long while since I last blogged!

Please pardon me while I dust off my keyboard to start writing again - (and what kills me is that I deliberately accepted Linda's Calling It Home One Room Challenge last summer to force myself to write more).
But, I have some good news! Over at The Pink Pagoda it's the March: Blue & White Bash! So, I thought I'd take a page (again) from Linda at Calling It Home and learn how to do Polyvore this morning. There are a few quirks that I couldn't iron out - but, overall, it was super-silly easy to learn. And, I love it! Look at the concept board I created. And, it just happens to be blue and white! So, I may take this baby and link up to the Blue & White Bash! Come join me - it'll be loads of fun!

Happy Birthday Kendall!!

TOBI FAIRLEY: MBA DESIGN CAMP!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 13:45:00 +0000

Good Morning All!
I am SOOOOooo excited this morning. I'm here in Little Rock, Arkansas getting ready to start Tobi Fairley's MBA Design Camp! I'm hoping that this experience will be an eye opener and help me tremendously. Already, I've met some incredible designers who are here to share the experience!

Stay tuned - I'll let you know what's happening this week. Can't wait!

ORC WEEK 6: THE BASEMENT OFFICE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 17:48:00 +0000

Do you know how THRILLED I am that it's reveal day for the One Room Challenge?? I am.
I was up until 1:30am last night working my little fingers to the bone - creating mess and havoc everywhere. This morning I started working again at 8am. It's now after 12. But, I can post my reveal! My Basement Office. FINISHED (okay - almost finished) TA-DA!

AFTER

BEFORE

My pair of MATCHING Crystal Column Lamps with my green silk lamp shades. I'm not completely done with everything. I still need to apply more of my crazy pink leopard wallpaper to the backs of my Ikea bookcases. The leopard may be a little wild for some (and unappealing to others) - I get it. But, I love
pink - and a little leopard in a room is good for it's bones! And, the pink definitely brightens up that area of the room. You can see how dark and cavernous the unwallpapered bookcases look (should have bought WHITE bookcases in the first place!).

AFTER

BEFORE

Love these luncheon plates! Started collecting this pattern years ago! PINK, natch!

I still need to paint this door white!

I have to give a HUGE HUGE hug of thanks to my Dad.
My parents came to visit and were only here for a day. I asked my Dad if he would please switch out my fan light with pull chain start to a more practical and sleek "track" lighting fixture that I got for about $32 at Costco. It was a relatively easy honey-do task - except for that the new fixture didn't have a light switch to turn it on. My dad volunteered to put in a new switch for me. But this process was much more difficult than anticipated (due to the materials and my poor selection of work tools). I also asked if he might be able to drill me some picture holes in the walls. My basement walls are super thick and EXTREMELY difficult to drill a hole in. Anyhow - long story short - I think my dad started working on my project around 11am. He finished well after 8pm! Thankyou Dad - I NEVER would have a reveal today if it wasn't for your patience and thoughtfullness! I truly appreciate it!

So, thanks to my Dad - I could hang my prints and light my lights. I still have to put another coat or two of paint on my white Knot bookcases, but that can wait. I'm exhausted!

After a bit of rest, I can't wait to check out everyone else's reveals!
Thank you Linda at Calling It Home for allowing me to participate! If you'd like to see the REVEALS from all of the other bloggers, please click here.
Have a great day! I will!

OGRE-TOBER at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 02:03:00 +0000

Last week I chaperoned my son's kindergarden class to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. I was especially excited to go because I hadn't been to the Botanical Gardens in a while - but most importantly a very special exhibit from Montreal was there - Imaginary Worlds - Mosaiculture.

As you can see by my photos, this was a truly unique exhibit and incredulous to see! For the most part, these plant sculptures were huge - most probably in the range of 16'-25'tall - all larger-than-life!

This was my son's favorite topiary "Fido" - an amazingly realistic 10ft shaggy dog!

This fountain Goddess was the highlight of the exhibit. It's hard to imagine the size and scale of this topiary from my photos - but, she was truly a sight! Even the kindergardeners were in awe!

Sadly, the exhibit ended on October 31st. I have no idea where it will travel to next. Atlanta was the first city on the US tour. If it comes to your city, you MUST go see it - it truly is an exceptional and fun exhibit!

The Atlanta Botanical Garden has so many other terrific things to see! It's a great way to spend a gorgeous afternoon. Here are a few other photographs that I took along the way!

Dale Chihuly sculpture

The Scarecrows in the Garden exhibit is still going on. There are wonderful pieces created by all different groups around Georgia.

Enjoy your day!

TRICK? or TREAT? ONE ROOM CHALLENGE - WEEK 5: THE OFFICE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:27:00 +0000

For those of you just tuning in, I'm nervously struggling along with about 80 other bloggers trying to re-design a room in 6 weeks - The One Room Challenge! You can click on the other bloggers links here.

My challenge is my future Basement Office. To review look at Week One here, (I was out of town for Week Two and not much to show for it - so, I broke ORC rules and skipped my blog post), Week Three here, and now Week Four (yikes!). But, today is the beginning of Week Five and I'm ACTUALLY beginning to feel GOOD about my project! I still don't know 100% if I'll finish by next Thursday, but I'm aspiring to - and the best part about all of this is - I NOW have a plan!

My initial problem when I signed up for this challenge was that I had no plan. I knew I needed to organize and create a working space for myself, but I had no clear-cut PLAN on what I was going to do. So, each week I focused on the larger things - like what desk to buy, what lamp to purchase, lampshades, office desk. I was looking at the bigger pieces and not thinking like a designer. What makes my rooms special are the details. And, what this One Room Challenge OFFICE lacked was details!

So, after complaining to my friend and client, Rebekah, last Friday about all of the challenges of my Office; Rebekah just said - well, what about your office - how are you going to finish it? Rebekah didn't want to know about all of my set-backs (although she listened with interest - "thankyou Rebekah"!) - she wanted to know and see the finish outcome! So, with her interest in wanting to know how the story ends, I put on my best Designer Hat and started thinking of solutions to my problems.

Problem 1: I bought one Crystal Column lamp last summer from Home Goods. I needed two, but there wasn't a 2nd lamp to be found anywhere. So, I nixed that idea and bought a 2nd set of lamps for my desk. Only problem was - there were Art Deco style column lamps and not at all what I had in mind for my Office.

Problem 2: All lamps needed lampshades. But, finding a basic, inexpensive lamp shade isn't just as simple as you'd think! What it all amounted to was this - in general - an Office doesn't call for using many fabrics in it. In order for me to bring more "fun" and color to this space - I thought introducing color to my lampshade would be a much-needed jolt of interest in this project.

Problem 3: Painting these BLACK bookcases WHITE is more of a hassle than I orginally thought! It's taken me several coats to finish the first bookcase. I dread starting and finishing the 2nd bookcase. I'm trudging through this ordeal, but not happily. Suffice it to say, that I will never be painting a piece of furniture again (well, not until 2014!). This doesn't include the piano bench that I found and have painted the legs white!

SOLUTIONS! Where there is a design problem- there MUST be a solution! My job as a designer trains me to find creative solutions to problems. I wasn't tacking this Challenge correctly! I've found my solutions!

Solution 1: I went online and googled Crystal Column lamp. I think I may have found the match to my Home Goods lamp! I ordered it and it will arrive Friday!

Solution 2: I found beautiful silk pagoda-style lampshades at my local lighting store. Problem was - the Hot Pink Pagoda shade that I fell in love with was discontinued - only one in stock. I bought it anyhow. But, I also found a pair of gorgeous green silk shades from the same company - that were discontinued and selling for a VERY reasonable deal! Purchased!

Solution 3: Went to Home Depot yesterday and bought White Enamal spray paint and a small can of Primer paint. Best to start off the second bookcase with the correct materials!

Solution 4: I wanted to add more color to the backs of my IKEA Billy bookcases. As you might remember, I was lamenting that I bought them in the stylish brown-black Wenge finish (trying to be cutting edge, ya know!). Anyhow - I'd originally planned to paint the backs PINK. But, after struggling with painting my bookcases, I realized this was a horrible idea for me. Instead, I decided that applying a pink wallpaper might be a better and more sane idea. The pale pink leopard wallpaper "Bagatelle" from Osborne & Little would be the perfect complement! Problem - it's discontinued - no stock (story of my life!). After about a day of tracking down dead leads on the internet, I found a solution for my pink wallpaper. EBAY! I love eBay! I found a cute pink wallpaper (leopard, of course) on ebay that I purchased. When the owner contacted me to tell me that she only had one roll in stock (not the two that was advertised), I told her to just send me the one and I improvised! While in my powder room, I realized that I had the perfect solution! Remnant powder room wallpaper would remedy the problem. This blue/pink Chinoiserie paper will go on the backs of my White Knot bookcases. It will bring in more color to the room and brighten up a boring wall.

Solution 5: Details. It's all in the details, folks! I dashed out to Hancock Fabrics yesterday to find grosgrain ribbon. I didn't find what I was looking for - but found the finishing details for my room plus trims for my window valences.

Solution 6: Art. Since I didn't blog last week - you won't know that I found the most fabulous mirrored frames at Target! You don't need to know that I must have scoured 4 or 5 Target stores to find these frames (when I was able to locate these frames, disappointment was palpable when I'd see huge chips or cracks in them). But, I have three of these beautiful frames. And, I've put two of Jennifer's from The Pink Pagoda, prints in them. I love how they look! The third frame is empty and I'll probably fill that will a swatch of colorful fabric.

Piano bench - painting phase

leftover Osborne & Little fabrics - over for bench

SO - long story - longer! I am happily on my way to finishing by Week Six of the ORC. But, now, I'm happy with my room. Thanks for hanging in there with me! I appreciate it!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!