Living Chic Studio

Before & After week!

2012-06-08T22:14:00.003-04:00

Before & After Photos are my absolute favorite...SO I am adding a few more! I think it's really helpful to see where we started and even though some projects are on a budget, we can truly make a space wonderful for our clients. This project was with some of my favorite clients. I really adore these two. They are a fabulous couple and due to their very stressful professions, they have not had time to do a whole lot of updating. So here is where we started in their Master Suite....

and here is the end result...

We also had the opportunity to completely renovate their Master Bath...

The end result...

Where did we grab the good stuff?

Master Bedroom:

Ceiling Paint-Benjamin Moore Davenport Tan

Wall Paint-Benjamin Moore Shaker Beige with Lenox Tan ceiling accent

Ceiling Fan-Home Depot

Bedding-Calvin Klein Oxidized Paisley at Macy's

Chaise-Macy's

Rug and Draperies/Hardware-Pottery Barn

Lamps-Home Goods (Replaced shades)

Art above bed-Crate and Barrel

Master Bath:

Field Tile-Floor & Decor

Accent Tile-Specialty Tile in Miami Circle

Cabinetry-Custom design

Lighting above sinks-Home Depot

Mini-chandelier-Ballard Designs

Art-World Market

Knobs-Anthropologie (Best knobs ever...BTW)

Enjoy!

Chelsea

Before & After: Master Bedroom

2012-06-06T20:19:00.002-04:00

I know that I have been a terrible Blogger recently....mostly because I am pretty sure that I haven't posted in MONTHS!! Things have gotten a bit crazy for me this year (in a good way---being busy is awesome!) so I have been neglecting my blogging duties. Many apologies!! I promised some Before & After shots. So I will post some of my more recent projects over the next few entries. My dear friend and VERY talented designer Sabrina Kwon (Wabi Sabi Studio) and I collaborated on this project. The client is Oh-so-happy with the end result...and so are we!

The Warde Residence: Before

The Warde Residence: After

Want to grab some of our ideas??

Bed: Existing, but was purchased from Pottery Barn

Chaise: Existing, and was purchased from Crate & Barrel

Closets/Armoires: IKEA

Nightstands: West Elm

Rug: FLOR

Side Chair: West Elm

Dresser: West Elm

Draperies: West Elm

Sunburst Mirror: Ballard Designs

Lamps: West Elm

Art & Accessories: Crate & Barrel

Mirror: ZGallerie

Fan: Home Depot? Sabrina actually had this one lying around her house and thought it would look great! Yup, she is a genius:-)

Paint: Benjamin Moore Northampton Beige (careful, it goes a little purple--but was a great choice for this space!!)

Happy Shopping! XX

Chelsea

P.S. I just updated our website...check us out!

http://www.chelseadunbarinteriors.com

LIVE OUT OF STATE? Check out our new (and very exciting) Living Chic Boxes! Love this!

Accessories....

2011-11-28T22:52:00.001-05:00

Hello my favorite design-people:-)

I have been wrapping up a bunch of projects lately. This is great because it means that I have a lot of before&after pics headed your way! One of the final steps in wrapping up a project is the most fun...accessories! It seems that most clients are intimidated by buying and placing accessories. I agree it's a tough part of a project, but no room is complete until the final pillows, artwork, candles etc. have been placed.

I should add that most of my designer friends would argue that this is a very "decorator-esque" post, and I agree. However, it is a key part of being a residential designer.

Here are some of my favorite accessorizing tips:

1) Buy, buy, buy. Charge that card baby! Don't look at the price-tags and stress about how much you are spending. Go to some of your favorite stores and start piling up what you love! You will find a spot for it! I typically purchase double what I actually end up using in the space. Sometimes you will be surprised at what you use and what you don't.

2) Start out at the discount stores. TJMaxx, Home Goods, Marshalls, Ikea, Ballard Backroom, Target and Walmart. I always start here. I am constantly amazed at the products I find at half-price, that I saw at ZGallery and even Restoration Hardware....

3) Only purchase accessories from retail stores. Some of my favs are Zgallery, Pottery Barn, CB2, Crate & Barrel, and West Elm. This is important, because you can always return what doesn't work in your space.

4) This seems obvious, but try to vary your objects. Try to avoid "candle-land" or "picture-frame-land". Add in a clock, go for the funky elephant, add a wood sculpture, grab the bright blue vase.

5) Buy in 3's and 5's. Items typically look better in odd numbers.

6) Add texture and pattern. Grab some nubby baskets, add a furry pillow, or a colorful striped rug.

7) Mix and Match. I have 5 pillows on my sofa. None of them match, but they coordinate. Take 1 floral, pull out the blue color in the florals with a solid pillow. Add a white pillow, then pull in a stripe that coordinates with everything else.

8) Rugs and drapes are expensive, but no room is complete without a rug and drapes. Save on cost by purchasing your drapery hardware from Target.

9) Don't buy a piece of art unless you love it. You have to stare at that artwork every single day...love it! Check out art.com and find a print of a piece that you love. You know those great maps that they are selling at Restoration Hardware...they cost over $1000. Find a map on art.com and they will frame it beautifully for under $200.

10) Go big or go home. Don't buy teeny, tiny little accessories. Buy big impact items that become a focal point of the room.

11) Plan out your frame walls. It's difficult to put together a family wall...here is one of my favs.

Last piece of advice is if you are still feeling overwhelmed, hire a designer. Myself and a lot of designers will accessorize your room at an hourly rate. It's pretty time consuming and difficult to properly accessorize a space. A lot of my clients have great taste, but they are short on time. You can save a lot of time, energy and money (yes, money---designers get great discounts!) by hiring a professional. Let me know how I can help!

XOXO,
Chelsea

Interior design earns dual No. 1 rankings by DesignIntelligence

2011-11-16T23:45:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to announce.......

SCAD's interior design department has earned two No. 1 rankings for its undergraduate and graduate programs from DesignIntelligence's 2012 edition of "America's Best Architecture and Design Schools." It is the first time in the ranking's history that one university has received top honors for both undergraduate and graduate programs.

http://www.scad.edu/news/2011/design-intelligence-interior-design.cfm

So proud to have gone to such a fantastic school!

XOXO,
Chelsea

Interlaken

2011-11-09T22:46:00.000-05:00

As promised, I have pulled together some of the fantastic photography that my mom (aka. Amazing photographer/graphic designer extraordinaire) took on our trip to Interlaken. This is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It's almost difficult to focus on the architecture throughout the city because the views beyond are so spectacular. Enjoy!

My mom and I dipping our toes into the freezing cold water...

Cheers,

Chelsea

Switzerland, France, and Germany: Post 1

2011-10-19T12:04:00.001-04:00

Hello All,

First, I have to apologize that my blog has been completely neglected while I have been traveling. I have been in and out of the country for the past month or so. My wonderful husband, Reese is doing a lot of work in Basel, Switzerland so my mother, Baby G and I ventured over for a couple of weeks. Basel is located at the very top of Switzerland and is about 15 minutes to France and 15 minutes to Germany. We took full advantage and visited the following cities:

Zurich, Switzerland
Colmar, France
Freiburg, Germany
Strasbourg, France
Interlaken, Switzerland
Lake Lucerne, Swintzerland
Wein am Rhein, Germany

Architecture and Design in Switzerland is of course a fantastic mix or ultra-modern and antiquated buildings. Here are a few images from our trip:

This was Colmar, France. Next post, Interlaken.

Cheers,
Chelsea

Favorite Shops & Spots

2011-08-29T21:30:00.002-04:00

A long time ago, I worked for a small design studio as an assistant...). I learned all sorts of things about running a design business from the lead architect. Most of which are things I would place into the category of "What-NOT-to-DO". His number one motto was "A designer should NEVER reveal their resources". So here I am, revealing a bunch of my favorite shopping resources all over the Internet. Oh well....

Here are a few of my favorite places:

Shopping In & Around Atlanta:

Anthropologie-This shop just feels so good. I feel inspired every time I go here. I like to shop here for plates and accessories.

Webb Marstellar-Fabrics, Wallcoverings (amazing selection with good prices), Furniture etc. I have been shopping here for the past 6 years and they never disappoint. It is on the high-end side, but stop in for that WOW piece for your house.

Bungalow-Everyone who knows this store, just loves it. If I were to choose a shop in which I would want to live forever---it would be Bungalow.

B Braithwaite-This is a great children's/baby store. They are located right next to Bacchanalia (another fav. spot for eating) and have fabulous cribs, bedding, clothes, toys, books etc. You can also find some high-end baby gear here. I love to just walk around in this store--although I always end up with something for Baby G.

Lewis and Sheron-Looking for a fabric to recover that ugly sofa sitting in your basement that your husband just won't let you part with? L&S has been in the fabric biz. forever! There are 2 floors of fabrics, 1 furniture area, trims galore....love this place. Plus, the same people have been working there for seriously 10+ years and always are willing to help.

A couple others to check out local to ATL:
Ballard Backroom
Paris on Ponce

Shopping Online:

Horchow is a company that carries just about everything. They have fabulous art/furniture/accessories etc. Horchow carries a lot of my favorite designer pieces as well.

Junk2Funk is a duo of the ultra funky (lovely friends of mine) Shana & John. They hit up antique shops, estate sales and thrift shops to find super cool finds---then they re-create their treasures into usable furniture, art and accessories. If you are looking for something eclectic and (like me) don't really love hitting up the junkstores to look through it all, check out their site on etsy.

Serena and Lily is pretty well known for their ultra-chic (and pricey) baby bedding; however, I love their whole furniture line/paint/bedding/accessories etc. The two super-cool women that own Serena and Lily have fantastic taste. Definitely check out their site.

Room and Board What I especially love about Room and Board is that they have the "rights" to sell a lot of mid-century modern pieces. They carry some of the big names like Knoll, Herman Miller, Eames. Most designers know that oftentimes you have to go through a dealer to purchase from these companies. Need it fast and don't feel like going through a designer (unless you want to call me of course:-), go to Room and Board.

CB2 Not everyone knows about the funkier, more contemporary (and less expensive) store owned by Crate and Barrel. This one is a keeper....although they do not give designer discounts...which I am still just a little bit upset about.

Neiman Marcus Who knew that this big name clothing store would have great pieces for your house. They do, check 'em out.

Enjoy just a few of my favorite shopping spots!
XX,
Chelsea

Big Impact Design

2011-08-18T22:47:00.000-04:00

Hello design lovers,

I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted on my blog! 2 weeks. It has been a really crazy summer. I am very fortunate to be busy with some fantastic clients and some really great design projects going on currently. I have been neglecting my blogging recently for a really fun project. It is an insurance agency called Brightway Insurance which has a whole new spin/concept surrounding the boring world of insurance. We are working hard to stay on a pretty tight budget, but to also create a fun environment for her employees.

Here are some of the ideas that I have found have a big impact, with a pretty small price tag. Most of these things can even been done without the help of a contractor or a professional painter.

This is an original inspiration image that my client sent to me. I think it's a great way to make a big, big impact using only paint. I am using the idea in the main office area. We have a huge wall and guess what---can't afford artwork. What's the next best thing? A massive painted wall with ultra-bright stripes along the entire wall. Guess how much it costs...under $200. Try this instead of a headboard or if you are feeling very adventurous, anywhere else in your house!

Ok. I know everyone loves Ikea....but this place is seriously cheaper than Walmart. Crazy right?! This is a huge impact canvas for $49.99. When I say HUGE, I mean this thing is huge. Check it out. 30x50 Zebra Canvas

I just love this room in general. There are a couple of things that I love here. Remember Monica from Friends? Mix-matched chairs in her breakfast nook? Am I the only crazy that a. remembers that b. that still watches Friends c. that still loves this idea? Anyway, try mixing some pricey chairs with some Ikea chairs! Makes you look very edgy and cool, while saving money!
Try choosing some uber-cool light fixtures like these and placing them above a very cost-friendly table and chairs. Nobody will notice the furniture. It's ALL about the chandeliers.
Check out the wall in the back. Grab a paintbrush, give one to your toddler (ok, maybe not), and your non-artistic husband. Ta-Da...modern art:-)

I need to start this off by saying that this is NOT going into the office design. Look at the painting over the bed....guess how it was created....it involves a canvas on the floor, an adventurous better-half, and some naked time. You guessed it! http://www.loveisartkit.com/. Cheap, fun, and a fantastic end-result (I guess that depends on you).

What's up super cool decal?! Even the baby thinks it's cool! This costs a total of $65. You install it yourself and it adds a fun focal point to the room. I have seen some really, really bad decals. My recommendation is to check out Blik and don't ever buy cheesy decals with inspirational quotes on them....PLEASE.

I just hate to keep plugging IKEA, BUT come on.... a kitchen for $800? Amazing. Notice the tower cabinet on the left? This costs $100 and provides a complete pantry for the office-while looking great. Check out the 2 silver shelves in place of wall cabinets. These cost $14.99 each and you can stack bright plates (see below) and hang cute little tea cups from them. Keep in mind that you are only allowed to place adorable dishes on these shelves. Open shelving can go downhill very, very quickly.

I thought these were way cute. They are from West Elm and you can mix them with some white dishes to save on cost. Why can't we mix and match dishes if we are mix and matching chairs?

XX,
Chelsea

Scott's Antique Market

2011-08-03T13:49:00.000-04:00

Scott's Antique Market is an all-time favorite designer hotspot that also happens to be baby and husband friendly, in Atlanta. There is a lot to see and do (and great designer deals and finds) for the entire family. This is a gathering of random antiques, mid-century modern pieces, refurbished furniture pieces, rugs, jewelry, art accessories, oh and yes---Fair food. Bring cash or checks, because the food is cash only and most vendors prefer checks.

Take a look at a few of our fun finds.

Gorgeous Paintings by a local artist. Ranging from $1500-$1800. It's tough to tell but they are acrylic paintings cut up and glued back together in a quilt pattern. They looked gorgeous and can be customized.

I love these shelves...I want to paint them white or coral lacquer.

Re-paint and re-cover these dining chairs and they could be really interesting.

Love this chandelier! I am seeing these everywhere lately. Dress them up with some silk shades or keep it simple with the exposed candleabras.

I have no idea where I could ever use this dresser---maybe in a little girls room? Love it either way!

Check out the mid-century modern shout out...not sure if this is an original or not, but still fantastic.

I am always looking for leather-bound books to fill clients shelves. I found the jackpot at Scott's.

I thought this was a stunning piece. It was over 9' tall and was around $1800.

This is an original piece from the 1700's. They sanded and re-finished to create an updated look. LOVE, LOVE.

This was such a unique mirror...I thought it would be perfect for a cute little powder room.

Intaglias are EVERYWHERE these days. You can get a better deal at Scott's.. Cute little carvings stuck to fabric. Could be a great do-it-yourself art piece if you are feeling inspired.

Great for a basement bar.

This is my adorable friend Carrie (aka. photographer extraordinaire). I think she was planning to stick a cute little baby in this bucket as a photography pose.

XX,
Chelsea

Family day-trip + design fix

2011-07-18T11:34:00.000-04:00

A great way in Atlanta to combine a design-fix trip and a family day is to attend the Georgia Aquarium. It is one of my favorite spots in Atlanta, because my family LOVES it and the design is ultra-fabulous. I used to work for the tres-chic firm (tvsdesign) that was responsible for the interior design when it was built several years ago. I was not one of the designers on the project, but nonetheless it is a gorgeous design.

This last week was a crazy one. It was my husband's birthday, and he is big lover of scuba-diving. I can assure you that there aren't many places in Atlanta to scuba-dive---SO, I arranged a scuba-diving adventure for him in the large tank at the Georgia Aquarium. By the way, it was a great day for everyone...my 9 month old pretty much thought it was the best day ever.

Recently Completed Project

2011-07-07T00:14:00.000-04:00

I thought I would send a few images of a recently completed project! I worked on this project with a good friend and fellow designer-Melissa Morgan. It took about a year, with a lot of stops and starts in between. Check out the initial proposed floorplan and some final photography (taken by my dear friend Carrie Gantt who actually specializes in Infant/Child Photography Carrie Gantt--I am sure you will be seeing a lot of her work on my site, she is ultra-talented).

For my fellow designers out there, the drawing was produced in Microstation and the rendering was done in Photoshop

Before....

This was how it looked when it was completed. The only thing that we are missing are the gorgeous custom drapes that weren't installed quite yet when this image was taken.

Before...

We took their existing dining table and chairs and had them painted and sealed. We placed a rug underneath and added a centerpiece...Ta-da! Much improved, for not a lot of cost!

I absolutely LOVE their dining room. This dining table and 4 chairs belonged to the clients' grandmother. It was a stunning collection of furniture! We knew that it had to be used in the space. We dressed it up with some fabulous Restoration Hardware Chairs and recovered the old chairs with a blue/grey paisley fabric. Everything else is completely new from the Ballard Mirror and Rug to the centerpiece from ZGallery. I will tell you a secret...6 items in this room came from Walmart! I am typically not a design on a dime kind of gal, but I am all about adding some value with some inexpensive pieces!

Note the drawing above! The library/piano room was a completely blank canvas. Our client had a ton of books and really wanted a reading room that was feminine and felt cozy. I drew up this custom millwork and our contractor built it out for us. We had it lightly faux finished with an antique glaze by our painter http://www.mdcinteriors.com/. I think we achieved the "cozy" look that we were going for.

That's all for today!!
XX Chelsea

One of my favorite spaces in Atlanta...

2011-07-05T23:26:00.000-04:00

I attended SCAD so any chance that I get to plug the best design school in the country (sorry, that's all of the gloating that I will do today!), I do it! The school has an incredible knack for Historic Preservation projects. A favorite spot of mine in ATL is the Savannah College of Art and Designs' Ivy Hall (Ivy Hall). I was fortunate enough to be invited to the opening and got to see all of the amazing renovations before anyone else.

I should mention that I typically only talk about the interior of buildings, but I included the brick image to showcase the fact that every single brick was labeled individually before they were disassembled and put back together in the exact original location. Seriously, incredible.

Take a look at a few of the images that I pulled off their site...

The home was built in 1883. The 4,399 square-foot, two-and-one-half story residence is one of the finest examples of Queen Anne-style architecture in the state of Georgia and the South.

SCAD students enrolled in the Historic Preservation program volunteered on this project which took nearly 2 years to completely restore.

Starting Over...

2011-07-04T21:16:00.000-04:00

I have been a commercial interior designer for over 5 years. All of my experience has focused on hotel projects, retail, and corporate design. I have wanted to become an interior designer since as long as I can remember. This led me to attend SCAD (http://www.scad.edu/) where I graduated with a degree in Interior Design and later received my NCIDQ certification (after a painful amount of studying!). This year, I decided to quit my job at a top architecture firm and begin working on my true passion of designing for people, not corporations, while spending time with my husband (Reese) and raising my little boy (Baby G). Out of this, I have created Chelsea Dunbar Interiors. We are a full-service interior design company creating new looks for single-family residences, high rise condos, and small commercial projects. My goal over time is to document what I learn and how I grow as a business owner. I feel the need to exchange my knowledge and passion for design with other designers and design lovers.

There are a few things that make me, who I am. Over the next few days I will try to give you a better sense of my style by creating some design poetry boards that are the definition of the people/places/things that I absoloutely love...but first I will show you some of my recent inspiration boards created for clients.

Master Bedroom Re-vamp in a 1920's Bungalow. This house was on the verge of falling over when we got to it. My favorite design item in the bedroom is the Barbara Barry Bedding Barbara Barry Bedding Poetical. Very pretty, but not too feminine for the husband! The drapes are Restoration Hardware...which I still say is the best quality drapes for the money. I highly recommend the Restoration Hardware Outlet just outside of Atlanta. Their drapes are about 70% off the original price and in perfect condition. Who doesn't love that!?

Mid-Century Modern Inspiration Board for a Buckhead High-Rise...super cool (she chose option 2). Mid-Century takes a bit of a unique client. I think she was looking for something a bit more feminine. I love the look nonetheless....

Option 2 for the Buckhead High-Rise....A bit of a French theme, which can get a bit cliche but the client loved Paris-who wouldn't? She especially LOVED this kitchen image. I love the Paris prints from Ethan Allen! Very affordable compared to some other options that I have seen at $299 per print Ethan Allen Paris Grid.

Happy 4th to all....hearing fireworks as I type!
XX,
Chelsea