Room RX

Before & After: A Gray, White & Bright Kitchen

2016-12-06T08:56:00.000-06:00

As with many kitchen renovations, this one began with cabinets that were worn and no longer worked properly and an overall function that did not meet the needs of the family whose young children had become teenagers. Then there was the matter of the orange hued wood, which between the trim, doors AND cabinets was simply overwhelming. My client loved the clean look of gray and white so that's where we began.

In addressing the function, the existing peninsula restricted flow in the old kitchen, so bye-bye it went along with the other bottleneck feature, the closet style pantry. A narrow island with seating and a pair of cabinet style pantries cleaned up the look and improved the flow.

Shaker cabinets were built up to ceiling height and frosted glass was added in order to add interest while concealing storage of utilitarian items. A wood hood and appliance garage add to the useful, but good looking function. Classic style pendants over the island, and a more modern drum light over the table as well as a mix of cabinet hardware keep the look interesting.

Painted a deep shade of the same gray of the rest of the cabinets, a furniture style hutch fills a once unused wall and makes the ideal location for beverage or food service when entertaining. With the extra storage in the hutch, the once cluttered butler's pantry is now home to "command central."

After my help with the layout, design and most of the materials selection, my clients finished the final details on their own. I am thrilled with the end result, I love the pops of green and the fun Ikea fabric curtain over the sink, as well as the stools at the island and chairs and light fixture at the vintage table. Kudos to a job well done!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Before and After: A kitchen refresh

2016-10-31T09:50:00.000-05:00

"Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater." I am a firm believer in trying to make the most of the existing elements in a space before considering replacing or changing them. Often budgetary constraints dictate creative thinking in that regard, but sometimes it just makes sense. Such was the case in this project.

When my CSIL decided that it was finally time to give her kitchen an update, we knew that most of the cabinetry would stay and get updated with paint which would play well with the existing granite counters. The big changes that were going to happen in this space were the addition of hardwood flooring, a different back splash and a new, larger window.

Adding that window had me rethinking the existing upper cabinets and how we could make a statement in what was chosen for the new uppers.

We loved the interest of glass fronted doors and since the counters were black we decided to play that
by accenting the doors in black paint.

The gray-blue tile on the floor was bossy in terms of color so it was time to say "bye bye"

What a difference the hardwood makes. It ties in well with the flooring throughout the rest of the home.

Since the pegboard and John Boos work cart lent such function to the kitchen in what would other wise be a dead space, we kept them.

The original cooking space was set up with an off-kilter arrangement of upper cabinets.

Removing those completely and adding the matte black hood over the textural back splash tile gives the area a clean, impactful look.

Details such as the crystal knobs,

matte black pulls,

white, textured subway tiled installed on the vertical and graphic pattern on the Roman shade keep the kitchen interesting without overwhelming the small space.

My "foodie" sister and brother in-law are loving their updated kitchen and I am thrilled to have collaborated on yet another space in this home.
I think we have done nearly every corner of Dover Road, go here to see more!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

My new website is live!

2016-08-29T08:23:00.000-05:00

The last couple of months I have been working with the lovely Eva PenzeyMoog to create a Cathy Wall Designs LLC website and today I am ready to share it with you.

Pop on over and have a look, I would love to hear what you think!

www.cathywalldesigns.com

My goal is to use the blog to reveal finished projects and give a bit more information about the spaces I work on and the process of updating them. Since I am out of practice with blogging these days, we shall see how that goes!!!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

This is it for now.... and a Room Rx

2015-10-06T10:14:00.000-05:00

Hi there! It's been a while, I know, over a year. Even though I haven't been blogging, I have been busy with Cathy Wall Designs LLC projects as well as getting a few things freshened up in my own home. After my hiatus, I have decided that I will no longer be blogging. As much as I have loved the camaraderie, the sharing and the feedback, I found that properly done, keeping up with the blog was too time consuming and was feeling the effort zapping my creativity for my Cathy Wall Designs LLC work.

Over the years, this blog has been a great means of showcasing my work, ideas and thoughts on design related things and so I will keep it as a reference for current and future clients and friends. I would love to stay in touch with all of you so going forward, the best way to stay current and see what I am up to is to follow me on Houzz, or Facebook, or Instagram or Pinterest.

Now, for the promised Room Rx, my son's bedroom. His room was done when we moved into our home 9 years ago and was not only looking a bit tired, but did not suit an almost 17 year old. Since he was away for the spring semester at Conserve School, the time was right to get the job done and surprise him for his homecoming.

The project began with zero budget except for a couple of cans of paint for the walls and ceiling. My idea was to use up all of the "stuff" lurking around my house, like the plaid throw, (my inspiration) some old lamps, a stool and a few cans of left over paint.

I can't say I did not buy a thing though as I found a pair of Nate Berkus curtains on sale at Target for $15 which became the box spring cover, euro sham and seat cushion for the desk chair. I also needed a new duvet cover so when I saw this one from Ikea, I grabbed it. While at Ikea I found these rugs and bought 4 which later became the valence and the stool cover.

I cut up the rugs and hand stitched them together for the valence. It took forever and my hand hurt like heck when I was done, but for about $12 I am pleased with the result.

The chair was a purchase from several years ago which had been waiting for a make-over. I tried doing it on the super cheap by researching and attempting to "paint" the upholstery. I even posted my efforts on Instagram. It was an epic fail. Despite watering down the paint and using fabric medium, the cushions were stiff and rough as sandpaper, not good for a comfy reading chair.

So I bit the bullet and had it re-upholstered. I love it.

(the lampshade was sprayed with chalkboard paint and I added the design with chalk)

A thrift store oil painting, a favorite saying and a wash of paint became a hip piece of art.
A tea towel and a zigzag embroidery stitch made for a good looking lumbar pillow. And no... not one zipper was put in any pillow I sewed. Envelope closures all the way for this DIY-ADD girl.

Here is where it all began....

My son was thrilled with the changes and spends lots of time studying and hanging out in his room. And I might add that it hasn't looked this good since these photos were taken

(props to Katie Wall Photography for them.) Ahhhhhh, teenagers!

Thank you for all of your support over the past few years my friends!!!!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

I know.... it's been a while

2014-09-30T09:03:00.000-05:00

My plate has been full, and my focus has been on things such as...

scheming on dorm decor,

crafting dorm art

then moving my girl off to college for the first time

and getting her room pulled together so it feels happy and homey.

Also on my docket,
updating a sun room for a repeat client.

Designing built-ins and a fresh look for this family room.

Working on a variety of projects for this charming home.

And creating design plans for some other delightful clients.

Oh.... and then there is the knitting that I have recently become quite fond of
thanks to a lovely and patient friend....

That is why I hope you will forgive my absence from the blog-o-sphere.
For now I am on blog hiatus while I decide what the best and most fulfilling use of my time is.
In the meantime, I will be attempting to use Facebook and Instagram better in order to keep you up to date on my work and other happenings, so I don't plan to disappear completely!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Chairish Challenge

2014-07-21T07:09:00.000-05:00

Are you familiar with Chairish?

A treasure trove of unique, high quality, pre-loved home furnishings and decor.

Chairish is a great on-line resource for buying or selling such pieces and the site is easy to navigate. Searches can be done by the piece, style or city, further narrowed by price, maker,

color and shipping options.

There are so many interesting offerings, I could loose track of time wandering the Chairish website!

A challenge was presented to me by Chairish of choosing an accent chair and creating a bold,

bright room around it.

This pair of quirky vintage Broyhill chairs in lime green caught my fancy...

Vintage chairs

In searching and discovering Chairish, I also found this fabulous rug, perfect for the look I was envisioning.

Abstract Turkish rug

Nothing is more fun than designing a room where the sky is the limit and budget is no issue.

My aim was a neutral, yet textural background

with a high voltage dose of color delivered with the chairs, the rug and a glorious piece of art.

The rug inspired a collected, global feel, achieved with interesting textiles like the Hmong homespun pillows and the Moroccan Wedding poufs.

A simple, classic sofa, a few other Mid-Century pieces and

this room came together as I had hoped.

For sources, check out my Pinterest board, Global Bright

What do you think?

Go check out Chairish

and leave a comment

telling me what accent chairs you would choose

to create a bright, colorful space!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Project Downsize: sneak peek

2014-06-30T08:41:00.001-05:00

Some time ago I shared my plans for helping my in-laws with their move in Project Downsize.

Today I thought I would give you a progress update on the main living area.

Now mind you, we are not finished in here, there are still many details needing some tweaking,

but I thought you would enjoy seeing where things stand.

Remember where we began?

Therese and I (aka: The Committee) landed on move in day and helped direct the movers as well as began to place and install furniture, window treatments, art and accessories.

I even had time for a little DIY...
recovering a couple of chair seats!

I am so pleased with the happy combination of patterns and colors. And to think, a pair of chairs upholstered years ago and hardly showing signs of wear, were the starting point for the color story.

Thank goodness for the fab, well priced Pottery Barn rug, which was the first find
and the gorgeous window treatment fabric which created a focal point from the front door
and further inspired the choices throughout the rest of the home.

Last time I spoke with my father-in-law,

he told me that he liked the new place more and more with each passing day.

Considering they spent 40 years in their former home, I can't tell you how happy that makes me!

On the do to list?

+ Of course some pillows from Therese Marie Designs

+ A DIY upholstered footstool+ Paint for the media piece which was custom made by my BIL

+ A new coffee table

+ Custom photos for the 2 large, empty frames over the media piece

So, after my next visit to see my MIL & FIL,

I promise to take more photos and reveal the finished room.

In the meantime, it's fun to see the progress isn't it?!!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Second chance chairs: a few before and afters

2014-06-09T08:24:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love a cute chair? They add interest to a room, can be inexpensive if bought 2nd hand and if you have a vision, can be transformed with a little bit of paint, fabric and elbow grease.

I have shared many chair transformations here on the blog like this, this and this.

I even have a board on Pinterest where I collect beautiful chair makeovers,

so I suppose it's safe to say I have a bit of a chair fetish!

Today I have a whole new crop of chair makeovers. The first couple I am sharing are my own chairs and were done in collaboration with my friend Ann, of Siena & Spoke, who recently added creative painting projects to her interior painting business.

I gave Ann some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old Olive and free reign on this guy....

She did a wonderful dry brush technique and gave it a new look.
I can't believe I waited all these years to have this chair painted,
I am delighted with the transformation.

I got these chairs for $7 each at a local thrift store. Ann painted everything with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, including the faux vinyl upholstery and gave them a coat of wax.
I designed the pattern on the chair back and despite my DIY-ADD, we painted those together.
Until I come up with a plan for where to use these guys and what to re-upholster them in,
I love them on my sunporch!

Ann also did this piece for me

If you are local to the Madison, WI area and have a sad, tired piece of furniture looking for a facelift, give Ann a call.

You can find her business, Siena & Spoke, as well as her portfolio on Houzz and Facebook.

Her tag line "repurposing with paint {furniture, walls and beyond} says it all!

This next chair is the product of my client's DIY and Ebay skills and a collaboration with my wonderful upholsterer.

Her neighbor was ready to put these guys to the curb, my client saw potential....

She painted the frame a lovely gold, found this amazing python fabric on Ebay for a song
and sent them off to be re done....

I. Die.

Plus, I am so proud of my client for going it on her own to update these chairs. We talked about many options and in the end, finding this amazing fabric set the project in motion.

Remember this chair from my Bold & Blue family room project?

I showed you an update here

Now check this baby out in her new home with her kitchy pillow, slipcovered ottoman and beautifully refinished table....

So fun!

Do you have a chair fetish like me? If so what have you done to transform yours?

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

"Big City Apartment" (almost) done

2014-06-04T08:09:00.000-05:00

Put a fork in it, This Big City Apartment is (almost) done!

I did not mention this before but my nephew is a trail blazer, living in downtown Detroit, a city on the rebound. From Detroit City Apartments, he can walk to work, the Theater District, Comerica Field and Ford Park. The building has tons of amenities, great views and large, well appointed units, the perfect situation for a recent college grad.

Therese and her boys did an amazing job creating this....

from this!

That is Grandma's hand knitted afghan, confiscated during Project Downsize.
Can you believe that Therese once thought it was ugly? This was a pivotal piece for our design!

When I said (almost) done the reality is that we are still awaiting the move in of the roommate and his belongings, but the living room is set up to accommodate his furniture and the artwork is staged to be hung on the wall surrounding the TV and media stand once they arrive.

I still can't get over the green chair, the perfect find for highlighting the colors in the afghan. And did you notice the license plate frame on the wall? It now has a mirror.

For the bathroom, Therese couldn't resist doing a little embellishing on a plain white shower curtain...

Which combined with this

really gives a boost to an otherwise mundane bath.

Remember my Design Plan for the bedroom?

Here is how it turned out... a piece of particle board cut to fit, some black duct tape, Target bed linens, a thrift store lamp, that cool painted side table, a Therese Marie Designs pillow and voila!

All of this installing and decorating can be exhausting.......

But the result is a very cool apartment which will be the envy of your friends!

You can let them know that "The Committee" hires out!

And then you can go and chill at the rooftop pool...

And on a final note, how about this for a hip outdoor reception area at Detroit City Apartments?

What a fun project!
When Therese added up everything she spent it was around $1800.
Considering that the only thing my nephew brought to the party was a desk, a chair and a few hand me downs (bedroom dresser and rug, LR arch lamp, Grandma's afghan and a few kitchen items)
I think she did an amazing job creating a stylish and functional first apartment don't you?

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Thrifty make-overs for "The Big City Apartment"

2014-05-30T05:54:00.000-05:00

Today I am sharing a few of the fabulous transformations of the thrifted and hand me down pieces that Therese rounded up for her son's "Big City Apartment."

She did such a great job, some of these pieces we collaborated on and others, she just did on her own and shared the results with me.

I have said it before, but we really do make a good team....

High fives for "The Committee!"

A garage sale bulletin board gets some pizazz with a black frame and painted stripes.

Since the fabric was in decent condition and the color worked perfectly, this cute little chair got a fresh look by removing the skirt, cleaning up the legs and adding a hip Therese Marie Designs pillow.

Only the tiniest bit of paint and a little creative genius and this chest gets a simple update.

Inspired by this, a thrift store painting, a thought, stick on letters and a wash of paint yields
a conversation piece in the powder room.

A little spray paint and some dark wax gave this side table a hip new look.

A funky vintage lamp, so cool it doesn't need more than a good cleaning....

And how about a little sneak peak to see the lamp in use

and how the "Sting" poster makes an appearance.....

Yep, that's the Ikea Karlstad, a Lack side table and a couple of TMD pillows.

Lookin' pretty darned good dontcha think???!!!!

Have a great week-end!

BTW I am linking up to the Best of the Nest party and you should too.... no doubt you have some cool project to share, so be brave and do it!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Big City Apartment on a budget

2014-05-27T08:22:00.002-05:00

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen that I have had another special project on my docket.
Once again I have partnered with my CSIL to design her oldest son's first, post college apartment!

Therese was a whirlwind of activity once we got the design down,
shopping thrift stores and garage sales,
sewing, painting and DIYing,
making Ikea and Target runs
and finally moving the boy in and doing the install last week.

We had a great space to work with and the building website even offered a free space planner.....

What made this project a blast was the fact that there was an "extreme" budget and lots that needed doing so we had to be resourceful. My nephew owned only a desk and chair to bring to the new place, luckily his roommate would be providing a table and chairs, a large comfy chair as well as the TV and media stand.
Only 3 major purchases needed to be made, a mattress with frame, a sofa and the LR rug.
We chose versatile, inexpensive pieces....

Ikea Karlstad

Nate Berkus for Target

The rest would come from hand me downs and thrifted goodies like these.....

I know this thrift haul may not look like much, but stick with me, over the next week I'll show you the fruits of our clever efforts to make each of these items a unique addition
to a fully outfitted, well curated, budget minded, recent college grad's first Big City Apartment!

Have a great week!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Project Downsize

2014-05-19T07:51:00.004-05:00

This Spring has been a busy time for me, amid lots of life's happenings,

some fun client jobs and the ORC, I have been busy with a very special project,

helping my wonderful in-laws with a downsize.

After living for more than 40 years in a home they built, and thinking about downsizing for the past few years, they found a fabulous town home a mere 3 blocks from their existing home.

Of course Therese and I were enlisted to help wipe out the builder grade, vanilla box look and we were thrilled to oblige.

Let's start with a quick "before" tour of the place.

The rooms are spacious and the sloped ceilings really add to the airy feel.

Tops on the list of changes is replacing the carpeting in the main living area with hardwood.

Good thing my TWBIL has skills.....

There will be a few light fixtures getting changed....

The kitchen, while small, is very functional but needs new appliances as well as a facelift.

My inlaws were up for changing their look, but I didn't want to "throw out the baby with the bathwater," as they had some lovely, well made pieces that it made sense to work with.

So to begin, I assessed their existing furnishings, took photos and measurements and even snipped fabric samples. This chair and it's partner became the launching point for the new LR decor.

With hardwood floors going in, the first thing we chose was a rug. We needed a large one
(at least 10 x 14') and after searching high and low while trying to get the look right as well as the price with-in reason, we stumbled upon a couple of options from Pottery Barn.

Bryson Persion from Pottery Barn

Eva Persian from Pottery Barn

We settled on the Bryson, which while traditional on style, with it's more up to date colors was just the fresh look we needed.

Next up, we selected fabrics, paint and a few materials for the kitchen.

Furniture plans were created, window treatments designed, fabric ordered, and light fixtures selected.

One positive aspect of this project has been that we had time on our side. We were able to not only get work done in the new place prior to the move, but to fully assess what would get moved and what needed to be purchased, right down to the accessories and window coverings.

The best part of the project so far? Spending time working with my SIL and my mother and father inlaw. Therese and I make such a team that we have been dubbed by my FIL as "The Committee."

No decision was made without approval from "The Committee!"

Stay tuned for more on Project Downsize. The move has already happened and the town home, while not 100% complete, looks nearly good enough for a party. "The Committee" is still working on some finishing touches to the main living areas and kitchen and I will be sharing it all with you.

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

One Room Challenge: Moody Blue Master Bedroom reveal

2014-05-08T05:19:00.003-05:00

Finished!!!!

Our One Room Challenge is complete.

After 6 weeks of scheming and doing,

my CSIL Therese and I are calling it a wrap.

We turned this room...

using this design plan...

into this.....

I love the fabric we ultimately used for the Faux Romans.

Seems we all 2nd guess at times but I always find it's best to trust your gut.

How about the awesome touch of fresh flowers?
A big shout-out to

floral arranger Jeannette

at Schafers Flowers in Kalamazoo

for providing Therese with the yummy arrangements.

Despite my DIY-ADD, even I did a little project for this space! Using some old frames, gold paint, handmade paper and butterfly cutouts I had "in my inventory,"

I made these guys to adorn an empty wall.

Good thing Therese has some mad sewing skills, the textiles kinda make the room.
And how about those Therese Marie Designs pillows?

Dang, no more TMD pillows in the hamper, now it's only dirty laundry!

To say that I am pleased with how our Moody Blue Master Bedroom turned out is an understatement, I am thrilled and so are Therese and her husband!
One of the things that makes me so happy about this project is that we made the most of what was already in the space and items we already had on hand and then zhushed it up on a budget,
a whole room make-over with a small cash outlay and a big DIY effort.

Here is how the budget broke down:

Chain link lamp - $150 at TJ Maxx

Sconces - $250/pr. at Pottery Barn

Paint - $75 Benjamin Moore

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - already on hand

Moulding - $50

Drawer hardware - $20

Chair - $90,

Various Fabrics - $50 (many already on hand)

Artwork and frames - $125

Laundry Basket - $40

Grand Total - $850

If you are interested in going back over our weekly progress, click on the links below:

Week #1 - the plan

Week #2 - textiles and a faux roman shade tutorial

Week #3 - paint & moulding

Week #4 - oak furniture facelift

Week #5 - art & accessories

Many thanks to Linda for creating this crazy ORC fun and being the supreme motivator to all of us for getting the job done.
Also both Therese and I have appreciated your many comments and encouraging words, thanks for following along.

Don't forget to check out the Official ORC participants finished spaces

and follow through with the finished spaces of the linking participants.

Will you join up in this make-over madness for the next go round?

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

One Room Challenge: art & accessories

2014-05-01T06:31:00.000-05:00

Today I am launching right into our progress on this Moody Blue Master Bedroom
as I am guessing that as of week #5
you have the gist of Linda from Calling it Home's brainchild,
the One Room Challenge.

After all of the painting, sewing and other work on the space,
now we are doing the fun stuff,
like adding a cool chair
(World Market, discontinued, which is a shame.)

Hanging artwork on the walls
like this piece found during a visit to Harbor Springs, MI.

And this photo taken and photoshopped by Allison Crockett and given as a gift that sat unframed until the right spot to hang it presented itself.

Of course this "vintage" portrait of Therese needed a home and what better place?

Speaking of vintage, how about this great find to corral jewelry?

We chose these swing arm lamps

Pottery Barn's Walker Sconce

And I am loving how they look against the deep blue walls

This baby was a spur of the moment find at TJ Maxx and could it be more perfect?

Can you say "gold chain link?"

What room would be fully accessorized without an abundance of pillows?

And when the room's resident is a "pillow artist,"

well let's just say this is the icing on the cake.....

Usually this basket will serve as a laundry hamper,
but for the ORC photos that would not look too "purdy" would it?
So I said fill it to the brim with Therese Marie Designs pillows and here we are!

Just a few finishing touches and Therese's Moody Blue Master Bedroom will be done,
be sure to come back next week for the final reveal, you won't be sorry!

Now go on, you know you want to check in on the progress of
the official ORC participants
as well as the ORC linking participants
so get after it!

I think Linda needs to coin a motto like this:
"ORC helping clever and creative people get off the couch and get something done since 2012"

Linking up to The Pink Pagoda's May Blue & White Bash

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

One Room Challenge: oak furniture facelift

2014-04-24T06:21:00.003-05:00

Boy has this One Room Challenge gone by fast, it is already week #4!
Having a deadline (thank you Linda) makes a huge difference in getting a project finished.

If you are visiting for the first time, my Creative Sister in Law Therese and I are making over a master bedroom with a Moody Blue vibe and things are really coming together.
Go here is you want to start at the beginning and see our design concept.

Today we are talking furniture makeovers.
Because our budget did not include replacing these functional, solid, albeit OAK pieces,
my CSIL got out her can of
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White
in order to inject a little new life into them.
Her large dresser now looks like this...

Quite the improvement from this...

Gotta love ASCP, virtually no prep and a couple of coats later, buh bye oak.

Therese opted for the dark wax finish.

She was not thrilled with the result, so out came the mineral spirits and away went the "muddy" look.

Tip of the Day:

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Dark Wax is best used on furniture that has lots of nooks and crannies or detailing as it works well to highlight those.

We wanted to add a bit of interest with the pulls and when Therese stumbled upon these gems, we knew they were perfect. A Midcentury feel with a bit of wood and touch of brass,

and yes, they were only $1.50 each!

Next up, a pair of nightstands.

ASCP and wax on the drawer and door fronts and some new hardware and voila!

With lots under our belt, we still have plenty to do over the next couple of weeks
and sometimes the "devil is in the details" as they say, and that is where we are at.

To Do:
Lighting
Reading chiar
Artwork and accessories

This is the fun stuff though so it feels good to be in the home stretch!

Now grab your cup o' joe or glass o' wine and head on over to
see what the official ORC peeps are up to
here
and what the rest of the ORC Linking Paricipants like me are up to
here

And don't forget to come back next week because we are going to be all about some very awesome details including some "signature" Therese Marie Designs goodies!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

One Room Challenge: paint and moulding

2014-04-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

Wow! It's week #3 of the One Room Challenge already!

If you are just joining us, our Moody Blue Master Bedroom makeover is well underway.

The sewing has been completed,

lighting has been selected and ordered,

a reading chair has been purchased

and the accessories are being gathered.

This week the big accomplishment was getting the room painted.

While Cape Cod style homes are charming with all of their nooks, crannies, slanted ceilings and dormers, it can be challenging deciding how and where to apply color to the walls.

Therese and I are big fans of Sarah Richardson

and long ago Therese shared this room that so impressively addressed the issues above.

Brilliant! Just add a moulding......

Dual Purpose Den by Sarah Richardson

Sign us up.

Moulding was purchased, primed and painted, then it was decision time....

Once that was decided then we let the expert take over.

My BIL measures 3 times and cuts once, he's good!

But first, up went the paint, Benjamin Moore's Hudson Bay #1680.

Perfect paint placement for the moulding which was then installed, to perfection.

Who doesn't love a little side by side, before and after comparison?

I like it!!!!
Please come back next week and see what else comes together in this Moody Master, we have been busy sourcing, doing and making.

And if you have nothing but time on your hands, be sure to have a look at the progress of the other
ORC Linking Participants

as well as the original ORC participants

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

One Room Challenge: textiles & a faux roman shade DIY

2014-04-10T06:32:00.001-05:00

Wow! That's all I am going to say.... I am so impressed by all of the ORC linking participants, all 85 of them! People, I ain't got time for that! No really, honestly, I am still checking out all of the links...
Linda at Calling it Home has really made this into quite the party hasn't she?

So if you are visiting Room Rx for the first time, welcome and thanks for stopping by.....
If you want to start at the beginning, please do.

Otherwise the scoop is my CSIL and I are working together to create a

Moody Blue Master Bedroom

using this design plan:

in this space:

Now let's get on to this week's happenings shall we?
Since the family rug was the inspiration for this Moody Master, the first thing that Therese and I tackled in executing our vision was to select fabrics for the room's soft furnishings. Back in January we made a trip to Haberman's Fabrics in Royal Oak, MI while visiting Detroit, and began our search for the perfect textiles......

We spotted what we thought could be an ideal remnant for our starting point, the camel colored geometric on the left below

and began to play around with other fabrics.

We narrowed things down to a couple of schemes

and ultimately chose the first one we put together, we really liked the pop of red.

Fabrics got ordered and Therese got moving on the sewing, because of course she is good at that and very quick to get things done!

Then we got hung up..... we had ordered one fabric for the Faux Roman shades and they got made and installed, but then we started to second guess our choice....

You'll have to wait until the reveal to see which one we ended up using!

Don't feel bad though, because Therese is not only a great sister in law and a wonderful seamstress, she wanted to share her "How To" for you so you can make your own Faux Roman Shades!

This How to video tells you everything you need to know.

Combine that with Therese's tips below and you are golden.

Things are moving along in the room now that the fabrics have been chosen.

Next up:
Paint
Update the nightstands and dressers
Lighting
Reading chair
Artwork & Accessories

And seriously, even though there are 85 participants, do take a little bit of time and check out some of the fabulous projects being done by the ORC Linking Participants!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

One Room Challenge: Moody Blue Master Bedroom Week #1

2014-04-03T06:31:00.002-05:00

The One Room Challenge has begun again, are you following the group of 20 and their escapades each Wednesday? This is a favorite for me so I am going to clear my Wednesday schedule for the next 6 weeks in order to follow every detail.

I have a fabulous project to share and will be joining the Thursday party as a Linking Participant.

Now let me introduce the

Moody Blue Master Bedroom

After living for 2 years in their "new" home and making big changes to just about every room as well as the exterior, my CSIL Therese and her husband thought it was time to make their master bedroom into a space with a little more style than the "white box" they had been living with.

On the second floor of a Cape Cod style home, the room is good sized but has lots of quirky features such as a sloped ceiling, a dormered window and tight spacing on the closet door and window trim.

The furniture, purchased years ago, is solid and because the makeover budget is small, it is staying. The matchy-matchy look is going bye-bye.

As you can see, the space had not come far from how it looked in the listing photos..... (the wide angle of the photos helps to see the whole space)

But no more, we have big plans to make this room a bold statement of Therese and her husband's tastes. Starting with this rug, which is a family piece and has made appearances in various rooms over the years,

we will be layering in beautiful textiles, some trendy brass, a cozy reading corner and some big color. People, this master bedroom is gonna get a ORC worthy makeover!

I hope you will follow along as I share our progress each week, this is gonna be good!

And FYI you now need to clear your Thursday calendars as well because in addition to the original ORC, the ORC link up has more room makeovers than you can shake a stick at and you won't want to miss a detail!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Table make-over with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

2014-03-28T06:39:00.000-05:00

This table is one of the very first pieces of furniture I ever bought, a looong time ago. The natural pine finish and Southwestern style cutouts gave it a very dated look, but nothing a little bit of paint couldn't cure.

The stars aligned when a friend of mine, who is an interior painter with a very creative side, began to really pursue her passion for painting things other than walls and took an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint workshop at a local Annie Sloan retailer, Studio 184.

I walked her through my house and pointed out all of the pieces that needed a facelift (many) and we chose the table and some Olive paint.

which we mixed with a touch of

Arles

She worked her magic and at first I thought I might like keeping the wood top....
uhhmmm,
no, I don't think so.

My friend suggested Graphite.

Now that's more like it.

A little bit of dark wax, some new knobs and voila!

Have you tried Annie Sloan Chalk Paint? I love the colors and the ease of application. And who doesn't love having a friend ready, willing and able to add her creative touches to tired furniture?

Stay tuned, my friend and I have collaborated on some other pieces, which I can't wait to show you. And like my furniture needing an update, my painter friend is revamping her business identity to incorporate furniture and other creative projects. More to come....

PS, yes, the new pillows on my chairs were made by none other than my CSIL

through Therese Marie Designs!

Today I am joining the party over at Best of the Nest

Now get on over there and see what cleverness abounds for March.

also sharing at Miss Mustard Seed

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

The Etsy Scene

2014-03-24T06:54:00.000-05:00

Do you "do" Etsy? I know many of you shop on there and share what you love

but did you know that you can create an Etsy profile

and "favorite" shops, products and people

and then see what is new in your Etsy "feed?"

Well.... you can and I do and I LOVE it!

On Etsy I have found....

beautiful artwork,

amazing lighting,

Stimulight

clever woodworking,

cool accessories,

unique furniture,

Studio 1212 Furniture

and pillows!

and of course I wouldn't be a good sister in law if I didn't mention them,

especially those with amazing appliqué made by one novice Etsy shop owner....

Therese Marie Designs

Being a newcomer to the Etsy scene myself, there is likely much that I don't know and under-utilize, but as with everything, time and practice make perfect!

Come and follow me on Etsy, just click on the link in my sidebar, and I'll show you what I love.

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

seen & loved: 3-10-14

2014-03-10T07:45:00.000-05:00

Recently in my web wanderings I have seen and loved....

+++++

this bentwood rocking chair

Larissa at Prodigal Pieces created this lovely piece and if you love it,

you can actually buy it from her Etsy shop!

+++++

Maybe you have seen this space maybe you haven't,

but I am smitten with this bathroom by

Amber Interiors.

The wallpaper...... The antique brass.... just goes to show you that those trends are alive and kicking!

+++++

And speaking of wallpaper, this happy home really goes to town with it

Check out the whole space on this Spring Home tour at Bright, Bold & Beautiful

+++++

You have probably heard about the Creating with the Stars link up contest where 12 rising talents are chosen and get paired up with an experienced creative to participate in the 2014 match up.

I love that East Coast Creative has found a way for clever DIYers to strut their stuff

and was wowed by

this bed from That's My Letter

Made from stuff you can find at Home Depot or Lowes.... who would think?

+++++

And how about these gorgeous, graphic appliquéd hexagon pillows done up in velvet and linen

from my CSIL in her Therese Marie Designs Etsy shop?

I am constantly amazed by Therese's creativity and attention to detail. I am always excited to see what new designs she has come up with, so I have "favorited" her shop on my "Etsy favorites" list.

If you don't have an Etsy profile with a list of favorite shops you are really missing out!

What have you seen & loved around the web lately?

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Bold & Blue: chair makeover

2014-02-28T07:16:00.001-06:00

Who doesn't love seeing a vision come to life?

After finding these vintage chairs on Craigslist for my bold & blue project

and having Krizia of Oak + Olive give them a much needed "freshen up" with paint

they were sent off for reupholstery and now they look like this

They will be delivered next week and I can't wait to see them in the room!

Unless of course I hijack them and take them to my house......

I am linking up on Best of the Nest today

and so can you, even if you are not a blogger, share your best project from the past month on Instagram

or on Pinterest by following these instructions.

Gotta love these 4 clever and talented ladies creating a new way to share all of the goodness out there! Now go and make them happy by sharing your work and some blog love....

Also sharing at The Pink Pagoda's March Blue & White Bash

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Room Rx: shifting a dining room to a library

2014-02-25T07:00:00.000-06:00

The start of 2014 has had me lucky to be busy with some great new clients and fun projects. That means that this little blog has not had my full attention....

In order to remedy that, today I thought I would share my plans for one of those projects.

I love when a client is not constrained to use a room as it was intended but rather as it makes sense for their lifestyle. Such is the case with this project in which what the family really needed was not a formal dining room, but a room that could function as a library and study room for the family's 3 children. My client was already moving in that direction when I was called in to help.

I was asked to design a room that incorporated a built-in work area as well as a sitting area. Knowing that the family might not live in their home forever and that the next buyer might want a formal dining room, I planned a built in that could easily work in a dining room as well, allowing for use of a dining table and chairs.

My plan includes a large rug to cover the hardwood floors and add some warmth to the space and pair of chairs that will sit in front of the 2 windows and share a table, ottoman and lamp.

The built in will have 2 work areas which down the road can be used for serving, with the space underneath housing wine storage or even a wine fridge.

We chose to keep the wall color as it works well with the rest of the color scheme in this home.
My client requested incorporating an animal print, and I suggested using pieces that were flexible and could be used anywhere in her home.
In this plan the pop comes from the vintage poster as well as a lovely rug.
A mix of textures from the rattan chairs to the leather pouf and mercury glass lamp keep things interesting.

Since my job was to plan the space and share ideas for how it would look in the end, with my client doing the purchasing, I gave her a couple of additional looks using different products.

I am excited to say that the built-ins are being constructed and a pair of chairs has been purchased. A ceiling light fixture has been chosen and as for the rest, it's still in the works.

My client has terrific taste and I can't wait to see this space come together and put to use!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Shared girl's room with vintage touches

2014-02-13T08:32:00.002-06:00

A new offering in my CSIL's etsy shop, Therese Marie Designs inspired me to create a bedroom design for my cousin's two little girls.

Jesse and I worked together to create a darling nursery for her older daughter and now that there are two girls, the idea of a shared a room down the road seems just right.

Could this pillow be any more adorable?

Custom made with the name and letter of your choice this is the PERFECT baby gift...

or gift for a "little" who's room is getting re-decorated,

or maybe even as a teacher gift - T is for Teacher!

A little vintage fun was what I was after for this room.

After rounding up

a pair of Jenny Lind beds

a fun DIY wall treatment

some bold wall art

a vintage inspired braided rug

a graphic fabric made into shades

colorful sheets

a little pop of turquoise

and of course the pillow that got the ball rolling

Here is my design plan....

This room feels so happy to me, just the place for sisters to become best friends!!!

Did you share a room as a kid or do your children share a space? Do tell....

Today I am excited to share that Erin at House of Turquoise is featuring some

Cathy Wall Designs spaces!

I love Erin's blog and have become familiar with some of the most inspirational and creative people and businesses through it. What a thrill to share some cyberspace with all of them.

Thank you Erin!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.

seen & loved 2/10/14

2014-02-10T06:05:00.002-06:00

Last week I saw and loved....

A stunning floral bouquet from grocery store roses, with a "how to" by my college friend

Kimm Birkicht of The Velvet Garden in LA.

Green Wedding Shoes

BTW one of my favorite Instagram feeds is @thevelvetgarden,

inspiration by the vase full with beautiful shots of the creative work that goes on at

The Velvet Garden.

This amazing kitchen renovation in baker and cookbook author Zoe Francois home.

photo by Wing Ta of Canary Gray

And another note, I absolutely love Zoe's cookbook "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day"

The Peasant Bread recipe is to die for, I have to be careful not to make a batch too often.

Then there is this chair, originally orange vinyl, painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.... OMG!

Who knew you could paint vinyl with ASCP?

My Passion for Decor

How about this unique and fabulous DIY feather light fixture?

A Beautiful Mess

And finally, this fantastic, done in a week bathroom update which Autumn did for her daughters. It is so fun and sophisticated but, I am especially smitten with the valence and shower curtain set up....

Design Dump

What have you seen & loved this past week?

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."

Contact me for more information about my design services.