the HUNTED INTERIOR

Tiny Bathroom Overhaul

2013-05-24T12:07:00.000-04:00

This boring little bathroom certainly got a facelift. Nearly all with items I had in & around my home already... (This entire room was a fantastic purge for us!) It obviously started off like the rest of the space. Beige, Boring & Basic. Fine, but no personality.

Going through my leftover Paint Cans, which I never throw away, I found a quarter of a gallon of a deep charcoal & half a gallon of white. I knew this space was, well, tiny & this would be plenty of paint. I decided to break up the space with charcoal at the top & white at the bottom to bring the room down a bit. The ceilings felt really high in here in such a small space. I think it did the trick. Plus, I am obsessed with black walls.

Once that was done I tackled the floor with some Porch & Floor Paint a la Miss Mandi from Vintage Revivals. I first primed the entire floor & then taped it off. Best part was, the existing tiles allowed for me to simply follow the tile lines. No measuring or levels required! Bonus. I painted the white stripes first & then after drying went back with the black. I followed Mandi's easy Tutorial & got some great results! I love how the stripes look coming off the wood floors.

See that giant hole in the wall? The rusted out dinky medicine cabinet had to go. It looked like a little postage stamp on the wall. Needing something tall & narrow, I was stuck. I couldn't find anything! Then I remembered this brilliant idea from Jenny over at Little Green Notebook to cut down an existing frame to the exact dimensions needed.

I took an $8 as is frame I picked up at Michael's last year that was the right height, but too wide & went at it with the Miter Saw. Minutes later I had a frame that was the perfect size... I glued & stapled it together & gave it a coat of gold spray paint to brighten it up a bit. Now for the mirror.

I went to our local hardware store with a $5 mirror from Goodwill that was larger than the frame I was intending on using. They told me there were no guarantees that it wouldn't break... I said go for it. Luckily, no seven years of bad luck for me! The mirror fit perfectly! After gluing it in using some Mirror Adhesive we had leftover I had a completely custom mirror for $13!

The sconce started as this... a little outdoor sconce that was less than $25.

It comes in three separate sections so I gave the top & bottom sections a coat of white spray paint & the collar got a coat of gold. Spraying the interior of the "cone" white allowed the light to reflect better & appear brighter.

I added a closeout shelf from Home Depot for an extra landing space for bathroom "stuff". We all have "stuff". And I added a row of black pom pom trim to a pair of Stall Width Shower Curtains I already had. I was planning on using them at our house, but they were too white for our space. (Yes, there are two Curtain Panels in this space, but it was just too tight of a space to get a picture! The entire room is only 250 sq. feet!)

The butterfly was picked up at a thrift store for $0.99 & the art was given to me by a friend... sorry... no source.

A few questions that have been asked this week:

Where are the Curtains From?!

They are leftover from a Restaurant Project we did a few years back... custom drapery that just so happened to fit perfectly in this space... I didn't care if they matched. They were FREE! Luckily, they did work into the design.

Where is that Gold Cabinet From?

It was thrown in when I bought our Dining Table at a closeout store years ago. It has been about five colors & has moved around our house, but never found a home. Luckily it worked perfect here! (& of course I had to add a little disco ball!)

Thank you all for the overwhelming support with this project! It was a blast to do & so thankful I was able to help this worthy cause. Room Service Atlanta was a truly amazing experience!

Gallery Wall Art

2013-05-23T08:51:00.000-04:00

Going into this space originally I knew one thing, there would be a major Gallery Wall as the focus in the space. Now the difficult part of pulling a Gallery Wall together when you have no clue who is moving in is you can't make anything personal... So I simply grouped as many lovely things as I could get my hands on & went for it. A la Kate Spade.

I have had this in my inspiration files for years so it has been fun to reinvent the look for this space.

Kate Spade

I knew I wanted to have fun with the Art in this space too. Remembering that this room will house young ladies who are around 17-22 transitioning from Foster Care to Independent Living I needed this space to be Happy & Uplifting. And since we are in the South, what more appropriate way to welcome the new young lady & her guests to the space by a very Southern "Hey Y'all" print. Everyone that has walked into this space instantly gets a smile on their face upon being greeted by this charming Gold Foil Print by Stephanie Creekmur. Love it!!

I was thrilled when Stephanie agreed to donate one of these prints for the room. This was exactly the tone I was going for!

Hey Y'all Gold Foil Print $20 | Stephanie Creekmur

Luckily for the space (because it would have been a sad gallery wall otherwise!) Every single piece was donated. If not by the Artist themselves, than by my artsy friend who let me raid her collection & of course the assistance of Shutterfly who printed numerous items for the space (as well as those crazy cute plates & cups I shared yesterday.) This truly allowed for the eclectic gathered feel I was trying to evoke.

Knowing I wanted a mix of items, I approached a few of my favorite Artists on Etsy to share a print for the room. The Top Knot print on the far left is one of my favorite pieces... well ever... Something that I will be adding to my own personal collection as well. The series is done by artist Elizabeth Mayville & I am simply smitten with the elegance & thoughtfulness that come across in these Giclee Prints. Not to mention, my hair looked like that every day I was completing this project :)

Hair Bun Art Print "Top Knot 19" $20 | Elizabeth Mayville

I adore a little modern art. I needed a lot of color. So of course I went to the talented Heidi Carlsen-Rogers. All of her pieces are exploding with organic shapes in the happiest of hues. The red, pink & turquoise combination seemed like it was literally made for this room.

Plus, Heidi is currently donating 10% of any art purchase to the relief efforts in Oklahoma.

Modern Botanical Fine Art Print $28 | Heidi Carlsen-Rogers

Allie contacted me after my first post about Room Service Atlanta & literally offered up her entire Etsy Shop. I was completely moved. I saw this original work on canvas & thought it would be a great "Positive" addition to the install. Get it... Positive!

Original Canvas | Allie Middleton

The next piece was one from my friend's collection... but I knew there would be questions about this beautiful fashion illustration. This is a work by one of my favorites, Leigh Viner. It added the perfect touch of feminine charm & sophistication.

About A Pearl $28 | Leigh Viner

While not a true addition to the Gallery Wall, the Chandelier does get reflected back into the space thanks to the strategically placed oval mirror.

I knew I needed more light in the space, so by placing the mirror above the headboard it catches the light of both the Chandelier & the kitchen pendant as you walk throughout the small space.

And it wouldn't be a Kate Spade inspired space without the Ampersand Print... They would make a killing if they ever decided to sell those!

Kate Spade

I'll be sharing how I created my own Ampersand Canvas & more details on how to create, arrange & install a gallery wall like this over at Shutterfly very soon!

Thanks again to all the artists for helping make this space beautiful!!

Black Kitchen with a Striped Fridge

2013-05-22T08:14:00.000-04:00

Everyone loves a good Before & After right?! Especially one that doesn't cost a fortune to recreate! I had a completely different plan in mind for this little dated kitchen going into the project. All I knew, was that the wood had to go. Now don't get me wrong. I love a good wood (key word "good") cabinet as much as the next person, but I think I went into wood shock going into the original space. EVERYTHING was the same shade of eh brown. And the room felt eh.

The original plan included an all white kitchen. Light & Bright. It needed it.

But then... I started painting the walls with Glidden's Almost Aqua (pretty mix of minty & aqua) & realized the wood was taking three coats to cover. With Primer! SO... I changed my mind & used my go to favorite door paint for the kitchen. Rustoleum's Door Paint in Satin Black. One Coat & DONE! That is what I needed as I didn't have enough time to wait for three plus coats of paint on my timeline.

Once I added my new favorite pulls to the black cabinetry I knew I made the right decision.

D Lawless Hardware was kind enough to donate all of the hardware for the project!! But want to know the best news... If you love these pulls as much as me, they are only $0.99 a piece. I know. Crazy right?!

The counter was a bit of a no brainer for me. I saw the boring scratched white laminate top & instantly thought of Danika's Countertops over at Gorgeous Shiny Things. I had painted faux carrara marble before on our old coffee table & was really happy with the outcome, so I knew I could duplicate the look for next to nothing in this space. I already had all the paint anyways.... Danika's tutorial is stellar! So if you think you want to attempt a countertop overhaul you really must check her out. Rockstar.

The kitchen was looking good, but it needed something... so I tried something... something I never thought I would have done before... I put Duct Tape on a fridge.

In my defense, it was gold... so I was already a fan. It also covered up some not so lovely stains on the fridge. And if we are being honest... I literally could not paint one more thing in this place! I was painted out!! So I went at it. Now do as I say & not as I do... because I didn't even measure these bad boys out. I simply attacked it with the tape & was done in mere minutes. It is a really fun (& non permanent!) solution for a fridge that is dated or worn. This would be a great dorm room or renter's solution for sure.

Shutterfly provided these adorable plates that I customized to fit the space & Park Designs donated the sweet towels from their Split P line of products. The wooden spoons would be a simple DIY, but I nabbed them on One Kings Lane a few months ago...

Home Decorators Furniture donated the perfect chair for the space. Their Garden Side Chair in Red was just the hit of industrial vintage the room needed. The fact that it is metal provides another texture to the space too. Not to mention this chair is super easy to clean. I love how this brings a punch of red onto this side of the room. It really ties the spaces together.

The last item added to the Kitchen Area was the light fixture... Bye Bye builder grade boring & say "hello" to the updated old foyer light.

It really fit the space well & when the light is turned on it casts some really killer faceted shadows. Has anyone followed the easiest tutorial ever for this Goodwill find?!

Including the monetary value of the donated items the total cost for this space was under $175... The power of the right items & a little hard work.

Art anyone?! All the details tomorrow.

Spotted Headboard, Florals & oh the Bedding

2013-05-21T09:53:00.004-04:00

This bedding combination might just be my favorite thing in the room. Who said that playful can't be sophisticated too?! As I have mentioned before, I got a few yards of the Spotted Premiere Prints Togo fabric on Clearance a few months back. I decided to hold onto it until the right project came up. & this seemed to be it.

Since there was no budget for this project, not like the sky's the limit but like no funds to use, I went through my scrap material & found a large enough piece of MDF, extra foam & batting plus the fabric. So voila... I was officially making a headboard... I'd done it before, so I could do it again!

I made this headboard exactly like our headboard in the Master Bedroom minus the nailhead trim. I simply cut out my shape, layered on the foam & batting & stapled the heck out of the fabric pulling it tight in every direction. Since it was a twin & there were no time consuming nailheads to line up & nail in, this went much faster than the last. It was done within an hour.

One of the biggest question asked about our last headboard was "how did you attach it?!" Well, this one was so much easier because we had a wall to mount it on. This time I used a French Cleat from Home Depot.

It is as simple as screwing one bar into the wall & another into the back of the headboard. After they are attached you simply hook the headboard onto the wall. Done.

Now it was time to dress the bed. That's the fun part for me! The gorgeous Duvet Cover & Sham were donated by the uber talented Jill Sorenson of LiveLikeYou & Marmalade Interiors. She is one of those fearless designers that I aspire to be. After launching her line of products I was immediately smitten. Always having them in the back of my mind, I approached Jill about the RSA project & she sent over her Bang Bang Twin Duvet Cover & Sham in Turquoise. And might I add... they are even more beautiful in person! (& soft!!)

The great thing about this project was the amount of people that contacted me personally to provide their own goods. That is how I came to know Kimber from The House of Pemberley. She provided the throw pillow that has become my number one obsession & has made multiple appearances on the blog this past month! I still get questions, so here goes... This is the Orangerie Pattern from Designers Guild & it is everything. As Razchel Zoe would say... I Die.

I'll be the first to admit that there are a lot of colors going on in this space, but once I brought in the Orangerie Pillow it all just made sense.

Luckily, through your generous monetary donations, I was able to finish the bed with the sheeting, skirt, bedframe & was thrilled when a friend donated the mattress & boxspring. Y'all rock!

The little Mongolian Fur Stools I made from $5 Ikea chairs also float around the room. They are small enough to move where needed.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams provided the killer brass task lamp. I love the unexpected touch of a task lamp as a night stand light. It sat atop of my little red nightstand I created. My painting partner in crime was able to get a Carrara Marble Tile that I simply added to the top. It really finished the piece off. Who'd believe that was just a piece of junk from my basement.

That little "Odds & Ends" box is just about the cutest thing ever. I couldn't find a link to it, but it is from Target. I found it close to the Party Section... not the Home-goods Area.

The other nightstand started out looking like this...

Sexy right?! We found this beauty on the side of the road & while I loved the hunter green pleated shade covered in dust & the faux wood look, I decided it would look much better cleaned up a bit. Amazing what a little white paint & a new shade will do!

Plus, it was the perfect height to sit between the bed & my Contrast Welt Chair.

Tomorrow we are talking Kitchen...& that striped fridge!!

Room Service Atlanta Room Reveal

2013-05-20T06:58:00.000-04:00

Well, the time has come & my Room Service Atlanta room is finally DONE! Working on this room has been extremely rewarding (& exhausting!) Literally every item in this room has either been donated, modified from our ~~hoard~~ personal collection, or diy'ed in some form or function. It's been a very long, project filled month.

As a visual "ugh" reminder... this is the paneling hell we started with. Lovely, right?!?

Scratched paneling, off white trim, bad fluorescent lighting & that old cafeteria floor... Now I am sure that the ladies who have lived in these walls have appreciated the room, but we could do better than this.

I tried to add some life into the space & some definite personality. I went for Fun & Fearless with a Kate Spade flair. I mean who wouldn't want to live in one of those amazing boutiques in their late teens & early twenties? I know I still would.

So I went for it. Like REALLY went for it! Here is the overall tour of the new & improved glammed up space. I will be sharing all the sources, tutorials & gracious thank yous to all who participated throughout the week, so stay tuned & enjoy the room. I know I did!

Want to move in?! Yeah, me too.

None of this would have been possible without the beyond generous donations from the following (so show them some love!):

Mohawk Flooring

Shutterfly

LiveLikeYou | Jill Sorenson

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

House of Pemberley

Home Decorators Collection

Follow these links for specific details, sources & vendors for all of the items in the space:

Bedding & Nightstand Details

Kitchen Details

Art & Chandelier Details

Bathroom Details

Painted Deck... The Tutorial

2013-05-17T11:59:00.001-04:00

Finally!! Here are the ins & outs on how I created our stenciled floor for the Home Depot Patio Challenge this year. There are probably a zillion different ways this could have been accomplished, but this is how I did it.

First things first... Why a painted pattern?!

We had a plain old run of the mill stained deck previously which was absolutely fine. We had our stenciled area rug on top of that. The rug held up like a champ! But the only problem was, when it rained, the rug stayed wet for days. And here in the south, during the summer, it typically showers once a day... you catching my problem.

I knew I wanted something on the floor do add some interest & once I saw this image I knew this was it!

source anyone?! One of those pinned too many times to trace deals.

I tired being all original & creative to come up with my own pattern, but I just kept coming back to this pattern, so why reinvent the wheel right?!?

I laid out my patterns in CAD (I have it, so I used it!) this could also be done by sketching your pattern out on some graph paper. This helped me determine the optimum size of the motifs as well as spacing them out so there would not be a lot of awkward cutoff areas. It also worked out perfectly that we didn't have to paint around our Cinder Block Planter... because that puppy ain't moving!

Once I had my sizes determined (roughly 40"x40") I needed a large enough piece of cardboard to sketch the design on. I ended up using a water heater box that conveniently died while this was going on. I free handed the motifs on the cardboard as I liked the organic feel of the inspiration image.

Once my motifs were drawn I cut the pattern out using a box cutter. Ta Da!

Starting with a clean deck (aka removing as much pollen as possible!) I traced each of the motifs in place using a pencil. I then painstakingly filled in each of them by hand using an Oil Based Porch & Floor Paint in Gloss. This can be found at any Home Improvement store. (It doesn't require a primer btw!) Due to the uneveness of the deck & all of the slats I decided this would be the way to go vs a traditional stencil... call me crazy!

Each of the motifs took two coats to get full coverage. The second coat went on much faster than the first, but I did have to wait 24 hours between each coat... love & hate oil based paint. Great durability! But also crazy stinky & takes forever to dry.

I literally did one or two motifs a day during nap time... So it took about two weeks to complete. But if you have the time & better yet a partner this could easily be knocked out in a weekend.

Sealer... I actually haven't sealed it yet! WHAT?!?! I have been waiting for it to get a bit chippy first as that is the look I am going for. Knowing full & well that paint on a deck is going to chip, I am letting it happen. That being said, I am so impressed with how it has held up so far! Through nasty rain, freezing & warm temps... so far so good.

For reference, our Deck was stained using Cabot Semi Solid Stain in Cordovan Brown & the Porch & Floor Paint was standard Gloss White... no special mixing or formula required!

Updating the Hall...(again)

2013-05-16T12:07:00.000-04:00

We were recently gifted a large haul of amazing antique furniture. Like shut your mouth amazing! So I have been switching around some of our, well, not so amazing furniture to make room for the upgrades. It was perfect timing as I was purging all of my hoard for the Room Service project. So a few things had to go!

Our hallway was the easiest place to start... I know, I liked it too. It even ended up it Kelly Edwards "The Design Cookbook" next to a project by the amazing Tobi Fairley! But the mirror was needed at the room, the garden stool doesn't really live there & the ladder had been knocked over one too many times by the Tasmanian devil, I mean my daughter.

So in it's place, I placed a vintage brass quilt rack to house our extra towels. And I filled the walls with two large frames filled with the ever popular spotted fabric. I had a yard leftover from the room's new headboard & thought these would make a really great graphic statement in our little space. Y'all know how I love to mix a print! Plus, ever since I saw this space in Lonny Mag I have been wanting to duplicate the look somewhere...

I think the hall was the perfect place for this in our home...

The large scale of the framed fabric actually makes the space feel larger & is a great solution for the wallet as well. You'd be hard pressed to find art of that size for $7... just sayin.

Now here is the bad news... Everyone is looking for this fabric & I fear it may be discontinued as it has been sold out everywhere. I got the last few yards from Fabric.com on clearance... not a good sign for it's return. But if you want to keep an eye out for it, it is Premiere Prints Togo.

The fabulous Brittany from Brittany Makes has shared her favorite spotted fabrics for all less than $20 a yard, maybe one of these would work for your upcoming spotted project!

Leave a comment below if you have found it anywhere!

Bye Bye Brown Living Room!

2013-05-13T09:32:00.001-04:00

If you have read my little corner of the web for some time, you know that I am not a fan of brown. That being said, for some reason when we were furnishing our house 6 years ago I went brown crazy. It was my first time living with a boy (the hubs) & kinda thought brown was the safe choice to make him happy too. Brown sofa with the matching chaise (still banging my head about that one!), brown rug, brown drapes I even painted our dining room brown.

Slowly by surely the brown is disappearing. While the brown sofa will remain for a while, I think once some of the other elements are changed, the brown sofa might actually grow on me... This change will not be an overhaul, just a little freshening up... Here is what I am thinking:

The main change will be the rug... I have been looking for a jute rug for a while now, and I am thinking something like this hand knotted one will be just the right one. We are also swapping out our coffee table, again. Our upholstered ottoman/cocktail table just doesn't work for our family, so I have already started a project with the table above as the inspiration. To help bring the space to life, we will be adding some brightly covered pillows to join the menagerie of black & white pillows we already have. If you are looking for an easy update... pillows are it! There is also some artwork happening inspired by those killer Acrylic Prints I saw at the Antique store a few weeks ago thanks to a very sweet friend! I cannot get them off my mind! Mine however will not be $899! And lastly, I have an idea for some sconces... we'll see if that one pans out or not.

All of this will start happening after this next week... Room Service Atlanta is being INSTALLED!!! Finally!! This will be the last sneak peek people.

(Fun right?!?) Happy Monday!!

Room Service Atlanta Update

2013-05-10T10:38:00.000-04:00

We are almost done with the Room Service Atlanta Project!!! Furniture has started to make its way into the room (& out of our dining room YAY!) Painting is all but done... which has been one of the longest processes ever. It seemed like every time I turned around there was something else that needed to be painted. Three coats on all the walls, trim work & doors, the bathroom walls & flooring were painted, as well as all the kitchen cabinets & counters! (I am painted out!) The light fixtures are all being installed today & I am hoping for no surprises when it comes to the condition of the ceiling under the gigantic fluorescent light box that was there originally. Really not wanting to paint the ceiling... I have a few ideas up my sleeves just in case I need to "fix" something.

Besides the paint, the biggest transformation in the space has been the flooring graciously donated by Mohawk Flooring. To read all about our DIY Laminate Install head on over to Creative Home & my blonde moment... So happy to be blonde again!!

Sorry the posts haven't been very creative lately. I have literally been spending every free minute at the space trying to finish it up. I was so blessed with all the donations & honestly would not have been able to get this done without them (& my partner in crime HB for helping me as much as she can! THANK YOU!!!)

This space is going to be full of ideas! The reveal should be up within a week!!!! & then I will be taking a very long nap lol. Not really... already have new plans & projects happening at the house & such a cool giveaway coming up. So stick around!

My Weekend with Taniya Nayak

2013-05-08T12:07:00.000-04:00

If you have ever turned on HGTV or the Food Network, you are sure to have come across the lovely & talented Taniya Nayak. Known for shows such as Restaurant Impossible & Design to Sell (to name a few...) she lends her talented eye on some spaces in need of some serious help! She is also the face of Mohawk Flooring! Since I write for their new blog, I was thrilled when they mentioned she would be in town for a local store opening. Even more excited when they mentioned going to dinner! That is really a situation where you can get to know someone.

I rounded up some of Atlanta's local design/blog talent & we all met at JCT Kitchen for some serious southern food! Of course the group photo gave us all demon eyes. Happens every time right?! But check out all that food! Fried Chicken, Collards, Black Eyed Peas... Mmmm. It was good.

Dayka Robinson, Taniya Nayak, Katie Bower, Rachel Withers, Erica Ward, me & Amanda Swindall

Even better than the food was the company. It's been quite a while since I have had a Girl's Night Out, so this was definitely needed. We obviously gabbed about design, blogs & of course design shows. We did get a little behind the scenes dirt... but I'll keep that info to myself. Sorry. I don't kiss & tell :)

I will tell you that Taniya is the sweetest person. She is so down to earth & completely one of the girls. We kept laughing because we ended up having so much in common. Both of our Husbands are Restaurant Guys, we love restaurant design (I really miss that) and we even eat our cupcakes the same way. It's a sandwich technique that I've perfected over the years... well she does it too!

After a late night, we had to go get our beauty rest for Builder's Floor Covering & Mohawk Flooring Showroom Opening event that happened in Buckhead (a suburb of Atlanta).

We walked the red carpet...

Checked out some of the featured products...

& sat down for a Question & Answer Session with Taniya herself!

Yes, it was legit with microphones & everything! I asked some questions that Mohawk Followers submitted, asked a few background questions of my own & went out to the crowd for some of their questions. Obviously Taniya is a pro at this kind of set up... me not so much, but I tried my best. She was even nice enough to allow me to answer a few of the crowd questions & provide my designer two cents. I must admit, I felt pretty important.

The event was a complete success & a lucky family even won a $20,000 Room Makeover designed by Taniya! How great is that?!?

The amazing Heidi Rew from Parties for Pennies did all the Party Planning for the event (the weekend of her sister's wedding!!!! Talk about busy!!) And she did an amazing job! I mean look at these cupcakes displayed on Carrara Marble floor tiles!

To see more about the event & all the details, head over to Creative Home!

I had such a great time with Taniya & we've promised to stay in touch. Maybe I'll stop by & say hello my next trip to Boston!

Big thanks to Mohawk for setting all of this up!!!

Mother's Day Gift Guide

2013-05-07T11:08:00.001-04:00

1. Designers Guild - Orangerie Rose Pillow

The lovely Kimber from House of Pemberley donated one of these for the Room Service Atlanta Project & I am officially obsessed. Knowing it has to leave our house in a week is already making me crave at least one for our own home. A pair would be even better!

2. Illume Candle

Illume Candles are by far my absolute favorite candles. All of the scents are so luxurious & they last forever. Every mom needs a little lovely in her life right?

3. Stella & Dot Golden Arrow Bangle

This little bangle is quite appropriate for Mother's Day as my little one instantly had me struck by Cupid's arrow. This would be a constant reminder...

4. LaVanila Perfume

I must admit, I am a scent snob. A can't handle a lot of florals, but all of the LaVanila scents have just the right notes of vanilla & something. Nothing to overpowering, but enough to make a mom feel special. It is my go to!

5. Stella & Dot How Does She Do It - Navy Stripe Bag

What mom on the go doesn't need a great bag? This navy & white striped bag is perfect for those warm summer days. It can easily go from Play Date to Client Consult.

6. Lindsay Letters "You're Pretty" Mini Print

Let's face it, Mom just needs to be reminded of this every once in a while. And at $7... this gold foil print is the perfect reminder.

Painted Mismatched Chairs

2013-05-01T11:49:00.001-04:00

It's fun to have a local client who entrusts me to do a little DIY project for their home too, so when it came time to choose some dining chairs I threw out the idea to buy some old, non matching, thrifted chairs & paint them all in my favorite Kelly Green. This would not only give the homeowner a custom look but would also be much more cost effective then buying three new matching chairs.

Of course, when you are looking for something at a thrift/antique store you can never find it. Why must that always be the case?!? It took a little longer than anticipated to find three well built chairs with the right lines, but I finally did! They all have great lines & balance each other out.

They definitely needed some TLC though... My initial plan was to brush them, until I bought the center one with all the spindles. So out came the spray. First, a good solid coat of primer & a quick sand with a fine grade paper.

Already so much better. After the primer was dried & sanded I gave them a few coats of Rustoleum's Meadow Green (the same as my HGTV Magazine dresser...I can all it that now right?!?) I then sealed them with a spray polyurethane for durability.

Now these lovely ladies have some attitude! I can't wait to see them once paired with the Acradia Extension Table from World Market

And this settee from Wayfair!

It really is going to be lovely! Can't wait to get them delivered this weekend.

Outdoor Lighting Love

2013-04-29T18:55:00.000-04:00

As a Designer (& a Design Blogger) I am constantly looking for great new sources for all things related to Shelter Decor. Most of the time I am introduced to new companies via Magazines, other blogs, or simply just researching... luckily this new company contacted me & I was hooked! Let me introduce you all to GoldenageUSA. GoldenageUSA is a fantastic spot for all things lighting! They have a gigantic selection and stellar prices as well. Who doesn't like that?!? But they also have a great array of area rugs & mirrors too. Over the next few months I'll be introducing you all to their tremendous selection of items.

As we just finished our patio, I have Outdoor Decor on the brain! The weather is starting to cooperate as well! Warm skies & a gorgeous outdoor space are my idea of a perfect escape from the day to day. We always think about outdoor pillows, or new seating when it comes to our patios, but lighting can be just as important & can really transform a space with minimal effort. A quick addition of an Outdoor Lantern or swapping out some dated Outdoor Wall Sconces can easily take your space from drab to fab!

Here are my GoldenageUSA picks for a Stylish Outdoor Space:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

*This post was Sponsored by GoldenageUSA. All opinions are those of The Hunted Interior

Adding Legs to Furniture aka Franken-Furniture

2013-04-26T11:37:00.000-04:00

As I have mentioned a few times {cough cough} while working on the Room Service Atlanta project I have been on a severe budget! While a majority of the items have been donated or were from my personal ~~hoard~~ collection, I couldn't come up with a nightstand that was the right height, width, shape, depth, price... well anything. So I got really really creative. So much so that this project could have easily been a disaster. I thought it was worth the risk though...

I started with some Nesting Cube Tables I have had for years. They have been side tables, shelves & plant stands, but have never really suited any of the locations they have lived in & have always been a tad awkward. I have tried painting them, adding nailheads... nothing seemed to work in our space. Hence the reason they had been banished to our crawl space.

image via Studio Hip... mine were nearly identical prior to their numerous transformations...

After taking inventory of the items I had left, the idea struck me to use the largest one as a nightstand. It was the right depth & width, the price was right... free, the only problem was, it was 7" too short. Why not add legs?!?

I found these from Lowes.com & scooped them up.

As soon as they arrived I drilled four holes into the base of the largest table, added a little Gorilla Glue for added stability & painted my Franken Furniture to give it a consistent look.

My cube table had a solid base originally which helps to create a finished look. I was nervous it would look disjointed, but once it was all the same color I was really happy with the results.

One of my favorite elements of the table was that I left the nailhead trim I had started a year ago in. I decided to simply paint over it. It gave an almost hobnail effect which I am loving!

I can't wait to get it in the space & style it up for real next to the bed!

The Paint I used was Rustoleum Professional Spray Primer & Rustoleum Professional in Safety Red.

Love this red!

Would you ever consider adding legs to existing piece of furniture? Or have you ever created any Franken-Furniture? I'd love to hear about it!

Patio Sources: Shop my Space!

2013-04-25T11:04:00.003-04:00

Thank you for all the sweet comments about our Patio Makeover for Home Depot!! We love the space & are anxiously awaiting the pollen to be done with so we can finally enjoy the space. Thank goodness I got these pictures in right before the yellow powder fell!

Today I am going to be sharing all the sources for the items that were included in our makeover. The main items that EVERYONE is emailing & commenting about... the PILLOWS we put on our new Sectional!! Ya'll know I never shy away from a pattern mix & I'll always include some black & white somewhere. I had a great time mixing and matching all of these prints. It sort of became a so wrong it's right situation for me. The glue was the multi colored Trina Turk. I have had an infatuation with that print for a few years. It was so nice to finally be able to incorporate it.

1 | Trina Turk Peacock Punch Pillow Covers by 3B Mod Living $50

2 | Black & White Concentric Squares Pillow Cover by Kassapanola Handmade (Not an Outdoor Pillow)

This pillow is not in her shop at the moment but if you would like one custom made please contact Agnes at kassapanola@gmail.com

3 | Rose Scallop by Target $19.98 for a Set of 2!! (Sold individually in store)

4 | Black Ikat by Threshold for Target $29.98 for a Set of 2! (Sold individually in store)

5 | Vibrant Sherbet & Orange Pillow Cover by Little House Pillow Co $31.50

Like any other space, I am a believer that if you splurge a little on one item, you hold back a little on another. The Trina Turk pillows were a splurge for sure! But they were the inspiration fabric, so I countered them with the Target pillows & a few existing ones.

The pink & black check & the black & white striped were fabric remnants I found at Forsyth Fabric here in Atlanta. I got out of the store for about $3.97 I think... Not too shabby for two new pillows!

For the inserts, I used some of my old pillows from last year & the pillows that came with the sectional. The burgundy & gold pattern wasn't really my style so I just covered them up with something that was.

The Gold Garden Stool came for World Market & is no longer available online... If you hurry to your local store you might get lucky. I think all the Style Challenge Blogger's bought them up. I know a few of us all used them!

And the little metal side table was a Homegoods find for only $19.99!!! I seriously walked past it three times thinking how perfect it would be before looking at the price. Once I did, I scooped that thing up & may or may not have taken my child out of the cart to accommodate the table.

The Stump Table was an easy DIY I recently shared over at The Handmade Home. And the Starburst Mirror was also a Homegoods find...

I found the Lantern on eBay for $12 & gave it a new coat of Rustoleum Safety Red. Wanna know a secret... It is hanging by zipties for the shot... we didn't have time to secure it or hardwire it before the shoot. That will be happening very soon though :)

I will be sharing the flooring tutorial very soon for anyone who is interested... And maybe a pergola post. It made a big difference!

Everything else were items we already had on hand... If you have any other questions about the items please feel free to ask! I'll share if I can remember!

Oh My Nursery! A Client's Room Reveal

2013-04-23T19:05:00.001-04:00

Once upon a time, I was contacted by a fabulous client with fabulous taste (& a boat load of fabulous items all ready to be used!) Being a client of mine already, I had the privilege to already have a feel for their taste & was thrilled when they announced they were pregnant & wanted me to help with the nursery design! Not wanting any fairy princesses or tutu themes we moved forward with a more sophisticated approach to a Chic & Modern Nursery design.

The whole plan started here with the inspiration...

Most of the rooms colors were coming from the client's existing kilim rug... sorry ya'll! No source for that beauty. We decided a feature wall of faux grasscloth would just take the room to the next level. Going faux allowed for the beauty & durability... this stuff is scrubbable & forgiving! And after I proposed a MAJOR diy project inspired by the lovely Dina over at Honey + Fitz, & my pregnant client agreed to take on the task of a starry ceiling... I knew this project was going to be amazing. A few changes later we had the design done!

Ladies & Gentlemen (if there are any of you out there...) let me introduce a very Chic & Modern Nursery!

Her existing glider was recovered in a classic navy. That way it can easily transition to another room post baby or be a great option if baby number two ever comes along...

The drapery panels were plain panels from Ikea that had a row of pom pom trim attached to the inside edge. This can be sewn or glued on depending on skill level. The bedding does not have to be purchased as a set. To give it that eclectic feel, the Bumper & Skirt were purchased from Serena & Lily & the preppy plaid crib sheet came from The Land of Nod.

The Word Art was created by myself. I found a fun font & had the client select words & that was it! She had them printed at a local photo lab (like a drugstore, Target or Shutterfly) & framed them in Ikea Frames.

The upholstered folding screen from World Market (which is no longer available) acts as a headboard for the Babyletto Hudson Crib.

This sweet artwork comes from the Parisian & French Photography Shop Magalerie

These clear shelves are not your standard bookshelf which I love! & you won't believe the price on these.

The sconces, mirror & navy dresser were all my clients items. They just hadn't been paired together yet. It's like they were meant to be! Those sconces along with the stars on the ceiling are simply perfection.

The Starry Ceiling! As mentioned before, the tutorial for this came from the amazing Honey + Fitz! They are contact paper stars that were cut on a Cricut Machine & painstakingly placed on the ceiling. I felt a bit like a mean designer asking my client to do this... had I been close, I would have volunteered to help!

**Note: My client searched for the star shape for a Cricut machine & found this one (made for baked goods) that worked best!**

AH-MAZ-ING... It turned out exactly as I pictured it would. An eclectic mix of all things fabulous.

As I said before, the majority of the pieces were from the client's home already. She simply shot pictures of extra things she had lying around the house & we shopped her home! By incorporating a crib, some bedding and a large cozy rug the space instantly became baby friendly without a theme in sight. Many of these elements could easily be transformed into an adult space as well.

Big thanks to my client for putting all of this together, the pictures & all the hard work!! And everyone needs to send some extra love her way as she is about to have this baby any day!! Lucky little girl to come home to this nursery!

If you are interested in eDesign Services please see the tab above or email me at thehuntedinterior@gmail.com. I am on a bit of a wait, so please let me know if you would like to be on the list.

Antiquing at a Local Wonderland

2013-04-23T14:25:00.001-04:00

I had the amazing opportunity this past weekend to attend a Blogger's Brunch at one of my favorite Antique & Interiors locations. And fortunately for me it was not the location I normally go to... it got me out of my bubble. We all need to do this from time to time right?!? I drove into Alpharetta & attended this little soiree at Queen of Hearts Antiques & Interiors. They all welcomed us with mimosas & swag bags... and quite honsetly they had me at mimosa. After a brief introduction and a little history about their store & the three booming locations (Alpharetta, Buford & Marietta for you local folks) We were set free with our cameras to shop before the store opened which really was a treat! Look at some of the amazing items I found... get ready for picture overload! I tried editing them down, but they were all soooo good.

While I am not a fan of the full blown taxidermy, these little mounted antlers would make the perfect addition to any gallery wall.

Love does not fully express my feelings towards this mid century pendant.

I could design an entire room around this fixture.

In my opinion, anything mounted on a Lucite base is always a chic choice.

These were just a few of the options in this booth.

This hanging lantern would be gorgeous as is, but add a little hard-wiring & make this a light fixture over a kitchen table... STOP! It would be amazing.

These literally stopped me in my tracks & took my breath away. The picture does not do these beauties any justice. They are huge photographs back mounted on acrylic & need to be in my home now. LOVE.

A great little conversation piece for a bookcase or entry console...

Having an interior architecture background I have a slight obsession with old corbels. Simply placed on a shelf as art, or incorporated into a bar or island these would make a major impact.

I could have moved into this next booth. I loved everything from the gold table & preserved boxwood...

this little Lucite & metal box....

the crystal artwork...

the geometric fretwork on this mirrored cube... yes there is more...

the pineapple lamps with the pink lined black shades....

and of course the vintage Hermes waste basket.... swoon. I have never been more infatuated with a waste basket. I couldn't even call it a trash can. So good right?!

This trunk would make a fantastic coffee table or bed bench.

And everyone is loving these industrial lights at the moment... (they had the green too.)

An unintended selfie occurred as I tried to capture the depth of the colors painted onto this ornate mirror.

every home needs a chic little bar cart. And for under $100 this one was a steal... I think.

Tortoise shells are still going strong in the land of interiors. A pair of these on a console table or buffet would be quite the statement!

This little trunk was shelf or table sized, but I loved the detail (& the price!)

The details on these books were stunning!

And completely unexpected, I kinda fell in love with this mounted riders cap. Equestrian chic I think.

Also, they carry Annie Sloan Chalk Paint & Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint! So good to know.

Be sure to visit the Queen of Hearts if you are in the area. Also, stay up to date with their new offerings via Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest... I know I am! I'll be sharing my little scores very soon...

Stella & Dot Inspired: April & a Trunk Show!

2013-04-22T10:05:00.003-04:00

lantern // drapery // banquette // plate // napkin // table // rug // chair

This months red blue & ikat Stella & Dot {Inspired} space was created thanks to Stylist Kristen Fine's fabulous picks & latest introductions from Stella & Dot. They have just launched their new line of bags & they are beyond fantastic! The prints, the colors, the details... even down to the fun patterned linings! Ya'll know I love a great unexpected pattern pairing.

Here are Kristen's picks for the month of April!

La Totale Large - Espresso Ikat:

This is your go-to bag that goes from client lunch, to mani-pedi, to happy hour.

Red Ikat Pouf:

The multi-tasking pouf organizes you in style. Use it for everything from cosmetics to tech cords.

Wanderlust Triple Wrap - Mixed Metal:

This leather wrap adds instant layering to your arm party with just one piece!

Wouldn't these make great Mother's Day Gifts?!? I'm a mom, & I know I would love any of these :)

Now for the fun news... I am hosting an Online Trunk Show! That means you get some special savings too... if you follow this link & shop through April you get to benefit from this Exclusive Trunk Show deal!! Which just so happens to include a few of my favorite bangles...

Updating a Thrift Store Pendant (that may be in your house!)

2013-04-19T11:16:00.000-04:00

I have so many projects going on in the Room Service Atlanta room that I am relying on a few tried & tested tutorials to ensure the results are worth the effort in the end. There really isn't any time (or budget) for too many experimental projects... But this next update was worth the experiment since it took all of 15 minutes (including disassemble, painting, drying, reassemble!) & it was only $7.97. I'd call that a deal.

I found this ever classic, late 80's-90's Shiny Brass Foyer Light at Goodwill.

We all have either had one in our home, still have one in our home, or know someone who has... am I right?! I liked the scale of this one though. It felt a little more lantern in proportion & shape than some of the other relatives of it's time. I initially thought paint it. But then I got lazy & thought about taping the darn thing off... & I let it sit around for a few days. The shiny brass began to grow on me & then I had a crazy idea. Bonus, if it didn't work, I could easily go back to the original plan.

I simply removed the candle sleeve covers & candelabra bulbs & gave the sleeves a coat of pink spray paint. Let them dry & put them back into place. I added round bulbs to add a more modern touch... plus we already had them on hand. & done.

To add just another element of fun (this room is for a young lady) I decided to take a cue from my girl Rayan from The Design Confidential & add pink duct tape around the cord. Once it was woven back through the chain it definitely gave this light fixture the update I was looking for.

This fixture will be going up in the kitchen. A serious upgrade from the existing boob light. Plus, it will coordinate really well with the cabinets I have going on... more on those shortly!

Also, if you want to see the room's biggest donation to date, head on over to Creative Home to see my latest post on picking out NEW MOHAWK FLOORING!!

Four Years

2013-04-18T09:42:00.001-04:00

Today is our four year wedding anniversary & I couldn't love this man any more. He is my best friend, the most loving father, the hardest working man I know & my biggest supporter. ILYMIK babe (he knows what that means.)

I love waking up to not only this man, but this picture & our wedding invitation art every morning. It reminds me of one of the best days of my life on a daily basis. #BLESSED

Back to tutorials, DIY attempts & interior inspirations tomorrow :)

Patio... REVEAL!!!!

2013-04-17T13:12:00.004-04:00

Surprise two posts today!!! I know I have been teasing ya'll for months... but our Patio Reveal for the Home Depot Style Challenge is UP!!! Head on over to The Apron Blog to read & see all the details on our new patio space & our killer new sectional.

Love it!

Chandeliers in the Bedroom & a WINNER

2013-04-17T09:56:00.001-04:00

Living in the south, it is almost a necessity to have the dreaded ceiling fan in the bedroom... especially in my home. So while I dream of having some glamorous Chandelier in my space (it really would look amazing), it will remain simply that, a dream. But since I have free reign for the Room Service Atlanta Project I went for it! I mean, what girl doesn't appreciate a little sparkle in a space.

Thanks to all the donations I was able to splurge just a little (this is a really budget friendly chandy) to make this space extra special. I found it on eBay & was completely thrilled with the Customer Service after a few of the pieces arrived broken. Within a few days all of the parts were replaced. I am so glad I decided to assemble it before we got to the space... otherwise I would have been in panic mode for sure. After all the painting is done (there is soooo much painting!) this pretty lady will be installed. So much better than a plastic fluorescent box right?!

To confirm my vision, I found a few inspiration shots. Like I really needed confirmation to add crystals!

via HomeEdit

via With A CH

via House & Home

via Tracery Interiors

via ELLE Decor

Now all these rooms are pretty neutral (mine on the other hand is NOT!) I still think a punch of crystal works in any space. Can't wait to get it up!

Now onto the pressing matter at hand... did you win the Schumacher Pillow Giveaway from California Livin Home?!?!

Well if your Janna from Swoon Interiors you did!!!

Congrats Janna! You already have an email in your inbox waiting for you.

Also, check out a little tutorial from the Patio Project (that will be revealed so so soon!)

that's over at The Handmade Home!

Busy Painting

2013-04-13T19:15:00.002-04:00

If ya'll need me, I'll be at the United Methodist Children's Home.

Operation Room Service Atlanta has officially begun!

Goodbye paneling. Hello Almost Aqua!

Hope ya'll are having a great weekend. Don't forget to enter to win the pair of Schumacher Pillows!!

It's a Designer Pillow Giveaway!!!

2013-04-11T08:57:00.001-04:00

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

I would like to introduce you all to my newest sponsor & lovely Esty shop, California Livin Home!!

Sharon hand makes each of these pillows in all the latest designer fabrics.

Here are a few of my favorite patterns available to ship NOW!

It's time for Outdoor Pillows people

& this Trina Turk Pisces Lumbar Pillow would look amazing on any patio.

This 20 x 20 100% Linen Cherry Blossom Pillow Cover

would definitively add a touch of spring to any interior.

This F. Schumacher Ziggurat Pattern is right on trend this season.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Love them all right?!? Want to win a pair of your own?!?

California Livin Home is gifting the winner of this little giveaway a pair of these babies below!!!

Winner will recieve 2 of the

20x20 Pillow Covers with Schumacher Betwixt on Front and an Ivory Linen/Rayon on Back

I think everyone needs a little graphic print in their homes & this one is it!

_______________________________________________________________________________

Want to WIN?! Just complete one or all of the following:

1. Leave a Comment telling everyone your favorite Pillow from California Livin Home

2. Follow California Livin Home on Facebook or Twitter & leave a comment that you did.

3. Follow The Hunted Interior on Facebook or Twitter & leave a comment that you did.

4. Share this Giveaway on any Social Media Outlet & leave a comment that you did.

Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry. That way you have more chances of winning!

Giveaway open to continental US only. Giveaway ends Wednesday morning April 17th, 2013 where the winner will be announced.

Reupholstered Chair with Contrast Piping

2013-04-08T09:51:00.001-04:00

I had mentioned that while my mom was here over Easter weekend we were in furniture rehab mode for the Room Service Atlanta project. We were on a roll... & on a lunch break we decided to stop in at the local Thrift Store just to see what they had... you just never know.

I was literally drawn to this glowing beacon at the back of the furniture section. Literally, it was glowing. This neon green cane chair had surely seen better days & a better paint job. I am all for colorful furniture & this pic does not do the color justice as it was a gorgeous shade of slime. But this color was just not doing the trick. The caning had been removed from the back & all who walked by just rolled their eyes at this sad, sad, green chair. But not me. At $6.96 I knew (well hoped) that I could save this chair & the end result would be perfect for the room & my "budget"!

I decided I needed a wood element in the space as everything else is upholstered or painted. Feeling overly ambitious I attempted a little stripping. Paint stripping. After reading a post from Kate's archives over at Centsational Girl I decided to try Citristrip, but the aerosol version. After about two hours of sitting, scraping, wire brushing & sanding I had a pretty bare surface that I stained with Minwax in Walnut. I was pretty pleased.

Now it was time for upholstery.... oh the options available! After writing a post for Mohawk's Blog, Creative Home, on contrast piping I decided this was a great little experiment to try the look on.

I also decided that since the caning was MIA, I would get creative with my upholstering & piping...

I upholstered the inside/outside back using the same exact method as my Bergere Chair Tutorial

& for the seat, I followed the same steps for my Drop In Cushion Tutorial...

I then used my trusty upholsterer trick for the Double Piping again... It is just so easy to have someone else do it. One of these days I will attempt it myself. The end result came with me hot gluing the double piping around the open areas of the arms, covering the ridge where the caning would have been attached. I think it gave the chair a young fresh look, especially since it's PINK!

All in all, the chair cost just under $40 with the Cobalt Blue & Pink Cotton Duck Fabric I picked up on cleareance, the piping, the Paint Stripper & the chair itself... Luckily I had everything else on hand. I can't wait to get this in the room & styled. I hope it comes together like it has in my head... because if it does, it is going to be good ya'll! Especially with some of the latest donations!!!

Yeah. That good.

xo-K