The post Tweaking 2 Dining Rooms…Before & After! appeared first on Lorri Dyner Design.

BUT over everything else, I am so excited by one special project I’ve been working on for several months.

Meet Tricia:

This lovely lady is part of an organization called Parca, which helps people with developmental disabilities live as independently as possible.  She lives in a group home with seven other developmentally disabled adults, and thanks to Parca and the incredible people that keep the household running, Tricia and her house-mates are able to work, live independently, and thrive!

Okay and now meet another amazing lady, Cara:

Cara is a volunteer for Parca, and she asked if I would provide some decor advice for a mini-redo that she was doing for Tricia and her housemates.  I ended up partnering with Cara and diving in headfirst.  Before we knew it, we had an awesome makeover on our hands!

Are you ready to see some sweet before & after action?

Here’s the main living area before:

And after!

The FIRST thing we did was choose a new paint color – Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore (the color that keeps on giving).

I soon learned our clients needed sturdy!  Easy to clean!  Stain resistant!  Really comfy!  I really had to strike that balance between function and beauty.  Cara purchased the sofa and coffee table from the good people at Living Spaces, by the way – a new store for me, and some great stuff at crazy low prices.

ALSO that rug is from RugsUSA.com and a 9×12 is less than $250.  Yes, you read that right!

Here’s another shot of the sitting room:

The after!

You may already know that I am on a one-woman crusade to rid the world of brown wood furniture.  So I had a hissy fit over the TV console and ended up finding a gorgeous, whitewashed one on Houzz.com for less than $300.

Here’s the dining area before:

And after!

Okay, ignore what I said about brown furniture before – ha!  The truth is, Cara found this great option from Living Spaces and she is RIGHT that it’s a fresh, modern option for the housemates (although I STILL think we could’ve gotten away with these chairs instead…!).

The entry before:

And after:

Console and mirror scored from Home Goods, and the indoor-outdoor blue striped rug is a Wayfair find.

The four bedrooms also needed to be revamped.  Cara had new carpet put in, and she had each room painted (I chose Classic Gray for the boys and White Dove – a fabulous, creamy white – for the girls).

Before:

After:

What can I say, those ladies love their Hello Kitty.  So we had to deliver!

And here’s David and Michael’s Room, Before and After!

We ended up LOVING the wall decals, by the way.  They made the rooms so special.  We got ours from Etsy!

Cara really is the hero in all of this – she led the charge and worked like a dog to get this thing done.  Also, Diana and Danielle from Parca.org were so instrumental and amazing.

And we had a whole group of volunteer elves helping on install day as well – thank you, everyone, for making it happen!

I can’t wait to do more projects like this.  How amazing it feels to see peoples’ lives improved by simply transforming their surroundings.  It’s a beautiful thing.

For more information about Parca, visit Parca.org.

~I slept and dreamt that life was joy.  I awoke and saw that life was service.  I acted and behold, service was joy. ~

The post From the Heart! A Before & After Makeover appeared first on Lorri Dyner Design.

Well, this isn’t fantasy….my design buddy Becca and I launched our new “Done in a Day” service with a bang.  We took our little elf selves over to a young family’s home and we left their family room completely transformed!

Our client has the most gorgeous space but it needed to be taken up a notch.

It was a little “eh”….

And we made it SING!

Here’s what we did.

We “shopped” inside her house – those baskets you see above used to be across the room on the bookshelf.  We borrowed the succulent planter from the kitchen island. And the lamps were stolen from another sitting room!

We also brought in a few accessories (and art!) that we thought would fit the space.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

My mom saw these last photos and said, “I don’t think that mirror works there on the wall.”  In case you’re wondering the same thing?  That’s a window!!  I agree!  It’s awkward.  But hey the whole thing still looks pretty amazing, right??

I always say – sometimes it just takes a little tweaking at the edges to completely transform a living space.  And now I have proof!

Do you have questions about your own house and how to take it up a notch?  You can always comment below or email me.  I’m always happy to talk decorating solutions!

The post The Design Elves Have Arrived! A Before & After appeared first on Lorri Dyner Design.

I just had to share this “before & after” project with you because it’s just too good to keep to myself.  My buddy Becca Berk of Be6 Designs created this incredible bunk bed situation from a boring nook at the top of her clients’ stairs.

Buckle up!  This is amazing!

Here’s the before:

And here’s the after:

I KNOW!  Are you dying?  Because I’m totally dying!

Becca clearly has some serious design skills.  So, when I had a new, cool decorating idea that I wanted to explore, it was a no-brainer to ask her to partner with me. 

Becca and I both agree that people often DON’T need a whole huge, months-long decorating project.  Sometimes their homes just need a little PERK.  A little ZHUSHING.  

Lorri and Becca – Design Buddies

It’s actually one of our biggest decorator secrets – most people only need a little tweaking around the edges to breathe new life into their homes.  

So to meet that need, we have launched a new service called Done in a Day.  

In just a few hours we can:

• Reinvent your living space by re-arranging furniture and “shopping inside your home”, using what you have in a new way;
• Create order and polish by organizing and styling your bookshelves, coffee tables, end tables;
• Hang your artwork – finally!;
• Give a color consultation on paint colors

And if you want additional design services, we can also curate a Pinterest board just for you, and SHOP for any extra furniture or accessories we think would look amazing in your home.  

We have our first “Done in a Day” project this week!  I can’t wait to show you the before & after pics.

Do you live near SF and think you might be interested in this service?  Email Rachel at admin@lorridynerdesign.com or hello@be6.com to get started! 

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1) DuttonBrown Lighting

I’m so glad urchin chandeliers are still “in”.   I want to get one in my family room pronto!!  These guys have a great selection in all different sizes and finishes (including a rose gold copper that is so on-trend right now).  I also love their array of candy-colored sputniks – so fun for a kid’s room.

DuttonBrown Urchin Chandelier, ~$300 – $500

2) Lauren Adams Art

Just about every client I’ve worked with frets over what to put on the walls – we all want something unique and special and tasteful, but we often don’t know where to look for art, and we don’t think we can afford original art.  Etsy is the answer!

There are so many Etsy shops I could point to for awesome original art – here’s one shop that I think is just great for abstract, colorful, REAL paintings without the $3,000 price tag.

Lauren Adams, Contemporary Abstract Painting, $650

She actually has a whole range of prices – good for the budget buyer:

Lauren Adams Art, Limited Edition Print, $95

3) Lynn Chalk Custom Drapes

Raise your hand if you already knew that custom curtains cost a fortune..!  Like, we’re talking thousands of dollars.  If you have your eye on a specific fabric but can’t BELIEVE how expensive it is to get that fabric made into curtains, take heart.

This lady Lynn Chalk is awesome – I’ve directed a handful of clients to her and she is professional, responsive, and REALLY good.

Lynn Chalk, Custom Roman Shade in Kelly Wearstler Katana, $545

You might be thinking, “500 bucks for a roman shade?”  I KNOW it’s a lot of money no matter which way you look at it, but this is designer, to-the-trade-only fabric, AND also – if you were to go through an interior designer and order shades like this, you would likely be paying at least 3 times that amount!

Her drapes are also beautifully made:

Lynn Chalk, Windsor Smith Riad, $725

Lynn specializes in designer fabrics, but you can also special order using fabric of your choosing, and there are less expensive options on her site as well.

4) Old World Shoppe (African Juju Hats)

Ever wonder what those feather things are hanging from the walls in designer magazines?  They’re called “Juju Hats”, and they make for great 3D “wall art”.

Via

Sometimes, when you don’t know what the heck else to put on your walls, only a Juju hat will do.  And now you know where to find them!

Old World Shoppe, Authentic Juju Hat, $235

5)  Pop O Color Designer Pillows

I LOVE getting pillows on Etsy – it’s the perfect way to bring high-end decor into your home without breaking the bank.

Kravet Ikat Pillow, $35

Mud Cloth Pillow, $35

Blue and Green Teahouse Pagoda, $50

This shop is super responsive which is key, and Katie the owner has literally just about every fabric you can dream of. Also, if you want something specific and you don’t see it on her site, you can make a custom request and she will purchase the fabric and make it for you.  Such a no-brainer.

Hope you enjoyed this list.  Any shops you love that I’m missing?  I would LOVE to hear about your favorite Etsy finds, too!

The post My Top 5 Favorite Etsy Shops Right Now appeared first on Lorri Dyner Design.

My greatest joy (oh yes, except for motherhood – ahem!) is dreaming up affordable decorating ideas and taking the overwhelm out of the decorating process.  So, needless to say this project was right up my alley.

This is the living room before – a long space with all these different openings that made furniture positioning difficult:

Here’s the after:

I LOVED doing this project.  The owners are young and creative and had a very clear vision of wanting something slightly preppy and beachy (they also love Navy and Kelly Green which was fresh and different).  It was a fun collaboration.

Here are some of the “greatest hits” from this room:

1) Furniture Placement Can Make a World of Difference

99.999% of the time, if you have a long living room, the best thing to do is to divvy up the spaces into smaller areas.

In this case, I floated a slipcovered sectional sofa from Pottery Barn in the center of the room which created a “TV watching area” one one side, and a “landing  entry” area on the other.  The sofa acts like a “mini wall”:

[Wait – a white sofa with LITTLE KIDS?! You can read all about my thoughts on family-friendly sofas here.]  

This is the same view “before”:

See how the furniture is pushed against the walls?  When you can, try bringing furniture away from the walls.  It can make a huge difference.

2) Hack some IKEA furniture and impress your friends

We took IKEA’s Vittsjo shelf in white and sprayed it gold – now it looks like a high-end étagère.  I just cried a little I’m so happy looking at this picture right now.  The shelf is $80!  We used five cans of spray paint.

3) Budget Accessories – Don’t Break the Bank

All of these accessories were found at Target and Home Goods.  They LOOK like a million bucks but in fact they were a fraction of what you’d find in a designer store.  Even hardcover books can be purchased for pennies at garage sales and flea markets.  (Oh yeah, and see that white Chinese garden stool on the lower right?  I tend to find the best prices on Amazon.com).   You don’t have to spend a boatload!

PS: I wrapped the books on this top shelf in a neutral wrapping paper to keep the colors tame.  You can also wrap books in paper grocery bags – I have done that in the past and it actually looks great.

4) DIY Windows

This has to be one of my favorite affordable decorating tips – buy bamboo shades from a store like Lowes or Home Depot!  JC Penney also has a great selection.  You can actually get them custom cut for your windows.

We then purchased plain white linen curtain panels from West Elm and I had the owner (who is super crafty and creative) find navy grosgrain ribbon at a fabric store.  We had it sewn onto the curtains for a custom look.  (You actually don’t need to sew the ribbon – I’ve done this before in my own home, and I just glued the ribbon onto the curtains using fabric glue).

Here are the windows before.  SUCH a pretty wall of windows….see how they are just begging for a little bamboo shade action??

And the completed DIY window look:

5) Double Down on Rugs

This is a favorite “sneaky trick” I’ve used a few times.  If you have a super large room, don’t worry about buying a humongous, expensive, custom-sized rug.

Instead, purchase two of the same rug, in the same size.  Here, we purchased two 8 x 10 Indoor-Outdoor Dash & Albert rugs (yet another sneaky decorator tip I use in households with little kids – use indoor-outdoor rugs!).

I know these are a million different ideas, all in one place.  Phew!  Hope you made it to the end!

If you want to read even MORE tips and tricks we used in this room (including my 3 Best Designer Tips Ever), you can find the article here.

NB: all the “after” photos you see here are courtesy of Ken Stabile Photography.

The post Ready for a Refresh? My Best Ideas, All in One Room appeared first on Lorri Dyner Design.

Ready?

Collect your holiday cards from years past and put them into picture frames.  That’s it!

I used picture frames that I already had around my house – super easy.

Our Holiday card, 2011

You can up your game, of course, with some cute “holiday” frames.  I tend to NOT like the hokey frames with snowflakes and snowmen… but a collection of these on a table top could be cute:

Chase Frame, Wayfair, $41

Even better (and cheaper) would be a collection of these classy red lacquered frames:

Hollins Enamel Frame, Wayfair, $19

I love this idea for so many reasons – it’s a fun way to showcase your holiday cards from over the years, and it’s a great way to introduce a little tradition and nostalgia.  And it’s EASY!

By the way, I got the greenery and pomegranates you see here from Costco.  I just plopped the green garland onto my dining table and placed the pomegranates throughout.  Just a little bonus tip.  I love it when decorating is low-key (and inexpensive), even though it looks like a million bucks.

The post 5-Minute Xmas Decor Idea appeared first on Lorri Dyner Design.

I thought it would be nice to make their experience special by adding in a few extra touches.  (My ideas also distracted them and kept them busy, which – ahem – the parents really appreciated).

I didn’t spend much time or money on these ideas – it was all very easy!

1) Special kids table.

I had a kid-sized table and chairs just for them, tucked into the corner.  I then took a big roll of butcher paper and taped the ends under the table.   I got my awesome butcher paper on Amazon.

Then I wrote the kids’ names on the table, “showing” them that they of course could go to town and color on the paper themselves.

The wooden turkeys made for a cute place setting that doubled as a craft – I found them in the dollar bin at Target (you can get this version on Target.com which is also super cute!)

I then grabbed a few things from my giant craft jar and put them in plastic cups along with glue sticks so the kids could decorate the turkeys however they wanted.

2) Special Craft Table

I also had a special craft table set up in the kitchen which was perfect because that’s where most everyone wanted to stand and chat as dinner was being made.

I don’t have a picture of my craft table!  But this is basically what it looked like:

It was all very civilized.

Adorable crafts and children via

We had low-mess, simple Thanksgiving-themed crafts set up and they were a big hit.  Here are some other ideas you might like to try:

These Foam turkeys are low maintenance and low mess!

Also love these Colorful Magic Leaves Paper Scratch Kit.  You scratch designs onto the leaves using a wood stylus – talk about NO MESS!  And then you can hang the leaves by a string on a tree.

3) Special Treats

At the last minute I ordered these adorable cookies and had them personalized.  The kids were so thrilled.  Just a fun extra touch that meant a lot to our little visitors.

Okay, I have to say the best move was using plastic plates and paper napkins.  Between food and crafts, by the end of dinner the kids’ table was a disaster.  So, we literally gathered the ends of the butcher paper and folded it up, and threw the whole thing in the trash.  THAT was easy.  They ended up eating their Thanksgiving pie (and personalized cookies) at the bare table.  Anything goes!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Interested in 4 Tips for Making your Thanksgiving Easy?  You can read all about it here.

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We had NEVER hosted anything remotely complicated as Thanksgiving, and we ended up hosting 14 people last year in our home without a hitch.

My secret to success?  I’m telling you, preparation is the name of the game.  Think of every possible thing you could do before Thanksgiving day, and DO those things.

Here are 4 tips in particular that made my hosting experience so much easier.

1) Empty your coat closet and fill with hangers.

Okay, if you don’t know this little entertaining secret already, listen up!  So you’re not dumping coats on your bed (or on the floor) and creating mass chaos, take a minute to empty out your coat closet and stock it with a bunch of empty hangers.

So orderly and organized!  And then when everyone leaves, you can just direct them to the coat closet (instead of to your bedroom).

2) Assign serving dishes ahead of time. 

Make sure you know where each part of the meal is going so you don’t have to scramble when it’s time to eat!  I learned this trick from one of Ina Garten’s (aka the Barefoot Contessa’s) books.

I took out each dish and wrote on a post-it note:  “Turkey”  “Mashed Potatoes” “Stuffing”.  I even put serving utensils in each dish.  MAN, what a time saver.

3) Delegate!

By delegating I mean YES, don’t be shy about asking your guests to bring stuff, but ALSO I mean delegate parts of your meal to the STORE.

When I realized I wasn’t going to have time to make mashed potatoes without completely freaking out and having a meltdown, I decided to just get them at Costco and they tasted AMAZING.

Thanks, Erika, for those delicious pies.  

Aren’t those turkey cookies cute?  I ordered a few from a local baker and had them personalized with the kids’ names.  I’ll tell you more next week when I share some ideas for making Thanksgiving fun and special for kids.

4) Set your table the day before. 

Finding enough chairs.  Making sure you have enough water glasses.  Folding the napkins.  I’m always surprised how much time this takes!  Save yourself a headache and do it well ahead of time.

I actually challenged myself last year to decorate my whole Thanksgiving table using stuff I could find in the supermarket.  It was creative and CHEAP.  and it looked amazing!  You can read all about it here.

With the right kind of preparation, you’ll actually be able to enjoy your guests.  Enjoy the moment.  Remember why we’re even celebrating this day in the first place…!

Here we are on a post-dinner walk.  My smile is wide because I was like, “I DIDN’T BURN ANYTHING!”

What a memorable day.  May your Thanksgiving be as blessed as ours was – full of people who love and support each other, and who bring each other friendship and joy.

#blessed

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I’m here to tell you that if you have an ugly brick fireplace, it is okay to paint that ugly brick fireplace.  I give you permission!

My friend and client Jocelyn just had this very dilemma:

Her fireplace is actually really nice!  It has great bones.  But the red brick (and the orange tiles in front of the fireplace) stuck out like a sore thumb and made the room feel dated.

We painted the brick white, and the tiles black, and voila!

Nice, right?  And she didn’t have to spend a fortune getting a marble overlay or a whole new fireplace.  It’s a simple, straight-forward solution.

Actually, now that I think about it, here’s another fireplace I did recently.  I ALSO encouraged this client to paint the tiles in front of her fireplace black (it’s becoming a theme…).

Here’s her before:

And the after!

I really LOVED this whole living room redo, by the way – you can read more about it here.

Okay, in an ideal world, we would have put in a thick, reclaimed wood mantel, gussied up the wall a bit more… but because we were really trying to save on dollars, I had her paint those unsightly orange tiles a nice black, and we then painted the whole fire place wall a darker gray to make it pop.  So budget…and so beautiful.

By the way, you can use “normal” paint for the bricks on your fireplace, and for the tiles I recommend something heartier.  Check out the tutorial that we used.  The secret is to use garage paint!

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