Thursday, March 1, 2012

Decorating a clients home~E-Style

This is the living room of my Pennsylvania client, Tracy.
I hadn't seen the finished results until today!
Tracy contacted me last fall about consulting with her on redecorating
her husbands childhood home that they would be moving into.
Tracy loved the romantic style that I showed on my blog and 
so we set about remaking this wonderful old home into something that 
reflected more of her style and personality. 
Here are some before and afters of the project~
all done E-style over the web from Boston to PA!
This was the window space before with a piano in front, and you 
can see red oriental rugs cover the floors.
The before pics were all taken as her in-laws were getting ready to move
 and most of the furnishings would be going with them.
Tracy had a blank slate to work with and although she originally 
wanted to keep the rugs and the wallpaper, I convinced her otherwise.
 The walls were painted Benjamin Moore  a warm beige, Monroe Bisque, 
and the woodwork was done in pale blue, Glass Slipper.
 Photo from Elle Decor Decorating by Steven Gambrel
This was the inspiration photo for  the color palette in Tracys room.
 In the initial stages I made up an inspiration board
 I made for Tracy to get a feel for the room~
I also drew up a floor plan to scale.
This is really helpful and necessary before you buy furniture. 
I made 3 floor plans for her to choose from,
and Tracy like this one best.
 To save costs, we used Pottery Barn
 silk drapes in porcelain blue,
 but because Tracy's ceilings were high they 
needed to be altered to make them longer.
 Pleated ruffles in silk the same as the wall color were added 
to the bottoms of the panel with a trim detail.
The full length panels hang on either side of the rad boxes.
 The fabric for the club chairs is a chinoiserie toile in 
blue and cream by Jacyln Smith at Joannes Fabrics.
The before shot of mantel area~
(You are looking at a sunporch through the french doors).
Now the mantel is blue, as is the rest of the woodwork~all done in Glass Slipper.
The sofa reads pink in these pics Tracy sent me,
however it is a beige chenille sofa. This room is so pretty
with those marvelous arched windows on either end.
Her beautiful foyer and staircase: 
Glass Slipper on walls with White Dove woodwork.
Foyer before with Tracy's in-laws furnishings.
What a stunning foyer! We wanted to lighten it up.
This had  a Victorian feel with the dark red carpeting
and antique walnut tapestry furniture stuffed to the brim.
 The dining room "before"~
This room has the same arched windows as in the living room.
 Tracy was keeping the furniture in this room and 
so to work a little magic without paint we had
the chairs upholstered in a blue and white toile.
You can see the foyer through the french doors.
Tracy ordered a transferware collection in blue and white from
Nancy at the Daily Dish .  I wanted the space above Tracy's window to 
be show off a collection of plates that would complement the toile
and follow the arched shape  of the  window.
My sketch of dining room window. 
I drew in the plates so Tracy could see what I was talking about.
See how high I had Tracy mount her curtain rods?
Way up~right under the ceiling molding. 
This is where you want to mount your rods.
It gives the feeling of height and elegance to a space.
This closeup of the chairs shows off the upholstered panels.
source unknown
This was the inspiration photo I found for Tracy's dining room.
Tracy's cane back chairs would now have
 upholstered covers in addition to the seats.
This arched window is very similar to Tracy's.
Its wonderful when you can find an inspiration photo that works so well
in helping a client visualize her space.
I would love to see Tracy paint some of the furniture in her room like this,
like the china cabinet in Old White chalk paint! 
This before photo shows how the foyer 
connects the living room to the dining room.
Both rooms share the same windows and french doors.
Now her palette is serene and elegant in blue and bone.
Quite a transformation~and all done online
with probably 100s of emails and texts.
Hope you enjoyed this tour!

Photobucket

33 comments:

  1. Tracy's house came together beautifully! I love the pale blue...so serene.

    Nancy

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  2. That is one gorgeous house; you both did a wonderful job!

    S
    xo

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  3. It is lovely. And I am running out and getting myself some Glass Slipper paint!

    ~Trisha

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  4. Oh my gosh! That's FABULOUS! Each room just flows together in those beautiful soft colors... it's all so much lighter and more delightful now! Wow! The glass slipper trim is unique and charming... I think she should paint those chairs like the inspiration photo too, and that armoire in the dining area... I love the plates over the arched window too... The fabrics are beautiful, what a great transformation, they must be loving it!

    Cindy

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  5. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE... Oh my gosh it is so pretty and soft. What beautiful bones to work with too. You did an amazing job! Congratulations

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  6. OH one more thing I think the furniture should be painted in the dining room too!!! Your inspiration photos are really beautiful.

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  7. Oh Amy, this came out so lovely.
    I love the arched windows and the columns flanking the mantel. She certainly has a house with great bones.
    You both did a wonderful job.
    Kudos to both of you.

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  8. Oh,Amy I believe you are going to single handedly bring back "pretty" to the decorating world.

    I really like the blue trim and especially the mantle. Also the dishes to accent the window curve.

    That home has the wonderful features of a vintage, well-built home. So much to admire about it.

    Great work!

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  9. Wow Amy!
    Glass Slipper is to die for,i love everything! you designed a beautiful home.....i totally agree with everyone though the chairs and dresser would look amazing painted.
    Love those inspiration pictures too! xxx

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  10. I love how you changed her home. Pale blue is such a pretty colour. I totally agree that she should paint her cabinet, that inspiration photo is to die for! take care, Maryann

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  11. very gutsy...love the blue..man is it every here!

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  12. Beautiful, Amy! Love the colors! Those windows are just gorgeous and you can see this home has a great foundation to build off of for the decorating changes. It's really nice that they were able to put their own stamp on this home, too.

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  13. AMY THIS IS BREATHTAKING GEORGEOUS.MAY I ASK WHERE YOU PURCHASED THE BLUE AND CREAM FOYER RUG? I LOVE YOUR STYLE.

    MARY
    PINK RIBBONS AND ROSES COTTAGE
    JOESBUSTER@ATT.NET

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  14. Ooh, la la love it! I'm imagining it would be a blast to work with you.

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  15. Love the transformation! I really like the suggestions you gave her. The blue painted trim really seems to work in that house since it's so grand. The color palette is fresh and current. I'm sure she must love the outcome.

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  16. OMG I looked at all of the pictures 3 times! First that is one gorgeous house. The redo in that gorgeous blue is breath taking! I had no idea you could upholster cane chairs! Great job

    Carol

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  17. Hi Amy,
    What a wonderful older home with so much character and architecture.
    Your ideas really brought it to life. I love the colors and fabrics that you selected for her home. You know I love toile, and it's perfect for the diningroom.
    I also love the way you extended the length of the drapes.

    Great Job! She is lucky she found you.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  18. You did a beautiful job-especially long distance. It all pulled together and is elegant but yet comfortable looking! xo Diana

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  19. I loved seeing this Amy! Since I started my blog, I'd say about 1/2 of my work s e-decorating. I really enjoy it but it can be challenging. You did such a great job here. I wonder if the client was very involved and had ideas too? That seems to work best in my experience - when it is like a collaboration rather than a client who just wants you to "do" the room. Anyway, it came out great. You did a truly fantastic job. My favorite thing was painting the trim blue....brilliant.
    Stacy

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  20. What a beautiful home Amy! I love the soft colors and how light and bright everything looks now. LOVE the window treatments!!

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  21. Beautiful job, Amy- wow, I can't imagine the time that took as a long-distance project! Quite impressive to do it from afar and have it turn out so perfectly. Good job, both of you. :)

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  22. Hi Mary, the foyer carpet was a Horchow Collection Aubusson style area rug.

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  23. Stunning! I love your fabric choices! Your client must be thrilled. Beautiful job Amy!

    leslie

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  24. re AMAZING amy. the transformation is totally breathtaking, and you put a totally new "feeling" to that home. once again, you totally blew my mind, as they say. you truly put your heart and soul into what you do and it shows. you have always given everything ive seen a whole new "breath of fresh air". you outdid yourself on this one my friend. needs to be in romantic homes!!!!! thanks so much for sharing your WONDERS with us. susy

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  25. You did an amazing job through yor E decorating. Love the blue woodwork. Love the toile chairs. The whole house looks so much better. She MUST paint her dining room furniture...she knows this...doesn't she?

    Great job! I hope you get lots of others. You should.

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  26. Amy...soooo impressed! I love the result. It is beautiful. She must be thrilled...love how you got her to paint the trim in that pale blue, its stunning. The entire palette is so soothing and elegant, fabulous job!

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  27. I am seriously thinking of changing my dining room to pale blue. I love the after rooms! Of course I would have to change out my draperies and paint, but pale blue ahhh.
    Lana

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  28. The house came together beautifully. Yi=ou did a great every room is fantastic. I find the blue very soothing.

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  29. Wonderful job, Amy! Tracie's home now looks romantic, and so lovely.
    xxoo

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  30. Amy..you did such a wonderful job on Tracy's home..I am sure she is ecstatic with the results. What a difference light fabrics and paint makes...the home has such "great bones" ...A standing ovation to you!!

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  31. I jumped to attention when I saw your first photo with those fantastic little wing/club chairs!! Please tell me that you know where I can get chairs like this.

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  32. Love the redo! @Hartwood Roses,I would love to know where I can find chairs like these too! They look so comfy and love the style, not to mention the beautiful fabric choice.

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