Monday, August 23, 2010

Colors...how do you pick one?

The best way for me to advise someone
 on which color to pick,
whether it is paint or fabric, 
without visiting their space is to tell them
 to find an inspiration point first.

A beautiful purple platter...
can be the inspiration for the room in which it hangs.

A magazine cover that you admire...
can create the color palette for your room.

A movie star's dress...
can translate into your drapery color.


A favorite toile fabric used for a slipcover....
can lead you to your wall color.

The color of a flower...
was how this swing got it's new color.

a favorite painting...
a cushion in a cheerful fabric...
or a vintage dress...
 are other items that can 
lead you to your color. 

Inspiration Points!
This designer secret is well know to the industry.
Find yours to get started and
 let the colors flow naturally.


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Saturday, August 21, 2010

lights! camera! action!


My son's girlfriend, Sarah, 
is a fashion stylist and personal shopper.
 She was asked to do a segment for local TV
 about back to school shopping on a budget.
 They wanted to film in her "office". 
Well, just like me, Sarah works out of her home
 so that is where I came in on this latest project.
 She needed to have a defined office space
 in her cozy Boston apartment. 
Sarah called me to pull this off in 48 hours!
Sarah McManus, Fashion Stylist
She's ready to film her segment! 
But lets take a peek at the transformation, shall we?
My son Justin and Sarah in their Boston apartment.
 See the paint swatch on the wall?
Way too many patterns in the sofa pillows. 
Too much artwork on the walls.
 Things are gonna change fast!
Paint swatches on the wall in tiffany blue shades. 
The bright blue color she had originally chosen 
was inspired by a Sex in the City
 character's apartment. 
This color didn't take long to overstay its welcome.
Sarah is a blue person and she was looking for a softer blue.
She chose Bird Egg by Ben Moore.
Its looking better already. 
I created an office space by placing
 two mismatched pieces together
 to create a hutch that she could use for her office materials. 
A desk would be placed in that same area
 to create a designated office space.
Sarah painting out the old blue. 
Here is her office zone. 
Sarah has a bohemian vintage spirit in her personal style.
This comes across with the painted pieces and the 
unique accessories used to decorate her space.
I organized her collections and edited out busy patterns.
Only soft pastels and creamy whites were used
to give this room a serene feeling
 but one that still had a lot of interest
I only "redecorated" this space. 
Nothing new was purchased to makeover this room!
I'll admit I brought in a large frenchy bucket
 from my house for her curly willow branches.
The camera is in place getting ready for the shoot.
The other thing that was fun about this job was that 
Sarah needed a family to be interviewed
 about back to school shopping on a budget. 
Here is my handsome son, Colin
 who was featured in the segment.
Guess who was the mom in the segment?
She's styling me for my little part!
Sarah on camera, Channel 7, Boston
My turn..... 
Not too often do I get to do a makeover 
on a space and then turn into a television star....not!
All in the day of a life of a designer....

For the link to the actual broadcast on this shoot
click here


If you'd like to check out Sarah's webpage,
 click below
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Shutter Love

 Look at the paneled shutters on this french home.
*Sigh*
My house has skinny plastic shutters.
They aren't correct technically because
 they should be half the width of the window.
The shutters I love are the heavy wooden ones
 that hang from proper hardware.
This house I once lived in needed shutters 
and I searched on Craigs List and found some.
I put the "S" holdback hooks on them.

I've always liked cutouts in shutters.
little acorn cutouts...
a starfish...
a seahorse cutout...
This is what real shutters do..
they overlap sometimes.
 plantation shutters on an interior window
plank shutters inside as well
Yes, interior shutters have always been a favorite.
You can always pick up old shutters at an antique shop
like my friend Bridget's place, Rustique.
I imagine them as wonderful accents in a family room
 or use them in rooms like the pictures above.
Love those fat wide shutters!
The classic white house with black shutters.
Kinda looks like my Maison Decor
dream home sketch!
A country home with shutters that
 practically blend right into the ivy covered walls.
Sweet plank style shutters on a stone house.
Gorgeous!


To look at all of my previous homes
with and without shutters
click here.
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Monday, August 16, 2010

Our Vintage Baby Grand Piano

I bought this painting last year at an antique shop in NH.
The glamorous mother in a yellow gown plays
as her daughter watches her in this very grand room. 
This painting captured me, as art should.
Did I know I would be getting my very own piano one day?
A friend who is relocating to Florida offered it to us!
It was her mother's piano and her very favorite possession.
I was honored to have it come to our home.
Would you like to see how they move a piano?
Death Wish Piano Movers 
I think their company name is unforgettable!
 *chuckle*

 The piano is on the flatbed of the crane
 wrapped in a blanket.

It is getting hoisted up and onto our side porch.
Hubby watches them move it carefully past the wires
Its being unhooked now and placed on a dolly
In through the side door...
I had moved everything off the front porch:
the wreath, the urns, the watering cans, 
the furniture on the lawn...
only to find them using their crane and 
popping it up over the railings on the side porch!
Through the kitchen and the dining room...
Here it comes, into its new room!
The dead corner by the stair case was going
 to be perfect for this baby grand!
There were 3 guys doing this work.
They screwed the legs and the lyre back on and then 
using a special tool you can see attached
 to the bottom of the piano here,
they roll it over onto it's legs!
The legs and the tool before they attached it.
Hubby sits down right away and tickles the ivories.
His grandfather was a piano tuner!
Guess who will be making a 
new cushion cover tomorrow?
This vintage Janssen Piano is gorgeous.
 It has pretty legs and carvings~
one fitting for Maison Decor, n'est pas?
So my painting found it's perfect spot....
All of my favorite colors and such a romantic painting.
I'd love to know the story behind it.
Welcome Baby Grand!
The next day I had to style it.
A pair of crystal candlesticks I had from when I bought
Mrs. Mahoney's house and some of her furnishings.
I love them!
I understand she bought them in Spain.
 I have never seemed to find the right spot for them until now.
The darling little ceramic girl in the aqua dress
 was made by my Grammy in her ceramics class.
She looks perfect with our new aqua rug
 and the ladies in the portrait above.
Add a dash of vintage sheet music from my hubby's cousin....
Voila!
Our lovely piano!
What a treasured gift from a friend~
 Thanks Sara!
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