Mom and Dad's Updated Family Room

My last day in Arizona after the whirlwind bedroom redo, we found this upholstery fabric and my mom decided that she wanted to reupholster her family room sofa.

Her sofa is a nice piece with down fill cushions, but the old upholstery was showing it's age.

As with most decorating projects, one thing leads to another and within a week or so, mom was emailing me about thoughts and suggestions for "quick update" to the room:

I've been using this great fabric in the style of this Brunschwig & Fils 'Dzhambul' fabric in a number of projects. It's hard not to use it everywhere - great price, great weight, beautiful bright colors. It really goes in every room. Mom loved it instantly and we decided on some other colors for the room and also a graphic stripe for pillows:

The day bed needed an update (and the ottoman as well):

So I mailed my mom a couple of yards of this great velvet from my stash.

After my mom had painted the walls and finished all the reupholstery projects, she took a little trip to Home Goods and texted me photos of her favorite finds. Here are some of the pieces that made the cut.

A cute green and white pillow:

A totally glam white floor lamp (we added some navy trim to the shade):

This adorable garden stool:

Mom got a pair of these lamps, painted them red and added trim to new white drum shades.

I love the way everything came together. It was a quick and fun room to do (well, for me it was! My mom did a lot of upholstery!) The sofa has a brand new lease on life. I love the pattern, color and the white piping. Mom also bought new sofa legs at Lowes.

My very favorite thing in the room is the suzani ottoman slipcover with the navy piping. It's so nice that she can pull the fabric off periodically for a gentle wash.

My other favorite part of the room is the velvet daybed. So dreamy.

I love a good eDecorating project! Thanks, Mom!!

A few more resources:
Sunburst mirror is from Ballard
Orchids from Home Depot
Drapes from JC Penney
Striped pillows from IKEA
Yellow flower pillow from Target
Yellow frames from IKEA (mom painted these)
Antique mantle clock from Brussels Flea Market (bought it for 5 euros and it still chimes beautifully)
Seagrass Rug from Home Decorators

Quinn's Nursery

Wouldn't you love to work at Anthropologie? More specifically, wouldn't you love to have an employee discount to Anthropologie?? Yeah, me too.

One of my clients works there and is due this summer with a little girl to be named Quinn. Here's where we are with the nursery...

We wanted something fun and bright and girly but not overly so. Still working on finding the perfect dresser/changing table.

Anthropologie products here:
Chesterfield Sofa (my client scored a damaged one at a very deep discount)

Finnegan the Fox

String of Pearls Lamp

Coat of Arms Mirror

Fabric Letter Q

Recent Client Work and Room Service Home

Remember this photoshop mock up for one of my eDecorating clients? It's a little hard to get a sense of the true colors in these iPhone pics, but the Osborne and Little paper is in and it's gorgeous!

And check out those fab pillows from one of my favorite LGN sponsors, Plum Cushions!

The big splurge of the project was this amazing white lacquered and mirrored credenza from Room Service Home. They give discounts to designers, so we were able to get a pretty good deal on the piece. Isn't it a showstopper?

Check out some of my other favorite offerings from RSH. If you have the money, the way to go is to mix a piece or two like one of these with other mostly traditional (and hopefully less expensive!) furnishings.

I am so crazy over these pink kids chairs. Perfection with a farmhouse style children's table.


Oh, little red desk. How I love thee.


$550 is not a bad price for a sputnik as big and awesome as this one.


This chic pink outdoor lounger looks strangely familiar...


Ah, yes. Nicky Hilton's dining room! Did you know that Room Service Home has quite the celebrity client list?

via In Style Magazine

I know I've posted this before, but my favorite trick for kid-friendly dining chair upholstery is using faux animal skin. I LOVE the black faux croc on these louis dining chairs.


This Moroccan table is awesome, and reminds me a lot of one of my very favorite dining tables featured in Domino...


I so wish I could find this exact table somewhere. Does anyone remember the source?

Domino

This turquoise headboard is totally on my DIY list. I think it would be pretty simple to replicate. I just need a good source for oversized brass nail head trim. Love it.


Nothing beats a sleek chrome and lacquer side table. I'd love to pair something like this with a tufted linen sofa. Wouldn't navy blue be stunning?

Fun With Photoshop

I love the direction this client's family room is going in. So bright and fun! Here's a little photoshop mock up for you:

Before:


After:



Isn't it crazy what a little wallpaper and some accessories can do for a room - even when they're just photoshopped in?? Can't wait to show you pictures of the actual room once it's finished...

Big News

One of my favorite eDecorating clients ordered up a baby girl's nursery a few weeks ago. Here's a little peek at sweet Penelope's soon-to-be-started room:




In related news, it was fun for me to do a girl's nursery because...

SURPRISE! I'm pregnant! With another GIRL!!!!



And we couldn't be happier.

Lindsay's Loft

LGN reader, Lindsay, wrote in for some help with this loft area in her apartment. This little "room" is the first part of her home that you see after entering the front door and climbing the stairs. Lindsay wants this area to have more pizazz. I think it can be a lot more functional, too.



Lindsay says she has traditional decor taste, but wants to step a little bit outside her comfort zone. No problem there. I've got some quick and easy project ideas for her that are relatively painless and even fun!

Here's the direction I would go:

The paint color is staying. So is the white chair that Lindsay recently recovered. I like this Serafina pillow from Pottery Barn ($20 on sale) to tie in the blue paint and create a palette for the rest of our accessories.


I think a rug is a must in this area. I LOVE this antique oriental rug from Craig's List. The seller is asking $95, but I would offer $75, which is an absolute steal for a rug this gorgeous and in such great condition. The colors are perfect and I'm crazy about the pattern. Not to mention the size is just right for this space.



For the long wall right next to the door, I think a narrow console table would be so helpful. I love these right next to entrances - perfect for big bowls that hold mail and keys and grocery lists. I like the straight lines of this table juxtaposed with the ornate armoire.


Speaking of the armoire, Lindsay is lacking closets in her apartment so she uses this large armoire for storage space. She got it as a hand-me-down and it doesn't sound like she loves it. I think it is really cool! It would be even cooler with a new paint job.


If Lindsay wants to be conservative here, I think I nice creamy white would be gorgeous. But if she's willing to be daring, I would paint it a super glossy navy blue, a la Nate Berkus and these incredible doors in his personal home office. I am so crazy about this paint job.


Next up: accessories.

I am loving all the terrariums out there in blogland right now. And how pretty would two terrariums be on top of the navy armoire? Terrariums are beautiful and basically maintain themselves (they very rarely require watering). I would use two different sized and shaped apothecary jars from TJ Maxx HomeGoods (super cheap there). Something that looks like this:


or this one (love the red plant)


I am so, so in love with this coat rack from Urban Outfitters ,$68, (or spray paint this $30 version red) and think it would look perfect for the space between the chair and armoire.


Also in that space, on the wall, I would hang this antique oriental-themed mirror (offer $50). I think you should paint it white. Won't it look amazing against those blue walls? I'm sure your guest will be thinking just that as they hang up their coats and adjust their Boston-wind-blown hair!


I would get two of these large banana leaf baskets from Target to replace the white shoe shelves. The baskets will sit length-wise under the console table. This solution keeps the shoes out of sight, but close by the chair for easy putting on and taking off.
For art on the wall above the console table, I like the idea of hanging a collection of black and white silhouettes. You can find some really fun prints and originals with this eBay search.

I especially like the symbolism of these...
A romantic original work by a known illustration artist


Look at this adorable carriage scene


And a sweet love tree

I also think it would be fun to make your own silhouettes of you and your husband to hang in the mix. Here are the instructions (couldn't be easier):

1. Take profile pics of self and hubbie.
2. Print out said pics on any paper.
3. Cut out with small scissors or x-acto knife.
4. Paint black with craft paint or color with sharpie.
5. Glue to piece of white paper (or any color, really).
6. Frame.

And that's all! Here's everything together (click to enlarge).


I think these simple additions and changes will help create a colorful and welcoming entrance into your beautiful home, Lindsay! Good luck!

Have a design question? Want some advice? Email me at jkomenda {at} gmail {dot} com.