the navies continue...

Remember this post? About my bedroom? Well it's been two months and those paint stripes are still on my wall. 

Yep.

It still looks exactly like this:

{Except now I'm noticing things that I didn't before I posted it last time...like the wrinkled throw at the end of the bed and my night table drawer that's not quite closed...oops. Oh well.}

We put our home improvements on hold for a little while to deal with other things, and then as I was entering my nightly vegetative state that happens every night after my toddler is asleep (and appears to be staying asleep) a commercial flashed on the screen about a BOGO Valspar paint sale at Ace. 

"Babe! Paint! At Ace! We gotta go!" I yumbled (that's yelled and mumbled in one action).

"Ok...so go.." my husband mumbled back from the mounds of physics equations he was cramming into his poor brain for his architecture registration exam. (The real-life marriage of architecture and interior design...glamorous isn't it??)

So when Saturday afternoon rolled around, I made my way to our small-town Ace. In all truth, the colors I preferred for our walls were Benjamin Moore colors, but I was just so ready to have it done that I decided Valspar would work just fine. And of course I couldn't find the Benjamin Moore or even the Valspar paint cards to take with me. But I have a pretty good brain for remembering paint colors so I knew I would remember them when I saw them. 

But that's where Valspar and Ace throw a wrench into my system: they don't carry the standard Valspar colors. They have their own color line. So there I stood...looking at those paints and having no idea which one to choose--also knowing that they closed in a couple of hours and I didn't have time to wait on a wall swatch to dry (nevermind the fact that I was paint swatched out). And the local store was poorly lit with about 5 lumens of fluorescent light. I would even suspect the only light in that place came from the paint display. So I toted cards all over the store, took them to the window, held them up on walls.

And then I just picked a navy, handed it to the dude and said "Here. Do it. Two gallons of satin in this color. Quick before I change my mind!" 

So I walked out, with two gallons of non-refundable paint in this color:

Valspar for Ace: Mountain Midnight VR111A

It looks to be pretty close to the 2nd or 3rd color from the left on my paint swatch headboard. I'm not even painting a swatch on the wall. What's the point?! I have two gallons. Non-refundable. I'm not even going to think about it until it's painted on the walls. And then it will be done. 

{Note: I don't condone this type of behavior. This is how paint disasters happen, people. I only did it because I've been studying navies like crazy the past several months, and color is kinnnnda my strong suit *flips hair aloofly*}

So I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime here's a couple of great navy bedrooms I snagged off of Pinterest to keep your brain in a state of anticipation. 

I really really NEED this spindle bed. Really. You don't understand.

I actually think this is a very dark gray with a blue undertone more than a navy. But I still think this room is delicious. Sue me. 

Again, not quite a navy. A little too light. But still, it's good.

Wish me luck! As soon as it's up, you'll be the first to know!

Until next time...

Company Spotlight - Biscuit Home

Have you guys heard of the online site Biscuit Home?  I just recently discovered their store and have quickly become a fan.  They have everything from accessories to decor to baby toys.  The favorite for me though is their bedding.

One thing they offer something that many other stores don't carry, unique and stylish crib sheets.

Hand painted faux bois?!  I would LOVE to use that in a little man's nursery.  Constellations, lilac blooms and don't even get me started on the amazing colors in the Jenny floral sheet...sigh.  I need a nursery to design ASAP.

Aside from the crib sheets, they also make pillows, regular sheets and duvets in the all of the above prints.  And to help you build your own bedding set, they offer pillows, sheets and duvets with border trim in nearly every color of the rainbow so you can easily find the perfect match for your needs.  Here are just a few:

The pillows come in all different shapes and sizes--boudoir, standard sham and Euro sham.  Each is made of 350 thread-count 100% cotton sateen and made in the USA.  Are you sold yet?

No?  One more awesome thing about this company (based out of Houston, Texas) is that they have signature prints as well. Look at this one called Marfa (a nod to the Texas town).

Pretty cute, huh?  And just because I love stripes, I have to show you these Powell stripe pillows too (also offered in crib sheets or a duvet).

So good.  TGIF!

And don't forget to enter our giveaway on Facebook for a FREE E-Design board!

Five cheery rooms to brighten your day

It is rainy and gloomy today here on the Gulf Coast. To help brighten our day, here are five cheery rooms that I am currently obsessing over. Enjoy!

ONE

It is hard to tell from the image below, but the canopy around this bed was created by using ceiling mounted curtain rods. Clever, huh? I love how they used a mix of patterns and pops of bold colors against a white backdrop.

TWO

I adore this kitchen and may have featured it before. All the natural light, the warm exposed beams against the white ceiling, the domed hood, beautiful tiled wall, and vintage chandelier work together to make this kitchen so cozy.

THREE

This bright and organized laundry room would take the chore out of doing laundry.

FOUR

Can we all agree that this emerald bed is freakin amazing!? I just want to roll around on it like how a dog takes to grass.

In case you need a visual :)

FIVE

So, this last one technically is not a room but a super cute patio. What isn't there to love?  This Woodward patio set is a great example of how a fresh coat of paint and fun textiles can breathe new life into a vintage piece of furniture.

Well, here is hoping for sunshine tomorrow!

Later, lovelies.

teak shower floors

I feel like I spend all of my time in the shower cleaning it. We recently moved into a new home, and new construction (as we all know) likes to take shortcuts. One of those is using fiberglass shower inserts instead of tile. Ours is a humble middle-class home, but I've seen it even in larger, more expensive homes. It makes sense: it eliminates a greater possibility of moisture leaking through to the walls, its inexpensive, and very easy/quick to install. But it's also not super attractive and--as I'm learning--it's a giant pain in the rear to clean!! I mean really. Our magic eraser stays permanently in our shower. 

So, for our next house (years down the line), I've been looking into some creative shower materials that are both pretty and low(er) maintenance.

And then I thought "I bet people have teak shower floors!" So I got on Houzz (my go-to for just about everything) and sure enough, there are a lot of teak shower floors being done out there. Teak is an exotic hardwood that naturally withstands frequent exposure to water without treatment. Most wood patio furniture is teak. 

And they are relatively simple. As long as you have a shower curb (meaning you step over a lip into your shower) or a recessed shower pan, you could do it. And if you don't, you could probably create a curb with a little more work. Then you would just have a custom shower floor mat built (or cut one yourself) and lay it on top of your waterproof drain pan. (I hope you all follow me--I try not to get caught up in too much "designer jargon"). 

Take a look at some of these examples (most of them are very modern spaces, but there is no reason you couldn't have a teak shower floor in a traditional space).

Most designers have a love-hate relationship with red. It can be overpowering. I tend to fall on the love side of red more often and I kind of really like this bathroom. I don't think I would have done the wallpaper on the ceiling, but hey. It's still a cool space. Take a look at the whole bath transformation if you are intrigued.

I'll just move on in to this house, thank you very much.

One thing to keep in mind with teak is it's still a wood. It ages like regular wood, and exposure to harsh chemicals may stain your teak or damage it's natural water-shedding properties. Definitely do your research and talk to an expert to find out how to care for your teak. I would personally stay away from shower products containing oils, parabens, silicone, etc (but I do that anyway, since I've currently been falling down several "crunchy" all-natural rabbit holes). 

And here is a great representation of how teak ages. So although it has a beautiful warmth on installation, don't expect it to last!

Do you have any teak in your home? How have you liked it? I once had a teak bath mat in front of my shower. But then I took in an abandoned wiener dog in my neighborhood and he ate it. Chewed it into a thousand pieces. And I never got another one. But I loved it!

Have a great week everyone! And keep dogs away from teak bath mats...

DIY - Buffet Turned Media Console

Is it just me or is it hard to find a good-looking media console these days?  You know, one that isn't run-of-the-mill.  One that has some character AND function.  Something like this captured from the Bijou & Boheme home tour at Style Me Pretty.  Just gorgeous.

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Or one like this featured on Apartment Therapy.  Isn't she a beauty?  

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Sadly, all of the ones I find myself swooning over in catalogs don't quite fit into the budget of my long-running house to do list.  That is when I turn to my good friend, Mr. Craigslist.

So much is good about the media console above.  The sleek, high-gloss black finish, the golden details, the "open" cabinets for easy remote use.  I want.  I want.  And Craigslist came to the rescue when I spotted this guy, coming in at $245.  After a few adjustments I think he could really turn into something special.  His bones are good, and he's got good lines.  The rest is in the details...

Brass pulls /// Metal Sheet /// Krylon Leafing Gold Paint Pen

 

Steps needed to achieve the look:

1. Cut out holes center of cabinet doors to apply metal sheet backing (step 4)

2. Sand, prime and paint furniture in high gloss black paint

3. Embellish with painted gold trim accents and new drop bail pulls

4.  Attach metal sheets (painted gold or brass to match hardware) inside painted buffet doors

5.  Enjoy!

A Mid-Century facelift

Sometimes it takes an outside eye to help visualize the potential your home has. Here is a curb appeal facelift we did for a client who was interested in purchasing this outdated, mid-century home. He knew it had good bones but needed help with envisioning how to improve the overall look of the exterior. We were able to give him a visual representation showing how a few improvements could transform this unadorned, outdated home into a stunner. 

For this facelift, the mid-century modern homes commonly found on the west coast were the source of inspiration.

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To achieve this look, we gave this girl a new set of contemporary doors and modern brushed nickel address numbers. Replaced the sliding doors with matching windows and added Ipe shiplap siding for a sleek look. People often underestimate the effects of good landscaping. We replaced the existing landscaping with plants that are more structured, having straight lines and geometric forms.

Here is the final look

and a side-by-side comparison

If you need help with ways to improve the look of your home's exterior,  contact us. We would love to help.