Room Tour: Gypsy Soul Interiors Holiday Home

<span style="font-family: inherit;">We're in full Christmas mode today! If you celebrate Christmas too, I hope it's a lovely day for you and your family! </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">My friend Kristen Dowd from <a href="http://www.gypsysoulinteriors.com/" target="_blank">Gypsy Soul Interiors</a> in Dallas (who shared projects with us <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/03/room-tour-perfectly-pink-bedroom.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/12/dwell-with-dignity.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-feature-reader-diy.html" target="_blank">here</a>) has decorated her home so beautifully for the holidays and I thought you'd like to see it too before the big day has come and gone. So much inspiration everywhere! Also, in addition to doing online interior design consultations, Kristen is a talented artist. She is offering 15% off custom paintings for LGN readers (just <a href="mailto:Gypsysoulinteriors@gmail.com" target="_blank">email her</a> for details). This is one of her paintings below.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/hall2.jpg" /> </div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Your home is lovely! What a transformation! Will you tell me about how much of the work was DIY and how much was contracted out?</b></i> </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">We bought the home in 2009 and absolutely loved the layout. The area of town we live in is filled with amazing sprawling ranches that were built in the early seventies. Lucky for us, a builder had recently completely renovated the home and had taken out nearly every wall in the living area. Our kitchen is open to the dining room, entry, living area, breakfast area and bar. At the time we had a 1 year old, and open living is so easy with little ones. We now have a 5 year old and a 7 month old and I am still loving the floor plan. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Here's the before-we-moved-in shot:</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/beforegreatroom.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The flip side of the coin was that said builder had a completely opposite aesthetic taste than I did. I've always said that I think the theme before we started putting our mark on the home was "Cracker Barrel meets Olive Garden" (no offense to either restaurant). So it was rustic and Tuscan at the same time, two of my least favorite design styles. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/kitchenbefore.jpg" style="color: #222222;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Check out the vine on the hood. Nice!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/hoodbefore.png" /></div></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The changes weve made really look extensive, but the beauty is, they really were not extensive at all. Literally, all we did was paint, change out tile and take some doors off the kitchen cabinets! It is really amazing what paint can do. I'd love to say that we did the work, but alas, I know my strengths and weaknesses and painting falls in the "weakness" category. I also know that you have to be patient when painting kitchen cabinets, and anyone who knows me knows patience is not one of my virtues. </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/kitchen3.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/kitchen9.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">As far as the paint colors, I literally painted every square inch of the living area, including trim and kitchen cabinets, "Simply White" by Benjamin Moore. I love the way white modernizes a room. I narrowed the initial choices of white down to 3 colors, White Dove (too grey), Mascarpone (too yellow) and Simply White. Simply White worked best for us, but I love White Dove and Mascarpone too, it all depends on the lighting in your home. The center island and center island cabinets are "Porpoise" from Sherwin Williams. The h</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">ardware is from Horton Brasses.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span></div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/kitchen6.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The tile is bevelled subway tile from Floor and Decor laid in a herringbone pattern. The tile is so so so reasonable! My total for tile was less than $60. The herringbone pattern is what really gives it impact. We kept the granite because frankly, it was not in the budget to replace. Check out the vent hood. Hooray! No more carved vine.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/kitchen.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>I am crazy about the breakfast nook right off your kitchen. Tell me a little bit about the pieces you have in here and the projects you've done.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Sure! The chandelier is Horchow, the table was found on Craigslist, the chairs are also from Craigslist, the rug is Ikea and the Christmas trees are Homegoods. A huge score in this room and actually throughout the back of my house are the curtain panels. They are lined faux dupioni silk panels from JCPenneys, found on clearance for $8 a panel!</span></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/breakfasttable2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The pantry in the breakfast room is an situated awkwardly on the wall. I could have painted it Simply White, like the walls, but when I saw <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/more-sharpie-les-touches.html" target="_blank">Caitlin Wilsons chalkboard wall</a> I knew I was going to copy her! And </span><span style="color: #222222;">I love how it turned out!</span></span></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/pantrybefore.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you look closely, you will notice the hardware pulls are actually pewter longhorns! A playful ode to the great state of Texas :) </span></span></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/pantry.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am using the pantry wall as a gallery wall of sorts. I am a folk art collector, and being from Montgomery, Alabama, love Mose T's work. The pink man is by Mose T and the Santa is by his daughter Annie T. The lady in turquoise is just a fabulous portrait I picked up at the White Elephant in Dallas. </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/breakfasttable.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i><b>I love that your Christmas decorations are colorful and modern. Where do you shop for holiday decor? </b></i></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I joke that many of our Christmas decorations are actually stolen goods. I probably shouldn't joke, because it may be true. When we were first married and lived in Atlanta, we lived in a "transitional" neighborhood. One day, I was heading to the thrift store in a sort of sketchy shopping center and there was a large unmarked 18 wheeler with a handwritten sign "Christmas Decorations" on the side. Naturally, I was curious, and ended up spending maybe $75 on enough decorations to fill two car loads. Something was odd, but I was still thrilled at my hau</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">l. I brought my husband back later that evening, and Ben was hysterically laughing and explained that this "pop up shop" was actually a stolen shipping crate. Oh well, lesson learned, but I did score some great decorations. Everything else in our home is from Homegoods or Target.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/console.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">We do not stick to a certain color scheme for holiday decorating but stick to a high "sparkle" factor which makes the decor look more cohesive.  </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I am also a fan of grouping like items for more of an impact, like out nutcrackers, metallic Christmas trees and reindeer. I started a collection of snow globes as a child, and Cici, my daughter is also collecting them. We display all of the globes together each Christmas. </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I adore the tree above. See what I mean, we love "Sparkly!"Tree is from Dillards, Peace Sign on top is from Homegoods, Cabinet is from Montgomery Antiques in Montgomery, Alabama , Mirror is from Horchow Finale, wreath is part of my "Stolen Goods" Christmas decor. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Where are you favorite places to shop? What's been your favorite find so far? </b></i></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">My favorite place to shop is Scout Design Studio, at 155 Howell Street in the Dallas' Design District. Scout is a 15,000 square foot warehouse of affordable vintage finds. My business partner Grace and I also sell our pieces from Scouts warehouse. Other faves include Salvation Army, Horchow Finale and Antiques Moderne in Dallas. My best find ever has to be the giant faux bois armoire that hides my husbands monstrosity of a television. You can see the armoire in this picture (this was before we painted).</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/armoire.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Tell me a little bit about your floors.</b></i></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">That is a loaded question. I love these floors so much. They are a beautiful 2 inch handscraped oak with a tiger finish. I had no idea what a "tiger" finish was until we had a contractor come quote laying these floors in the bedroom area of the home. It is a fantastic look, as the stain almost resembles a tigers stripes. We currently have carpet (yuck) in the bedrooms and wanted the wood to continue in each room. Well apparently, handscraped wood floors with a tiger finish are $16/square foot at minimum! Gulp... Big Gulp... cant afford that :( We are brainstorming plan B. Plan B may just be to wait until we can afford so the home will be cohesive. The thought of a mismatched floor tortures me to no end. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222;"><b><i>Let's walk through the rest of your living spaces. Your home is such a fun mix of vintage and new. I love hearing about where you source your finds.</i></b></span><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/hall.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here above, I framed Cici's artwork in a couple IKEA frames. The r<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">ug is from Montgomery Antiques in Montgomery, Alabama.</span></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Here's a before shot of our bar area.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/barbefore.jpg" /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I think the white paint really helps to hightlight the bar. To decorate the bar area for Christmas, I displayed our snow globes in with our decanter collection and wrapped a table runner from Walmart around the ikat pillow.  The </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">"Texas" print is from Homegoods, the lucite stool is from White Elephant, the blue bench is from Homegoods and so is the pillow. The large canvas of my daughter Cici was printed at Canvas on Demand and the light fixture was purchased at Shopten25.com.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/bar.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><span style="color: #222222;">Here are more of those JC Penney faux silk curtains hanging in our living room.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/living.jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/living2.jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/mant.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222;">And in our entry I hung a mirror from Craigslist over my Great grandfather's painting desk (how awesome, right?!) The lamps were also found on Craigslist. The lucite chair is from Amazon and the pillow is from Fabricadabra. The silver wreath is Target. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/2entry.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b><i>Kristen, I'm loving your dining room, especially the interior color of the hutch. It's a vintage piece, right?</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222;">I found the vintage hutch at Salvation Army and painted it! The dining and two accent chairs are from Again and Again. The table is from Rooms To Go (yes, you read that correctly!). </span></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/dining1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222;">The brass chandelier is from Bienvenue Antiques in Miramar Beach, FL. And pretty much all the holiday decorations in here are from Homegoods (can you tell I like HG?)</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/dining2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>A HUGE thanks to <a href="http://carriesmithphotography.com/" target="_blank">Carrie Smith</a> for the pretty photos and to Kristen. of course, for the lovely home tour! What a gorgeous home, right? </i></b></div></div><div class="hq gt" id=":47p" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; margin: 15px 0px;"></div>

Room Tour: Gypsy Soul Interiors Holiday Home

We're in full Christmas mode today! If you celebrate Christmas too, I hope it's a lovely day for you and your family!  My friend Kri...

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Room Tour: Lauren Leonard Interiors

<a href="http://laurenleonardinteriors.com/blog/" target="_blank">Lauren</a> emailed to share photos of her daughter Ellie's room. I hope it's not too ridiculous for me to be jealous of a six year-old's bedroom, because I totally am. I would swipe that gold + KWID chair from her so fast! :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/elliesroom1073.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/elliesroom3009.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/elliesroom1078.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/elliesroom3004.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/2elliesroom1073.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/elliesroom3007.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/elliesroom3010.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/elliesroom3028.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/elliesroom5004.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/elliesroom5006.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/elliesroom3013.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/elliesroom1073.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Lauren said the John Robshaw fabric on the bed was her starting point but was also her budget-buster (<i>SO worth it I say!</i>), so she had to get creative with the other elements in the room, like framing prints from a $6 calendar and painting the pattern on a simple IKEA rug (here's a <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/06/diy-chevron-rug.html" target="_blank">similar project</a>).<br /><br />For all the details on this lovely bedroom, check out <a href="http://laurenleonardinteriors.com/blog/ellies-room-its-done/" target="_blank">Lauren's post</a>.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing, Lauren! If you'd like to share a space or project with LGN readers, feel free to <a href="mailto:jenny@jennykomenda.com" target="_blank">submit here</a>.

Room Tour: Lauren Leonard Interiors

Lauren emailed to share photos of her daughter Ellie's room. I hope it's not too ridiculous for me to be jealous of a six year-old...

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Pretty in Park Slope

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Today I am SO excited to share a brand new project from my friends Suzanne and Lauren McGrath from </span><a href="http://goodbonesgreatpieces.com/" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">Good Bones, Great Pieces</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">. (Did you check out their </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584799579/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1584799579&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">amazing book</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> yet? I wrote about it </span><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/09/give-away-x5-good-bones-great-pieces.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">.) I love how fresh this Brooklyn space feels! </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Here's Lauren:</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"This apartment is of a lovely young couple that found us through <a href="http://www.goodbonesgreatpieces.com/" target="_blank">our blog</a>. They live in an old brownstone apartment building turned co-op in Park Slope facing Prospect Park. Their apartment is small but Natalie (the wife) who is a real estate agent and often works from home, really wanted a space that felt cozy and chic. Natalie and her husband, a lawyer, are both from the Midwest, and they're still discovering the wonders of living in New York City. They love living here. It is so refreshing to see their enthusiasm! </div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/nr2.jpg" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"They chose to live near the park so that they could be able to walk their beloved and ginormous dog :) The dog was in the apartment when we were installing all the furniture and artwork, and it was hysterical trying to navigate around him! Fortunately for us, Natalie and her husband truly wanted to hand over the design of this new place, so with a fresh start, they actually brought almost nothing to their new place. Most of the hodgepodge of merged furniture pieces was sold off on Craig's List. We were happy because we got to work with a clean slate- every decorators dream. It also helped that Natalie is such a delightful young woman.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_5208.jpg" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"We wanted Natalie's apartment to feel young and fresh and fun, like her! The first thing we purchased was the sofa at the Lilian August warehouse in Norwalk, CT. Once we had the main seating piece down, we were off and running! In terms of the color palette, we used the framed bird prints above the sofa as inspiration.These were taken from an old copy of "Audubon Birds of America" we found on a dusty shelf at a flea market. </div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_5208-1.jpg" /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"We kept the largest upholstered piece neutral, as well as the rug, and injected pops of blue, red, green and pink with art, lighting, pillows, and other accessories. The show stopper was probably the amazing bird's egg blue lacquered Chippendale style chair Lauren found at Circa Who in Palm Beach, Florida. We chose to reupholster the seat cushion in one of our favorite Sister Parish inspired red and white prints. The combination jumps off the wall and makes us smile. Of course, we had to add cherry red tape to embellish the white roman shade on the window. It's so happy! </div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_5191.jpg" /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"The lamp on the West Elm Parson's desk is quite oversized, and we like it that way. It's important to have some pieces in the room that are of different scale, particularly in small spaces. The LOVE artwork was a small stroke of genius. We fell in love with this textile from Lu Lu DK's latest collection at Schumacher. We decided to buy a yard and had it strung to a canvas. Apparently this technique was all the rage in college dorm rooms in the 1980's. We're bringing it back, with whimsy.</div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white;">     </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_5214-2.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"The bedroom is actually a very small room, but we made it look grand by walllpapering the wall behind the bed- they insisted on a King! We found an amazing headboard at an antique emporium, tucked behind many others. Upholstering it in a cotton velvet just made it look so luxe. Inexpensive swing arm lamps save room when there isn't any for bedside tables. In the end, it looks quite fancy, but it's not. Their dog sleeps at the foot of the bed, we think! Whatever, we know they're happy with their first nest, and so are we.</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/nr5.jpg" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"This kitchen is very long and narrow but it was important to Natalie to have a place to sit and eat (since there is no dining room). We came up with a design for a built-in breakfast nook space which would utilize every square foot of space, and look like it was always there.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/kitchen2-1.jpg" style="font-size: small;" /></div><br />"We chose an adorable print fabric to make a custom seat cushion with, and it immediately looked welcoming and comfortable. The client found this table top at a thrift shop, then had a custom pedestal made to allow for leg room."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/kitchen1-1.jpg" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">SOURCE LIST</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Kitchen:</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Custom banquette cushion fabric: Pindler and Pindler</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Pillow: Pier 1 </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Table (client's own)</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Art: Stolen ;) from a Rothko book and framed in Ikea shadow box frames </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Roman shade: custom designed by us, Bright Apple Green Tape for Accent, Samuel and Sons</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Living Room:</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sofa: Lilian August found at the warehouse store in Norwalk, CT</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Pillows: custom pillows designed by us in a Brunschwig & Fils paisley </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Coffee table: Found at the Salvation Army in Mount Vernon, NY for $15 </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Scallop-edge side tables: found at Braswell in Westport, CT , We lacquered them in a Ralph Lauren dark navy blue </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Rug: Overstock.com</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Lamps: Apple green, from Dovecoat, Westport Ct.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Bird prints above sofa: Taken out of the pages of "Audubon Birds of America"and framed in inexpensive frames found at A.I Friedman </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Pink upholstered chair: found at Brimfield, from an estate in Maine</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Art above chair: we created this large scale piece of art from one of our favorite Lu Lu DK fabrics for Schumacher. When the budget is tight we like to make our own art by framing a large canvas with a dramatic fabric. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Desk: West Elm Parsons desk </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Stools: Found at Circa Who in Palm Beach, FL and upholstered in a Duralee ikat fabric </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Lamp: Wisteria </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Art: From the 1970's, Found at Consign It in Greenwich, CT </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Turquoise boxes: Wisteria </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Occasional chair: Found at Circa Who in Palm Beach, FL and upholstered in a Brunschwig & Fils fabric </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Duck prints above chair: Found at Brimfield, reframed</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Bedroom: </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Headboard: This is an antique French king size headboard that came out of an estate with lots of very old French pieces. We found this piece at one of our favorite auction houses called Braswell (unfortunately it no longer exists) and we had it reupholstered in a soft velvet. The headboard cost us $450. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Wallpaper: The wallpaper is from Duralee</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Side tables: Wisteria</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sconces: House of Troy</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Bed pillow: custom made by us from a Schumacher ikat fabric </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>A huge thanks the Lauren and Suzanne for sharing this lovely project!</i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>All photos by Matt McGrath.</i></div></div>

Pretty in Park Slope

Today I am SO excited to share a brand new project from my friends Suzanne and Lauren McGrath from Good Bones, Great Pieces . (Did you check...

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Flame Stitch FLOR Tiles

Have you ever used <a href="http://www.flor.com/all-styles.html" target="_blank">FLOR tiles</a> before? <a href="http://www.designscouting.com/" target="_blank">Abbey</a> and I installed them together in her apartment's foyer and it completely changed the space! (the floors used to be a really unfortunate red marble that Abbey hated).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/ScreenShot2012-09-07at30039PM.png" /></div><br />While FLOR tiles aren't <i>the</i> cheapest flooring option out there, it's great that they can be cut to fit any space. And I love that the tiles can be replaced if (<i>more like when</i>) major stains happen. In high-traffic areas or in homes with pets and kids, this is a pretty amazing sense of security.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/2AbbeyEntry2.jpg" /></div><br />The people at FLOR recommend buying 10% more than your needs just to have on hand. It's really a good idea to buy at least that much, since there's a good chance your pattern won't be available after a year or two.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/Abbeyentry.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here are some of my favorite patterns available at FLOR right now. Have you used these before too?</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/flor1.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://www.flor.com/petal-pusher-poppy.html#" target="_blank">1</a>  //  <a href="http://www.flor.com/all-square-purple.html" target="_blank">2</a>  //  <a href="http://www.flor.com/pretty-promise-palm.html#" target="_blank">3</a>  //  <a href="http://www.flor.com/making-waves-pink.html" target="_blank">4</a><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/flor2.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://www.flor.com/parallel-reality-pink.html" target="_blank">5</a>  //  <a href="http://www.flor.com/roadside-attraction-frost.html" target="_blank">6</a>  //  <a href="http://www.flor.com/suit-yourself-raffia.html" target="_blank">7</a>  //  <a href="http://www.flor.com/cut-flowers-geranium.html" target="_blank">8</a></div><br /><i>First photo by <a href="http://www.sethsmoot.com/" target="_blank">Seth Smoot</a>, styled by <a href="http://www.kendrasmoot.com/" target="_blank">Kendra Smoot</a>. More of Abbey's apartment tour <a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2012/09/new-york-city-house-tour.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</i>

Flame Stitch FLOR Tiles

Have you ever used FLOR tiles before? Abbey  and I installed them together in her apartment's foyer and it completely changed the space...

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DIY Coral Velvet Bed

I finished reupholstering our <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/02/that-one-bed-i-upholstered-long-time.html" target="_blank">old bed frame</a> right before we moved out of the loft, and I still really love it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/2IMG_3088.jpg" /></div><br />Remember how I was <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/06/black-and-white-striped-throw.html" target="_blank">trying to figure out</a> what fabric to use? I thought a lot about the color...<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_8390.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I was leaning toward this pretty silk velvet from Kravet, but it was pricey (like, very pricey), but I loved the color and sheen.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_5821.jpg" /></div><br />Then I stumbled across this really pretty cotton velvet when we were in Arizona this summer, for only $13 a yard at Home Fabrics in Mesa. I bought six yards and had to carry it on with me on the plane right home -- it was so heavy! (and I had too many Last Chance finds stuffed in my suitcase)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_2609.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/02/that-one-bed-i-upholstered-long-time.html" target="_blank">this basic approach</a> to the upholstery process after pulling off the old fabric, but I actually removed some of the footboard so that it would be easy to climb over in our small room. I also used the same <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0066GZ5D4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0066GZ5D4&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20">nailhead trim roll</a>. This time, after tapping in the nailhead strips, I quickly colored over the nailheads with my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZTNENS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003ZTNENS&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20">gold leaf pen</a>. (see how bright the bottom few are here?) The key is to not color too perfectly. A messy job looks more real.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_6254.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm in love with how <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/11/low-bed.html" target="_blank">low</a> the head and footboards are - it feels more modern to me. The top of the headboard is about 38" high. It's nice because my head sort of rests on the top edge when I'm reading in bed and my back can be supported by the euros and standard shams. It's really comfortable.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_3085.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And, hey, do you recognize the pillow fabric? I wish I had a 100 yards of that <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/turning-vintage-side-tables-into.html" target="_blank">vintage stripe</a>.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/AbbeyLR3.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">PS In case you are struggling with the corners of a piece like this, I did the reverse approach I shared in <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-upholster-bench-corners.html" target="_blank">this project</a>. Corner strip first, edge pieces last.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/2IMG_3088.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i>PPS More photos of how this bed used to look a couple years ago <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/02/diy-folding-screen.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> (including a folding screen DIY)</i></div></div>

DIY Coral Velvet Bed

I finished reupholstering our old bed frame right before we moved out of the loft, and I still really love it. Remember how I was trying to...

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