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Hiding the Fireplace

Well, the walls and doors have all been painted! The workers finished over the weekend and we unpacked and did a few small projects. Mostly we recooped from a crazy couple weeks and enjoyed a little family time in our new neighborhood. It was a great couple days.<br /><br />I really loved coming home to my new Cabbage White walls and Pitch Black doors.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6607-1.jpg" /></div><br />Here are a couple before shots from the east side of the living room and with the old green accent wall. The room has a barely working fireplace. I guess it smokes like crazy even after having it professionally serviced?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/2IMG_6324.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6329.jpg" /></div><br />Between that weird nook/mantle situation and the ugly hearth and box, I have no problem with putting a sofa in front of the smoking fireplace and totally making the whole thing disappear, but the mantle nook is proving to be a little more of a challenge. I was thinking about patching the hole myself with drywall, but I worried that the patching job will be pretty obvious.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6621-1.jpg" /></div><br />This photo below is the closest to the in-real-life new wall color. To the far right you can see the old cream that was on all the walls (but the green accent wall). The beige-y cream made the whole house look dirty and tired.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6600-1.jpg" /></div><br />Last week we filled the walls on either side of the fireplace with bookshelves (more on that soon!) and I'm thinking a big mirror in the center between the bookshelf walls would be really pretty. I came across this photo from Better Homes and Gardens and thoughts I could maybe do something with mirror tiles and do an antiquing process to each one. I would install the tiles on a large piece of plywood and then hang and trim out the board over the gapping mantel nook. I think it could look really good!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/249879479295256130_pnMVRpR9_f.jpg" /></div><br />Or do you think I could patch the nook with drywall seamlessly and just hang a large antique mirror?

Hiding the Fireplace

Well, the walls and doors have all been painted! The workers finished over the weekend and we unpacked and did a few small projects. Mostly ...

2:30 AM

Custom Black Out Roman Shades

Every decorator has a favorite thing to see installed. I think mine is a toss up between new pillows (they really can transform a room!) and new window treatments. I was so happy with the way <a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/">Joanna's</a> roman shades just transformed her bedroom!<br /><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna012-1.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>The white linen fabric with the cheery yellow trim has such a brightening effect on the room! The shades are also super functional. You know I am a big fan of making <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/10/office.html">shades out of mini blinds</a> and also <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/12/master-bedroom-in-rhode-island.html">glueing fabric on top of matchstick blinds</a>. Both are great methods, but for this project I knew we needed something a little more permanent and hard-wearing, so I had my seamstress make the blinds. We had them blackout lined, which, beyond looking great and giving the linen a nice weight/drape, it's so nice for blocking out the city lights at night or the morning sun which always comes too early for us parents!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna044.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Custom shades are not inexpensive (that's why the DIY method can be great to keep around for some projects), but if you are using the shades every single day, I think the extra cost is justified. Joanna lives in a prewar apartment and her windows are extra, extra long so the cost was a little more than standard windows. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_0838-3.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I had these exact shades priced out at the Shade Store for comparison to my work room, and they quoted me $650 <i>per shade</i>. Yikes! My seamstress did BOTH shades for several hundred less than that. So again, ask around. If you look on craigslist for a great seamstress, you can get custom work for a lot less than you might expect.<br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_0408-2.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>PS The mustard yellow vintage trim completely <i>makes</i> these shades for me. We bought the trim at JEM in Tribeca for just a few dollars a yard. They still have some left if you'd like to stop by and snag some for yourself!</div></div></div>

Custom Black Out Roman Shades

Every decorator has a favorite thing to see installed. I think mine is a toss up between new pillows (they really can transform a room!) and...

2:30 AM

Joanna's Bedroom

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna044.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div>It was so fun decorating <a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/">Joanna Goddard's</a> <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/09/joannas-living-room-part-1.html">living room</a> and <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/09/tobys-nursery-part-1.html">nursery</a> last year, I jumped at the chance to work with her and her super-cool husband, Alex, on their West Village apartment's master bedroom. The room before we started was lovely and simple, but Joanna told me she really wanted to add more color and energy to the space, which made sense because she works in there a lot.<br /><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna033.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna012-1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna003-1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna002-1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna031-2.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna037.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna011.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna009.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna006.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna005.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joanna004.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I thought I'd share all the after photos here and through out the week I'll share details on the DIY projects and sources. Come back in a few hours for info on Joanna's rugs and our inspiration starting out point.</div></div>

Joanna's Bedroom

It was so fun decorating Joanna Goddard's living room and nursery last year, I jumped at the chance to work with her and her super-co...

2:30 AM

Good Hotel Bedding

Good Hotel Bedding

I will never tire of classic embroidered linens. These below from Schweitzer Linen are really amazing. The red is clear and bright (avoid t...

2:30 AM

Thinking about slipcovers

I don't know if my husband can say the same thing, but all this year, I've been planning to move out of our apartment once the one-year lease ended. That's sort of just me. I start to get antsy after about eight months of the same house. It's a problem, I know. I think (hope) that it would be different if we lived in a real house. But apartments feel fluid to me. It's easy for me to feel like it's no big deal to just pick up and move for a change of scenery. There are so many amazing neighborhoods to discover in NYC! Why not try them all!? I feel the same way about furniture. Just about the time I finish a project, I'm ready for something new. Truly, it's a sickness.<br /><br />This month we signed another year lease on our apartment, which was a little hard for me. I'm feeling that itch to start fresh. I think it's because this year has been reeeaaaaaal busy for me and we still don't feel very settled here. Our place is sort of decorated, but not very well, and it's certainly not "designed." It doesn't flow. It's not very organized.<br /><br />Since we've decided to stay here in our less-expensive-than-alternative-apartments-I-was-looking-at place, I've got a little extra money each month to make this space work better for us. I can't wait to share with you guys.<br /><br />First up! A new arrangement for our living room. I'll have to share all the nitty-gritty details later, but our tv broke and is causing us to rethink the seating arrangement. I'm thinking of ditching the gray sofa (that I got for free from Custom Sofa Design, which went under for a good reason) and shuffling things around a bit.<br /><br />I will keep my Lee English roll arm for another decade or two (seriously people! Invest your decorating dollars in good quality upholstery!!!), but the currant color is not my favorite. It's upholstered in Sunbrella's outdoor velvet in Ivory, which I have been testing and "reviewing" for the past year. All in all, I give it an A-. It is super duper soft for an outdoor fabric. And it wipes down really easy. I have two problems with the fabric: 1) I don't love the creamy beige color (that's a personal problem though) and 2) I wash the cushions like once a week and the fibers are starting to pull out. Again, I sort of feel like this is a personal problem. I feel like I am not caring for the fabric correctly. So, if you're in the market for a kid-friendly velvet I recommend the Sunbrella - just maybe not in the Ivory color and also don't wash it more than every other month and make sure to air dry.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/DSC_0041.jpg" /></div><br />So, I'm realizing I might be a slipcover girl. As much as I try to keep the food and beverages in the dining area, the kids forget almost daily. Evie unbuckles herself from the Stokke and walks around with her PB&J. No bueno for the rug and the upholstery. But I love throwing the cushions of the Lee and the gray sofa in the washer and having brand new couches once a week or before guests come over.<br /><br />Wow, this post is getting chatty! Anyway, point is, I'm planning to slipcover the Lee in white denim or duck or heavy linen so I can bleach it. I would love something like this with little box pleats (from the <a href="http://wshcollection.com/Shop/Product/windsor-double-sided-sofa.html?Id=172&cookie_failed=1#">Windsor $mith collection</a>)...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/172.jpg" /></div><br />Sort of reminds me of this sofa (anyone know the maker?):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/coleandsoncowparsley.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cole and Sons</span><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/INEEDTHISSOFA5815477672_70ae2755e3_z.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Decor8</span></div><br />I think the white slipcover will be obviously a little more casual, and a little girlie. But the plan is to pair it with more masculine elements - like a boxy settee and more modern club chairs. (Which reminds me - anyone interested in a pair of <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-reupholster-chair-part-5-sewing.html">navy bergere chairs</a>? I told you it was a sickness.)<br /><br />So, have you sewed a slip cover for your sofa before? I've done chairs before, but nothing this big. I'm thinking between the size of my couch, the roll arms and all those little box pleats, this one might be a job for the professionals. What do you think?<br /><br />Also, anyone else out there with a similar case of Wanderlust? Am I the only one who craves constant change?

Thinking about slipcovers

I don't know if my husband can say the same thing, but all this year, I've been planning to move out of our apartment once the one-y...

2:30 AM

B-A-N-A-N-A-S

<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">This weekend I finished caulking and painting the door to my girls' room. <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/progress-on-yellow-door.html">Last week</a> I added some inexpensive moulding to the front of their hollow-core door. There were some gaps in the mitered corners and the edges of the moulding pieces that needed caulking.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8407.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Caulk guns feel cumbersome and awkward to me, so I almost always use the tubes:</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8403.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I usually use my finger to smooth the caulk lines, but these little tools are much more accurate and save my pointer finger tip from getting destroyed.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8402.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's an easy process. Just run a thin line of caulk along the space where the moulding meets the door and then immediately follow up with the edger tool for a super smooth finish.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8408.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a mid-smoothing shot:</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8409.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I caulked all the edges, top and bottom, and the mitered corners and followed up the smoothed out lines with a damp rag to remove any excess caulk smudges.<br /><br /></div><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/IMG_8417.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I let the caulk dry for a day and then brushed in the details around the moulding and finally rolled on the paint (Glidden's Spicy Banana Pepper in high gloss - which, strangely, reminded me of a cheerleading dance class I took when I was like six maybe? Other than the Paula Abdul dance routine, I can only really remember one of the cheers that had some cute/sassafras hand rolling action: "Go. Bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" Repeated a bunch of times. Sort of annoying actually, but that didn't keep me from teaching my kids the cheer while I painted) .</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/2IMG_7574.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Filling the corners and edges with caulk is a super easy step and it helps give a sad, cheap door a pretty legit look. It almost passes for an old wooden door now on first glance.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/2IMG_7586.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The shots of pure, bright color in our living room are a fun contrast to the sea of white walls and our black kitchen. I'm loving the addition of the yellow door! And it feels appropriate for the entrance to the girls' room - almost a little Alice in Wonderland maybe?</div></div>

B-A-N-A-N-A-S

This weekend I finished caulking and painting the door to my girls' room. Last week I added some inexpensive moulding to the front of t...

2:30 AM

Yellow Door

This photo is a few months old now. The pink and black shelves have been styled and restyled a few times (sometimes by me, but mostly by Evie) and the Gossip Girl sconces have been put up (post to come!). I also changed out the door knob. I'm hoping this week I'll get to adding moulding to the door and then painting it. I'm sort of leaning toward yellow, but the jury's still out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/DSC_0004-2.jpg" /></div><br />I picked up a quart today of this pretty color by Glidden called Spicy Banana Pepper. It's a happy and bright yellow with a hint of green - not quite chartreuse.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Picture64-3.png" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here are some inspiration photos. I like how the yellow pops in a room with lots of white, of which I have an abundance in my loft:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/8026048_tb1kPEH8_c.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">SF Girl by Bay</span></a><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/anna-kern-yellow-door.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://hookedonhouses.net/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hooked on Houses</span></a><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/yellow-door-elle-int.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Elle Decor</span><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/21946490_AZqZc3Cb_c.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/21972475_XZxVRTb3_c.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/32194838_DJ5M1qsY_c.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">NieNie Dialogues</span></a><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/1166669_rV6MhO5k_c.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">NYSD</span></a></div></div></div>

Yellow Door

This photo is a few months old now. The pink and black shelves have been styled and restyled a few times (sometimes by me, but mostly by Evi...

2:30 AM

Speaking of Acrylic...

It has been a crazy week of deadlines and installations. I feel like this is the first moment since last Friday that I've had a chance to breathe! I'm so looking forward to the weekend!<br /><br />I had the camera out yesterday and my post about acrylic shelves reminded me to snap a shot of my favorite little <a href="http://www.plexi-craft.com/item/Tea-Table-115">tea table</a> from my friends at <a href="http://www.plexi-craft.com/">Plexi-Craft</a>. I visited their offices in Williamsburg a couple months ago to look at some pieces for a client and let me tell you, they are a lovely and talented group of people! If you can dream it up, they can make it in acrylic for you.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/DSC_0019-1.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Gracie has a school concert today in the park. We're going to pick up a pizza and some gelato and have a little picnic. I hope all this lovely sunshine can wash away the stress of the week. :) Hasta manana!</div></div>

Speaking of Acrylic...

It has been a crazy week of deadlines and installations. I feel like this is the first moment since last Friday that I've had a chance t...

9:28 AM

Children's artwork

Children's artwork

This post on Rambling Renovators reminded me how much I love it when parents decorate with their children's artwork. Sixx Design Betsy ...

2:30 AM

Give New Life to a Lamp Shade

My little sister went back up to college yesterday, but before she left we did a bit of thrifting for her new apartment. Hands down, the best find was a perfect vintage yellow ginger jar at Goodwill for about $4. We used some of the <a href="http://www.lsfabrics.com/fabric_catalog.php?pid=9079">fabric</a> left over from <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/05/mom-and-dads-updated-family-room.html">this ottoman slipcover project </a>to dress up an inexpensive and plain drum shade from Walmart. Then we glued cream bias tape along the top and bottom rims to cover up the unfinished edges of the fabric.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/lamp-1.jpg" /></div>I love it and wish I had kept the lamp for myself!<br /><br /><em>PS The very talented Janell from Isabella and Max Rooms recently posted a super thorough tutorial on covering lamp shades with fabric. </em><a href="http://isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com/2010/06/how-to-cover-lampshades-with-fabric.html"><em>Check it out here</em></a><em>.</em>

Give New Life to a Lamp Shade

My little sister went back up to college yesterday, but before she left we did a bit of thrifting for her new apartment. Hands down, the bes...

2:29 AM

So Very Good

So Very Good

via D*S

2:30 AM

Hamptons Classic

It's back to the beach for me tomorrow, but this time it's for work.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/treylairdbyjbilhuberforelle.jpg" /></div><br />I'm meeting up with my new clients in their Hamptons weekend beach home.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/treylairdbyjbilhunerforelled.jpg" /></div><br />This is my first beach house project and I'm really excited to get started. We're working on the bedrooms this summer (all six of them!) and then we'll start on the downstairs living areas in the fall.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/treylairdbyjbilhunerforelled3.jpg" /></div><br />On a more personal note, thanks for being patient with me this week. There were some eleventh hour issues with our Union Square apartment, so we sadly backed out a few days ago. We are literally back to square one - and thinking we might be back to living in the suburbs. Sigh. And then yesterday my sweet Grandmother passed away. It was not unexpected, but it has still been heavy for me. She was a very special woman and will be missed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/TreyLairdbyjBilhuberforelled4.jpg" /></div><br />Anyway, I mostly just wanted to thank you guys for always being so sweet and supportive. This year has been a really wild ride so far with the (wonderful) addition of Evie, more client work than this little mama can handle, and definitely more emails than any human can manage during a normal work day (anyone want to intern for me??). I wouldn't have it any other way though. Life is good!! Thanks for sticking around through all the ups and downs. Big hugs all around.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/treylairdbyjbilhuberforelled2.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">All the delicious photos above are from Elle Decor. Designs of the Laird family's Hamptons home by the very talented Jeffrey Bilhuber.</span></div>

Hamptons Classic

It's back to the beach for me tomorrow, but this time it's for work. I'm meeting up with my new clients in their Hamptons weeken...

9:23 PM

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Home Design Image

Hiding the Fireplace

Custom Black Out Roman Shades

Joanna's Bedroom

Good Hotel Bedding

Thinking about slipcovers

B-A-N-A-N-A-S

Yellow Door

Speaking of Acrylic...

Children's artwork

Give New Life to a Lamp Shade

So Very Good

Hamptons Classic

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