Painting Over a Vintage Abstract

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/22IMG_3036.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div>I picked up this mid-century abstract oil painting at the flea market a while back. I liked it enough but it definitely wasn't love. I bought it for about $20, so I figured I could make something hang-worthy out of it.<br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_5247.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>When I got it home, I knew it had to be changed. The colors looked so, so drab with my mustard rug and ivory sofa. So using just a couple tubes of oil paints, I mostly went right over the top of artist's patterns and just brightened up the drab colors. So easy! And it looked like a brand new painting in just a couple minutes. :)</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_3034.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Top and bottom images were a part of the photo shoot we did last week at the loft. Photography by <a href="http://www.nicolefranzen.com/">Nicole Franzen</a> and styling by <a href="http://www.kendrasmoot.com/">Kendra Smoot</a>. I'm going to be showing more images from that shoot this week while we are getting unpacked at the brownstone.</i></div></div>

Painting Over a Vintage Abstract

I picked up this mid-century abstract oil painting at the flea market a while back. I liked it enough but it definitely wasn't love. I b...

Read more »

Loft Living: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

<script src="http://thirdparty.fmpub.net/placement/514101?fleur_de_sel=[timestamp]" type="text/javascript"></script> <i><br /></i><i>Today's content is presented by <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B259835188%3B83380430%3Br%3Bpc%3D%5BTPAS_ID%5D&k4=4600&k5=514101">smartwater</a>, live a life well hydrated. Click <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B259835188%3B83380430%3Br%3Bpc%3D%5BTPAS_ID%5D&k4=4600&k5=514101">here</a> to learn more.</i><br /><br />You know what's a really weird experience? Walking through your home for the last time. Saying goodbye to the empty loft late Sunday night was a surprisingly hard moment for me. In a lot of ways the space was a challenge to live in, so I wasn't expecting to feel that nostalgic as I stood there taking a million pictures of our old home.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6574.jpg" /></div><br />The same day we were shown the loft two years ago, we also toured a really lovely two-bedroom in Battery Park City. It was in a nice luxury building with all sorts of amenities. The apartment was a good enough size, and the finishes were really nice, but the real selling point was a heart-stopping view of the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty.<br /><br />We went back and forth on which of the two apartments to rent. Each place represented two very different sets of trade offs. They were the opposites of each other in almost every way. What would life have been like there on the river?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6576.jpg" /></div><br />When it came down to it, we decided open-concept living was a better fit for our family. It just felt more "us." I wanted to live, eat, work, play all in the same space. It felt like a great opportunity to get in a lot of family time. And I think we actually achieved some of that dream over the two years we lived in our big white box. I know I'll miss some of that. Some of the other things... not so much. Namely, the fashion photographer neighbor who would play loud house music for his shoots that would often last until 3 or 4 in the morning (!). Also, the less-than-awesome natural light situation that made it hard to photograph the windowless bedrooms and that probably gave us all SADD in the winter. Also...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6575.jpg" /></div><br />Did I ever mention that we didn't have walls that went all the way up to the ceiling? A law was passed the month we signed the lease that made landlords super liable for accidents involving pressurized walls (commonly used to divide up apartment spaces here in New York). So when we signed the lease, we thought we were going to be able to divide up the space with semi-permanent, insulated walls, and that ended up not being the case. We were too close to moving in when we heard the news, so we just had to roll with it and make eight-foot tall 'bookshelf walls' instead. We stacked old trunks on top of the shelves to fill the two-foot gap and give us more privacy, but I think you can figure out on your own that the wall situation was not super ideal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6579.jpg" /></div><br />And now our house in Brooklyn has very separate spaces for separate functions, which I'm thinking might feel a little lonely at first! But, the exciting news is all of us have real rooms, with real walls. We have more than one bathroom (hallelujah!). And my office is two full floors away from my kids room (which will make business calls sound a lot more professional than they've been the last two years! ha!).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6580.jpg" /></div><br />In my experiences working with clients in all sorts of home and apartments, and also with all the places I've lived (my move-count is up to 22!), I've had the chance to think a lot about how to make spaces work despite/while embracing challenges. The reality is, we can never have it all and there are always tradeoffs. I wonder how soon I'll miss the tradeoffs that were unique to the loft.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/IMG_6586.jpg" /></div><br />How many times have you moved in your life? (It's actually a fun exercise - try it! Can anyone beat my 22?) Also, am I the only one that slowly walks through the empty house after packing up, saying goodbye to each room? So many memories (sniff, sniff). But here's to many new ones!

Loft Living: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Today's content is presented by smartwater , live a life well hydrated. Click here to learn more. You know what's a really weird ...

Read more »

Copy Cat Design: Raul Martins' Library

<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Here's the <a href="http://blog.therecomesayes.com/">lovely and talented Colleen</a> with our next installment of Copy Cat Design. And it's a good one!</span><br /><div class="ii gt adP adO" id=":357" style="background-color: white; margin: 5px 15px 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; position: relative; z-index: 2;"><div id=":3ah" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div id=":3ah" 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%202/raulmartins.jpg" /></span></div><div id=":3ah" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div id=":3ah" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This little library by Raul Martins is chock full of great design ideas, so let's get started!</div><div id=":3ah" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div id=":3ah"><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%202/cc-raulmartins.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;">1. <a href="http://www.bellacor.com/productdetail/visual-comfort-and-company-tob5009hab-np-antique-brass-reed-small-chandelier-99086.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Antique Brass Reed Small Chandelier; Bellacor, $420</a></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Replace the shades on this chandelier with <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/dupioni-silk-chandelier-shade/shades/chandelier-shades/224658?defattrib=&defattribvalue=&listIndex=6" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">black shades</a>, to repeat the black and gold motif.</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;">2. <a href="http://www.crystalcompany.com/co10130.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Clear Crystal Ball with Crystal Stand; Crystal Company, $70</a></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A grouping of crystal balls on a bookshelf looks ever so chic.</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;">3. <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100655676/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=steel+commercial+shelving&storeId=10051#.UBVLjrRSSIC" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Steel Commercial Shelving Unit; Home Depot, $65</a></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Look closely and you'll notice these shelves are industrial shelving units, topped with a black marble slab. Such an excellent storage solution!</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;">4. <a href="http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?startat=/getPoster.asp&frameSku=1348600_8880731-17157798" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">"Studies for a Capital" Framed Poster; All Posters, $100</a></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Framed architectural sketches are so fitting for a library. Botanical diagrams would be lovely too.</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;">5. <a href="http://www.wayfair.com/Design-Toscano-Grand-Solid-Marble-Obelisk-BX917-TXG1625.html?redir=marble+obelisk&rtype=8&dept=0" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Solid Marble Obelisk; Wayfair, $67</a></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">More intriguing objects for a grouping!</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;">6. <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/klismos-dining-chair-g180/?pkey=cdining-chairs-seating" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Klismos Dining Chair in Chocolate; West Elm, $99</a></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I firmly believe a library shouldn't have too-comfy chairs, otherwise you end up snoozing more than reading. It's for your own good!</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;">7. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flappers-Philosophers-Collected-Fitzgerald-Hardback/dp/0141194103/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1343533372&sr=8-18&keywords=f+scott+fitzgerald" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Penguin Classics Fitzgerald Short Stories; Amazon, $16</a></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A book on which to place an obelisk.</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;">8. <a href="http://www.cb2.com/odyssey-white-dining-table.-39.5dia.x30.25h/s141243" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Odyssey Dining Table; CB2, $199</a></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">You could buy a <a href="http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=19671&catalog=filter&menuCatalog=room&menuCategory=197&menuSubcategory=152" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Tulip Table</a> with a black marble top, but I actually prefer the contrast of the white table.</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;">9. <a href="http://www.decoratorsbest.com/prod-Stone_Trellis_White_Beige-237060.aspx" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Stone Trellis Wallpaper in White and Beige; Decorators Best, $76.75/roll</a></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Here's another brilliant design trick: the wallpaper pattern mimics the one on the rug, but it's low contrast, allowing the rug to take center stage. Repetition: your design friend.</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;">10. <a href="http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Castleberry_Area_Rug/510/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Castleberry Area Rug; Home Decorators Collection, $350 for 7'x9'</a></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A high contrast geometric rug punctuates the repetition of black throughout the space.<br /><br /><i>PS More Copy Cat post <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/search/label/Copy%20Cat%20Design">here</a>.</i></div><div class="yj6qo" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></div></div></div><div class="hq gt" id=":1qa" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 15px 0px;"></div>

Copy Cat Design: Raul Martins' Library

Here's the lovely and talented Colleen with our next installment of Copy Cat Design. And it's a good one! This little library by Ra...

Read more »

20x200 Give Away - With Six Winners!!

I get emails all the time from people in their late 20s and 30s who are regretting the furniture purchases they invested in before they had time to figure out their style. They all are wishing they had mixed in some more modern pieces with their traditional ones. I tell them to not start over and just to change their art. You can have the most traditional sofa from Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware and if you have the right pillows and very modern art, the mix will be perfect.<br /><br />I like the furniture and fabrics to be pretty, and the art to be arresting. Even a little bit quirky.<br /><br />And, good news! One of my favorite art sources, <a href="http://www.20x200.com/?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">20x200</a>, is offer up SIX gift certificates for grabs! They have an amazing collection of limited edition prints from a curated group of world-famous and up-and-coming artists. The best part is the art is super affordable. 8x10 prints starts at just over $20.<br /><br />Here's what I would buy for the brownstone:<br /><br />LIVING ROOM<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at11237PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/3860-bastienne-schmidt-laundry-bridgehampton?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at120918PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/3175-laura-bell-ferry-from-ardrossan-harbor?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at120838PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/3598-walker-pickering-motel-bien-venido?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><br />DINING ROOM<br /><br />These are two different pieces, but I like the way they look together.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at121013PM.png" width="265" /><img height="400" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at121030PM.png" width="261" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/4125-david-armstrong-sconset-beach?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/4124-david-armstrong-evening-nantucket?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at120712PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/3830-bryan-schutmaat-food-sign?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><br /><br />MASTER BEDROOM<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at122449PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/1919-joseph-o-holmes-hugo-library?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at122524PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/631-dan-boardman-untitled-2-raft?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><br /><br />HEATHER'S ROOM<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at120733PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/3639-laura-bell-floral-and-insects?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at11408PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at122538PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/722-jeffrey-krolick-fence-by-railroad-parcel-ashland?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at121050PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/4108-donald-weber-drunken-bride-in-heaven-piano?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>KIDS' ROOM<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at13216PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/2770-amy-stein-powerpuff-girls?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at120746PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/3722-sharon-montrose-bear-cub-no-3?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at120859PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/3408-tod-seelie-quiet-planes?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at120948PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/2859-lisa-congdon-day-114-dice?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>BATHROOMS<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at122420PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/2167-justin-james-king-and-still-we-gather-with?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at122357PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/2558-matthew-moore-moore-estates-west?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/ScreenShot2012-08-08at121140PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/4118-daniel-seung-lee-lake-michigan-chicago?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">here</a></div><br /><br />Would you like to win some free art from <a href="http://www.20x200.com/?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway"><span id="goog_1040183080"></span>20x200<span id="goog_1040183081"></span></a>? A $200 gift certificate and five additional $20 gift certificates are up for grabs! For a chance to win, simply find your favorite art on <a href="http://www.20x200.com/?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway">20x200</a> and copy/paste the link into the comments below.<br /><br />The winner will be chosen at random on Sunday at midnight. Good luck!<br /><br /><i>This contest is closed. Winners have been emailed. Thanks to all those that entered!</i>

20x200 Give Away - With Six Winners!!

I get emails all the time from people in their late 20s and 30s who are regretting the furniture purchases they invested in before they had ...

Read more »

Joanna's Bathroom Makeover

I'm sure some of you already saw these photos on <a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2012/08/our-bathroom-makeover.html" target="_blank">Joanna's blog</a> (and I just saw on twitter that Apartment Therapy did a feature too), so sorry for the repeat. This was such a fun (and very quick!) project Joanna, <a href="http://www.kendrasmoot.com/" target="_blank">Kendra Smoot</a> and I worked on together.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/2012_7_21_CupofJo_bathroom0126.jpg" /></div><br />Joanna wanted an easy bathroom update. She and Kendra worked together to come up with a direction and I got to help with the execution. Here are the before shots. Such a dramatic difference, right?!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/joannabefore.jpg" /></div><br />The walls AND ceiling were painted navy blue (the exact color was <a href="http://www.valsparpaint.com/en/explore-colors/color-selector/index.html?ref=colorselector_homepage_menu2#1" target="_blank">Ballard Blue</a> by Valspar), which really helped the room both feel bigger and more cozy. We used a lot of brass accents, like these slightly mismatched antique brass hooks from the flea market.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/2012_7_21_CupofJo_bathroom0145.jpg" /></div><br />I added white painted cube moulding to the fronts of the medicine cabinet using mirror glue and a little caulk. It was a super easy, 20 minute project. The framing makes the old medicine cabinet look so much more finished, don't you think?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/2012_7_21_CupofJo_bathroom0126_crop.jpg" /><br /><br /></div>Last I checked there were a couple nay-sayers on the round captains mirror frame we hung to the left of the medicine cabinet. Some people thought we should have used the space for storage shelves, but I love the frame and there's enough storage elsewhere. Plus, do you really want to see storage shelves first thing when you walk into a room? Me neither! :) And I really liked the idea of mixing of square and round corners on the frames. As soon as we hung it up I was like "Anna Spiro!" Remember her bathroom in Lonny?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/bathAnnaSpiro-1.png" /></div><br />I was originally wanting to to add mirror to the frame, but we all ended up liking the empty frame enough to keep it open. Gosh I love that frame. I found another similar one at the flea market recently and it will be making an appearance at our house I think.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/2012_7_21_CupofJo_bathroom0137.jpg" /></div><br />Another little easy project was painting the underside of Joanna's glass shelf. Remember <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/dear-jenny-what-would-you-do-with-this.html" target="_blank">this post</a>? It's such a cool way to change things up without getting too crazy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/2012_7_21_CupofJo_bathroom0164.jpg" /></div><br />We wrapped the hot pipe (it literally gets boiling hot in the winter) with jute rope, which added a great textural element, but still allows the pipe to heat up the room, the way it was meant to - this way without burning little Toby's hands. This was another easy project and there was absolutely zero glue required - just really tight wrapping.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/2012_7_21_CupofJo_bathroom0153.jpg" /></div><br />I think these $25 double <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop/collections/display/shelves?productId=10001027" target="_blank">acrylic shelves</a> are so perfect for small spaces. I picked up two for our house too. Also, <a href="http://www.20x200.com/artworks/4117-ian-baguskas-waiting?utm_source=littlegreennotebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=augustgiveaway" target="_blank">the artwork</a> here (the photo with the surfers) is available at 20x200. I've got a fun giveaway from that site on the blog tomorrow, so don't forget to stop by and say hi!<br /><br />Thanks again to <a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2012/08/our-bathroom-makeover.html" target="_blank">Joanna</a> for letting me pitch in here. And a huge thanks to <a href="http://www.kendrasmoot.com/" target="_blank">Kendra</a> and <a href="http://www.sethsmoot.com/" target="_blank">Seth Smooth</a> for the beautiful styling and photos.

Joanna's Bathroom Makeover

I'm sure some of you already saw these photos on Joanna's blog (and I just saw on twitter that Apartment Therapy did a feature too)...

Read more »