Posts
Thursday, June 30, 2011
I went to the Utah County Parade of Homes and BLUE
was in this year!
I have never really been a fan of blue,
but I have to say it is growing on me!
Just thought I would show you a few photos of
the blue decor.
What do you think?
Do you want to add a little blue paint
or maybe a few blue accessories?
I don't know, I may just add a few myself . . .
I will let you know.
Here are some more ideas for BLUE at:
HGTV.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
This room started out completely different---
but by shopping around the house and using items that the homeowner
had in her home already, we created a
completely different space!
BEFORE
AFTER
The antique secretary and the couch were in the basement.
The rocking chair was in the bedroom.
The other chair was in the family room.
And the two end tables were elsewhere in the house.
BEFORE
The floral sofa and loveseat were dated and she just wanted an excuse
to part with them---and this was it!
The grouping above the couch was a little too high
so it felt disconnected from the loveseat.
AFTER
See what a nice grouping we made with the leather sofa
the artwork and the lamp.
BEFORE
We took most of these items out of the room,
and created a really different feel.
AFTER
We traded the curtains from the family room to create a more formal feel.
The table is more to scale with the two chairs in this after shot.
BEFORE
AFTER
The lamps and the artwork are about the only items
that were in the room originally.
This homeowner had a number of furniture pieces that had
belonged to her grandmother.
They were in different places around the house.
But once we pulled many of them together in one space
it created a completely different style.
Notice the curtains.
I really like them better than the topper that was originally there.
The colors work very nicely in this room.
BEFORE
AFTER
Now with the curtains changed out.
Which one do you like better?
The small pieces of artwork are needlework and buttons,
They go so well with the antique feel in this room.
It is so interesting how we collect different items that we love
and usually you can see a theme that runs through them.
So when you place these items together using
design principles it feels really nice!
BEFORE
See how there were a few too many items in one space.
AFTER
If you take out some pieces and free up a little room
it looks and feels much more inviting.
See how fun this can be---
Look around your house and see if you can do a room makeover!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
A good grouping can include pieces of furniture
that are next to the items on the wall.
In this photo we hung two framed pieces with
one green wreath in the middle.
This added texture, something 3-dimensional and a
natural element all in one!
See how the framed art is hung vertical
and the bottom one feesl like it fits right
in with the chair.
When you add the lamp right next to the chair
it all fits together nicely.
In this BEFORE shot the grouping on the wall
is hung high above the couch.
This is the AFTER of the same wall.
See how we created a group with the artwork,
the lamp, and the couch.
(We brought up the leather sofa from the basement)
BEFORE
In this area there was too much in the group.
AFTER
Sometimes you have to take away items.
And when you do it feels so much better.
The wall cabinet with the lamps and the mirror
really work well as a group.
Doesn't this feel more like a space you want to be in?
And this was all done using items that this home owner
had in her home already!
Look around your house and see what you may be able
to group together.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thank you to those of you who took the pop quiz!
At the bottom of the post I have a fun story about this living room...(go and take a look)
Also ---
I am linking up to a blog party over at
to see some great transformations go and take a look!
Try a few of these ideas in your home and
see how much better it will feel.
BEFORE
I was able to take one photo and my camera battery died!
So... I only have one BEFORE,
but you get the idea that it was just two couches and a TV on the wall.
You will see what an amazing difference
adding a few accessories will do!
AFTER
See how we added:
A lamp (lighting)
Toss pillows with colors and patterns (fabric)
Tables (to place accessories on)
A bowl of apples a green plant
and some berries in the plate rack (natural elements)
We also put both of the sofas on an angle
so that the room was more open and inviting to step into.
I really think that a TV hanging on the wall needs something
underneath to anchor it.
It will give a more balanced feel to the room.
See how adding a few accessories on the table creates
a more inviting, comfortable feel.
On the back wall we added the bookcases and the table,
which were in an office downstairs.
Notice the tray on the coffee table.
I love to use trays, it is a nice neat way to contain remotes magazines
and the bowl of apples makes a colorful centerpiece.
We created a nice "unit" with the table, the lamp
and the pictures on the wall.
The ottoman was in the bedroom, but I felt like this was a great way
to soften the dark wood, it ties in nicely with the white in the
pillows and the white tray as well as the white frame above.
See how we are pulling little bits of white and green
throughout the space.
Bookcases are a great way to accessorize a room
and gives it that warm cozy feel.
We hung this mirror above the bookcase to add some more
height to the grouping. It needed a little something to
soften all of the hard edges, so the wreath was a perfect way to
add a natural element as well as something round.
It also has the right coloring accents for the room.
Notice the furniture is very neutral, so the pillows really give
it the personality, with the colors and patterns.
This homeowner purchased some pillows from Pottery Barn,
later when she returned to buy a few more they where gone.
But she found table napkins in the same coordinating fabric,
so she bought a few and sewed them into pillows...
Very creative!
Notice the fabric is not the same but they all have the
colors white, salmon and green.
The ornamental iron chair fits right in with the other accents
of ornamental iron throughout the room.
See how we softened it with a throw blanket and pillow.
Take note of the pillows and the ornamental iron wall art.
These frames also carry the color theme.
I had a previous client who purchased a redesign for her friend. This living room is the friends home.
Her house had been for sale for sometime, although they were not really thinking that it would sale anytime soon. They had purchased land to build on at a later time, and in order to qualify for the land they had to put thier house up for sale.
About a week or two after I did the redesign on the Living Room she recieved an offer on the home requesting that they include all of the furnishings just the way they were here!
She was so surprised and thrilled. Although the friend who gave her the gift was not to happy since they were neighbors.
So... what I am teaching you WORKS!
These principles make a difference in how a space feels.
You can really do this on your own
if you follow what I am teaching you.
OR
if you live in Utah I am happy to come and assist you.
For $50.00 an hour you can have your space redesigned!
One room usually takes 2-3 hours to complete.
Call me at 801-798-0478 or email me at
It is truely one of my Favorite things to do!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
POP QUIZ!
Here is a quick BEFORE and AFTER
See if you can see what we did!
BEFORE
AFTER
Tell me what you think?
Saturday, April 30, 2011
This is the Living Room in the house that we staged to sell.
I want you to notice how the colors and patterns in this space tie it all together.
See the greens, pinks and teal color in the fabric, the wall cabinet and the china plates.
Here is a wide angle of the room.
We are standing in the entry.
The greens and teal are carried over into the entry.
See the pinks and green as well as the china that is in the dining room.
This is the view from the dining room.
Isn't this a fun arrangement on the piano?
Notice the green, pink and teal blue again.
So if you want to tie a space together
and give it a designer look,
Use similar colors and patterns throughout the room.
Have fun and try this with your own things!
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