An exciting announcement–We Bought A New House!

July 27, 2017

Today’s the day to share my exciting news with you!

We bought a new house!

I’ve never mentioned it here on the blog before but we’ve been contemplating a new house for a while. I started searching for homes online a few weeks ago and saw several that were of interest. We originally started looking at single family homes (free-standing) but quickly decided we didn’t want to have to deal with yard work anymore. All of the homes we’ve owned in the past have had big yards which required lots of time and energy. This time around we didn’t want the responsibility of yard work so we decided to look at townhouses.

Because the housing market here in Atlanta is a seller’s market, homes are selling quickly and multiple offers are not uncommon. We looked at a handful of homes but for one reason or another nothing spoke to us. And we wanted a home that didn’t require a lot of renovations and was an easy commute for the hubby. I also wanted something that wasn’t too large or too small and had a space for my office/studio. Our new home checked off all the boxes.

I spotted this three-level townhouse the day it went on the market and our realtor was able to show it to me the next day. The following day the hubs saw it and we submitted an offer and had an agreement a few days after that.

OUR NEW HOUSE

The new house is located in Peachtree Corners which is a suburb of Norcross, GA. It’s about 10 minutes from where we currently live and is close to shopping, the freeway and some of my favorite thrift and antique stores. Ours is an end unit with three bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths and was the model when the community was originally built 9 years ago. And we love that the community is small and quaint.

I’ll share photos of the interior next week and tell you about the changes we’ll be making. The painters start painting the interior on Monday and then new carpeting will go down.

p.s. If you read my blog post on Monday I shared a ‘very personal’ design plan that I’m working on. Well, it’s actually the plan of our new house. I’m still refining and tweaking it but this is the general design style and direction we’re going for.

We officially move in late August so there’s lots to do between now and then. We’ve already started some work like having the deck re-done, power-washed and re-finished (before photos below). And the hubs and I painted the garage last weekend. It’s now a pretty soft gray with bright white trim. #garagesdeservetobeprettytoo

(he was in charge of the walls and I did the trim)

In the coming weeks I’ll also share my design plan for the deck which includes comfy seating, privacy lattice and stylish decor.

Until the fun of decorating starts, there’s lots of packing and purging going on. We’re really taking a hard look at everything we own and are donating any and all unnecessary stuff so we can fully enjoy what stays. #lessismore

We are excited about our new home and I look forward to sharing it and this decorating journey with you.

DESIGN PLAN: Tuscan Dining Room

June 29, 2017

I had the pleasure of creating a design plan for a young couple who have just purchased their first home. The goal for the dining space was to merge his traditional style with her love for rustic yet refined decor. They both love natural rooms with pops of color and wanted the overall feel of the dining room to be warm and inviting.

After dissecting their design styles, I came up with the theme, Tuscan Dining. My vision was rich, warm colors with a mix of dark and light wood tones. I also envisioned a mix of classic and transitional furniture, colorful textiles and lots of texture.

TUSCAN DINING ROOM: Design Details

No.1 & No. 5–A traditional dining room set will work best for this couple who loves to entertain. The oval table maximizing seating and helps with the traffic flow in and out of the room. The dark wood stain on the table adds depth and contrast against the lighter tones in the room.

No.2–To bring in a more modern touch, I suggested an upholstered settee for one side of the dining table. This larger piece of furniture will add softness to the room and can easily be moved to other areas of the home when needed.

No. 3–All of the lighting for this dining room is in a bronze finish which adds even more warmth to the space. The chandelier has lots of curves to it which create visual movement for the eye. And if the couple wants an even more traditional feel they could add shades to each arm.

No. 4–These patterned drapes are the wow factor in the room. The all-over damask pattern have a traditional vibe but the bold colors will help the room maintain a sense of playfulness. I also like that the drapery pattern/colors will give the couple lots of options when it comes to accessorizing.

No.6–A sleek round mirror over the rustic sideboard keeps the wall decor statement simple. Plus a round mirror has a more modern feel than a rectangular design.

No.7–Instead of lamps, wall sconces are another way to add lighting to a dining room and expand the wall decor statement above a buffet. These double arm sconces will provide ample lighting and visually draw the eye up.

No.8–I love a neutral colored rug with lots of texture. The subtle diamond pattern of this sisal rug adds a cozy and relaxed feel plus lots of visual interest.

No.9–A good way to create dimension and depth within a room is by mixing furniture with different finishes. The blonde wood finish on this sideboard ties into the lighter tones in the drapes and the rustic finish adds the dimension.

No.10–I wanted to pull in some navy to coordinate with the drapes and a pair of ceramic garden stools flanking the sideboard will do the trick. Plus I love the raised vine design which adds more visual interest.

Design Chat: Sectional Styling & A Family Room Refresh

June 16, 2017

I continue to get emails from people who have read my blog post or found my pin How To Style A Sectional Sofa. I wrote the original blog in 2014 and there are over 25,000 re-pins on Pinterest. And when I wrote the post, I didn’t realize so many people are challenged with decorating around a sectional sofa.

My most recent email was from MJ who is looking to update her family room. She wants to trade in her current sofa and loveseat for a new sectional with chaise. And she wants to replace the recliner with two accent chairs. Here’s how MJ posed her design challenge to me…

“Hello, I came across your article on Pinterest and was hoping to get your advice. I have attached two pics of my great room as I want to purchase a new sectional (would love a chaise), but with a corner fireplace, I am not sure how or if that would even work. Also get confused on how to determine if I need a right arm facing or left arm facing chaise. One picture shows the wall across from the stairs where the chaise portion of a sectional would be placed with the longer sofa portion obviously along the area across from stairway. My plan is to purchase two complementary accent chairs to be placed in front of window wall. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

Here are the photos of MJ’s family room now. As you can see, MJ’s family room is not large and the brown/beige color palette that takes it cues from the carpet and wall color.

After studying the room layout, I created an inspiration board and outlined a few suggestions that will help MJ execute a new look for her home.

The Inspiration

Family Room Refresh: Design Suggestions

FIND FURNITURE THAT FITS: With the size of MJ’s family room, a large sectional will fit with ease. I recommend a left arm sectional which will position the sectional on the long wall opposite the TV. Selecting the right size sectional will allow for side tables and lamps on each end creating a cozy sitting arrangement.

tip: When looking at sectionals, left facing and right facing refers to the arm placement when looking at the sectional sofa head on (not when sitting on it).

CREATE A COLOR STORY: The foundation of every room is its color palette. The current color scheme in MJ’s family room is somewhat flat. The main color in the room is brown with a little deviation in tones form one brown to another. What I recommend is combining more shades and variation of tan and brown which will give the room depth, dimension and visual interest. Since the sectional will be the largest piece in the room, a lighter color fabric will provide a contrast against the walls and carpet.

PUMP UP THE COLOR: I also recommend pumping up the use of accent colors in the room. Right now the only significant accent color is the teal lamp shades o n the table lamps. Using the teal as the accent color I would bring in more of this color with patterned pillows and drapes. Curtains will add softness to the room and define and create a focal point around the windows.

tip: when adding patternwork to a room, combine patterns in different in scale so they don’t fight with each other and each individual design stands out.

tip: hang your drapery rod as high as possible to maximize the visual effect of taller ceilings and a more open space.

MIX UP THE MATERIALS AND FINISHES: Another way to add depth and dimension to a room is by using pieces that are made of different materials and/or finishes. My suggestion is to replace with wood side tables with tables made of iron and glass. The glass will not take up any visual space and the iron will keep the tables from looking whimsy. For additional contrast, I’d place a painted wood accent table between the chairs in front of the window. Painted furniture will introduce even more color and another finish in the room.

ADD STYLE WITH SHAPE: Having little to no variation in the shape of furniture within a room is a common decorating mistake. Having too many elements in one shape (i.e. square or rectangular) can result in a room that feels heavy and overloaded. A combination of square, round and other shapes creates visual interest and movement for the eye. In MJ’s room I’ve suggested round side tables to add that needed contrast.

PERSONALIZE YOUR STYLE: In addition to new furniture and a pumped up color palette, here are the other suggestions I had for MJ…

Hang the mirror over the mantel versus leaning it. Hanging the mirror will balance the fireplace and create separation between the mantel and the mirror.
Hang a larger piece of artwork on the long wall facing the TV. A larger piece of art will add color, visual interest and create a secondary focal point within the room.
Replace the lamps with a style that has more substance and shape. Your lamp base and shade should feel proportion to the scale of the furniture in the room Lamps are also an easy way to introduce more color into a room. Note how the lamp shade color in my recommended style picks up the lighter neutral in the pillows and curtains.
Upsize the TV cabinet with a larger piece. The current TV console is a bit small and makes the entire TV arrangement feel diminutive. A larger tv cabinet will work better with the scale of the fireplace and furniture within the room.
Paint the inside of the front door an accent color. Painting MJ’s door will add so much visual interest within the entire entrance/family room space. And the color will visually link the two areas together. The inspiration photo for the door is below.

One other thing I wanted to point out is that while MJ’s room could benefit from a patterned area rug, I wouldn’t recommend it because of the plush wall to wall carpeting. It’s fine to layer a rug over a low pile carpet with plush carpeting an area rug tends to crawl.

Do you have a design challenge? Leave me a comment and your space just might be featured here on ConfettiStyle.

SHOP THE INSPIRATION BOARD:

Sectional Sofa // Round Pedestal Table // Floral Pillow // Teal Velvet Pillow // Plaid Tattersall Pillow

Abstract Art // Brown Accent Chair // Glass Table Lamps

Geometric Blackout Curtains // Round Glass and Iron Side Table // Black TV Cabinet

Summer Bedroom Refresh–Chinoiserie Inspired

June 17, 2016

I’ve been thinking about giving our bedroom a refresh for a while now and I think I’m going to pull the trigger.

This is the current look of the bedroom–a mix of wood, black & white accents and pops of color.

My love affair with blue and white has me thinking of a look that incorporate navy, black, white and pops of color.

Here’s the Chinoiserie Inspired inspiration board I came up with…

Since the black armoire and chair will be staying, I need to find a duvet cover that can tie the navy and black together. About a month ago I spotted a Ralph Lauren set at HomeGoods but decided to pass on it. Now I can’t get it out of my mind. I’ve been searching for it again but so far I have only found it in a king size and we need a queen. The pattern is called Tamarind and I did find it on Amazon (more expensive) so if I don’t have any luck at HomeGoods I have another option.

When it comes the accessories, I’m planning to change the black drapes to a dark navy and I’m looking at this pink pillow…

and some chinoiserie inspired artwork from Etsy.

And of course I’ll incorporate some blue and white ceramic pieces into the mix.

As always things may change before it’s all said and down but I’m excited to create a fresh new look for our space.

Decorating Inside and Out

February 26, 2013

I’ve been busy working on a design project that involves several rooms of a home. The homeowners want a front porch space that is welcoming, cozy and filled with personality. Here’s a peek at some of the design elements for the space.

The client already has white rockers which work beautifully with their craftsman style home. We are looking to keep the space fairly neutral and bring in depth through strong patterns, warm colors and lots of natural finishes.

As you move into the living room of the home, the colors will become richer and more saturated, again using textures and patterns for visual warmth and interest. I’m loving the mix of rich red and grey paired with antique gold and warm wood tones.