New Blog Connection

We've moved our BLOG, which is now following our own personnel remodel, to a new location.  You may get there by clicking here.

Fall Colors

This past weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Balboa Park on a beautiful San Diego day.  I brought along my camera and was able to capture these pictures of the fall colors.  I would love to see how you are decorating your homes for fall.  Drop me a picture if you get a chance.

Family Room - Semi-Industrial Look

This is a room I considered to be a mix of traditional-transitional-and industrial.  The coffee/cocktail table was an inexpensive addition that made a big impression.  The pillows on the chairs and sofa and a touch of pattern while the solid taupe drapery add warmth without obstructing the beautiful view.

Can you imagine this look in your home?

Valley Center - Before/After Pictures

This afternoon we finished up a small make over in a Valley Center home.  Below are some before and after shots, enjoy!

(Above) - This is what Beth and Alan's home looked like the first time I arrived.  They had just purchased a beautiful "new" house in Valley Center and needed to give it their personal touch.  We quickly started putting a plan together to use some of their existing pieces but to also some new treasures.  Read on for the results.

(Above) - To start we added some beautiful panels to either side of the stunning picture window.  These are what they call non-functional panels, which means they do not move.  They are simply there to add a feeling of warmth, design and sound absorption.

By the way, meet the newest addition to our team, Dana, our new installer.  That now brings us up to a total of three installers to better service the entire San Diego County.  I'm blessed to have this great team!

(Above) - Here is a close up shot (don't mind the white thread that ran into the picture) of the pleated drapery style and the rustic hardware.  What worked out beautifully was that the kitchen cabinetry, which adjoined this room, was the same tone as this hardware . . . love it when things come together like this.

(Above) - We added a few pillows to the existing sofa and love seat.  The same fabric that was used on the drapery panels was also used in a couple of pillows.  The pillow to the far left in the photo has brushed fringe, while the pillow on the right has a self welt.

(Above) - Here is the treasure in the room, because we were trying to keep costs under control, I referred Beth and Alan to some local consignment shops.  I gave them some ideas as to what to look for and they came home with two chairs, BUT they didn't look like this.  We purchased this new rust colored small animal print and called in my great upholsterer  . . . ta da  . . . two new chairs!

(Above) - Here we have a semi-finished room.  Beth and Alan still have a few additions to make but over all the room now feels a little more like home and has a finished look.  My studio provided the drapery panels and hardware, pillows, and upholstery of chairs.  With my suggestions, the far wall was painted the warm rusty red color, the addition of a sofa table and a couple of lamps were added behind the sofa, a palm tree was added for height, an "extra" love seat was removed from the room, an entertainment unit was added on the far right wall.  This family is now well on their way to having a house full for the holidays.

Thanks again to Beth and Alan for inviting me into their home and making me feel so welcome.

Old Mirror Updates

It's been awhile since we've chatted about doing an update on those old mirrors in your house, they are mainly found in those 70's, 80's and 90's bathrooms.  Here are a set of before and after pictures of what we can do with mirror frames.  It's a LOT LESS expensive than removing a mirror from the wall, patching up the holes and then buying an entirely new mirror.  There are many styles and colors to choose from.  Take a look . . . and then give us a call to help you out with this transformation.

Ceiling Deco Guidelines

When designing a room the ceiling is often a over looked area.  If you do decide to be creative and step out of the design box here are a few guidelines.  

1.  If you select a bright color for the ceiling keep in mind that it reflects that color back down on you . . . so . . . it would be best not to do this when doing a bathroom or bedroom where you might be putting on make-up or picking your clothes for the day.  

2.  When putting a chandelier above your bed you might want to look for one with a diffuser on the bottom.  That way you don't have to lay in bed and look at light bulbs brightly shining while you are trying to relax.
 

Hope this helps when thinking about the ceiling in the room you are giving a face lift.

Walls of Storage

Built-ins can make such a difference in a room. Below I love how the sconce lighting was thought of ahead of time and built into this special wall of storage.  

Why not frame out your windows with a couple of built-ins?

In this dining I would use these built-ins for the those large serving dishes that are really like pieces of art.