Dude!

I have a special place in my designer heart for boy's rooms.  Being the mom of 3 boys myself, I know room ideas for the dudes can be lame (as my boys would say).  Guys today need spaces as rad as they are and with just as much energy.


We recently finished Evan's room and I think it captured his vibe completely!





We started by painting his walls and then adding a metallic silver and bronze wave above his bed.  We threw in some custom pillows on his sea blue bedding.

Metallic bronze study lounge with custom desk and accessories

She's Crafty!

I LOVE being crafty!  The thought of a room filled with colored pencils, paper, glue and glitter get me all fired up.  I think all women are really just adorable 6 year-old-girls at heart that thrive on cutting out paperdolls and making glitter hearts.  A craft room is just the fix for a life's creative blocks .

Craft rooms needs to inspre.  Check out these inspiring craft room designs.

They also need good storage, lighting and task areas.  We made this green custom scrapbooking table as well as this storage cabinet made from found objects.

It's My Turn!!!!!!!!!

Designers are definitely the cobbler’s kids.  We beautify the world but when it comes to our own spaces there is not much left in the creative savings account.  This year I hired myself to makeover a few rooms.

I started with the dining room. I have to come clean, we NEVER use this space.  I designed a curvy custom booth in metallic blue green leather and nail head detailing to give it a trendy restaurant appeal.  The walls were painted aqua and then given a bronze metallic glaze for depth.  I stamped the walls and added some bling for effect. I love how it turned out and we have actually starting using it more.

Our formal living room has become a library/music room.  At any given time there is someone reading on the couch while another is trying to form the new Jonas Brothers.  Amps and guitars usually fill the space.  I wanted this room to have a whimsical feel while also giving a nod to the library aspect.  I went with a tree and poem wall that I think rocks the space.  This Robert Frost poem has always been a favorite and it now serves as a reminder to take the road less traveled (I have definitely always taken the scenic route). 

Master Bedrooms are always last on most of my client’s design to do lists. I definitely advise against this.  But, I’m a “do as I say and not as I do” kind of gal.  The master suite was not really on my radar for this project go-round.  But, it somehow made the cut.  We painted the walls a pewter metallic with a swirl design.  We added pops of orange with the vintage sofa, bedding and art. 



Creative people need creative spaces.  For my office, we went with a large stripe on the walls with a dark aqua and candle light metallic paint combination.  The desk was made from my dads old workshop table (I love this touch).  I finally got a chandelier in my office along with all of my favorite books and pictures surrounding me.  No excuses now…I better get the design whip crackin!





I finally got my turn!!!!!  And, I would definitely recommend my designer…she was great!

Fabulous, Fancy and Four!!

I LOVE the books about Fancy Nancy and all of her fabulous fancy exploits.  She is always looking for a way to bling out her room, dog or sister and I have to say I think she's just cool.  My favorite part of this mini stylista is her fancy lingo...like "ooo la la". So, when our smallest new client said she wanted a room fit for Fancy Nancy, I was soooo ecstatic (that's a fancy word for happy).  

We painted her walls a fancy green with extra large flowers.  Made a custom bed with gorgeous curvy lines and added the uber fancy details, ala Cheap Thrills Decor.

Her bath suite also got the royal treatment with painted tiaras and French vocabulary painted right on the walls.  We added a little bedazzling for added poshness. "ooo la la" painted right above the potty is well  ooo la la!

Her play room is absolutely sublime with lilac walls, embellished window 

treatments (painted) and wall decor fit for only the fanciest girl in the land!  Nancy has nothing on this girl!!

Wild With Style

Sometimes you just have to hear the call of the wild...especially if you are a tween looking for a wild new room. We had a grrrreat time helping Jadyn go from a little girl space to a room fit for the queen of the jungle.

Metallic blue walls and a custom zebra wall

We started with Metallic blue walls and a custom painted zebra wall.  The zebra is black gloss and candlelight white metallic. We added a custom high gloss tufted black leather headboard for heightened drama.  The look was finished with custom bedding.

Clean Up Your Act

Who says that laundry rooms has to be boring??  The land of the lost socks and stinky football gear (at least in my house!) needs love too.  If you dread this room like the Swine Flu then your clothes aren't the only thing that needs s fresh start.  Wash that blah right out of your room!!

Start with the walls.   Unless you plan to entertain in your laundry room then casual, whimsical and fun is the direction.  Pick a color that makes your smile for the walls.  Neutrals are not allowed.  You can also go with a pattern, wallpaper or chalk paint.  The key is to make this a room that you love to be in.

Hang things on the walls that make you happy.  Ornate frames with children's art tacked inside are great for laundry rooms.  I love the picture my daughter drew of us riding giraffes.  It's hard not to smile while riding a giraffe.  I also like the idea of vacation pictures, childhood black and white pictures or even framed book pages from your favorite novel.

Make sure there is a place for everything.  I am definitely not the most organized person, but I love baskets and bins -- they make me FEEL like I am sorting my life out.

Clean up your act - and while you’re at it give your self some scenery while airing your dirty laundry.

Here Come the Storm Troopers.....

Waz Up?


So when I meet with a new client, we usually go over their favorite colors, style, interests, etc.  I like to interview my clients (sometimes I hold them down and shine a flashlight in their eyes if I really like them).


The first time I met Caleb he said, “I Like Xbox, Legos, Star Wars, Indiana Jones and I just learned to ride a bike.”  I said, “Ok give me something hard…”  Seriously, trying to combine all of the varied interests of an active 10-year-old can be complicated to put it mildly.  Caleb, his mom, Denise, and I devised a plan to make it all work together. Ready, Break!
 

We started with metallic silver walls and added custom grafitti.  It incorporates all of his interests now while giving him room to grow.  My favorite part is the Storm Trooper riding the bike.  I seriously think it's genius!


 

We built a platform bed with drawers underneath for storage and added an upholstered headboard.  I combined several metallic and patterned fabrics  so that it has plenty of modern attitude. The bed also has a custom fitted coverlet and metallic black pleather euro shams.


We added touches of red and black with the trim and desk area (also his fav).  The lighting is a Euro shaded track light.  Think modern disco. His bathroom went red too with a special treatment above the potty area.   Does it get better than that??