Author Archives: cannonmh

Affordable, Adorable Crafts: Making a Gift Basket

I was recently invited to a Christmas themed shower for one of my dear friends in preparation for her upcoming wedding and the holidays fast approaching. I had some fun with this gift! I thought I would take a few snapshots throughout the gift basket-making process to give you some ideas for creating one of your own.

Affordable, Adorable Crafts: Diaper Bag Tag

This project was inspired by my desperate need for a name tag on my son’s diaper bag. I didn’t want to monogram his diaper bag because I want to use it again for the next child at some point. So I decided I would make my own tag.

Baby Leanne’s Nursery Bedding

Today was installation day for baby Leanne who is due in just five short weeks! This household is about to go through a major home renovation, so this baby girl will be taking up residence  in her parents room until her beautiful nursery is completed in a few months.

Fall Fun with a Friend

Oh the joys of the upcoming seasons. The onslaught of Fall, which brings with it pumpkin outings, festivals, Thanksgiving, and fun filled days of crafts with friends.

Warren Living Room: Reveal

Check out the before and afters of this very Southern style Living Room in Atlanta. We began with a fairly blank slate of white walls, fantastic wood floors,

Baby Will’s Cowboy Inspired Nursery: Reveal

Baby Will is due in just a few short months and I am so excited to have had the opportunity to share in the design and creation of his cowboy inspired nursery!

Baby Will’s Cowboy Inspired Nursery: Preview

This soon-to-be adorable nursery was inspired by the cowboy sign shown in the following photos. We started out with this cute cowboy printed fabric

The Richardson Living Room: Reveal

I am excited to share this newly designed living room space from the Richardson home. If you didn’t get a chance to view my last post that previewed this project, take a look at the official before photos and the fabrics that inspired the design of this space (http://www.atldesignworks.com/2011/07/20/the-richardson-living-room-preview/).

The Richardson Living Room: Preview

The Richardson family just moved into their lovely new home a few months ago. Often times when you are house hunting you have to see a space for it’s potential, and that’s what they saw in this room.

A Cozy Nook

I have so enjoyed my recent work with the Richardson’s. They are a sweet family of three that will soon be growing to four.

Atlanta Design Works Has Renovated!

For all you blog viewers out there, you know this is a much needed upgrade! When I look back at my old website (that I slaved over a few years ago) I’m a bit embarrassed! So thanks to all of you for continuing to follow my design work even though the presentation was lacking.

A Classic Bathroom

I am currently working with a fantastic Atlanta couple on their beautiful new home.

Simply Elegant Living

These textiles scream Southern charm with their subdued color palette, beautiful patterns,

A Trendy Den

I’m excited to share another completed design from my on-going projects at the Warren household.

A Beautiful Change

A beautiful change is right for this family room!

Babies and Children

Children’s rooms have great colors, festive patterns, and are incredibly fun to design!

Home Renderings

Remember past and current homes as art on your walls.

Custom Headboards

A custom headboard is a fantastic way to make your bedroom feel special.

Before and Afters!

Baby Bennett’s Room: Take 4!

Old wooden oars that we purchased in Apalachicola on our beach trip in June. The shelf was made from an old piece of wood we found in Apalachicola as well. I just love things with a little history!

Rocking chair with another custom pillow

Sweet little rocking horse made by my grandfather in 1999 before he passed away. A little treasure for sure!

Baby Bennett’s Room: Take 3!

Precious Nautical Inspired Lamp

Window Treatment Close-Up

It’s hard to believe that Bennett will be arriving within the next 13 and half weeks! We can’t wait to welcome him home to this sweet nursery made just for him.

Baby Bennett’s Room: Take 2!

You may have noticed from my posts that I often enjoy taking old things and transforming them into great pieces by giving them a second life. Not only does it save me a lot of money to reuse things, but it brings great character and warmth to a space. On the other hand, I find it a creative challenge to figure out how I can use various pieces I have here and there to create something I need without having to empty my wallet. In Bennett’s room I will be reusing/ re-purposing the crib, shower curtain, and antique cabinet (to be used as a changing table) from my parents. The small antique rocking chair was recently given to me by my Grandparents and fits in perfectly with the other pieces. In this case, the pieces I am reusing are obvious in their purposes, but that is not always the case.

I hope you will continue to enjoy seeing the progress on Bennett’s room. Stay tuned for more as the room begins to take shape!

Baby Bennett’s Room: Take 1!

Some of you may know that my husband Charlie and I are expecting our first baby at the end of August. We just found out last week that we are having a little boy, and we are so excited! We have named him Bennett William Cannon. Naturally, as a designer I can hardly wait to begin planning my baby’s room decor. Oh who am I kidding… I practically have every detail planned out already! I plan on updating this blog to show the progression of our once guest room into a sweet nursery for our bouncing baby boy due in August.

Here are a couple pictures of the empty space so you can watch as everything goes in piece by piece. These pictures cover three of the four walls with the last wall being a pair of bi-fold closet doors. You can use your imagination for that one!

Colorful Asian Headboard

Please contact me at cannon.mh@gmail.com with any questions regarding my custom headboard collection. I will be happy to provide you with any information you require regarding design styles and pricing. Thank you!

Home Renderings

Customized Upholstered Headboards

Rendering

If you are interested in pricing please let me know. You can email me at cannon.mh@gmail.com

Decorative Handmade Pillows

I enjoy making and creating just about anything. Here’s a look at a set of pillows I made a couple of weeks ago to coordinate with this slip covered sofa. Pillows with different fabric textures and colors complete this look perfectly. A new slip cover and pillows is a great way to update any outdated sofa.

Large pattern with golden trim around the edges.

A third striped fabric ties it together with a set of tootsie roll pillows.

With some extra fabric I upholstered this Queen Ann chair to complement the rest of the room.

Interior Design by Definition

Interior design is often misconceived as being equal to or the same as interior decorating. I often correct people who ask about my “interior decorating” business because decorating is only part of my job description. I went to college to receive a degree in interior design, which is a difficult and time consuming major. Yes, I can pick out fabrics according to my clients needs, but the know-how to choose fabrics came from taking strenuous textile courses in which I examined various fibers for their specific characteristics and behaviors. I create renderings of homes and interiors from my technical training in drawing, painting, and structure courses. I design space plans and three dimensional renderings of future spaces with my education in and knowledge of AutoCAD. And I have a degree in interior design because I worked to produce the best possible projects I was capable of in school that incorporated all of the techniques above. I found a great list from the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) website that has terrific descriptions regarding the interior design profession. I hope you will all read the following bulleted list to see what interior designers are really capable of. Happy Reading!

• Research and analysis of the client’s goals and requirements; and development of documents, drawings and diagrams that outline those needs;
• Formulation of preliminary space plans and two and three dimensional design concept studies and sketches that integrate the client’s program needs and are based on knowledge of the principles of interior design and theories of human behavior;
• Confirmation that preliminary space plans and design concepts are safe, functional, aesthetically appropriate, and meet all public health, safety and welfare requirements, including code, accessibility, environmental, and sustainability guidelines;
• Selection of colors, materials and finishes to appropriately convey the design concept, and to meet socio-psychological , functional, maintenance, life-cycle performance, environmental, and safety requirements;
• Selection and specification of furniture, fixtures, equipment and millwork, including layout drawings and detailed product description; and provision of contract documentation to facilitate pricing, procurement and installation of furniture;
• Provision of project management services, including preparation of project budgets and schedules;
• Preparation of construction documents, consisting of plans, elevations, details and specifications, to illustrate non-structural and/or non-seismic partition layouts; power and communications locations; reflected ceiling plans and lighting designs; materials and finishes; and furniture layouts;
• Preparation of construction documents to adhere to regional building and fire codes, municipal codes, and any other jurisdictional statutes, regulations and guidelines applicable to the interior space;
• Coordination and collaboration with other allied design professionals who may be retained to provide consulting services, including but not limited to architects; structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, and various specialty consultants;
• Confirmation that construction documents for non-structural and/or non-seismic construction are signed and sealed by the responsible interior designer, as applicable to jurisdictional requirements for filing with code enforcement officials;
• Administration of contract documents, bids and negotiations as the client’s agent;
• Observation and reporting on the implementation of projects while in progress and upon completion, as a representative of and on behalf of the client; and conducting post-occupancy evaluation reports.

Old Rocking Chairs Become New Once Again

In my opinion there is no sense in throwing away old items around the house if they have the potential to be made new again. Case in point, this pair of old rocking chairs that once belonged to my great grandparents. Made of solid oak construction, these chairs will last a lifetime if taken care of properly. The woven backs had seen their last day, so I knocked them out and installed new oak slats to give these chairs a new life. Check out the pictures below to see how I approached this project.

Faux Finishing

Faux finishing is a great way to create a custom look on any kind of wood detailing, and it is relatively easy to accomplish. Follow the steps below to create your own custom faux finish.

Step 1: Paint your wood a base color. In this case I chose black for my base coat.

Step 2: Mix colors of choice together for faux finishing technique. I chose gold and a deep umber to create a bronze finish. I mixed them together in this small paint tray and added a little water. You want the mixture to be relatively thin in order to spread easily. Careful, a little goes a long way!

Step 3: Use a test piece of wood to make sure you are happy with the colors you’ve put together. Using a sponge, apply a small amount of the mixture and begin dabbing onto your wood. Vary the amount of paint, going heavier in some places and lighter in others, to achieve a professional look. Here is my sample piece.

Step 4: When you are satisfied with the look of your faux finish, begin applying it to your finished product. In this case, I faux finished the molding around two large vanity mirrors.

Step 5: The finished product

The finished product looks fantastic with the granite and other bronze finishes in the room. Faux finishing can be easy and fun, and can add loads of character to any space.

Day 4: Master Bathroom Renovation

A few perfectly proportioned accessories are just enough to tie it all together

The Shower Room with Sitting Area

The Commode Room

Vanities with Faux Finished Moldings (How-to to come soon)

Day 3: Master Bathroom Renovation

Here we are at day 3! The project is winding down after today. The shower room I mentioned on day 1 was also in need of wall texture to improve the finish of the walls. Several hours were spent texturizing this room and painting it after it dried for a few hours. The commode room did not require wall texture, but it did require a primer coat to cover the striped walls. After priming, it was time for paint again. That means more edging and more rolling!

In addition to texturizing and painting, I completed a couple other projects today. First, I removed three light fixtures in the bathroom area and spray painted them with Rust-oleum’s Hammered Dark Bronze finish. A very inexpensive way to update any light fixture, and what a difference! I also painted some decorative molding to be installed around two vanity mirrors for some added emphasis to the area.

At the end of the day all the walls have been texturized and painted, new light fixtures have been installed along with the mirror moldings. A lot of projects for one day, but the rest will be down hill from here!

Stay tuned for Day 4: The Reveal

Day 2: Master Bathroom Renovation

Day 1: Master Bathroom Renovation

Coming Soon: Master Bathroom Renovation

Stay tuned over the next few days to see my daily progress on a master bathroom renovation. See how a little bit of money can go a long way in increasing the value of your home.

I Found Art in Savannah

When visiting a historic city like Savannah or Charleston, or any place with rich, architectural details, it is fun to take photos to use as art in your home. (Having a husband that’s a photographer doesn’t hurt in this situation!) Here are some photos from my trip to Savannah last weekend that I plan on framing and using in my office. Enjoy!

Bulletin Board Blues?

Everyone knows that it’s nice to have a bulletin board above their work area, but do they always have to be so bland? Instead, why not make it a piece of art that is functional. I took a 36″x48″ cork bulletin board way past boring with a little creativity and a small can of paint. In this case I measured the board into equal squares and then broke them up into a diamond pattern. (It is easier to create diamonds from squares.) If you like squares or a checkerboard pattern, then simply stay at step one. Then I painted every other diamond black. After my diamonds dried I came back with a wadded up grocery bag and “sponged” the remaining cork diamonds with the same black paint to give it a unique effect. To finish it off I painted the edging around the board black. This is how it turned out.

And this is how it looks hung on my wall with a few invitations, pictures, and fabric swatches. Much better than a plain old bulletin board if you ask me.

You could paint the board any color you like to go with your decor. You could even paint all the diamonds one shade of a color and paint the remaining diamonds a lighter or darker shade of the same color. Any shapes would be great to work with here. Just use your imagination!

Antique Store Steals

If you ever need a couple new end tables, bedside tables, chest of drawers, or the like… check out a local antique store. You can find almost anything you might be looking for and more. Last summer my husband and I went to Asheville for a little vacation and visited a local antique market. We packed our car full with a matching set of end tables, a coffee table, a small desk, a large upholstered bench, two windows, and two other small tables. If we had purchased all of these items brand new it would have cost us a fortune. Instead we made it out of the store spending around $300, a great deal for everything we got. Even if an item looks warn and used, you can re-purpose it to be exactly what you are looking for. There’s almost nothing a fresh coat of paint won’t fix. I painted the end tables and coffee table black and placed one window on top of each end table to create two fun and functional pieces that flank my sofa. That old bench I found was great… minus the smokey smelling fabric, so I simply found a fresh piece of fabric from a craft store and reupholstered it myself. Very easy and inexpensive. That small desk I mentioned became the perfect setting for my printer and the compartment inside became the perfect place to store my extra printer paper. Now these pieces may not have been perfect when I found them, but with a creative eye and a few small alterations, they are a perfect fit in my space. Next time you’re looking for a new piece of furniture, take a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood antique market and see what you can find to fit your needs. There’s no doubt you will achieve a unique look no one else has for an inexpensive price tag. Happy bargain shopping!

Website Overhaul

Free Wedding Photography for 2010 Brides

Please click on image to enlarge

Happy Birthday

For my Mom’s birthday yesterday we celebrated at home with a nice dinner. I love to create unique centerpieces to celebrate each person in my family on their their special day, and yesterday was no exception. Instead of going to the store to purchase something, I decided to rummage around the house to see what I could create for free. First, I laid out this checkered tablecloth and placed some coordinating green napkins at each place setting. Next, I took a trip to the garage and found four pots of varying sizes. Instead of making a bouquet of flowers, I created a “Happy Birthday” bouquet. To create this look I placed florist foam and reindeer moss in each pot and then created individual letters spelling out ‘happy birthday’ on my Cricut machine in coordinating colors. I then hot glued them to tall wooden sticks and placed them at varying heights in the pots. For some added color, I cut fresh roses from the yard and placed them in the florist foam (be sure to soak the florist foam in water to keep the flowers fresh). I always place a few candles on the table for ambience, and to finish it off I added a miniature vase containing one rose to each person’s plate. A beautiful spring inspired birthday centerpiece for free.

Floor Renovation

An easy and inexpensive solution to an unattractive floor is stick on tiles. If you have a linoleum floor and it has seen better days, this is an excellent way to spruce up your space cheaply. The installation could not be more easy or simple.

Step 1: Remove existing flooring
Step 2: Remove backing from new tile
Step 3: Stick first tile down in a corner to ensure a square layout throughout your space
Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 to finish the remainder of your flooring

Colors and Light

In continuation to my last post… Did you know that wall colors have a huge impact on the light that flows through your space? Take for example a dark green wall in a space with nine foot ceilings and only one window. The space feels confined, small, dark, and unfriendly because the dark green walls absorb the light that comes in from the window. When the same space is painted khaki, the room is immediately opened up. It feels bright, warm, and welcoming because the light is now reflecting off the walls instead of being absorbed. Any space is more enjoyable to be in when it feels open and airy. In addition to the freshly painted walls, a new window treatment was added. Instead of hanging it along the top of the window, the treatment was placed at cabinet height to allow more light in and make the window appear much larger. Happy painting!

Laundry Room Renovation

Design in Other Areas

I love design so much that it seems to leak out onto most everything I put my hands on. This is true when it comes to scrapbooking, cooking, baking, and in this case, gift wrap. In design it is important to carry out a theme or a color selection throughout a room or space, and for me, it is equally important to do the same thing in any area of my life that involves using creativity. When it comes to gift wrap, an easy way to achieve a beautiful package is to bring colors and patterns from the gift itself onto the packaging and card on the outside of the gift. If wrapping paper and ribbon is difficult for you to select in the store, then this method will ensure a beautiful and sophisticated gift that anyone would admire from the outside of the package to the gift inside.

Form or Function?

As a designer I love looking through any kind of design related magazine for the latest trends, colors, and inspiration in general. Do you ever notice that some new trends serve no functional purposes? Take for instance this new style of bathroom vanity below. It is beautiful and charming, yes, but it can only be used to place a few items on the counter top and hang a few hand towels over the bars in the front.

Photo from potterybarn.com

Although it gives great openness to this bathroom, it has no storage space at all. If you happen to fall in love with a vanity like this one and decide to buy it for your home, make sure you install it in a space that does not require storage below, like a guest bath or half bath. If you install a piece like this in a master bathroom where each of us need storage space, you will more than likely find yourself frustrated with the functionality of your purchase. Next time you are shopping and suddenly awestruck by the latest and greatest, remember the saying, “form follows function.” They say it for a reason! Happy vanity shopping!

Closet Overhaul

Growing up I had a rather large closet in my bedroom. It served many purposes back in the day, such as an office, art studio, storage space, and last on the list, a closet. My parents never wanted to inhibit my creativity, so they let me go to town on this closet and decorate it any way I wanted. This is a little embarrassing, but the paint and decorations were as follows… yellow and green alternating wall colors, painted yellow panels on the door to the bedroom, and for whatever reason I tacked up a piece of floral fabric that coordinated with my bed spread on a sloped wall and then trimmed it in a tiny green painted molding. Oh dear! All I have to say is at least it coordinated with the bedroom, right? I suppose these were my early experiments using color and design in my own space. Well, in my very early days I loved to draw, and still do to this day. Back then I would hang up my work on the walls surrounding my desk. Instead of hanging them on a cork board, or something of the sorts, I chose to tape and staple my lovely artwork to the walls. The staples of course created many tiny holes and the tape left ripped sheet rock when removed. Year by year as my need for more space to be creative grew, my need for more clothes storage became less and less. In the beginning there were six or eight shelves in the closet, but by the end there was only one. Needless to say, this childlike expression of design has been in need of an overhaul for quite some time. And that is exactly what happened last week. It was a little sad to see my early memories disintegrate as I patched about two hundred or so holes and painted over those brightly colored walls with a neutral color paint. And you should see the absolute mess that came out of that closet! It was spread throughout the entire bedroom. We were all in disbelief that there was that much stuff sitting around in that closet. What can I say, there were many precious years of self discovery that sat around in that closet, how could you throw that away? But besides the artwork, the room was being used for quite a bit of storage. So the mission here was to patch, paint, rehang clothes racks (more than just one this time), and organize. To be honest, a before picture of the space would have been too embarrassing. You will have to use your imagination from my description above, but here are a couple pictures of the progress and all the “stuff” that filled the space. Wow right?

1. Hang your shelves at appropriate heights to allow shirts to hang clear of the rack below. The same goes for skirts and pants on the bottom rack.
2. Think about what needs to be stored in your space and designate spaces for each. In a closet this size, there was no need for the entire space to be used solely for clothing. We allowed spaces for Rubbermaid containers, long formal dresses or wedding gowns, seasonal items, etc.
3. If your closet is on the small side, you can still achieve an organized space with racks above your clothes for additional storage space.

Updating Furniture on a Dime

Do you have furniture that is still in great shape, but you find yourself embarrassed of the out of date fabric? Or maybe you received some hand me down pieces from your parents or grandparents, but once again, the style is all wrong for your taste. There is no need to replace a solid piece of furniture just to get an updated look, especially for those on a budget. Slipcovers come in every color, shape, and style for each individuals taste, and you can pay essentially any price depending on what you are looking for. Whether you want a slipcover to fit all the curves and pillows of your piece or you want a casual draped look, I guarantee there is no end to the variety of slipcovers out there.

A Trendy Look for Less

If you want a trendy look in your home but don’t want to invest thousands, I totally understand and agree. To achieve a look that is up to date with recent trends, attention is in the details. If you have dated wallpaper or borders, it would be best to start there. A gallon or two of paint is a cheap fix for the do-it-yourselfer and it makes a huge improvement in the look of your space. Next, think about accessories when it comes to trends. Look through magazines and idea books to find what appeals to your design taste if you don’t know already. Freshen up the pillows on your sofa and chairs in your living room, buy some new place mats and other linens for your kitchen table with a new vase or centerpiece, de-clutter your kitchen countertops and buy some up to date containers for flour and sugar, update your fireplace mantle with a few simple accessories or inexpensive pieces of art, or buy some new towels to display on your bathroom towel rack. These are just a few ideas that come to mind, but remember that a trendy look doesn’t have to cost you thousands or even hundreds. Take a look at Target, Walmart, Ikea, and similar stores to find items that will mimic the accessories you liked in magazines. You can find great deals on pillows, baskets, lanterns, vases, tableware, and the like at these stores. Good luck and have fun finding your new trendy look!

Sage Green Accent Pillows

Clear Vase with Decorative Potpourri Balls

These are all affordable home improvements from Target

What Reupholstering Can Do for You

Sometimes you find a great piece of furniture at a garage sale or from a friend that is a great price, but it’s in the wrong color scheme for your space, like this emerald green wing back chair. A client of mine purchased a matching set of these at a great price, but the colors were all wrong for their space. Reupholstering was definitely the answer here. They are a great set of chairs in excellent condition and with great features, like their ornamental legs.

The New Fabric for Reupholstering
Hint: Look for fabric at a local discount fabric store or search for clearance fabrics at any fabric store to lower the cost of your project. Having your furniture reupholstered is expensive enough without paying full price for fabric. If you pay full price you will easily double the cost of your project, which we all want to avoid. In this case, I found this great fabric for $9 at one of my favorite fabric stores, but it was marked 50% off the original price, so I got it for $4.50 a yard. A great deal!

The Finished Product
The finished product is beautiful and looks great with the green walls and other fabrics throughout the room. The extra fabric from the upholstery will be used to create a few pillows for the sofa and chair. This will carry the fabric to the other side of the room to create a harmonious look.

Upholstery by Everet Johnson

Future Fabric for Accent Pillows
This fabric will be used to create pillows for the two wing back chairs and sofa. It blends perfectly with the existing green sofa and pink chair.

The bottom line: If a piece of furniture is perfect for your space but lacks the correct color scheme, find a great fabric and have it reupholstered. Do your research when selecting a fabric and an upholsterer to get the best price possible.

Bright Colors in Moderation

Recently I realized that many people don’t know how to properly use bold, saturated colors. You don’t have to paint every wall a bright color or fill every shelf with bold accessories to achieve a fun and funky look. In reality, using bright colors everywhere takes away from the design of the space. My suggestions…go easy with wall colors. It is fine to use some bold colors, but stay away from using them throughout your home. Moderation is best.

Let’s use a current project I am working on for an example. One of the rooms we are redesigning is a guest bedroom in the colors citrus green and chocolate brown. Citrus green was chosen to compliment two twin bedspreads already existing in the guest bedroom. I want to honor my clients love for bright colors, just not all over the walls. To punch it up, we will add some pizazz with the pillows and accessories throughout the room. We are using a brown, box-pleated bed skirt on the beds, along with some beautiful fabrics for pillows, and brown or combination brown and green throws on the ends of the beds. I have chosen some patterned fabrics in a khaki and brown color scheme to compliment our green walls and bedspreads. The bold patterns will be fun, but will not prevent my client from switching out the pillows and accessories later to get a different look if they tire of this one. For some additional pops of color we’ll throw some fun art on the walls and place some bold accessories around the room.

In this example it was important that I satisfy my clients love for color and pattern while keeping others from feeling overwhelmed in their space. Good design is all about incorporating what each client likes and needs together with style, function, and in this case, moderation. These techniques will create a great look that will please anyone’s love for bold colors.

Bed in a Bag too Bland?

Ever wanted to make a simple change with your bedding? An easy and usually affordable way to update your bedding is to purchase a “bed in a bag”. Some of you have probably heard of them, but if you haven’t, a bed in a bag is exactly what it sounds like. It is a one stop shopping way to achieve a new look for your bedroom. The bag usually includes a bedspread, bed skirt, pillow shams, and a few accent pillows. Sometimes it even includes a couple window treatments and maybe a throw for the end of your bed. The only problem, in my opinion, with the bed in a bag is that they can be a little boring and monotonous. Of course the patterns of the fabrics go together, but when there are only two or so patterns in the entire room, you lose the beauty of some of the fabrics. I say spice it up a little! While you are at the store purchasing your bed in a bag, stop by the accent pillow aisle, or if you have sewing abilities stop by the fabric aisle. Look at your bed in a bag and find some accent fabrics that go with it. If your bed in a bag has lot’s of pattern in it, then choose a couple contrasting pillows in solid colors, or if your bed in a bag has solid fabrics, choose a couple patterned fabrics in colors that coordinate. Finding accent pillows may not be as simple as throwing the bed in a bag in your shopping cart, but it will be well worth it in the end!

After

In addition to the solid accent pillows, a brown spread was added to the end of the bed.

By adding a few accent pillows and a throw to the end of the bed, you achieve a much more custom look. And to avoid wasting those pillows from the set, throw one of them in a chair if you have one, or put a slip cover on it and use it somewhere else in your home.

Diaper Stacker

For a shower gift I made this adorable diaper stacker with remnants left over from the crib bedding I made for my nephew (see post a few weeks back). This makes an attractive place to store or stuff your diapers and you can hang it on the crib itself, in a closet, on a door knob, or wherever is most convenient for changing diapers at your place!

Home Renovation Stages 1 and 2

This is a home renovation project I am working on in Morningside, Ga. The couple lives in a beautiful home that was in need of some updating and splashes of color. The project consisted of a tiny half bath, living room, and kitchen. These are before and after pictures of the spaces. Final pictures to come once the project has been completed.

After

Beams were created on the ceiling in the kitchen and breakfast areas. A new light was installed above the kitchen table and the table was moved out further into the room. Accessories to come next.

More pictures to come as the project wraps up and furniture and accessories come in! Thanks for reading!

Boring Furniture? Spice it up!

Whenever you buy furniture it typically comes with factory pillows that match. True right? It usually looks something like the sofa below. There is nothing wrong with keeping the “factory” pillows, but it still needs a few things.

Let’s add a little pizazz with a throw on one side of the sofa and a few pillows (in this case they are custom made for the decor, but there is nothing wrong with purchasing ready made pillows). I like to keep the “factory” pillows and add to them. I’m that person that moves the decorative pillows off the sofa when I sit down because it preserves the life of my pillows. Perhaps that is a little troublesome for some, but it keeps your living room from looking like the bland photo above.

Photo 2

Where there’s a sofa there is usually a chair too! And here is the before.

Photo 3

I like to vary the use of my accent fabrics on various pieces of furniture. Instead of using the same brown diagonal print fabric from the sofa (difficult to see the detail here) I chose a ready made brown pillow with brown coconut shell buttons. This varies the pattern and texture of the space. I also paired the pillow with a brown throw to add a little coziness.

Now let’s tie it all together shall we? I found this bench at an antique market last summer in Asheville, North Carolina. I purchased it for $30, a great deal, and found this brown damask fabric to recover it for another $20. A grand total of $50, not bad. Instead of using all the same fabrics once again, I chose this golden colored fabric to blend with the other fabrics already in the room. I placed some trim around the fronts and made a small pillow in front out of the brown fabric already used on the sofa.

Photo 5

So now we’ve spiced up the bland furniture with accent pillows and have used a variety of fabrics and textures to pull all the pieces together. I hope this info will encourage you to bring a little life to your boring furniture and help you select the appropriate textiles to use.

Dog Odors Cramping Your Style?

Did you know that you are supposed to vacuum your carpet once a week per person and per four legged animal. That means for me and my husband and our two dogs I should be vacuuming four times a week! For those of us that can’t quite find the time to vacuum this many times, or if you just plain don’t want to (understandable!) here are a few tips to rid your space of doggy smells.

Tip #1: Vacuuming is still essential to keeping your space clean and odor free. Try to vacuum at least once a week, but when all else fails follow tips #2-#5 to help yourself out and to spare others from your doggy smelling space. No one enjoys that!

Tip #2: Ever use a box of baking soda in your frig to eliminate odors? Well one of its purposes is to deodorize. Open up a box or pour its contents into a bowl and place it somewhere inconspicuous in your room to rid your space of nasty odors.

Tip #3: Go to your local store and purchase some pet odor eliminator spray. It is very reasonably priced and smells great. For best results from my personal experience, try to spray once a day on furniture, doggy beds, and around the room. I would recommend Glade or Febreeze brands. Both work well.

Tip #4: Add one or more odor eliminating air fresheners to your space. These days you can buy anything from an outlet plug in to a “self-servicing” air freshener that puts out a scent every 30 minutes or so on its own.

Tip #5: In addition to these odor eliminating tools, add a few scented candles to your space. They may not eliminate odors, but they certainly can mask them. They provide a nice scent while adding to the atmosphere of your space.

While tips #2-#5 will certainly help eliminate odors from your space, it is vacuuming that will help you out the most. More tips to come! Thanks for reading!

Some tips for living in a small space…

So for the past 7 months my husband and I have been living in a very small space consisting of a large living area, 1 bedroom and a bath. Many of our lovely wedding gifts are stored amongst several locations which makes finding something specific a little difficult. Occasionally I think “oh yeah… I have one of those!” It’s easy to forget when you are not actively using something. Those of you living in small spaces probably know exactly what I mean. Looking around my small space I have a few tips for us all.

My living space is not only a living space, but an office for my design work, a sewing room, and a dining room. Therefore Tip #1 is to stay organized! Go through your clutter occasionally and weed out those extra papers or random things just hanging around that serve no purpose. If you brought something to your space thinking you would use it and you don’t, put it into storage(if available) to free up some additional space. If you don’t have a storage space then consider donating old items that you don’t need any more to a local thrift store.

Tip #1 leads me to the next tip. Tip #2 is to make your furniture count! What I mean by this is if you have brought a piece of furniture to your small space then make sure it serves at least one practical purpose, but preferably more than one. Your space is small so make sure your furniture is multi-functional. For example, many people in homes have sofa tables (a sofa height table placed behind the sofa to have lamps on or to “pretty” up the back of your sofa, etc.). In my case my sofa table serves those purposes, but it is also a dresser for my husband’s clothes. I’m sure many can relate. One dresser is just not enough for two people! It blends in with the rest of my furniture in my living space, but serves a couple purposes- very functional.

In my living space the lighting options, or should I say option, are not great. The ceiling has three 2′x4′ fluorescent lights that certainly do not contribute to any kind of mood lighting at all. Rarely does anyone want to sit around watching TV in a space like that. Tip #3 is to add some lamps. Turn off those nasty overhead lights and set the mood with a few lamps. Place one on either side of your sofa on tables, place one on your desk, or add a floor lamp somewhere where you don’t have a table and need some additional light. Lamps add a much softer and more comfortable lighting environment for everyone.

If you think you will only be living in your small space for a short time like I thought (this does not apply to all) then Tip #4 is to bring some personal items like artwork, special photos, and things that have significance to you. I thought I would only be here a few months so I did not hang any art on the walls for about 6 months. As a designer I obviously grew tired of my bland, blank walls and hung up some favorites on the wall. What a difference! I feel at home now. No point in living somewhere, even for a small amount of time, in a space you don’t feel at home in.

The next tip is something I discovered was essential this week. Tip #5 is to have at least one potted flower or plant in your small space. Not only will it add vibrant and cheerful colors, but it will add a lovely aroma to your space. If you have dogs in your space like me, it is definitely helpful! Dog tips to come in a later post…

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more tips for your space!

It’s a Boy!

My first nephew will be born in just a few weeks! Here are a few pictures of the bedding I made for his crib. Sweet dreams baby boy!

Chick-fil-A EXPO 2009

It was very exciting to be part of the design team for the Chick-fil-A Operators Seminar this year! As designers we were responsible for setting up and tearing down the entire EXPO site. A lot of work! These are some favorites from the EXPO in Long Beach, California.