Wallpaper or Stencil?

Here is the latest REdesign dilemma one of my (favorite) clients has presented me with...read her email below:

...hey!!!  this is the look i am going for in my living room.  change again. yes.  i want to wallpaper my photo wall!!  i am stuck.  help!

I must say that AT FIRST all I noticed about this photo was the NAKED woman above the couch.  Really?

Next, I noticed the bold graphic printing on the rug and the curtain panels....

Then, I noticed all the textures that were EVERYWHERE due to the enormous amount of layering of EVERYTHING (which I do love!)

And, FINALLY, I noticed the subtle pattern on the wallpaper.  

Really, the wallpaper is what she noticed???!!!???  Cracked me up.

Here is the wall that we are REdesigning with either wallpaper or a stencil...I have to REsearch which avenue will be worth the time and/or money.

Stay tuned for the REveal...

Basement Purge!!! (the BEFORE photo!)

This is one of my many things to do this weekend...clean MY basement storage area.

Yep, even I have clutter.

Anyone else have a space like this?

If so, I am happy to help you organize it.

Seriously.

Look for the AFTER photo on Sunday...

It'll be fabulous!!!

(If only for a while...)

HavenHouse St. Louis needs a REdo!!! (Can YOU help?)

Below is an letter that I just received about my latest Design Dilemma!  I am fairly certain it is going to be the most impactful REdesign job I have ever done!  Please contact me if you can help me in ANY way, small or large, to make this REdesign a success.  Thanks so much in advance!

Dear Rebecca--
I am working on a new project and need some help from a fellow designer, so naturally I thought of you! 

Through my work with Scott Harris Oliphant Foundation or SHO, it has been a pleasure to be introduced to HavenHouse St. Louis and the volunteers that work there. HavenHouse is a local nonprofit (which SHO supports) that provides all the comforts of home for families who live out of town and need to travel to St. Louis for treatment at local hospitals. I have been so impressed by the impact that HavenHouse has had on the lives of cancer patients and their families, that it has moved me to donate my skills as an interior designer to REdecorate a few of their guest rooms. 

The facilities at HavenHouse started out as a children's orphanage, and many of the rooms still have a very institutional look to them. It would be such a pleasure to be able to create a beautiful room, where a guest can relax and heal after being in a hospital all day receiving treatment. Basically, I'll need some help with the REdesign of the room, as well as the installation. 

The design of course, may be mostly dictated by the donations we receive for the project. Accepting delivery and coordinating installation will be especially helpful if you are available since I'm not during the day to be on site. I have commitment from Ashley Furniture and Weekends Only to donate new furniture for the project. The scope of the project will really be determined by their level of commitment. I gave them a list of furniture needed for 5 rooms, I would love to do all 5 - but we will have to see what they come back with. Still working on sources for bedding, accessories, bathroom vanities, light fixtures and paint. Any ideas? I've contacted a few people my husband knows through Lowes, my neighbor who is a contractor, a bedding line we use called Company C, as well as my rep for Sherwin Williams and Porter Paint - but haven't had any response yet. 

HavenHouse said they would be happy to give anyone who would be involved in the project a tour - maybe we could meet and you could see it one night next week? 

I have some pictures attached of a typical room so you know what we are working with - it's pretty sad :( 

Thanks!

Look what is in the July/August issue of House Beautiful!

You might remember reading about an email I received just a month ago from a client about her most current house "Design Dilemma"--she was BURIED IN BEIGE.  And, man, was she over it.  She was hoping to zhoozh up her living room with a new and fun color...but her only requirement was that the new color would showcase some pillows that she had recently had made for her couches and wingback chairs.  I assured her this would not be a problem...easy peasy, in fact. She wasn't as confident.  So, I chose a just few colors, but ultimately went for Benjamin Moore's "Florida Keys"...and the room was transformed beautifully.  My client was thrilled, as was I.  Design Dilemma solved...case closed.

And then I got this.

A new email and photo attachment from the same client....and it read:

In House Beautiful July/August issue....my living room color!!!!

Yes!!!  


LOVE the affirmation!  Isn't that primarily what everyone wants in life?...to be affirmed?


Thank you House Beautiful for affirming my client (and me!) that her living room color is just as GORGEOUS as we already knew it was.


Case closed...again.

Buried in Beige Design Dilemma Solved!!!

My friend, Benjamin Moore, came to the rescue again. 

This time Old Ben came through with a brilliant blue to bring out the the blue in the pillow that my client loves so much!  

"Florida Keys" is the name of this color we chose and, I must say, it is a pretty good descriptor.  If you have ever been to The Florida Keys...you know this color.  Vibrant, yet amazingly soothing.  

Now fast forward a day (maybe two) and I got an email entitled POP!!! from her on my phone.  When I opened the email this is what I saw...

LOVE. HER.

Apparently, my client does NOT mess around.  She got to work immediately...no joke.  What a thrill! Someone else out there is as crazy (in such an amazing way) as I am...just goes for it...shoving all the furniture into the center of a room...throwing plastic sheeting over it all...and gets the job done!  

A day after I received the plastic sheeting---room in progress photo--I got these next few photos.  Try not to laugh at the commentary she added to the BEFORE AND AFTER shots.  I laughed out loud when I saw her very sad son in the all beige room.  But, if you notice, in the newly painted room, he is sad no more!!!  The new blue has literally taken his blues away.

Next, we realized that the large expanse of the beige/buff/tan/bisque wall needed something more than just a new shade of color to make it become more of a focal point in the room.  After all, it would be holding this insanely giant TV that everyone would be sitting and staring at for hours on end.

This wall needed something custom built. 

It need this...


KaPOW... as my client so eloquently put it! 

As I mentioned before...color changes everything.  It is an easy fix.  It is fairly inexpensive.  And, it really has the power to transform the most boring of beige living rooms and bring them back to life.  Florida Keys was the WOW factor that my client was looking for...vibrant and soothing at the same time.  

Beige no more...phew!

Buried in BEIGE Design Dilemma Solved!  

Next Design Dilemma?   Old chairs in need of a face lift.  

Buried in Beige Design Dilemma

Below is my latest Design Dilemma...this one was easy to fix.  


Dear Rebecca, 

We moved into a new house about 6 months ago and it is beige... I mean the whole house is almost the same shade of beige.  We bought from a relocation company and I suspect they had the entire house painted so it was "neutral".  

Now that we are all moved in, the beige is driving me crazy.  Every room - beige... did I mention all the beige?  I love the look of all white, but I have 3 kids, so that is O-U-T.  I also love COLOR... I am having a really difficult time finding a wall color that matches with my pillow fabric (which I LOVE) and the sage green couches we already have.  I want something that POPS!  

Pillow = L.O.V.E.

Whatever you call it - tan, bisquit, buff, cream, khaki, oatmeal, off-white, sand..it has got to go... at least in our family room!  

HELP.  PLEASE. NOW.

Signed, 

Bumming & Buried in Beige

Boring BEIGE living room...only to be saved by cute pillows, but even CUTER KIDS. 

Accessories are interesting, but you can't see them in all the BEIGE.

Blank Beige Wall...no thanks...FAIL.

All my client REALLY needed was for me to agree with her that all the beige in her house equalled super boring, and then pick out a color to make her living room come ALIVE!  That is just what I did...and a few other minor suggestions.

Stay tuned for the after photos...COLOR changes everything.

Kitchen Nook Design Dilemma Solved!!!

Hi again!  

After a month of not updating my blog, I'm back.  

It has been a crazy few weeks...my father-in-law's unexpected passing, attending my nephew's HS graduation in Texas, my kids getting out of school for the summer, and a week long vacation to the Jersey Shore (no Snooki sightings, but I saw a lot of bump-its!)....it really has been CRAZY!  

But I'm back...and all is well again.

So, my last blog post asked you to stick around to see how my client's Kitchen Nook Design Dilemma was going turn out.  And, I am pleased to say that it turned out AWESOME!  

Take a look for yourself...

BEFORE:  

No Window Treatments--(a bit stark)

AFTER:  

Classic Inverted Box Pleated Valanced--(TA DA!!!)

BEFORE:

The window seat cushion is looking a bit beaten down after only a year of use.  The cover needs a good washing to bring it back to life.  It's hard to tell in this photo, but the fabric is sagging/pulling in all the wrong directions and needs a bit of help to pull itself back together.  

AFTER:

Window Seat Cushion has been freshly washed, has more structure because of batting that has been added around the existing foam to help keep the fabric in place, and has been anchored to the wall with cup hooks attached to the back of the cushion to keep it from moving forward and off the bench.  

Notice the original pillows add a punch of color, but we have had black buttons added to the center of them to "match" the black buttons at the top of each inverted pleat on the valances.  Subtle detail that makes all the difference.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...DETAILS make ALL the DIFFERENCE.

A closer look at the fabric we chose.  Nothing too crazy...a very simple grayish linen was the main fabric...crisp looking with a bit of texture.  Perfect.   

  

Next, we looked for a pop of color for the valances...the WOW factor that would make you look closer at the window treatment.  It was the easy choice because the main accent color in her kitchen is RED...as seen in her pendant lights above her island, in her art work, and in the window seat cushion.

Loved that the accent fabric was a bit quirky...it has a fancier "sheen" to the fabric compared to the earthy linen...and the gray in the circles matched the gray linen just right.  My client was sooooo excited with this fabric, but I was secretly even more pleased.  If you know me well, you know I have a "thing" for circles.  I don't know what it is about this simple shape, but it is my favorite and was so glad to be able to incorporate it into this design.

 

I have to mention that I attached the above photo because it is a tricky window...a bay window...a window with angles.  Angles are hard for almost everyone...but not my seamstress!  She is amazing with them, and this is one of just many reasons I respect her work. 

I love my seamstress for lots of other important reasons, as well.  

• She is quick.  
• She is affordable. 
• She is personable.  
• She will make what you think is impossible, possible. 
• She knows how to measure correctly each time...on any project, on any curve, on any angle...and she gets it right.  
• She figures out how much fabric you need...and NEVER makes you buy more than you need.  
• She whips up your stuff in no time...no joke.  
• She shows up at your house with a drill or a ladder or a steamer or her actual sewing machine...and VOILA...everything is in place...and looks just AMAZING!  

And, if by chance, something is not perfect, she will make it right...and quickly.  Thank you, again, Karen for such beautiful work.

Kitchen Nook Design Dilemma SOLVED.

Love. It.

Stay tuned for my next Design Dilemma post...BEIGE has taken over!

TARGET to the rescue! Again.

Some of you are probably wondering how my Bedroom Design Dilemma client only spent a couple hundred bucks when she decided to REthink, REdesign, and REorganize her entire house? Well, it was simple.

She went to TARGET ... the MECCA of all Mom Stores.

This got your ATTENTION, huh!?!

Going to Target = spending one hundred bucks (or two in this case!)

We ALL know that.

She bought bins for all three bedroom closets, spoiled herself with some matching hangers for HER closet, and a leather storage bench for the bottom of their GIGANTIC bed.

By the way, typing the word "bins" just made me smile...if you know me, you are laughing out loud. I feel the same way when I say "label maker"--no joke.

So, as you know by my previous post, we got rid of--- or I should say "Repurposed"--- her very cumbersome second dresser that was in her bedroom. It was carried by us, rather hilariously, to the basement. Check out how this bad boy got REpurposed.

TADA! Functional as a TV console AND it has tons of storage for all things related to Wii, Xbox 360, or DVDs. Huge success...Bam!

Next, I opened her bedroom closet door (I asked first) to find this!

Whoa....SCORE!!!

Let's get a closer look...at the size of those shoes!

WHOA! was my first thought, but my second was SCORE! Why, you ask? Because she already had a closet system installed...yippee! My job just got sooooo much easier! She has had these closets from Saint Louis Closet Company for over 10 years...it was the first improvement she had done to their house when they moved in. However, this is how they were "using" them. Whaa Whaa Whaaaaa! This is EXACTLY why SLCC and I have teamed up together...so I can be a resource to their clients of how to put back together their "stuff" in their newly installed closet systems.

After a bit of thought, we realized that it would be best if my client moved her clothes from their shared "master" closet into the office closet in the neighboring room. This way, all of the "stuff" that came out of the dresser that we moved out of the bedroom could fit into HIS closet---and very easily I might add. This giant of a man actually has a bit of extra room to grow into in this closet.

Note: His GIANT shoes now fit onto the shelves at almost his line of vision, so he does not have to bend down SO far...another plus. We tried to compartmentalize some of his shoes, but that did not work out so well. Bahahaha!

HIS and HERS

Next, we moved into my client's office to assess the closet situation.

FAIL.

A few bins and some matching hangers later....TADA!

On a side note, I think I need to give this client some props because not only does she have her all of clothes in here (and COLOR ORGANIZED, I might add), she also has a lot of her "work" equipment in this closet, as well. It is well hidden and contained inside of these colorful bins, but nonetheless, she made it all work with a huge sense of style and a SMILE.

Finally, we decided to tackle the boys' room. We had to do this because at some point in time she had decided in was a good idea to keep some of their clothes in her office, even though they have the BIGGEST closet and a dresser, plus two night stands. Did NOT work for me. And, she admitted, very easily, that it did NOT for her either, but she just didn't know how to make it work. They are boys, after all, which means messy and unorganized.

Oh NO they didn't.

When I saw this I LITERALLY got down on my hands and knees...not to pray...but to get this pile of boy things put into their right places. After all, everything should have a place, especially to a child. (Parenting tip: Train them well now, so they can function well later as adults.) A lot of this stuff went right into the trash--they'll never know, I promise. A few 3M hooks and some new bins later...TADA!

3M hooks in action!

My client had never heard of them before...gasp...

she is now keeping them in business!!!

The two boys can reach everything easily now and know WHERE all of their toys go because we decided to buy only clear, plastic bins for these millions of tiny pieces of things. The wicker or colored bins hold things like socks/underwear (on the lower shelves) and albums/extra sheets (on the higher shelves)--brilliant, I know. The boys were happy with the REorganization, as well. After all, everyone...but especially children...want boundaries and routine and stability. Ask any therapist or teacher...they will agree with this 1000%. Sorry if this hits a nerve for some of you, but it's true. Call me and I can help...I am cheaper than a therapist!

Now the inside of the closet matches the inside of the boys' room....organized, functional, and AMAZING!

After all, isn't that what we all want to BE?

Organized, functional, and AMAZING?

Yep.

Now onto my next Design Dilemma...

This time it's a KITCHEN.

Stay tuned...

Bedroom Design Dilemma Solved--Round One!!!

Dear Rebecca,

First of all, thank you so much for responding so quickly! Once I get something in my head--I want to get it done--so thank you! I tried the floor lamp idea and it worked! I think if I add a few photos to the far left wall, like you suggested, in between the window and the corner of the walls, it will help balance things out even more. I loved your suggestions!

Sincerely,

No Longer Stumped

BEFORE

(room felt off balance because the bed can not be centered on

wall and there is too much empty space above the left lamp)

AFTER

(room appears more balanced because of the

taller floor lamp filling up the empty space)

Although, I am pleased with how the taller floor lamp balanced out the left side of the bed---helping to make the room appear more balanced, I am not totally convinced that there is an even better solution to helping solve this bedroom design dilemma. Stay tuned for ROUND TWO of Bedroom Design Dilemma Solved!

Bedroom Design Dilemma

Dear Rebecca,

I recently purchased two night stands for my master bedroom. Because of where the window is and where the tables go, my bed is not centered. This bugs me. Do you have any suggestions for the left side of my bed in the corner--to balance it out?

Sincerely,
Stumped.

Dear Stumped,

First, let me say that I LOVE your bedding! It shows that you have a great sense of style and really shows your personality---fun, eclectic, and colorful! Most people would tend to shy away from color and pattern in a smaller space, but you stayed true to your style. Impressive!

Now onto your design dilemma...

By looking at your photos, I can see that you have a very large bed that can NOT be centered on a wall...giving the room a feeling of imbalance. This is a frustration that I see over and over with many of my clients.

I have a few suggestions that might help you achieve a more balanced feeling for your space.

• Buy a floor lamp for the left side of the bed that is taller than the one you have right now. Place your side table in front of the floor lamp with a decorative accessory (frame, bowl, books) on top of it. This will help fill up the empty space that is creating the feeling of imbalance.
• Coupled with the new floor lamp, you should hang two pieces of framed art or photos vertically on the blank wall in between the window and the corner of the room. This will add weight to the left side of the bed and help balance out that side of the bed.
• Another option would be to buy a taller plant and place it to the left of the bed. This will add height (and color) to this corner and help give you a more balanced feeling. You might have to lose the lighting on the left side of the bed, though. Not sure if that is functional for you to lose lighting in such a small space.

These are just a few suggestions that I have for your design dilemma. Hope that one of them works for you. If not, I have a few more tricks I can share with you...I don't want to overwhelm you with too many options now. I am happy to come over and help you...just email me at or call. You can find my information at rebeccastisser.com.

Can't wait to see what you come up with to give your room the balanced feel that you want! Send updated photos soon please!

Good luck,
Rebecca