We all need a getaway retreat!

I'm putting together a "getaway retreat" for one of my client's.  We woman love a place where we can curl up and have some time to ourselves with no interruptions and no noise!  I find it so important that the place I "retreat" to is comfortable, beautiful and has the right lighting to put me in a relaxed mood.

I'm going to create just that for my wonderful client. 

The above pillows are my inspiration for this room that overlooks her wonderful veranda with a pool!

  I love the crystal tassels in each corner.  So elegant and charming.

Here are some of the accessory items that I've been collecting over the last few weeks.

Set of 4

Aren't they pretty?

Love that these floral botanicals are on a burlap canvas.

Rustic charm.

What spot in your home do you get away to retreat?

Just a sneak peak, I'll post the final reveal pictures of this "getaway retreat" when I'm all finished with the room in a few weeks.

Ruthie

Charming updates to dining and living room

I just finished a client's dining room and living room this week and was really excited with the outcome.

My client wanted to do some updates without having to replace all her furniture.  In the dining room above, we took the large hutch off the buffet, added the incredible carved wood mirror and flanked each side of the buffet with these beautiful lamps. I fell in love with the lampshades because they are the same color as the living room which flows off this dining room.   

She had wooden chairs that went with the dining room table and were really dated so we got rid of those and added these wonderful gray parson chairs. It really made this room much more stylish.

We were able to use the furniture that means something to them and has been passed down from a family member.  Looks totally different when you add updated and grand items to the grouping.  As you know, I'm a real fan of "using what you have"

The drapery panels really made the room look finished and added height, color and my client's classy personality to the room.

BEFORE

You remember me posting about this room and you saw the before and after when we finished painting.  I've got pictures now of all the updates we did with accessories, etc.

The main problem with this space is that it lacked personality and the room felt stiff and formal.  Being that it's the first room you see when you walk in, my client didn't want that impression because they aren't stiff, formal people.  All the items were also off scale for this room too. 

You can see the dining chairs I spoke about earlier in the above photo.

AFTER

My goal was to make this room much more alive, colorful and casual.

We took down the home made draperies and added plantation shutters.  Now you can really see the beautiful pool outside which is the main focal point in this room.  No draperies are needed!!!!  We painted the walls this amazing blue and it compliments the pool perfectly, making the backyard area part of this room.   The crown molding was painted in this stately slate color as well as the columns.  It really made the space look so much more elegant and added pizzazz.  We added a rug, new ottoman, pillows, console table with blown glass accessories and brought the floor lamp in from another room. We kept the client's existing artwork to save us money.  Notice how we put the tree in a taller urn, it raised it up and made it more to scale for the room.

BEFORE

Very stiff and not much color.

AFTER

Added a variety of pillows to the couch which gives it an eclectic mix and makes the room so much more inviting, relaxed and so much less formal.

This wonderful lamp with the hanging crystals was one of my favorite accessories in the room.

I love throw pillows!  Especially in a room where the couch isn't used "daily."  You have to be practical about pillows and don't want them to interfere with every day use of the furniture. 

So much better don't you think?  You can see the beautiful wall color in this photo.

Love that this ottoman has a different fabric and color than the chair, giving an eclectic flair to the room.  It totally works in this room because it pulls out the color of the walls as well as the color in the rug.  Everything is now so much less "matchy matchy"

We added a glaze to the columns and that really made them stunning!  The first thing you see when you walk into their home.

BEFORE

AFTER

We didn't miss anything.  Niches can add so much to the end of a hallway if they are cared about.

We are going to add some green moss to this urn to finish it off.

Participating in Metamorphis Monday at betweennapsontheporch

Ruthie

 

Before & After; fresh updates to a bathroom

BEFORE

As you all know, my favorite thing to do as a decorator is a "walk-thru" consultation where I give my client's ideas and suggestions for their home.  Sometimes it's because they are wanting to sell their home, other times they want to do the work themselves and need inspiration to get started!  

I did just that with a client a while back and she just sent me her photo's so I could see the changes that took place to their guest bathroom.

AFTER

Wow, what a difference!  It's so classy!

This bathroom was changed up with small things....mostly labor and color!

I suggested they do the following:

• Paint the walls a chocolate brown
• Take out the one big mirror and replace it with two oval mirrors
• Paint the cabinets an "espresso" color to make them look more expensive
• Replace light fixture with one fixture above each mirror
• Add hardware to the cabinets

BEFORE

AFTER

The cabinetry looks so much better now that it has a warm chocolate backdrop!

Thanks Jennifer for sending me these photo's.  I love to see what my client's do with the ideas that I give them! 

My job is so rewarding when I see people making their houses their homes!

Ruthie

Not usually a "florally" girlie but I like this!

I've been to every antique mall in the metroplex over the last few days looking for items for several client's. 

I saw this vignette at Grapevine Antique Mall and thought it was so beautiful.  So very creative to see  the way she used the wrought iron pieces as the headboard surround and then placed a mirror in the center. 

The Laura Ashley floral pillows are so feminine and soft.

Of course I checked, and all the pillows are down filled!  Just like I like them!

I'll take the two animal print chairs too!

I found so many other treasures but still haven't found what I'm actually looking for....Grrrrr.....

Happy rest of the weekend!

Ruthie

Come on in and sit a minute!

BEFORE

Several months ago I met with a client who wanted me to help her pick out carpet, tile and paint colors for her living room, dining room kitchen and family room.

Today I went to rearrange all their furniture, hang all their artwork and pictures and place their accessories.  ALL OF IT WAS "USING WHAT THEY HAD."  I added NOTHING.

Here's a quick look at what a 1/2 day room re-arrange can do!

AFTER

AFTER

My client really wanted their space to be used!  Before it wasn't very inviting!  I wanted the space to have a "come on in and sit a minute" feel to it.  Now it's much more open and conversational.  I took out several pieces that weren't to scale and made the room look cluttered. 

Suggested they get new lampshades for their lamps.  The pleats are hard to keep clean and date the room.

BEFORE

AFTER

I recommended that they take down the lace drapes and replace them with plantation shutters.  The space is much simpler and classier now that there isn't so much stuff in the room.

BEFORE

AFTER

Angled the furniture and added a mix and match feel to the space.  I loved this lamp base; it is an old roller that stamped wallpaper patterns.  So cool that they turned it into a lamp base.

CLOSE UP OF VIGNETTES

Fun painting that adds an eclectic "artsy" feel.

Don't be afraid to mix antiques with modern art. 

Collection of family members paintings and pictures on the desk that one of their uncles made years ago.

Sketches the client did in college and a clock her mother passed on to her.

We had the fireplace surround painted this wonderful "putty" color.  It used to be stark white and added no warmth to the space.  I suggested that the client do the same tile pretty much throughout the whole house.  This made all the spaces flow together and eliminated the "choppy" feeling from room to room.

I always make sure EVERYONE has a place to put down their glass or put up their feet.

Book your half day install today!  You'll love the quick changes!

Ruthie

Weird and Funky Houses

Just a bit of crazy house fun for your holiday weekend!

I don't think I could sleep at night in this home.  I would worry about falling into the water!

Now that's a tree house! 

Wow!!!!  Talk about feeling on top of the world.

This home reminds me of the nursery rhyme "There was an old lady that lived in a shoe."

Well, here you go!  I think she lived here.

Upside Down House 

Okay, now I'm  nauseated

I'd say this house offers great hospitality

I want to go inside this one.  I wonder if a flight attendant would serve me a drink?

Maybe a bag of  pretzels?

I want this house in Texas!  The stone and the grass roof seems as thought it would be COOL in this ridiculous heat!!! 

Bank turned into a home. 

The bank vault got turned into their guest room.  I'd go to bed feeling pretty wealthy!

Yee Haw!

Wow.. now this is community livin'

I think NOT for the dots!

My husband's dream home!  Looks like an over-sized garage.

All I can say is the groceries would need to be delivered to my door!

I like!

I wonder if they can hear the ocean all night in this house?

I wonder how they made those draperies curved to look like eyeballs?

Wouldn't want my whole family in this house, it may go over!

No way!

Hope you have a great holiday weekend with family and friends.

I'm having a blast and feel blessed and honored to live in this wonderful country!

Ruthie