Preppy Modern Client Refresh

I met with a client a couple weeks ago to come up with some options to refresh their living room; new pillows, a rug and window treatment to start. They mentioned liking a "preppy" look and some items they recently scored from "C Wonder" so I took that and ran in three slightly different but also very interchangeable directions to give them options for switching out colors and patterns. 

So how does Preppy play out in home decor?! The style is easily recognized in fashion by it's color scheme and graphic patterns and the look is very much to use any and all interchangeably. 

You recognize these preppy colors, yes?! Really the sky's the limit as far as color goes but these classic colors seem to make their way into the look even if they may vary slightly in tone. 

Pattern Play! I love that the look is created using a careful mixture of what we think of as "preppy" patterns. In design these patterns play out most popularly as trellis, Ikat, polka dot, stripe (both pinstripe and wide) and Greek key, just to name a few.

Obviously with such an array of potential colors and patterns there are many directions I could have taken these design boards but the biggest consideration was the color they already had going on in the room. Because their sofa is espresso leather, the floors are brown and the wall to wall build ins are painted in a chocolate tone we needed to bring in some lighter neutrals with our color to break up the dark and add pattern to create interest and depth. They just redid their kitchen (open to living room) with light gray cabinets and a white marble island so making sure white was in most of the living room accessories was something I took into consideration both to lighten up the dark living space and to visually pull together the kitchen space with the living room. The wall color in the living room and kitchen are a very light warm gray (Worldly Gray, by Sherwin Williams). Because of the gray walls I used more whites and beige tones as my neutrals rather than gray and charcoal tones which would have been too blendy (and yes that is not a word and my husbands hates that I put a "y" on any adjective) He might just be too lawyery to get it! (only kidding D) I should also add that my client wanted me to stay rather conservative with the color and I tried to honor that wish with the neutrals and the navy blue tones as I consider that to be a more conservative color. I did play with pattern but kept my color scheme rather simple. Also many of the pillows and rugs from option to option are very interchangeable so that they can play around with the style too. Let's do it...

OPTION 1: navy on the rug but neutral on the windows! This board I did as a more a concept board to show them what it would look like to add some more furniture; i.e. the nice big round ottoman and the sofa table/ console that I would envision behind their sofa with some decorative items and lamps. 

OPTION 2: Lets add in some more color and a bolder pattern on the floor for a slightly different look?!?

OPTION 3: We use more neutrals and we get a little sassier with the prints (perhaps an animal print ottoman?!?) and then we do a very traditional white curtain and banded cornice board treatment to bring it back to classic! I also kept the pillow patterns fairly simple to marry them with the classic banded window treatment style! I love the kelly green added in and think that this color is stunning as an accent to any of these designs (notice the emerald green lamps on the first layout)!

What I love about all these options is you can add in accessory colors like green and aqua or even fun colors like coral and fuchsia and plum. So, which one will they like?!? Which one do you like?! How do you feel about preppy patterns in your living space? 

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Thanks for your support!

{Cheers!!}
Laura

Hit Refresh. Mini Makeover Underway

If your kids are anything like mine, one or both of them are up at some point during most nights.

"My bed is wet."
"I need water."
"I had a nightmare. Will you sleep with me?"
"Can I sleep in your bed?"
And my personal favorite, "I fell out of my bed. Can I sleep in the big bed? (Also known as the guest bedroom.) 

The first two are mildly annoying but part of the job. The second two pull at the heart strings and in a weird way make you feel good. Still needed. And the last one, well, is funny. But after making an additional bed 10 or 20 times, I've had to rethink the twin bed situation in my oldest son's room. Love the look of them, but he's a mover and a shaker in the wee hours.  And so a room refresh (and upgrade) is underway. . . enter the queen bed.

Currently, there is an underlying hint of cowboy in his room. The headboards and pillows are faux navy and cream cowhide and there is some wall art that channels cowboy, including a poster of Woody's gang (Toy Story).

Here is his room now.

Overall, I feel like the room is youthful but very transitional as my son gets older and his interests change. Here are some bedrooms that I've seen that also have a youthful yet transitional design.

Cowboy pillow covers and a cowhide rug mixed with modern patterns and colors give this room a subtle theme without being over-bearing.

photo via: Emily A. Clark

I love the "world traveller" feel of this boy room.

Source

Source

As for my makeover, I found this old queen-size head board and had it painted mustard yellow. It's a little short, so I'll have to hang it on the wall. 

Here are some of the new and old fabrics I'm using.

We relocated the desk from our den.

And fresh paint is in process!

Full reveal next week! {Erin}

A Modern Buffet Makeover Inspired by a Bangle

Well you have to inspired by something, right?! I had stared at the buffet I got for a steal at Midland Antiques (a local Indianapolis favorite) for almost two years before deciding how to redo it! And since we are in the midst of my front room/dining area makeover, read more about it HERE, it was go time or curbside it would have gone for this piece! Here was my inspiration... an old bangle bracelet given to my daughter in a bag full of play jewels!

If you have been following along, my adjoined rooms are headed toward a mostly black & white look with pops of yellow gold and emerald green. As a refresher here is my inspiration board.

If you recall this is what my buffet looked like...

BEFORE!

It has a missing piece off the bottom which we replaced with scrap wood from the trim project on the wall and it also had lots of nicks and chips that needed to be filled in with wood putty. The snow storm brought some elves to help me prep my piece. I was actually very impressed with my daughter's putty knife skills....for some, pride comes in high marks and athletic ability but have you ever seen your kid spackle and sand with proper technique?!? Melts my heart!:) 

So basically we filled in our gauges with wood putty and sanded them smooth. We started out running the steel wool over for a light sand and it was more necessary to use on the thin wood detail on the front but the top and sides ended up getting a once over with the power sander, which by the way, is such a great alternative to hand sanding. You get a way smoother finish much much faster! 

Then I decided to use oil based paint on this project because I love to get high when I can squeeze it in... No really, that wasn't the reason. But it is very stinky so open your windows if you can! The benefit of using an oil based paint is that it glides on smoother and gives more that spray painted look. Sometimes the latex finishes show more brush strokes and don't give as smooth of a look. And when you use oil based paint you must use oil based primer!! Water based latex or enamel paints will not stick to an oil primer. 

Oh and next to the primer...That's my coffee as I decided to stop drinking Diet Coke (will save more on that for another post describing why I could probably donate my body for research on rat poisoning) Like any addict I am not sure how long my strike will last and like any addict I may talk myself into why the FDA would not hold back on the public but in all honesty I know for sure they prolly would! So we shall see. For now, coffee..... 

Back to the makeover! There is my son, being exposed to the toxins I just mentioned in oil based paint:) Look at that smile, will ya?! Just kidding:) He just rolled the top then I kicked him out! Don't call child services yet!

And without boring you with the taping off details and the step by step process of rinsing brushes and swapping out paint to get the three tone look I wanted for it, I will instead just show you!! That's what you want anyway, right?! You can figure that the steps that got it from primer through two paint colors to finished product were just a mix of patience and a steady hand on the brush!! 

OK so recall the BEFORE...

AFTER, A mid century modern buffet meets an art deco style room make over and a black white and brown bracelet for inspiration!!  And hopefully, if I know at all what I'm doing, it will all mesh! 

In a nut shell, I used a black oil based paint, just the pre mixed black they have in the section of oil based paints in Lowes. I used the black on the top and sides and then on a piece at the bottom (see later pictures for details on the bottom). Then on the trim pieces around the mirror I used the white pre mixed can in the same section. I left the original stained wood then for the area that angles in and surrounds the white trimmed out mirrored area and also some at the bottom. As a final coat, I used a gloss finish brush on polyurethane to protect the finish. 

So what do you think?? Will it fit in with my decor in the room?! I have 2 side tables that are next to finish for either side of my emerald green sofa and I have two cain back chairs that I need to finish spraying before we reupholster them!! I am so excited about this room!! It feels good to have gotten this piece checked off the list!! 

Cheers!!

{Laura}

UPDATE: Living Room Reno!

Now that the elves have gone back to the North Pole and the Arctic Vortex has subsided, it's time to get back on track with projects. (Uh, and exercise, since I feel like I'm pushing the outer limits of my yoga pants!) I have made some progress on my living room renovations that I posted about in November (Ah! Blasphemy. What is taking me so long?!) But in all honesty, once I got the painters out, the holidays took over and then mother nature! (and on the 23rd day, the children finally go back to school!). 

As a side note: when my dad would get irritated with us gals, he would say "some animals eat their young". I get it now dad, I get it. Rabbit trail. Rabbit trail. Where was I?

Right. So as a refresher, here is the look I was shooting for. Black trim, cream walls with a lot of natural hues and pops of color. 

And here is where I started. 

Before

After

And this is the sitting room off of the living room. Before it was an undefined and under-used space. 

Before

We ended up converting it into a computer area. 

After

More to come on this. . . now that we are finally out of the house!
{Erin}