Shout Out to Opal

I wanted to give a shout out of thanks to Opal Design Group for featuring my kitchen makeover on their blog this week.  Such a nice surprise to see my kitchen when I popped over!

  

This design team with offices in Utah and Oregon was founded by Jana Romney and Jen Adair.   These cute girls have truly got it going on.  If you have not checked out their blog, it is a great resource.  What I love about their blog and what I think makes it different from most are all the fabulous videos they've included on different pages.   It feels so much more interactive - like they are talking to you!  And there is some great information packed into those videos like - hanging curtains the right way, mood lighting and their take on down pillows (which I totally agree).   

Also, if you sign up to receive their newsletter they will also send you three of their favorite paint schedules as well as gallery wall templates.  If you have a minute, go check them out!  M.  

A June Bride

I'm in the stage of life where most of my friends are married; but their children are still too young to be getting married.  So, we're not attending weddings like back in the day.  While I appreciate the reprieve from purchasing all the gifts, I truly miss the weddings.  All those beautiful brides and, of course, the flowers.  

So, to kick off the month June and all those lucky girls who either got married in June or who will be saying "I do" this month, here are my favorite websites for wedding flowers.  So much talent and inspiration here . . . 

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Heaven help me when the day rolls around for my daughter to tie the knot!  M. 

Artwork to Consider

While framing my sea fans, I decided we needed to talk about artwork in general.  For a space to feel high end, it's important to think outside the box on different types of artwork. The old adage, "buy what you like" does not always work. Too often, when clients buy what they like, their spaces have a "one note" aesthetic. They can't seem to put their finger on the problem; but the space just doesn't feel right. Many times, selecting similar artwork for a space will make a room very predictable and blah.

My rule with artwork - mix it up. When you are considering a piece of artwork, ask yourself. "Do I already have a piece that looks similar to this piece?" If the answer is yes, pass on it. Now, I'm not talking about a color palette here.  Obviously, the colors in the piece of artwork you select should compliment the room. But think different mediums for the artwork - oils, watercolors, etchings, architectural remnants, and clever objects used as artwork. You will be pleasantly surprised by the results of this little trick.

Here are just a few ideas I've found online for unusual artwork.

Telephones
(my kids probably would not even know what these were used for!)

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This is tutorial on turning a simple decorative wood piece from Home Depot into artwork.  Love it!

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An old door - still has it's hinges.

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Vogue Magazine Covers
Perfect for a room where you need some color.

A total industrial vibe with this fan cover.  And I love that they were clever about what they used to display the fan.  It all becomes part of the artwork.  Simple, but cool.

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Vintage Cameras

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Album covers

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A model ship - talk about a focal point.

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Letter box.

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Sheet Music

Remember, you can decide if you want it to be whimsical . . . 

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Or sophisticated.  It's all in how you decide to frame it.

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Vintage Scarf

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Even A Swimsuit!

 The real trick is to think about things meaningful to you and your family.  Then come up with a clever way to display them on your walls.  Have a marvelous day! M.

Sea Fans - Tutorial

As promised, here are the steps for framing the sea fans.  I started with fans.  If you would like some of your very own click here.  Then, I picked up two square shadow box Ribba frames in white from IKEA.  Yes, I said IKEA.  I already had the linen, but you can pick up a yard or so from any fabric store.  In addition to these supplies, you will also need: scissors, exacto knife (box cutter), self adhesive fabric spray, a staple gun, monofilament thread, a needle, a drill, four popsicle sticks (just wait, I'll explain) and thick brown all purpose paper.

Step One

Measure your sea fans and determine the best placement of them in your frame.  Mark this spot on the backing board (which is provided with the Ribba frame).

Using your drill, make a small hole going all the way through the backing board.  You will also want to make a second hole in the backing board at the point where the base or root of the sea fan will rest.    

Step Two

Measure and cut your linen one inch larger than the backing board all the way around.

Step Three

This is very important (I did not do this on the first one and had to go back and redo it).  Secure the brackets and hanging wire onto the backing board (using the instructions provided with the IKEA frame).  

Step Four

Spray the backing board with the self adhesive spray and cover with the linen.  This will cover the fronts of the hanging brackets so they are not see in the final product.  

Step Five

Flip the board over and re-enforce with staples to secure the linen to the board.  This will prevent the fabric from drooping from the weight of the sea fans in the final product.

Step Six

Using the needle and monofilament thread, push the needle through the back and around the sea fan to secure it to the board.

You are basically sewing the sea fan to the linen.

 I looped it through the backing board and around the sea fans three times.  I did this for for the top and bottom holes I drilled in the backing.

Step Seven

Once you have loop it through several times, place a popsicle stick over the drilled hole on the back and tie off the thread securing the popsicle stick.  This will act as a support for the sea fan and prevent it from drooping in the final product. 

Step Eight

Remove the mat provided with the frame (you will not need it for this project) and place the backing board in place in the frame and bend the dark metal braces back in place to secure the backing into the frame. 

Step Nine 

Using thick brown paper and double stick tape, finish off the backs of the frames for a professional look. 

And that is it!  I know it sounds like a lot of steps, but they are all very easy.  It took me about 20 minutes start to finish.  No waiting around for glue to dry like with the intaglio project!  

Now, it's your turn.  I would love to see pictures of your finished project.  M.

Paint Trick - Creating a Focal Point

Last week, I helped a client with exterior paint colors for her very cute house.  While I did not take pictures of her house (sorry, sometimes, I get so busy with the task at hand I forget to snap a picture), we did come up with a beautiful schedule. 

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The house is a ranch style combination of brick and sliding.  Also, the front door is set back into a covered area.  The current dark color on her front door makes the entire entry way blend into the house and go completely away.  

To make things even more interesting, the client has a bit of a dilemma - she really wants to paint the entire house (brick and siding), but it's cost prohibitive at the moment.  The siding and shutters are in need of painting, so they must be done now.  Also, her brick is a bit tricky.  It tends to make any beige/neutral turn peachy.

  So, we came up a plan she could implement in stages.  First, we selected a color for the siding and shutters.  We selected colors that work with the brick color but could be used (at a later date) as a whole house color, should she decide to paint the brick.

For the siding, we pulled BM - Sag Harbor Grey.  It has just enough grey to hold it's own next to the brick (no peachy here!).

For the shutters, BM - Dragon's Breath.  It's one of my favorite go to colors for shutters.  It is dark, but yet soft and sophisticated.  Just perfect for most applications where you need a black.  Also, in our case, the roof has a lot of brown, so a stark black (like BM Black Jack) would not have worked.

  Lastly, we selected a bright fun color for her front door.  Yelp.  That would be yellow.  This will brighten up the dark covered area and draw your eye to the entryway of her home (which, btw, is lovely and should be highlighted). 

BM - Sunbeam

Now, I know what you're thinking?!  Don't be afraid.  What sounds crazy, does not look crazy.  I promise. Here are a few inspiration images to give you the idea.

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This is very modern home which looks nothing like my client's house; but the front door is set back in a dark alcove like that of my client's.  Notice how the bright color works to lighten that spot and makes the front door pop.  This is the idea. 

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Here is another example of a front door that gets lost without a pop of color.  Yellow does the trick to instantly make it the focal point.

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I'm not suggesting that every house needs a yellow door.  But in some cases, it's just what the doctor ordered.  Especially, if you want to make a house sing!  M.