A new place for J’s Heart

July 22, 2011 By 1 Comment

Aren’t we just the luckiest gals around.  I don’t think we’ve met one person during the course of our job fun that we haven’t adored from the get.  Miss Jackie is our most recent client for whom we transformed a basement storage area in to a craft/gift basket workshop for her gift business “JHearts.”   She showed us her supplies and explained how she wanted to be able to have plenty of work and storage space.   After measuring out the space and doing some research, my first thought was to use Ikea as a resource for all things necessary.

creating a great solution

In addition to the work/storage furnishings, our job was to find some some solutions for ribbons and an extra “hand” to help hold basket wrappings while she finished them off with bows.

First, we found these great and wonderful ribbon racks through The Gift Cabinet OH.MY.GOODNESS!  If anyone has ever worked with spools of ribbon, you know they can be stored on dowels, but to change them out, you have to fuss with all the ribbon rolls.  Then you have what I like to call “spin out” when you pull one ribbon, they all like to flop around and come loose.  I couldn’t believe our great luck when Pam found these racks.  The best invention since sliced bread.

no dowel necessary!

As for the extra “hand.”  I looked for the right kind of articulating arm contraption/device.  No such luck.  I had to make it.   First I purchased a computer monitor arm and it was not flexible enough for me, so I knew it wouldn’t work for Miss Jackie.   I thought about and looked for a solution for about a week. Then I found this lamp:

No going to be a lamp for long

…hmmm….the people in the store must have thought I was crazy as I swiveled it in all sorts of directions, up and down and round and round. I decided to bring it home and, as Pam would put it, “McGyver” it.

I thought about using a spring clamp as the “hand” part but decided it needed to have a more rounded grip, needed to be adjustable, and easy to work with.  So rubbery and roundish were my official search terms.  Not really.  I looked for  a rubber clamp of sorts and I found “quick grips.”  They are apparently used for latching tools inside of a truck.

quick grip

After some head scratching, testing, and playing with the arm, I think I created the right solution for Miss Jackie:

a work station ready for action

works so well!

Some of the other fun we had was to convert a few of the pieces to be more for organization than bedroom or kitchen furniture.

Adding casters helps change this kitchen buffet into a rolling utility cart

After finding or making solutions for Jackie’s specific needs, we were ready to get the room completed.  Here are the before and after photos.

Before

After

before

after

before

 

 

A view into the new "hobby" room

before

after

 

It took seven of  us eight hours to prep, paint, change out the light fixture, put all the Ikea pieces together and finally organize the room.   The color we used is Benjamin Moore’s Windmill Wings #2067-60.    I think we all want to play here now.   Hopefully Jackie and her new venture JHearts will find great success!   Tell us what you think, we love hearing your thoughts :)

Filed Under: painting, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

Making a House a Home for Jude and Kris

July 12, 2011 By 1 Comment

Recently we had another opportunity to give back to our community, working with Homes For Our Troops home recipients Jude and Kris Recendez.  (read more about about his story.) They made headlines in the last month, not just for receiving their new home, but for the wedding vows they exchanged on the day they received the keys to their new home.   There were so many volunteers involved in not only building the home, but also coordinating and executing the wedding ceremony, and for some reason,  one person took credit for the entire event.   So before I go into what fun we had on the interior of the home, I wanted to share with you the great people who donated time, resources and materials towards the event.    Karen Berl of RSVP Events worked diligently and was able to get R&R Catering, VA Barbecue,  Jimmy the Greek,  The Cheesecake Garden, Laurie Bracewell Photography, Your Life Photography,  Anthomanic Florals, To a Tea, Touchstone Crystals, Coyote XS DJ, Fredericksburg Rentals, Anthony Campbell, Ronnie Richards, Write and Lydia’s, and Andrew Chapel to donate early mornings, late nights and wonderful food, flowers, music and everything necessary to give Kris and Jude a wedding they never got to have.

When I first met Kris and Jude – I have to be honest, I fell in love with them the first day I met them.  They brought the  two dogs they rescued, Molly and Murphy,  to a meeting we had and I realized right then how very down to earth, humble and grateful they are… and great people we are blessed to have in our community.   They could have moved back to California where all their family lives, but they chose to come to our neighborhood, mostly because they find the people in our community to be warm, welcoming and puts them more near the care Jude will need.   When Kris and I had an opportunity to talk, I found out that she and Jude met years ago and didn’t get married until after he sustained serious injuries while serving in the Army.   They had planned a wedding but used all their savings to move to Northern Virginia.  That fact alone touched my heart – that Kris would still marry Jude after the trauma, knowing that life was never going to be easy, but even more challenging as they grow old together.   In a world where we see so many couples dissolving relationships over the silliest of things, I am witness to two people who truly love each other through better or worse.   It made volunteering to help them transition to their new home even more important.  This wasn’t just another volunteer project, it was more personal.

The Kris and Jude I got to know and love

My first challenge was raising funds to get them some furniture.  They didn’t have much, and what they did have, I wanted to incorporate in the overall design.  Jude is an artist and likes modern designs, whereas Kris is more traditional.   Not only did I need to find funds, but find furnishings which would help with wheelchair access.  The first to step up and provide a grant was the Frazier and Mason families who started the Some Gave All Foundation.   Then there was a great desk donated by individuals in the community and monetary donations made by us and friends of ours who wish to remain anonymous.   We worked with Nicole Valadares at Bassett Furniture for most all of the furniture.

The next bit o fun was getting enough volunteers, but not too many, to help us put together furniture, paint, hang window treatments and everything in between.   Alex Rusk, Ty Quarrels, Christine and Dave Reinaman, Alex and Pam Vancuren and Shelagh Tavuchis were the muscles and talent we were blessed to have helping me throughout the entire project.  Jeremy at Sherwin Williams donated all the paint and we  had Sorin and Claudiu of Medias (www.mediaspainting.com)  bring in their crew to help paint the entire home in one day!

Marvin and Luis of Medias Painting help get the job done :)

Alex, Christine and Ty hang curtains in the guest room

Alex VanCuren, Christine, Dave and Ty help Alex Rusk put together the entertainment center

In addition to the donated and purchased furniture, I couldn’t help but do one of the things I love to do –  and that is to repurpose furniture.

this bookcase will have a new mission in life

Starting with a bookcase Jude and Kris already had, we bought mounts and legs, painted them black and added drawers and doors to the bookcases…turning it into a buffet.  Kris thought we bought it from Pottery Barn!

A Pottery Barn look-a-like? Kris's new buffett

Here’s Kris and Jude’s new house and home, hope you enjoy :)

Dining room before

Okay, before I go on, I have to tell you we did not get Jude and Kris a new dining room table and chairs.  First of all, that would be silly since it works just right, but more importantly, there’s a story behind that table and chairs.  A DIY project Kris took on to stain and paint it.  Because it became truly hers and has it’s own history, we HAD to keep it.

Dining room after

Dining room after

 

Kitchen

Living room before

We used some of Jude’s “homework” and framed them to add to the top of the entertainment center and other places in the home, as well as using meaningful art and artifacts throughout the home to make it truly Jude and Kris’s home.

Living room after

A collage of frames mixed in with black and white photos to highlight some of Jude's pottery pieces

Living room, foyer and dining room after

details, details, details

 

Guest room before

 

Guest room after

 

Master Bedroom Before

 

Master Bedroom After

 

Kris and Jude – it was truly a pleasure working with you and we hope you enjoy your new home and neighborhood!  Thank you to everyone who donated their time, funds, resources and love for this project!

Kate

Filed Under: abstract art, bedding, bedroom, design, Homes For Our Troops, repurposing artwork, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Pool

July 5, 2011 By 1 Comment

in the beginning....

 It’s been a few months, the pool is now complete.  We were actually done with it in May, but I’ve been slacking on writing now that summer is here. 

Between the pool installation company and some DIY, I think we’ve done a pretty darn good job.   Just to catch you up, it all began last year with me asking my husband, Mark, what he would like for his upcoming 50th birthday.   He decided he wanted something everyone could enjoy, so we began the pool dreaming, er, planning last summer. I contacted about five different pool companies, met with them in person and decided to go with Aqua-Leisure Pools .

In March, we began the process and I found out two things about myself. 1. I am not a patient person and 2. I do not like dirt. Let me tell you, if you haven’t been on a construction site or had a pool installed, there is A LOT of dirt.

So Much Dirt!

more dirt

At this point, I did feel so very sick to my stomach….What have we done?!?!   A magic wand, a long vacation, something,  anything, to get me past this stage of the installation which seemed to be prolonged with the early spring rains which kept pushing the schedule back.    Calgon couldn’t take me away – it was simply learning to be patient, closing the blinds, and taking Rocky for walks.   But finally – some progress :)

no longer just a hole in the ground

AHHHHH concrete...FINALLY

 

It took us a bit, but we were able to look past the dirt and make plans for our next step.  We knew we were going to have the sprinkler system replaced, after all, you can’t bring in a ginormous back-hoe and expect the lines to stay in tact.  We also knew we were going to need a landscaping company to come in and either re-build the retaining wall we put up in 2005 or come up with a great solution to our dilemma…

what to do about that dirt wall...?!?

 

there seems to be a gap between finished and fun

Lordy, you would think landscape designers could come up with some ideas, even when I gave them a drawing.  I think the idea of getting equipment around the pool fogged their realization that a wheelbarrel and manual labor  could get the job done… which is exactly what we ended up doing.   Here’s where the Do-It-Ourselfer plans came to fruition.  After getting some quotes around the $8K range and plans which came up short of keeping the stone steps, I decided we could do it ourselves.     First was to go down to the Stone Center in Fredericksburg and look at the supplies and materials in person.   I wasn’t too keen on building a natural stone retaining wall – it would take forever to get all those varied-sized stones to stack up nicely.  I was going for the fabricated stones, specifically the kind that could be curved.  I like curves ;)  

But before we get to that… here’s the discussion my husband and I had about the stone steps. 

He:  Lets get two bolders and split them lengthwise, Chris, Jeff, Lou and I will place them along the wall. 

Me: You do realize those stone steps weight about a billion pounds each, right?  Plus, you only have 36 inches to get all four of you to wiggle the stone in… someone is going to fall into the water. 

He: Nah, we can do it.  

Next day.  Me:  Alex and I are going to make the steps. 

 He: How?!?!!  

Me:  With concrete. 

I’m not sure what he said next, I do know I said something like “If it doesn’t work, we’ll take a sledge hammer to it.   I had made up my mind and he was powerless to stop me…(insert villian laugh)…he was at work and Alex and I had free time during spring break – Yay us!     So here’s what we did:

First, I measured out the area for the steps and made frames.  Then took them down again to pack them with mud…what?!?!  I’ll explain in a bit.  Meanwhile, Alex hammered in some rebar.

framing out the steps

Alex installing rebar

Why did I pack the frames with mud?  Well, I didn’t want the steps to be smooth and look like concrete steps, I wanted to mimic the natural stone.  So I packed the frames with clay, let them dry and they became molds for the steps. 

playing in clay

getting the "stone molds" in place

Then we put the frames/molds back in place, made sure they were level and began the long process of filling them with concrete – one 80 lb bag at a time.    While we waited for the steps to cure, we started prepping the wall base with gravel and liner.

prepping for the wall

Alrighty then!  Two days down and 4000 pounds of stone and gravel sitting in our driveway waiting to become the wall.  

One trip at a time...

Alex wheeled in three stones at a time while I worked on putting them in place.  Nothing like a mother/son project! 

We did get some help from Chris, our neighbor.  Thank goodness for strong men! 

Chris and Mark bringing in gravel ...one cart-load at a time

Chris back-filling the wall with gravel

Once the wall was erected, we put in landscape lights and used universal cap stones to top off the wall, creating a finished wall and nice seating too!  Then it was time to get the dirt back into our lives.  We had created new places for me to plant some more flowers and shrubs. 

new flower beds!

We completed the finishing touches in less than two weeks.  Timing for the pool installation was great in terms of having the supplies and materials (i.e sod) available, but not so good in terms of spring rain.  All in all, it’s been worth it and we’ve already had several pool parties and have enjoyed our new investment.   Now, I will admit, it’s not the prettiest pool a person can have installed, I do like my friend, Alicia’s, pool – it’s gunnite and so very pretty, but our pool is  perfect for us, and because we invested in a pool heater, we expect to enjoy it almost year-round.

Time to enjoy!

our favorite home improvement project

Filed Under: Uncategorized

It all started with a piece of fabric…

May 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Yes, a beautiful, but discontinued piece of fabric Miss Rose Ann  found some years ago.  She also had a really cool antique chair…

destined to be together

 I just had to refinish it to bring out it’s beauty again

Soooo pretty

 

But wait, we couldn’t just redo the chair and not have a little bit of fun ;)    That piece of fabric was really the inspiration for the rest of the room…

Here is what it looked like before:

before

before

 

Before

 

before

In considering how to achieve an updated look for Miss Rose Ann, who, by the way, is a jewel of a woman – there was another inspiration which started decades ago in Kindegarten…and yet more beautiful fabric scraps which happened to coordinate perfectly.

Brother and sisters - all had the same Kindegarten teacher

hold on to your scraps ladies, you never know when they'll come in handy!

I bet you thought you would be seeing “After photos” already… bear with me…

Here is where the children’s kindergarten art became:

artful "facelift"

My symmetry-senses wanted to put Matt’s picture in the middle, but for Rose Ann, they are arranged by age. 

As for the rest of the room – I had just enough fabric leftover from the chair to make two small feather pillows.  But that fabric also inspired the “new” sofa and some handmade curtains…

A solid colored sofa makes it easy to mix in colors!

 

Welcome Home Miss Rose Ann - hope you love it!

We designed the swags and jabots to be asymmetrical and the plaid fabric had all of Rose Ann’s favorite colors mixed right in  - it all coordinates so well with our inspiration fabric.  What do you think?  Hope you love our simple little redesign of Rose Ann’s home!

Filed Under: design, Uncategorized Tagged With:

Southern Living In Maryland

May 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We recently had an opportunity to meet Evelyn who needed our help with just one room.    She was preparing her home for a gathering and was stuck on the family room.  When we first met with her, we were instantly drawn to her gracious demeanor and something I don’t see often these days  - true southern hospitality and grace.   I’m not sure if Evelyn is from the southern states, but she grew up in an era when officers’ wives organized events,  were deeply committed to social welfare, and of course, hosted parties at heir homes.   It was a great pleasure to meet Miss Evelyn.  When we first walked into her home, it was almost as if we were walking into a Southern Living magazine layout.

Everything was perfectly placed and was simply beautiful.  I’m not sure about Pam, but this was one of those homes in which I was a bit intimidated.  With such a great eye, Evelyn’s home was well put together.  I did not want to disappoint her, definitely wanted to help with the family room in a way which reflected her unique style.  Within a few hours, we got a good sense of Evelyn’s likes and dislikes, admired her collections of art and artifacts from her many travels, and we were getting a great idea of how we could approach the family room and other areas in need of small touches.
 
When I saw the Virginia tobacco jar sitting so nicely on the server, I was inspired to create an arrangement similar to one I saw in Entertaining Ideas From Williamsburg  

a lovely but lonely tobacco jar

a beautiful arrangement inspired by Williamsburg

 
 
 
Then there was the centerpiece on the dining room table.  It was pretty to start with, but I thought it could be even more beautiful.
 
 

centerpiece before

By adding some magnolias, clusters of berries and a dozen or so stems of various florals, here is what it looks like now:

centerpiece after

 One of our greatest finds was a gilded mirror still packed in a moving box and stored in the garage.   I absolutely had to find a home for the mirror.   Call me practical or even predictable, but I think foyers and entry ways should always have a mirror.  People may not want to admit it, but everyone likes to check themselves out before opening the door for guests or upon entering a home.    This  mirror was perfect for the entry.

foyer before

 

This gorgeous mirror is perfect for the foyer

I could have spent all day finding fun little projects to play with, but our main purpose for being at Evelyn’s home was the family room.   There were alot of great things to play with, but it just didn’t seem to be at the same level of  “put together” as the rest of the home. 

family room before

 

family room before

 

A few changes such as moving the seating around, changing the area rug and adding some artwork made a difference.  One of the ideas Evelyn had was to frame her collection of White House and other collectible ornaments.  I’m stealing that idea ;)    After we played “furniture around the world”  – that’s what we call it when we move furniture around and around until it fits the room well – we then set out to decorate and accessorize.

a collection of art and framed ornaments

 

family room after

 

family room after

 

It didn’t seem like much compared to some of the homes we work with, but for Evelyn, it was perfect.  She said so herself!  All we did is find a few great pieces and added them to her already established collection of art and accessories.  I’ve always loved the Swan Panels and was waiting for the perfect home – this was it.  Adding black accents such as the Jamil clock  and the Swan Panels to the colorful mix of burgundy helped create a more cozy and elegant feel.

 

Thank you Miss Evelyn!  We truly enjoyed meeting you and playing in your home!  Tell us what you think –  We always enjoy hearing from our readers.  Happy decorating!  Kate

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Miss Marilyn’s Home

May 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Marilyn is a dynamic person with a kind spirit whom we met a few months back to help her transform her beautiful Colonial style home.  Her goal was to make some changes to the home in order to suprise her husband when he returned home from his deployment.  Of course we were happy to have such a great home to play in and very happy to help Marilyn with this great welcome home suprise for her husband!  New flooring, paint and lighting, then final touches for her home, here are some of our favorites.  

The dining room was beautiful to begin with, but just needed a few tweaks here and there to add a bit of uniqueness…

Dining room before

We moved some of her furnishings around and in doing so, added a table to the room along with a beautiful oil painting

a beautiful piece of artwork, Japanese tea set and a few touches makes for a nice add to the room

 For the buffet, we added a new mirror – it had the right style, but  it wasn’t quite the right color, so I bronzed  the interior of the frame and painted the exterior black to match the beautiful artwork I found at Uttermost. 

New mirror, artwork and topiaries

 And  here is the final design -

Dining Room After

 

My next favorite areas of the home required only small changes.  With the foyer, we appreciated the book collection, but felt like the opening statement for the home could be a bit better…

Foyer before

 

Another great find, the Sascha Console Table was mixed with a great mirror and items Marilyn already had.

Great entryway!

As for books – Marilyn and her family have a library full of great books – and having a place to study was one of the special spaces we wanted to create…

study area before

 

A beautiful desk was the first thing I wanted to find – it couldn’t be too big or too small – the Okalani Writing Desk was just right!  Paired with a beautiful Parsons chair I found at Homegoods and combined with Marilyn’s accessories, I think we did a wonderful job!

Study area after

The office area was a fun project for Pam and Shelagh and I think they did an awesome job.  We added crown molding and yes, did paint the office a new shade of green, but it’s how the room was finally pulled together that makes it beautiful.

Office before

Between Pam’s attention to detail and Shelagh’s knowing how to keep books categorized, they not only made sure the office was made pretty, but kept the organization of the books in order.

 
 
Office after
We did the entire first floor redesign to include the master, kitchen, breakfast  and living rooms, but my final ”Most Favorite”  is Marilyn’s sitting room.  Situated off the first floor master bedroom, this is one of my favorites because it is unique in itself. 

sitting room before

 In order to move the desk out of the sitting room, we converted the entertainment cabinet into a computer hutch by adding some interior shelves.  A new area rug, bookshelves and floral arrangements were all that we brought in.  The rest was already in the home – and so beautiful when all pulled together!

Sitting room after
So much fun for us, a wonderful change for Marilyn and her family.  We hope you like it too!  Let us know what you think!
Filed Under: design, painting, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

A moment in time, a chance to serve.

April 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

What a busy month!  Pam and I volunteered to be on the build brigade for Homes For Our Troops and signed up for both Kenny Lyons’ home and Jude Recendez’s home.  In between these builds, my oldest son, Aric graduated from boot camp, so we traveled down to Parris Island and brought our new Marine home.  Now we’re gearing up for Jude’s build,  which starts this Friday, and so far, we’ve had quite a fun rollercoaster ride!

Alex with his big brother, Aric, our new Marine!

 

When I reflect on the reasons  why I volunteer in the community,  the answer is easy.  Because I can.  No matter what ups and downs are going on in my life, there is always someone who can be helped.  And for those who know this, you also know there’s a personal benefit to helping others – it makes you feel good inside, puts you in a better mood, and in most cases, you find yourself in good company and make new friends.

Kate and Pam - build brigade volunteers

I’ve heard of Homes For Our Troops but didn’t really get involved until a friend of mine, Leah Roehl, sent me an email introducing me to one of the key volunteers, Marcus.  From that moment on, I was fully engaged.  I wanted to wield a hammer and get dirty, yes in-deedy!  But at the first meeting, we were informed that Atlantic Builders had all the tradesmen and contractors necessary for the build.  I wasn’t disappointed.  After attending the first meeting, I saw opportunities to help in other ways.  Get food donations (something I’m not really good at, but did succeed in getting some BBQ for one dinner), get some flags for the ceremonies, find the right dining room table and chairs, line up painters, etc.    The effort to build Kenny’s home in three days was amazing.  There was a lot of prep work and follow up tasks to be completed afterwards, and it was truly a team effort.   Volunteers came from near and far.  Some knew Kenny; some just heard about it and pitched in where and when they could.  All told, there were about 800 volunteers converging on the tiny little neighborhood.     

Fellow Marines helping build Kenny's home

Some of the volunteers, and my newest friends, are members of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Fredericksburg Chapter.  What a great bunch of ladies!    Others were fellow Marines who did not personally know Kenny, but there is a brotherhood among Marines and they always have each other’s back.  Then there were the Key Volunteers.   Gina, Marcus, Steve and Kelly -individuals who not just volunteered their time with the build, but became the direct connection between Homes For Our Troops and the rest of us volunteers.  They chose to be Key Volunteers for one reason or another, but I fully give my thanks to them for herding all us cats while at the same time coordinating between Atlantic Builders, Homes For Our Troops, and the local businesses who contributed time, products, food, or services.   

Just a few of the volunteers and community members supporting the build

 For the most part, everyone was absolutely wonderful to work with.  I say for the most part, because there were two  people who were trying to capitalize on the project for personal and financial gain and for whatever reason, I got to meet both of them.  One I escorted from the property and received an onslaught of insults, the other was just a deceptive, conniving woman whose main focus was to sabotage the efforts of others and promote herself and her fake business in Fredericksburg.    Though I’ve never encountered people like that during other volunteer and community efforts, I was told it happens.  Well I hope I don’t run across people like that in the future. But no matter the adversity, I know I was in a good place with a lot of great people.   People who know what I know.

For me, I had more than just a sense of happiness in helping.   I started reflecting on Kenny and his family, and for some, the thought of giving a Marine with one good leg a mortgage-free home may seem above and beyond, especially if we look back to what little was done for Vietnam vets back in that era.   But, and this is something I hardly ever talk about, let alone publish, I am also a disabled veteran with a service connected disability rated at 60%.  This cut my career short after nearly 15 years of service and yes, I was upset, I was mad and still feel guilty about not being able to continue serving. 

But I learned some things.  I CAN continue to serve, even if I’m not deployed and strapped with an M16; and I will always remember what the veterans administrator told me when I was on my way through the process – I may not feel like I need to depend on the veterans administration for help, but down the road, I will.  Sure enough, not even ten years since my departure from active duty, my disability has worsened and my health and abilities will continue to decline each year.     

Which brings me back to Kenny and Jude.  What they and their families did for our community and nation just a few years ago was to make a commitment to serve our country.  More directly, they made an oath to protect each one of us directly or indirectly, just as their fellow Marines or Soldiers.  When you really think about it, the men and women of the armed services have signed up for the unknowns of their future to protect you and your children.    Not every one gets that concept. 

So to help build a home for those who have been severely injured while carrying out their duties is an honor for me.   I know Kenny and Jude will always be surrounded by people who love and care for them, but I also know that down the road, their physical abilities may decline.  To give them a home will not only give them peace of mind, but give them that little boost they need to continue to be an asset to our community and country, even if they can no longer be deployed.

For more about Homes For Our Troops, Please visit HFOT  for more about Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc, please visit BSMA

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10 Things Your Decorator Won’t Tell You

March 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

…or maybe they will.  It depends on if they are truly doing the job for you or just to make money.  That’s snarky, I know, but true.  I look at our profession as being like a doctor… no, not that sense …but more along the lines of something is not quite right with your home and you’re looking to a professional to help you fix it.  The majority of us designer/decorator types really, truly, sincerely want YOU to be happy and we take the best approach to meet your needs.  Sometimes we’re magical mind readers, sometimes we make people cry (happy tears) then, sometimes, we have to be really, really, REALLY  honest.

Here are some things clients should know about our perspective of our profession:

1. Yes, we charge consultation fees on our first visit.  When a person goes to the doctors’ office or calls a plumber to come visit, more than likely, that person is going to ask their opinion, pick their brain and get their professional advice for whatever needs to be fixed or adjusted.  We are the same way.  We love helping people, even if it’s as simple as picking a paint palette for their home.  We’ve gone to school, done our training, and taken time to get to know the client and their home.  So when we’ve spent an hour or two in someone’s home, the last thing we want to hear is “I can’t find my checkbook or wallet.”

 

2.  If we meet with a client to discuss their (and their spouse’s) vision for the home then we are going to create a design or formulate a plan based on THEIR home and THEIR desires.  If the mom/friend/aunt has an opinion after we’ve spent hours and hours doing work and research and the client changes her mind with every opinion the mom/friend/aunt gives, then PLEASE, hire the mom/friend/aunt to do the house.  If the client wants a real design board, they have to pay extra for it.  It costs us money to pull materials and the client is receiving ideas which can be used with someone else to execute.

 

3.  TRUST US!!!  We can make the space beautiful.  If the we or the client does not feel a certain level of security or understanding, then it’s not going to work out, and that’s okay.  If we don’t understand what a client wants for their home, it’s better for everyone if we tell them we’re not the right team for them.  More importantly, it boils down to trust.  First, trust that we DO want the best results for the client and will always do our best research and work.  Secondly, we have to feel safe in the client’s home; likewise, the client has to feel safe with us in their home.  Especially since we generally prefer no one but us in the home while we’re working.  One of the reasons we like working alone, and it’s so simple, is some people (like me) like to talk …and talk…and talk, and it takes away from getting the job done.  Other than conversing the day away, there’s the mess factor…

 

4.  We always have to create a mess before we can make things beautiful.  Therefore, we like to send EVERYONE out of the house for the duration of the project.  (Even the friendly “spies” just coming in to walk the dog which happens to be outside in the kennel)  That way, no one but us gals (or guys, depending on the project) sees the Styrofoam “boogies” sticking on our bodies when we unpack items and artwork, or the boxes - my goodness, the boxes - sometimes there are many boxes full of goodies.  Finally, one of the most important factors is that we want the entire experience to be enjoyable for the client.  Messiness is stressful.  Having a bunch of ladies hoisting furniture up and down stairs and letting out an occasional “DANG IT” when we hit our finger on a corner is not the impression we’d like to leave you with.  We are professional, but do tend to joke around while working.

 

5.  Speaking of “dang its…” What they show on television is 30 minutes to an hour of the “highlights” and the best of the design process, and they do it, well, because it’s a show!  What happens in reality is much slower – it takes a lot of time to paint, sew, drill, put together, pull together, and push around furniture :)

 

6.  No, we do NOT snoop through undies.  We may joke about it, but we really don’t.  Yes, we do look in closets and kitchen cabinets. We can do wonders with things a client already owns, even if they think they don’t have any “treasures” in the basement, closets or garage, we probably can find some!!!  But it does takes a certain amount of money to get that huge “wow” factor, depending on what the client already owns.  This is where we go shopping specifically for you and your home.

 

7.  Sometimes we shop at Michael Thomas/Miles Talbott, other times we shop at Marshalls (and everything in between).  It’s all about finding the right item for the client’s home and within the budget they give us ;)

 

8.  If you call us, leave a message and we’ll call you back.  Most days are spent in meetings, driving, shopping, working, and a myriad of errands which do not lend themselves to giving you the full attention and time you deserve on the phone.   Additionally, I have learned that emails are the BEST way to keep up with changes, send ideas, and communicate.  We want the best for the client – and what we’ve found to be the best way to keep notes in order and not lose important information is through email or written proposals.

 

9.  Greenery, whether silk or real, does wonders.  Cheese, on the other hand, is not meant to be a decorative accessory.  Pam has a talent for finding dried cheese in the oddest of places.  It’s okay, we’re used to finding oddities.  That’s what vacuum cleaners and brooms are for.

 

10.   If you think your spouse will react negatively to our presence, please include him in the planning process, especially before you leave town.

 

I hope you read all this tongue in cheek.  The majority of our clients are absolutely wonderful, this top ten is based on the learning experiences we’ve encountered over the last few years.  The bottom line, it is your home.  It’s not a magazine prop, a television show or a museum.  You live there.  Your kids and pets and friends contribute to the joy and the mess of it.  We get it.  We live it.   But, it is YOUR home.  Not ours.  You will benefit from our knowledge of form and function, sense of style and different perspective, but more importantly, we will not turn your home into something that is not a beautiful, well organized reflection of you and your family’s personality.

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Welcoming the Chandler family to Virginia!

March 20, 2011 By 4 Comments

Camille and her family just purchased a lovely home in Woodbridge and like many people, wanted to get her home in order.  She asked her realtor, Stacy Magid, for a referral, and of course, we were called in :)

Our first project was to transform the finished basement into a great living space for Camille’s mom, and place for the kids to study.   Here’s what the basement looked like when we first met:

living space before

 

Study Area before
Soo our first task was to get things organized, bring in some pieces, specifically an entertainment center which would work well with the space and the family’s needs.
 
 

Living area after

And while Shelagh and Pam put together the entertainment unit, I put together a BAZILLION shelves on a wall for the area which would become the study area for the kids.    

Living area after

 

I have to say, I’m not fond of sectionals, as they kind of limit how rooms will be set up – okay, they don’t kind of limit – they REALLY limit how a room can be changed in terms of form and function, but luckily for us, this one came apart and we could re-work it into a great space divider AND still get seating where everyone can enjoy playing Wii or watching television.

Oh,  we WERE going to paint the rooms a soft shade of gold, but smarty me decided to use 40 watt  incandescent lights versus the hideous-green-hued CF bulbs.  After we changed out light bulbs, the room did not need a paint job.    For the energy savers/earth lovers – please don’t send me dirty letters.  I’ll write another post about the pros and cons of CF bulbs (and it’s not just because they are not stylish ;) ), until then, back to our regularly scheduled post…

After we were done with the basement living area, we came back to work on the  boys’ rooms.   Rahmaan  is an LSU fan, Dawud loves Miami Heat, so of course, having their very own themed bedrooms was alot of fun for us too!

Dawud's room before

 

before

 

after

And for Rahmaan’s room…

Rahmaan's room before

go LSU!

before

after

While bringing in the cool and stylish items, desks were a must!  We also organized the closets for the boys, installing drawer and shelving units and reconfiguring the hanging rods, making their rooms totally functional, well organized, and best of all – rooms they’ll love for a long time!  Should they ever tire of their teams, the decals from Fathead.com come off SO easy, and because I did not use team specific bedding and items (with the exception of the pillows I made) they can easily change up the room.  

What I liked best about doing this design for the family is that they are truly wonderful people, the whole family is genuinely nice and didn’t mind our intrusion!  But most of all, I know where Camille’s heart is.  She could have done the first floor living areas, but decided that she wanted her mom and boys taken care of first.   She lives the example for her kids to follow and I admire that!

Filed Under: bedroom, gray, painting, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

I feel a little woozy…

March 17, 2011 By 1 Comment

..sick to my stomach actually.   Then I think about our clients and why we send them out for a day, or a week (depending on what we’re doing to their home) so they don’t get that “feeling.”  

We make messes when we do our work.  Yes, you see the “before” photos – usually not so spectacular, sometimes lived in, and sometimes white walls and no furniture.    Then you see the “after” photos, so clean, neat and all purty-fied.    Well, I wish I could just zap ourselves into the future and see the “after” right now.

A few weeks ago I talked about our own project and showed how much work we accomplished in the last couple of years.  Now that project has begun.   I have to admit, I’ve been excited ’cause all I could think about was how cool it’s gonna be when it’s ALL done.

Oh, let me tell you, I’m impatient when it comes to some things – and this is ALREADY testing my patience and it’s only day 1.  

bye pretty grass

So, here’s what we got done today – why my head hurts, had small moments of near tears, and a great amount of nausea.  

I know, I know – it’s just dirt…  and grass…

But this is the part that kind of really got me.   Here’s Rocky’s house before.  Mark and I built it the first year we lived here, hoping Rocky would do flips in the air and just be so very happy he had his very own house.    Well…

the "DawgMahal"

He did “pose’ for us for a photo…and he would put his toys in there.  Otherwise, he’d avoid it for more “open” spaces and somewhere where he could watch everything all around him.    But, alas… he’s an indoor dog now. 

aaaaaawwwwwwww!

I took this photo then had to leave.  I don’t know if I felt sad because it’s the end of Rocky’s house, or because we spent days building it…or just because the day has been tough already. 

Hey, wait a minute.... WHERE'S MY HOUSE??!?!

So Rocky and I had a long day…and Chris, the guy building our pool, says if today is bad for me then tomorrow I should find some place to go all day.  So I will.  I think I’ll go shopping for dog toys and pool floats. ;)

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