WEDNESDAY FIND

Remember my last post about the Home Office? Today there is a great Groupon for the photo on canvas I mentioned. I emailed the Groupon to my client Jennifer, in a hurry while having my morning coffee, without really reading ALL the details. Like the size, for instance! To err is human right? Yes, decorator's do make goofs once in awhile....it happens. Therefore we usually check and re-check again when doing anything involving measuring BEFORE ordering!
The Groupon is only for a 16" x 20" size canvas. Too small for the look I was presenting to Jennifer. She asked if she could use this coupon but print two of that size, different photos and hang the two above her proposed credenza.
I personally would prefer to see one large print vs. the 2 smaller size ones.

Her question led me to dig further on options of sizing for the photo canvas based on the proposed credenza size. In my last post I suggested a bold canvas size of 40" x 60", which is fun in the right print such as an iconic Italian beach scene photo.

However, if Jennifer prints a large canvas of her children photos , then a smaller size would be best. I would suggest going with the canvas company I mentioned in the last post, but using one of these sizes, and hang only one canvas horizontally:

a) 20" x 30"
or
b) 24"x 36"

Both sizes would probably work and the price is so much better than the huge one I first suggested. The best way to know what size you should order, is to cut out large freezer paper templates in the given sizes. Tape each size up above your furniture piece and determine this way. If you are ordering new furniture to be placed under the art, then cut out a template with the freezer paper for the furniture piece also and lay on the ground. Next figure the size of your two lamps that will be placed on the credenza and eye it to determine the best size.

Also, after researching the mirrored credenza again, I noticed the "gulp" price tag of $ 3,500. Sorry, but for a home office, I want the chic look, but not the awful price.
I realized I had seen another version of this cabinet on Home Decorator's Collection, for alot cheaper!
Check out the lesser priced version



and you can find it HERE for a much better price of $ 719, including FREE shipping.

Enjoy your day,

xox,

UPDATING A HOME OFFICE

I recently helped a client , Jennifer, with some new ideas for her Austin home. Jennifer was wanting to update her home with a more modern look. One of the rooms we discussed was her home office. Today I'm sharing a design board to inspire her with new updated ideas.
(Sorry for the awful IPhone pics, my camera is back in the repair shop, so bear with me.)

The home office is the first room on the left, as you notice enter her home. Therefore it needs to look simplified, orderly and flow with the colors of the surrounding rooms. We will discuss the other rooms in later posts to follow.

I suggested replacing the pair of wood doors with glass paneled French doors.


The client has an adorable antique chair in the back right corner. I suggested reupholstering the chair in a modern new fabric. The existing rug is great and is the base of the room. She also wanted advice on the placement of her pieces and how to de-clutter. Right now she uses an armoire for her home office station. The armoire is on the wall, just to the left, as you enter into the room.....out of view of the entry.
However, when sitting there it's dark and not user friendly or cheery. The room has beautiful dark wood floors, but with alot of dark furniture pieces it feels heavy. Moving the furniture, de-cluttering and making the room lighter, will all create better Feng Shui , allowing her to become more productive and enjoy the space.
She also has the nice glass cabinet (two pics above) but I suggested moving this piece into her dining room for more china storage. A lighter credenza in her office would help to brighten the space.

Next to the desk area, there's a large window with plantation shutters and a silk ficus plant. I suggested removing the plant because it's overpowering the space and outdated.
I've suggested a few ways to update her space below using Dwell's fun fabrics.
Thinking of the colors in her existing rug, I instantly thought of Dwell's colorway with this peacock fabric. Of course, with any fabric I always suggest getting a large swatch and then take it home. In this situation, we'd have to make sure it works with the rug. Pictures on a computer can sometimes be color deceiving, so all swatches need to be tested in the light of the actual space.


Here's how I would rearrange and update her office:




Here's a great visual for a chair covered in the peacock fabric. My client's antique chair would be tufted vertically, but still a nice fabric choice. The existing stain of a dark walnut would be a nice accent to the fabric.
If the peacock fabric choices are more aqua than the blues in the rug, then she could easily swap the existing rug for a solid seagrass rug. OR keep the existing rug and use another fabric from Dwell that leans to the grey blues:
and coordinate with this charcoal fabric:


Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage would be a nice color for the walls with a white trim color:



My client also had different diplomas sitting on her glass cabinet in dark frames. These would look great updated in white modern frames, with a mat in a coordinating color such as the aqua blue. She could hang these on the wall, just to the right, as you enter the home office.

Couple of additional notes.
1) Not all rooms have floor plugs. If this room doesn't have one, then you can conceal ugly cords with floor cord covers that match your existing wood, available HERE.
2) Four 10" decorative baskets can be stored on the lower part of the file cabinet to store more office supplies, add texture to the room & reduce clutter.
3) Greenery on the desk is always nice. Preferably a live plant, but a good fake is this small plant,

available from Crate and Barrel HERE.


Are you wanting to update a room, but don't live in Austin? I'll be happy to help you with e-decorating. Send me your photos and I'll be happy to give you fresh new ideas too! Check my website for details.

Have a great weekend,

Inspirational Board resources here:
1 & 2, 3, 4 & 6, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10

All other images via Calico Corners, Dwell Studio and Van Wicklen Design, Restoration Hardware

LIBERTY LOVE MIX

Red, white and blue is always a classic in any home. Sharing a mix today of all things in a patriotic color scheme.

Here's a few Ralph Lauren fabrics from the Kravet line. Each one will still look timeless in your home ten years from now:
Ralph Lauren for Calico Corners:




Love the elements in this shutter art print from PHOTO HALE.

Italian boats print is great for any red, white and blue room. From MELIA HANN.



Beautiful blue jean baby!! Framed flag art created by recycled blue jeans. One of a kind from HATCHETT DESIGNS.

Show your liberty love by dressing up this weekend in red, white and blue from LANGFORD MARKET in Austin:
I really love Langford Market because the store is full of great clothes at really good prices, but they also sell a few chairs and chandeliers that are wonderful too. They're located in the fun west 2nd street downtown district of Austin. Also, every time I've been there all the sales staff is genuinely nice and helpful, so check it out! "Like" them on Facebook for weekly happenings, new shipments and specials too.

TIGER singing solo last night at Steiner Ranch. Good music, family, friends, beautiful sunset on the lake with an enormous flag billowing above.....now that's my idea of a great patriotic time.

Hope you'll have a beautiful Americana style weekend too!


xoxo,

All the fabrics above can be purchased through Van Wicklen Design.







Images via Langford Market, Etsy & Kravet.