Little Girls Nursery Near Completion

Hi friends.  I have not blogged in a while.  I am posting on Instagram often so please follow me HERE.  

Meanwhile I thought I would dust off my fingers and add some cute photos of a little girls nursery I am finishing up in Bethlehem Pennsylvania.  I have more projects I will post soon.  A lot happened this past week (gotta work fast because the baby is coming!):

My client did not want a 'themed' babys bedroom.  She requested a bedroom that her soon-to-be born baby could grow in.  We added coral and navy blue, along with bits of brushed gold.  We just installed the curtains this week and will bring in a luscious navy blue upholstered headboard and blue glider/rocking chair soon.  See our progress here:

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

All The Details

Whimsical wallpaper!

Black out lined custom drapes and a bench cushion!

Hanging drapes from rings allow you to easily open and close them with one hand (the other arm is used to hold baby!).

Bright and soft bedding!

Wall shelves to hold precious moments and trinkets!

I love using wall shelves because they allow you to change up what you place on them! Options baby!

Wall hooks to show off her cutest outfits!

Stay tuned for more photos as we finish this bedroom!

My Kitchen Renovation

When we moved into our home six years ago we simply decorated the existing kitchen.  We did not build this house so had no control over the finishes used.  Just this year we finally renovated.  Any time you are thinking about taking on a large job like a reno in a kitchen, take your time to plan because it is a costly process.  Here are the highlights of the changes we made:

This is the kitchen before: 

First thing we did was make a list of the things in the kitchen that bothered us.  At the top of our list was:
+ Island is too small
+ Need more storage
+ Cabinet color
+ Laminate

Next we priced out the changes we wanted to make.

Then we began the demo process.  

Say 'bye bye' to the laminate!

And good bye appliances!

We were able to do a bulk of the work ourselves, but brought in a professional painter to paint the kitchen cabinets a beautiful creamy light grey tone.

P found a great hardwood floor and installed it in our entire first floor ('go P go!').  They resemble old farmhouse planks, a bit distressed in a walnut tone.

We worked in a new island that answered our need for storage.  It is six feet long and has cabinets on both sides, including a double pull out trash drawer.  Now that, is good efficiency!

 I am a big fan of red shoes and bright lipstick so this race car red finish made my day!

P always wanted a butcher block counter top so I gave in and we used it on the island (not a huge fan of this look typically).  

We found these great big glass pendants and hung two in newly moved ceiling electrical boxes.  

Lastly we had our walls wallpapered in a textured grey paper.  

Here is the new look!

Did you notice that there is no more kitchen table in our kitchen?  That brings us to Phase 2 of our project going on right now:

This was the other side of our kitchen:

For us, it was more functional to have a larger island, but we could not comfortably fit a large kitchen table in the same space with out it looking cramped.  So we knocked out the long half wall that separated the kitchen from our family room.  This created a more open concept floor plan.  By bringing the wall and re-configuring our furniture arrangement, we not only let more light in because the window was no longer blocked by the sofa, but we also were able to house our kitchen table there!  So functional for us.

We dressed up the entrance to the family room with a pair of square columns.

And the hardwood floor went down!

And here is where we are with the room right now.  We are working on new furniture, built ins on either side of fireplace (not sure of the height or if messing with the fireplace mantel.

I am really happy with how the kitchen and family room flow now.  It is much more open but we have a long way to go.  P needs a much deserved break from this project for now so I just sit in the room with my cereal bowl and dream up changes.......... 

.............while P finishes up our renovated foyer (can you believe this guy!)

Surround Me With Black Leather, Miles Davis & Button Tufting

Imagine dining in luxury with walls wrapped in glossy black leather, drapes that glisten like millions of tiny silver stones, and of course an elaborate silver mirror and  tons of shiny mercury glass.  Your round pedestal table is a rich dark mahogany and feels very intimate as you sit elegantly in a sexy concave backed creamy white leather chair.  The lighting is dim, striking, and romantic.  All you need to finish off the room is the blues sounds of Miles Davis' Blue in Green playing seductively in the background, a very dirty martini in your hand, and James Dean staring at you from across the table (with his 'I will die without you' pained expression) .  

That was my vision for my clients, Debi and Marcel, who hired me to bring Hollywood Regency Design to their newly built home in Harrisburg.  This luxe look is very popular, but with a bit more modern twist, and it is not just for the rich and famous!  For my clients, I brought in things that looked rich, lush, and posh.  So of course their dining room walls are black leather-well not really black leather, but a shiny textured lacquered-like pinstripe wallpaper that is hot!  

I also took the Hollywood Regency Design to their living room......

This is a small glimpse at my plan, using button tufting and  nail heads on everything, mirrored tables, velvet and silky fabrics.  I am refinishing their existing furniture in black and white high gloss lacquer and upholstry that dazzle.  There are chrome lamps, and shapely accent pieces, a mix of glitz and glamour, surrounded by souring blue gray walls. I can't wait to show you the finished spaces!!!!!

'Hey James, where's my martini!'

I Am Filling Out Design Prescriptions For Bad Cases Of SDI

With the warm weather finally here, everyone is getting SDI. That’s the ‘Spring Decorating Itch’ in each of us.  That’s why I carry my measuring tape, paint samples, and a giant Back Scratcher.  

Cindy, a sophisticated casual living free spirit, had SDI when I first met her.  We scratched her itch by filling her place with spring decadence that include fresh paint colors of soft blues, creamy lattes, and sunny mellow yellows. 

It has been fifteen years since she updated their decor.  Cindy and I created a new furniture layout and added furniture pieces that soothes the soul and feels breezy and beautiful.  Her new upholstery includes a soft natural textured sofa with paisley patterned pillows, a recliner in a sandy stripe, comfy ottoman in soft blue, and my favorite........

two gorgeous shapely chairs dressed in this leaf pattern.  This is an updated eclectic look that will be the 'wow factor'.

The dining room is going from 'Kid Play Place' to 'Decadent Dining'!  This wallpaper will dress up the upper walls, and below a chair rail, this golden yellow paint will add richness to the lower half.  I can't wait to share photos of her new retreat!!!!!

Cindy wrote me "I really love everything and am so excited to get it all done. I have waited so long to do this and am so glad I found you to lead me in the right direction. I appreciate all your help and expertise. I've enjoyed the times we got together - you make it fun and I value your opinions." - Thanks Cindy! 

Can't wait for you to see the transformation-tune in!!

Master Bedroom Becomes A Lodge Retreat

When my clients, Scott and Karen, asked me to design a master bedroom that brought in their love of lodge style, full of warm colors and rustic pieces, I was up for the challenge.  I wanted them to feel like they were at a resort in the woods that included luxurious bedding and fun natural accents.  The space is in a cape style home so it includes a number of angled walls and entrances to the eaves.  I had so much fun on this project and was very excited to present my design plan to them.  I had to use an extra big board to hold all the ideas and products I included.  Here are some of my ideas:

To erase wall angles, I will paint it all one color, so a warm golden yellow will go on all walls and ceiling, except the two end walls, which will be painted in a barn red.  And what lodge wouldn't be complete without a fireplace.  This one is electric so it is simple to set up, not requiring structural changes, and really adds to our look.

The windows and sliding glass door will get striped drapes which bring in greens, golds, browns, and reds, and two comfy chairs will be covered in this beautiful rich pattern.

Although the bed had a headboard and footboard made of rod iron and wood, I wanted to create more texture and drama. I proposed framing out the wall behind the bed using 1x3s and painting it in a deep dark chocolate (all the trim and doors will also be painted in this chocolate color -yum!). The grasscloth wallpaper you see below, which contains lots of reds, golds, and tans, will fill the center of the frame.  Dark brown bamboo wall arm sconces will be hung above either end table leaving the table tops free for lots of woodsy novels.

I didn't just want Scott and Karen to have that lodge feel around them.  I wanted them to lye in bed and feel it above them, so I included 2 fans with antler chandeliers.

And of course, faux wood beams, which are so easy to put up. 

I will share the Before and After photos of this soon-to-be romantic lodge getaway bedroom suite!

Walking Through The Mall

My friends first introduced me to Vera Bradley bags four years ago. Although I have seen them hanging off the shoulder of many stylish Pennsylvanian women, I had yet to step into one of her stores. I finally did at the Bridgewater New Jersey mall. The bags were so colorful and made me wish some came in blanket size. What I really liked was the entryway into the store. I took a photo of it with my i-phone to share with you.

After a smoothie and a pretzel, I walked past the Pottery Barn store and had to back up, walk in and just stare at their holiday display. I am like a child when it comes to sparkle and shine, mesmerized by it all. PB does a good job. Looking forward to the holidays now.

Decadently yours,

Shoshana