Room Reveal

I've been waiting a long time to write this post. I'm so happy to finally say that my dining room is finally, officially redecorated and in operable, non-embarrassing shape. Hip hip hooray!

You may recall that I've been looking into dining room inspiration for a loooong time. (See here, here and here.) It took me some discipline and an hour-long design session with Shannon Darrough to get a plan for this room. She helped approve and reject my ideas until we had a realistic plan. My ultimate overall scheme was eventually devised from this Palmer Weiss designed dining room...

via Palmer Weiss

Here are shots of the room pre-redecorate, just to humiliate myself a little and give you a sense of how much has changed. 

Before:

(You may not be able to tell but there four different paint colors on the walls...seriously...the result of indecision and lack of clarity.)

After:

My favorite part has got to be the freshly style sideboard. This little vignette makes me smile and, if you follow me on Instagram, you know I photograph it to death. Sorry.  

In case you're wondering, here's what's new:

Paint colors- Benjamin Moore Carrington Beige, HC-93 (above chair rail), and Bavarian Cream, OC-123 (below chair rail)

lamp and tray 

drapes and drapery hardware 

Allegra Hicks' An Eye for Design 

vintage bamboo mirror 

rhino, urchin and bud vase

Perhaps there is still one more piece that needs to be added. And THEN the room will be officially done...

Living Room Before & After

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had wonderful weekends. I FINALLY wanted to show you what I've been working on every weekend since Thanksgiving...my living room!

Aside from the hallway at my house, I never repainted a single room. The paint colors were nice and neutral and I just sort of settled for them. The sandy beige of my living room looked nice enough during the day but at night, it had a horrendous puke-y green undertone that drove me bonkers.

Aside from despising the nocturnal paint color, I also have never bought a new piece of furniture for this house. Everything I own came to me secondhand, whether it was a hand-me-down from family, a purchase from one of Wilmington's wonderful consignment stores or a steal from one of my show's set dec sales. I made do and lived like this for three years...

The living room was fine the way it was. I tried to liven it up with glossy black paint, Trina Turk pillows, a cowhide rug and black and white photography. But the couch- THE COUCH! It drove me insane.

Then one day, I found this sparkling Lexington gem at Custom Home Furniture...literally, it sparkles.

And so the games began...after coddling "Santa" and putting in a few $$ of my own, the couch became mine and the living room became a new space...

After MANY paint colors tests and lots of compromise, I finally painted the room Ben Moore's Ocean Air. What a breath of fresh air it has been! Do I think the room is perfect? No. The blue chair could stand to be recovered or replaced entirely and I need end tables to flank my sofa and sit next to the coral (ahem...orange) chair. But that stresses me out much less than a big ticket purchase.

The dogs still enjoy the furniture as well- what can I say, I like cuddling with them- but we cover the upholstery with a king sized comforter to keep dirt, drool and dander far away from the gorgeous tweed and brass nailheads.

So what do you think of this make-over? I refrain from showing you the dining room right now as it stands in a state of transition. But it's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do...hmmmm...

A Wild Household

Stark Antelope Rug via Carpet.net

Ever since the Haute Indoor Couture and Life of Style blogs featured antelope print rugs, I have been obsessed with these little beauties. Growing up in a house full of duck decoys and mounted antlers (my poor mother) turned me into not only a vegetarian but also a lover of rustic decor.

Apparently, in the design world, these snazzy little rugs are old news, but to me, a fledgling decorator, these are a delightful new discovery.

via House Beautiful

via Peak of Chic

via Perch

via Nickhaus

via Elle Decor

via unknown

Imagine my delight today when Gilt Groupe had Stark antelope rugs on sale today! I'm happy to report that I am now the proud owner of a 4' x 6' Stark antelope wool rug to be delivered in December. Can't wait to see it in person and then completely redecorate my entire freakin' house.

Maybe I should start with one of these a la House Beautiful...

personal photo

Haute Indoor Couture

via Haute Couture Indoor

This morning's email checking ritual offered a glimpse into one of the loveliest homes I've seen in a while. Matters of Style gave its readers the gift of interior designer Elizabeth Boland's house of Haute Indoor Couture. The architecture of this cozy home reminds me so much of my own, with its small rectangular rooms, beautiful hardwood floors and large windows. I decided this little gem needs to be my home's new inspiration.

via Haute Couture Indoor

via Haute Couture Indoor

via Haute Couture Indoor

via Haute Couture Indoor

Don't you love how serene this house feels? It's well edited but not at all boring. The pale textiles, white painted furniture and mirrored extras keep a small room from feeling too closed in and an old place from seeming stuffy. I love the seagrass rugs to bring in that beachy feel, something we coastal dwellers are always reminding are guests of when they visit from inland.

For my own reality, white couches are definitely out of the question, but certainly not white painted pieces or jute rugs. But what I really love most about Elizabeth's pad are her accessories and lamps! (Did anyone notice the mirrored Chanel lamps? HELLO!)

Here are a few accessories I think I need in my house to get closer to Haute Indoor Couture.

Cute umbrella stand (aka tennis racket holder)

via Z Gallerie

TWO mirrored Chanel lamps but I think mine might be better suited in my bedroom...

via The Huntress Lives

Twig table

via Z Gallerie

Mirrored side tables...

via CB2

Do you have any other suggestions? The perfect shade of pale, pale blue paint? Some nice white linen curtains? I'm ready to decorate when you are!

Mary Had a Painted Floor

via Mary McDonald

If you've watched "Million Dollar Decorators" or seen a few of Mary McDonald's sensuously designed interiors, then you know Mary loves a painted floor. And, now, I do too.

Mary McDonald via Bravo TV

Nearly every aspect of a Mary McDonald room calls my name- her use of color, implementation of geometric shapes and graphic prints, the glamorous overtones- not undertones. But her painted floors are particularly attractive. Perhaps that's because I'm not brave enough to do that to my own wood floors. But they sure make a statement and look gorgeous!

via Sara Gilbane Interiors

via Mary McDonald

via Bravo TV

For a similar take with less commitment, go a la Kate Spade and use colored vinyl tape to create your striping. OR arrange patterned FLOR carpet tiles for a little texture. Such great ideas!

via 221 Vision

via FLOR

Do you ever get the desire to go full on Mary and open up a can of whoop-paint? Admittedly, I don't want to mess up my floors but a low commitment version of this style would be fun. If you have any tips, or painter's tape, let me know!

Parlez-Vous Parlange?

Apartment Therapy

In honor of my upcoming semi-annual road trip to Louisiana (and the latest issue of Lonny Magazine), today's post focuses on the creative and sentimental New Orleans designer Angele Parlange. Parlange, now living in New York and loving it, injects a vivid type of historical flair into every space she decorates. But it isn't as simple as hanging your grandmother's portrait on the wall. How about having her calling cards silk-screened onto hot pink fabric and covering a Louis-style chair with it?

Creole Thrift

Or creating brightly colored curtains patterned with copies of treasured family photographs? Parlange tackles these projects and more in her witty and visually stunning book, Creole Thrift: Premium Southern Living Without Spending a Mint. In this book, Parlange infuses each and every space with heirlooms and tradition while keeping it lively with modern colors and patterns. This is not your grandmother's house. It's your fabulously daring grandmother's house in Technicolor.

Amazon.com

Creole Thrift

While this inspirational book was given to me about three years ago, I was thrilled to see Parlange's new NYC pad in Lonny this month! I was surprised to learn that Parlange had ended up in New York by default. She had coincendentally traveled north for a birthday party on the same day as Hurricane Katrina and, after not being able to return to New Orleans for several weeks, ended up making New York her new permanent home. Still, that same sense of glamorous Southern tradition showed up on every single page of the spread.

Lonny Magazine

Lonny Magazine

The second surprise in her posh new pad was her use of glossy black paint on so many of the interior doors! This ebonizing technique created a look of sophistication, drama and glamour.

Lonny Magazine

Lonny Magazine

I had to dig deeper to learn more about my new high gloss black door obsession...

The spaces above are certainly stunning, but Parlange has a much more gentle way of approaching the dramatic change. The difference between her gorgeously girly apartment and these modern and minimalistic spaces has much to do with Parlange's use of Benjamin Moore's soothing blue paint called Dolphin's Cove. The other stark black on white contrasts would be fine in most cases, but they are a little too cold for me. Transitioning to black doors in my house means adding a little bienvenue to the walls around it.

While Parlange's touches had already started appearing in my own house with hot pink ikat pillows and a new appreciation for calling cards, her glossy black doors are an unexpected twist that have me amped to try something new. This morning, I surveyed my doors and trim to see which would serve as good candidates for a little Parlange-ing. No final decisions yet, but I'll be sure to let you know what happens.

In the meantime, remember that you too can infuse your space with the most personal touches a la Parlange...without spending a mint. A little paint job is a cost-effective way to give your space a little face lift.