New Website!
While I am now more active on Instagram, I am excited to include my older blog posts on the new hcb interiors website. On the blog you will find decor inspiration, the projects we tackled for the One Room Challenge, home tours, and more. Thanks for stopping by!
NEW! Introducing Seasonal Mini-Consults
Happy fall, y'all!
I am so excited to introduce a new service: the seasonal mini-consult. Just in time for the holidays, a mini-consult will help prepare your home to welcome family and friends. A mini-consult can focus on any individual area of your home - pillows, throws, art, décor, etc. - and add that finishing touch.
A current client wanted a living room refresh that, in her words "doesn't look like pumpkin spice threw up everywhere" ;) She requested a scheme that would keep the blue found in her summer décor. Incorporating cozy textures, like wool & cashmere, and darker colors create a rich, unique fall look. (This mini focused on pillow fabric and throws).
I would love to help you prepare for the holiday season - email me at hcbinteriors(at)gmail(dot)com for more info and to get started!!
I am so excited to introduce a new service: the seasonal mini-consult. Just in time for the holidays, a mini-consult will help prepare your home to welcome family and friends. A mini-consult can focus on any individual area of your home - pillows, throws, art, décor, etc. - and add that finishing touch.
A current client wanted a living room refresh that, in her words "doesn't look like pumpkin spice threw up everywhere" ;) She requested a scheme that would keep the blue found in her summer décor. Incorporating cozy textures, like wool & cashmere, and darker colors create a rich, unique fall look. (This mini focused on pillow fabric and throws).
For those whom prefer warmer neutrals, these options lend themselves to a fall feel without that pumpkin spice influence (btw, I love pumpkin spice - nothing wrong with traditional fall colors, just not the look we were going for in this mini-consult)
I would love to help you prepare for the holiday season - email me at hcbinteriors(at)gmail(dot)com for more info and to get started!!
Chinoiserie Inspiration
I have long been a fan of Chinoiserie style (my home is full of Blue Willow, Asian inspired toiles, a bamboo chandelier in my daughter's room) but lately I have become infatuated with Chinoiserie panels and wallpaper. They bring a breath of life and color into a room, and with the extreme cold and gray days we've already had this winter, we could all use a dose of spring. Our home doesn't get much natural light, and I feel like some colorful, nature-inspired art could help bring a little brightness to the gloom that can pervade on cloudy days.
Just a few of my favorite images:
Just a few of my favorite images:
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| Amie Corley Interiors (IG) |
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| Amy Berry |
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| Mark D Sikes |
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| Nick Olsen |
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| Society Social (IG) |
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Summer Thornton
My grandparents loved to travel the world, and my grandmother, an impeccably stylish woman and one of my design inspirations, decorated their home with finds from their trips and pieces from my grandfather's work as a furniture sales rep. Their home was a beautifully collected space that I did not fully appreciate until I was older (as a kid, I just thought they had a lot of neat stuff to play with and explore). It was full of pieces similar in inspiration to the images above, which may also have to do with my infatuation - it feels like little pieces of home and childhood. :)
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Home Tour (Our Old House)
Happy New Year, y'all!
2017 was a year of big changes for us. Most notably, my husband started his non-profit for military veterans, Act6 Missions, and we moved from what we believed would be our "forever home" into our current house. These two events caused joy, stress, excitement and hope for the future, tears and grief for the past, and all other sorts of emotions. I am hopeful that 2018 will be our year of rest and reflection as we learn where our journey will next take us. But that is all a story for another time.
Once we realized we would be moving, I hired a photographer to take pictures of our home, specifically the spaces we had worked on the most to make our own, as well as pictures of our girls playing in their rooms. I wanted for them to be able to look back and remember this house, and how much we loved it - it was the house in which we became a family of 4, and it was the first house that felt like home to me after my mom passed away. We have moved several times over the last 14 years, and while we have loved them all, this house was special. We spent many late nights working on projects, painting rooms, dreaming up plans for the future, etc. It drew us closer together, and deepened our connection to our home.
Our kitchen was one of my favorite rooms. I sure am missing all that counter space!
We were lucky that the previous owners did the major renovation work, so all we had to do was come in and make it our own. The major changes throughout the house were:
Thanks for taking the trip down memory lane with me! We loved so much about that home that it is still bittersweet to see these pictures and write this post. The fun part is looking back at what I would have changed if we had stayed long term, and then applying those insights to our new home. Most important are the other three people who live within these walls, and that together we have made each of these houses a home. ❤
2017 was a year of big changes for us. Most notably, my husband started his non-profit for military veterans, Act6 Missions, and we moved from what we believed would be our "forever home" into our current house. These two events caused joy, stress, excitement and hope for the future, tears and grief for the past, and all other sorts of emotions. I am hopeful that 2018 will be our year of rest and reflection as we learn where our journey will next take us. But that is all a story for another time.
Once we realized we would be moving, I hired a photographer to take pictures of our home, specifically the spaces we had worked on the most to make our own, as well as pictures of our girls playing in their rooms. I wanted for them to be able to look back and remember this house, and how much we loved it - it was the house in which we became a family of 4, and it was the first house that felt like home to me after my mom passed away. We have moved several times over the last 14 years, and while we have loved them all, this house was special. We spent many late nights working on projects, painting rooms, dreaming up plans for the future, etc. It drew us closer together, and deepened our connection to our home.
Our kitchen was one of my favorite rooms. I sure am missing all that counter space!
We were lucky that the previous owners did the major renovation work, so all we had to do was come in and make it our own. The major changes throughout the house were:
- paint (the entire exterior, most walls, some cabinets, our daughter's ceiling)
- lighting in all rooms (including my favorite Sloane pendants, shown above the kitchen island)
- custom woodwork (board & batten with a picture ledge in the nursery, beadboard in the laundry, pantry, & garage entry, and a faux shiplap mudroom nook)
- the addition of built-in bookcases in three rooms (the living room, the dining room, and my oldest daughter's room, seen below)
Some of these changes were due to our participation in the One Room Challenge. You can see the befores and afters of our dining room here, laundry room here, and guest bedroom in the basement here.
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| DIY Canvas Art in our oldest daughter's room |
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| One Room Challenge Basement Guest Bedroom |
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| One Room Challenge Laundry Room |
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| One Room Challenge Dining Room |
Southeastern Showhouse 2017
I am writing this post as much for my benefit as for anyone else; this home was incredibly inspiring, inside and out, and a recap of my visit seems a great way to remember all the little details.
First, yes, the Showhouse happened in the spring - my husband and I visited in April (home tours are one of my favorite types of day dates). But! Atlanta Homes and Lifestyle's September issue is all about the Showhouse, so I figure it is still a timely topic.
It was really fun to see the work of so many designers I follow on Instagram and Pinterest (including a few whose paths I have crossed in real life as well). As lovely as all those little IG squares can be, seeing their work in person was such a thrill. Atlanta, & the South in general, is full of talent and I loved seeing rooms that both inspired and encouraged me. Some of the rooms were so similar to my style and taste (albeit on a different budget lol) that they provided reassurance to continue to trust my gut in my own projects, my personal home included.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get pictures of all of the spaces due to the crowds (yet another reason to check out AH&L) so I'm not able to share every room, but here are some snippets from our visit (prepare for a barrage of iPhone photos):
Anna Braund's hallway - the colors felt both fresh and comforting at the same time. And I always love it when books pop up in unexpected places; a home that is full of books brings me so much joy. Anna is from my hometown, and completed one of my favorite local projects (check it out, here). I would often pass it during walks with my babies while it was still being built, and I was excited to find the interior tour on her website.
The bedroom by Tristan Harstan ranks as one of my very favorite bedrooms of any showhouse, ever. I have used these same colors in my own bedroom multiple times in the past, and my design for our new home has many similar elements: checks, florals, blue and white, neutral rug with a hint of blue, pleated lampshades, touches of black and brass, etc. (you can see a hint of it in this IG post), Seeing it all put together so beautifully kicked my plans up a notch. I absolutely ADORE all of the gorgeous fabric in this room. I really could have stayed in this room for hours, taking in every detail.
As I mentioned, the exterior/landscaping details were just as fabulous as the inside of the house. We took lots of notes as our new yard is pretty bare. The home overlooked a nearby school/athletic fields; it seemed like it would be fun to sit out on the patio and enjoy the muted roar of the crowd during games.
Tracery Interiors, located in our favorite place to escape (30-A in NW Florida), designed this fun room at the very top of the stairs. I loved the built-in and the double beds around the window that provided extra room for sleeping/reading.
Sarah Bartholomew's bedroom was a gorgeous example of attention to detail. I loved the peek of the contrasting fabric on the window treatments, and the use of the red trim throughout the room - especially in the arch of the window area!
Gordon Dunning had a little hideaway spot in one of the home's nooks and crannies. I thought about taking that rug home with me ;) These ladies excel in bringing fun and color into all of their spaces, and this room was no exception.
Lauren DeLoach's kitchen was probably the room I was most anxious to see before our visit, and it did not disappoint! The color, fabrics, built-ins, lighting - all just so, so good. It was traditional with a twist, modern and classic at the same time. Her portfolio is full of some of my very favorite kitchens; I don't know if I can pick a favorite.
To see more, check out the Showhouse website, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, or the websites of all of the talented designers, including (amongst many others) Tammy Connor, Huff-Dewberry, Phoebe Howard, Chad James, Margaret Kirkland, and Jackye Lanham.
First, yes, the Showhouse happened in the spring - my husband and I visited in April (home tours are one of my favorite types of day dates). But! Atlanta Homes and Lifestyle's September issue is all about the Showhouse, so I figure it is still a timely topic.
It was really fun to see the work of so many designers I follow on Instagram and Pinterest (including a few whose paths I have crossed in real life as well). As lovely as all those little IG squares can be, seeing their work in person was such a thrill. Atlanta, & the South in general, is full of talent and I loved seeing rooms that both inspired and encouraged me. Some of the rooms were so similar to my style and taste (albeit on a different budget lol) that they provided reassurance to continue to trust my gut in my own projects, my personal home included.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get pictures of all of the spaces due to the crowds (yet another reason to check out AH&L) so I'm not able to share every room, but here are some snippets from our visit (prepare for a barrage of iPhone photos):
Anna Braund's hallway - the colors felt both fresh and comforting at the same time. And I always love it when books pop up in unexpected places; a home that is full of books brings me so much joy. Anna is from my hometown, and completed one of my favorite local projects (check it out, here). I would often pass it during walks with my babies while it was still being built, and I was excited to find the interior tour on her website.
The bedroom by Tristan Harstan ranks as one of my very favorite bedrooms of any showhouse, ever. I have used these same colors in my own bedroom multiple times in the past, and my design for our new home has many similar elements: checks, florals, blue and white, neutral rug with a hint of blue, pleated lampshades, touches of black and brass, etc. (you can see a hint of it in this IG post), Seeing it all put together so beautifully kicked my plans up a notch. I absolutely ADORE all of the gorgeous fabric in this room. I really could have stayed in this room for hours, taking in every detail.
As I mentioned, the exterior/landscaping details were just as fabulous as the inside of the house. We took lots of notes as our new yard is pretty bare. The home overlooked a nearby school/athletic fields; it seemed like it would be fun to sit out on the patio and enjoy the muted roar of the crowd during games.
Tracery Interiors, located in our favorite place to escape (30-A in NW Florida), designed this fun room at the very top of the stairs. I loved the built-in and the double beds around the window that provided extra room for sleeping/reading.
Sarah Bartholomew's bedroom was a gorgeous example of attention to detail. I loved the peek of the contrasting fabric on the window treatments, and the use of the red trim throughout the room - especially in the arch of the window area!
Gordon Dunning had a little hideaway spot in one of the home's nooks and crannies. I thought about taking that rug home with me ;) These ladies excel in bringing fun and color into all of their spaces, and this room was no exception.
Lauren DeLoach's kitchen was probably the room I was most anxious to see before our visit, and it did not disappoint! The color, fabrics, built-ins, lighting - all just so, so good. It was traditional with a twist, modern and classic at the same time. Her portfolio is full of some of my very favorite kitchens; I don't know if I can pick a favorite.
To see more, check out the Showhouse website, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, or the websites of all of the talented designers, including (amongst many others) Tammy Connor, Huff-Dewberry, Phoebe Howard, Chad James, Margaret Kirkland, and Jackye Lanham.
Master Bath Renovation
This master bathroom was so much fun. The clients are precious, kind people and we worked really well together. The project was mostly e-design (aka text design 😉) with a few home visits sprinkled in, and we are all thrilled with the results. Their style can best be described as one that favors warm neutrals with touches of industrial and farmhouse. I tried to stay true to their aesthetic, and made sure to offer choices that fit at least one of those three categories; my client would then make the final choice (sometimes with my input, sometimes without) and acted as project manager for the entire job. I think she did great!
I was first hired to simply update the master bath. However, once the ball started rolling, more & more changes were made until the clients ended up with a completely new space. What is it that they say...if you give a mouse a cookie? This was definitely one of those cases, but it was so worth it!
They had painted the bathroom cabinets & the walls years ago, but had not touched the space since then. Some befores (excuse the iPhone quality):
The shower was too small & too short, tub was taking up valuable floor space, and the overall room felt dark, in spite of the light wall color.
Requests included more storage, a larger shower, and a standalone tub. We decided on a monochromatic look, spurred by the beauty of the mushroom colored subway tile we both loved at first sight - and which was of course discontinued right before we placed our order. Such is real life, and we found a happy second choice that still brought character and warmth to the room. I also adore the shiplap tub surround.
And after:
Painting the large picture window trim a dark color brought the outdoors in; adding a beautiful chandelier over the tub ensured this special area became the focal point of the room. I also love the warmth that the tile floors bring in; they look so much like real wood flooring but are perfect for a wet space like a bathroom.
To address the need for more storage, we kept the base cabinets and had custom countertop cabinets made for each vanity area. No more baskets of products taking over the counter space!
We also focused on the closet hallway connecting the master bedroom and bath. New paint, new lighting, and custom mirrored sliding doors give a glimpse of the beauty that lies ahead.
I am grateful for the chance to work on this fun, beautiful space and blessed by the nicest clients. If you would like to update a space in your home, please contact me at hcbinteriors(at)gmail.com
Photography: Jon Cox Photography
Design: hcb interiors
Spring Dining Room with Arhaus
I absolutely love to dine outdoors. There is something about it that makes every meal feel special, even if we are just throwing hot dogs & burgers on the grill. However, the heat of GA summers allows us only a few weeks each spring & fall to enjoy our meals al fresco. I felt inspired to design an indoor space that would make us feel like we were eating outside, minus the bug bites and humidity. :)
I decided the best way to freshen up for the season was to bring spring inside. The vibrant color & print of Schumacher's Chenonceau wallcovering in Aloe was the perfect starting point.
I added Arhaus' Wilhelm table in a natural wood tone, along with the gorgeous Alice dining chairs for contrast & comfort. Circa's Armillary Sphere Chandelier is yet another nod to the outdoors. And what's a great dinner party, indoors or out, without a bar cart for serving custom cocktails (or a cold glass of Chardonnay, as is my preference)? The faux rattan of the Revah outdoor cart adds a fun & casual vibe to the room.
Finally, I would be remiss to design a Southern dining room without monograms & plates on the walls. These acrylic wine glasses are perfect for parties, and I love the scalloped edge of the Avignon dinner plates. You can visit Arhaus here, or click here for more dining room inspiration.
Thanks, Arhaus, for giving me the chance to dream up a fun space for spring. Cheers!
I decided the best way to freshen up for the season was to bring spring inside. The vibrant color & print of Schumacher's Chenonceau wallcovering in Aloe was the perfect starting point.
I added Arhaus' Wilhelm table in a natural wood tone, along with the gorgeous Alice dining chairs for contrast & comfort. Circa's Armillary Sphere Chandelier is yet another nod to the outdoors. And what's a great dinner party, indoors or out, without a bar cart for serving custom cocktails (or a cold glass of Chardonnay, as is my preference)? The faux rattan of the Revah outdoor cart adds a fun & casual vibe to the room.
Finally, I would be remiss to design a Southern dining room without monograms & plates on the walls. These acrylic wine glasses are perfect for parties, and I love the scalloped edge of the Avignon dinner plates. You can visit Arhaus here, or click here for more dining room inspiration.
Thanks, Arhaus, for giving me the chance to dream up a fun space for spring. Cheers!
NEW SERVICES! The Mini-Consult and Design for the Military
I am SO excited to announce two new services I am offering for 2017! I've actually been providing the mini-consult service for a few years, but am just now making it an official option.
The mini-consult focuses on only one area of your room. You can choose from a large range of options, including but not limited to:
The mini-consult focuses on only one area of your room. You can choose from a large range of options, including but not limited to:
- art/mirrors
- window treatments
- rugs/flooring
- paint
- accessories
- styling
- fabric
For example, one of my more recent mini-consults was for a client who needed help freshening up her living room. She didn't want to change the furniture or the stained built-ins, but she wanted to make the room lighter and brighter. She hired me for a paint consult and an accessories consult. Simply changing the walls from a dark yellow to a light neutral and swapping out the hardware on the built-ins for a more modern pull instantly updated the entire room. And she paid a fraction of the price of a fully designed room.
The mini-consult allows you to pick and choose which spot in your home needs attention without paying the price of a full-room design. It is the best way to get professional advice at an affordable price!
The other new service I'm offering is design for the military. As a veteran's wife, I understand the challenge of moving often, of every new home being entirely different from the last in both size and design, and of losing items in transit from one home to another.
Design for the military focuses on providing items that will transition from one duty station to the next or on creating an affordable, temporary solution for each home. All active-duty military and veterans receive a 5% discount.
I would be so honored to help you design the home you love. Click here to find out more about any of the services I offer or contact me at hcbinteriors@gmail.com to get started!
Giving
At hcb interiors, we believe in giving back. That's why a portion of every project's proceeds are donated to charity. Past recipients of your charitable giving include:
In addition to charitable giving, we also LOVE our military and their families. All active duty military and veterans receive a 5% discount off all services. To see other ways in which hcb interiors gives back to our servicemen and women, please visit the design services page and look for the military focused design option.
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
- The 410 Bridge
- military and veteran focused aid
In addition to charitable giving, we also LOVE our military and their families. All active duty military and veterans receive a 5% discount off all services. To see other ways in which hcb interiors gives back to our servicemen and women, please visit the design services page and look for the military focused design option.
💚
Honoring Bobbi - Philanthropy & Design
We are nearing the anniversary of my mom's passing, and while she is never far from my thoughts, these days she is always on my mind. She was the kindest, most thoughtful person I have ever known, and I've been thinking a lot about her life goals. She accomplished almost everything on her list, but one thing she always wanted was to be a philanthropist. I've been trying to figure out how I could continue on with her dream, and I realized that no act is too small when it comes to promoting kindness.
So, I am offering you a deal: if you write to me by Monday, Dec. 5* and tell me about a philanthropic act that you have performed for others in the past week (or email me by Mon. about something you did over the weekend), I will send you a design idea board, at no charge. These boards are already designed, so they are not custom, but there will be a few different ones to choose from (i.e. farmhouse, neutral, mod traditional, etc.)
All you have to do is perform a philanthropic act and let me know about it, and you will be sent the design board of your choice. Pretty easy, right? Now go spread a little hope and love in this world - just like my mom did every day of her life. :)
*email me at hcbinteriors@gmail.com
Holiday Home Tour
Every year, I look forward to the many holiday home tours that pop up in blogland. There is so much creativity and inspiration out there!
Yesterday, I hosted a small brunch at my home and decided to snap a few pics after the fact (had to document a time when the house was clean!). We haven't finished decorating (we don't even have a tree yet), but I wanted to share just a few snippets of our home during my favorite season. I've incorporated more fresh greenery this year, and it makes such a difference; it has a presence that allows you to decrease the decor throughout the rest of the room, providing the cozy & simplified feeling I was after.
(As an aside, if anyone has a photography class or book they can recommend, please share! Our home faces south, meaning some rooms are always too bright and others are always dim; a challenge when shooting interiors. I'm always trying to improve my novice skills, and would love to learn more!)
Welcome to our home! This year, I finally found a local source for the temple bells I have admired for years. I love their soft clanging sound, and the contrast of the bells against the greenery.
Our O Holy Night sign from Between You and Me signs always takes a place of pride on the mantel. I added fresh garland on the mantel this year, and it smells so good. See the plant on the fireplace? Had to move it up there when little fingers kept pulling all the leaves off ;)
Not sure if I've ever shared a full shot of this side of the room, or at least not a finished shot of the built-ins. I am so happy with the way they turned out, and even though a few contractors scoffed at me for designing them in a space that only allowed for them to be 8 inches deep, I think they add so much character to the room.
Fresh greenery, a mini tree in an antique pot, and my girls' silhouettes. Simple changes to the room that make me love it even more.
Found this pot over Thanksgiving while visiting my in-laws 200 year old farmhouse, and it is a perfect home for this mini-tree that we will plant in the yard next spring.
The garage door all dressed up with a boxwood wreath (an ineffective attempt to hide the clutter in the garage lol). And a handprint Santa to send us out the door each day.
The master bedroom received a few small touches of Christmas for the first time - my favorite pillow on the bed and a small wreath hung on the door.
Hope y'all have a wonderful Christmas season! Thanks for visiting our home!
Giving Back - National Philanthropy Day
I am so very grateful for the opportunity to follow my dreams and help others create a home. I am also very passionate about giving back. From now until the end of the year, I will donate 10% of all proceeds to one of three charities: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, CURE Childhood Cancer, or Folds of Honor.
And, I will continue to donate in 2017, if you contact me before Dec. 31, 2016. It's a win-win: you get a new space, and someone in need benefits. If you're interested, or would like to see more examples of my work, please contact me at hcbinteriors@gmail.com
Thank you for helping others!
And, I will continue to donate in 2017, if you contact me before Dec. 31, 2016. It's a win-win: you get a new space, and someone in need benefits. If you're interested, or would like to see more examples of my work, please contact me at hcbinteriors@gmail.com
Thank you for helping others!
One Room Challenge, Fall 2016 - The Big Reveal!
Now on to the reason why everyone is here - the Before and After!
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| Our Mess |
I love the look of the drapes behind the bed. It creates a layer of coziness and warmth in a room full of hard surfaces and no natural charm. It also gives the impression of a wall of windows, so it's not quite as obvious to our guests that we are sticking them in our dungeon. ;)
In addition to the lamps placed around the room, we installed this plug-in sconce on the wall right next to the door. Now you can turn on a light the second you walk in the room, as opposed to walking across a dark room to turn on the lamp on the nightstand, the only option previously for lighting the room.
Every good Southern room needs a little blue and white. This large wall across from the bed needed something to fill it, especially because this is the view when lying in the bed. One of our favorite paintings by a local artist of the Georgia shore, surrounded by some of my Blue Willow collection, adds a fun boost of color in a mostly neutral room.
Before of the wall across from the bed, aka more storage
I added a little seating area/reading nook in this previously unused corner. Hope it provides a spot for our guests to relax and escape the hubbub of a home with small children. :)
As always, I am so glad we participated in the One Room Challenge. Thank you so much to Linda for creating the ORC, and for providing encouragement to create a space in your home that you truly love. Be sure to check out the other participants; there is so much talent out there!
*Edited to add sources and budget
SOURCES
Drapes: P Kauffman Buffalo Check
Bedding: white coverlet - Pine Cone Hill, white shams with monogram - Pottery Barn, blue/gray quilt and shams - Tuesday Morning
Tablecloth: Lacefield Designs Pagoda for Ballard Designs
Sconce: Pottery Barn
All other lighting, furniture, artwork: family pieces, gifts, or thrift store finds
BUDGET (about 95% of the room was recycled from other rooms or storage)
Drapes: bartered with a client for design services $0
Bedding: white bedding was outlet or garage sale finds, blue/gray from a discount store $80
Tablecloth: purchased on FB garage sale group $35
Pharmacy style floor lamp: thrift store find $7
Curtain rod: $20
Total Budget: $142
One Room Challenge, Fall 2016 - Week 5
Well, you may have noticed that I skipped right over Week 4 in the ORC. There just wasn't enough progress to warrant a post. But, we've gotten a lot more accomplished this week, and I am excited to reveal our revamped guest room next week. It's not going to be the most dramatic of reveals, but I am so pleased to be able to offer our guests a welcoming space instead of the cluttered dungeon-like room it was up until a month ago.
We hung the drapes along the back wall, and it makes such a difference in the coziness factor. My dad (who is fairly oblivious to all things design) even commented that it makes it seem like there is a wall of windows hiding just behind the bed - exactly my intention! The dimensions are a little off since I had to work with what I already own and wasn't able to customize the drapes to the space, but I think it is still as step-up from a windowless room with drop tile ceiling. :)
I also set up a little reading/relaxing nook in the corner of the room that previously held all of our junk. Just a tiny bit of an improvement, I'd say. Still waffling over my accent fabric choices (the pillow and throw pictured are just stand-ins), but since it's down to the wire, availability may become my most influential factor.
We hung the drapes along the back wall, and it makes such a difference in the coziness factor. My dad (who is fairly oblivious to all things design) even commented that it makes it seem like there is a wall of windows hiding just behind the bed - exactly my intention! The dimensions are a little off since I had to work with what I already own and wasn't able to customize the drapes to the space, but I think it is still as step-up from a windowless room with drop tile ceiling. :)
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| ignore the wrinkles ;) |
I also set up a little reading/relaxing nook in the corner of the room that previously held all of our junk. Just a tiny bit of an improvement, I'd say. Still waffling over my accent fabric choices (the pillow and throw pictured are just stand-ins), but since it's down to the wire, availability may become my most influential factor.
That's my quick update for now. See you next week for the reveal!
As always, don't forget to check out the other participants in the One Room Challenge!
One Room Challenge Fall 2016 - The Most Boring Week in the ORC (Week 3)
So this will probably be the most boring One Room Challenge update in history. Aesthetically, nothing much has happened to the room. But, we cleaned it out and began organizing the closet. It felt SO good to purge and put things where they belong, instead of tossing them in a pile and slamming the door shut before the pile escapes. Lol. It doesn't seem like we've made a lot of progress, but when I look at the empty space in the closet, it helps ease my ORC jitters.
We had hoped to hang the drapes, but they were full of wrinkles (not surprising, given that they were at the bottom of the giant closet pile), so we will hang them as soon as possible, hopefully this weekend. I also realized that we need to switch out one of the nightstands as there is too big of a height difference between the two we currently have in the room, so we may have to steal a table from elsewhere in the house (or hope for a lucky estate sale find?). This will also hopefully happen this weekend, although my husband does not get as excited about moving furniture all over the house as I do. And since a narrow flight of basement stairs is part of the obstacle, I don't think I'll be moving anything by myself.
And that is about all folks. Not too entertaining, but at least it was short and sweet. ;)
Be sure to check out my fellow participants here. And thanks as always to Linda from Calling It Home for hosting!
We had hoped to hang the drapes, but they were full of wrinkles (not surprising, given that they were at the bottom of the giant closet pile), so we will hang them as soon as possible, hopefully this weekend. I also realized that we need to switch out one of the nightstands as there is too big of a height difference between the two we currently have in the room, so we may have to steal a table from elsewhere in the house (or hope for a lucky estate sale find?). This will also hopefully happen this weekend, although my husband does not get as excited about moving furniture all over the house as I do. And since a narrow flight of basement stairs is part of the obstacle, I don't think I'll be moving anything by myself.
And that is about all folks. Not too entertaining, but at least it was short and sweet. ;)
Be sure to check out my fellow participants here. And thanks as always to Linda from Calling It Home for hosting!
One Room Challenge Fall 2016 - Guest Bedroom Design Plan, Week 2
Welcome back to week 2 of the One Room Challenge! A quick synopsis - we are participating in the Calling It Home blog challenge, and updating our guest bedroom in just under 6 weeks. This week, I am presenting my design plan for our windowless basement guest room.
To be upfront with y'all, the only way my husband (aka my electrician, carpenter, and sometimes plumber) and I could fathom being a part of this round's ORC was if we agreed to tackle the room that would take the least amount of effort, time, and money. So, the majority of the room's elements are things we already have, and we are repurposing them (aka stealing) from other rooms in our home. Sometimeshoarding collecting pillows, lamps, etc. can come in handy.
We've also made zero progress on the room this week; we escaped to the mountains for a few days during my daughter's fall break, and it was totally worth it. I'll just have to put that much more effort into this upcoming week!
As for the design of the room, I mentioned in week 1 that I was going for a Southern coastal look. We love going to the beach, and I wanted to bring the relaxation we feel during our trips to our guests. It also helps that my in-laws gifted us a painting of the coast that has been in the family for years, and I can use it to tie many of the elements together. When we researched the name on the back, we discovered that the little-known artist has actually become quite the collector's item. And while it's not worth millions (or even close), it's neat to know that it does have a history.
The design brings together some of my favorites: buffalo check, toile (either classic or chinoiserie - haven't decided yet), and the color combo of creams and blues. To address the lack of lighting, both natural and overhead, I'm bringing in a lot of lamps. In addition, the room will have mirrors on two walls to bounce the lamplight.
The inspiration image is a room I have loved for a long time. It was designed by Lisa Whitley for a Southern Living home in South Carolina. I especially love the painting over the bed, and the windows and drapery behind the bed. That got my wheels turning, and I realized I could give the impression of windows by hanging drapes behind our farmhouse 4 poster bed. I happen to have some P. Kaufman buffalo check drapes that did not work well in our home but I just couldn't let go of them, so they are getting a second life in this room. The other fabric in the room will most likely be either Pottery Barn's Matine toile in porcelain blue, or Lacefield Design's Pagodas Seaside. The walls are Benjamin Moore's White Dove (my go-to white).
Check back next week to see our progress (or lack thereof), and be sure to visit the other participants in the One Room Challenge!
To be upfront with y'all, the only way my husband (aka my electrician, carpenter, and sometimes plumber) and I could fathom being a part of this round's ORC was if we agreed to tackle the room that would take the least amount of effort, time, and money. So, the majority of the room's elements are things we already have, and we are repurposing them (aka stealing) from other rooms in our home. Sometimes
We've also made zero progress on the room this week; we escaped to the mountains for a few days during my daughter's fall break, and it was totally worth it. I'll just have to put that much more effort into this upcoming week!
As for the design of the room, I mentioned in week 1 that I was going for a Southern coastal look. We love going to the beach, and I wanted to bring the relaxation we feel during our trips to our guests. It also helps that my in-laws gifted us a painting of the coast that has been in the family for years, and I can use it to tie many of the elements together. When we researched the name on the back, we discovered that the little-known artist has actually become quite the collector's item. And while it's not worth millions (or even close), it's neat to know that it does have a history.
The design brings together some of my favorites: buffalo check, toile (either classic or chinoiserie - haven't decided yet), and the color combo of creams and blues. To address the lack of lighting, both natural and overhead, I'm bringing in a lot of lamps. In addition, the room will have mirrors on two walls to bounce the lamplight.
The inspiration image is a room I have loved for a long time. It was designed by Lisa Whitley for a Southern Living home in South Carolina. I especially love the painting over the bed, and the windows and drapery behind the bed. That got my wheels turning, and I realized I could give the impression of windows by hanging drapes behind our farmhouse 4 poster bed. I happen to have some P. Kaufman buffalo check drapes that did not work well in our home but I just couldn't let go of them, so they are getting a second life in this room. The other fabric in the room will most likely be either Pottery Barn's Matine toile in porcelain blue, or Lacefield Design's Pagodas Seaside. The walls are Benjamin Moore's White Dove (my go-to white).
Check back next week to see our progress (or lack thereof), and be sure to visit the other participants in the One Room Challenge!
One Room Challenge Fall 2016 - Guest Bedroom, Week 1
Welcome to the Fall 2016 One Room Challenge! For those of you new to the concept, Linda from Calling It Home created a blog challenge in which participants make over a room in a short 6 week period. It's chaotic, stressful, and exhilarating all at the same time. Many have compared it to childbirth, and while I can tell you that it pales in comparison to an unplanned natural delivery, it definitely brings a mental anguish and exhaustion that you forget all about when you reach the finish line, beaming with pride over your creation. A short time later, all you remember are the good times, the successes, and the beauty of your space, so you decide that it would be a great idea to do it all over again. And that's how you become involved in the cycle of the One Room Challenge. Ha!
This will be our third round of participating as a guest blogger in the ORC. Every Wednesday, 20 featured designers post their updates, and every Thursday, hundreds of guest bloggers join in on the fun. You can find our Fall 2015 makeover of our laundry room and back entry here, and our Spring 2016 ORC of our dining room here. Fun fact: we recently revamped the spaces from our Fall 2015 ORC; the office space is now a shiplap mudroom, and the mudcloset is storage for cleaning supplies, household goods, etc. You can find those updates on my Instagram feed, hcbinteriors.
Life has been more than a little hectic lately; if you check the date of my last post, you'll see that it was the final post of the Spring ORC. We didn't even decide to commit to this round until today. But the lure of whipping yet another space in our home into shape was strong, so here we go again.
We will be focusing on our guest bedroom. It's located in the basement, and has no windows, no overhead lighting, and the outlets the lamps are plugged into are not connected to the lightswitch, so the room is a dark cave. Not very welcoming! It's also tends to be our clutter collector, the space where all items go to live until I have the time and space to put them away. This room, and my husband's cluttered office, are my secret rooms of shame. Because they are in the basement, I don't have to look at them until someone is coming to visit. And since those visitors are usually my very understanding in-laws, the rooms are usually just barely cleaner than the pictures shown below.
The Before (can't believe I'm sharing our mess!):
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| Extra furniture that has no home. Clothes my kids have outgrown piled on the bed. And a whole bunch of random stuff (don't even know what) under the bed |
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| Mirrors and art that are waiting to be hung (and have been waiting for months) |
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| At one time, this closet was organized. Until we just started tossing stuff in, with the idea that we would deal with it later. Now you can't even get in there |
Ok, now that everyone in American can feel better about their own mess, come back next week to see my design plan. I'm thinking Southern Coastal, hoping that I can turn this into a welcoming, organized retreat. Thanks for visiting, and make sure to check out everyone else participating in the One Room Challenge!
One Room Challenge Week 6: The Grand Finale, Part 1
Well folks, our room is not fully finished but I'm happy with how Phase 1 turned out. And as of 1am last night when we got home from the beach, it was not photo-ready, so please excuse any poor lighting or staging. As a professional, it grates on me that we didn't finish the room as planned. As a mommy & wife, taking the past week to go on a desperately needed family vacation after weeks of the stomach flu, budget woes, and high levels of stress due to personal circumstances beyond our control, was absolutely more important than finishing the room. My mantra for this project has become, "it is what it is". This season's ORC has been an exercise in patience and acceptance, two lessons which I seem to continually need to learn ;)
And now for the before and (mostly) after:
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
I am sooo pleased with our built-ins. They add so much character to the room & to our home. This room has odd dimenstions; it is a small square with a bay window on one wall & doorways on two of the walls that limit furniture placement and size. We now have storage for a bar area, our books, board games, art supplies, and even some serving pieces. My husband is in trouble, now that I know he has this kind of talent. His to-do list just got a little bit longer. ;)
BEFORE
AFTER
As for the other changes to the room, I am thrilled with the wall & trim colors, and absolutely adore my homemade abstract art. I feel like they balance the classic/historical feel of the federal mirror, sconces, & lantern.
Phase 2 will take time & money, so it will be a while before the room is truly "finished" (my husband doesn't believe I consider any space in our home to ever be finished; he may be right). Still on our list to accomplish:
And now for the before and (mostly) after:
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
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| Pretend not to notice the spots on the ceiling. A little touch-up is still needed :) |
I am sooo pleased with our built-ins. They add so much character to the room & to our home. This room has odd dimenstions; it is a small square with a bay window on one wall & doorways on two of the walls that limit furniture placement and size. We now have storage for a bar area, our books, board games, art supplies, and even some serving pieces. My husband is in trouble, now that I know he has this kind of talent. His to-do list just got a little bit longer. ;)
BEFORE
AFTER
As for the other changes to the room, I am thrilled with the wall & trim colors, and absolutely adore my homemade abstract art. I feel like they balance the classic/historical feel of the federal mirror, sconces, & lantern.
Phase 2 will take time & money, so it will be a while before the room is truly "finished" (my husband doesn't believe I consider any space in our home to ever be finished; he may be right). Still on our list to accomplish:
- drapes. The charcoal linen drapes in the room are a pair I had in storage, & pulled out for a visual reference. I think a white background with subtle pattern would do better at highlighting the beauty of the bay window, but I haven't found just the right one yet
- antique table & chairs; there's a reason I have a tablecloth on this one & it's not pretty ;)
- custom shades for the sconces. I'm 99% sure I know what fabric I'm going to use for these, but have yet to bite the bullet since I'm so wishy-washy on my drapery choice
- finish the plate wall with silhouettes of my girls
- move our antique dark wood buffet up from the basement & switch out with the painted one. No one felt like moving heavy furniture after a stomach bug
- knobs for the cabinets on the built-ins. They arrived but didn't quite make it to install
- more pops of blue and green to bring color into the room
A couple last shots of the room:
If you've stuck around for the entirety of this post, thank you. And I would love it if you'd follow me both here & on Instagram (hcbinteriors); please continue to check in to see our progress on the space. Big thanks to Linda of Calling It Home for creating this fantastic blogger phenomenon. This round promoted 20 featured bloggers and over 200 guest particpants, along with House Beautiful magazine as a social media partner. So impressive!
Also linking up to Thoughts of Home via Laura at decortoadore.net Thanks Laura for hosting!
Also linking up to Thoughts of Home via Laura at decortoadore.net Thanks Laura for hosting!
One Room Challenge Week 5: Calling "Uncle"
If you're new here, welcome! To my regular readers, thank you for checking back in! We are in the final countdown of the One Room Challenge, a 6 week event hosted by Linda of Calling It Home to makeover one room in your home (or someone else's. With their permission, of course).
We have made some amazing progress in some areas, and not so amazing in others. After two weeks of the stomach flu making its way through our home, and losing a large amount of my budget to the unexpected expense of a new car, I have finally come to realize that we will not have a complete room next week. It is what it is, and I am surprisingly okay with it (well, mostly. There have been a few moments of frustration & one near tantrum, but overall, I'm satisfied with what we've been able to accomplish despite the challenges.)
The bookcases, which I shared last week, received even more attention after my post. My husband decided he wasn't 100% satisfied with them, so he added more trim and detailing, and I am SO glad he did. I thought they looked great before, but they truly look professional now. One coat of primer and two coats of paint later, and they are ready for styling. We also decided to paint the crown molding to match the bookcases. I had initially been concerned that painting the molding gray would shorten our already low (8') ceilings, but it looks much more polished now.
Our vintage federal mirror arrived, and I love the character it adds to the room. I'm trying not to overwhelm the room/walls, so even though I had originally thought about a gallery wall for this space, I'm really happy with the quiet, clean look of the mirror on its own. Plus, this is the main wall that my girls bang against as they run through the room during their daily races, so the less to be knocked down, the better. :)
We happened to have a picture light laying around in the basement from another project, so we added that above my girls' painting. It gives the art an extra sense of importance, and my 5 year old thinks it is so neat to be able to turn on the "special" light so it shines on their painting.
Tune in next week to see our "finished" space. And be sure to check out the other 200+ guest paticipants!
We have made some amazing progress in some areas, and not so amazing in others. After two weeks of the stomach flu making its way through our home, and losing a large amount of my budget to the unexpected expense of a new car, I have finally come to realize that we will not have a complete room next week. It is what it is, and I am surprisingly okay with it (well, mostly. There have been a few moments of frustration & one near tantrum, but overall, I'm satisfied with what we've been able to accomplish despite the challenges.)
The bookcases, which I shared last week, received even more attention after my post. My husband decided he wasn't 100% satisfied with them, so he added more trim and detailing, and I am SO glad he did. I thought they looked great before, but they truly look professional now. One coat of primer and two coats of paint later, and they are ready for styling. We also decided to paint the crown molding to match the bookcases. I had initially been concerned that painting the molding gray would shorten our already low (8') ceilings, but it looks much more polished now.
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| Excuse the grainy photo. Computer issues :) |
We happened to have a picture light laying around in the basement from another project, so we added that above my girls' painting. It gives the art an extra sense of importance, and my 5 year old thinks it is so neat to be able to turn on the "special" light so it shines on their painting.
Tune in next week to see our "finished" space. And be sure to check out the other 200+ guest paticipants!
One Room Challenge Spring 2016: The built-ins are finished - but the painting may never end
Welcome to Week 4! For those of you just joining in, we are participating in Calling It Home's One Room Challenge, a 6 week revamp of one room in our home. You can catch up with weeks 1, 2, & 3 to see where we started and how far we've come.
I am fairly sure that this time around, we will not be finished with our room when the clock stops. And that's ok because we have made some major changes to the room, and as we are working with a tighter budget, I want to ensure that we (I) make the right choices, not pressured choices.
The most obvious change to the room are the incredible built-ins that my husband has worked so hard on. It is so neat to watch someone that you know so well grow in a talent that they weren't even sure they had, only to find major success after challenging themselves. The bookcases add tons of character and style to the room, not to mention much needed storage in our smaller home.
We also have all new lighting in the room, but I was able to keep it all budget-friendly. I purchased the sconces with gift cards saved from my birthday & Christmas (sometimes being a holiday baby comes in handy), and I simply switched the lantern in our breakfast area with the chandelier in the dining room. It's a little unconventional to move a crystal chandelier from a dining room to a kitchen, but I'm a big fan of the contrast it provides to our kitchen's antique farm table. And the lantern better fits my vision for the design for the dining room.
The custom shades for the sconces will most likely not make it here before the end of the ORC, but I'm sure they will be worth the wait. Although when I showed my husband the design, he said, "I really like them. They remind me of a Hawaiian shirt". Definitely NOT what I was going for, but I'll focus on the part where he said that he liked them. Here are some inspiration images to give you an idea of the direction in which I am heading:
This next week is going to be a hot mess of frantically trying to finish as much as possible while still searching for those "perfect" items that will make the room. But unlike my younger impatient self, I am willing to settle for an unfinished room, and wait for the right time/chair/table/fabric to come along.
If you'd like to see how the other amazing participants are faring, check out callingithome.com. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
I am fairly sure that this time around, we will not be finished with our room when the clock stops. And that's ok because we have made some major changes to the room, and as we are working with a tighter budget, I want to ensure that we (I) make the right choices, not pressured choices.
The most obvious change to the room are the incredible built-ins that my husband has worked so hard on. It is so neat to watch someone that you know so well grow in a talent that they weren't even sure they had, only to find major success after challenging themselves. The bookcases add tons of character and style to the room, not to mention much needed storage in our smaller home.
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| With one coat of tinted primer |
We also have all new lighting in the room, but I was able to keep it all budget-friendly. I purchased the sconces with gift cards saved from my birthday & Christmas (sometimes being a holiday baby comes in handy), and I simply switched the lantern in our breakfast area with the chandelier in the dining room. It's a little unconventional to move a crystal chandelier from a dining room to a kitchen, but I'm a big fan of the contrast it provides to our kitchen's antique farm table. And the lantern better fits my vision for the design for the dining room.
The custom shades for the sconces will most likely not make it here before the end of the ORC, but I'm sure they will be worth the wait. Although when I showed my husband the design, he said, "I really like them. They remind me of a Hawaiian shirt". Definitely NOT what I was going for, but I'll focus on the part where he said that he liked them. Here are some inspiration images to give you an idea of the direction in which I am heading:
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| oka.com |
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| Bunny Williams Home |
This next week is going to be a hot mess of frantically trying to finish as much as possible while still searching for those "perfect" items that will make the room. But unlike my younger impatient self, I am willing to settle for an unfinished room, and wait for the right time/chair/table/fabric to come along.
If you'd like to see how the other amazing participants are faring, check out callingithome.com. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!