iN nEED OF AN uPDATE!!! hOW ABOUT it!!

OVER TIME I REALIZE THAT WE ALL GET ACCUSTOMED TO WHAT WE HAVE. THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE WORN OR DISGUSTINGLY UGLY, WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT AN UPDATE IS IN ORDER IF YOU KNOW ITS BEEN IN YOUR OLD HOME AND NOW HAPPENED TO END UP IN AN EMPTY ROOM IN YOUR NEW HOME.

THAT WAS THE CASE WITH MY ONE OF MY PREVIOUS HOMES. THE FURNITURE I HAD WAS DATED...IT ALL SEEMED TO BE MONOTONE IN THE COLORS AND NOTHING MADE SENSE FOR THE SPACE. THE ROOM IS TECHNICALLY THE DEN OPEN TO THE KITCHEN. THE SPACE IS SMALL AND HAVING THE BIG AR MOIRE AND OVER STUFFED LEATHER SOFA BOTH FACING THE KITCHEN ALMOST MADE THE ROOM SEEM MORE LIKE A PASS THROUGH AND NOT A PLACE TO RELAX AND ENJOY. hEY i TRIED TO MAKE IT WORK...EVEN I GET STUCK SOMETIMES.

KNOWINGLY, I DECIDED TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT AND GIVE THIS GENERIC NEWER CONSTRUCTION TOWN HOME A FACE LIFT ROOM BY ROOM. WITH A BUDGET OF $3000 I BEGAN MY QUEST TO MAKE THE DEN AS COZY AND FUNCTIONAL FOR LOUNGING AND ENTERTAINING. THIS WAS WHERE I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME, A 12'X14' SPACE INSTEAD OF THE 23'X19' LARGE LIVING ROOM. I KNOW BACKWARDS...LOL. ANY HOW I LOOKED FOR A DRAMATIC COLOR SCHEME...DARK RICH TEAL WITH ESPRESSOS IVORY'S AND WHITES TO RETAIN SOME OF THE BRIGHTNESS THE DARK WALL WAS GOING TO SOAK UP. THE RESULT...

A RICH LOOKING SPACE WITH A SOPHISTICATION AND SIMPLISTIC ELEGANCE THAT INVITES EVERYONE TO KICK BACK AND RELAX. THE LOVE SEAT IN THE IVORY LEATHER PULL IN THE FLOORING AND THE LEAN LEGS ALLOW FOR THIS MID-CENTURY PIECE TO FEEL LIGHT IN THE SPACE AND LET US SEE THE PATTERN ON THE RUG. THE OTTOMAN ALLOWS FOR ADDITIONAL SEATING OR A PLACE TO PUT YOUR FEET UP FOR A CUP OF COFFEE OR TEA...GLASS OF WINE IF APPROPRIATE..LOL

I AM A HUGE ADVOCATE OF NATURAL DAYLIGHT. IF IT CAN POUR INTO A SPACE THAN LET IT BE. IT ALLOWS FOR SPACE TO FEEL LARGER. BLINDS BLINDS BLINDS PEOPLE...UHH..PLEASE LETS MOVE FORWARD AND AWAY FROM BECOMING SO OBLIVIOUS TO OPTIONS. THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS IN LIGHT FILTERING FOR A SPACE. DRAPERY... THE OLDEST OF ALL IS THE BEST WAY TO ADD INTEREST AND SOFTNESS TO A SPACE, THEY IMMEDIATELY GIVE A ROOM PRESENCE AND PRESTIGE NOT MATTER THE STYLING. BLINDS ARE ONLY APPROPRIATE IF YOUR SPACE IS JUST IRRITATINGLY BRIGHT. YET EVEN THEN, THERE ARE STAINED WOODEN BLINDS...NOT JUST WHITE PAINTED...SHADES..ETC. IN MY SPACE I WENT WITH A WHITE FLOOR TO CEILING GROMMETED DRAPERY IN A TWILL FABRIC. SIMPLE AND CLEAN. THE GROMMET ALLOWS THEM TO PULL AND OPEN EASILY.

THE ENTERTAINMENT UNIT WAS DESIGNED TO LOOK ALMOST CAMOUFLAGED AS IT WAS NOT TO BE THE FOCUS OF THE SPACE . THE TV WAS MOUNTED ON THE WALL AND FRAMES OF A SIMILAR SCALE FLANK BOTH SIDES. A FLOATING SHELF WAS USED AS A STOPPING POINT FOR THE EYE AND THEN A CONTINUOUS BROWN BLOCK WAS PAINTED BELOW TO THE BASEBOARDS TO HELP MAKE THE SMALLER END TABLES LOOK ALMOST INVISIBLE IN THE SPACE...THEY ARE SIMPLY IN THE SPACE TO HOLD THE RECEIVERS. THAT PROJECT WAS ABOUT $60 USING PAINT AND AN INEXPENSIVE SHELF AND TABLES FROM IKEA.

THESE WERE A STEAL AND A GREAT LOOK... ARMLESS SO AS TO NOT CLOSE THE SPACE IN AND THE TEXTURE WAS ON THE MARK, CORDUROY!!...WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT. A DARK ALMOST GRAY GREEN TIES BACK INTO THE AREA RUG AND THE TUFTS MIMIC THE ONES ON THE LOVE SEAT. pERFECT...$600...no!! $200 FOR THE PAIR.

i MUST SAY I LOVE THIS SPACE. SO GLAD I DID IT.

Atlanta Town House goes NYC Bachelor Row-house Powder Room

I wanted the powder room to really have some dimension other than wall paper and paint. I did want to contrast the darkness of the spaces in the common living area as this room is between the kitchen and dining room. Keeping it simple yet dramatic with the wood application on the wall and a gloss finish paint make this 7ft x3ft room gain height and drama with places for the eye to pause.

The lighting is a simple fixture that is on a dimmer for ambiance and also only lights the sink area making the space even more dramatic. It also serves as a place for the mirror to hang from. This is my take on a 3k mirror for less than $40.

The blue metallic Ralph Lauren Paint is on the opposite wall and and up through the ceiling drawing the eye from the toilet to the focal wall again. Using colors still in the common area in different shades creates continuity and makes the space feel larger.

The Jewelry in a restroom is the fixtures and the accessories...the faucet has stoutly look which makes you think of raw piping and the vases with the orchids on the wall provide a simple touch to the wall for interest.

Atlanta Town House goes NYC Bachelor Row-house

A bland new construction town home gets NYC character...

the picture molding and the choice of shades of gray instantly give this cookie cutter builder grade home a high end look. Thinking of the placement of furniture before installation also allowed for the molding to serve as guides for artwork and lighting. Testing colors in draping works well like a swatch of paint..hanging the drape for a day to see it over a day is a good way to hate it or love it.

The dining room the table had to be placed against the wall given the narrow space for the table and walkway. Using a counter height table with a square top gives the user ability to serve from it comfortably from 3 sides wen entertaining but also gives ample space to seat and dine 4 guests.

Add all accessories...frames ...art work...the space isn't big so all of them were chosen carefully making sure to add to the room and not engulf it.. off setting the darker grays of the sofa sectional and the walls with a soft beeswax yellow draping, ivory accent pillows to brighten, paired with blue smoke and striped yellow accent pillows for color...bring a little softness to a space that safely adds a feminine touch to a very masculine space.