Posts Tagged ‘Antique lighting’

A quick way to update an existing lamp shade is to add trim.  The addition of gold cord and tassels to this simple red shade makes it more formal and stately.  Have fun; there are lots of fabulous, colorful trims you can add to any shade.  A hot glue gun is the only tool you need to go from plain to regal or funky!

Dress up a lamp shade with trim and cord

I was interview by Tammy Kahn Fennell of Collectibles Corner TV.  She offers practical tips for collecting antiques.  I talked to her about designing and living with antique furniture.   Check out the interview at #42 Interior Designing with Antiques.

Send me your living with antiques design questions!

One of the biggest mistakes people make is buying furniture that’s too big for the space.  Perhaps you forgot to measure the room or the door way or the space between the windows, etc.  I’ve also heard this one, “it didn’t look that big in the store”!  Furniture stores should have a disclaimer posted at the front door “objects in this store are much larger than they appear”!

The safest way to ensure you are purchasing the right size is to do a floor/furniture plan before you proceed.  That’s what professional interior designers do, come up with as many arrangements as possible for a room.  You will know the exact size of each piece that will fit in the space.  It’s an investment that will save you dollars.

The floor plan

Patrick’s bedroom is roughly 13’ 7” x 12’ 8”.  We added this bedroom when we remodeled and added square footage to our house.  The closet is wood instead of drywall to mimic the closet in our master bedroom.  Our house was built in the late 1890s, but the closet would have been added some years later.

We chose wood instead of drywall for this closet to resemble another one that could be 80 years old.

The new red chair was the only big item we planned to buy.  The bed and desk have been in the same spot for a long time.  We placed the new chair next to the bed.  It’s a bit awkward since it’s a recliner and cannot be too close to the wall.

This is how the furniture was placed when we started the project

Since all the furniture in the room is heavy, it’s easier to rearrange on paper than actually moving everything around.

Option 3

Pat has his TV on the desk and likes to sit on his bed facing the TV so this option won’t work.

Option 4

This arrangement has the bed facing the TV, but doesn’t allow much room to get into the closet.  Patrick has the biggest closet in the house and he can walk right in.

Option 5

He would probably be OK with this option.    I just don’t like a TV in front of a window even if it’s on the second floor.

This option is almost a mirror image of the orginal and should be perfect for Pat.

Although this arrangement isn’t much different from the original, it is really the best plan.  I moved the dresser next to the empty spot near the door.  The chair will fit nicely in the vacated corner and have access to the view outside.  The bed and desk have simply swapped places.  The bed is no longer next to the window and if he ever decides to sit at his desk, he has another view of the back yard.

You will save a lot of frustration and back aches by planning before moving furniture.

Patrick’s Room–Before

Welcome to Re-Decorating™!  Our first project is my son Patrick’s bedroom.  He moved into this room after his older brother, Tyler graduated from college and before we had a chance to make any changes and update the finishes!  Pat told me this summer he wanted a red chair like the one Doc Brown had in Back to the Future.   If we are purchasing a new chair it’s time to re-decorate the entire room.

Patrick needs a grown-up room!

As with all my design clients, I assess which furniture pieces  we will keep and what needs to be replaced.  Same with accessories and artwork.  With teenagers and young adults, personality and interests play a big part in designing bedrooms.

Patrick's bedroom "before"

We built the wood closet to look like an original closet in the master bedroom circa 1890's.

Patrick is a big movie fan.  He collects DVDs and posters.   He has an antique wood shelf that is perfect for movies (it’s already full) and a narrow, tall shelf (half full).  He has several movie posters and just purchased three Indiana Jones posters this month.  The new ones are very large, so we will have to determine if there will be wall space to hang everything.

This antique wood shelf folds flat. It's the perfect size for DVDs!

The tall DVD shelf is new (and almost full) and the bedside table is part of an old bachelor's dresser.

The vintage iron bed frame belonged to my Grandparents, so that will stay.  I remember sleeping on it when I was a kid.  It brings back great memories of times spent on the farm with my sister and cousins.  It will need to be painted.

The old iron bed isn't fancy, but has tremendous sentimental value!

...but it does need new paint.

The purple bedspread is only a couple of years old, but may not “go” with the red chair.  Same with the bedskirt.

I made this bedskirt several years ago. It's still in great shape and has red in it. Maybe it will still work?

The little bedside table is from an old bachelor’s dresser.  Someone took it apart years ago and sold the pieces separately.  It’s a bit low, but it works for Patrick.  He likes having the drawer and storage.

The bird's eye maple dresser is a lovely antique.

His dresser is an antique and in very nice condition.  The desk is nothing special, but serves its purpose so it will stay until we find something better.  As with everyone who owns electronics, cord control is an issue.  We will have to tackle that problem.

The desk is noting special, but has room for electronics and remotes!

Do cords multiply when we aren't looking? This will be the biggest challenge on this project.

One of the things I do as a designer is ask my clients how they use the space.  Pat is almost 21, so spends time on his computer and watching TV or movies.  He sits on the bed with his laptop facing the desk/TV.  He has a desk chair, but never sits on it, so it’s hidden away in his closet for now.  I know we can rearrange the furniture to make better use of the space.  If he decides he has no need for the chair, it will go.

Desk chair is practically brand new,

The window valances and painted borders are left over from Tyler’s teenage years.  They are history along with the blue mini blinds.

I painted the border to match the stripes on the fabric. It still looks good, but the room needs a fresh approach.

Old mini blinds have got to go!

The ceiling fan is too big for the room, but we will keep it for now.  Pat can probably use a lamp on the desk or dresser.  I will figure out lighting needs after the room is rearranged.

The grey carpeting is in good condition, just needs to be cleaned.

So we have our work cut out for us.  Since he is set on getting a red chair that will be our inspiration and the first thing we buy.  This will be a do-it-ourselves project.  I need to set a date for completion to stay on track.  I will plan on Halloween, but be happy if we are finished by Thanksgiving!  We definitely have to be done before his birthday on December 3.  One thing experience has taught me, everything takes longer than you planned!

The Georgian Revival Breast Cancer Showhouse was built in 1912 by the daughter and son-in-law of Patrick Cudahy.  As in all grand homes, the front vestibule was the first interior space visitors would see when entering the house, so it had to be spectacular.

Anne Wangman of Forbes Design took the challenge of bringing the entry back to life for the BCSH.  The original leaded windows and transom are still intact, along with the stunning plaster quatrefoil design on the ceiling.

Anne Wangman chose a lovely chest and lantern trio for the entry

Anne chose a reproduction bow front chest in a distressed black finish to contrast with the paneled oak wainscot.  It’s a simple, yet elegant place to set your hand bag while you remove your wrap!  The candlelight lantern trio offers a lighting alternative to a typical table lamp.

Wall brackets featuring a playful collection of wire-haired fox terriers are an unexpected touch and draw the eye toward the ceiling and the Steuben glass light fixture.

Have fun in your entry. Display something fun and unexpected like this collection of ceramic terriers

Have fun with your entry.  Make sure a bit of your “Signature Style” is evident when guests enter your house!

We started moving furniture to our room at the Breast Cancer Showhouse.
Sara Pudlosky, an interior design student at Mount Mary College and her
husband David were gracious enough to offer their assistance.  Susan and
I appreciated the extra hands hauling awkward furniture up to the third floor and taking the door down to the basement!

Sara and David helping move furniture

Had to move the door from the 3rd floor to the basement! Thanks Sara and David!

Although the bedroom has a beautiful wood floor, we wanted to add a big
splash of color to the space.  Who doesn’t appreciate a warm cozy rug under
their tootsies when they get up in the morning?  Susan found a fabulous
purple shag rug that will be perfect.

Perfect match to the bedding fabric!

Just what we were looking for -- purple shag rug

Our draperies will be casual panels and scarf swags out of the sheer
orange fabric from Duralee.  Deb Westley at Neu’s Hardware Gallery introduced us to a wonderful glass artist who makes cabinet hardware.  We chose a vibrant multi-colored glass square for our drapery hardware.  They are totally unexpected and will really set off the window treatments.  Hardware stores are great places to look for unique ways to hang draperies.

Sample of glass hardware

We like this style with more purple and shimmer

I’m still working on designing a lamp shade for the ceiling light.
The original brass flush mount fixture was very outdated.  The homeowner
has since replaced it with and antique fixture.  Although I love antique
and vintage lighting, it just doesn’t go with our design scheme.  I plan
to create something more colorful and a bit funky for our “young artist”.

Love the light, just not quite right for our room

An 80's nightmare!

We have two weeks to finish the space.  Like most showhouse projects,
we will be working down to the wire!