Posts Tagged ‘Pillows’

The 14th of February is a day devoted to celebrating love.  You can express your affection to that special person in the usual way (go out to dinner, box of candy, over priced flowers) or with a little imagination and for a lot less cash, celebrate at home.

Create a romantic dinner for two.

It doesn’t matter if you are planning dinner or a leisurely breakfast, make it cozy and intimate.  Food in front of a roaring fire is always romantic especially if you are seated at a low table with floor pillows.  You can use a coffee table or in this instance an old wood trunk.  Cover it with a table cloth or a piece of red fabric.

Pull up an old trunk for a cozy table for two

I fell in love with this bold red and white print at IKEA. It's perfect for a Valentine's Day tablecloth.

There isn’t a single heart or flower in this setting.  Instead of placemats, I pulled out old Scrabble board games  Write a message or spell out your feelings for each other with the tiles.

You can use almost anything as a placemat or charger. Have fun with Scrabble boards.

An old muffin tin is the perfect size for extra letters, votive candles and candy (no expensive and fattening box of chocolates here!).

You know you will want extra Scrabble pieces with this dinner. Use a vintage muffin tin for candles and letters.

The valentine card is vintage, but the XOXO says it all.  Use dinnerware you have left over from Christmas.  Square red plates set “on point” complement the square game boards.

You could buy a new valentine, but I love the sappy sentiments on old, vintage cards!

XOXO equals 18 points!

Little copper napkin rings surround softly folded white napkins.  Dinner should be simple.  After all, the emphasis should be on dining, not cooking.  Chinese take-out allows you both to share.

Tuck a pair of chop sticks in the napkin ring.

Add a couple of floor pillows and you have a romantic evening ready to surprise someone you love.

Tell your love how you feel.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning said,

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”

I say spell it out!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Our next step in redecorating Patrick’s room is to look for bedding and fabric.  He is a typical guy who really doesn’t like to shop, but it’s his room, so I insisted he choose the chair and bedspread.  I know I won’t have time to make a bedspread, but I can manage valances for the window and a bedskirt.

We headed for the bedding section at the local department store.  Red is just not a hot color now, so our choices were limited.  I pulled out 5 bedspreads that would go with his chair:  denim, a black/red bold stripe, a navy matelasse, a grey/red hip and trendy print and black graphic print.  He chose (drum roll, please…) the navy matelasse!  A matelasse is two pieces of fabric that have been quilted together by hand or machine with matching thread.  It’s beautiful coverlet, but it doesn’t offer any other colors to use in the room.

Pat chose a navy matelasse for his bedspread

Next, I went to area fabric stores to look for a coordinating fabrics for the drapery and bedskirt.  That was a challenge too since we didn’t want a patriotic red, white and blue room.  I also didn’t want to show him too many choices.   Like most clients, too many options are simply overwhelming.  A good designer knows her client and can narrow down the choices before making a presentation.

This stripe fabric would have been perfect had it not been sold out!

Pat liked the navy, green, red and beige stripe, but it was already sold out by the time I returned.  He also liked a solid red quilted fabric and I talked him into a dark, navy, red, green paisley.

I think we will use this for window valances

This paisley fabric is very grown-up and a little sophisticated!

• The bedspread was regularly priced at $150.00, but on sale and with a coupon, I got it for half price!
  
• The red quilted fabric was also on sale, marked down from $14.00 a yard to $11.19.  Unfortunately, the store had less than 2 1/2 yards.   There won’t be enough for the bedskirt, but I can make a simple drapery valance out of the piece.
• I also had a 50% off coupon for the paisley fabric (see a trend here?).  I paid $12.50 a yard instead of $25.00.  I bought the end of the bolt so I’m hoping 5 yards of fabric will be sufficient.

At least we have some colors to choose from when we pick paint.  Fortunately, I have lots of paint chips at my office and we can pick one out before we head out the store again.

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!

If you’re sending your teenager off to college this fall, I don’t have to talk to you about expenses.  Everything about higher education is costly, but furnishing a dorm room doesn’t need to break the bank.  You know how I love to “re-purpose” an item (find a new use for something).  You also know I’m a flea market and antique junkie and Goodwill is one of my favorite places to shop.

Rearrange the furniture to create floor space. By lofting the beds, we had room to add a couple of chairs and area rugs. Throw a couple of pillows on the floor and you have seating for several friends.

I have been working with Goodwill SEW along with Marquette and Carroll Universities creating dorm showrooms entirely furnished with items purchased at Goodwill stores.   The average cost has been around $200 for two students living in the space!  It takes a little time to shop, but the savings are amazing.  Why spend a bundle of money now when you know your student will want something different next year?

It's amazing how much money you can save with smart shopping. We did an the whole room for under $200! Have a game plan and color scheme in mind when shopping.

Most dorm room furniture can be moved around and beds can be lofted for more floor space.

Lofted or bunk beds free up the floor. Talk to your room mate about color choices and who will bring the important stuff like the TV, refrigerator and chairs!

I found a green folding chair and a second one I covered with a blanket.  You might find a love seat size sofa or a comfy arm chair to fit your space.

Posters add personality to your dorm room without breaking the bank. Be sure to find out what you can use to hang pictures from the housing staff!

Once you choose a color scheme, shopping is easier and faster when you concentrate on your particular colors and you will be amazed at how many accessories you will find.

Each student gets a desk and shelving at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Plenty of room to organize books, toiletries and personal items.

Personalize your space with photos and items that are important to you.

Arrange your furniture to get the most floor space. Separating your desks will give each of you a little privacy.

Use colorful baskets and containers to hold your toiletries and towels.

The hunt is half the fun!

Many, many thanks to the people who helped Susan and me with our Artist Studio at the Milwaukee Breast Cancer Showhouse this year.  It was a great success!

Neu’s Hardware Gallery — glass drawer pulls as drapery hardware

Glass drawer pulls as drapery hardware!

Duralee Fabrics — beautiful fabrics
New Threads — fabulous draperies

Jane from New Threads

Janet from New Threads

Carrie Storm's art

Carrie Storm — art

Sue Ellinger and Jean Hass– wonderful sewing skills

World Market, Southridge — accessories and furniture

World Market Southridge

Sara Pudlosky and Dave — extra hands to help move in
Zach Cvetan and Brandon Hessil — for providing muscle power to help us move out

Zach and Brandon helped haul the heavy stuff

The Breast Cancer Showhouse opened to the public this weekend.  Although the weather was more fall-like than early summer (after all this is Wisconsin) crowds of supporters flocked to the house to support cancer research and get loads of design ideas.

Many of the rooms in the house are traditional featuring warm, creamy colors with bold splashes of black.  Each designer puts his or her personal stamp in their space.

Royal Doulton Toby Mugs

The kitchen displays a fabulous collection of Toby mugs from Jim Jung’s (Boston Store) personal collection.

The laundry room was devoted to the home owner’s dog Zoë.  Tom Hoffman (Tom Hofffman Designs) and Mary Shaufelberger (Steinkellner Decorating Studio) had pet portraits painted for the walls.  Patty Virnig’s (Ivy Interiors) third floor bath is glamorous and feminine in bold, graphic black and white. Makes you wish you were going to a ball!

Susan found this vintage vanity with the mirrored top in her Mother's attic.

Our room is the last stop on the home tour.  You walk into a blast of color.  Carrie Storm of  C.S. Storm Art brought in a collection of her latest paintings.   We particular love the bra, panties and camisole still life.

We just love Carrie Storm's lingerie painting.

Whoever said shag rugs are passé hasn’t been carpet shopping lately?  Anything retro is hot.  That includes accessories and colors from the 60’s.  (Did I mention psychedelic?)  A purple shag rug added the right amount of splash to the floor and grounded the entire room.

Love the purple shag rug.

The vintage daybed with loads of colorful pillows is so inviting.  A daybed is the perfect solution for a room that needs a mattress for sleeping and sofa for lounging and not enough room for both.

Day beds are perfect for sleeping, lounging, dreaming!

A comfy bed needs lots of pillows.

Pillows in a variety of shapes and sizes make the bed more interesting.

We chose furniture with medium to dark stains to contrast with the vanilla walls and bright fabrics.  It’s important to remember that all woods in room do not have to match. The maple flooring looks great with the darker woods.

Big splash of color in the corner!

We stayed with dark wood for the furniture. It's a nice contrast to the vanilla walls and bright fabrics. Remember, all wood tones do not have to match!

The bold, graphic purple flower fabric was our inspiration.  We used it on the bedspread and used it again on a pillow, and the ottoman and vanity stool.  You can use almost anything for inspiration a fabric, a beautiful rug, a painting or even a favorite accessory.  Find the one thing that you love or gets your creative juices flowing!  You have to start the design process somewhere!

Jean Haas upholstered the vanity stool to match the bedding.

The next time your community hosts a designer showhouse for charity, be sure to visit.  Gather your friends for an afternoon of design.  Not only will you support a good cause, but you will go home with more ideas for updating your home than you will have time to do.

Designers and painters have started work on the
Breast Cancer Show House this week.  We aren’t painting
our room, but Sue and I are busy making pillows and a
bedspread and more pillows and more pillows!  It will
be quite the comfy, cozy haven when we are finished.

Pillow Fabrics

Bright fabrics

Pillow fabric 1

Faux suede in orange

Hot pink!

Interior design is really about problem solving.
Identify the problem and find the best solution.
The biggest problem in our Showhouse bedroom,
are the slanted ceilings and short walls.
We have to use furniture that will fit the space.
That eliminates all dressers, cabinets and head boards.

Coming up with a design scheme is the most fun part of interior design.
When I work on a Showhouse, I can really let the creative juices flow.
Designers love to do them because (generally) the sky is the limit.
For the 2009 Breast Cancer Showhouse in Milwaukee, Susan and
I came up with our own “client”.  A young, hip, twenty-something female artist.

Fabrics for Artist's Retreat

Graphic flower print for the bed

We have just finalized the fabrics for our Artist’s Retreat.
Bright and bold colors are perfect for our “client”.
We fell in love with this orange, purple and fuchsia print by Duralee.
I love the big, bold graphic flower.  You will be seeing more and
more purple in all shades in the coming months. It will make a
great bedspread or coverlet for the day bed.

Colorful pillow fabrics

Every bed needs lots of pillows so we plan to design and make
a variety using faux suede and cotton fabrics in complementary colors.
Can’t wait to get started on those.

Dizzy Circles!

I’m not yet sure where we will use this purple on orange print
with child like scribbled circles, but it coordinates with everything
else and is just plain funky!

This will look great on the windows.

The pattern on this lovely sheer fabric looks like little flying carpets.
It will add color to the windows without blocking the natural light.

Susan and I along with the other interior designers will start painting
and installing our room layouts April 1.  We only have a month to
get the room ready.

Great fun, worthy cause!

I’ve been involved with the Milwaukee Breast Cancer Showhouse for a Cure for 10 years. Millions of dollars have been raised to support the Medical College’s Cancer Center research efforts.
Who hasn’t been touched by breast cancer? Four women in my family have had this devastating disease. Two aunts, who are survivors, and their two daughters who weren’t as lucky. My cousin Julie, a wife and mother, died a couple of years ago at 47. Rhonda, also a wife and mother, died January 1, 2008, just 3 weeks before her 39th birthday.
I support these research efforts by designing and creating a room. This year I am teaming up with my friend Susan Michalek of Desumi Design. We are creating an artist’s atelier or retreat. It will be colorful, fun and funky. We will feature lots of design ideas.
I will be posting before, during and after photos as we begin the design process. In the meantime, go to http://www.breastcancershowhouse.org for more details about touring this year’s house.
We need to do everything we can to cure cancer and keep the memory alive for those we loved and miss.