{Crushing} on craft rooms...

I don't know what it is...but I am seeing craft rooms EVERYWHERE..and I am loving it!!! Here are some of the favorites that I have seen this week. I have to be honest..I am itching to make our office/formal living/music room an office/formal living room/music room/craft room!!!

I love the french looking arched bookcases and island. The sweet peachy walls with contrast of greens and whites screams relaxing, yet crafty!

Think this might be my favorite color scheme. I LOVE the checkerboard black and white floor with the brown and white striped chairs with a little touch of green. Love the back splash...a great place to store crafty fun...did you see the ribbon storage?

I love this this detail of ribbon storage, which is an excellent craft idea!

This is a fabulous little craft corner. Love the contrast of the green walls and red accents. The white furniture is fabulous and the complimentary colors and bright windows look so enticing to craft!

I love everything about this room! I love the checkerboard two toned floor, the taupe counter tops with contrast of white cabinetry. Love all of the storage and the gift wrapping station.

When I find more craft room inspiration...which I think I will! I will share them with you soon!

Til then'

Amanda

{Design} Project completed!!!

Had the opportunity to help in the design of "The B's" new living room. A wonderful client that has a great eye for artistic detail and a clear direction of their vision for their home; they just needed a little bit of help along the way. The B's installed beautiful hardwood floors in a blond finish (they had carpet before) and added details such as an inset rug from Pottery Barn in front of one of their three new seating areas, a new custom bay window seating area and game table alcove. We used soft greens, burgundies, golds and olive greens, stripes and solids to compliment the room and made individual seating areas to accommodate both intimate and entertainment setting for their many friends and family.

Created a new seating area with customized built in benches and contoured cushions to match angles of the bay window. Added bolster pillows in a bold stripe for added comfort and valances to enhance and proportion the cushions below.


View of the new sofa with accents of red and gold pillows with additional seating area in red parson style chairs and reading lamp for the game table area.

Detail of new bench area with baskets with number detail and lit displays for clients art collection.

Detail of rug insert in sectional seating area

Detail of staircase outside of living area.
New paint on walls and banister added during recent consult.


The photos above are from a quick little photo shoot during the installation of the bench cushions that happened last week. I plan to take more photos (in better lighting) in the next few weeks along with sharing the work that was done in the kitchen.

Til' then, Amanda

A Designer Confession

So I went to Daltile on Thursday with my mom to get some ideas and tiles samples in preparation to redo my kitchen tile and the such after the holidays...and I came to realize...I am a designer that can pick out finishes, furniture and all the fixings for a client, but it is a whole different ball game to make a decision on the design direction I want to go in my OWN KITCHEN!!! I guess it is a good thing that I am giving myself a time frame of a few months to make up my decision...just hope I am happy with it after it is all installed!!! Got on the web this morning and found some more inspiration...I am thinking subway tiles at the back splash with some small accent tile detail and tile on the counter tops, very light and airy as my kitchen is very dark. But I did see some black cabinets while I was searching...oh the decisions!!! Take a peak at some of the pictures I found for inspiration...what do you think???

Loving the light toned counter top with white subway back splash and contrasting grout. Really give it a different look. I also like the bisque toned cabinets...a great contrast to the back splash.

This kitchen has white subway tile backs plash and white cabinets. Like it, but I think I am liking the photo above more...there is more contrast in the finishes above...

And here is a totally different look...but I AM LOVING IT!!! The contrast between the black cabinets and white subway back splash is such a statement and a modern approach to a tradition subway back splash look...I am just not sure my small little kitchen can handle the black cabinets...Loving the wall color too!!!

My husband always said that this was our project house where we could try stuff out...more to come!!! I will share some of the colors and finishes that I pulled from Daltile after I go back and get more SAMPLES!!!

Finally....

It feels like forever...but I finally had a chance to get out my sewing machine and sew my pillows for the family room!!! Remember when I posted that I found a beautiful green velvet fabric awhile back? Well that fabric and a great print that I found at Home Fabrics is what I made my new pillows out of. I just love them because they compliment the color of the sofa, which has been a huge challenge in the past, especially when trying to bring in the blues and greens that I love!

More to come soon, hoping to move around some artwork in the house...including the area above the sofa in the family room...stay tuned!

Karis' room...take one

I was going through some photos and came across this super sweet photo of my daughters room about three months after she was born...

I will always love the room that I designed for her...it was so fun to find the adorable bedding by My Baby Sam...trying to make sure that the bedding was a neutral as possible, because after multiple ultrasounds, I was still not sure that she was going to come out at a girl.

I painted most of the rooms a pale blue and accented the crib wall with blue and green stripes, because I was not in the mood for pink (you should see her room now)...and opted for dark stained wood furniture that had a little curve to it.

I am so fortunate because my sister-in-law had a rocking chair and ottoman that I was able to have and paint a chocolate brown color and have my amazing grandmother sew new cushions for it.

The artwork for her room was inspired by her bedding and were actual shots of the paisley design placed in frames from Aaron Brothers.

We did not name her until we got to meet her and landed on the name Karis Grace. I was able to find some ADORABLE letters for her name in the Curlz font from a custom lettering company. I painted them a chocolate brown and hung them with chocolate brown and white stitched ribbon.

Looking back this was a super cute room and I am a little bummed that it is now my son's room... a little more masculine, with different bedding and accented crib wall...but I am glad that I took this photo to remember how cute it was!

I just LOVE spray paint!!!

Take a look at what I am up too...a little bit of spray paint can go a LONG way...check back soon and I will share with you what I am doing with all this white spray paint fun!!!

Custom Artwork for my little girls room...

I always have had a difficult time selecting artwork for our house, so when it came to selecting artwork for my daughter's room I looked...and looked...and looked...and could not find anything that grabbed me.

At the time, my daughter was almost two, and my husband and I had started singing her the ABC's and counting 123's. I had seen some really cute ABC designs from different sites, but could not find anything in the right size or colors

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So, trying to be crafty with a limited knowledge of Illustrator, I tried to make some artwork myself and this is what I came up with...



Inexpensive bedding from Target that I was trying to match colors too




ABC Artwork print that I created

123 artwork that I created

This was a great little project. I was able to use some existing Aaron Brothers frames that I had and I had them spray painted a white semi-gloss color. The mats were existing from previous artwork that I had in the frames and I popped the art printed with some really cute hot pink stripped scrapbook paper from Michaels.

I searched high and low for sweet fonts that were feminine and legible. I was able to find some free fonts over at kevinandamanda.com.

All in all, I think they turned out pretty cute. The best part about the whole project is that I am able to sing the ABC's and count the 123's with Karis whenever we are in her bedroom!

It's a green thing...

While out yesterday picking up some new flowers and ribbon for my little hair bow business, I sauntered over to Home Fabrics to see what they had. I can always find something there to peak my interest and the ultimate need to but for fabric to redo something around the house; although these days I have to put it in my memory bank for later, as time is something I don't have a ton of these days!

While walking through the aisles looking through the bins I found the most BEAUTIFUL color of GREEN velvet. So excited to find it because I have honestly never seen this beautiful color of green in a velvet before...so rich. I bought a yard to make some pillows and a yard of white fabric for Karis' nightstand (more on that later).

Upon bringing the fabric home, I started looking around and noticing that I AM A GREEN FREAK!!! Take a look at some of the decor below...

Entry with fabulous green paint and artwork by Tika Solnar Phipps



My super attractive 70's avocado green oven (you know you are jealous) :)




Pillows...pillows...pillows...

Dining room table filled of green apples and a green place mat I scored for $1.99 at Target!

I have to admit it is good to know this at the ripe old age of almost 32...I love to try new design ideas and colors around the house, but have realized that I go back to what is tried and true to me and my design style...as long as it has some GREEN in it!!!

More to follow on the green velvet fabric...my wheels are spinning and I hope to have time to make what I am planning on and sharing it soon!!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!!

Designer inspiration...

I LOVE this blogger and designer...Her name is Michelle and her blog is called Three Men and a Lady . Michelle has some creative designs that she has placed in her home and her DIY tricks are awesome!!! They are also affordable, fun and very creative.

My favorite space in her home is her living room. I LOVE the contrast of the dark paint color against the creme drapes and sofa, such a crisp look. The striped sofa pillows are gorgeous and pop with color against the sofa setting. The mosaic fireplace is complimentary to the wall color and the storage and TV unit are wonderful...what a true entertainment unit should be with pillows and all!

Want to know my favorite items? The DIY ottoman and the black and white photos above the sofa seating group...so GORGEOUS!!!

Take a look at Michelle's blog here. What do you think of the striped walls in the foyer??? I think it is to die for!!!

Oh Wow!!!

Cruising along the internet this afternoon looking for some great ottomans and came across this AMAZING interior to beautiful to not share!



It's from the Traditional Home website and it's all about elegant and GREEN spaces. I LOVE the black lacquered fireplace accent wall, the beautiful deco style fireplace, the seating...I would love that sofa. AND did you see the light fixture? It is made from balsa wood, it's dramatic and SO amazing...what a statement.

So many great elements and a fabulous color scheme! Okay...on to look for ottomans!