Super excited to announce that my little chairs were featured as the winner of the DIY Showoff Feature of the week!
Read more about it:
Read more about it:
Friday, March 2, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget
Does this apply to you? Well it applies to me! How else would anyone end up junkin’ for beat up furniture at garage sales or thrifts?
I often say that design wouldn’t be a challenge without a budget. What fun would it be to walk into a high end store and say “I’ll take it!” without even so much as glancing at the price tag? (Okay, let’s be honest, it would be fun.)
But I don’t think it would be nearly as interesting or satisfying to me if there wasn’t a bit of a challenge in it.
As I look over my portfolio and the learning curve since I started doing this out of my garage in 2009, I have to say…I really am proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish with cast-away furniture and accessories.
It makes me realize that design is less about a number and more about how to maneuver around road blocks and see the potential in everyday objects.
I had someone tell me the other day that Urban Farmhouse is “trending” with regard to some of the pieces I’ve done. That really struck a cord with me and reassured me that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be with my career choice.
With that said, let me show you what I’ve been up to this weekend…
My good friend and decorator, Gamze Andrews, has such a beautiful home that it was an extra bonus to be able to photograph them there. (This also made me realize how my paint-infested garage does NOT do my pieces justice for that wow factor!)
But what good would these beautiful pictures do without a shocking “Before” image? It adds to the drama, right?
Remember these guys? Yes, they were hanging around my garage for quite some time until I could figure out what direction to go with for her house. I just knew they had star potential deep down!
and now prepare to be amazed…
AFTER
She’s kind of my “pimp chair” but I LOVE her!
…the second cane back was originally supposed to be in the same fabric but at the last minute I had a change of heart and decided to go for a smoky blue to play against the deep brown tones in the room.
Doesn’t she look lovely with that faux fur in rich chocolate brown draped over her in the study?
Sigh, I think I want to build a room around these chairs…no, really, I do, or better yet, a HOUSE!
These pretty ladies are already taken, BUT I always find similar chairs so email me at FarmStyleStudio@gmail.com if you are interested in a custom chair like this one. She won’t cost it, but she’ll look like a million dollars!
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I often say that design wouldn’t be a challenge without a budget. What fun would it be to walk into a high end store and say “I’ll take it!” without even so much as glancing at the price tag? (Okay, let’s be honest, it would be fun.)
But I don’t think it would be nearly as interesting or satisfying to me if there wasn’t a bit of a challenge in it.
As I look over my portfolio and the learning curve since I started doing this out of my garage in 2009, I have to say…I really am proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish with cast-away furniture and accessories.
It makes me realize that design is less about a number and more about how to maneuver around road blocks and see the potential in everyday objects.
I had someone tell me the other day that Urban Farmhouse is “trending” with regard to some of the pieces I’ve done. That really struck a cord with me and reassured me that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be with my career choice.
With that said, let me show you what I’ve been up to this weekend…
My good friend and decorator, Gamze Andrews, has such a beautiful home that it was an extra bonus to be able to photograph them there. (This also made me realize how my paint-infested garage does NOT do my pieces justice for that wow factor!)
But what good would these beautiful pictures do without a shocking “Before” image? It adds to the drama, right?
Remember these guys? Yes, they were hanging around my garage for quite some time until I could figure out what direction to go with for her house. I just knew they had star potential deep down!
and now prepare to be amazed…
AFTER
She’s kind of my “pimp chair” but I LOVE her!
…the second cane back was originally supposed to be in the same fabric but at the last minute I had a change of heart and decided to go for a smoky blue to play against the deep brown tones in the room.
Doesn’t she look lovely with that faux fur in rich chocolate brown draped over her in the study?
Sigh, I think I want to build a room around these chairs…no, really, I do, or better yet, a HOUSE!
These pretty ladies are already taken, BUT I always find similar chairs so email me at FarmStyleStudio@gmail.com if you are interested in a custom chair like this one. She won’t cost it, but she’ll look like a million dollars!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Chairs that Make a Statement
Everyone knows that I dabble in painted furniture, but did you know that I am obsessed with upholstered pieces?
Yes, I am falling head over heels for beautiful, comfortable old chairs becoming new again. Here’s some inspiration to get your wheels turning…and when you’re ready, email me for a quote!
I am really LOVING a metallic finish paired with a deep hot pink fabric lately. There is something very classic yet modern about this look. Stay tuned as I have a chair similar to this one being done as we speak for my new master bedroom makeover!
via Circa Furniture
via Pinterest
…and who can resist the ever so trendy Ikat chair?
via The Cross Design
I guess I’m really drawn to large modern patterns on antique chairs. The bold blues and greens against the white are to die for on this feminine little number below…
via Etsy
…and these lovely ladies as well (why is all furniture female to me?)
via Pinterest
Texture, texture, texture…you can never go wrong with velvet!
via Pinterest
via Horchow
So now that I’ve peaked your interest…send me your requests on what you’d love to have upholstered or pieces you’d love for me to find for you.
I have about 7 chairs in my garage right now that over the next few weeks will be transformed into beauties like the ones above. If you have a chair or sofa upholstery need, email me for a quote at FarmStyleStudio@gmail.com
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Master Bedroom Makeover on a Budget
You know the saying…the cobbler’s children have no shoes. That pretty much sums up my own house and the lack of decorating I’ve been able to do while working on other people’s homes.
But I finally decided to do a long overdue mini makeover one room at a time, starting with my master bedroom. I didn’t really have a lot of room in the budget, which is always challenging when trying to makeover a room! But for $150 and 24 hours, I think I did pretty well!
After six years in our house, we still had the builder white (or cream) walls. We wanted to take the room from Country Cottage to Urban Sophistication.
I think the biggest impact in the room was paint. I chose a subtle gray from Benjamin Moore called Gray Huskie that I had color matched at Lowe’s. Keep in mind that I didn’t replace any of my original furniture. The paint really helps the furniture stand out.
I saved a lot of money by painting myself. It really wasn’t that bad…took me about 5 hours from start to finish. The biggest trick to painting a room is to do all of the brush work first and then do the rolling.
We mounted our flat screen on the wall before the makeover but that was actually a pretty easy project as well. We found our mounting kit online which saved us over half the cost of buying in the store.
Besides paint, the only other purchases were the area rug, which I snagged for $55 at Ross and the charcoal drapes that were $25 for a 2 pack at IKEA.
All of the accessories around the room were items that I already from other areas of the house, with the exception of my champagne hammered lamp on my bedside chest that I scored at a thrift for $9.00! The lamp shade is from Target.
My vanity and fiddle back antique chair was a thrift find as well that I refinished in a weathered warm silver. The chair was about to go in the dumpster and I convinced the store to let me have it for $1.
I still have a few more odds and ends to finish up in the room. I’m hoping to paint my doors leading into the bathroom a shiny black and change out the hardware to crystal door knobs.
I repainted a wooden carved lamp and accent clock to match the new room as well. Soon I hope to take old frames and add a gallery wall of family pictures above the dresser.
My bedding and accent pillows were all collected over the years at discount stores like HomeGoods and T.J. Maxx. They weren’t new for this makeover but with the cream walls before, they were washed out and didn’t “pop” like they do now.
My last item to complete the new look will be to upholster a French style thrift chair in a fun pop of color like the sofa below.
Rebecca Sofette $1495 shown above
I’m so happy about my $150 makeover that I’m getting motivated to update the rest of my house, room by room.
Need design help? Find out more.
But I finally decided to do a long overdue mini makeover one room at a time, starting with my master bedroom. I didn’t really have a lot of room in the budget, which is always challenging when trying to makeover a room! But for $150 and 24 hours, I think I did pretty well!
After six years in our house, we still had the builder white (or cream) walls. We wanted to take the room from Country Cottage to Urban Sophistication.
I think the biggest impact in the room was paint. I chose a subtle gray from Benjamin Moore called Gray Huskie that I had color matched at Lowe’s. Keep in mind that I didn’t replace any of my original furniture. The paint really helps the furniture stand out.
I saved a lot of money by painting myself. It really wasn’t that bad…took me about 5 hours from start to finish. The biggest trick to painting a room is to do all of the brush work first and then do the rolling.
We mounted our flat screen on the wall before the makeover but that was actually a pretty easy project as well. We found our mounting kit online which saved us over half the cost of buying in the store.
Besides paint, the only other purchases were the area rug, which I snagged for $55 at Ross and the charcoal drapes that were $25 for a 2 pack at IKEA.
All of the accessories around the room were items that I already from other areas of the house, with the exception of my champagne hammered lamp on my bedside chest that I scored at a thrift for $9.00! The lamp shade is from Target.
My vanity and fiddle back antique chair was a thrift find as well that I refinished in a weathered warm silver. The chair was about to go in the dumpster and I convinced the store to let me have it for $1.
I still have a few more odds and ends to finish up in the room. I’m hoping to paint my doors leading into the bathroom a shiny black and change out the hardware to crystal door knobs.
I repainted a wooden carved lamp and accent clock to match the new room as well. Soon I hope to take old frames and add a gallery wall of family pictures above the dresser.
My bedding and accent pillows were all collected over the years at discount stores like HomeGoods and T.J. Maxx. They weren’t new for this makeover but with the cream walls before, they were washed out and didn’t “pop” like they do now.
My last item to complete the new look will be to upholster a French style thrift chair in a fun pop of color like the sofa below.
Rebecca Sofette $1495 shown above
I’m so happy about my $150 makeover that I’m getting motivated to update the rest of my house, room by room.
Need design help? Find out more.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Searching for Balance
I think its something that we all struggle with…finding the right balance in life. Just speaking for myself, I have to say that I never really struggled with it as much as I have since having my son.
Suddenly life became a lot less about me and a whole lot more about him. Nothing else mattered to me as long as his needs were met.
After being a stay-at-home mom for nearly three years, I found myself becoming restless and quite frankly trying really hard to remember who I was as a person before wearing the “mom” hat.
The internal struggle that I felt over wanting a career and wanting to be there for my child had me riddled with guilt all the time. I’d discovered a true passion for my new found business but that meant lots of nights away from the dinner table and weekends once filled with family outings were now left to Daddy while I rushed to design consults.
I thought (and still find myself thinking) about design 24/7. Its really hard to turn off work when you love what you do so much… but I was allowing it to become my first priority in life.
I think lots of women feel the same way I do and struggle with the guilt of it on a daily basis….trying to keep a piece of your identity and yet still living up to all the expectations we place on ourselves as wives and mothers.
Honestly, most days I truly feel that I’m just trying to keep afloat …rushing to get as much done in all areas of my life as I possibly can from 7 a.m. to midnight. (yes, midnight if you notice the time I’m posting this blog entry)
It’s been a year since the passing of my dad.
We didn’t speak for almost six months before his death. Our fight was so pointless…over a phone call where he had asked for a little bit of my time to help him with his camera. I snapped at him that I didn’t have the time to help…thinking about everything that was on my plate that week and how I was going to stay afloat. I think about him at some point during my day, everyday. I can’t remember what was so pressing that I couldn’t help him out the day he called me.
Life is crazy short. This is my personal reminder list for every time I need to be smacked over the head with what my priorities are…
1. I will Kick-off more to have dates with my son. Work will always be there…the kids are only little once.
2. I will not freak out if there’s dust bunnies living under my couch and plastic dinosaurs invading my living room…a house is meant to be lived in. (I bet even Martha Stewart lets her hair down once a year and doesn’t make the bed, right? )
3. I will slow down and set realistic goals for myself…It doesn’t all have to get done today! I will still be successful if I have to wait a little longer to devote more time to my career. I’ll never look back and say I wish I missed more family dinners to work.
4. I will take better care of myself. Recharging the ole’ battery is required and necessary….even Wonder Woman needs a weekend away with her best gal pals every so often.
5. Take more family vacations…memories are like little snapshots in our minds and all that we take with us in the end.
Suddenly life became a lot less about me and a whole lot more about him. Nothing else mattered to me as long as his needs were met.
After being a stay-at-home mom for nearly three years, I found myself becoming restless and quite frankly trying really hard to remember who I was as a person before wearing the “mom” hat.
The internal struggle that I felt over wanting a career and wanting to be there for my child had me riddled with guilt all the time. I’d discovered a true passion for my new found business but that meant lots of nights away from the dinner table and weekends once filled with family outings were now left to Daddy while I rushed to design consults.
I thought (and still find myself thinking) about design 24/7. Its really hard to turn off work when you love what you do so much… but I was allowing it to become my first priority in life.
I think lots of women feel the same way I do and struggle with the guilt of it on a daily basis….trying to keep a piece of your identity and yet still living up to all the expectations we place on ourselves as wives and mothers.
Honestly, most days I truly feel that I’m just trying to keep afloat …rushing to get as much done in all areas of my life as I possibly can from 7 a.m. to midnight. (yes, midnight if you notice the time I’m posting this blog entry)
It’s been a year since the passing of my dad.
We didn’t speak for almost six months before his death. Our fight was so pointless…over a phone call where he had asked for a little bit of my time to help him with his camera. I snapped at him that I didn’t have the time to help…thinking about everything that was on my plate that week and how I was going to stay afloat. I think about him at some point during my day, everyday. I can’t remember what was so pressing that I couldn’t help him out the day he called me.
Life is crazy short. This is my personal reminder list for every time I need to be smacked over the head with what my priorities are…
1. I will Kick-off more to have dates with my son. Work will always be there…the kids are only little once.
2. I will not freak out if there’s dust bunnies living under my couch and plastic dinosaurs invading my living room…a house is meant to be lived in. (I bet even Martha Stewart lets her hair down once a year and doesn’t make the bed, right? )
3. I will slow down and set realistic goals for myself…It doesn’t all have to get done today! I will still be successful if I have to wait a little longer to devote more time to my career. I’ll never look back and say I wish I missed more family dinners to work.
4. I will take better care of myself. Recharging the ole’ battery is required and necessary….even Wonder Woman needs a weekend away with her best gal pals every so often.
5. Take more family vacations…memories are like little snapshots in our minds and all that we take with us in the end.
If you are struggling with balance in your life, I hope that in some small way I've reassured you that you are surely not alone.
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