Sunday, October 31, 2010

My Toy Room to Teen Room Transformation!

My children are entering the teen years now. As they grow and change the needs of our home have changed as well. One of the bedrooms over our garage had been a "toy room", filled with plastic Little Tikes Kitchens, Legos and Trains- a place for forts and building castles. My teenage daughter suggested that we re-decorate the "Toy Room" to be more Teen Friendly. I agreed and so (sadly for Mom) we have said to goodbye to Pokemon and American Girl Dolls.
Here is the room Before (actually we have two identical rooms above our garage, they are mirror images of each other and this photo is of other side). Like all decorating projects we had Goals, Restrictions and a Budget. The Goal was a room for for sleepovers, a place to do school projects where they could spread things out (and not be near their parents), and a place to hangout with friends and watch Movies and I-Chat! Our main Restriction was the doorway size. It is only 27 inches wide. And our Budget was $2500.
Here is the room after we ripped up the old carpet. Then we painted the trim BM White Dove and the walls BM Lighthouse Landing. Paint cost $4o. Paint, as always is an immediate improvement!
The kids were allowed to choose everything in the room and I treated them like clients on our shopping trip. We found this great, thick wool rug at HomeGoods for $600. (did I mention how much I love HomeGoods for rugs??) The kids liked the Pottery Barn feel and the blue and brown color scheme. While we were there the kids scouted some great pillows that matched and two small microfiber ottomans. All together we spent $800.
Meanwhile at home, my sister, who LOVES to organize, came over and sorted through all our arts and crafts supplies and organized everything in the old bins which used to hold plastic food and Matchbox cars. Now it is a perfect go to space for all the supplies we need for projects at school.
Thank you, Sandra! Cost - priceless!
We couldn't let go of the blocks, (well I couldn't) so they stayed put and we moved an old bookcase into the walk in closet for extra storage for paper and other supplies.
Dramatic drum roll.... Here is the Before.
And the After! We found this thin couch at Macy's and once we took the feet off it fit through our tiny doorway! The sectional microfiber couch was $1400 and the bar table and leather stools $199. at Overstock.com.
Inspirational artwork was $50 on clearance! Bookcase, side table, and TV we already had!
The total Teen Hangout Room Makeover cost was.....$2489!!
We still had money left over for a Movie and some snacks!! We found some wonderful bargains, stayed with in our budget and came out with a great room! The kids are thrilled and call it their "Hang Out Room" - I call it a success!!
'
Also a heartfelt thank you to the many, many kind readers who sent me get well wishes and prayers. I am truly blessed to have so many friends in blogland. I was beyond touched! xoxo
(all photos Willow Decor and not to be copied without permission)

Do you Portiere?

My favorite moment when decorating a room happens when the curtains go up.  Curtains in a great fabric can transform a space like nothing else  Suddenly the room feels taller, more opulent and cozy, too!  So if you can create this kind of magic by putting curtains at your windows, why not take a cue from the Victorians and use curtains to separate the spaces within your home?  These guys did and look how great it turned out!

 Southern Accents

This nook created by Barry Dixon creates the option of a more intimate dining area.  Brilliant!




The curtains and the raised platform in this bathroom define the soaking tub as "the" destination.




Domino

Portiere curtains are a practical and beautiful choice for kids sharing a bedroom or for dorm roommates.  


And they are a beautiful way to frame the view from one room to the next.

Jeffrey Bilhuber in House Beautiful


Traditional Home


Image via My Notting Hill

And in the bedroom, a portiere curtain provides softness and intimacy.

Reincarnation of Jeanne Lanvin's famous cornflower blue bedroom, with portiere curtains




Portiere for you?



Need some help  pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com











Lighthouse

Why do I always have to drift so far out to sea to be sure of the shore?

Happy Halloween

I hope you have been enjoying your Halloween weekend!  We attended a costume party on Friday night.
I was a Queen Bee and my husband was a Bee Keeper.  I told everyone at the party they could just call me "Honey".  I was scrambling for costumes at the last minute on Friday.  Luckily, my friend Elizabeth let me borrow the Bee Keeper costume and I purchased the Bee outfit.  We had the best time.  The party was awesome, I danced my stinger off.  We went to the party with some friends, Jamie and Lesley, but they would not let me put their pics on the blog. 

I feel like I have sort of skipped Fall for some reason, I really did not decorate the inside of the house for the season.  We put a few pumpkins out on the front porch but that was really all we did this year.
REMINDER: The giveaway ends tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.  Go HERE to enter.  The winner will be announced tomorrow.  Good luck to those who already signed up.

I am working on another giveaway for November, so stay tuned!

Photobucket

Happy haunting!

'Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world.
~William Shakespeare



'Tis is the night..


Happy haunting and gathering....

Victoria


Pictures by V. Zlotkowski

Happy Halloween...





I hope you have a wonderful Halloween today! Check out this amazing group of photos from Bardot in Blue. Makes me want to be in Paris in the fall- in a cemetery no less.


images via bardot in blue

Come Inside...

and see the interior of this Georgian home 
done by Joseph Minton.


This is the most fabulous space.
Check out the Chinoiserie piano.
The potted palms, the wall brackets, urns, etc etc.
I love this. 
( i would prefer less blue...but that is just me)
There is so much thought and 
'accidental perfection.'
It doesn't seem 'decorated.'
It just looks as though someone worldly,
sophisticated, and fabulous lives here.
And isn't that our job??
-To make people, 
with enough money to hire us
look like they are 
WAY BETTER, WAY COOLER, 
and WAY MORE FABULOUS 
than they really are???
heheheheheheh
no really,
it's true.
I have soooooooooooo many stories.
Because of this dining room... 
Isn't it wonderful to be inspired????
I am doing a job now- 
where I making the dining room a library, 
with the dining in the center of it.
It will be great.
When you do the classics-
you don't really ever have to 
re-decorate unless you choose to.
(uhh oh!!!)

Would you rather live in 
a classically designed home  
or a home styled with latest trends?

-choose trends, 
so that we designers will continue to have work.
please please please

No judgement here,
I am just curious.

oh yes...............
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Meow Meow
...a table for two,
and a bowl of milk please!!!!

later.....i am off to work XXXX's

credits:http://josephminton.com/

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design,joseph minton, georgian era interiors,the classics, 
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Halloween Costumes for Couples

Happy Halloween... Are you looking for last minute Halloween costumes for couples? Here are some great ideas. Since I am such a huge fan of 30 Rock, my favorite couple has to be Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy!
If you are a Glee follower, you may want to go as Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson.
Go for the Glam, and dress up as Katy Perry and Russell Brand.
photos: glamour.com
Be safe and have a Happy Halloween...

More Entertainment and mo
re ways to follow BB&B

Photographer Reed Davis

On this beautiful Sunday I'd like to show you some of the lovely work by talented photographer Reed Davis. Reed grew up in the Midwest but now works in New York and Los Angeles. He specializes in interiors, still life, people, and food. His clients include Pottery Barn, Country Home Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Bloomingdales, Marie Claire Elle and Macy's among many others. Enjoy!















































More images in Reed's extensive portfolio right here.
My Ping in TotalPing.com