The Most Important Client in the World: Bedroom Makeover Reveal

Some rooms are just tricky.  My daughter’s bedroom was converted from an attic space many decades ago, so the ceilings are slanted down both sides and the only light enters through a small window on the east end wall.  There’s no true closet in this room, just a small storage area accessed through a mini-door.  My girls have always referred to it as the “monster closet” (you know, because of the monsters in there!).  For her 13th birthday, my daughter asked for a more grown-up room – no pink and no vintage.

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This room was often dark and always a bit crowded before,  I have found that there are at least five things that can affect how you perceive the size of an interior space:  lighting (natural and/or artificial), color, color placement, ceiling height, and furniture arrangement.  I considered all of those things when redesigning this space. Popping in a new window dormer on the side wall would have been a great solution, but that was NOT in the budget.  Here’s the room before:

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Daughter’s Bedroom:  Little Girl Version, Melanie G Photography

 

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HomeGoods Happy with The Decorologist

Last Saturday morning, I woke up to a snowy Nashville landscape.  Lucky for me, a little dusting of snow wouldn't put a damper on a special HomeGoods event that I was honored to host as one of their first Blogger Ambassadors!

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HomeGoods Blogger Event

 

I had such a wonderful time – the management and staff at the fabulous Hendersonville, TN HomeGoods store were absolutely amazing.  We were greeted with a gorgeous spread of breakfast and coffee, as well as complete run of the store before two hours prior to opening to the public!

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Ballard Designs Favorite Paint Colors

Ballard Designs is one of my favorite online sources for my decorating clients.  You might say it's a lighter, more feminine version of Pottery Barn.  Prettier and more colorful, but of similar price and quality as good ole PB.  Ballard Designs features beautiful wall colors as a background to their products, and here are some you might be interested in knowing!  Here's one of my personal favs:

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Benjamin Moore's Winterwood

I've used Benjamin Moore's Winterwood in several projects this year – it's a great super-neutral that works great in somewhat contemporary spaces.  It is not quite as "fresh" as it appears in the photo above, however – it's a bit more grayed down than this.

 

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5 Ways to Bring Home Downton Abbey Decor

About 500 gazillion people watched the Season 3 premiere of Downton Abbey last night, and I bet a few of you would like to know how you can bring a little Downton Abbey vibe into your own little abode.  In the words of Mr. Carson, "If you are tired of style, you are tired of life."  You may not live in a castle or manor, but these tips will bring you just a little closer to living the life!

 

1.  Paint it Gold

Add metallic gold paint to detail chairs or furnishings, or simply spray paint with metallic gold paint.

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via Pinterest

 

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The Decorologist Does Downton Abbey

When hosting a dinner party or get-together, developing a theme is a great way to help guide you through the planning and preparation.  Even Christmas parties can benefit from a theme beyond the expected, like the Downton Abbey dinner party I hosted last week.

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The  Emmy-winning PBS series is set in early 1900′s England and focuses on the family and servants that occupy the Crawley’s home, Downton Abbey. [Read more...]

Pantone’s 2013 Color of the Year – Emerald

Pantone just announced the 2013 Color of the Year, and it’s Emerald Green.  It may be a bit confusing, as many paint companies now put out their “Color of the Year.”  But just know that Pantone is the BIG DOG, and they have a lot of influence on what we’ll be seeing in the stores in 2013.  

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The Decorologist Paint Color Tour

Readers frequently ask me to tell them the names of the paint colors in various rooms of my home.  I decided to share them all in one place in case you were wondering, too!  So settle in for the grand tour and all the coordinating paint color names.  All the photos in this post were taken by Melanie G Photography.

 

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Benjamin Moore's Prescott Green HC-140

 

Benjamin Moore Prescott Green HC-140 is the color that runs through many of the rooms on the main level of our home.   [Read more...]

Accent Wall Alert – Don’t Make This Mistake!

Last week I got an email from a lady in North Carolina looking for approval on her choice of accent walls and color placement.  This is the layout she sent me of her kitchen:

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She told me she planned to paint Wall A and Wall C in a very dark green paint color, with white trim and a white chair rail running through the middle of it.  Then she wanted to paint Walls B, D, and E in a beige/earthy tan color below the chair rail and a lighter tan above the chair rail.  She asked me, “Will this work???”

 

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Why, oh why would someone want to do such a thing?  I know why, of course.  [Read more...]

The RIGHT Wall to Paint An Accent Color

I previously shared the entry and living room of this recent project in a traditional suburban neighborhood.  Now I’m revealing how we transformed the dining room of this home and how we chose the perfect accent wall for this space.

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Melanie G Photography

 

This room started out as a front parlor that held the family’s piano and everything else that had no real home.  As you entered the front door, this was the first room you saw.  [Read more...]

Creating Heaven on Earth: The Right Paint Colors for Belgian Chic

To paint or not to paint?  That is the question and the debate between wives and husbands throughout the land.  Here is a stunning example of when painting the woodwork (and brick) is the RIGHT choice.

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 Painted Brick

 

This client knew what she liked – I mean she REALLY knew what she liked.  So why did she ask for a paint color consultation with The Decorologist?  Because choosing paint colors is a very tricky deal, haven’t you noticed?  My client and her family recently moved back to Nashville and found a house with a great layout in an ideal location.  However, the finishes were dated and harkened back to the late 1970′s.

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 1970′s Living Room

 

The paneling had (mercifully) been painted already, but the beams were orange and the brick fireplace dominated one entire side of the den as you entered.

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 Lots-o-Brick and Wood Beams – To Paint or Not to Paint?

 

My client knew her own taste and had furnishings that reflected that.  She knew that she needed the transformative power of the RIGHT paint colors to make this dated house her dream home.  You may need to take a deep breath to prepare yourself for the unbelievable change in this space after the new colors were in place and her furnishings filled the room:

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