I’ve already let you know that all decorating in our home has ceased due to our impending move.  In fact, our house lists the Thursday after Labor Day (need a new home in Northern Virginia anyone?).  My living room really never got too far off the ground.  I managed to paint,  do grass shades and drapes and a sofa.  But, that is where it all stopped. 

I had intended to do a glass top/metal base cocktail table with some patina and some appropriate end tables and lamps……but never got around to it.  This is, by far, the least used room in our home.

Recall, I had been working on a custom rug for the space but just couldn’t get motivated to sit down and review the artist’s renderings and select my colors (maybe this should have told me something).  And then, once I learned we were moving, I decided to go with seagrass instead….far cheaper and sure to be used somewhere in our new home.

And then, I finally settled on a wool rug to get the natural look but to achieve a better sense of comfort….in case I want to use it in Maddie’s room or a more family friendly space in the new home.  Several weeks ago I picked up our new rug.  I think it looks quite nice in this room….rather understated and subdued.

If the rug were going to stay in this room, I’d have had it made larger.  But, I wanted maximum flexibility for its new home.  The oversized slipper chairs (and probably both end tables) will be on Craigslist soon–like the day our house goes under contract.  The chairs, I had to have these while visiting Dallas, of all places, about 9 years ago….and never liked them once they were delivered.  Not sure why.  The coffee table is a hand me down from when my parents had a place in FL…..It doesn’t fit in this space but it cannot be all bad.  I had a woman in my home recently purchasing a mirror I’d sold on Craigslist and she asked me to call her if I decide to sell it!

Here is another view of the room.  I love the fabric (Suzanne Rheinstein for Lee Jofa- “Folie Chinoise”) and how it looks with the Conrad shades.

Speaking of hand me downs from my mom.  I LOVE this lamp…..and am seriously lobbying her to allow me to take it to Dallas with me.  I think it looks so great with my drapes and the color of the sofa!  Mom, are you reading?

I hope you have a great weekend.  My husband has been in four states for work this week….and got home last night.  I am looking forward to some serious family time (mixed in with two toddler birthday parties)!  Cannot wait!

It was a whirlwind weekend as I’ve been in Dallas since Thursday visiting preschools and house-hunting.  What an exhausting process but thankfully we made some progress in narrowing down our search to a few neighborhoods.  And, we have a great realtor so I now feel confident we’ll find a house we love in a great neighborhood….and am thankful we have the time to wait for the perfect place for us!  (And, Mom and Amy if you are reading….THANKS again to you both and Dad for watching Maddie for 4 days!!!!!!  I know she is a handful!)

Anyways, I came home to stacks of mail and in it was the sample of the wallpaper I want to use in our baby’s nursery.  I sampled three colorways, but I am pretty sure this one will be the go….

The color in the image above is way off on my monitor.  The background reads an olive color here…..but the background on the actual paper is MUCH lighter.  In fact, it is almost a dark cream/very light beige.  I love it! 

This paper is by Julia Rothman for Hygge & West.  It was designed in Brooklyn, NY and screen printed in Chicago, IL.  And, it is printed on high quality paper manufactured in the US.

I’ve got to thank the blog world, specifically Urban Grace,  for the introducing me to this paper.  Designer Laurie Rhoney used this paper in her daughter’s nursery and it was featured on the Urban Grace blog.  This picture has been in my inspiration files ever since.

What do you think?  I just think it is so sweet used on a nursery ceiling.  This paper is my jumping off point, and I will share the various elements as I make progress.  My goal is to have everything ready to go so the room can be put together as soon as we make the big move! 

When I started this blog I intended to post heavily on the design of my own home.  But, an impending move across the country has really put a halt on decorating.  So, you’ll likely have to wait until early 2011 for me to start decorating a new home.  Our house hunting begins next week but we won’t be moving until after baby #2 arrives in October. 

In any case,  I want my house to look nice when we list it….but I do not want to put any measurable money into new purchases….as I have no idea if they will fit in in our new home, which I am hoping to downsize.

To date, I’ve done pinch pleated panels in Suzanne Rheinstein’s Fall Chinoise (in Rose).  See the swatch below.

photo credit Philip Friedman/Studio D

My windows are covered with Conrad Shades in Sandbar (1828).

And then, to pull the cranberry color out of the drapes I had a sofa made with a cranberry silk.  Here is a picture that shows the sofa with one of the windows in the background.  The simple pewter hardware is by Robert Allen.  I did a post on their “cufflink collection” hardware here. 

One of the things that is visibly lacking in this room is a rug.  I had every intention of having a custom reproduction of an antique rug made for this space.  (In fact, I talked about the process…or lack thereof…..here.)  And, down the road…I still might.  But, boy am I glad at the moment that I did not drop the money for a 9×12 custom rug….only to potentially find that it will not fit in our new home.

Last night, I was searching design sites like I tend to do, and I found a blurb by Suzanne Rheinstein on how she envisioned the Fall Chiniose fabric to be used.  She felt using the fabric for window treatments and a chair would suffice….and suggested a seagrass rug for a fresh and young space.  Wow, why didn’t I think of that?  A 9×12 seagrass rug I can handle at the moment….and if I decide not to use in a living room in the new home (I plan to use the fabric for new window treatments….I love it and, after all…what else would this couch go with?) I can use it in a bedroom or just about anywhere.

So, I called my local carpet trade showroom and have some options all well below $500.  Just need to check out samples and place my order.

For once, I am glad I procrastinated.  And, I am actually excited to see the room take on a little less formal direction.  Now if I could find a way to make the chairs and coffee table currently in the room look like they fit with the space….I’d be all set.

What do you think of my new direction?

When I think of Robert Allen, I think fabric.  But, they sell drapery hardware and furniture as well.  I’ve recently used their drapery hardware and was very pleased.  So, I thought I would share.

Their metal rods come in three finishes.

They offer two ring styles.

And, in this “Cufflinks Collection” they offer a range of cufflinks, which serve as end caps and as a center cap for larger (longer) installations. 

I ended up using the pewter rods with matching “button rosette” cufflinks in both my living and dining rooms, respectively.

I really like how delicate these rods look, with just the simple cufflink details.  The product is well made and reasonably priced.  To see the full range of Robert Allen drapery hardware, including downloadable tearsheets, go here.  For more information or for pricing, feel free to contact me.

Thought I would share a quick photo of the progress on my dining room.  I absolutely love the rug and chandelier.  I promise to share more photos when the room is properly accessorized, etc.  But, for now I am happy.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.  Be safe!

I have to apologize for the lack of timely and substantive posts around here this week.  We have had a lot going on in our world.  I’ve been simultaneously battling a sinus cold and some never-ending nausea while trying to keep on top of work and home…..it’s been a bit much.

But, anyway.  I have something to look forward to.  Last summer, I stumbled upon the below picture on a little blog (and I am extremely sorry I cannot remember the blog….) kept by a gift store owner.  She had customized the below chandelier to match the paint color on her dining room walls.

Something about this whimsical chandelier spoke to me.  So, I ordered my own.  My dining room walls are painted Benjamin Moore Wedgewood Gray on the walls and Navajo White on the chair rail and all molding.  On my chandelier, the branches will be a pewter color, the flowers a cranberry color and the birds’ feathers, painted to match my walls.

I’ll admit the process has been a long one.  The chandelier arrived in February with the wrong color glass.  I was freaking out until I found my samples and realized it was not my mistake.  The blue is the tiny center of the flower…it matches the walls.

The showroom sent a picture last week to confirm the new crystal colors.  Much better…..

And, here is a sneak peak of the birds, painted Wedgewood Gray.

The UPS truck is due in this afternoon with my chandelier.  My dining room rug is to be delivered and spread next week.  I am so excited to see this room finally come together.  I will not lie, this chandelier  is a bit out there for me.  I rarely question my decisions….but until this chandelier is hung and in place, I do not think I’ll exhale fully.

I had better love it….or else Maddie will need a bigger room to house her new chandelier! I’ll be sure to post pictures once it is hung!

In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Do you have a project hanging out there that you really need to just focus on?  I do, and it is really starting to nag at me.  It seems like there are not enough hours in the day.  By the time I give to my daughter and husband, my clients and my business, my friends and family, even the dog….working on decorating my home tends to fall down on the priority list.  What do they say about the shoemaker’s kids having no shoes?  I get it.

Anyways, here is my black cloud hanging over my head.  I am doing a custom rug in our living room.  And, here is the state it is in at the moment.

The starting point for this rug came from an ad my husband spotted in the June 2009 Veranda.  He thought it might look nice in our living room.  And, by taking the initiative to help in the process, I know he was hoping to keep me more on the traditional side, which is fine.

The other day as I was writing the final check for my dining room “Stump Rug” he casually inquired as to when our living room rug would be in.   I felt a bit guilty telling him I still had not sent back revisions on the art board that was in my possession.  I need to review the board, make modifications, determine if I like the colors, pattern, etc.  I can do this…I just need some quiet time to accomplish it.  And, my goal is to get that done in the next week.  I am hoping by posting it here it will keep me accountable!

So, do you have any projects, big or small, hanging over your head?  I’d love to hear about them.  Misery loves company!

My husband gave me the idea for this post, reminding me of when we moved into our last townhouse in early January and the first thing he did was run out and buy a huge TV.  Literally, he chose the TV based on what could be delivered in advance of a Super Bowl party we were hosting.  The thing was huge (rear projection) and was prominently placed on top of a Crate & Barrel media console (also chosen by what was in stock…we drove to Maryland to pick it and some bar stools up from their warehouse so we could have some furniture in time for the big day).

Fast forward to our current home.  I wouldn’t let that big monstrosity set foot above the basement.  It is down there with a Wii hooked up to it (with cracked glass thanks to a flying wii control) and is fine until we start designing the basement–which will be a while….  But, upstairs I made my husband live with a 30″ or so TV until I could determine the best way to conceal his next monstrosity.  All I asked was that it be flat….so I could hide it.  I picked my battles and agreed to refrain from painting the speakers that are in the wall (my painter actually backed Chris up on this one) and I am ok with the black speaker sitting on top of the unit.  Life is about compromises, right?

Now, we are both happy.  We had the below media unit custom made to fit the specs of our TV.  Please forgive the lack of properly styled shelves….this is not the point of this post.  What I really love about this piece is that the depth of the unit allows me to display items on the shelves….and they do not get in the way of the lift mechanism.

Here it is closed, the lift works off a remote control…..

 And here it is open.  Admittedly, it is in this position a lot more than I would care to admit.

I have read lots of varying opinions on whether or not the TV should be hidden.  Many designers feel that TVs are part of life, why hide them.  And, I’ve seen many that quite tastefully blend in with the decor.  It may just be me….but I really just do not want to look at one, unless I am plopped in front of it watching a movie or a favorite show.

I thought I would show some photos of other potential ways to decorate around modern media.  One idea is to use a console table with a pop up.  I have displayed a number of attractive options below.  My only complaint about this design is that you cannot put anything on the console where it would interfere with the lift mechanism.  So, basically you’ve got a blank (or partially blank) console table sitting in your room.  A lamp, books, picture frames, etc. may not be entirely feasible.

From Left to Right: Bausman & Company, Drexel Heritage, Casa Marron, Cabinet Tronix, Century Furniture. 

Another option is to mount the TV to the wall and conceal it behind a piece of art (you can use stock images or custom art).  I really like this option as long as you have the wall space to embed the TV into the wall so the frame on the art is flush with the wall.  There is always the option of installing the TV box on the wall….but then I think it makes it obvious that the art is hiding something which, to me, kind of defeats the purpose.

VisionArt Galleries is a popular manufacturer of these systems.

Another similar company is Auton Motorized Systems.

Finally, there is always the good old fashioned armoire or cabinet.  They make RF technology remotes these days so that you can conceal your electronics and still be able to use your remotes without opening cabinet doors.  Here are some nice armoires.

From Left to Right: Habersham Home, Edward Ferrell + Lewis Mittman, Hickory Chair, Nottingham Antiques, Hickory White.

I am working on our master bedroom now and am struggling with what to do in there.  Currently we have an armoire in our sitting area…but the TV is too small to view from the bed….I am considering a wall mount with a swivel and am seriously considering the concealed art option with a console or low bookshelf below.  But, the budget will dictate how much of my vision makes it into reality.

I would love to hear your opinions on the subject, to hide or not?  Do you have any great ideas or solutions to share?

Back in November I attended the annual Niermann Weeks Sample sale in the lobby of their factory in Millersville, Maryland.  Here is a picture of the lobby hours before the sale (image from Eleanor McKay’s Blog).

There was so much great stuff to look at.  Particularly, I fell in love with a pair of Balustrade Lamps.  Here they are right after I brought them home.  They are located just off our family room….which is a very open floor-plan of kitchen/sun-room/family room.

I thought the lamps looked great in this spot, but the paper shades were not doing it for me.  I headed over to my favorite lighting showroom with a lamp in tow (it’s heavy) and we played with different shade options.  I knew I wanted a linen shade but was not sure on the shape and size.  We ended up with a bell shaped linen sized so that the bottom of the shade would fall just above the top of the base.   The shades arrived last week and I am quite happy with them.

I think it looks better now that you can see the full base.  What do you think?  I love it.  And, now I have two paper shades crying for a DIY project.  I am thinking wallpaper….

In all, I think the trip out to Millersville was a success.  It was fun to peek into the factory and I was able to meet Eleanor Niermann briefly (understandably, she was busy) too which was nice.  It is always nice to put a face with a voice you have spoken with over the phone. 

If you are interested in a Niermann Weeks piece for your own home, please contact me.  I am always happy to help.

So, if it isn’t obvious yet, “Maddie G Designs” was named after my daughter Madeline Grace.  When the calls went out that she had arrived a friend congratulated us on the birth of “Maddie G.”  The name had a ring to it and it has stuck ever since. 

Maddie was born about six weeks after we moved, so her room was the first priority once we moved in.  In fact, the previous owners and their realtor were kind enough to let me in so that I could have the windows measured for the shade toppers.

The walls were painted a Benjamin Moore sage color.  We had used this color in our guest room previously and knew we liked it.  Funny story, I was at my baby shower the day the room was painted.  The host’s husband and mine grabbed a bite to eat and then went over to our house to stay out of the way.  As the shower ended they arrived and both looked a little worried to approach me……my husband calmly asked, “I thought we were painting the nursery green…..”  I looked at him like he was a little crazy.  Of course it was green, what other color would it be?

The joke was on me….with my pregnancy brain I’d handed our painter the wrong color…..the walls were BLUE.  Thank goodness this painter and I go way back….he was kind enough to fix the colors no problem.  Phew, disaster averted.

Anyways, first step was painting and installing crown molding.  I think crown molding is a great way to spruce up a plain room and it makes the walls pop.

Here is a photo of one side of her room.  The frames are from Target and inside I’ve just enlarged pages from the Madeline series of children’s books.  Maddie loves looking at them and pointing to the various people/animals….it is a morning routine of ours.  Apologies for my lack of photography skills….it looks as if the frames are crooked but I promise they are not.  The chair and ottoman are to die for from a comfort standpoint.  I wish I had one in every room.  They are from The Best Chair Company, Storytime Series.  We had initially picked another fabric to coordinate with the crib skirt.  But, the fabric was back-ordered for months and I could never get an accurate answer as to when it would be in.  So, I ended up with a floor model about a week before she was born.  In retrospect, I love the tan gingham. 

I knew I wanted a chandelier in the room and found the perfect one from Home Depot.  It was inexpensive and is just right.  We have it on a dimmer and put it so low at night it serves as Maddie’s night light.  She loves the sparkles.  The rug is from Pottery Barn.

The shade toppers (we have black out shades underneath) are done in coordinating Duralee Fabrics, which are also used for the crib bumper….

My mom made the crib bumper, so special.  We used the coordinating Duralee fabrics and added a green chenille cording to add a special little touch.  We never did end up with a crib skirt due to the previously mentioned fabric back-order issue.  Oh well….now that the mattress is in the lowest position we do not even notice!

Behind Maddie’s crib I had to have a monogram.  The color looks really off here….but you get the idea.  I found the monogram on Etsy.  The frame on the left is wooden with a baby prayer, purchased from South Moon Under.  On the right, my Aunt had a photo of Maddie and me put on canvas, and I had it framed.

The changing table is from JC Penny and the art over it was purchased where else but Etsy!

There are a few other little touches worth mentioning.  The entry to the room has a clock.  A family friend had it personalized with Maddie’s birth details.

My sister gave us the smocked pillow (Little English) and the Lovey (Bunnies by the Bay).

The baby rocking chair was purchased at a gallery in Sandwich, NH before I was even pregnant….. I love it and so does Maddie.  The bear was sent by Australian relatives and is real sheep’s wool.

And last, but not least, the bunny lamp was purchased by my mom back in Houston when I was still in high school.  She said she knew she would have a grand-baby who would love it someday!

PS–  We completed this nursery well before I had started Maddie G Designs.  Had I been a Maddie G Designs customer, I would have saved $384 on the curtains, alone.  And, I purchased them during a big chain fabric company’s 20% off custom order fabric and labor sale!