Deck the Walls

This will be our 57th Christmas in retail!  Wow!  It's such a special time of year for a lot of reasons.  One reason I love this holiday is because the designer comes out in all of us!  Go ahead...tis the season!

Here are some quick photos of one clients home all decked out for the holidays.  She is the kind of sweetheart you'd love to just sit by the fire, drink some egg nog, and enjoy stories from years past.  Enjoy seeing how some get ready for the holidays.  Merry Christmas!

Sparkle, Shimmer, and Shine!

Tip #1 in holiday decor:  HAVE FUN!

This entry welcomes winter...

My client added more bling to
her chandelier for some sparkle! 

Mixing old...

...with new to keep things fresh.

Away in a Manger

Ribbon does wonders in decorating!

Shells can make a festive statement too!

Santa by the Sea

Three Wise Men

Touches of the season...

Glam Reindeer!

The Reason for the Season!

Inspirations

I got a call this morning from a favorite customer asking me to come over and help arrange her office. When I got there, who greeted me but this daaaling little puppy-- the newest addition to their family.  

Meet our inspiration...Louis

I asked what his name is and she said, "Louis!  You know, like Louis Vuitton."  What a perfect name for a purse puppy!

We look at the space and can't help but think about Louis.  I never know where some inspiration comes from and who knew today it would be from a three pound Chiuaua!

My client loves fashion, has a fashion-styled business, and isn't afraid of mixing and matching great pieces to create a fun look.  This helps get the ideas rolling...

Look familiar?  She didn't want this exactly but
this is how I do my research.  I SHOP!

Found this new fall line of office furniture.
Leather & nail trim luggage file
cabinet makes it fun to go to work!

A pair of these guest chairs will add to the sleek
style of the room and size is to scale for the space.

Louis inspired this fabric.  A classic pattern;
colors work beautifully with the
carpet & wall color. 

We loved this fish-scaled shell pattern
for the desk lamp.  Like jewelry for the room!

Two bookcases flanking the desk will
give some nice curve appeal to an
otherwise square/straight-lined room.

Finally a little fun art collection

of silhouettes.  A set of 3 will

set off the walls in between

the bookcases.  

It's a lot of fun to jump into the lives of my clients-- or into their beloved dogs life!   

AH Birthdays...

Birthdays are a celebration.  Some celebrations are bigger than others, depending on your mood.  Turning 37 has been fun so far!

Oh yes...I do love me some birthday cake!

Stayed in my fuzzy slippers all day at home and...

caught up on favorite magazines!

Sat down & wrote some notes
that were long overdue.  One pen
pal is a dear friend in San Francisco.
We exchange notes once a week
when we are good!

I like the idea of just one big birthday candle!

So far, my birthday has been wonderful!  Stayed home with my little son and relaxed.  Dinner out with hubby John tonight.  Thank you to the birthday fairies who left sweet gifts on my doorstep.  Ah...I do love birthdays!

One Day Makeover with Wallpaper!

In my mind, wallpaper is one of the most wonderful tools a girl can use to make any room shine.  Certain design ideas come and go- who the heck came up with cutting a sponge and soaking it in paint and directly applying to walls?  Wallpaper is always in style.  It's all in the color, pattern, and scale for your room.  We had a great time updating the kitchen with one simple change.  Wallpaper!

Like pealing the layers of an onion- you have to really strip things down to see what you've got to work with.  In this case, it was pealing away several layers of...WALLPAPER!  Many layers.  Like reading a storybook into one families history in that kitchen.  So much fun!

Long story short...

The busy pattern on the walls were needing a change.
A quieter look was what was needed.  

First the fun part- peal the papers back and take a trip down memory lane.
This home built in the 1970's and has always had wallpaper in the kitchen.
The walls are smooth so we felt papering again was the answer.
But softer, warm tones was what our client wanted.

A lot of White with brass drawer pulls and knobs.
We gathered some ideas for what the new paper could be
and came up with a few fun ones...

She loved this but decided it would
look too busy.  Napkins, however, a must!

Pretty but not calming- we decided too busy.

Background is too cream but the
subject is simply delightful.

In the amount of time it takes to make a double chocolate layered cake and let it cool...

we managed to redo the kitchen to this:

One Day to Beautiful!

We decided to have longer drapes to the floor

rather than the top valance on the window-

softer look & classic with a linen fern pattern.

What a difference a day makes!

If you are in need of great Wallpaper Hangers in the Oregon area, I know two fellows who do the best job and fabulous people to boot!  Mike & Lee- years of experience and perfect every time.


Mike Maiterth 541-521-3385
Lee Richardson 541-343-4008

Sassy Slipcovers

Slip your furniture into something different! 

When we hear the word 'Slipcover,' many of us think Shabby Chic.  You know...the messy, floppy, sheet-over-the-sofa kind of look.  There is a time and place for Shabby Chic, but for those of us who want a more tailored, classic and form-fitting look, there is an updated solution.  

Introducing Slipcover 2.0

-custom slipcovers by Annette Shank- 

Meet my 'brown-blah' cube ottoman.  I know you have seen his kind before.

This ottoman is a popular item that works double-duty as a footstool as well as providing an added seat at gatherings.  The problem with this little guy is, well, he's just plain dull and boring! 

Goal: let's make this cube a pretty little piece of eye candy!

Nice chair style, but the fabric must go!

Problem: I'm sure everyone has a plaid chair in the family that seems to make the rounds.  This chair was in my parents den and now they've passed it along to me!  Although the fabric is in good shape, it doesn't work anywhere in my house. 

Goal: add a feminine touch to make it a pretty guest room chair.

This is where the magic happens!

To help carry out my wishes, I enlisted the help of slipcover guru, Annette Shank.  Seeing her work with fabric is like watching a sculptor mold their clay...but with the eye of an engineer and the skill of a fine craftsman! 

New fabric--new look.

Annette began by draping my fabric over the ottoman and pin-fitting some options for me to consider.  We didn't want it to look reupholstered, so we tried to add some interest to an otherwise square box.

Shall we pleat here or there?  Add buttons?
Maybe ties...what to do, what to do?

Annette transformed it before my very eyes.

Drum roll...

Voila!

Snug as a bug in a rug!  
This tab helps keep it on and is a sweet detail.
Love the addition of some buttons too!

Goodbye plaid...hello pleated perfection!

Show off that new skirt!

Annette is so darn creative and fun!  Her customers love how detailed she is and that she offers up ideas even the best designers couldn't dream up--all because she has years of experience making slipcovers and working with fabrics to know the best solution.

Before...

After!

Doggie chewed the fabric off of your wing chair?

Don't panic...slipcover it!

Dated jewel tones?  Rejuvenate it!
I love how she fit the cover over the exposed carved arm.  

Contact Annette at: 541-345-5545
This lady knows her stuff!