Jeannie Rae to the rescue!

Do you have a piece of furniture or an accessory that needs a little lift?  A sprucing up?  Perhaps you don't want to part with it, so rejuvenate it with a new look.  Enter my 7 foot antique cabinet I bought five years ago at an auction.  I have always loved the lines of this tall and dark cabinet, but the finish up close was bumpy, lumpy, and wrong. This piece needs some TLC.  This piece needs Jeannie!

The cabinet on the right has the will to live.
 The creative woman on the left has a mission.
Make this 7 ft of particle board look like a million bucks!




Hard to see all the layers of lumpy laquer and thirteen shades of blah.
Jeannie striped the piece from the top down to it's toes-
A wrestling match but we had our money on the little blonde!


She won.  Now it was time to get creative.

Jeannie wanted to see where the cabinet was going to live.
This is my home office in our new house.  Kid books, bright colors...
This room wants to be funky, colorful, and fun.


I have a skinny wall in between two doors where the cabinet will sit.
The piece itself has super storage potential.  Loads of shelves
and a tall locking latch where little ones can't reach.  Great for
storing things I don't want others to get- paints, nails & screws, my chocolate!

 



After Jeannie came over to look at the space, she had lots of ideas...

The drapes- Osbourne & Little.
Tulips are a favorite.

Jeannie found these knobs.
On the right is the before- sorta gold & brown.
On the left is a beautiful new pink/white tulip!

Oh I love how Jeannie layers the fun with colors & patterns!

How long did it take to paint all those squares?  Oh my!

Jeannie added so many touches to the new cabinet.
I am finding jewels and sweet 'Jeannie' additions everywhere!



My new cabinet.  Before it was boring. 
Before it had no zip.
No personality.  Now...
It's beautiful!



Jeannie Rae has always looked at life in a positive light- looking to see the possibilities.  I've known Jeannie for years and have admired her creative ways.  It's inspiring to watch Jeannie take an ordinary piece and make it come to life, make it a piece of art.  Thank You for adding a happy piece of art in our home- We love the new and improved cabinet and we love you Jeannie! 

And the nominees are...

Here's your ticket to our very own red carpet event!

Best Picture- Trevor James Original

Best Newcomer

Best use of trim

Best Supporting Chair

Best Brownie Recipe in the making...

Best little Salt n' Pepper Shaker!

Best Set Design

Best Original Screenplay

Best Animated Animal Feature

Best Actor

Instead of red carpet, maybe the Oscars should add a stripe or plaid!

Best Pillow Design

Best supportive husband in a romantic comedy

Best Original Set

Best Director!  My Dad Babe

Best Hair & Make-Up-

Best of Friends!

It's Complicated...or is it?

Beth Rubino's interior design in the movie, 'It's Complicated'.

Designers that really stand out in my book (or blog) are the ones who truly have a passion for what they do and where the rooms make you feel like you want to move right in.  Have you ever watched a movie and loved it not only for the romantic plot and funny one-liners, but for the interiors of the settings where everything takes place?  Well, I can tell you so many movies are enjoyable to watch again and again because I like what I hear AND what I SEE!  I can't really remember the set of any Tom Selleck movie...he's pretty much the decoration if you know what I mean!  Hi TOM!   

Call Me!

It's been fun to watch the movie It's Complicated because I am madly in love with the house, the yard, the bakery and the tone that (Meryl Streeps Character) has in her home.  Isn't it lovely?  After watching it for the fourth time, I finally waited to see who the set designer was for the home.  I should have known...the same designer who decorated another fav house from 'Somethings gotta give'.  Remember that one?  In the Hamptons with Diane Keaton and Jack Nickleson.  Well, this designer is Beth Rubino.  She is one to admire and learn from that its a-okay to not feel like everything needs to match or be just so.  When everything comes together, it looks inviting, comfy, functional, classic, and lived in.  Just the way life should be.

'It's Complicated' Kitchen.  Beth R says she loves to mix old with new-

Living Room in the South Hamptons in 'Somethings Gotta Give'.

Another 'Somethings Gotta Give' room to spend hours in laughing, eating, drinking...

Potting corner in 'It's Complicated' makes me want to take up gardening...almost!

Beth's style makes you look at the things in your own home and gives you the green light to use them!  Old works wonders with new and pull out your collections to see, use and enjoy.  Starting with a neutral base and adding layers of wicker, woods, and fabrics that you love is the first step in making a house a home.  Texture is key and don't worry too much about if this pillow goes with that chair.  Guess what?  It DOES!  Why?  Because you love it! 

Beth Rubino- Set Designer

We all don't have to be millionaires to feel like a million bucks when we are at home with ourselves or with our loved ones.  Edit out the things you really don't need or use and make your home that calming place that relaxes you, comforts you, and makes you want to be there.

Time to go clean out my pantry now...make it a calmer space! 

Open Shelving Decor

Now that the holiday decorations are all packed away, it's time to bring out your collectibles, bowls, baskets, Grandma's candlestick holders and enjoy them while doing the dishes!  Finally, you can see what you have-- you may even use it more than if it was packed up in a cupboard or closet.   Every morning when I shuffle to my coffee pot, I grab my favorite mug off the open shelves in the kitchen...and smile.  

        
           

            Open Shelf Tip #1:
           Surround yourself with the things you love!

Tip #2:
Group your pretty things by color.


This Malibu cottage kitchen belongs to my old bosses, 
actor Ricky Schroder & his wife Andrea, an interior 
designer in LA.  I love her mix of creams, whites, 
and soft yellows.  Super sweet, isn't it?

I have lived with three men in my life;  My Dad, this guy, 
and my Hubby John!
 

Tip #3:
Don't make it look like you are staging!


This is a little group of shelves in my kitchen and we use the 
coffee cups, popcorn, cookbooks, pitchers, and pasta all the time!  
Nice to be able to see what you have on hand and makes an 
awkward corner actually functional. 

When helping clients with their homes, I have a ball seeing their pieces and special treasures that are unique to them. We can pull out things they haven't used in years and place it on a shelf for all to see, it makes you feel good keeping what you have and truly enjoying it.  If you group like things together, coordinate with colors that compliment, and make it look effortless...you'll love the end result with open shelf decor! 

A Gift Beyond Measure...

This Christmas, my sister Beth made a special gift for my two year old.

 

 

A homemade growth chart that looks like a vintage tape measure!

Oh--this is where the happy tears come in!

Reminds me of the pocket door jam at my Grandparents house. It had a million marks documenting our growth throughout the years.

Laminated for longevity & great for a laundry room, kids room, etc.

A note to Charlie written on the back.

My sweet sister Beth- so creative and thoughtful!  We love our Auntie Beth!

These are a few of my favorite things...

Curl up this winter in our yummy bedding by Pine Cone Hill

You'll get in the festive spirit right away in this little tufted chair- oh, oh, oh!

Resting up at the store before his big trip!

A favorite candle by Aquiesse- beautiful smells for the season

Brrr....baby it's cold outside.  Great gift for the dog lover in all of us.

So thrilled these Stella & Dot earings are on my list!  $39 can say "I Love You".

Our Dining Room- this is a favorite place of mine...

Santa's Bed!  This Henredon Sleigh is gorgeous any way you look at it!

We've had such a fun time seeing customers & friends stopping in to shop and say hello!  It's a festive time of year and wonderful to see you!  Can you believe Christmas is in a week?

If you hate crowds, dread parking, lines, and all the rush???  We can help!  This ain't no mall experience!  You'll feel relaxed, well taken care of and delighted with all your findings for Christmas!

Ho! Ho! Ho!  Merry Christmas!