Category Archives: interiors

05.11.11

Intaglios.

Last week I received the latest Ballard Designs Catalog and my jaw almost dropped when I saw this wall of cameos.  These little pictures are selling for $299 PER picture!  The timing couldn’t have been more perfect because I just finished a wall of 18 for under $200.  And here’s how….
I am notorious for buying items for my next big project and storing them for months if not years before I get to it.  But let’s be honest, with two kids, a full time job and this little blog– I don’t get a lot of spare time for crafting.   That being said, I bought these intaglios over a year ago for the wall in my dining room.  Well, bit by bit, I worked on this project and was able to finish just in time before Lou’s party.  Here are the results:

Here’s the cost break down:

Here’s the how-to:

18 Frames…..
I actually made mine without the glass.  The intaglios were thicker than I expected, so the frames weren’t thick enough for the glass.
 Some spray paint….
 Presto-chango:
I bought this fabric at G-Street Fabrics thinking I’d use the velvet side… but I couldn’t get rid of these darn lines…
So, I decided to use the reverse side, which I now love… it looks like linen, but it’s much more substantial.
 I traced all 18 backboards (fabric backside up) and cut them out.
I used my little craft glue gun to glue the fabric to the cardboard.  One note– make sure to pull the fabric tight to each corner and cut off the excess.  The fabric will stretch.
Then I glued on the intaglios and voila!
Now, with all of that procrastination, the hardest part was actually hanging them.  Thanks to my Pops, who painstakingly hung all 18.  Because the frames were incredibly cheap, the hooks were not evenly attached, so we used double sided velcro tape, which allows me to rearrange them as I choose.
I am so happy with the results!
 
Tutorials are not my thing– but I hope you enjoyed it… Please send me pictures if any of you decide to do your own wall of intaglios!
UPDATE:
Intaglios | Kiki's List
See how we updated our dining room here + here.

04.11.11

Big Girl Room.

The time has come.  Our little Anna Lou will be turning three next month, and refuses to sleep in her toddler bed.  It’s time to convert her nursery into a big girl room.  This weekend she inherited my trundle bed from childhood.  I have a lot of ideas for her new bed and bedding.  To give you a sneak peak, here are some inspirations that came to mind….
Stay tuned!

04.07.11

Oh Hells Yeah!

In looking for inspiration for some artwork in our upstairs foyer, I came across this:
Isn’t it magnificent?  It’s from Black Crowe Studios.
They create custom wallpaper, stretched canvases, fabrics and pillows.
 I am thinking of painting my own piece similar to this.
Love the map.
 If a pattern is more to your liking.
Perfect artwork for a masculine office space.

04.06.11

Turning A House Into A Home.

Our house is a typical builder’s grade house. When we originally moved here in 2004, we thought that we would live here a few years and eventually move “up.”  However, we love our house, we love our neighborhood and our neighbors.  One thing I didn’t love- our kitchen.  I will never forget the day of our walk-though. I walked into the kitchen and started bawling my eyes out because I hated the countertops (and really, the whole kitchen.)  My mother (God rest her soul) who was also my Realtor told me to suck it up, that we can always change the counters.   It seemed so wasteful getting rid of them because they were granite.  Albeit ugly granite, but granite nonetheless.
(Image from previous owners, 2003)

The thing that drives my husband crazy (okay, one of the things) about me is that our house is in a constant state of change.   He has come home from a business trip and I will have literally painted an entire room a different color.  I’d like to think it keeps things interesting, he would tell you differently.

Because we decided that we were going to be here for some time we (okay I) started designing to turn this house into a home.   It ended up being more “changes” than Mike signed up for.  We ended up editing a little more than just the countertops.  Most of the major was done work in November of 2009, and while it is not completely finished, I am finally willing to show you some “tweener” shots. (Thanks to Ryann Laden for the pictures)   Here are the results thus far:

Our cabinets were in perfectly good shape, I just hated the color.  So- we painted them.  We built a bulkhead to get rid of that awkward space in between the cabinets and the ceiling.  We also had extra room so we built in some shelving on the end of the island and the lower cabinets.  This has opened up our kitchen so much.  I am so in love with the boards that we had installed on the ceiling.  It wasn’t cheap, but I think it adds so much character to the space.
 Next to the sink we moved two sets of cabinets up to the ceiling and added a cafe shelf.
  We replaced all of the hardware with Gilmore knobs and pulls from Restoration Hardware.
We chose a honed Carrera, which I know is very popular, but it was just a natural fit for the space.
Ahh… My favorite part:  my new apron sink.  I like to call it my double-wide. This was something that I went back and forth on for weeks, and it actually held up the process because I decided at the last minute that I couldn’t live without it- and boy, am I that glad I did.  We had to replace the cabinet under the sink with a smaller one, and that cabinet took about 6 weeks to come in.  Then we had to have the painter come back and paint it (he had already painted the existing cabinet.)
In a few weeks my Imperial Trellis roman shades will be hung.  Again, seems quite predictable, but the color way is so perfect in my kitchen. I tried so many others and none were quite this perfect.
So there you have it- our almost-done kitchen.  I couldn’t be happier with the results and am so happy to come home to it.  The best part?  On Christmas morning last year, Mike looked around and said “Honey, I really love our kitchen. ”  RIP ugly countertops!
  Stay tuned for the exciting changes to our living room, dining room and family room!

03.14.11

Seeing Red.

I have lusted after this kitchen designed by Windsor Smith for what seems like ages.
What I love most is the red kitchen chairs that she pairs with the table.  I have contemplated painting my chairs (that are currently black) red for some time.  I feel like it would give a much needed pop to my otherwise black and white kitchen.
Let’s take a look at some more lucious red chairs, shall we?…
What are your thoughts?  Do these kitchens have you seeing red?

03.08.11

In the Navy.

If you’ve been reading this blog for some time, you already know about my love for all things nautical. Better yet, if it’s navy blue- I am all in.  I have recently been considering how I can incorporate navy into my home.   I particularly love a crisp, clean palette of navy and white.  We are thinking of rearranging a few things around here which includes a new laundry room.  I am dreaming of glossy white walls with two Hicks Pendants and a fantastic navy and white fabric on the windows….  Alas, we will be paying a big fat tax bill instead.  So my dreamy white laundry room will have to wait, but for those of you who are able to add some navy into your life, here are some great ideas:
1. Carly Chair– $899
3. Wooden Sconces– $1,200
4. Ropes Wallpaper- $195/roll
7. Octopus Throw– $395
8. Portofino Rug– $70-$1790
9. Seahorse Pillow– $105
11. Leather Slipper Chair– Call for pricing

03.04.11

Jujulicious

I have been yearning for a feather Juju Hat for what seems like ages.  What the hell is a Juju hat you ask?  Behold:
Traditionally worn by Village Chiefs in the Cameroon region of central Africa, Juju hats have since gained popularity with interior designers, and are often used as an eye-catching accessory for the home. Beautiful bird feathers are painstakingly hand sewn onto a raffia fiber base/basket that splays out into a huge circle. Feathers are considered rare objects of beauty and a symbol of prosperity and wealth associated with the positive qualities of birds. 
 
Very much a trend of the moment, the concern is that by the time I save up to buy one, that they will be yesterday’s trend.   But I truly believe that I love the pop of color and the layers of texture so much that this is not something I will stash away in my storage room in a year.  I think it would look gorgeous over a guest bed, mantle or piano.
The lovely Louise has plenty in stock.  I just can’t decide if I want the orange or pink.