Category Archives: lighting

09.27.11

Lou’s Room: The Reveal.

Bit by bit, we have been working on Lou’s big girl room since last spring.  And I am proud to finally show all of you the finished product.
In between work, kids and blogging, we built the room, step by step.  It all started with a plan.
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Unfortunately, the fabric for the curtains has been discontinued.  It is a P. Kaufman fabric.  The Pattern is Camelot and the color is Lake.
We were able to repurpose the bed skirt from the crib to make the bed skirt and borders for the throw pillows.  The sconces were on sale at Restoration Hardware.
Corrine Marlowe painted the stripes on the ceiling in the same Melon Shine paint that I used on the bed.
 I kept the Little Castle glider from the nursery because I love it so much.  The store that I bought it from (that has since gone out of business) allowed me to customize it with my own fabrics.  The little chair was a gift that Mom brought back from Rhode Island when she found out I was pregnant with E.
 Luckily our changing table was convertible.  The mirror was a originally a butterfly picture that I scored on clearance at Home Goods.  I painted it Pear Green.
I knew exactly what I wanted for the chandelier… the problem is that it didn’t exist.
Then I found Lindsey at Simply Salvage, who worked tirelessly on this baby.  Poor Lindsey had no idea what she got herself into with me.  This took over 4,000 hand painted beads.  She painted them Bird’s Egg to match the walls.
My little Lou Lou Bug simply adores her room.  When it was finally done she stayed in there for hours.  While in another room, I heard her talking to herself saying “This is a dream come true!!!  I love my room.  I love my chandelier… I love my pink bed… I love my special lights (that would be the sconces.)….  I love my flowers.. ” Yada, yada, yada.  It warmed my heart.  And that my friends, made it all worth it.  She has slept in her room every night since.

09.09.11

Fresh Perspective: Mona Ross Berman

Last week while reading House Beautiful on the plane home from California, I was introduced to the work of Mona Ross Berman, she had me at hello.  What a fresh perspective on classic design.  These are pictures from a New Jersey beach house that she designed for a client.
I love the bright, cheery and causal mix of textures and colors she uses.  It’s so versatile, like the LBD that can be dressed up, or dressed down.  I think her designs would suit so many styles.
Read all about ithere.

09.01.11

Perfect Harmony.

Beaded Heaven made it home to Virginia.  She is hanging, and she is beautiful.

The beads are painted Bird’s Egg to match the walls.  The blue, green and coral come together in perfect harmony.
The sconces are going up this week while I am in California (thanks Dad!)

I love the way the light glistens on the ceiling at night.

When I get home this weekend I have about 500 Ribba frames to hang above her bed.

08.26.11

Beaded Heaven.

That’s what she’s been named by her creator, Lindsey Hamlin of Simply Salvage. who tirelessly worked to create a perfect replica of my vision.  She hand painted and strung over 4,000 beads (twice the amount that we originally estimated.)  Lindsey dealt with my incessant questions about parts, colors and finishes.  She made this baby with love, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. 

Beaded Heaven is on her way home to Virginia as we speak.  I know a three year old who is anxiously awaiting her arrival.

08.25.11

Spell it Out.

It all started with a plan. 
Slowly but surely, things are moving along in Lou’s room. Last weekend I finally made some of her pillows.

I just used iron-on transfer paper from Michael’s.  I am thinking of having them stitched on to make them more durable.

 I also finally ordered two of these sconces for either side of her bed.
And, I am expecting her new chandelier to arrive by the end of the week.  
I am giddy thinking about that chandelier in her room.  I will be sure to share pictures as soon as I get it hung!

08.17.11

A New Light.

Remember this post about the chandelier in Lou’s room? Well, it’s coming along.
However, it is taking a lot more time and parts than expected…. Beleive it or not, this is 2,200 beads.
So…. we had to order more beads. After they are painted and strung, this baby will be coming home to Virginia.

08.03.11

A Big Boy Room.

When my friend, Kristin Mika of Hampton Paper Designs asked me to help her with her son Thomas’ room in their new house, of course I jumped at the chance.  Kristin and her family had just moved to a new home, and she wanted to make sure that this was a room that eight year old Thomas could grow into.  Here are some pics of his room today.  I swear, this is bigger than my bedroom!

Kristin’s style is very simple, and classic-  much like her products.  So I wanted to make sure that the room would make both her and Thomas happy.  Thomas’ favorite color is orange, and we wanted to incorporate as much of the current furnishings as possible, there is currently a lot of navy– which will work perfectly with the pops of orange.  Here is the design I came up with:

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I suggested painting the walls a crisp white and adding crown moulding, a chair rail three quarters of the way up the wall, and striped wallpaper above the chair rail.  (A great way to get the same effect, but using much less wallpaper  Although, this wallpaper is a steal!)  Because this room is so much bigger than his old room, we will need to add more furniture- perfect for toy storage.   The fans are a great alternative to Matthew’s Duplo Dinamico.  I have two of these in my family room, and I love them!
I can’t wait to see the progress Kristin makes on Thomas’ room.  I will be sure to send you the completed project.