For your shopping pleasure

My resolution this year was to blog more... apparently that didn't stick, but I am trying to consciously make time to do things that will expand my business and its offerings.  Sometimes looking at the big picture is overwhelming and the task can seem so far off, but if you break it up into little accomplishments you'll find reward along the way. 

Last night it popped into my head, why don't I have a collection of items that I love for sale on  my site?  It's a great way to show clients the types of pieces that can be procured for them through our trade resources when using my services. 

So here it is part one of our #shopinyourundies section of the website.  A small selection of rugs, artwork, furniture, accessories and lighting.  Pricing, product details and lead times will be added soon.  For now, I'll check this off the list as progress.

-Amber

Pt. 2 Commercial Restroom Renovation

Our Middletown restroom renovations were completed last month and its amazing to see what a little paint and new finishes can do.  The building tenants are very pleased and are already asking when the second floor will be converted.  

We replaced the powder blue wall paper with a clean palette of Sherwin Williams Repose Gray for all the interior walls.  Black Fox was used as an accent on custom wood build outs and also to refinish the main entry doors.  

Women's Restroom Before and After

 We dressed up the vanity in the women's room by creating a soffit with 4" recessed cans in the same SW Black Fox paint.  (Light bulb was still needing to be replaced in this photo so its actually brighter that shown) 

 Updated Details: new polished chrome fixtures,  a solid surface countertop (LG Hi-Macs Cotton Dust) with under mounted sinks & simple framing added to the existing mirrors.

 

Before & After

Goodbye outdated wood & wallpaper!

Metal partitions that were almost falling over, were replaced with custom wood stalls for a higher end look.

The final touch will be to add this New England ocean scene to the long wall the mens restroom. 

- Amber

Stop and Smell the Lilacs

Spring finally arrived this week.  Cherry trees, dogwoods and lilacs are blooming in my neighborhood.  My absolute favorite flower smell is lilacs, we had them growing up in the front of our house in all colors and to me, this smell is spring.  I have one bush and my neighbor has a few that happen to fall over the fence into our yard.  I don't think she minds that every year I trim off her tree a bit!

Even spooky likes to smell the Lilacs.

  

 What's your favorite smell of spring?

Words to Live By

Commercial Restroom Renovation

We're just a few short days away from completing two restroom remodels in a commercial building near Newport.  Design plans were pulled together before the holidays and after a few months of scheduling and reviews the client was finally ready to pull the trigger.  These old restrooms were in pretty dated shape.  They sit on the first floor of a shared office building that's home to a financial group, doctors offices, psychologists, boating and marine offices, a sushi restaurant and even a coffee place.   It's a great "U" shaped building that really needed some help in updating its facilities for the tenants.  Here are a few before images:

Its hard to tell in pictures, but the wallpaper is a blue haze that's held up well, but needed a color replacement.  The stalls are in such rough shape, a small windstorm could blow them down.  For our updates, we have an amazing crew of contractors that removed everything so we can start from scratch.  They've built out custom partitions made of strong maple that will be painted in a Sherwin Willams Black Fox semi gloss for durability.  The walls will be done in a complimentary light gray to oppose the dark partitions.  New Corian countertops will dress up the dated laminate sink and in the womens bathroom, a soffit will create a focal point at the vanity.

 

 

Just a few more days and we'll have our finished product.

-  Amber 

If you have a commercial space that needs updating, contact me.  Complimentary consultations are a great way to get the ideas flowing and to asses the potential within your space. 

Creating An Outdoor Room

Its never to early to start planning your outdoor space.  Spring is just around the corner even if it doesn't feel like it.  If your anything like us, we live in our backyard once the weather breaks.  If you spend as much time outside as we do, why not make that extension of your home really feel like one by creating an outdoor living room feel.

Shopping for your outdoor space is a great weekend project and is a great bonding time for a couple or even two roommates. There's something for everyone in building an outdoor space.  You may enjoy finding the perfect outdoor pillows,  but maybe your partner is into the decorative outdoor lighting.  Pulling together a look can be accomplished in four easy steps. 

1.  Agree on an overall look and stick to it.  If you have a inspiration you photo found in a magazine, study the colors and elements you most love about the image.  From there, you can replicate those pieces to create your own version.  If you know you really want to make a Trina Turk feel with oranges and blues, find an example of that color scheme and let that guide you as your shopping. 

2.  Build a base.  You need furniture to sit on right?   You don't have to purchase all new furniture to create a new look.  If last year's furniture is in good shape build upon that.  In my case, I built pallet furniture last year and it was a big hit. When making an investment in outdoor furniture, puck items that are comfortable, durable and versatile.  The accents you add in will be the elements you can change year after year to get a fresh look.  Before you add in the fun, make sure you have these basics: a good umbrella, a table and chairs for dining and playing cards, lounge chairs or sofas for relaxing, a cocktail or end table for drinks, a fold down or mobile table for quick bar service and serving apps.

3.  Add in the style!  Start with one piece you love and let that steer all other choices.  Whatever you find first typically determines this in many cases.  You can find excellent outdoor pillows at Homegoods with style and character.  Add an outdoor rug if you have a patio.  Add a ceramic stool in your accent color for an extra seat or drink table when needed.  Find an additional set of pillows in an opposite but coordinating color/pattern.  Oversize floor pillows are great for grass lounging and travel well to picnics.  Find a drink bucket in a bright color to keep beverages cold at parties. The container could also hold towels off duty if you have a pool.  Another great way to update old items: add a coat of spray paint. 

4. Fill in the accents for that lifestyle "lived in" feel.  Add plants of various size and texture, add hurricane vases and lanterns for candles at night.  Garden objects, sculptures of you liking and maybe even a wind chime.  If your theme is nautical, find a large clam shell for your cocktail table and fill it with succulents.  Add objects of interest like old buoys hanging on the fence or place found driftwood along a garden boarder.

Don't get discouraged if you don't find everything all at once.  The fun thing about design is that it accumulates over time and is perfected.  Keep your eyes open for inspiration wherever you go.  In the end, you'll have a space your family and friends can enjoy all summer long.

- Amber


For help sourcing any specific items shown, contact me.

Is my Design Palette Changing?

They say every seven years your body goes through a major change.  In similar aspects, I'm thinking my design palette has been changing lately.  Is it a seven year change?  Perhaps, but difficult to determine.  I recently picked up these amazing Drexel Heritage lamps from Homegoods.  For some reason they jumped out to me and after a few trips, they had to go in the cart.

I've never been a big ginger jar fan, I've never thought of myself as traditional in style and these blue and white jars are just something I've always associated with that category. I'd like to think of this change as not just a coincidence - ginger jars are featured on the cover for this month's Traditional Home - but because I'm developing a deeper appreciation for design styles.

 

April 2014 Traditional Home

April 2014 Traditional Home

 Designer Julia Kleyman for Designer Showhouse of New Jersey.

Maybe my inner designer has started forecasting trends for me and I didn't even know it!
 

Regardless, I'm happy with my purchase.  This pair of lamps may soon knock the socks off of an all white airy room perched nicely behind a slip covered sofa.  They may become the anchor piece on a dining room sideboard for a future client, or maybe they'll just stay with me.  That's the fun part, I"ll have to wait and see where they want to go.  

- Amber