Annual "Chari-Tea" in Colleyville

My friend Mary Howe and I decided to go to the annual "Chari Tea" in Colleyville this year. We are both business owners and thought this would be a great way to show our support to the community as well as support a local charity. It was a really fun time because we both work together in the same industry. Mary is an incredible artist and inspires me to be better at what I do.

This "Chari Tea" sponsored Student's Standing Strong which is an amazing organization that both our kids are involved in. Each week they meet in the public school and the kids encourage each other in their faith. All students need this kind of encouragement. All donations from this luncheon went to Student's Standing Strong. Terry Ann Kelly is the founder of the organization and I was privileged enough to sit at her table. They raised $3,600 and presented it to her. What an amazing blessing.
Each table was sponsored by different organizations that sponsored the event. They were decorated beautifully. I gave away a fun door prize so I hope the person that one it enjoys it. Here are a few examples of how the room looked. There were 250 beautiful women there.

The money table was a great idea.

To end it all up, Mary and I both won door prizes which was awesome! Mary got a 4 week boot camp session and I won a gift certificate to "Rembrandt" a local florist with some amazing bath salts and body lotions. Just in time for my "spa" trip to Phoenix, AZ.

It was great fun to hear about some local businesses and find out how to support them. Networking, that's what it is all about in these economic times. We will both be sponsoring a table next year!

Inspired, Organized, Refreshed and Brilliant

You remember my client that had her family come up with a word each to describe how they wanted their "newly decorated" home to look. Well here are the before and after pictures! This couple contemplated moving and then decided that they wanted to make their current home comfortable and cozy and enjoy where they are now. I loved working with this family so much. I presented a vision to them with slides and pictures as well as an "estimated cost." From there we adjusted, tweaked, compromised and agreed that we would do what was absolutely necessary to make this home beautiful on their budget. They left for the day to shop, eat lunch out and much more while my team and I went to work. When we were finished I met them at their front door and let them in. They just stood there for a few minutes and starred - stunned. It was great fun!We chose the things that would make the most impact. Paint, replacing some key furniture pieces, drapes, rattan shades for the windows, rugs & large scale accessories. It worked! Take a look for yourselves! My camera didn't take great pictures because of the lighting (made me decide I need a better digital camera) so bare with me.

BEFORE LIVING

AFTER LIVING

We painted the fireplace surround, added drapes, a new rug, throw pillows, two small ottomans (for when the kids want to watch movies), wall accessories, & replaced the fan. Not a huge fan of fan's but in Texas it's a necessity. A room needs to be beautiful AND functional.

We also replaced the chair! Check it out, isn't it awesome. It's comfortable too. Thank you Victor from "Victor's Upholstery" for making me two wonderful round ottoman's to go with it!

The rug is really fun too. It's the lighter version of these two below. With the wood floors being light wood I didn't want to have a rug that was too busy or too dark. The lighter the rug the bigger the room looks - especially if you have dark furniture.
Here's a close up of the coffee table top too. Notice how nicely it goes with the round metal medallions I hung on the wall.

It's all in the details.

BEFORE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER.

AFTER ENTERTAINMENT CENTER

We eliminated all the clutter. We created a nice work area in the master bedroom, instead of out in the living room. This gives my client a quiet work area away from the busy family area.

ENTRY
We couldn't cover up the air conditioning vent with a heavy piece of furniture so we used a console table that was open at the bottom. It also helped visually because the entry is really small. A big piece of furniture would have closed up the space and made it feel SMALLER. I'm going to suggest that the client paint the vent the red color that is in the entryway so it hides it. Adding a nice live fern would be nice here too. My client found this old mirror and I painted it for her to update it. The items on each side of the red platter are actually pieces of drift wood. I thought that would be a nice added touch instead of the typical candle display.

BEFORE KITCHEN EATING AREA (not all the kitchen pictures can be shown. The lighting made some of the come out blurry).

We had the kitchen painted a nice soft khaki color. Really made the crown molding stand out.

AFTER
I found an old shutter and hung a wooden medallion on the center of it to give it some interest. I think it turned out great. Love the rustic feel it adds. I had the island painted with this same finish to tie the two together.

My client's came back from being gone all day and walked in with a case of wine to add to the above wine rack.

Mary with Divine Inspirations painted the backslash. It was originally silver and she created a nice aged look so it now blends in with the existing back splash. Before it just look so unfinished and cold. Thank you Mary for making it just like the picture I gave you!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE MASTER BEDROOM

AFTER MASTER

We had the headboard wall and the foot board wall painted the same "mocha" color and then we added a sage green on the side walls. The painting above the bed brings those colors together. the mirrors behind the lamps are distressed metal and add a casual feel to the room. The lamps they had before were totally off scale. We used the client's existing bedding and added Euro shams and some throw pillows. I did keep in mind that the client may want to change out her bedspread in the near future and chose colors that would allow her to chose whatever she loved. Dark colors like chocolate brown work with just about everything. This room now feels like a hotel suite!

Overall I hope my client was INSPIRED, feels ORGANIZED & REFRESHED. I loved working with them and feel like it turned out BRILLIANT!

Also wanted to congratulate my client for the new movie she is in. "Pearl" Produced by the Chickasaw Nation, “Pearl” focuses on the tumultuous teen years of the late Pearl Carter Scott, a Chickasaw girl from Oklahoma who is well known as the youngest licensed pilot in America.

Make sure and go see it when it comes out!

"Use what you have" for Easter Decor

I'm not too crazy about decorating for EVERY holiday. However, I do like to do something each season for my formal dining room table. Even if I don't decorate anything else in the house, I will do something that says something about our family during that month. Easter is my FAVORITE time to decorate our table.. It not only symbolizes so much in our family but the colors represented are so simple and basic (White, yellow, lilac). These are colors that I don't usually use but when I do they are so refreshing and speak to me softly.

We are having all of our family over for Easter Sunday so I've been preparing for them to be here. Below is a photo of what I did today "using what I had". I usually have this tray with the candelabra on the table. I added the gold sheer runner, added the crosses (most of us have a cross somewhere), added two Easter Lillies and hung a plaque I just got from a friend on the candelabra. I thought it looked very soft and peaceful.

Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness. ~Floyd W. Tomkins
Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time. ~Martin Luther
Remember HE HAS RISEN!!!
Angels rolled the stone away From the tomb wherein He lay!
Little children, come and sing,"Glory, glory to the King, Christ the Lord of everything!"

Bragging Rights

I wanted to share with you what my daughter's made me for my b-day. I've always told them that the best gifts are the ones that they create. Well....my oldest made me this cute pillow with my initial sewn on it. I will treasure it forever!
My youngest drew my this picture of a Beagle and I thought it was very cute. The other night I rescued a Beagle and took it back to it's owner so she thought I'd want a picture of that memory. She's taking art next year in 6th grade so she's made a great start. I'll be framing this one and putting the date on it.
I feel very blessed that they are so creative. It's fun to be able to share in this love of art. Great to have companions to do the things we are most passionate about.
Counting my blessings today as a mother!