Three Sixteen Photography and Pure Style Home

Baby Zachary Martin
I received this baby announcement in the mail today from one of my favorite client's.  We have redone 3 of her homes and I so enjoy working with her.  The last time I saw her she was very pregnant and we prepared her house for the arrival of their first baby!  I'm crazy about the "all natural" elements used in this photo.  Isn't the photo above the most adorable one you have ever seen?
Back of Announcement
Congratulations Nick and Debbie, he is a precious little precious.
Thank you for keeping your promise by sending this beautiful announcement to me.
Debbie used Three Sixteen Photography for this photo shoot and I think her work is incredible!  When it's your first baby, you are very selective in choosing the best photographer to capture your little gem's personality.  Check out Amber Sustala's gorgeous website, it is delightful.
Today I also read a post from Pure Style Home and Lauren writes about how to make homemade baby puree.  I love Lauren's way of blogging, she is such a great mom and designer and her voice comes through her writing.  It's hard to read all the design blogs out there because there are so many but Lauren always captivates me because she is so "real" about life!  I thought her blog entry went hand in hand with the baby announcement I received today.
Ruthie

Colorado cabin by the lake

Priest Lake - Telluride, CO
Photos by Ruthie Staalsen
We just got back from our family vacation in Colorado.  It was fantastic to get away and be a part of nature while enjoying family! 
We set out with my husband's 3 brother's and their families to embark on this wonderful adventure with those we love!  Nothing like spending time together in COOL weather.   We are blessed that we all get along (most of the time) and can give our kids memories with their cousins.
On one of our drives in the mountains we came across the above lake (Priest Lake) and it was so incredibly breathtaking!!! 
You can't describe what it looks like in person.  It's almost as if your eyes are seeing things.
Of course there were beautiful log cabins tucked in the woods overlooking this AMAZING view.
Imagine how quiet it would be.
My family thought I was nuts when I got out to take pictures of this little dilapidated cabin.  I could picture myself sitting on the front porch drinking my coffee once this place was leveled and my new house was built.  Of course, it looks right over this lake. 
Someone will purchase this property for the lot and have an incredible vacation home.  I imagine a bed and breakfast, one of my "things to do" in life!
This is the view from the cabin.  Seriously tempting for $285,000.  Close to the amazing ski town of Telluride.
This bridge was just a short hike or drive away from the cabin.
Wildflowers blooming everywhere.
My girls picked some for me and yes I put them in a disposable cup and enjoyed them all week.  Life is about the simple things, especially when you are in an RV for 10 days!
Always good to go on vacation and enjoy the beauty God has given us.
 
Priest Lake Trail  in winter - Telluride, CO
Always great to come back home even if it is 108 degrees here in Dallas.
  Home is the greatest place on earth!
Ruthie

We all need a getaway retreat!

I'm putting together a "getaway retreat" for one of my client's.  We woman love a place where we can curl up and have some time to ourselves with no interruptions and no noise!  I find it so important that the place I "retreat" to is comfortable, beautiful and has the right lighting to put me in a relaxed mood.
I'm going to create just that for my wonderful client. 
The above pillows are my inspiration for this room that overlooks her wonderful veranda with a pool!
  I love the crystal tassels in each corner.  So elegant and charming.
Here are some of the accessory items that I've been collecting over the last few weeks.

Set of 4
Aren't they pretty?
Love that these floral botanicals are on a burlap canvas.
Rustic charm.
What spot in your home do you get away to retreat?
Just a sneak peak, I'll post the final reveal pictures of this "getaway retreat" when I'm all finished with the room in a few weeks.
Ruthie

Charming updates to dining and living room

I just finished a client's dining room and living room this week and was really excited with the outcome.
My client wanted to do some updates without having to replace all her furniture.  In the dining room above, we took the large hutch off the buffet, added the incredible carved wood mirror and flanked each side of the buffet with these beautiful lamps. I fell in love with the lampshades because they are the same color as the living room which flows off this dining room.   

She had wooden chairs that went with the dining room table and were really dated so we got rid of those and added these wonderful gray parson chairs. It really made this room much more stylish.

We were able to use the furniture that means something to them and has been passed down from a family member.  Looks totally different when you add updated and grand items to the grouping.  As you know, I'm a real fan of "using what you have"

The drapery panels really made the room look finished and added height, color and my client's classy personality to the room.
BEFORE
You remember me posting about this room and you saw the before and after when we finished painting.  I've got pictures now of all the updates we did with accessories, etc.
The main problem with this space is that it lacked personality and the room felt stiff and formal.  Being that it's the first room you see when you walk in, my client didn't want that impression because they aren't stiff, formal people.  All the items were also off scale for this room too. 
You can see the dining chairs I spoke about earlier in the above photo.
AFTER
My goal was to make this room much more alive, colorful and casual.
We took down the home made draperies and added plantation shutters.  Now you can really see the beautiful pool outside which is the main focal point in this room.  No draperies are needed!!!!  We painted the walls this amazing blue and it compliments the pool perfectly, making the backyard area part of this room.   The crown molding was painted in this stately slate color as well as the columns.  It really made the space look so much more elegant and added pizzazz.  We added a rug, new ottoman, pillows, console table with blown glass accessories and brought the floor lamp in from another room. We kept the client's existing artwork to save us money.  Notice how we put the tree in a taller urn, it raised it up and made it more to scale for the room.
BEFORE

Very stiff and not much color.
AFTER
Added a variety of pillows to the couch which gives it an eclectic mix and makes the room so much more inviting, relaxed and so much less formal.
This wonderful lamp with the hanging crystals was one of my favorite accessories in the room.
I love throw pillows!  Especially in a room where the couch isn't used "daily."  You have to be practical about pillows and don't want them to interfere with every day use of the furniture. 
So much better don't you think?  You can see the beautiful wall color in this photo.
Love that this ottoman has a different fabric and color than the chair, giving an eclectic flair to the room.  It totally works in this room because it pulls out the color of the walls as well as the color in the rug.  Everything is now so much less "matchy matchy"
We added a glaze to the columns and that really made them stunning!  The first thing you see when you walk into their home.
BEFORE
AFTER
We didn't miss anything.  Niches can add so much to the end of a hallway if they are cared about.
We are going to add some green moss to this urn to finish it off.
Participating in Metamorphis Monday at betweennapsontheporch
Ruthie
 

Before & After; fresh updates to a bathroom

BEFORE
As you all know, my favorite thing to do as a decorator is a "walk-thru" consultation where I give my client's ideas and suggestions for their home.  Sometimes it's because they are wanting to sell their home, other times they want to do the work themselves and need inspiration to get started!  
I did just that with a client a while back and she just sent me her photo's so I could see the changes that took place to their guest bathroom.
AFTER
Wow, what a difference!  It's so classy!
This bathroom was changed up with small things....mostly labor and color!
I suggested they do the following:

  • Paint the walls a chocolate brown
  • Take out the one big mirror and replace it with two oval mirrors
  • Paint the cabinets an "espresso" color to make them look more expensive
  • Replace light fixture with one fixture above each mirror
  • Add hardware to the cabinets
BEFORE
AFTER
The cabinetry looks so much better now that it has a warm chocolate backdrop!
Thanks Jennifer for sending me these photo's.  I love to see what my client's do with the ideas that I give them! 
My job is so rewarding when I see people making their houses their homes!
Ruthie