Decorating Details & Piano Room

 

Yesterday I had a full day install for an entire home. We recently remodeled the home and yesterday was the detail day where we rehung pictures, placed new rugs, added some accessories, hung draperies and headboards, etc.  I always incorporate what the client has during my installs because most of the time they have items I can definitely re-purpose or include to make the entire space feel collected over time vs. all brand new and "showroom" like. 

 

 

Here are a few snapshots I took of the day.  More professional photographs coming soon! 

Thought you might enjoy looking into what we did yesterday!  The best part of the day is that I hired my niece Jess to help me.  My Intern Audra is on vacation and I needed help!   Spending the day with her was awesome.  She was my right hand girl all day and did an amazing job! 

 

 

We used the existing bedspread and added the headboard, duvet and throw pillows.

I was so happy with the way it all coordinated together!  Can you believe we bought the pillows separately? The set didn't come together but they sure look that way.  Purchasing the duvet cover online was much cheaper than having a custom one made.  It was a great way to save money so we could have gorgeous mercury lamps!  The duvet cover is from Pottery Barn.

 

A lot of times after a remodel, the client isn't able to afford all the decorating details because their funds have been depleted. However, this is what makes the home complete. It's the décor that makes it all come together! I know it gets incredibly expensive to redecorate but I LOVE to "use what the client has" and add in my touch if budget is something the client is concerned about. 

I move rugs from room to room, steal lampshades from different lamps in the house, rummage through closets & cabinets (with the clients permission of course) and sometimes have furniture repainted ahead of time. It's a fun shopping day for me!

 

Showcases the granite and backsplash.  The newly installed LED lights really make the details shine!

 

 

I brought out some of their china and showed them how they can mix and match pieces to create a more eclectic look.

 

 

This tray was in her living room but it belongs in the kitchen. 

 

 

I added this beautiful bowl to their china cabinet.

 

New parsons chairs and a rug were added to the dining room so now it's less "matchy matchy".  We also added new hardware to her existing china cabinet.

 

New pillows were added to her existing suede couch in her piano room.  Now it looks sophisticated and classy.  This is the waiting room for her piano students that come through her home all day long.

 

New rug in the piano room to warm up the space and add texture and color.   It also coordinates with the adjacent dining room.

 

 

Hope you enjoyed!  Now off to unload my car with all the leftovers from yesterday!  On to another install on Tuesday!  Stay tuned!

 

Visit my website DecRenew Interiors to see my Design Portfolio!

American Flags Amongst Us

I've been going down memory lane this week looking at photo's of my kids when they were little.  I'm taking all our family pictures and making them into a bound photo book.  Of course once you start looking at photos you get lost in time and before you know it, it's time for the next meal. 

Here are a few from past 4th of July events, etc.  My girls were such cuties.

I'm framing this one! 

Snow cones before our neighborhood bike parade!

All set to go with our 4th of July shirts!

We were younger and skinnier back then :(

Great memories.  Our neighborhood did this every year.  Wagons, bicycles, etc. all decked out with the fire department in the lead.  The girls use to look forward to it every year.

I've been saving these images of American flags that captivated me!  Thought I'd share some of them with you.

Flag against the full sun

against the sunrise

against the sunset

under water

in the snow

in the wind

 on top of mountains

in the desert

on the beach

against the sky

in space

amongst Oklahoma Tornado rubble

on a sailboat

on back of a boat

with wildflowers

 at the lake 

 on rocks

on glass

with nature

in the classroom

on a lawn

 with palm trees

on bridge

 on the road

  on a farm

on the side of a building

on a face

on a cat (wow)

on shoes and graffiti

on a body

with our troops

in memory of.......

Happy 4th of July let the flags fly high this weekend!

Visit my website to see my Design portfolio

DecRenew Interiors

Good Old Fashioned Summer Fun

 

I LOVE summer, mainly because it is filled with fun outdoor activities with the kids.  Our family loves good old fashioned fun!  Time at the park, in the pool, on the lake, camping, etc. 

Here is a glimpse into our first 2 weeks of summer.

Jumping off the top deck of the party barge.

 

 

 

Great catch.  All in the freezer, ready for the fish fry once it gets cooler.

 

Soaking up the sun in my pool!

 

 

 

Tubing with friends.

 

Rides to the park on scooters that Oppa fixed up for them!

 

 

Amazing sunsets and gorgeous sailboats.

 

Water Volleyball games in the pool with the family.  Makes it kind of hard with the 4 of us but it can be done.  I will need a pedicure after a few games though.

 

Hope you are taking time to enjoy the summer when you can.  I so enjoy hearing the kids voices here at home while I work.  I also love when they come with me to shop for clients or just run errands.

 

The sink is full of dishes, and the fridge seem to empty out faster than ever.  Breakfasts are cooking later than usual and sometimes I even get to give them my request :) In the middle of the day I might smell brownies cooking and loud music coming from the kitchen while the dishes are being washed. The smoothie machine is constantly making new concoctions while the girls enjoy laying out by the pool with friends.

 

 

The house is constantly loud and full of friends and guests.  It seems like I'm running here, there and everywhere giving the girls rides to all their activities & babysitting jobs.  In the middle of that I have clients to visit and jobs to supervise.    The crazy part is that I LOVE it. 

 These days will be gone soon and I'm so glad I can enjoy their time off for summer, it's my favorite time of year. 

 

Crazy girls....Found as my screen saver on my phone!

 

Counting my blessings in the chaos of summer!  Hoping to teach the girls to take time to "chill out" as well.  I love when I see them laying on the couch or hammock out back with a good book and just enjoying being home.

 

  What are you doing with the kids this summer?  Hope you find time to stop the rat race and enjoy some good old fashioned summer fun!

 

Visit my website, DecRenew Interiors to see my Design Portfolio.

 

 



Hooked on Monkey Hooks

Do you have trouble hanging pictures?  Are you not handy with a hammer? You may have already been using these little gadgets but if you haven't, let me introduce Monkey Hooks to you.  They can be found at any home improvement store.

 

 

 

I use these when I'm doing my installs to hang pictures and all sorts of things. 

 

 

They are EASY to use and come in different sizes for different weights. 

 

Watch this Youtube video to see how they work! 

 

Just wanted to let you in on a designer secret!  Go hang some pictures!

 

Visit my website at DecRenew Interiors to see my design portfolio.



Are you a fan of painted furniture?

Thought you might want to see this wonderful secretary transformed into a beautiful new & updated piece.  Painted  SW Rembrandt Ruby it is now a gorgeous piece that will look amazing in my clients piano room.  As you can see, it was dated and need to either be donated or renewed.  You know that if I see a good piece with great bones, I usually recommend keeping it and revamping it.  That's what we did here and it turned out beautifully.  Professionally painted inside and out! 

This china cabinet was beautiful but felt so formal and all the pieces matched in the room making it even more formal!  My client really wanted a more relaxed feeling in her dining room.  We had it custom painted in this wonderful soft gray and it transformed the piece.  The antique blue china is now showcased and it wasn't really noticed in the room before.

 I just loved her blue antique china!

BEFORE

This mantel looked so formal and stark. The family that lives in this house is not formal and wanted a more relaxed feel without totally redoing their mantel ($$$$)

AFTER

Painting the entire mantel and the surround, including the trim, made it look more masculine and smart!  Works beautifully with the new furniture we placed in this room.

 

Mixing masculine and feminine pieces is one of my trademarks.

 BEFORE

This formal dining room furniture was painted (the chairs) and moved to the formal living area.  We painted this red room and made it an office so she could meet with clients when she needed to downstairs (see after below).  Now she uses every square inch of her home.    Who uses formal living rooms anyway?

AFTER

(previously the dining room - see above)  We moved the chandelier from her entry into her new office and it worked beautifully.

This is her new dining room (use to be formal living room).  We painted her chairs and mixed it up a little by adding parson chairs.  She wanted an eclectic mix which is more her style.

Ruthie Tip:  When you have picture frame molding in a room it is hard to know how to hang pictures.  My suggestion is to ignore the molding and hang large scale artwork, or in this case a mirror, and it makes it work.  Eliminate a bunch of things hanging in each section, this makes it look crowded and cluttered (see below before)  Keep it simple and tailored.

BEFORE

AFTER

Fresh and new without having to get rid of the family table that got passed down to them.

Are you a fan of painted furniture?

I definitely am!  However, I do think that you can go overboard.   You don't want every piece in your home to be a bright bold color or all the same color.  Keep if fresh by having a few painted items and mixing them with antiques and other finishes.  This will keep it from looking too "trendy" and your home won't have to be "updated" every few years.  You don't want too much of a good thing!

My friend Christian at Noteworthy Home is doing an amazing job locally with transforming old pieces into NEW gorgeous works of art!  Check out some of their cool pieces!

My friend Jennifer in Kansas at The Magic Brush is another company that is so creative!  Her blog is filled ideas and inspiration.

Visit DecRenew Interiors to see my design portfolio.

If you haven't read Traditional Home's "Great Kitchens" Special Edition, it's really awesome.  I'm featured on page 42 Traditional Home.