Honey, I’m Home (Crashing)
Yup, we’re house crashing again- and this time we’re invading the home of a local celebrity of sorts. Lesley is the owner of Clementine, an über cool consignment shop in ever-popular Carytown (a street chock full of unique shops and eateries here in Richmond). And she and her husband Jeff graciously allowed us to snoop around their home and shoot some photos to share with you. Without further ado, their beautiful home.
From the moment we arrived, the yellow door with hand painted house numbers caught our attention. Lesley just printed out the numbers and transfered them onto the door with a pencil rubbing and tracing technique, painted them there with a thin brush, and viola- hand painted house numbers.
Once inside their 1940s home, you’re immediately struck by all the charming details - both inherent in the architecture and added by Lesley and Jeff’s eclectic decor. Here’s their calm blue living room accented with fun pops of color with a french door that leads to a sweet little screened-in sun porch (but more on that later).
A staircase off of the living room leads you upstairs to the attic which the couple finished themselves, thus turning a would-be storage space into an awesome office (complete with a lounge area and full bathroom). We love the dark beams that Jeff intentionally left exposed throughout the space, their serene and simple second bathroom (again, more on that later) and their quirky art collection. One of our favorite things about Lesley’s design sense was her ability to mix vintage art (snagged at thrift stores, estate sales, etc) and display it in unexpected spaces - like a small corner of the attic - without ever feeling cramped.
The vintage details and quirky accessories continued downstairs in the kitchen too, where their original tile countertop is still in great condition. We loved the charm of the wall-mounted faucet and the buddha head to watch over you as you do dishes.
Lesley and Jeff also proved that modest bathrooms can still feel light and airy. Their first-floor bathroom (below, left) features original tile on the floor and walls (subway tile = score) and bore an uncanny resemblance to our own master bath. Although, I must say, we’re severely lacking in the whimsical white deer head department.
The new bathroom in the attic (below, right) is just as charming as the vintage one downstairs, complete with white wainscoting and warm wood floors that extend out into the office space to keep everything feeling seamless. They’re still finishing the upstairs shower (which promises to be large and unbelievably awesome) but we took inspiration from something that’s easier to make our own: an open linen closet (which has now added a new bathroom project to our list). Stay tuned for that in a week or two.
In the master bedroom, Lesley and Jeff’s amazing color sense and original art collection are again on display. We were constantly impressed by their ability to use unexpected and intricate color combinations with finesse and style. We’re often not brave enough to try bold color schemes like this, but Lesley proves they can totally work. We also like how the monogrammed pillows and sleek wall-mounted lamps keep everything feeling super inviting.
Here are a few more examples of their playful collection of accessories. How cool is this arrangement of old serving trays-turned-art hung above an estate sale chair in the guest bedroom? And their bookcase in the dining room holds everything from the traditional (servingware, books, candles) to the unusual (a skull found in the middle of the desert).
And last but not least - we bring you the aforementioned screened in sun porch. In fact, this room- and the floor specifically- was the original reason for our visit. We heard about Lesley’s amazing stenciled concrete floor and needed to see it for ourselves. The stencils are from Sunny’s Goodtime Paint, a local paint store that’s starting to get national attention (check this month’s Domino). Lesley chose this fun repeating medallion and spaced it by eye for a punch of pattern. It looks amazing. And we may just pick up a stencil of our own and try our hand at stenciling our sunroom.
Thanks to Lesley and Jeff for letting us trapse through their home camera in hand. We walked away with tons of inspiration (linen closet, stenciled floor) but we wanna know what you took away from the tour. Feel free to sound off about your favorite details.
Emily’s Design Dilemma
Emily wrote to us in search of a sophisticated coastal look for her open living and dining room. Here’s her letter:
What a great idea to provide this service! I’m looking to makeover my living/dining room and I’d like a traditional look that’s not too matchy-matchy. We also live near the ocean so that would be a great element to bring in. With a child and a dog, we’re big on balance between casual and sophisticated and I really love the look of William’s Sonoma Home and Pottery Barn if that helps. As for what must stay, the couch and the dining room table and chairs are keepers as well as the tv (but not the stand). When it comes to the wall color, I like the current neutral color in the living room but am open to a new color in the dining room. Please excuse the ridiculous mess- we have a 19 month old and my husband didn’t realize he should tidy up before taking pictures. I look forward to seeing your ideas. - Emily
Well, Emily’s 1880’s house definitely has some fantastic features (those windows! those original pine floors!) along with its fair share of design challenges (the layout and the modest sized rooms) but we think her place is positively bursting with potential. Without further ado, our moodboard:
1. We love Emily’s current wall colors, but thought that the space would feel more open and airy with a paler color on those dining room walls above the wainscoting. A soft, beachy gray-blue (like Glidden’s Gentle Tide) would make everything feel bigger and lighter, and would work seamlessly with the current neutral tan in the living room. The rest of our color palate above reflects the dark wood furnishings that will add sophistication and elegance to the space, while the darker gray-blue is an accent color that we’ll introduce sparingly for depth, dimension, and to keep everything from looking too matchy-matchy.
2. This new 5×8 rug will help to swank up the living room and define the seating area while hammering home our new coastal color scheme. Even the woven, natural texture is reminiscent of the beach, and the subtle pattern will keep things sophisticated. The bigger size will also allow the front legs of the sectional to rest on the rug (along with the chair) to tie the conversation area together and make the whole seating area appear bigger.
3. Emily’s current side table seems to be working for her, so instead of switching it out for a similar piece, we thought we’d suggest a chic (& cheap) table lamp to dress it up and inject some sophisticated brushed nickel into the space. Similar lights from Restoration Hardware and William’s Sonoma Home are about five times the price. Such a deal.
4. We couldn’t help but envision a capiz shell chandelier in the dining room as soon as Emily mentioned the word coastal. The shiny circular shells will instantly create an elegant ambiance and inject a calm sense of the sea- and they even sound like a restful wind chime when they catch a breeze. Plus, you just can’t beat the price for this elegant stunner.
5. We actually love Emily’s current coffee table (its circular shape works really well with the layout), but we worry that it looks heavy paired with the large brown sectional. So we found this pretty affordable substitute with a round of glass in the middle to open things up and keep light bouncing around the room. If such a similar replacement seems silly, Emily could simply put a large white bowl full of shells (or even nautical balls of twine) in the center of her current coffee table to cut all the wood and visually open up the center of the table just as a round of glass would do. A round mirror or a circular silver platter would also do the same thing. Oh the possibilities…
6. Pillows can make all the difference, and we think a bunch of pale blue ones along with some tan and blue striped ones will add sophistication and further establish our new color scheme. Adding two more of the striped pillows to the chairs flanking the hutch in the newly painted dining area will also tie our whole scheme together and visually link the living room and the dining room for a true sense of cohesion and balance.
7. A super easy trick to break up all the wood in Emily’s dining area is to add a light stripe of fabric in the form of a runner. I takes about a second and the difference is pretty dramatic. All of a sudden the space feels less heavy and more “designed”. And we think this tan runner from Target (for only $12.99!) would nicely introduce the living room wall color into the dining space while the pattern keeps things looking fresh. For a more traditional look, Emily could also go with a simple tan colored linen runner as well.
8. Sure, some shells and the color blue can evoke a coastal feeling, but another aspect of coastal design is all the rich natural texture. Which is why we thought these woven roman shades would allow all sorts of light into the room while adding the perfect dash of textured sophistication. Oh and they’re on sale- gotta love that.
9. We also think another object that will dramatically change the look of this space is this sophisticated new tv stand. It wasn’t easy to find something narrow enough for the room without sacrificing serious style, but this handsome piece looks like it could totally hail from William’s Sonoma Home (at about one tenth of the price). Of course we brainstormed a new layout to prevent the tv from protruding into the pass-through, but with such small rooms and such a big sectional, the current furniture layout makes the most sense. But replacing that old tv stand with something more elegant should really make things look a lot more intentional and cohesive.
10. And now for our piece de resistance. This amazing Pottery Barn chair (that just happens to be on sale) would serve as the perfect substitute for the old red armchair in the living room. The great thing about the chair is that it looks just as good from the back (which is important since the home’s entryway is right behind it). It’s also much lighter looking than the existing armchair, and will open up the space immensely the second she swaps it out. Now Pottery Barn no longer has this chair in this gorgeous blue color, but they still have them in black and red, and we think a can of spray primer and gray-blue spray paint should do the trick (aim for a color that’s similar to Spruce Tint by Glidden).
So there you have Emily’s sophisticated coastal living & dining room makeover. What do you guys think? Is that Pottery Barn chair not to die for? I love the idea of using it in a living space (in such a chic, unexpected color). Oh and if you have a design dilemma on your hands, click here to score a custom moodboard of your very own.
Stool Pigeons
While perusing one of our favorite reads, we stumbled upon the most breathtaking vintage drafting stools discovered at an LA flea market. Oh how we long to teleport there and snag the last few.
Look how good they look here…
And here…
It’s totally love at first (and second) sight. And I’m making a mental note about the color. A moody gray green would look just as delicious on a side table, the back of a bookcase, or even a concrete floor. Try Glidden’s Mystic Seaport for a similar shade.
It’s Only Natural
You all know by now that we’re in love with our master bedroom. And after much trial-and-error we were convinced that we’d thought of every last thing to make it comfy cozy meets hotel chic. But the other day we looked down and realized there was something missing…
…and thus begun a hunt for the perfect rug.
Fortunately the search ended quickly when we found the most amazing thing (at the most amazing price) courtesy of World Market. In addition to their normal collection of global rugs, they offer a cool customizable option that we haven’t seen anywhere else. It’s basically seagrass rug by the foot. First you choose from three different grass colors (from off-white straw to a honey brown seagrass). Then you chose the length (while the width is a standard 9 feet). See, the rugs come in 9 foot wide strips that are tied together in one long accordion ream, so you just tell the salesperson how long you want your rug to be (and whether you want a 3×9 runner, a 12×9 area rug, or anything in between, they’ll cut it for you on the spot). I know it sounds strange (or like it might fray when they cut it) but the strips are tied together with twine that weaves through the seagrass so it doesn’t disturb the weave of the rug when the twine is cut. And at only $10 per strip (our 6×9 foot version cost us a mere sixty beans!) we challenge you to find a better deal.
But enough chitchat. Here’s what it looks like in our bedroom (you can clearly see the six horizontal rows below, so hopefully the above description is less perplexing with a visual):
We love how it anchors the bedroom and injects that soothing natural element into the room. I will admit it’s no mohair rug underfoot, but the stiff seagrass texture feels kinda spa-ish and akin to a walk around a private hut in Bali as opposed to a walk on the back of a sheep (which is still pretty great). At first when we ran our hands over the rugs in the store we thought they might be a bit rough, but when we laid a strip on the floor and walked on them we realized our hands must be a lot more delicate than the bottoms of our feet because it felt a lot less rough/stiff on our feet. And for the value and flexibility that this type of rug offers, we’re completely sold. Innovative and affordable. Gotta love it. Down the line we could even snip it apart to create two runners or even a few smaller mats for the sunroom, but for now it’s not going anywhere. We’re obsessed with how the subtle diamond pattern works with our geometric West Elm bedspread.
Oh and before you run out the door in search of your own cheap & chic floor covering, it should be noted that you’ll probably find ‘em at the front of the store near the cash register (and not the in the rug section) since a salesperson has to cut the rug to your desired size. We almost missed ‘em ourselves, so we thought we’d pass along that crucial detail. Now go cut a rug.
Tiffany’s Design Dilemma
Tiffany wrote to us in hopes of a kitchen & family room makeover with worldly style and a splash of modern appeal. Here’s her letter:
A friend sent us the link to your blog and we love what you’ve done to your house. Our current dilemma is the family room/kitchen- since it’s one big room, it’s a challenge to make things look cohesive. The family room is long and narrow with only one full wall (where the TV is in the pic) and we’ve had a hard time with window coverings. Should we do curtains or frame the windows and do shades? Can’t decide. We like a worldly look (think Pier 1 and World Market) with a modern twist and we also like some subtle Asian lines. We’d like to keep the table and the red leather chairs in the breakfast nook. The tv also has to stay but we hate the tv stand and have been eying a new one from Crate & Barrel. All of the accent tables, the lamp and the rug can be replaced and those window coverings are yuck and can definitely go. Thanks so much for your help- we’re looking forward to your ideas. - Tiffany
That last photo looks more like an after than a before, so we took it as inspiration for the rest of the space. Introducing lots of worldly texture and adding more splashes of red to keep things cohesive is just what this open floorplan needs. Ladies and gentlemen, our worldly/modern moodboard:
1. New bamboo blinds and subtle zebra striped sheers will add worldy texture to every window- which will definitely work wonders for keeping things consistent while softening the hard looking rectangulars in both spaces.
2. Tiffany’s refreshed color scheme includes the current wall color (a nice sandy neutral) along with some pops of orange and red in the form of accessories and some rich chocolate tones in the furniture to echo the kitchen cabinets.
3. Some graphic pillows (a few with a bold zebra-esque pattern and a few with a global feed-sack inspired feel) will add a dash of modern while breaking up all the brown in the living room sofa and chairs. And some red and white sea coral will introduce a natural dose of texture and chic style.
4. But where to put that coral…? Well, we think the entertainment unit that Tiffany has been coveting from Crate & Barrel is the perfect new home for the tv along and a few punchy accessories (like the aforementioned coral). She worried that it might be too dark since there are already dark cabinets on the other side of the room, but we think it’ll mirror the cabinets nicely (and add some much needed height) to keep the space feeling balanced.
5. A fun modern lamp with super clean lines in a cheerful tangerine color will keep the worldly theme from becoming predictable while garnering its fair share of admiring glances.
6. This classic can’t-go-wrong coffee table will completely lighten and brighten the space (and break up all the neutrals and browns going on). This little black dress of coffee tables will play well with all of Tiffany’s other furniture and look great with some orange and red accessories on display (plus the lacquered finish is brilliantly modern and easy to clean).
7. John never fails to glance over my shoulder and suggest the most amazing things. This time he mumbled something like “ooh, how about some red stools tucked under the kitchen island?”- bingo. We found some great asian inspired seats (Tiffany mentioned that she loves asian lines) and called it good. Nice one honey.
8. A textured jute rug with a subtle diamond pattern will completely transform the seating area and perfectly showcase the glossy new coffee table while echoing the texture in the bamboo blinds. *Designer tip: keep large and reoccurring items neutral (like the couch, the shades, the rug, etc) and add pops of color in smaller items to keep the eye moving around the room instead of getting stuck on a big colorful rug or sofa that dominates the space.
9. These great water hyacinth storage cubes from World Market could be introduced for more of that worldly texture that Tiffany loves- and who doesn’t need more storage? We thought they’d look great on top of the upper cabinets in the kitchen (broken up by some tall red and orange glass vases) for some added detail and to draw the eye up even further.
10. These chic and insanely affordable side tables from Target would work wonders in Tiffany’s transformed seating area. And some elegant accessories (like this sweet ceramic elephant) will finish things off rather nicely.
So there you have it. Tiffany’s tantilizing two-room reinvention. We can’t wait to hear what you guys think- so start yacking. Oh and if you’re in the market for your very own custom moodboard, click here. And Tiffany, please hear our plea and send lotsa pics of the transformation- we can hardly wait to see how it all turns out.
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