MASTER BEDROOM - STYLE GUIDANCE ON A SMALL BUDGET

Not all makeovers are overwhelming before and afters with big reveals. Sometimes, especially when working with a small budget, a homeowner just needs a little guidance of how to pull together a look and where to shop. Recently, I was referred to a few homeowners who needed just that: style guidance. One need help with her master bedroom - the others I'll share in a future post. After meeting with this homeowner in her home to discuss colors and style likes, I pulled together a simple 2D style board for her bedroom, including a list of sourced items (and a few options) staying relatively close to her budget. Since she will be doing the space herself, she can set the pace for where and when her money is spent. The homeowner needed color options + window + bedding selections and a few accents (lamps + bench + chair + pillows) to work with her existing five piece espresso bedroom set. Although I had suggested breaking up the set by relocating a piece or two to another room, she wanted them all to stay. To help keep the expense low, I planned minimal accessorizing: Two simple hurricane candles and a large metal disc above bed (she mentioned she doesn't like mirrors). All a great way to refresh a room with espresso furniture in  shades of grey and white.

 Master Bedroom Style Board

Most bedding textiles from Pottery Barn - Bench or pair of tufted storage ottomans for end of the bed from Overstock / Target - Lamps from Target, but can also be found at HomeGoods - Glass Hurricanes from Crate & Barrel - Hammered Metal Disc from Pottery Barn, but also had spotted similar one for half at HomeGoods. Since the bed only had one side table, I suggested adding a pedestal table to the other side to bring balance to the bedroom, plus a surface  for balanced lighting. Since most of the homes here in AZ have a warm buttery yellow on the walls, a light or medium grey (like Nimbus from Benjamin Moore) will be a refreshing change.

Room Style Inspiration...

 

 

 Although it wouldn't fit within homeowners current budget, she had also requested the adjacent master bathroom get an update as well. Most finds for both the bedroom and the bathroom I had sourced online (some even on sale), however, additional savings can be made shopping locally at Pottery Barn, Target and HomeGoods...

 

Loved this hammered metal disc from HomeGoods, Chandler - 36" round only $99

 Master Bed & Bath Style Board with Before Pics

The bathroom had two vanities - one with space for a bench, or keep the stool she had and add under the counter storage with basket drawers. The drawers would help clear off the counter. A tray can hold a candle and a collection of apothecary jars (filled with soaps, sea sponges). A basket on the counter can hold (white) wash cloths and remove the builder installed towel rings. A plaque with hooks can replace the builder installed towel bar and Lowe's has reasonably priced light fixtures to update the Hollywood styled light bar. I also had suggested either replacing mirrors or retro-fitting them with Mirror Mate.

 Fun to do - Happy to help!

Thanks for stopping by,

RESTYLE SCOUTING & FALL SET AT POTTERY BARN

I've said it before, and I'm a firm believer: Magazines, websites and now Pinterest, only offer 'visual' inspiration - whether you're making over a space or even revamping your wardrobe. My favorite resource for style inspiration is to tour stores. When touring a store, especially a home store, you can get a better sense of scale, proportion, and try out the piece for comfort. You can't do these things flipping through books, magazines or clicking images online. One of the stores I enjoy touring for home ideas is Pottery Barn - especially in the Fall. Recently while scouting local shops & stores for a specifically styled restyle - Tuscan - I popped into my local Pottery Barn. Besides displaying an assortment of true Tuscan colors within their Fall assortment, they also offered a few finds that would easily work to update a Tuscan space. Although I'd like to call them more Mediterranean in architecture, Tuscan style homes are very popular here in Arizona. Pottery Barn's Fall collections offer accents such as lanterns, pottery, ironwork, skins, leather, and stud details which are all indicative of Tuscan - Spanish - Mediterranean style homes...

 

Just LOVE this mix - perfect to display at the fireplace hearth, or mantel... and easily can shift outdoors to create another look at another time...

 

Great way to add a little leopard to a space: Loved these leopard stacking boxes - perfect for concealing remotes hiding extra coasters...

 

If a room has all fabric furnishings, it's good to mix in a leather piece, like a Chesterfield sofa or this tufted back chair to create a more relaxed environment. This also helps to merge both masculine & feminine details in a space...

 

Over-sized trays, with a pattern, are perfect for a family room setting - especially if you have a tufted leather ottoman as a coffee table... The pattern adds movement + can camouflage drink rings from sweaty glasses and give a stabilized surface for drinks on a tufted ottoman...

 

When selecting accent chairs, it's also good to consider their back detail, especially of during the holidays they may shift in a space (to fit a tree) and become more noticeable...

 

Beautiful rustic sofa table - LOVE the pattern of the wood!

 

Love the mix - Great layering for a family gallery set in a hallway - Lamp is great for a home office...

 

Lovely vignette idea for a sofa table... Seed glass lamps (or tortoise glass lamps) are perfect for a sofa table set in front of a picture window - the natural light can than shine through the glass...

 

Even furniture pieces can offer a option for built in cabinet doors: Wire inserts can easily replace custom glass and allow a homeowner to have more display space vs concealed storage. It's accessories that make (or break) a room - and those that are collected over time and displayed tell friends & family your style story...

 

Layering in some rustic wood painted finishes is a great way to let go of the formality of a space and create a more relaxed environment...

 

 

Sometimes Tuscan homes only have more ironwork, or tapestry, or colored scenic paintings of Florence as wall art. Another way to lighten the look of heavy wood or stonework is to let in some natural light by layering in uniquely framed mirrors into niches or hallways. This can help to take away the heaviness of  wood & stone by reflecting more light into the space...

 

Again - Love the look of mixing the glazed & natural pottery with the darn & natural baskets, especially filled with branches, which are easy and free decor to add from your own back yard...

Another example of softening the hard surface overload often found with builder upgrades in AZ Tuscan homes:  Layer textiles on hard surfaces, such as area rugs in the dining room plus a table runner.  Take away the "Rooms-To-Go Set" look by mixing different style chairs... even if mixing existing chairs or consider simply replacing end chairs with hostess chairs.

 

Nail head trim details - not only on trend, but a must decor detail in a Tuscan or Euro style home....

 

Great example of mixing metals (wrought iron fixture + silver accents) along with a few natural touches - great example of how to get away from the formality of silk or taffeta fabrics to create a welcoming home...

 

 

Covered books + two tone pottery + cable knit & leather pillows are an excellent examples of creating casual layers for a family room...

 

Loved the mix: Lighter wood & beefy turned style leg table paired with slip covered & X back chair - plus use of all white stoneware (loved the pitcher as a vase for the kitchen or bath).

 

Absolutely LOVED basket shapes and the hardware - especially the strap hinges & metal ring handles on these storage baskets. Perfect pieces to layer in some natural texture to spaces overwhelmed with custom & heavy wood built-ins, over-sized fireplaces, heavy mix of stone and a heavy dose of metal scroll work. Perfect for family or game rooms - great for storage of extra throws or even kids toys.

Hope you enjoyed this quick little store tour plus style tips. The next time you're in a store, take a second look at the visual presentation and consider not only 'what is here that I can buy?' But what is here that I can take away with me as inspiration and apply to my own house to make it a home.

Thanks for stopping by,

SOURCING FOR A CLIENT RESTYLE at PIER ONE

This week, I popped into my local Pier One Imports store to scout & source some finds for an upcoming restyle project. The home is a former model home for a local Arizona home builder, with very strong Tuscan style elements. Although the homeowner would love to eventually restyle the entry living room with a Restoration Hardware look, she's looking for a quick refresh for an upcoming event being held in her home. Since we only have a short time to shop & install, local shopping for finds is a must (zero lead time). She is however looking to let go of some of her existing decor pieces en-lieu of a fresh approach to expected Arizona style Tuscan decor, but still maintaining existing red & gold custom window panels she's already invested in. Since the panels are a Cabernet-red shade, I thought Pier One may have a few finds for a quick refresh - especially since the store was just set for Fall. A find in particular I showed to the homeowner during the consultation she's already taking a liking to: A pair of quatrefoil - lattice print wing-back chairs in taupe & gold - which can also easily be shifted to the home office later. Some other faves are gold beaded pillows, tortoise glass lamp for the living room, and a great pair brass nail-head lamps for the family room. The tufted ottoman/foot stools were a fun find - especially for a family game room update she's wanting in the future.  Here are some pieces that can affordably work with the distinctive Tuscan, or even in Miami Spanish home architecture / style. The Pier One store itself looked great with refreshing jewel tones for Fall and easy to shop isles & allies plus attentive and helpful customer service...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun tufted footstools!

 

Great looking piece to add to a Euro-Traditional style home... Gorgeous with sand, stones, and candles... or for holiday with Christmas Balls.... or something fun in Summer: water and goldfish!

Here's a sneak peek at some of the High Low mixing for this upcoming ReStyle...

 

Existing Custom Window draperies (from By The Yard - Tempe AZ), paired with fab finds at Pier 1 - to make an easy and affordable living room update - for an event plus the upcoming holidays. The studded lamps and colors of the quatrefoil patterned chair at Pier 1 pair beautifully with the homeowners existing stunning tile inlays at the entry and transitioning into the dining area...

 

 Have you been to Pier 1 lately?

I had also sourced a great chair I spotted at Pier 1 earlier this year for the Counselor Office Makeover I did - which the client also LOVED her chair too. And now Pier 1 also offers other color or pattern options to customize your chair.

 

For the office makeover, I had purchased the Liliana Chair in teal - Now I'd love to get the black for another restyle (or myself!!) If you haven't been in in a while, make of note of it to visit you nearest Pier 1 Imports -- They've come a LONG WAY since merchandising baskets on lundia shelves and stacking foam-camel-back-sofas and papsans!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!