Moodboard Monday - Artist Studio Concepts

To start getting inspired for the moodboard feature at Olioboard next week, I came up with these moodboard designs. Since the space I picked to do is a "Studio / Library", I've been think along the lines on an artist or a designer's studio. We voted on three styles to create our boards in: A NY Penthouse, A Farmhouse, and Coastal Cottage (which won) - but before doing the actual board in Coastal Cottage, I came up with a few concepts for the other styles. Part of my design process I enjoy doing is working through at least three concepts: The "I wish", the "Safe & Specific" and a "Combination of them all". Although I''ll still do one final to post next Monday, here's some concepts I've done so far - to view larger, just click board, or to view details of items on the board, click the link below each board...

COTTAGE CHIC STUDIO/LIBRARY

NYC LOFT STUDIO/LIBRARY

DOWNTOWN DESIGN STUDIO/LIBRARY

BTW: Here is the updated schedule for the Olioboard

7 Days 7 Bloggers 7 Olioboards upcoming feature at Oliobaord:

Monday - August 15

Blog: nyclq-focalpoint.blogspot.com

Studio/Library

Tuesday - August 16

Blog: http://livingwithlindsay.com/

Home Office

Wednesday - August 17

Blog: http://southernhospitalityblog.com/

Living Room

Thursday - August 18

Blog: http://blog.addicted2decorating.com/

Bedroom

Friday - August 19

Blog: http://www.whatsupwhimsy.com/

Dining Room

(They didn't want to post during the weekend - so 7 Days skips back to Monday)

 

Monday - August 22

Blog: http://freshhomeblog.com/

Patio/front porch

Tuesday - August 23

Blog: http://blog.olioboard.com/

Kitchen

Wednesday - August 24

We all do a summary post.

Stop by Olioboard to check out the boards, and also stop by the blogs to ready more about the details behind the boards.

It was my Birthday this past Saturday, and since our gated community had a Garage Sale this weekend, we participated in it - but turned it into a Birthday Bash & Trash Sale - I'll be posting about tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!

Adding Pattern & Palm Fronds for a Budget Friendly Living Room Update

Even updated spaces can be refreshed with just the simple addition of one element: adding pattern plus a simple shift of accessories. This homeowner already loved her simple and clean hotel look I did a few years ago, but to help re-energize it on a budget (for under $200), I added a great pattern to the space with window panels & pillows made from four shower curtains I found on clearance along with adding some other clearance & thrift finds...

 

Simple clip rings were used to attach the panels.

Three of the four shower curtains were cut & sewn together plus finished with a band of a wide grosgrain cream ribbon creating two 96" printed panels. Thankfully, since I don't sew, my friend Jose managed to make these. The homeowner already had the double rod & bracket mount, plus 2 pks of drapery clip rings. With the fourth panel, I also had Jose make 4 printed pillows. To layer in the patterns a bit more on the sofa (without getting too crazy), I shifted some other (subtle printed) pillows she had around the house.
 
 

With the fourth panel, I asked Jose to make 4 printed pillows to add to the sofa. To layer in the patterns, (without going too crazy) I shifted some other pillows she had around the house. A few new white vases (found on clearance at Homegoods for $5) subtle printed pillows from around the house.  I relocated the faux flower filled vase off the dining room table to the buffet and flanked it with two verdigris lanterns I found on clearance for $10 ea. From another room, I brought over a shell filled globe, sat it on 3 woven Ikea placemats, and flanked it with 2 $1 taper holders I found while thrifting. To update the look of the chandelier, I added 6 mini shades I also found while thrifting for only $1 each.
 

 I added some starfish (extras from another project) to a basket she had on the bench, plus I added an apothecary jar I found on clearance at Pier 1 for only $10. I filled it with more of her shell collection - after this picture was taken.

I switched out her floral & picture display from the thrifted console table for some FREE palm fronds (cut from front yard) I placed in the new white vases - PLUS - I added her sentimental Key West conch in an over sized cylinder she had in storage. I pulled two bleached curly willow sticks from an urn she had, to add more height & drama for the tropical summer vignette. Coffee beans worked great as fillers plus complimented her vanilla scented candles.

Space BEFORE

RECAP OF ITEMS USED FOR UPDATE:

4 Shower Curtains $32

4 pillow fillers $16

3 white vases $15

2 lanterns $20

6 thrifted mini chandy shades $6

2 thrifted taper candle holders $2

3 round woven placemats $9

1 Apothecary Jar $10

18 yds of ribbon $38

Total cost: $148 +TX = 157.62

2011 Update

BEFORE

2011 Update

BEFORE

2011 Update

Sometimes, it's just the little shifts, shopping thrift, or little changes that can create the biggest impact.

It also pays to sneak a peek through clearance,

and look at reusing those items in new ways.

2011 FL Living Room Update

If by chance you had stopped by yesterday and already viewed this post, my apologies for the repost - Thank Blogger! For whatever reason, Blogger had lost half my post from yesterday. So rather than try to re-fix the post (tried 4x's already) I'm re-posting a new one. Thank you for your patience... Hopefully after tomorrow's Birthday Bash & Trash Sale (aka Garage Sale), I'll have an updated post on Sunday - if not, see you back here on Monday! Now back to organizing goodies for the Community Garage Sale happening tomorrow! If you'd like some info on it, please email me at nyclq@comcast.net

THANKS AGAIN for stopping by!!

LINKING POST TO:

The DIY Showoff - Project Parade

Under the Table and Dreaming - Sunday Showcase

Between Naps On The Porch - Metamorphosis Monday

Clearing Clutter & Garage Sale Prep

About two years ago, I put together my first garage sale. I had one other since than, and this weekend, I'm getting ready to do it again. Usually, when I do a closet purge, I'll make my donations to our local Goodwill, but our gated community decided to have a garage sale this coming weekend.

Donate or shop at Goodwill.


I've been hitting all the storage spots throughout the house like buffets and ottomans. Yesterday, I tackled the garage and my clothing. I tried on all my clothes, and if it didn't fit anymore, and I'm "really" not going to wear it even if it did - away to the garage it went.  I switched out back black hangers for store or dry cleaning hangers, and the hubs is bringing home a rack, but maybe for something like JEANS, I'll fan them out of the table with a sign and price point.

Great finishes

(and "once-upon-a-time" sizes 0-3!)

Great for Back To School shopping for your kids.

Getting all these items pulled together days before the sale also helps to know how many tables or bins I would need. Hubs can borrow tables from work, and I'll just cover with a sheet. Today, I'm clearing out the last two closets: home decor and the office. Friday, I'd like to get up in the attic - I think there is an extra pre-lit tree up there and I'll put up some of the Spring / Easter decor that has been lingering in the garage. I'd also like to price everything and pre-set the tables inside the garage to make it easier to just pull out Saturday morning. And last night, I pulled together plastic bags for shoppers to take their haul in =)

I think I also spotted in the garage some plastic furniture covers

to keep handy - just in case of rain from hurricane Emily.

Getting oraganized and keeping it pulled together in one location.

Along with clothing like jeans, jackets, tops and dresses will be a 4ft. Christmas tree, some chairs, 22x28 picture frames, desk top frames, decorative antique clock, candles & holders, a few dishes, table linens, window panels, pillows, some home decor, lamps & shades, garden trellis, 4 large (new) paper lanterns, new (modern) bathroom sink facet & towel bars, shower curtains, cookbooks, albums and scapbooking papers & decals (I never really got into scrapbookng). I'm sure since it's so HOT out, the hubs will set the cooler up to sell ice cold bottled water too.

This is not how I'd like to spend my Birthday, but it is when the gated community has the once a year permit for the Garage Sale... and hey - the money made can help pay a bill or two =) Besides, a free Gallery Walk will be happening next weekend in the Design District, and they'll have all those new food trucks people are raving about we can try (without breaking the budget).

Garage Sale 2009

If you're in South Florida, and enjoy garage sale-ing, email me at nyclq@comcast.net,

and I can give you (non-Anonymus) more info. The gated community has maybe 700+ homes & townhomes in it. I don't know who else is participating (other than my direct neighbors), but I'm sure there will be plenty to choose from in here.

Thanks for stopping by!



New Moodboard Monday Series: Promos & Challenges at Olioboard

Hey everyone! Hope you enjoyed your summer weekend - shopping, camping, tubing, or working on a fun DIY project! Thankfully the rain was on pause here, so I got to get out in the backyard garden for a bit. But Friday, I was honored to have received an invite to participate in an upcoming promo happening over at Olioboard.com - Seven Bloggers, Seven Days, Seven Amazing Mood board Designs. Over the weekend, some of the seven bloggers chosen for the promo selected which room each would create a board design for, as well as voted on one style we would all use. The styles we voted on were NY Penthouse (of course my number one choice!), a Farmhouse Renovation, and Coastal Cottage. And the winning vote between the bloggers was Coastal Cottage.


The promo is geared towards bloggers helping to promote the great and easy uses of the Olioboard website, plus it's a way to help drive traffic to our blogs. The bloggers participating are:

Rhoda of SouthernHospitality blog

Lindsay of LivingWithLindsay blog

Kristi of AddictedToDecorating blog

Shannon of WhatsUpWhimsy blog

myself and the initiator of the promo from the Olioboard blog, Sheilah.

I'll have some more info shortly, but from what we discussed (via emails) this weekend, the week long promo so far looks like this:

C O A S T A L   C O T T A GE

STYLE

Lynda - Studio / Library - Monday Aug. 15

Lindsay Home Office - Tuesday Aug. 16

Rhoda - Living Room - Wednesday Aug. 17

Kristi - Bedroom - Thursday Aug. 18

Shannon - Dining Room - Friday Aug. 19

Design a mood board featuring the details to be used in a space...

or design a room board with the items set as the space.

I joined Olioboard sometime last year, and it's been not only a great site to use as a tool for visual presentations to help clients visualize their space, it has also been a place to join in some creative challenges. Some of the board challenges have been sponsored by a vendor at the site (like the Frontgate Pet Design Challenge), and some are challenges submitted by Olioboard users. Last month a user submitted her own personal design dilemmas and so far this month, other challenges have been:

A Dorm Life Challenge

A Basement Challenge

A Rock Star Penthouse Design Challenge

and a

Lady GaGa Bedroom Design Challenge

Although the challenges can be just for fun, they are also a great way to

challenge your imagination and creativity. Currently, I posted two boards I recently made for the Lady GaGa Bedroom Challenge, and one board in the Dorm Life challenge (I actually had created last year). Click on the links below each image to go vote, view other boards and challenges, or create a board of your own.

BAD ROMANCE RETREAT

Lady GaGa Bedroom Challenge

(currently in second place - thanks to your votes!!)

BORN THIS WAY BOUDOIR

Lady GaGa bedroom Challenge

STYLE STUDY SLEEP

Olioboard Dorm Life Challenge

When you vote, just click the "+" sign in the heart on the boards.

There are only two more days left for voting! So please stop be and vote now!

While you're at Olioboard, take a look around at all the creativity happening there.

I'll share more info and updates on Monday's during a Moodboard Monday's series

I'll be featuring this month.

Thanks for stopping by!