Rental ReStyle: New Place - New Mix Gallery Style

Happy Monday! How was your first weekend of the new year? Did you try a new food? A new look? Or a new project? Or did you just sit back, relax, and take a deep breath now that the seasons holidays are all over? Sometimes time to STOP is just what ya need to recharge and get re-inspired. I've been wanting to put up some of the collections & photos I had up in our other place, but I wasn't feeling inspired. So to at least get a start on it, I cleared some space on the floor in the living room, and started playing around with some new arrangements...

 

Regardless of what a frame had in it, I first started trying out compositions...

 

When I found the right balance & mix, I measured to ensure the arrangement would fit into the planned space...

 

Since I don't have up any window panels, but planned on adding a few, I allowed space for the panel. (I like using chalk to make my markings on dark walls)

 

The arrangement just fit... Now for the other side and adding in the panels...

 

My assistant, sleeping on the job :)

 

From packing up in Florida...

It's challenging to imagine new arrangements in a new place for me - because I keep comparing it to what I had - but it can work. It's funny how all the pictures, prints, and photos were previously located in about 5 different rooms in the old place...now they are all coming together in the new place for a new look...

 

A collected mix from thrift, HomeGoods, PierOne and old visual properties...

Re-arranging them here into one space - but not just one blank wall... 

a wall with windows and working around them...

 

The other challenge is working with an actual "wall" behind the sofa vs. the soft-wall of curtain panels I had before. I couldn't do a gallery behind the sofa - but I did have them in the dining room and bedroom. Since I don't have a dining "room" here, I'm experimenting with an arrangement for behind the sofa... But I see I need to re-stock on paint to give a new finish to some of these frames...

 

In the meantime, the vertical arrangements are giving more emphasis to the height within this space. And mixing in the mirror + framed fabric with the B&W photos helped to give give interest to the new mix in our new place. At least the sides of the living room sofa wall are done, and the focal point is in progress :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Found Around Town: A Great Little Antique Shop

Have you ever driven by someplace and say, "I need to stop in there sometime", but then just don't get to it? Being new in town, I made it a point to make sure I did do it. Last weekend, while Jeff & I were driving around town learning our way around, we drove through an old & historic part of Gilbert, Arizona. Although it was a Sunday and some places were closed, one place that was open was a charming little antique shop set up in an old adobe bungalow house called CJ's Antiques & Garden...

 

 CJ's Antiques & Garden

40 North Gilbert Rd. 

Gilbert, AZ 85234 

480-539-0401

It's located on Gilbert Road, and is owned by a sister duo (Claire & Joanne) from New Jersey. Besides the finds at the shop, all reasonably priced, their mom was also able to tell the stories behind the pieces - whether it was of the antiques history or how they came across it - which made for a fantastic store visit experience! Since it was just after Christmas, most of the shops merchandise was set with statements and vignettes of antique Christmas items. I asked if they would be resetting the store for the new year. Mom said yes - they carefully pack up the Christmas antiques to put into storage, and set the store for Spring, Valentines, and even St. Patty's day!

 

Pretty antique pieces for your porch!

 

Antique Washboards - Great for your Laundry Room decor - Priced at only $20 each, with an additional discount if you buy both. They are different: I was shown and learned about the two different types of glass used - a fine ridge line glass was used to wash dedicates, while wider ridges were used for everyday garments. I recently saw in the latest PB Catalog one of these antique washboards was selling for $99.

 

Antique photos and vintage signs to add to your decor...

 

Vintage tea sets to add to your collections...

I asked if they needed any help transitioning the store, but as it turns out, one of the owners worked in visual merchandising in Bloomingdale's back on the east coast! (Can you say SMALL world??) While there, I also learned many of their trips to hunt & gather antique finds for the shop are actually done on the east coast as well. (Mostly treasures found in New Jersey! LOVE it!) I left my card, and said I would definitely be back! I'd like to pop back in today and see some of the refreshed antique vignettes for the new year. 

 

Great add to your on trend - rustic decor: Copper.

 

It's not to early to think of Summer - 

These lanterns are from The Jersey Shore! 

 

 

  CJ's ANTIQUES & GARDEN

40 North Gilbert Rd. 

Gilbert, AZ 85234 

480-539-0401

 

What are you up to this weekend? Any new shops to hit or projects you're working on? If you're in the Gilbert area - be sure to stop my CJ's Antiques & Garden.

We're going to tackel the garage this weekend. After holiday take down and the move... it needs a little TLC...  No matter what you do this coming first weekend of the new year - enJOY it! See you back on the blog on Monday!

Thanks for stopping by!

About My Southwest Sophistication roomboard entry @Olioboard's New Year - New Challenge!

Hope everyone's new year is off to a great start! With the clean slate, the new year ahead is full of promise and fresh ideas! One of those places to capture some of those ideas is at Olioboard.com. I've been seeing boards with concepts for office makeovers, tablescapes, client projects, and even upcoming events such as a wedding. And Olioboard has one of their challenges set up as a NEW YEAR - NEW LOOK Challenge! Although my board may be a little "off" from the description of  "Create a perfect look to inspire the trend of downsizing, minimal, stress free living", it's still a new look for me - so I decided to enter the challenge with Southwest Sophistication!

 

At Olioboard, there is more than one way to create your mood or room board style: I like to first collect the elements on one board (above), and then create a room from the elements on another (below). For framing and adding fonts, I simply save my images, and re-load them to Picnik to finish the style of my boards look.

 

NEW YEAR - NEW LOOK BOARD CHALLENGE ENTRY:

Southwest Sophistication

VOTE NOW!!

Since I'm in a new location, I wanted to conceptualize a refreshed look, more in tune of our new location in the southwest. Coincidentally, I'm also noticing it as a decor "Trend" that just might be making a comeback - The Southwestern look. But it's NOT the southwest look of the 80's where EVERYTHING in a room had a southwest motif (Thank God!! What were we thinking??). The updated version is simply layering in a southwest textile or two plus mixing in a southwest element to your already modern decor. Mix in one other element - also on trend - something rustic like the finish on a casegood or table. And you my friend have got yourself a revived look on an old trend - making it NEW again. Here's another board I created on Olioboard based on the same southwest style, but utilizing two other style trends: Gold (brass) and B&W stripes.

 

Southwest Chic

For this board, I tried a different application offered over on Olioboard - and I LOVE it!! You can PIN items from the Internet into your Olioboard library! For some of these items I used, I actually pinned them TO Olioboard FROM my Pinterest SOUTHWEST STYLE board. Since October, I've been pinning items from ponchos to pillows over on Pinterest, and now it was so easy to just refer back to my Pinterest board for a few items to add to the Southwest Chic board. If it sounds confusing, it's really not. Think of it this way: Source all your style info onto your Pinterest Board. When you're ready to create a room or mood board, use your Add to Olioboard browser button (while at Pinterest) to add select items to your Olioboard library (includes the link & you change the description). Then all your items for your look, makeover, event or client are all available listed below your board.

 

Coastal inspired - Artist Studio

Earlier this past year, I had the opportunity to participate in a week long blogger event over at Olioboard. It was interesting to see the different perspectives of the way people put their boards together. Their really is no right or wrong way to put your board together. Your board is reflective of your organizational style and your vision. If you'd like to read more about the week long Moodboard Blogger Challenge, you can read it here at: 

The Coastal Cottage Moodboard Challenge Wrap-up

Coastal inspired - Painters Studio

Most recently, I was asked to participate in an interview about Olioboard - so stay tuned!! In the meantime, head over to Olioboard. Take a look around at the other boards, set up your profile (you can link up your blog, FB & Twitter), and start creating your libraries and boards! And while you're there, don't forget to vote at some of the challenges happening now.... Well specifically, please vote for my board!! THANKS!!

(click link below to head over to Olioboard - Click heart below board to cast your VOTE!)

Southwest Sophistication

Have you used Olioboard? What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!!

My Rewind: 2011

I can't say that the past year was a world win... But I can for sure say, the tail end of it had my head in a spin. I think selling and moving to a new place can do that to you. For even as much "put together" or how quickly this new space came together after the move, (SMH) it doesn't mean that my head has caught up with the process - until now. I guess that's what New Years Eve can do to you - it can make you stop and reflect...

 

But just because it wasn't a banner money making year, it doesn't mean I didn't continue to grow my skills, develop my style, and share with you what I've learned along the way. From tackling thrift transformations, refinishing existing finds, organizing space or a move, giving consultations for a new Miami office - a wardrobe restyle - and a lifestyle design for a Miami couple, renovating an 80's bedroom, teaming up with a fellow designer & friend Jose Vasquez for projects, new DIY projects featured such as styling gallery walls-creating a framed fabric focal point-budget pantry update, a bloggers tour of our home, creating seasonal changes or tablestyling on a budget... to attending design & photography events, attending the 10 Year 911 Anniversary, volunteering at Habitat for Humanity, and even having the chance to work with David Bromstad and the ColorSplash crew... it was still an amazing year to have experienced!! I know if I were still working in a brick and mortar establishment as I did for twenty five years, I wouldn't have had the chance to expand my experiences - so for that, I am grateful...

And so now what? A new year ahead. A clean slate to start on. A new location. A fresh perspective for new prospects, and hopefully some more teaming up with other designers in my new area. With the economy the way it is, I think we could all benefit from doing a little more teaming together to support one-anothers ideas, concepts and ways of executing tasks vs. competing against one another. Even some old dogs could learn a few new tricks, and what was once a weakness for one could convert to a strength for the other!

Do I have my resolutions all made out this year? Nope. Do I have my year or months ahead scheduled with design projects, design events or volunteer projects? Nope - not yet. Do I have some ideas on things I'd like to change and projects I'd like to tackle? Yup - you betcha! And now that the dust has settled on our cross-country move, holiday has been taken down, and this month we'll close on the short-sale of our FL townhome - I can focus on what all those new plans will be... So stay tuned and also stay connected with my new email at:

nyclqd@yahoo.com

(tried gmail - don't like it!)

Plus: keep joining me on Pinterest and my new journey here in Arizona!

Happy NEW Year to friends, 

new acquaintances, and new members to join the site!

Thanks for stopping by!