The business of interior design can be exciting, especially when we assist with a major remodel, or make design decisions to furnish an entire large home. However, much of what we do on an everyday basis involves smaller projects. At Posh Living, we have always believed that an attractive, comfortable home is not difficult to achieve if the right approach is followed. We have worked with many people over the years who have tackled one project after another, stopping in the shop two or three times a year to order a new window treatment, pick a paint color, or recover some furniture. Eventually, these homes can look just as beautiful as the homes we publish in our portfolio – it just takes a bit longer to get there. The key is getting the right advice, forming a plan and sticking to it, and being patient. Here are just a few of the diverse, smaller projects we have taken on recently.
A Lake House Facelift:
When an energetic young family stopped in our shop to order furniture for their lake house, we offered to deliver it to its new home. When we arrived, the old house was partially renovated but was still a bit sad, with very dark paneled walls. The clients had ordered rich brown carpet based on the colors in the fabrics we had chosen, and the sofa was a cheerful turquoise, but it still wasn’t enough to brighten the space:
We chose a lively key lime green for the walls to match the mod pillow fabric, and added a long mirror framed in vintage ceiling tins to reflect the lake outside. Here’s the happy result:
An Elegant, but Comfortable, Bedroom:
This master bedroom had all of the elements it needed to be a pretty room – lots of space, an easy chair, and large windows; but the bedding was a mismatched collection, and the window treatments were getting a bit dated. The client was ready to dress it up.
It was time for a fabric facelift. The client, who has traditional taste, chose a beautiful, classic floral by designer Jay Yang for the coverlet and valances. We combined the floral fabric with a tailored bedskirt in a blue diamond pattern, and colorful mattelasse’ bedding from Pine Cone Hill. The bed is made a bit more lively with taupe and dusty blue mattelasse’ instead of the typical white. We kept the valances fairly simple in style, without curtain panels beneath, since the floral fabric is busy enough. We also hung the valances higher on the wall for a more open feeling. The result is a pretty room that’s not too stuffy and easy to live in.
A Beach House Makeover:
This classic beach house was brimming with “Arrogantly Shabby” style, almost too much. Old wood cornices over the windows were low and heavy-looking, and the white sofa was not practical. We wanted to preserve its laid-back Lowcountry style while giving it an update.
Here’s the room before:
We removed the old cornices and surrounded the room with sheer curtains made of lightweight linen. It filters the sun and heat while letting in lots of light, and the soft wrinkles it collects just add to the vintage charm. We slipcovered the sofa in a sturdy, soft khaki cotton that can be laundered – it shows off the client’s fabulous pillow collection perfectly. We also added a rug made of tough-as-nails nylon that resembles sisal. It maintains the relaxed feeling but can stand up to sand and water. The result? The character of the room has been maintained, but it looks presentable for house guests too:
Flowers and Birds for a Master Bedroom:
As world travelers, this couple has amassed a collection of Asian art and loves Chinoiserie (a French term meaning traditional decorating “in the Chinese taste”). They love fabrics that have a tropical, Asian-art influence, especially with flowers and birds, and they adore mixing patterns. They began with a tropical bedspread they were quite tired of:
They decided on an exotic floral print fabric, but this one’s large, bold scale has the presence to mix well with the pretty bamboo patterned wallpaper. To give the bed an entirely different look, we decided to soften the headboard with large floral pillow shams and add some fabulous silk embroidered pillows for bright color. A solid green bench at the foot of the bed is a calming element. This room is layered in pattern and color. The clients really enjoy the way it expresses their love for South Pacific travel and exotic art:
A Kitchen Renewed:
This kitchen had all sorts of design faux-pas – a heavy wood range hood blocked the middle of the room, the dishwasher cut off traffic when open, and the island featured a carriage lamp on a post!
Removing the old island opened up the space and allowed light from the window to flow through. The cabinets were solid wood and good quality, so we had them professionally painted in an ivory color. Hardwood floors in a handscraped hickory add warmth. Dated laminate counters were replaced with Corian, and handpainted tiles on the backsplash create a European country feeling. The red paint color was chosen to help the brick corner fireplace blend in. A custom island is topped with Zodiac material in a brick red. The final touch is a runner found by the homeowners on a trip to Eastern Europe.
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