Banquettes and Breakfast Nooks

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .


Waterleaf Interiors via DecorPad

I'm an early riser for the most part. If I sleep in, I feel like I'm wasting part of the day (especially during those long so-much-of-the-day-is-light days of summer - is it here yet? :-)). 

House Beautiful Photo Joe Schmelzer

The very first thing I do when I get up is make a big mug of chai tea, and I typically drink it at my desk. I look forward to it every morning!

Veranda Photo Miguel Flores-Vianna

I wonder, though, if I had a cozy little breakfast nook if I might change my habit of sitting at my desk and start my morning there instead. The idea really appeals to me...

I think I would have to have some very interesting and/or textural chairs at my table.

Traditional Home Photo John Bessler

And some great pillows...

Elle Decor Photo Roger Davies


And I would absolutely have a pendant light like this one...

Liz Williams Interiors


How about you all? Do you have a breakfast nook, or would you like one?

BHG.com



No matter where you're starting your day today, I hope it's a great one! 

Wordless Wednesday - It's a Sign

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

houzz.com

BHG.com

traditional living room design by media and blogs The Lettered Cottage



DIY WALL ART Young House Love



Better Homes and Gardens September 2009 Photo Michael Partenio



Funky Junk Interiors

Dining Chairs and Tables - Numbers you can use

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG Midwest Living Greg Scheidemann

I've done posts about dining chairs several times (usually in regard to mismatching them!), but I realized the other day that we've never really talked about some of the more practical details. It might come in especially handy if you are mixing and matching your table and chairs and buying from various sources. So just in case you're headed out to your flea market this weekend, this post includes a few numbers that might help. They're just general guidelines, but hopefully something some of you can use.

Interior Design by Ashley Putnam Lonny Magazine

Round tables are really great for conversation and, depending on the room, sometimes they just fit the space better. I have one and I love it.

myhomeideas.com Photo Peter Murdock

House Beautiful photo: Frances Janisch

houseandhome Photo Michael Graydon

Southern Accents Photo Erica George Dines

Thank you, too, to those who commented on my post yesterday! I was thinking there was a slim possibility I wasn't the only one :-), but I really appreciated the confirmation.

More numbers you might like:
Accessorizing Your Walls - Crunching Some Numbers

Creative Decorating Ideas

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

A shadow box border? They look like shadow boxes judging by the depth of the side profile. Either that or it's just very deep frames, because it does look like there are images in them? Either way, I like it...

T Keller Donovan/Michael Price Photography via DecorPad

I've talked more than once about updating chandeliers (and ceiling fan lights) by surrounding them with a drum shade. But... I haven't talked about doing small drum shades on chandeliers yet, have I? I think the exaggerated cylindrical shape of the shades in the image below makes them more interesting and the mixed up fabric adds a whimsical designer touch.

harlequin

(I can't remember if I've talked about table lamps yet, but putting a drum shade on a lamp can instantly give it a fresher, more updated look too!)

I like the way designer Thom Filicia seamlessly blends the TV into the decor by putting it into this niche with art above it. Placing a cozy secondary seating area in front of it makes it even less of a focal point (especially when the TV is off of course!).

House Beautiful photo Thomas Loof

I've been trying to figure out if it's an optical illusion or if the sconces in this image are actually mounted directly on the mirror. If so, I think it's a clever idea.

House Beautiful photo David Tsay

P.S. I had a question on a source for fresh, modern wallpaper that is not to the trade only. I haven't had occasion to shop for any recently and am wondering if any of you have any suggestions/sources? Thanks!

10/7/2010: For those of you not checking comments, I thought I would add this suggestion that I gave to someone there in case it might be something you would want to try. Here's what I said in answer to a question on wallpaper: "I'm hoping we'll get some answers on the wallpaper resources. I'll try to do some research on it too when I get a chance. Have you found any fabric that you like? I'm not sure about applying it onto paneling but I know it can be applied to sheetrock. Might be another option to consider if you can't find wallpaper as soon as you would like. BHG.com has a tutorial here: http://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/fabric-walls/ ."

Clever Curtaining and Other Great Design Ideas

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

When I saw this home designed by Lindsey Bond featured in House Beautiful, I was immediately impressed not only by the great design but with her clever use of curtains to soften, disguise, separate spaces and create focal points.

You may remember this post where I talked about accessorizing your walls with curtains? I wish I had seen the image above at the time because it would have been another great example for that post. Love it!

In her office, the wall-to-wall open shelves disguise an off-center window while the curtains soften the space and can be closed to hide the shelves when needed (notice the ceiling mount rods). What a great way to keep the light from the window and still utilize the entire space for storage/display. The artwork hung in front of the shelves works to keep your eye in the space and off of the off-center window beyond.

Here she uses curtains to cocoon the bed in its own little room-within-a-room. She calls it her modern canopy.

You can see the other side of the bed curtains below. The beautiful antique mirror is covering an awkwardly placed window.

Here the curtains divide the room and make each space more intimate.

Some other things to note in the image above:

• You may have noticed the statement wall? :-) Awesome isn't it? It's actually a painted screen placed on the wall. I love the simple, bold punch of color in the otherwise neutral space.
• Rather than a built-in banquette, this one is just a long bench with a lumbar pillow that rests against the wall.
• And of course you know I'm a fan of layered rugs. They add incredible texture to this small space.

To see more images of this home and to read the interview with designer Lindsey Bond, visit housebeautiful.com
photo credit: Jonny Valiant

Hope you're having an awesome week so far!

Inspiration in Green

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

I saw the bedroom below (designed by Christina Murphy) in the September 2010 issue of House Beautiful and was, of course, completely taken with the fabulous overscaled heaboard. I had marked it knowing I would want to post it for headboard inspiration at some point, and I decided that today was the day!

Here are a few of the other rooms in this light, fresh, creative home...

I love this mirror and the sconces add some amazing dimension to the wall, don't they?

Besides just being great-looking chairs, the chocolate brown lacquered fretwork chairs add contrast and help ground the white dining area.

You know that I'm a fan of painted floors and this one is pretty impressive! The stylized lily pads were painted by Christopher Rollinson.

To see the rest of the home and read the interview with designer Christina Murphy, click here. (photo credit: Ngoc Minh Ngo)

DIY Decorating - Blogger Projects

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Urban Nest did a wonderful job painting a graphic statement wall in her foyer...

After the Before but Before the After decided to expand on the idea and created this dramatic focal wall in her family room!

As we all know, there are a LOT of creative bloggers out there! I never cease to be amazed at the creativity and motivation. Today I'm spotlighting some of the creative ideas/projects that I've saved. Clicking on the links provided will take you to the complete post for each project.

Jamie at Something To Do turned an unused closet under the stairs into an awesome storage room...

BEFORE
AFTER

You know I love the idea of updating chandeliers with drum shades. This DIY shade was made by Living in the 513 using campaign signs and fabric! Creative or what?

BEFORE

AFTER

And many of you may have already seen this on YHL, but I had to share The Keylors drum shade that they made with hoops, plexiglass and burlap!

BEFORE

AFTER

Did you know that you could dye leather? Tatertots & Jello featured Kaysi from Keeping It Simple's leather chair transformation using dye. Complete tutorial here.

BEFORE

AFTER

Using this Pottery Barn image as inspiration,

Lakeitha from Home To Three Duncan Boys created this fun bedroom for her son. I like the way she mixed it up a bit from the inspiration photo by, for example, painting blue and white stripes in the closet versus using the striped duvet. Two other favorites in the room are the pallet headboard and the DIY light fixture. Click here for more room photos, and here for a source list.

Erika at Blu Label Bungalow designed this fabulous boy's room. My favorites are the stripes and the wall grouping!

Her design also included this clever book sling. She has an excellent tutorial so that you can make your own HERE.

Chic Coles takes these chairs (a score on Craig's List) from boring black to fabulous turquoise! Love it!

Candace at Crafty Sisters took an old dresser from this

BEFORE

to this. Yes, she built the hutch herself! If you like the cute metal signs, she made those too and shows you how here.

AFTER

Have an awesome day!