Designer Pick of the Day - Glass Jug Table Lamp

Designer Pick of the Day

Look at these sleek "jug" table lamps from West Elm.  This would not be the focal point of your room, but, rather, this would add just that sleek, rounded touch that you might need on a chest or console table.


http://www.westelm.com/products/glass-jug-table-lamp-w598/?pkey=cbest-selling-lighting

An Idyllic Home in Italy

Italy

I've been meaning to show these pictures of my cousin's home for about a year.  Last summer we went to visit my cousin and her family.

My cousin is a few years older than I, and when we were young I thought she was amazing (still do too!).  She was a model who travelled the world...she met her Italian husband in one of those storybook settings while modelling.  Then later she became a highly successful businesswoman.  She was always supportive and wonderful to her younger cuz, me!

They live in a small beach town a little over an hour from Rome, and if I lived there I would never leave.  Look at this view!  180 degrees of VIEW at least of the Mediterranean...

This is the view if you are looking over to the right...

And the view sort of straight ahead...

 And the really cool thing is that within that view, down to the left a bit, is this castle (see below)...A 14th century castle!  Can you even imagine seeing that every morning to put everything in perspective??  I mean, here in the DC area we have beautiful old federal buildings but they are quite new compared to... A 14TH CENTURY CASTLE!!  Imagine the history there...imagine what that castle has seen...imagine what was up on these hills before houses like my cousin's!!

Another view of the castle, below...

And below:  Here are my kids swimming in their pool,
WITH A VEW OF THE 14TH CENTURY CASTLE RIGHT BEYOND THE POOL!

 

How cool is that??

I think these pictures could be painted and sold as beautiful paintings...not because I took the pictures of course, but because the view is spectacular!!

 

No place like Italy!

Heads Up!!

Heads Up!!

Check out these fun paper mache animal heads on the wall...a play on the real thing for your home...how cool are these??

A friend of our family creates these and they are just a little bit fun...a little bit funny...a little bit tongue in cheek...

Love them!

Before and After Series ... A Kitchen Re-Do

"Before and After" Series

Back to our favourite new series...the "Before and After" Shots...

This Virginia home is a typical center-hall colonial from the early 1980's that needed updating.  As you can see, low soffit needed to go; green countertops-go!  And the kitchen cabinets were originally stained wood then painted over and now chipping off...that distressed look was taken to a new level!!

We literally moved the refrigerator to the corner area and changed around the pantry (see the door to the pantry below).  It added more space to the entire kitchen.

We also added an "L" counter, recessed lighting, new cabinets, granite countertops, farmhouse sink, facuets, hardware, fun lantern light fixture and stone wall details which gave an outdoorsy feeling.  Plus we added cute little Murano glass pendant lights, leafy fabric window treatments, counter stools from Ballard, the bench at the kitchen table (kids love sitting there!) and much more.

And see below for the "After"...

Always fun to see these Before and After shots...  We can do so much to change a space... And it is such fun!

Designer Pick of the Day - Wooden Bowls

Designer Pick of the Day

Starting to think about those holiday gifts??  Really?? Already?  But it doesn't hurt to just take a look...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/100868944/wooden-salad-bowl-7-set-of-2-neon-pink

On Sale - Etched Pumpkins

Designer Pick of the Day

Etched Pumpkins

These are on sale at Pottery Barn... You can use them for your Thanksgiving décor and then put them away until next year...and they are a great deal now at Pottery Barn!

 

Look how nice they are in your family room... what a great accessory!

 

Find them here:

 

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/etched-mercury-glass-pumpkin-object/?pkey=choliday-halloween&cm_src=holiday-halloween||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-

Before and After in McLean, Virginia

Before and After in McLean, Virginia with Margery Wedderburn Interiors, LLC

We just love these Before and After stories.  This family room had a rather dramatic makeover while keeping the main features and staying within budget.  As you can see, the room was extremely dated, and the young couple that bought the home was just stumped at how to change it out.  They visited similar homes in the neighbourhood looking for ideas but just couldn't find what they wanted.

These dens are tough because unless you want to change out the fireplace area, which is one of the main focal points, you are hard pressed to figure out some alternatives.

This is the Before...Very dated

 We had clear goals in mind:

1. Make the room look less "wind tunnel" - ish!
2. Make the ceilings look higher.
3. Bring the style into this century!
4. Change out some detailing at the fireplace
5. Add the electrical behind the walls to allow for a large screen TV on the wall
6. Work with the existing rug.

 

...And we wanted to get rid of the panelling!!

 

 

So here are some intermediary shots below... We removed the dated panelling, added drywall, painted it a nice Matchstick color from Farrow and Ball.  We got rid of the popcorn ceiling and added recessed light fixtures, added sconces on the long wall.  We prepped the wall for the TV...We got rid of the existing fireplace shelf and added a new, more proportionately correct shelf...

 

 

 







We added this great light fixture and some wall panelling details to balance out that fireplace wall... Then we completely painted the bookshelves with the light blue and white detailing ...

 

We added box trim detailing on the fireplace wall to break up the length of the wall and add interest.

 

Then...new sectional, new chairs, new TV entertainment unit, new coffee table, new chandelier, new mirror, and new tall bookcases flanking the fireplace.  In this picture below there is only one, as one arrived damaged but was quickly replaced.

 

And we are still not quite finished...there is a new coffee table arriving, and one more tall bookcase for the fireplace wall plus a sofa table and artwork.  Stay tuned to see the final room design in future blogs!!