Design Challenge #7 Amanda's Creative Escape

Hi Everyone,

Hope you all had a good weekend!

It's that time of the week again,

and today we meet Amanda.

Many of us know her as the "Girl in Pink"

Amanda has a lovely living room with a beautiful vintage flair,

but she has an idea to transform that little used space into a place to create.

She's looking for a few ideas how to take what she has now

and make it into a functional yet beautiful creative space

that more fits her needs and family lifestyle.

But before we start I have a favor to ask.

Let's try something new by not reading other people's comments first.

Just leave a comment on what you think might work for Amanda's space.

It''s easy to read everyone else's comments, and then not comment,

because we feel we don't have anything to add.

But each of us has something to share and a unique take on the space.

It doesn't have to be long and involved just share your thoughts.

Remember we're not all decorators and designers,

just say what comes to your head.

Here's Amanda, "In her own words":

Here we a have a little "formal living room." But I think I'd like to start the makeover by calling it something else entirely, because we really have very little use for a formal living room! The title that best describes the transformation I am hoping for would be "The Creative Escape." We rarely do any formal entertaining since the little ones entered our lives.

This is the first room that guests see when they enter our home. I would like it to better reflect the cozy, cottage, relaxed style of the rest of our home without having to completely start over with the furniture and accessories. At the moment I feel like it's a little too stuffy and the only time we really use and enjoy it is in December when our Christmas tree is set up in the corner!

I would love to have a beautiful crafting/creating room like Debra's and many of my other favorite bloggers who share their lovely spaces with us. I frequently use our dining table and buffet to prepare and "stage" my treasures for the antique shop and could see this spilling into the living room as well if I had more useful furniture pieces here. On the other hand, I would like to be able to easily store my clutter should we decide to have a dinner party. I also don't want people to feel like they've walked into my craft room when they first enter the house. Maybe I'm asking too much of this little space? What do you think?

Here are some specific things I've been considering that I could really use some help with!

1. I definitely want to slipcover the wingbacks, and I know they should be skirted as this room is far too leggy! But what color should I go for? I can't afford to reupholster the settee at this time...so the slipcovers will need to compliment the current upholstery.


2. We've decided to add a desk or armoire of some sort to house a computer and monitor. The question is what and where? This would definitely make this room more functional for us, but I don't want to see the computer when it's not in use...so I'm leaning towards an armoire, I think. Any other suggestions?

 3. I am constantly rearranging the furniture in here and can never seem to find an arrangement that works! I've taken photos of a few of the arrangements that I've tried. Which one looks best? What additional furniture pieces or accessories would make it look better? A floor lamp, area rug, throw pillows? What else?


4. The entertainment unit turned craft storage houses my sewing machine, fabric and an array of crafting supplies and tools. The secretary holds all of my vintage ephemera and stationary supplies. I could definitely use more storage pieces. What kinds of creative storage do you picture added to this space?

What else? I am anxious to hear your ideas! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts! And thank you Debra for this wonderful opportunity! I love the Design Challenge Feature and have really enjoyed reading about the other's you've posted! I can't believe my little project was chosen!


Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda

Thanks so much Amanda, and you're welcome!

Now let's help her with some great ideas to get her creative space into a reality!

 And please leave a comment for Amanda,

 the more ideas the better!

 thanks everyone, we're excited!



Design Challenge #6: Let's help Dianne!

Hi Everyone!

Dianne has a Design Challenge

Not only is she designing her Living Room

She's Designing a new life.

Here are some photos of Dianne's Living Room

which is pretty much a "blank slate" to work with.

Here is Dianne, "In Her Own Words"

My name is Dianne and i live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Beautiful city. I am 57. As you can probably see by my lack of design from my pictures that i have no design. I think i did before, but it has completely changed over the years.


I was married for 32 years and one day my husband went to a other town where his brother lives and never came back. He did not want to be married. I have 2 boys, all grown and they were shocked. My style back then was comfortable but truthfully not my own style. This all happened 4 years ago. Time went on and i am presently living with a wonderful man. Who really doesn't mind what kind of style i have in my living room.


When he moved in i had all my old furniture, well about 2 months ago i decided to ditch the couch, love seat, lazy boy, dining room table, buffet. Out with the old!!!


Now comes the dilemma. I really love the shabby chic/french/romantic kind of feel. There is a blog out there "Simply Me" and i just love her style. I really don't want to paint the walls, as part of the purging i got BF to paint the walls "Cottage White". The floors are new also, dark bamboo flooring.


I was thinking of an Ikea couch, Ektorp. I have heard from some blogs they love that couch. As you can see most of the walls have nothing on them, except one wall.

Inspiration Photo Ikea: Ektorp sofa

I have a hard time in regards to placing the furniture once i have some furniture. My living room is a place where we watch movies and tv. I live in a small three bedroom townhouse.


I truly appreciate Debra putting this out there and am really looking forward to reading your comments. So whatever you think of that would help me to achieve this shabby/french/romantic feel for my living/dining room would be greatly appreciated. I am completely open to new things.


Dianne

I believe this wall must be directly across from the large window.

Dianne has some wonderful Romantic/Shabby pieces.

The coffee table, buffet, several mirrors,

writing desk and chair, and an end table

all look like they could be used in her shabby design style.

and hmm... is that a white dresser I see (without the drawers)

and a chandelier, too?

She just needs advice on how to pull this look together.

Let's help her with some ideas

such as art work, possibly a rug,

and furniture placement so she can get this plan in motion.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts,

it really means so much to the recipients!

Remember, you don't have to be a "professional"

to weigh in with your ideas.

Just share your immediate thoughts on what

you would do.

And your welcome, Dianne,

we're happy to help!

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If you haven't entered my

Romantic French Style Give Away

you still have this week to enter.

Just click HERE

xoxo,

Design Challenge #5 Jen's Fireplace and Niche

Hi Everyone,

welcome to a weekend edition of

Design Challenge!

Sometimes we have design challenges that were ready made for us.

In this case, Jen from Easy Peasy Chic 

is trying to work with the placement of a fireplace

and adjoining niche in her Great Room.

Below are some photos of Jen's Great Room

that show the culprits.

She is trying to find a way to make the fireplace the focal point of the room

while at the same time utilize the niche for their flat screen TV.

 Take a look at the configurement and you'll see what she's up against!

Here we have it in Jen's own words:

It just so happens that I have a BIG dilemma and the only cure I am afraid, is very expensive. The builder's niche has made keeping the fireplace a focal point in my great room almost impossible!!! It is soooooo frustrating. I think a custom built unit to fit the niche may help but the best price I have found is $1000 and I can't swing that. Of course my dream would be to demolish it all and rebuild a fireplace in the center of the wall and hang the tv above that. But that won't be happening for 20 years! So ANY advice would be great!!! The TV needs to stay here and I need storage that the dresser so freely gives for dvds, wii etc. I sooo need some wonderful and cost effective ideas on how to help my fireplace win the focal point battle it is having with the dingy niche? :)
Jen :)

More from Jen...

Making the fireplace a focal point again!

Anyone ever stained a precast stone fireplace? I am wanting to make my fireplace more of a focal point. After finally choosing paint we love we realize that it made the fireplace disappear. So I have been researching the possibility of staining the stone. It sounds like it can be done and for probably under $45!!

Here are some lighter colored ones that stand out nicely against their background paint..

Jen is looking at a custom design cabinet for the niche,

but needs some help right now as that might be a little while in the making.

Anyone out there know anything about painting this precast stone

since she wants it a lighter color?

Also, it sounds like they just painted the entire room so that might not

be an answer to this challenge.

Put on your decorator's hat/thinking cap for this one.

Let's get creative and and see if we can help Jen out!

Thanks a bunch in advance, everyone!

Hope you're having a great weekend,

Design Challenge #4 Pam's Bedroom

Hi everyone, welcome to another Design Challenge,

where we put on our Decorator Hats

and share some ideas and advice for someone out in blogland

that's looking for some design help.

Meet Pam's wonderful Master Bedroom

in her gorgeous hill country Texas home.

She has gorgeous furniture and a fabulous room to work with.

Here, "in her own words", is Pam's Design Challenge.

Design Challenge Help


First, let me take this opportunity to thank Debra for this wonderful idea and assisting all of us with this challenge. I grew up in Myrtle Beach, SC and loved the beach. My husband and I traveled the world with the military and wherever we went, the ocean always called me. Two years ago we decided to buy our retirement home in South Padre Beach, Texas. After a lot of soul searching and number crunching, with the high cost of beach front property and insurance and a nagging feeling that I was not to retire on the beach, we settled in the Hill Country on five acres just outside of New Braunfels in beautiful River Chase near Canyon Lake. We do not face the water, about eight miles from the lake and my heart still belongs near the ocean.

I wanted my master bedroom to remind me of those days near the water. As I have gotten older, I remember the beautiful look of Italy and the Mediterranean and know that my “older me” wants that look coupled with a beach look but I do not have the talent to do this alone. The rest of my home is traditional with an Italian flair so I am hoping to flow thru with something that I know I can live with both in the summer and winter.

I purchased the seashell bedding from Pottery Barn and I hope to change it up a bit for the winter months to not look so much like summer. The rest of the items I have purchased in the last two years and kept in boxes until I figured out what to do. I have gone as far as I can with no pictures purchased yet for the walls. I plan to put the shears along the tops and sides of the windows in the reading nook. Please, please do let loose with your ideas, I am grateful for anything! Thank you so much for your help, it is so very much appreciated! God Bless and Happy Decorating, Pamie G. New Braunfels, Texas

Here is an inspiration photo from Pam of the paint color she likes 

 

And this is from Pottery Barn catalog

showing her comforter and shams.

And a P.S. from Pam:

PS: I have a small blog at Our Hill Country Retreat. Please follow me! Our adult children (our oldest son and his wife actually) gave our “ranchito” this name because of their mini vacations staying here with us on weekends retreating from Houston, San Antonio and Austin!


Thanks so much for helping Pam out with her beautiful bedroom. Remember, you don't have to be a "professional" to weigh in with your opinion and ideas.

If you haven't entered the Give Away yet,

just click HERE

thanks again,

love ya bunches,

Design Challenge #3 Charlotte's Great Room

Hi Everyone, Time for another Design Challenge!

Today, Charlotte from Butterbean Row

is hoping for some good advice on how she can achieve a softer, casual,

updated look for her Great Room.

She has great elements that are a little masculine and rustic,

and needs our help to bring in a little chic.

Take a look, and think about her ideas.

Lets' see what we can suggest!

In Charlotte's Own Words

1. Being on a budget, I need to handle this re-do in stages.

2. I love all things white due to the inspiration of decorating blogs such as "White Ironstone Cottage", "My Romantic Home", "Common Ground", "Faded Charm" and many others.

3. I love country French and that casual elegance of some lovely flowers in an old bucket.

4. Casual but elegant. Not fussy.

5. I need HELP arranging items on my mantle and built in book case. I have never figured out what to do to make it pretty and not so cluttered looking.

6. My sofa is reddish brown leather. Is there a way to accessorize to brighten it ?

7. Thanks to you all for your help!

♥charlotte

This is Charlotte's Entry.

Don't you love the lighter brighter wall color,

and that great blue console table?

I can see where this lighter color could be incorporated in to the rest of the Great Room.

Thanks so much for all your great design advice and ideas,

I know the recipients really appreciate you all taking the time to weigh in!

OK, let's share our thoughts and help Charlotte get started!

And a special "Thankyou" gift will be going out to

 Eileen at Cottage Beach House

for spreading the word about Design Challenge!

xoxo,