The British are coming….

Ok so they have been here for quite some time but for my husband who recently found out most of his ancestors (obsessed with ancestry.com) are from jolly ole England (and I thought I married an Irishman) I decided to make him a surprise.

This recent project was not so easy for me and I will tell you this one isn’t perfect either but I think I learned from my mistakes so next time should be much easier. There was definitely a lot of “Bloody Hell” coming out of my mouth on this one.

This is what I started with:

the shocking before

the shocking before

Yes I spray painted that drop leaf table of my grandmothers a couple of years ago. I was going for a certain look in my guest room and now I don’t know what I was thinking.

I then painted the table with Annie Sloan Old White paint.

AS Old White paint

AS Old White paint

Started measuring but ended up eyeing it after two hours of moving tape around

Started measuring but ended up eyeing it after two hours of moving tape around

IMG_1418

Used Annie Sloan Aubusson Blue and Emperors Silk

 

Finished product with leaves down-before the wax

Table with clear and dark wax over it

Union Jack table with clear and dark wax over it

Fits great in our game room and he really loved it!

 

Now I am ready to do this again. Thinking of getting bar stools and trying different flags on them. Would be great for home pubs.:)

Cheers!
Heather

 

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Upcycling Trend

Upcycling is becoming more and more popular. I just sold my second piece of repurposed furniture and I have had several requests to paint and teach clients how to paint themselves. If your like me and have a hard time getting rid of furniture (especially the children’s pieces) then upcycling is perfect for you. I love watching furniture of sentimental value get new life.

Today I sold an old dresser that was in my daughters nursery. This is the before:

 

Daughters old dresser

Daughters old dresser

It used to have baskets underneath that were pretty much trashed and I didn’t replace them.

Here is the after using Annie Sloan chalk paint in French Linen:

After

After

 

The young couple that bought the dresser were expecting their first child. It made me feel good knowing that it would “live” on with a new growing family all while looking a lot better.:)

 

If you are interested in learning more about upcycling furniture, please contact me. I can do one on one consults or paint them myself. I also can reupholster any pieces of furniture that might need a little facelift.

Best!

Heather

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My new love…Annie Sloan

For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a decorator. Rearranging my childhood bedroom every other month, designing my mothers guest room when I was 12 and even maxing out my first credit card in college with black lacquer Ikea furniture and tapestries (thankfully I’ve evolved).

Creativeness is my outlet, some people gotta run, I gotta create. This is one of the main reasons I decided to officially pursue interior decorating and over the past 3 years I have realized that creativity makes up about 25% of all I do. Don’t get me wrong I love learning about my clients and what they like, need and want, but after the initial plan it is mainly following up with orders, meeting deadlines, dealing with shipping (which never seems to be on time). So my creative side got buried a bit and I started to reevaluate my path.

Enter Annie Sloan chalk paint.

I was first introduced to Annie Sloan chalk paint over a year ago. I can’t remember how either a blog I came upon or from one of my favorite local stores, On a Whim Boutique, but anyhow I was hooked. I did a few small pieces around my house and now I am fully addicted. Here is one piece I did recently and a little guide to how it all went down….

Daughters desk: We recently moved my nine-year old daughter into the guest room it is a little bigger then her old room and further away from our room-which she likes. So I wanted to give her a more sophisticated look that she could keep through her teens. I took her old desk and repainted it and found this chevron template on Viciously Vintage and this is what transpired.

Before

Before

Painted the desk Annie Sloan Pure White

Painted the desk Annie Sloan Pure White

Printed, cutout and taped chevron template. I used Annie Sloan Emile.

Printed, cutout and taped chevron template. I used Annie Sloan Emile.

!Viola!

I had to do a few touch ups but overall pretty simple.

Voila!

Voila!

I also just finished an old case good. I will post info and pics next week!

xoxo

Heather

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Spicing Up Your Boudoir

It seems like everywhere I go and every show I watch people are talking about the book, 50 Shades of Grey. Women and couples are saying how Mr. Grey has changed their sex lives and saved their relationships. However there are other ways to work on relationships besides steamy novels (which by the way doesn’t hurt).

One of the main issues I find as a decorator is that clients neglect the most important room in their homes, the bedroom. I am also guilty of this, putting it off until the other rooms in the house are finished. Mainly because most guests never see our bedrooms so we feel that is last on our decorating list. WRONG!  It should be one of the first not only for ourselves to have a beautiful retreat from everyday life but for a better romantic life as well.

So many of us have children’s toys, miss matched uncomfortable sheets, poor light fixtures, the list goes on and on. Here are some easy decorating tips for spicing up your boudoir and you won’t even need a”red room of pain”.

1. Lights, Camera, Action-well maybe not the last two but lighting is very important. That is how we create the mood. You want to use soft ambient lighting-especially as we get older. No one wants a bright neon light glaring at them. Dimmer switches and candles are also great alternatives.

2. No toys (children’s toys). We cannot create a romantic mood with Legos stuck to our backs or dolls staring at us from the corner (creepy).

3. Splurge on the sheets. I know when it comes to sheets you have heard it all, thread count, egyptian cotton, silk… But since everyone has their own tastes I would do some research first. High thread count is not the only thing to look out for so don’t be afraid to feel the fabric before buying.

4. Color. Always pick a color that compliments you. It is even more important in the bedroom. Wall color, bedding, accents should all make you look radiant.

5. Music. It is very easy these days to add music in every room of your house. I love music I think it can instantly change the mood a person is in.

6. Texture. Don’t forget all your senses. If its silk, fur, leather whatever you love to touch, incorporate it into your room.

7. Express yourself. I don’t care if my clients want mirrors on the ceiling, murals, or nude paintings all over their walls if it makes them happy then I am all for it. Don’t be afraid to express yourself the bedroom might be the only room in the house that you can.

8. Remember your honeymoon or another romantic weekend getaway. Was there something you loved about your favorite resort, hotel or villa? Try to recreate that in your own space. It will bring you back to a relaxing, romantic time.

Here are some of my favorite bedroom photos:

Enjoy!

Courtesy Michael Abrams Limited

Courtesy of HGTV

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Before & After TV Console

I know it has been awhile I have been pretty busy the past couple months. Between growing my business and family obligations my blog has definitely taken a backseat.

My latest passion is painting furniture. Last year I read about Annie Sloan chalk paint and was instantly intrigued. You can use her paints on furniture without having to prime or sand. Annie has a variety of vivid, classic colors and they are very forgiving if you make mistakes (me). I took an introductory course on techniques and how to get the look you want.

I decided to first tackle our old Crate & Barrel TV console. I think we bought it 8 years ago and between two kids, a puppy and normal wear and tear the console was horrendous. I wanted to go with a worn-white wash style to go with the rest of my family room. I bought three different colors of Annie Sloan paint and had some fun.

Here is a pic of the console before (excuse the messy garage):

And here is the after (excuse the terrible photography):

Our console has new life and we now will keep it a few more years. Onto my next project-it is sooo addicting!

If you would like more information go to http://www.anniesloan.com/  You can order straight from her website or you can go to a stockist near you.

Enjoy!

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Early Valentine Gift

I don’t usually put personal, non-decor stories on my blog, but today I felt like I had to share my exchange.

I was at the radiologists waiting for an X-ray for a stupid foot injury when a lady came in and sat across from me. I was in a pretty bad mood mainly because of said foot injury ruining my Friday but also from things that have been weighing on my mind lately.

Since I had crutches and was wearing a boot she asked me what happened to my foot. After I informed her we started talking about our children and then she told me her husband had a stroke last year and was paralyzed on his right side. She explained to me the hardships they have since endured; husband being in rehab for over a month, losing his job, tired and angry, children not taking it well and realizing that marriage now means something different. As I was called back to get my X-ray she thanked me for bending my ear and said that she does not get a chance to just chat with people often.

On the way home I thought I was the one who should have thanked her for putting my life and all the tiny bumps in perspective. As I hobbled into the house I could not wait to plant a big smooch on my husband.

Maybe it is the wine and vicodin talking but its nice to be reminded of the positive things in your life and take a little break from the negative.

So look we all know that Valentine’s Day is a hallmark holiday where we are forced to eat chocolate (what you’re not?) and tell everyone you love them, but maybe we should use this day to put our lives in perspective-it might end up being your new favorite holiday.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Heather

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Great Taste…Less Money

Last Friday, I had the pleasure to spend time with new shop owner, Joanne Schimmel. Joanne’s store, L Gifts & Home Furnishings is located in downtown Leesburg, VA. Right next to the parking garage on West Market Street, if you drive past the new sex shop (locals-don’t act like you don’t know what I am talking about) you have gone to far. L for short is an eclectic mix of great finds in furniture, home accessories, gifts, gourmet foods and wine.

What impressed me the most about Joanne is her obvious love and passion for all things in her shop. You can tell that she takes time picking and choosing inventory carefully.  A true reflection of her personal style which she wishes to share with customers.

I had such a great time chatting and drooling over all the beautiful furniture and accessories. The only thing missing we later realized was some wine. But don’t worry Joanne is taking care of that, she will be having regular wine tastings along with choice of gourmet food-YUMMY!

Next time you are in Leesburg, L Gifts & Home Furnishings is a must on your shopping trip.  You will not only fall in love with the selection but also the reasonable prices.

Don’t forget to like L Gifts & Home Furnishings on Facebook!

Enjoy!

PS-Keep in mind when viewing the pics that I am not a professional photographer!

L Gifts & Home Furnishings

L Gifts & Home Furnishings


L Gifts & Home Furnishings

Joanne Schimmel-Owner of L Gifts & Home Furnishings

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