Styling the entry

I don't know about you, but nothing has a permanent home in my house, it is all a revolving arrangement.  The other day Bethany and I played with my entry.  I plan on doing some sort of tone on tone stencil for a subtle pattern on the wall to dress it up a bit, but for now this was fun playing with accessories. Here are the many different looks of my entry:

Entries I am inspired by:

                                                                 
                                                                      1/2/3/4/5/6

I see a pattern here... I like a bit more bold statement in the entry. I have a facing wall that has a large framed picture which is going to be switched out with a huge mirror of some kind. I absolutely love Sherry of Design Indulgence's look she did for a client here:

 I'm on the hunt, again.

Nancy

PS - Don't forget to check out the new stuff we posted on our TAG SALE page!!

If you are looking for help with your home, we'd love to work with you! Contact us for a listing of our services and prices.

Nancy and Bethany

"House Guest" series: Styling

Today our House Guest is one of our favorite blog friends, Pam, who always has the most brilliantly styled rooms. Here are  her tips on styling.

I'm Pam from Simple Details and couldn't be more thrilled to be here.

The only thing better than being a 'House Guest' on your blog would be being a
 house guest at either of your beautiful homes!
You're a wonderful addition to the blogosphere, and I'm inspired by both of you daily!
Thank you for asking me to share a few ideas for styling...

When I'm styling a space whether a small coffee table or larger bookcase
I think of  the same basic elements as when I'm decorating a room.

SCALE, LAYERING, REPETITION


1. Scale: Starting with the largest pieces first dictates much of the placement.
One trick I like to use is removing shelves from a bookcase to add interest and
 allow for a range of sizes for accessories.
2.  Layering:  I decide which pieces I'm going to use as a background for layering
Cabinet above - the mirror and artwork in front of it.
Coffee Table - the tray, then the vases on it.
Bookcase and Mantle below - the mirrors, artwork, and  'Z.'
3. Repetition: I repeat some of the elements to give a sense of cohesiveness.
Color, Shape, Type of Accessory
Cabinet & Coffee Table - pink, blue, black, curved vases, gold frames, books
Bookcase and Mantle -  ivory, brass, books, brass trays on easels,  
round mirror (see far right), round ivy topiary, sunburst mirror
branches, vases (all thrift store finds and painted)  

One more tip is to make sure your vignette has at least one of each of these elements.

SHINE, PATTERN, TEXTURE, NATURE/GREENERY


1. Shine:  Mirror, brass, silver, glass, high gloss
2. Pattern: Cabinet & Coffee Table -  the pattern is in the blue floral artwork, even the
stripes on the book spine, also the  tray is lined with a black and white leopard print. 
Bookcase & Mantle -  the brick itself is enough pattern so I intentionally kept
 everything else monochromatic.
3. Texture: I would say most of the time texture naturally falls into place when
you include all of the other elements, but if it looks like it needs something, think texture!
Cabinet & Coffee Table - fabric shade and trim, flowers, smooth pottery, old frayed book
 and even wood cabinet, and glass table.
Bookcase & Mantle - Brick, branches, smooth pottery, rustic planter, worn book pages,
weathered frame, stamped brass tray.
4. Nature/Greenery:  Flowers, plant, branches, twigs, seed pods, just about anything
you can bring in from your yard. A must for bringing life and texture to your space.


Hope you're inspired to take a look around your home and yard to create a new vignette.
I'd love you to stop by Simple Details and and visit sometime.   


Thanks so much for having me Nancy and Bethany!
  
Thank you so much Pam! These are great tips!  Don't forget to see our ORC reveal this Wednesday!


If you are looking for help with your home, we'd love to work with you! Contact us for a listing of our services and prices. Nancy and Bethany

THE REVEAL

When some of you suggested I bit off more than I could chew, I thought 'nah, I can do this'.  Well, I do have another day job, a huge beckoning yard AND I didn't factor in mistakes, so this was a great learning experience for me. 


Here is my breakfast room BEFORE:

Here is the AFTER:

(alright I seriously need to makeover cabinets and counters next, maybe a pendant light ASAP )

 I do want to know how to make all these things, so I took on the challenge and the deadline. (which was the hardest part!)  So many of my rooms are not 100% finished, so this made me realize all the little finishes I need in some of my other rooms, cause IT REALLY MAKES AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE! (duh)

One of the big challenges was my faux roman valance over the kitchen sink.  I watched a few online videos and researched directions, but getting those folds straight and aligned without sagging was tricky, to say the least.  AND, in my blinding effort to forge through this I accidentally cut the extra length off my shade on the width end (and made it 42" wide) not on the bottom of the shade. So I had to piece another width to the side of the valance so it would span 54" and then add another piece of lining to the back all seamlessly so no one would notice.  I think I pulled it off.  My husband helped talk me off a ledge at midnight one night 'cause I was bound and determined to get it installed in one day.  It took me one whole day to make a little valance!

                      Here area my Danish modern (MCM chairs that are 40+ years old) BEFORE:

DURING:

Here they are recovered in Primitive Stripe Navy, Natural AFTER:

Here is my light fixture  BEFORE (I upgraded 5 years ago to stainless and never was thrilled with):

and here is my new fixture, AFTER:

The  trim fabric ,Sumter Ikat Sky, was added to white panels from West Elm,  BEFORE:

    DURING:

with assistance from the cat:

                           

 AFTER:

              

My kitchen window BEFORE, sans valance:

  DURING: ( see big mistake here)

with faux roman valance AFTER:

Add the Jill Rosenwald "Fallon"  rug:

Here are some more pics from our own photo shoot:

Total cost of makeover = $406.

light fixture $89.99

Drapery panels: $40.00

2 yds. Trim fabric: $17.96

2 yds. Seat fabric: $121.45

Scotchguard $7.99

Rug $129

Thank you Linda, the founder and fellow "undaunted dozen" for joining in this challenge and pushing us to finish a project!  Can't wait for Spring Into Action, Part 2 -- no time soon, please!

Kerry at Design du Monde

Suzy at Saved by Suzy

Tiffany at  Living Savvy

Laurie at Traditional & Modern

Cathy at Room Rx

Carrie at Hazardous Design

Lisa at A Room with A View

Sam at The Junk House

Becca at from Gardners 2 Bergers

Jean at Flower Hill Design

    Linda at My Crafty Home Life

xo Nancy

P.S. There is no solution for a crimped shade. Im ordering a replacement for $40.