Since the end of August I've started on so many new projects, a few of which I'll be working on over the next 6 months to a year - and will tell you more about them in future posts. Since before the end of August I've wrapped up a lot of projects so I'd like to get some of these after pics off my plate so to speak before I move on to posting about the more recent stuff I'm working on. The 70's suburban sidesplit I furnished for a single mom and her daughter was completed earlier this year, for me it was the first time I took on a project that didn't involve any renovating whatsoever - that had all been done before I came on board. You can read more about the background story of this project here, and see after photos of the Daughter's room here and the Guest Bedroom here.
Like the other bedrooms in the house the master bedroom was on the small side but typical for a sideplit, it had a small walk-in closet and a tiny 3 pc ensuite and no redeeming architectural features at all. It had brand new hardwood floors and a fresh paint job when I first 'met' this room. My task was the same for this space as it was for the entire house, furnish it from top to bottom from scratch and have it completed and move-in ready in less than 3 months. Although she invested in a designer, her spending budget was modest so every splurge would need to be balanced with a few great finds.
The Before: this is what the room looked like the first day I saw it, the painters were just finishing up (talk about bad timing!). Once again I would have to work with ICI's Bavarian Cream. : / My client has a love for all things feminine and glamourous and traditional and elegant and french inspired and she wanted her new room to be all those things, but she's also young, professional and stylish so it had to be done in a way that looked modern and fresh (and by modern I mean current).
The After: I had a custom diamond tufted headboard and end of bed bench made, added an elegant crystal chandelier, a luxurious wool area carpet and glamorous mirrored chests on either side of the bed. The ruffled bed skirt, damask duvet cover and shams are from Au Lit.
Ready-made lined cream linen drapes with inverted pleat top and full length sheers dress up the not so fabulous looking window. I found an antique walnut dressing table with 4 big drawers and after contemplating several options for new chairs, my client found this antique chair stored in her mother's basement, it belonged to her much loved aunt. I thought it worked perfectly with the vanity and loved the fact that it had sentimental value. This chair and one pair of antique lamps were the only things that my client brought with her into this house. She does plan on reupholstering the seat or adding a slipcovered seat with 3/4 skirt. The etched mirror accessories are vintage from Chatelet Home. The knobs on the vanity were replaced with crystal ones since this pic was taken.
I had originally purchased a potted orchid for the dressing table but by the time I had returned and taken most of these photos,,,,all the potted orchids in the house had died, she's now replaced them with artificial. This is a bad Iphone pic, for some reason I have no decent after photos of this area of the room,,,I think its because from every angle I tried to shoot it I was getting a bad reflection in the mirror..
When it comes to designing spaces or furnishing a room, I'm most particular about lighting more than anything. Sometimes its to my detrement because I can get really hung up on finding something that I feel works just right,,,,,,,style, size, function,,,if its not just right,,the entire room falls short. These lamps are one of my favorites and are from Crate & Barrel. I like the simple form of the base and the drum shade which adds a modern touch to the space, it has a subtle crackle glaze, the soft curves and silk shade are so elegant. I think their simplicity pairs well with the traditional crystal chandelier. It was near impossible to find a pair of these in stock but after much begging, pleading and phoning I did manage to score a pair at the 11th hour.
The wool area carpet had a traditional feel to it, it had a taupey cream coloured border with a grey/blue main field. The end of bed bench wasn't ready in time for move-in (the day this shot was taken) but was delivered only a couple of weeks later....
Diamond pique lace edged coverlet & euro shams, and lace edged pillow cases were great finds from HomeSense as was the sunburst mirror.
The bench was delivered a couple weeks after move-in...
When I delivered the bench I also brought along one more finishing touch (which is now my most favorite thing in the room), a cream coloured velvet pillow with feather trim. My client was completely in love with her new room already and this little find sent her over the moon. : )
Feather pillow, HomeSense.
Even though everything in this room is new to my client except her aunts chair, I'm happy that all things in the room aren't brand new - it was important for me to mix in a few antique pieces so the end result is a mix of new and old, splurges and saves, ready-made and custom made, feminine and tailored,,,,, but best of all I think we achieved traditional without looking dated.
All Photos: Carol Reed
