She Wore Blue Velvet

They say you’re not supposed to apologize for not blogging but boy have I missed it ! Sorry for leaving you but it has been crazy busy around here. My sofa got a new outfit and I wanted to share it with you. This fabric was originally for my family room draperies but I decided it would be a much heavier look than I wanted and thought it would be perfect on the sofa in my study.

It was reupholstered in this peacock blue velvet from Greenhouse Fabrics. I decided to leave off the skirt this time and let her little feet show. It looks much less blue and more green in person.

Zoe is just happy to have her sofa back…………..

When I saw this room by Katie Rosenfield Desgin, I knew I was on the right track. What a happy room ! I’m loving the blue/green combo lately.

The new lamp in the foyer came from Tuesday Morning and I added the yellow grosgrain ribbon from the table skirt.

This means that I’m still looking for the family room fabric and the drapery lady has had no draperies for almost a year ! My son says I’ll never make them but I think that’s just his way of getting me to hurry up.

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.

Bold Necklace from Novica

I have been wanting a bold, bright statement necklace for a while so when Novica contacted me about doing a review that’s what I decided to get. NOVICA is one of the leading fair trade artisan websites. They work with National Geographic to give talented artisans around the world a place to express their artistic talents and provide access to the world market. They have thousands of top fair trade corporate gifts, accessories, jewelry and home decor items on their website.

I picked this beautiful hand made necklace by an artisan in Thailand named Nareerat. The blue and magenta colors are so vibrant and gorgeous ! I wore it for date night with Mr. Stiches last weekend. Don’t you love how it coordinates with my umbrella ? Didn’t even plan that…..

If you are looking for gifts for your loved ones or for yourselves they have lots of jewelry, belts, shawls and home décor items.  I think my favorite part is the beautiful way they come packaged, everything I have gotten from there always comes in a special box. Thank you, Nareerat !

Special Spaces

Carter’s make over was a huge success. We spent the day painting, staining, putting together bunk beds, hanging shelves and installing window treatments. There were over 30 enthusiastic volunteers helping to transform the family’s home.

A major part of the day went to putting down new flooring and painting the room to look like a hockey rink.

They are going to be home in two hours, we better get these window coverings hung !

Mitch Danforth was the designer as well as carpenter and mural hanger. His excitement kept us all happily working hard. Carl is the artist that painted this awesome mural of Carter and his family at a Hurricane’s game, it was the WOW of the room !

I think seven of us put this bunk bed together and dressed it in about 15 minutes. Carter really wanted this so his cousin could sleep over with him.

The room, all done, complete with laptop and signed Carolina Hurricanes memorabilia.

Stormy came out to meet the family and see the big reveal. I think he liked the bunk beds too.

Katie Martin is the director of the local chapter, Special Spaces of the Triangle. She worked so hard planning, organizing and getting donations for Carter’s room, it was such a pleasure working with her and getting to know her. I look forward to helping with another room in the future.

If you want to see a lot more photos, go to their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SpecialSpacesOfTheTriangle

There are currently 22 chapters in the US. If you are interested in helping, contact an affiliate near you http://www.specialspaces.org

Enjoy your room, Carter. We were blessed to be a part of it.

Neutral Draperies

Our installation of the week this week included lots of neutral drapery panels. The breakfast nook was a beautiful linen mounted on wrought iron hardware from the Helser Brothers’ Artigiani line. 

All of the panels are interlined with bump, which is a really thick cotton added to give body and protect your fabric.

The living room panels were banded on the leading edge and the top with a contrasting fabric.

They frame the outside view perfectly…….

Here is a close up of the Euro pleat and the 1 1/4” rod with cannonball finial.

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.

Special Spaces of the Triangle

Special Spaces is an organization that creates dream bedrooms for children with life threatening illnesses. These children need a special place to heal, recover and find solitude. They spend a lot of time in their rooms and that place should be a personal space that represents their personality. Whatever they can dream or imagine the volunteers can create.

I just recently heard that Katie Martin started a chapter in my state and when I saw their first child, Carter, I jumped at the chance to make his new window coverings.

Carter is a beautiful, vibrant 5 year old who loves panda bears, Nick Jr. TV and the Carolina Hurricanes. Although he is small, Carter appear s to be a normal, healthy child. What you don’t see, is that he has a very rare, genetic-recessive disease called Fanconi anemia. This disease is so rare, that there are only about 3,000 cases currently diagnosed world-wide and only about 300 of those cases are in the United States. Carter lives near Garner with his mom and dad, and brother Ethan.
Carter was born with two holes in his heart, a hypoplastic thumb, and with both of his kidneys fused together on one side.
He has had a few surgeries, including an index polliciation procedure to remove the thumb nub, and turn the index finger into his thumb. Carter had a bone marrow transplant in 2010 and a G-tube was surgically placed in Carter’s stomach to give him extra nutrition. A hook by Carter’s bed holds his tube in place during feedings. This rising kindergarten student will always battle eating, endocrine and vision problems, and the risk of cancers for kids with FA is very high.
When Carter isn’t shuttling between Duke and the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital, he would love a room with either a bunk bed or a trundle so he can have sleepovers with his cousin or brother. Since Carter spends a lot of time in his room, we’d like to make it a truly special place where he can be comfortable and dream about playing in the NHL one day with his idol, Eric Staal. But we can’t do it alone.

If you would like to be a part of Carter’s makeover, or another Special Spaces child’s makeover, please contact the chapter director.

https://www.facebook.com/SpecialSpacesOfTheTriangle

When Carter’s Hurricanes room is finished I’ll be sure to post pictures !

What’s on my Worktable

These pillows are on the way out the door. The two in the front are by Schumacher: Soho weave.

The hot pink floral are from a vintage fabric that we remade with new brush fringe. So Palm Beach, don’t you think ?

My next three jobs are all using trims. I’m really digging the coral and white Schumacher St Tropez braid and the fancy Scalamandre trim. I wonder why blogger recognizes Schumacher’s spelling but not Scalamandre……. things that make you go hmmmm. (they evidently don’t know hmmm either, oh my bad, I had one too many m’s !)

They say it takes 29 days to break a habit and it’s been about that long since I blogged last. It’s been a busy summer but I’m back now and hope you all are having a wonderful summer.

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.

Gold Drapery Rods

Gold and brass, it’s coming back. Love it ? Hate it ? Still trying to eradicate it from your home from the 80’s ? Some kitchen and bath designers say that it’s gaining popularity. I won’t go so far as to put it on fixtures but I am LOVING it on drapery rods !

The gold rods in the bay window in this sitting room by Tom Stringer Designs look delish with the chocolate walls.

 

Source: traditionalhome.com via Tammy on Pinterest

 

 

 

Also looks great in a more neutral room with cool colors………..

Source: houseandhome.com via Tammy on Pinterest

 

Looks great in a traditional setting with a coordinating chandy…..

 

 

 

Source: housebeautiful.com via Tammy on Pinterest

 

Ya’ll know how much I love the pink and gray combo; the gold is perfect with it.

Source: houseandhome.com via Tammy on Pinterest

 

Emily Henderson rocked the brass rod with deep blue velvet.

Source: amberinteriordesign.blogspot.com via Tammy on Pinterest

 

 

Source: houzz.com via Tammy on Pinterest

 

Meredith Heron used them in the bay window with bold, patterned draperies.

Source: isuwannee.com via Tammy on Pinterest

 

The wood face of my Somfy motorized track is already painted, just need to make up my mind on the fabric choice.

It works in a modern or traditional setting. So, have I convinced you yet ? Do you love it ?

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.

Fabric Table Skirt

I finally decided what to make for the empty spot in the foyer… a fabric table skirt. First, I needed a fabric that would transition from our pea green study to the peacock blue in the family room and also pull in the yellow from the kitchen, since the whole bottom floor is open.  Tada, it does exist…….

Then, I needed a table to fit into the nook. That’s where my 14 year old son (soon to be 15) comes in. He was a little worried until he found out that none of the table would actually show……..

Now, it’s time to shop the house for things that are green, yellow and blue. The lily painting painting by Mr. Stitches Dad is perfect here. I stole the “Live what you love” print by Made by Girl from the guest room and the blue butterfly was just the right size to cover 4 nail holes from a previous picture !  Hire me to make your window treatments not to paint your house because I don’t patch holes :)

It just needs a turquoise lamp so this one can go back to the family room.

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.

I’m linking to Metamorphosis Monday at BNOTP

Glamming Up the Headboard

I’ve been on a mission to glam up the bedroom a little and the dark brown leather headboard had to go ! The inserts were reupholstered with a faux emu leather in pearl white and the buttons were replaced with crystal ones.

I also painted the nightstands in BM 925 Ivory White with a high gloss finish. I used their Advance paint which goes on like an oil but cleans with soap and water. It went on beautifully but needs 16 hours between coats and these took 4 coats ! And stayed tacky for at least another 4 days.

My friend Libby posted about Pic Monkey on her blog today. Check out her post at An Eye For Detail. It’s a great new editing tool to make collages and you all know how much I love monkeys.

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.

Art Project

Have you ever looked at something and thought, “Why did I ever like that ?” That’s what I’ve been thinking about the art over the bed so I decided to change it. It had five wooden pieces with Asian inspired paintings on it.

I painted over those with a dark gray then modge podged some of our wedding photos on top.

The first piece was too skinny for a photo so I used a piece of scrapbook paper on it.

Before shot of the frame………….

Ahhhh, much better !

Don’t you think ?

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.

Ikat Pillows

I found a great way to tie in the rust color from the breakfast area to the family room, since the whole first floor is open. I made new pillows from Durlee’s Kalah fabric…….. They are 20” with invisible zippers and look so good next to Mr. Dragon. If you’ve ever wondered if new pillows will make you happy, I’m here to tell you that they can !

The ottoman also got recovered in a Fabricut’s Rufus, color Nile. I’ve been a fan of animal print for as long as I can remember. Have you ever gasped when you saw a fabric ? That’s when you know you have to have it somewhere !

You may remember that I was considering the ikat for my new draperies but I decided to go with a solid peacock blue. Pillows are a great way to use pattern in a room especially if you think you may tire of it quickly. Don’t you love the ikat pillows in this room by Amanda Nisbet ?

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.

Moving Things Around

Some pieces of furniture are bought for a particular spot in our homes but I love the pieces that can get moved around to different rooms and work there too ! It’s like getting new furniture. This bench has been in my foyer, at the breakfast table, in my bedroom and now it’s sitting in my office/study.

That’s when the musical chairs game starts because the console table that was there needs to find a new home. Try the foyer…no, too deep, how about the bedroom…… this spot never felt right to me.

Yes, a perfect place to make a perfume bar………

As long as I’m glamming it up, might as well have a cute place for my jewelry. So, the mirrored table moves from the foyer to the bedroom.

When I moved the bench to the study then I had to move the old bench back to the master. It’s time for new fabric because my dog ruined the cream cut velvet. Do you like this one ?

Somehow, I ended up with an empty spot in my foyer nook. Just need to decide what to build for there, a bookcase, a rectangle table with fabric skirt or a bench with a tall tufted back.

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.