Christina Marie Interiors

Completed Kitchen Design

2012-02-07T12:56:00.000-08:00

Here's a look at the before and afters of a completed kitchen renovation by CMI that I photographed today.

Super blury Before picture!

After

christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact us about our design services.

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Bedroom Progress

2012-02-06T13:33:00.000-08:00

A little sneak peak at a project I will be finishing up soon. This bedroom belongs to a guy who is fond of the outdoors ;) Sorry about the poor quality shots, they're cell phone pictures......

Don't you love this wallpaper? It's been around, but I still love it.
Wallpaper is Cole & Son "Woods" and is available through Christina Marie Interiors.

I found the lamp at Homegoods, and the trunk is something I picked up from the good ol' side of the road. Totally free! I love the patina it has.

Love this lamp! Works so well in a guys room.

This is the silk plaid fabric that we are also making some throw pillows out of to finish off the bedding.

What do you think?

christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

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Designer Crush : Celerie Kemble

2012-02-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

I know, this isn't the first time I've posted about Celerie but I've always loved her design style and I can't promise this won't be the last post either! I saved some of her interiors images back in design school even before I realized who she was, and I still love her style today. I think I'm drawn to her designs partly because she has a great eye for color and also because I admire the fact that she isn't one noted in the designs that she creates. So many designers have a certain "signature look" and so many of their designs just end up looking the same because of it. Of course, all designers adhere to a certain design aesthetic to some level, however, that shouldn't mean that there is no room for a variety of styles still to be achieved within that aesthetic. I find that the most creative designers are those who are able to successfully create more than one look and are able to use a wider variety of materials as a designer because of it. Anyways, enough of the words and on to the pictures! Here are a few of Celerie's rooms that I especially love.

And on a side note, something that I've been loving lately is the use of a sofa in the foyer. I love the way it warms up the space and makes it feel more like a useable room in the house instead of just a pass-through.
The first two images are Celerie's designs and the last two I found via Pinterest.

christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

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Florence Broadhurst & Kate Spade

2012-01-31T11:11:00.000-08:00

I first noticed some of Florence Broadhurst's prints for interiors back in the fall and I really like some of her designs. Broadhurst was an Australian born in the early 1900s who became a wallpaper designer in the 1960s & 1970s and created many patterns for wallpaper and fabric which are popular again for use in interior design today. Her designs are large scale and glamorous but with an organic twist. Apparently, Kate Spade is liking them too because her spring 2012 collection is inspired by Broadhursts designs.

Broadhurst in the 1920s

Her Peacock Feathers wallpaper pattern

Broadhurst in her office in the 1960s. Love that wallpaper and her hair even matches!

Showroom showcasing her wallpaper and fabric designs

Her Small Ferns print for fabric and wallpaper

Solar Rug inspired by one of Broadhurst's designs

Kate Spade Spring 2012 inspired by Broadhurst designs

The entire Kate Spade collection for Spring

Liking the orange!

Kate Spade dinnerware inspired by Broadhurst

Broadhurst's designs are all produced by hand and are manufactured through Signature Handprints. If you are interested in purchasing any of her wallpaper or fabric please contact me for ordering.

christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Fabric & Trim

2012-01-30T09:19:00.000-08:00

I've been doing a lot of fabric research lately for new projects I'm working on and I thought I'd share with you some of the fabrics and trims I'm liking at the moment. Most of these fabrics are available to the trade only and can be purchased through Christina Marie Interiors. Email me if you are interested. Fabric is one of my favorite parts of any room! There are so many options out there - and don't forget about using trim as part of your decorating projects! Adding trim to a plain roman shade or pillow adds so much personality and makes an "off the shelf" pillow anyone else might have uniquely yours! Check out some of my favorites below!

Fern Star in Yellow - Available Here

F. Schumacher trim - Available through Christina Marie Interiors

Bengal Bazaar by Kelly Wearstler - Available through CMI

Fig Leaves by Peter Dunham - Available through CMI

Nympheus recolored by Thomas O'Brien - Available through CMI

Samode by Mally Skok - Available through CMI

Trim Tape by Brunchwig & Fils - Available through CMI

Thistle by Lauren Liess - Available Here

Les Touches by Brunschwig & Fils - Available through CMI

Trim Tape by Schumacher - Available through CMI

Brunschwig & Fils Marquesas Linen - Available through CMI

christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Valentine's Table Setting

2012-01-24T09:42:00.000-08:00

I love parties. And I especially love decorating for parties! I love coming up with a theme and then finding ways to incorporate that theme into every part of the event. One especially good place to really make your party's theme pop is through the table setting. Here's a collection of table setting ideas I put together for inspiration for Valentine's Day.

christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Felting

2012-01-23T13:53:00.000-08:00

I discovered felt in college and it's become kind of a trend lately. I'm working on getting my Etsy shop HighlandFelt re-stocked for Spring with new felt wallhangings. I use the wet felt method to make the background piece and then I needle felt the design onto the backing. I like to frame these in open front shadow box frames and they make great little sculptural art for any room in the house. They look especially good hung in a series. Here's a sneak at what a couple of them look like and i'll keep you updated on when the shop will be opening again.

christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Classic With A Twist

2012-01-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about design these days is that we are not stuck in a certain "design period". Interior design has gone through many phases and periods and during these times designers (or architects then) tended to stick to the reigning design style of that period. Think Victorian, or Federal, or Art Deco. While I like certain elements and ideas from all these different periods I would find it dull to be limited to and only decorate within one design style. Today, we don't have as many "rules" of design but rather design is ruled by the individual and their personal taste. And yes, maybe you guessed it already, but this is called Eeclectic design. Eclectic design allows for many elements from all design eras to come together and work as a personal and unique design for each individual. Of course, just because eclecticism allows for a hodge podge of design eras in one space it doesn't mean that the basic principles of good design are out the window. It also doesn't mean that you can throw just any old thing together and say that it works because it is "eclectic". On the contrary, Eeclectic design takes even more skill to pull off because it is necessary to find common threads through color, shape, texture, or style in order to pull together pieces from many different times in history and make it look harmonious together.
I guess I went on a little rant about eclecticism but I wanted to share one combination of design styles that I personally like. I tend to stick to classic design as you know from this post but I like to mix in subtle elements from other design styles to keep the design interesting and keep it from becoming one-noted. One such combination I like is the mixture of Bohemian style in with classic architecture. So here are some images I compiled that have the Bohemian vibe I love both in interior design and fashion.

Love this traditional architecture with the mix of bohemian textiles and moroccan mirror.

Great colors! I love the wallcovering with the painting and the funky mix of bedding. (The graffiti is cool but a little much for me)

Love the skirt. So breezy and pretty.

I am so in loooove with this dress.

For the Bohemian bride. I love the sandals!

To whoever it is that actually has these parties - you are awesome.

I love the color and texture in this space. The rug gives that laid back Boho vibe.

Could I wear this for anything other than a wedding?

A bohemian beach picnic.

Love this blue velvet sofa with the mix of pillows. I have a thing for blue velvet sofas.

So what combinations of styles are you into?? I want to know!

christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Elements of Classic Design: Selecting Furnishings

2012-01-20T07:04:00.000-08:00

Wow... its been a week since I last posted, but as promised I'm back with another post in my series Elements of Classic Design. Last week, I mentioned I was going to discuss choosing a sofa but I've decided to back up a little bit and lay a little more groundwork first. In my last post I also mentioned that I like to create rooms that are classic. I do this because many of us don't have the time or resources to redecorate our space when the trends change and suddenly that once awesome floral sofa somehow just doesn't seem as....well,......awesome. However, in this post I want to show you how to design your space so that it has a timeless feel and therefore has the flexibility necessary to make inexpensive changes that really change the look and feel of the space whenever the urge hits. And, the best way for me to show you this is through pictures.
Oh, one other thing that I have not discussed yet but will in a later post is the importance of interior architecture and how it relates to achieving a successful classic design. By interior architecture, I mean the bones or walls of your space and what "architectural" elements are going on in the room. Interior architecture really sets the backdrop and tone for any space and without some interesting details like molding, bookshelves, or a fireplace a space can feel really flat even if your furnishings are great. But don't worry, not everyone has high ceilings, and beautiful moldings so I'll talk later about ways you can add these types of details.......oh, and without moving houses.

This living room by Rita Konig features an antique sofa that she had reupholstered in a neutral fabric. She gives the room personality by using colorful artwork, throw pillows in trendy patterns, and colorful accessories on her classic shaped coffee table. Think how easily you could change these items to reflect your pesonality. You can do this inexpensivly by shopping thrift stores and flea markets and would have an entirely different look while still keeping the major pieces of furniture.

Not all of your major piece need to be tan or white. A navy velvet chair is still a neutral color and goes with virtually every color in the rainbow. The key to having accent chairs in a color other than cream is to choose wisely and select a color that still works as a neutral. Those gold pillows could easily be green or lavender or any other color for that matter.

This space is a combination of black+cream+white and some small pops of color throughout. When you think of classic design it doesn't necessarily mean that all the furniture pieces must be traditional. This space mixes a traditional sofa with some contemporary barcelona chairs and eames lounge. They have kept the space classic and flexible by using neutral colors on the major pieces. Again, if you tire of contemporary art above the fireplace it could easily be changed to a more traditional oil painting and the lamps could change from traditional to more contemporary styles all without changing any of the chairs, sofa, or tables because these pieces are classic and never go out of style.

This dining room is all traditional classic until you come to the chairs. What a great way to "update" a traditional dining room and make it fresh and a bit younger feeling.

Wallcoverings are a great way to add flair to a classic arrangment in a foyer and are also easily changed once you've grown tired of them. The chest, lamps, art, and chair are all classic pieces but image how you could change the feel of this foyer by switching out the lampshades for a punch of color and the chair could easily be reupholstered in a print or patent leather for even more drama.

Another room with great classic pieces that can eaily be transformed with printed draperies, pillows, and art.

I love this space. It combines a fantastic mix of traditional, contemporary, and ethnic pieces. The artwork and the gold tables, add some punch to the space and could be switched out for something different.

Neutral, classic, and relaxed this space has lots of options for making changes. Seasonally, you could use brighter pastels in spring, orange & browns in fall, and blues and creames in winter. So many possibilities!

Look how this spaces uses collections, and accessories to create it personality. Take away all the "stuff" and your left with a clean pallette to take wherever you wish.

Another way to use a wallcovering to give a classic room some punch. Take down the wallcovering and your ready for some colorful art or bright pillows.

Next Friday I'll be discussing interior architecture and how to get some if you don't have some :) Have a great weekend!xoxo,

christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Elements of Classic Design: Stars

2012-01-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

When I'm designing for clients (or myself) I always like to stick to the classics. Like fashion, interior design trends are constantly changing and patterns, colors, and fabrics come and go. And, unless you're willing to spend the time and money necessary to transform your space every time something goes "out of style" then you should consider keeping your major pieces of furniture and colors to a classic palette. However, this doesn't mean that your rooms need to be boring, on the contrary by keeping your large furniture pieces in classic shapes and colors you can easily transform your space from one "look" to another by changing items such as lamps, art, pillows, and rugs. So, all this to tell you that I'm going to be starting a mini series on Fridays that features "Elements of Classic Design" where I'll talk about how to create a classic room that is flexible and easily transformed when the urge hits. I'll also talk about classic design motifs that have been used in interior design and architecture for thousands of years and show you ways to incorporate these classic motifs into your home.

There's a classic design motif I have noticed that has lately had a bit more popularity in both fashion and interiors. (You'll notice I often mention fashion along with interiors, that's because the two follow each other closely when it comes to trends.) This motif is the "star". Now, I'm no historian and I can't tell you the history of the star motif but I can tell you that it's a pattern that has been with us a long time and will continue to be with us in the future. This is a classic motif and can easily add to the classic feel of your home when used correctly. Have a look below at some of the ways you can incorporate this pattern into your life.

Love this pattern for wallpaper. This could be great in so many places in a home.
Osborne & Little Coronata Star Wallpaper
(Available through Christina Marie Interiors)

Here is the Osborne & Little wallpaper used on the ceiling of this girls bedroom. The unexpected use makes the paper even more interesting.

Albert Hadley created some of the most beautiful American interiors and designed classic patterns that are used constantly by designers everywhere. Shown here is his Trixie print.
(Available through Christina Marie Interiors)

This print found on Etsy.com would look great framed and hung in a girls bedroom.

By painting the large star in a grid pattern you get a wallpaper effect in this nursery.

The Moravian star is the inspiration for this light fixuture. This classic design has a lot of character and will never go out of style!

Even in fashion the star makes a great print for a silk top! I like the Americana feeling the star brings to fashion and interiors! (Even though we weren't the first to claim it! :) )

Stay tuned, next Friday I'll be talking about how to choose a classic sofa. And if there's something that has to do with classic design that you'd like me to discuss just leave a comment below.

xoxo,
christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

New Year's Activities

2012-01-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

A belated Happy New Year to all! I had a nice mini vacation up in Laconia, NH with my family and grandparents. It was really nice to get away for New Year's and relax! Here's a couple pictures I took of some of the activities that went on....

When you spend your New Year's in NH of course there are going to be FIREWORKS involved!!

Ryan checking out his awesome fireworks purchases

Sorry neighbors.....I love loud fireworks!

The next day we had New Year's dinner with my family. It was yummy!

My beautiful mother and grandmother

Hunter didn't miss out on the food either...

After dinner we took a ride to see my families cottage, still under construction. Don't worry, the siding is all going to be painted.... we're not going to keep the camo look!

Did a little thrifting as well in downtown Laconia with my mom and grandmother. Yes, I dragged them out to do it. But I found some really nice vintage Greek key trim! Can't wait to use it for a client project!

Saying "bye" to Hunter. Is anyone looking for a puppy? My grandparents are looking for a good home for him. He's very sweet. Leave a comment if you're interested and live locally.

So how was your New Years!?

xoxo,

christina marie

New Art

2011-12-29T11:20:00.000-08:00

On Christmas Eve Ryan and I had the privilege of looking through his grandmothers house and picking something we wanted to keep. Grandma "M" started the tradition with her grandchildren that one their birthdays they can choose something from her house they would like to keep. We had fun looking over all our options and finally settled on a couple of items. I chose an oil painting of a scene from the Cayman Islands where Grandpa & Grandma M spent a lot of time during their retirement and Ryan chose a nice carved bust of Abraham Lincoln for his future office. The painting is really pretty and I just loved the colors and warm breezy feeling it captures of the islands. Thanks Grandma M I love it!

xoxo,
christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Fashion: New Service by Style.Delivered - Winchester, MA

2011-12-28T07:34:00.000-08:00

Before the holidays I designed and installed some holiday decorations for a couple of great ladies from Winchester, MA. While I was chatting with Susan I found out that she and her friend Maria O'Connor (whom I also decorated for) we're in the process of launching a new fashion and styling business of their own. I love fashion and style so I was immediatley interested to learn more. The business is called Style.Delivered and offers a variety of services from Wardrobe Consultations to Personal Shopping to Gift Giving Ideas. How many times have you woke up in the morning before work and looked at your wardrobe and thought, "I have nothing to wear!". Well these ladies can address that issue and a lot more with their wardrobe consultation where they will weed out the old, create new outfits with pieces you already own, and create a shopping list for pieces that are missing. This service could also make a great gift for say, your mom, or friend, who always wants help "organizing their closet" ;) Be sure and check them out!

And here's a look at a couple of (cell phone) shots of the holiday decor I installed for Susan's holiday party:

Dining Room Mantle Before:

Dining Room Mantle After:

I wish I had a shot with all the candlesl lit - I'm sure it was beautiful!

Living Room Mantle:

(Sorry no before)

Detail shot of cranberry topiary:

xoxo,
christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Black & White, and a little something else...

2011-12-26T09:18:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to receive interior designer Celerie Kemble's new book Black & White from my husband for Christmas. I have always loved Celerie Kemble's designs and I had her book on my wishlist. The book is an exploration on how Celerie limited her palette to black and white but within that palette there are still endless possibilities for decorating. The book also explores how limiting the color palette when approaching a decorating project can be liberating. Celerie says, "By mainting a hard line palettewise from the beginning, you can move forward without paralyzing indecision. The "paradox of choice" - that too many options freeze decison-making - is the essential problem of decorating in today's world."

I tend to find myself drawn to black and white as a basis for a room because of the timlessness of the palette and also because it is very easy to recreate the room simply by adding or changing a few items. There is no color on earth that does not look good paired with black or white and that allows for a space that can change and evolve with your taste and style.

A few of the pages from the book. The images are beautiful....

And the something else that I can't wait to wear. Thx Ry ;) I first learned about Meredith Jackson Jewelry from another bloggers giveaway post and I really loved her designs. Its simple but with beautiful details at the same time.... needless to say I was very happy when I opened these.

What was your favorite Christmas present this year? Do tell!

xoxo,
christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Bedroom Design: Project Install - Lexington, MA

2011-12-22T07:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I installed a teenage girls bedroom that I posted earlier about here and I wanted to share some of the before and afters. I'll be having this project professionally photographed after the new year and some of those photos just might end up in an edition of Romantic Homes magazine. I was contacted by the editor and asked for some "romantic" type shots for a new feature they are running next year. Even though my style isn't necessarily "romantic" I would love for some of the shots to be featured in the magazine! I'll keep you posted!
These shots are definitely not professional but here's a look at some before and afters:

Before Shot: Closet/Dressing Area

After Shot: Closet/Dressing Area

Before Shot: Desk Wall

After Shot: Desk Wall

Desk Chair Before

Desk Chair After

Bedding Before

Bedding After

xoxo,
christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Holiday decorating and such... Winchester, MA

2011-12-12T12:46:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts.... hard to believe Thanksgiving was over two weeks ago! I've been busy wrapping up various clients projects and also been keeping extra busy with holiday decorating! It's been so much fun decorating for the holidays for current clients and for some new clients as well. Last week, I snapped a couple pictures of some holiday planters I designed and a mailbox I decorated for a new client.

I love the way fresh cut greenery can add so much warmth to a front entry! The dark blue/green of the fir looks especially nice with the beautiful wood front door. The holly berries add a pop of color and the leaves add nice texture. I used tall twigs in the center and spray painted them gold for some added height and drama.

I used pine roping on the mailbox post and then wired in fresh holly branches and gold berries for color and texture.

I also wanted to share some pictures of the beautiful stockings that my husbands grandmother knits for all her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all spouses. We've had ours for a few years now but I don't think I've ever shared a picture. I was able to choose which stocking I wanted from a pattern book that she has and I knew right away when I saw the beautiful stiching, white yarn, and ruffled top on this stocking that it would be the one! I look forward to hanging them every year and I even had my husband build me a faux fireplace so I would have somewhere to display them!

Ryan's stocking

Here's an idea for displaying all those Christmas cards that start arriving in the mail right about now. Just go outside and cut some smooth branches, put them in a jar and then use wire or ribbon to hang each card when it comes in the mail. So much better then letting them sit in a pile somewhere!

How do you like to display your cards?

xoxo,

christina marie

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Thanksgiving Table

2011-11-25T07:43:00.000-08:00

Have you recovered from your turkey coma? Somehow I managed to drag myself out of bed at 4:30 this morning to have the "Black Friday" shopping experience for the first time..... it was fun but I'm not sure if it's going to become a tradition... we'll see. It was surprising how many people can get themselves out of bed to shop so early after gorging themselves with food the day before!! The mall was busier than I've seen it on a week night at 5am!
Anyways, I hope everyone had a nice time with friends and family yesterday. Did you do anything special for your Thanksgiving table? I blogged about doing a theme with pears for my table (which is actually my moms table this year) here. I was all set to go with the miniature pears on the plates for name cards when somebody (who I will not name) decided to make my mini pears their snack and I didn't have enough left to use for the amount of guests! However, I did have a backup...... and it turned out just as nice. Here's some pictures I took yesterday of what actually ended up working.

We went for an "Americana" look. It was a little country and red white and blue!

I cut the tags out of decorative paper and then hot glued them to the stems of the mini apples.

Here I am with my turkey which I cooked at my house and then brought over to my moms. Monday I'll post about the way I prepared and cooked it! I have a secret for making it juicy and for cooking in way less time!

I'd love to hear about your Thanksgiving! What did you do to make it special?

Thanksgiving theme

2011-11-21T13:21:00.000-08:00

Like many of you, I've been thinking about what I'd like to do with my table setting for Thanksgiving this year. I love parties and entertaining and I'll take any excuse to make placecard holders, party favors, and of course decorate! As I started collecting images and looking around for inspiration I noticed a theme start to develop. In the pictures I was collecting I noticed there were lots of pears! So, I went with it and this year I'm doing a pear theme for Thanksgiving.

A theme always helps any get together feel thought out and special. So, here are some ideas I'm considering for my dining room decor and Thanksgiving table this year.

Pear Place Cards

A simple leaf shaped tag tied to the pear stem.

To make this placecard holder simply place letter stickers with the persons initials or name on the pear, spray paint, and remove stickers.

Love this miniature pear with name tag!

Using a ribbon adds another bit of interest.

Dining Room Decor

Love this simple paintng of a pear. This would be pretty leaning against the wall on a buffet table.

Pretty botanical print of a pear and leaves. This would be great framed for the wall!

Love the colors taken from this image of pears. These would make gorgeous dining room colors. These colors could be used in a way that could be either soothing and soft or dramatic and glamorous.

What are your ideas and plans for your Thanksgiving table this year?

All pictures via Pinterest

Fashion Fav: Plaid

2011-11-14T09:27:00.000-08:00

I've always been a fan of plaid. Whether in fashion or in interior design plaid is a classic and works so well for both. If you're in need of something new to add to your living room or your closet then consider plaid a good option....it never goes out of style.

Plaid coat & scarf with herringbone hat. So good together.

Love this vintage Ralph look

Such a classic style room.

I would wear this.

Looks good with sheep too :)

Masculine style room done in plaid

Looks good on the boys too!

So pretty

I'll take a wedding redo for these dresses!

Love this table setting.

Plaid on plaid. Love the monogram necklace too!

Bedroom Design - Lexington, MA

2011-11-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a teenage girl's bedroom design for about a month or so. We're making fast progress on this project and are hoping to have the room completed by Thanksgiving time. Here's a look at the design board which gives an idea for the style direction we're going in with the space.....

I had this client look through inspiration photos from design websites and select the images she felt drawn to. After looking at all the photos she chose, it became clear that she wanted a soft color pallete and a feminine look but with the added twist of ethnic and nature inspired accents. We went with soft lavenders, metallic wallpaper, white & cream furniture, and some brown and rubbed bronze finishes to ground the room. We also have a beautiful sari inspired golden metallic sheer for the window drapery. Overall, it all works really well together and makes for a unique look that in the end will really reflect her personality! Early next week I'll have some progress pictures to share of the room. I hope you enjoy the weekend!

In Progress: Mirror Installation -Woburn, MA

2011-11-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited about the way the living room is coming together that I shared with you in my previous post. I just had to share one more progress shot before the final reveal. I designed and had custom mirrors built specifically for this living room. The installation took place Thurday night and finished up this morning and the result is fantastic! The mirrors are really large but not intrusive and they really help brighten the room, open up the space, and make the room seem larger. My client really had to trust me on this decision and she was a little nervous about how they would look in the room but I'm happy to report that she loves them and is so glad she took the risk!

Again, here's the "Before" shot.

And here's the "In Progress" shot after the mirrors and new rug have been installed.

Such a huge difference, right? And we haven't even installed the rest of the furnishings, and pillows yet!
Among other additions to the room, we'll be changing the pillows on the sofa and you'll really see how pillows can do so much to add color and personality to a room.
We were also able to put down the rug which I had custom made to fit the exact dimensions of the room. The rug is a sisal backed wool pile rug and helps give the room a really fresh, open and relaxed feel.

Project Sneak Peek -Woburn, MA

2011-10-24T17:10:00.000-07:00

I'm getting close to finishing up a living room design project for a very lovely client of mine. Here are a couple sneak peeks at what we're doing before I share with you the finished room!

The Lee Industries chaise we had upholstered in a beautiful silvery blue fabric

One of our inspiration pictures my client found in House Beautiful magazine. You can see we loved the pillow fabric so much that we are using the exact one in our living room!

The pillow fabric is by Pierre Frey and is available through Christina Marie Interiors if anyone is interested.

The collection of fabrics and trims we're using throughout the room. We're using a lot of jewel tones but balancing all the color with some casual fabrics and a neutral sisal rug.

Here's the before picture. I can't wait to show you the after!

Design on A Dime: The Foyer -Winchester, MA

2011-10-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

Last night I participated in Design On A Dime where Shannon Kelly Gilmour of Grace Interiors and myself presented our foyer design to all the women from the community who attended. This event was organized by the Winchester Chamber Of Commerce and ten different designers and organizers participated in the event. We were divided into four teams and given a piece of furniture to decorate a "room" around. The event was held at the Next Door Theatre in Winchester and each team set up their "room" on the stage. We each had a 4' x 8' wall to work with and a theoretical budget of $1,000 - $1,500. Each team invented their own client to go along with their design and presented their story about their client as the space was presented to the audience.

Shannon and I received a foyer table as our piece to work with and because the piece was large and had a masculine feel we decided our client would be a man. Our theoretical clients name is Adam Johnson and he lives in Boston in a studio loft which he has recently purchased.

We wanted to show the audience how to make a statement in your foyer but without having to spend a lot of money. One of the major pieces in the foyer is the art piece which is a piece of Marimekko fabric stretched on a frame. A simple way to create impact and unify a space is through color and by using orange and white as our accent colors throughout the space we were able to give the space a cohesive feel while also creating impact. The lamp and convex mirror were both West Elm finds, the basket is from Michaels, the orange albums are from TJ Maxx, the round boxes are antique store finds (which function as a place to store keys, change, etc.), and the dog bed is a camel blanket that Adam brought back from a trip to Turkey. For a seasonal look we brought in the cabbages, and white pumpkins. However, the foyer can easily be transitioned into a Christmas look by replacing the cabbages with white pointsettas and adding a small Christmas tree in place of the pumpkin and halloween bobble head. We also added some personal touches like a picture of his dog and girlfriend.

I'm so glad I was able to participate in this event and had such a fantastic time getting to know the other designers involved in the different projects! A big thank you to everyone who helped to make this event great!

And speaking of holiday decorating...... My husband, Ryan, and I are working together this season to deliver Christmas trees and decorate your home for the holidays! If you weren't able to get one of the cards at the event here it is....

Design On A Dime -Winchester, MA

2011-10-04T06:35:00.000-07:00

For all you local women who might be interested, I'm participating in an event sponsored by the Winchester Chamber Of Commerce and Women Helping Women. For this event ten local designers are paired up into teams and will be presenting our ideas for decorating on a budget. It should be a really fun night and I'm really excited about the ideas my "team" has come up with to share. If you would like to join just send in your RSVP to the address listed below. I'd love to see you there!

Business Stationary

2011-09-29T12:42:00.000-07:00

I posted about my new logo in this previous post and mentioned I would share my new business stationary with you when it arrived. Well I woke up this morning to a pleasant surprise on my doorstep!! My new business cards, notecards, and notebook paper arrived today! I'm so excited about everything and I wanted to say a special thanks to Megan Davis of Toast & Laurel for designing my new logo and business stationary! Megan was so fantastic to work with and I would recommend her to anyone looking for any type of stationary.

Thanks Megan!

Kids Play Room - Burlington, MA

2011-09-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

September is just flying by! I have so much going on right now and I'm working on so many things that I can't wait to share. For now, here's a look at a recently decorated attic space being used as a kids playroom.

This homeowner wanted a yellow and gray color scheme and after looking at some different fabric options we settled on this yellow, gray, and white swirly floral fabric.

We were going for a casual look so I suggested we have the draperies rest on the floor slightly to take away the straight formal feel. This is demonstrated in the picture below. However, you want to avoid puddling the draperies too much because then it starts to have a romantic look.

And here is the result.

I also had bench cushions made for the kids storage bench seat and pillows sewn to finish the look.

I love color: Orange

2011-09-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

Maybe some of you noticed that I have a new logo hanging out up there. Well, I've been working with a fantastic graphic designer for the past few months to design a brand for my growing business. We first worked on creating a new logo and then we used that design to create custom business cards, notecards with envelopes and stationery. Everything is getting printed now and I can't wait to show you the results!
Part of designing the logo also included selecting a color scheme that I felt represented my business well. Obviously, I chose orange. The secondary color appears a little bit gray on the computer screen but it's actually a nice tan/gray color on paper. I chose orange because 1. It's a bit unusual 2. It's fun 3. It worked for Hermes....so why not me :) Of course, this time of year is perfect for using orange as an accent in your home but I put together a small collection of images to show how orange is a great color to use in your home any time of the year!

Love this unexpected use of color in the kitchen!

Just a pop of color is enough

This is just fun!

Orange works well in the city and in the country

And if you're lucky enough to have a collection of Hermes boxes just lying around..........

Haha, just kidding. Maybe.

Nursery Design

2011-09-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a design for a nursery and thought I'd share with you some of my ideas so far. I like to decorate a nursery so that it can grow with a child and still feel relevant even after the baby stage is over and the child has grown up. It's best to keep the main finishes in the room sophisticated so that the room can transition into a childs bedroom and then into a teenagers bedroom. You can accomplish this by choosing a sophisticated paint pallete for the walls, doors, and trim, selecting a neutral rug, and then using colorful art and accessories to create that "nursery" feel. By taking this approach to decorating your nursery you will end up with a room that is flexible and can easily transition into each stage of your childs life without having to do a major overhall every time.

In this design I have chosen to emphasize contrast (because babies see this well) by selecting a sophisticated black and white paint scheme. The walls will be white and the doors and trim will be done in a high gloss black. To add a punch of color I will use this floral wallpaper to create an accent wall behind the crib. I will use a black crib to further add a bit of drama. The rug is a black and white geometric and will easily transition into a childs or teen bedroom. The theme for the artwork is animals and incorporates both sophisticated black and white photography and colorful animal drawings.

Wall Art

2011-09-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

I noticed something I'd never seen before in the new Lonny Magazine issue. The owners of this Park Avenue home are avid collectors of art and the interiors have been designed to show off their collection. I really like this approach to decorating because it makes a home feel very personal and less like a decorator came in and "decorated". However, when I came to the pages showing the foyer I noticed immediately how the designer continued this concept but in an unexpected way. Instead of hanging art on the wall the designer used the walls as the canvas and created these cool graphic streaks using black tape. I really like the contrast it creates and how it seems to lead you into the house. If you have a foyer in your home go ahead and take a risk! A foyer creates the first and last impression of your home so it's a good idea to do something bold. First floor powder rooms are also great places to try something unusual because these are two parts of the house you only spend a little time in.

The designer continued the theme but in the reverse on the dining room floor.

Anyone ready for Fall?

2011-09-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to get excited for autumn. I feel like every year I am always ready for fall when September comes around but this year I was a little sad to see summer go. I guess I wasn't quite ready for the beach weather, boating, and weekend vacations to end but now that we're having cooler nights and shorter days I'm starting to get excited. Fall is really one of my favorite seasons....mostly because I love fall clothes! I love the cozy feeling of putting on a sweater in the evening, drinking hot apple cider and eating apple pie and ice cream. New England is an awesome place to be in the fall and I always enjoy apple picking, hay rides, pumpkin picking, and apple cider doughnuts! I love to get out and climb a mountain and see the beautiful fall colors we have around here in the foliage. Every year I find the fall foliage a source of inspiration for decorating my clients homes.
Basically, I just love everything about this time of year and I put together a collection of inspiration images of ways to decorate, dress and things to do for fall! You know you love this time of year too! I'd love to hear what things you love to do best for fall?

Love this table setting idea for Thanksgiving

Go for a Fall foliage drive!!

Eat lots of this. Love how they served up the milk :)

Apple picking - my favorite fall activity

Love these Emerson Made jeans - been on my list for a while

I love everything about this pic - The hair, glasses, sweater, jeans, belt....everything!

Love a big chunky sweater on a chilly day with jeans and boots

Another Emerson favorite. Love the trench and the top

This bag is gorgeous

Contemplating a similar cut for fall....

Taupe walls, orange accent -- Gorgeous!

Love the mix of soft beige/gold and orange

This is just COZY!

Love this orange pillow on the white chair fabric

Project Update - Kingston, MA

2011-08-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

I had a visit today with a lovely client who lives on the South Shore in Kingston, MA. We've been working together for almost a year now and we are very close to completing her living room. When I first arrived on this project the living room had carpet and an old floral sofa and a hodge podge of other furnishings. We have worked on this project off and on over this past year but so far the carpet has been removed and beautiful hardwood floors put down, the walls have been painted, draperies have been hung, and almost all the new furniture is in. We selected this sectional from Ethan Allen and we are waiting on this chair in a beautiful teal blue velvet to arrive and take the place of the blue one in the picture below. The room is really coming together and after a few more purchases have been made and the professional pictures taken I will share the entire project with you!

Slipcover for a Headboard - South End, Boston, MA

2011-07-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

Remember this client post? Well we've moved from the living room into the "bedroom" and done a little more decorating. Since this is a loft space and everything is completely open including the "bedroom" in the back of the space we wanted to do something special with the bed and make it feel important. I suggested that we do an upholstered headboard to make the bed more comfortable and also to make it a focal point. So, I suggested we use this headboard from West Elm because of the shape.

I like that it has height to it and since this loft has high ceilings I wanted to emphasize that by using a taller headboard to draw the eye up. The only problem was that we didn't care for any of the fabrics West Elm offered it in. So we went on a fabric shopping trip and came back with a few options to have a slipcover made to go right over the headboard fabric.

We wanted something bold and graphic that would pop off the wall. And as you can see below we decided on the middle fabric option. I think the headboard makes a great statement in the room and something as simple as having a slipcover made to cover a boring fabric makes the piece totally custom and unique!

Now were working on finding the perfect, bedding, window treatments, and rug to complement the headboard! More progress updates to come :)

Boothbay Harbor

2011-07-26T12:17:00.000-07:00

A couple weekends ago my husband and I had the opportunity to go to Boothbay Habor, Maine and stay with some friends. While there we visited Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and they were awesome! I loved seeing all the varieties of flowers and plants that are native to this area. There were really nice water features and hardscapes all throughout the gardens as well. My husband is the owner of WikWorks Inc., a landscape design business, and he and I really enjoyed getting some new ideas and inspiration for both our design businesses.

This is the home of the "Wicked Witch" from the original Wizard Of Oz! Her son lives here since she passed away. You can't tell from the picture but the house is on a tiny island right off the shore.

Can't beat free

2011-07-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

On the way to do some rug shopping for my client the other day I happened to notice a trunk on the side of the road! I drove past it at first but then I started thinking I may have the perfect spot to use a piece like that. So I turned around and went back. Funny how everything always looks small from your car but when I got out to look at the thing IT WAS HUGE! At this point I had decided I wanted it but now I had to figure out how to get it into my car (not to mention I was wearing a silk dress). Somehow I managed to shove it into my back seat without doing too much damage to my car or my dress.....I'm sure whoever lived in the house the trunk was in front of was laughing their head off at me while I was trying to figure out how to take their trash. In the end my efforts were worth it because it ended up looking pretty nice as a bedstand in the guys bedroom it went to.

Louis XV Chairs - Oh the Possibilities!

2011-07-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased a pair of vintage Louis style chairs that I found on Craigslist.org for only $75 for the pair. I purchased them from an older lady who told me the chairs belonged to her mother and were kept at their beach house on the cape for many years (thus the seafoam green color). While the frames of the chairs are in great condition the caning on the seats has become weakened over the years and needs recaining. I thought about painting them, having them recained, and having my seamstress make me a new cover for the cushions that came with the chairs but now instead I'm thinking that I want to fully upholster the chairs so they look something like this:

Here's what they look like now

So now I need to decide what color to paint the frame and what fabrics to use for upholstering with. With this style chair there are three surfaces to cover with fabric allowing for three opportunities to use coordinating fabrics on the chair. For my designs I'm thinking that I will go with one fabric for the front of the chairs and an accent fabric for the back side of the seatback.

Here are the paint and fabric options I am considering so far:

Option 1

Ever since I saw this black and white chintz fabric in the offices of Lonny magazine I have been dying to use it somewhere! I never thought I was a fan of chintz until I saw this print. I love that it's a floral but in black, white and taupe so it doesn't seem too girly. I would pair it with this simple dot ticking stripe on the back of the chair and paint the frame in a high gloss black. What do you think?

Option 2

Option 2 is inspired by the original beachy feel of the chair with the caining and green finish. I wanted to do an updated version of a beach inspired look. I would use this red coral fabric on the front of the chair and do the navy and white ric rac on the back side of the chair. I'd paint the frame in a high gloss white. I love that this incorporates both a beach feel and also a patriotic one at the same time!

So which one do you prefer? I'd love to hear your comments below!

Project Progress - Needham, MA

2011-07-05T06:40:00.000-07:00

Remeber these pillows from this post? Well the Mitchell Gold sofa came in that they were made for and the pillows look beautiful against the camel/gold toned upholstery we selected for the sofa. In addition to these pillows we'll also be adding a few slightly larger pillows in a really pretty light gold linen fabric which you can see below.

I'm really excited about some of the other pieces that will be arriving for this family room! And I'll be sure and update you on the progress!

I hope everyone had a Happy 4th!

Random

2011-06-28T15:13:00.000-07:00

I've been really busy working on client projects lately since summer is here and clients want their projects finished before the 4th. So just a random post about some little crafty projects I've been working on for fun and some pretty flowers. I was in my friends wedding this past weekend and the flowers were beautiful so since I love flowers I took a few pictures of them. They were mainly peonies and pink roses with a little greenery thrown in. The stems were left long and loose and it made them feel like they came right out of the garden.

I had to trim the stems for the vase but how pretty are these flowers on my mantle! I love fresh flowers in the house. No matter how beautiful your space is already fresh flowers always add to a space and make it feel extra special.

(What do you think of the drapes? I sewed them myself!)

And on another crafty note, I've been learning to knit with my husbands grandmother. I've know how to knit and pearl since I was in elementary school but I could never do more than make a scarf or blanket. I've been learning how to read a pattern and actually make some nice things! I highly recommend it to anyone looking to make some useful homemade items and it's especially great for making baby gifts! So far I've completed a couple of dishcloths, socks, and a baby hat. I love knitting!!

What crafts and homemade projects do you like to make?

Weekend

2011-06-21T06:06:00.000-07:00

My husband and I visited Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester, MA this weekend and it was so inspiring to walk around and see the pretty scenery and stop in some art galleries. I took a few photos while we were there but I wish I took more.

Smith Cove

Love these horse finials!

The flowers are so pretty near the ocean and the colors that people use on their shops and houses are so fun!

I loved these little oil paintings of sand dunes. But at $350 each I may need to try and copy!

Sigrid Olsen has two shops on the Neck. This one has housewares and the other is her art studio/gallery.

The houses overlooking the harbour....awesome view!

A couple artists on the neck worth visiting:

Elynn Kroger

Kathleen Gerdon Archer, White Bird Gallery

Color Schemes

2011-06-14T15:33:00.000-07:00

Since I have been working as a designer I have found that many people really struggle with choosing colors for their homes. Since I do a lot of color consultations I decided to start a blog series where I take inspiration from a photo and then turn that photo into a color scheme for a room using Benjamin Moore colors. I will be using photos that I have posted to my Pintrest Great Color Combinations inspiration board.

*The color swatches I post may not look like the exact color in the photo. This is due to monitor differences. It is best to look at the actual B. Moore paint chip - this is where I am taking my selections from.

Blue Stripe - Benjamin Moore French Violet 1427

~Best for accent in the room, i.e use for upholstery, throw pillows, rug

White Stripe - Benjamin Moore Super White INT. RM

~Best for moldings, lamp shades, accessories (I didn't post a swatch because it would be invisible.)

Sand - Benjamin Moore Winds Breath 981
~Best for wall color

Water - Benjamin Moore Misty Gray 2124-60
~Best for painted furniture, side tables, chest, or coffee table

If anyone has any questions about how to use these colors or thoughts on what you would do with these colors I'd love to hear them! Also, if you have an inspriation photo that you'd like me to assign colors to send me an email and include the picture!

Get Creative With Photography

2011-06-13T07:23:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been really into photography as art and the best resource I know for great affordable photography and art is Etsy.com. I used etsy to find all the photographs I used in my Boston wall gallery from this post. I love that all the photographs came from local artists who really know the city and that they all came from different people so the photography style is different for each one.
There are so many talented artists selling their photos on Etsy but I recently discovered Honeytree Photography and I love the style and subjects of her photographs. Also, she's offering 30% off her prints rights now! She also writes a lovely blog where she documents and highlights some of her photography. Here are some of my favorites:

Wouldn't these next 3 shots be so fun in a boys rooms for a "transportation" theme?!!

Love this enchanted forest shot!

This would be awesome blown up large and leaning against a wall.

Love this carousel in Paris. It would be so cute in a girls room.

This would be so pretty hanging above a dressing table or vanity.

2011-06-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm a little late to the party but I've recently discovered Pinterest.com. I love their concept! Basically you install their little Pin It button in your favorites bar and you can grab pictures from all over the web and put them directly on your boards! It's such a great way to keep track of images and ideas. You can create as many different boards and categoaries as you need to organize your pics. You can also check out other members boards too!
I just got started on my boards but right now I have two categories: My Style Board and Great Color Combinations. I'd love for you to follow me as I'll be adding to these daily. I especially think you may benefit from my Great Color Combinations board. On this board I'll be posting images that have color combinations that I think are perfect for using as inspiration for room decor. You could take these colors and turn them into inspiration for wall colors, furniture upholstery, or even a couple of throw pilows.

Hanging Art: Gallery Style - Boston, MA - Brookline, MA

2011-06-08T08:12:00.000-07:00

I installed a couple of art installations for clients recently. One client lives in a loft in the South End and has quite a large collection of art and photography. To get the most impact I like to create collections out of many different kinds of art and hang them together gallery style. First I go through and edit the grouping until I have a collection that looks good together. Usually I try to find common themes or colors in the artwork if all the frames are different. Then I create a composition on the floor before I start hanging:

I have found that making paper templates of the artwork and marking where the nail goes helps a lot when you're trying to hang everything. Just hang the paper template on the wall and put the nail where you have made the mark.

There are a couple empty spots on the right side because we are waiting for the frames.

The second client is the owner of a real estate business in Brookline, MA. I hung a gallery wall recently for him as well. This one was a bit trickier because everything needed to be centered and lined up perfectly on the wall. The paper templates came in handly for this project especially. I ordered these photographs from local artists on Etsy.com and had them framed. They are all shots of different Boston icons.

I've been working with the owner on this project for a while now. Here's a before and after of whats been done so far.

Sneak Peaks - Needham, MA - Burlington, MA

2011-06-02T14:58:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share a couple sneak peaks for projects that I have in the works. Later this month I'll be with my photographer and doing some photo shoots for completed projects but for now I'll share just a few little shots that I took myself.

Before Shot of the window in an attic which was converted into a tv/playroom. This client did a great job choosing finishes for the space but it needed some softening with fabric. I helped the client select fabric and designed custom window treatments to soften the window.

After: The drapes aren't hung right but you get the idea. We are changing the rod to a brushed nickel finish and hanging the drapes a bit lower so they just touch the floor. The header is a flat panel finish which is more relaxed and casual than doing a pinch pleat.

I am also having cushions sewn for the bench seat in the room.

The Fabrics

Gray fabric = Bench cushion fabric

White fabric = Piping for bench cushions and pillows

Multi = Window treatment fabric

Stripe = Bolster pillow fabric

Here's a peak at another project I'm currently working on. These pillows are for a family room/den I'm decorating in Needham, MA. I love these fabrics and colors together. The green pillow is a gorgeous velveteen with a delicate woven in design and the silver pillow is a silk geometric fabric.

Detail shot of the rope trim I selected for the green pillow. It's hard to see but it has a green, silver, and gold thread and pulls in all the colors we are using in the space.

Can't wait to share the finished projects with you!

Brimfield Finds

2011-05-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

I promised to show you some of my finds from Brimfield. I had a great time looking for some things for clients and also shopping for myself a bit. I ended up going on Tuesday and Friday because there was just so much to see. It's impossible to get to everything in one day!

I found this great pair of decorative wood brackets that I'm going to repaint and use for open shelving in my kitchen. Just $10 for the pair!

I love classic ginger jar lamps and when I found this lamp base for $35 I had to have it! I love that it's white and I love the chinoiserie piercing.

Yes, I have a thing for white....especially white dishware. I found a set of ten of these Royal Copenhagen tea cups and I love the simple shape paired with the swirly handle. The porcelain these are made of is so thin and delicate and I just love how girly and pretty they are. I already used them for cappaccino and they were perfect! Only $8 for all ten!!

My $1 milk jar. I think these are great for serving juice or milk at a party!

If you're interested the next show is in July.

Brimfield Antique Fair

2011-05-09T11:06:00.000-07:00

I'm off with a friend to the Brimfield Antique Fair tomorrow to do some shopping for clients.....ok, ok, and a little for me too. How can I resist only the third largest antique fair in the entire country?! Three times a year Brimfield, MA fills up with loads of antique vendors and even more shoppers looking to score some beautiful antiques at awesome prices for their homes. This year I will be looking for some furniture pieces for various client projects and also accessories and props for styling clients homes for photoshoots. I'm so excited and I'll be sure to share my findings with you later!

Drapery Fabrics

2011-04-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

I really love the look of this fabric by F. Schumacher. I came across this first image of it used as drapery and really liked the pattern it creates. I'm always drawn to black and white and I think it's because I really enjoy the contrast. I can image this fabric working for many different projects and being used in many different ways. Here's just a few ways to use it:

F. Schumacher fabric
Chenonceau in Charcoal

Woodsy - Burlington, MA

2011-04-15T13:13:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share a little sneak peak of a bedroom project I've been working on. This happens to be a boys room and this particular boy happens to love the outdoors. The theme in the room before we started this project was definitely an outdoorsy one with a big border around the top of the room featuring bears, moose, wolves and maybe a few other creatures and a big mural on one wall of a moose in a pond! Sounds like every guys dream right? The only thing missing was a big deer head sticking out of the wall and a brown leather sofa.

Befores:

Anyways, the homeowners wanted to tone down on the "themeyness" of the room and do something a little more sophisticated for their son. So far the walls of the room have been painted in Farrow & Balls' Lamp Room Gray and Cole & Son's Woods wallpaper installed on the wall where the bed will sit. Next were moving on to furniture. We've already purchased West Elm's Jute rug in Clay and now were looking for a bed, dresser, and possible chair with ottoman. After that we'll do some accessorizing and get the room all styled up for the "Afters". Stay tuned, I'll be sharing those later.

Progress Shots:

Can everybody say YAY for Friday! Enjoy the weekend!

All the colors of the rainbow!

2011-04-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because Spring is finally come to New England but lately I've been so inspired to decorate with COLOR! Why is it that many of us New Englanders are scared to venture out and oh I don't know... try out a little color on the walls?! Color can cause us to feel many different ways and many times color can create such a cheerful, happy environment for us to live in. So why are we so scared to use it? Really, I'd love to hear some comments below about why you have a hard time with color. I think sometimes my clients feel nervous that they will grow tired of seeing a bold color on their walls for a long period of time. However, I'm not saying that color is only for the walls! I love to see color in the furniture choices, the window treatments, the accessories etc. and these things can all be changed after enough time has passed and your ready to change things up a bit.
So here's a collection of pictures I love that all have loads of color in them. Now tell me you wouldn't feel more energized and fun if you had one of these spaces to live in :)

If you're nervous about using color, an Entry is a great place to use some WOW colors. Nobody lives in their entry so you won't grow tired of the colors easily and it creates a great statement as the introduction to your home.

A great example of using color on the upholstery and accessories and not so much on the walls. The white walls balance out all the color happening in the furniture.

One large pop of color really changes the feeling of a neutral colored room!

I love this dining room. I'll take the whole thing please. Those blue chairs are so fun!

A great patterned wallpaper is a gorgeous way to turn your powder room into a jem!

This is just a dream.....

Love this color combination for a girl's room.

This blue is beautiful in this kitchen. I like how the designer has used a deeper blue on the island and a lighter version for the upper cabinets.

Professional Pictures - South End, Boston, MA

2011-04-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

I promised in my last post I would show you the professional pictures my photographer Maureen of Maureen Cotton Photography took of the kitchen. Here's one more look of the final results. (See the Before pictures here)

As you can tell from the Before pictures this kitchen was lacking in both storage and style. I'm loving how the new kitchen really plays up the architectural features in this space. Before that gorgeous brick wall was making the space feel dark and just looked plain odd becuase of the way it angles into the space. We played it up by using the dark grey cabinetry which picks up on the the darker color in the brick. We also wanted this kitchen to be contemporary but balance it out with some warm traditional elements. We accomplished this by using a high gloss cabinet but paired it with a warm oak countertop. You can't really see it in the pictures but the countertop actually really helps to accent the wood beams that run along the ceiling. We kept the flooring and backsplash neutral to allow the brick wall to really stand out and not compete with it.

Have a happy weekend everyone

Kitchen Progress - Finished! - South End, Boston, MA

2011-03-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

On Monday I met my photographer Maureen in Boston at the job site to have a photo shoot and take some "after" shots. She sent me one of the photos from the shoot and will be sending over the rest next week. Little sneak peak for now...

If you missed it, check out some "before" pictures here.

And if anyone is interested in my sources:
Cabinets are IKEA Abstrakt in high gloss gray
Countertop is IKEA Oak butcher block
Hardware is by Cool Knobs and Pulls
Backsplash tile is by Florida Tile in Barely Beige
Floor tile is by Florida Tile in Spirit Pearl

I'm pretty impressed with the Ikea cabinetry overall (can't beat the price!). For the most part they function very nicely and the quality and construction is comparable with more expensive lines. This was my first time sourcing Ikea for a kitchen and I would recommend it to anyone with a tight budget. I'd check out Ikea before Home Depot or Lowe's if you want a more streamlined contemporary styled kitchen.....but if you're looking for wood that's another story and I'd skip out on Ikea's "look-alike" stuff.

Kitchen Design - South End, Boston, MA

2011-03-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

I've been working hard on a kitchen renovation project in Boston and I wanted to share the progress with you. This kitchen is really more of a kitchenette because it's part of an office space and there is no stove top or oven. The client called me at the end of January and requested that the kitchen be completely designed, gutted and installed by the beginning of March. The schedule was pretty tight, just about one month actually to do a complete kitchen renovation but, I decided to take it on and this is the progress so far....

Before pictures:

Construction Progress:

Because this kitchen is in an office we needed to comply with Americans With Disabilities Act and make the kitchen handicap accessible. That is why there are no cabinets under the sink and the countertop is lowered a few inches.

New half-depth cabinets on a previously under utilized wall.

Right now the cabinets have a blue film protecting them during the install. They are actually a high gloss charcoal gray color. You can see a hint of it on the light valance which runs around the bottom of the upper cabinets.

The tile flooring and backsplash will be going in this week and once the kitchen is complete I'll post the "Afters"!

Craig's List Find

2011-01-24T07:47:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you but I love a good Craig's list find every now and then. There's something oddly exciting about searching through hundreds of posts of peoples junk and eventually finding a gem. I've been doing a bit of hunting lately for a piece of furniture to work as storage for clothes. Since I've been living in an apartment there really has been a lack of storage for two peoples wardrobes! Anyways, I did a little digging through the junk and came across this antique Swedish style hutch. It needs a little bit of work - probably paint and some veneer patching but overall I love the look of the piece! Even though it's not meant for clothes I'm going to use it as an armoire for now and eventually when I have a house it can be used in a dining room or kitchen.

Happy CL hunting!

COCOCOZY online shop

2011-01-24T06:42:00.000-08:00

There's a new online design shop thats recently opened their doors. COCOCOZY Spring/Summer 2011 collection is now available online and includes beautiful linen pillows, drapery, throws and bedding in original design by Coco. I'm loving her cotton throws in the Cococozy logo print.... especially in the black and white color combo! It would make a great statement over the arm of any sofa! Head over to Coco's site and check out all her designs!

Lonny Magazine

2011-01-10T16:41:00.000-08:00

If any of you love interior design magazines as much as I do then you're really gonna love this one........because it's FREE! And it's super gorgous! Lonny Magazine has been published for almost a year now and I've been following ever since it was first released. Lonny is an online magazine (although they do offer printed copies) and is chalk full of beautiful design stories and images. Their image gallery is especially helpful if you're looking to do some design updates in your own house. The pictures are so inspiring and are perfect for saving to your own decorating file (which I've mentioned before;) ).
I wanted to share this with everyone because I look forward to the new edition every month and thought you would love it too!

Here's a few of my favorite images (super hard to pick just a few):

Project Update - Brookline, MA

2010-12-28T12:44:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share some pictures of the progress of a small commercial project I have been working on in Brookline, MA. If you missed the last post on this project check it out here.

My ceiling and lighting design are installed and we're ready to start the fun part of this project...... decorating and furniture!

New Ceiling - soft light from behind the floating ceiling washes the walls and will highlight the maps and photos we will be hanging. We will also be replacing the desks with these and changing the orientation so that clients can sit across from their agent.

We'll be adding a beautiful seating arrangement in place of the table which will create a comfortable place to talk with clients and review paperwork.

Three of these Jonathan Adler pendants will be installed down the center of this aisle and will create depth into the space and additional accent lighting.

Jonathan Adler Pendant

Next time I'll have some final pictures to share for this project!

Trees With Ease

2010-12-20T08:03:00.000-08:00

Introducing for the 2011 Holiday season Wikworks,Inc. and Christina Marie Interiors holiday decorating service Trees With Ease

My husband Ryan, owner of Wikworks,Inc, and Christina Marie Interiors are joining forces next year to offer our clients a new service to help lighten the load during your busy holiday season. If festive holiday decorations are something that you can't live without but you lack the time or skill to pull everything together in time for the holidays then Trees With Ease is the perfect option for all your home decorating needs.
Between Wikworks,Inc outdoor solutions for holiday lighting, planter designs, wreath installations, tree delivery, and Christina Marie Interiors discerning eye for indoor tree decorating, mantle displays, banister decor, wreaths and so much more you'll be well on your way to having the best dressed home for the holidays!

And... we're giving away a free Christmas Tree Delivery for the 2011 season (within a 15 mile radius of Burlington, MA). All you need to do to enter is become a follower of this blog and leave a comment below on your thoughts about this new service and how you would use Trees With Ease for your home!

Rustic Chic Mountain Dream House

2010-12-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

The latest Elle Decor is out and one article really stood out to me in this issue. This mountain getaway designed by an interior designer and her two daughter team looks so cozy but just as chic at the same time. Anyone ever heard of the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho?? Maybe it's just me.... but I've never heard of this place and it's GORGEOUS!

Love the Hermes throw! The orange pops add just the right amount of color to the space.

This dining room is fantastic. Love the steel bookcase backdrop. It's adds that cozy library feel to the space.

I love the beautiful fabrics they chose for this room. The deep plum sofa is so rich and elevates the space from looking like any other mountain lodge.

Lovely soothing colors for a master bedroom!

Who could complain about this bathtub!

I can just image being a kid and being so excited about these beds! Clever use of space as well. I love how they're tucked into the eaves of the room.

This outdoor fireplace is so inviting. Even though it looks very chilly outside!

Building My Dream Home

2010-12-07T13:33:00.000-08:00

I've built my dream home in my mind.....(and tried to figure out how to live there). I'm working on compiling my inspiration images for each room and here's a look at what I've got so far. For all of you slightly interested in design, even if you never build your "dream home" it's not a bad idea to compile images of spaces that you really love. That way when you have some cash to do some DIY you'll already have a well defined style file to go to for inspiration.

Foyer

Living Room

Dressing Room (Hey, It's a Dream House!)

Play Room

Girl's Room

Pool

More to come later.....................

I'd love to hear what you want in your Dream Home!

Announcement: Christina Marie Interiors is now offering Mail Order Rooms

2010-12-06T11:57:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to unveil my new e-decorating service which offers interior decorating services to anyone who has access to a computer. With the invention of the internet (thank you Al) my decorating services are no longer constrained by distance or budget. With a little cost effective team effort from the homeowner Christina Marie Interiors can create a room where you can share in the satisfaction of seeing the project come off the paper and into real life.

MAIL ORDER ROOMS

WHAT IS MAIL ORDER ROOMS?

MAIL ORDER ROOMS IS A NEW DESIGN OPTION FROM CHRISTINA MARIE INTERIORS THAT GIVES VIRTUAL CLIENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETAIN THE INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES OF CHRISTINA WIKMAN EVEN IF THEY LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE BOSTON AREA. MAIL ORDER ROOMS IS IDEAL FOR RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS LARGE AND SMALL. ALL YOU NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MAIL ORDER ROOMS IS ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

WHO SHOULD USE MAIL ORDER ROOMS?

MAIL ORDER ROOMS IS IDEAL FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO DECORATE ROOMS IN THEIR HOME UTILIZING THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF INTERIOR DESIGNER, CHRISTINA WIKMAN. MAIL ORDER ROOMS IS IDEAL FOR CLIENTS WHO HAVE A LIMITED BUDGET OR WHO ONLY WANT TO FOCUS ON ONE ROOM AT A TIME. WITH MAIL ORDER ROOMS WE CAN CREATE THE LOOK YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE, DESPITE TIME, DISTANCE OR BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS.

WHAT DO YOU RECEIVE WITH MAIL ORDER ROOMS?

AS A MAIL ORDER ROOMS CLIENT, YOU WILL RECEIVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BRING THE ROOM OF YOUR DREAMS TO LIFE. YOUR MAIL ORDER DÉCOR MAY INCLUDE: PAINT CHIP COLORS, WALLPAPER SAMPLES, IDEAS FOR ITEMS TO REUSE AND/OR REVAMP, RUG, LIGHTING AND FABRIC SUGGESTIONS, WINDOW TREATMENT OPTIONS, ACCESSORY AND ART SUGGESTIONS AND FURNITURE PLACEMENT. YOU’LL ALSO RECEIVE CHRISTINA’S LINKS TO ALL OF THE RESOURCES YOU’LL NEED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. ALL OF THIS WILL BE MAILED TO YOU IN A BEAUTIFUL MAIL ORDER BOX.

PLEASE NOTE: SUGGESTED ITEMS MAY OR MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE DUE TO VENDOR STOCK AND AVAILABILITY. CHRISTINA MARIE INTERIORS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE ITEMS, BUT WILL TRY TO ASSIST YOU IN FINDING SUITABLE ALTERNATIVES WHEN POSSIBLE.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

REQUEST AN INFORMATION SHEET BY EMAILING CHRISTINA MARIE INTERIORS. COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE INFORMATION SHEET ALONG WITH 2-4 LOW-RESOLUTION IMAGES OF THE ROOM, AND THE ROOM’S MEASUREMENTS. WE WILL NEED A DRAWING OF EACH WALL, INCLUDING THE OVERALL DIMENSIONS OF THE ROOM AND WALL HEIGHT. PLEASE INCLUDE HEATERS, WINDOWS, ETS. INCLUDE PICTURES AND DIMENSIONS OF ANY FURNITURE THAT YOU WISH TO REMAIN IN THE ROOM. ALSO INDICATE YOUR BUDGET AND INCLUDE 6 LINKS OR IMAGES REPRESENTING YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THE ROOM. ALL INFORMATION IS SENT ELECTRONICALLY.

HOW LONG UNTIL I RECEIVE MY MAIL ORDER ROOM?

ONCE YOUR INFORMATION SHEET, ROOM IMAGES, MEASUREMENTS, INSPIRATION LINKS, AND PAYMENT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED THE DESIGN PROCESS BEGINS. WE DESIGN EACH ROOM, ONE AT A TIME, AND EACH ROOM DESIGN TAKES APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS TO BE COMPLETED AND SENT BACK TO YOU. IF YOUR PROJECT INVOLVES MULTIPLE ROOMS OR AN ENTIRE HOME, PLEASE EMAIL CHRISTINA MARIE INTERIORS FOR A TIME ESTIMATE.

RATES & PAYMENT

BEDROOMS / LIVING ROOMS / DINING ROOMS / KITCHENS / DENS / HOME OFFICES / $550

BATHROOMS / BREAKFAST ROOMS / ENTRY WAYS / HALLWAYS / $500

PAYMENT IS DUE IN FULL WHEN THE INFORMATION SHEET, ROOM IMAGES AND INSPIRATION LINKS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED. ROOMS DESIGN WILL BEGIN WHEN PAYMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED IN FULL. WE ACCEPT CHECKS AND PAYPAL. ALL DESIGNS ARE NON REFUNDABLE. IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS OR REQUIRE MORE TIME ON THE ROOM, WE CHARGE AN ADDITIONAL $50 AN HOUR FOR PHONE CALLS, EMAILS AND ADDITIONAL RESEARCH.

12 Days Of Christmas Giveaways!!

2010-12-03T06:55:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share a cool giveaway that's happening over at High Gloss magazine. They're giving away 12 amazing gifts for the 12 days of Christmas. Check it out!

Project Update - Brookline, MA

2010-12-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

I've been working with the owner of Tri-State Realty to redesign and decorate his office in Brookline, MA. This project has been in the works for a couple of months as we worked out the plans for the design of the new office. The owner had already done some remodeling before he brought us on board so we are working with the existing flooring and paint colors for the new design. However, the ceiling hadn't been updated yet so I took advantage of this and designed a new floating ceiling with cove lighting around the perimeter of the room. The cove lighting will wash the walls with a soft glow and highlight the gorgeous antique maps of Boston we have purchased for the project.

Antique Maps of Boston/Brookline

Ceiling Work in Progress

Once the ceiling is finished we'll be decorating and furnishing with new employee desks, a seating/reception area, a coffee/beverage station, and conference table area. We'll also be adding window treatments, pendant lighting, artwork for the walls and area rugs to finish off the space. Stay tuned for the finished project!

Some Design Elements for the space

Shopping in Boston

2010-11-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been compiling a list of design related shops in my favorite city -Boston. Even though we're no New York, Boston still has its fair share of awesome design resources. I'm slowly working my way through visiting all of them, but I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you that are on my own little "Best of Boston" list. Check 'em out!

Hudson Boston

Good Boston

Michelle Willey

Best Accessories and Furniture - Hudson
Best Antiques - The Barn At 17
Best Mid-Century Furniture - Machine Age
Best Gifts - Good
Best Kitchen Wares - Simplemente Blanco
Best Vintage Furniture - Acquire
Best Architectural Salvage - Restoration Resources
Best Imported Furnishings - Mohr-Mcpherson
Best Furniture Restoration - Sunshine Lucy's
Best Designer Furniture - Boston Design Center
Best Jewelry Design - M. Flynn Accessories
Best "a little bit of everything" boutique - Michelle Willey's Design Boutique

Country Living

2010-11-13T10:20:00.000-08:00

Just a sneak peek at a design I'm working on for the winner of the design package I auctioned off at the ALS "Say It With Flower" Event in September. It's a living room with a bit of a country flair. The floral fabric inspired the red and blue accent colors and will be used on the throw pillows. I can't wait to see this room installed and I'd love to know what you think!

Farrow & Ball Paints

2010-10-12T18:45:00.000-07:00

I've been enamored with Farrow & Ball paints ever since I ordered their color card. They offer 132 "paired down" paint colors and they are all gorgeous. Their paints have a lot of depth and pigment and give a wall so much richness. I especially love their dark moody colors and find that they are flexible enough to work in a room filled with a lot of natural sunlight or in one without a lot of natural light. In a darker room Farrow & Balls darker colors have a lovely enveloping effect and works especially well in a library/study or office.

I also love to bring along Farrow's color card to client meetings because with less colors to choose from clients can easily point out the colors they are automatically drawn without becoming overwhelmed by too many choices. Check out all their colors here.

Lovin' Me Some Neutral Rooms

2010-10-05T13:45:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been drawn to neutrals. I love a neutral room because it makes you pay attention to contrast, texture, shapes, and scale. All design elements that can be easily overlooked when there is a lot of color and pattern going on in a space. Neutral rooms are also very calming and sophisticated without being uninviting or cold. By layering texture and tonal colors you can achieve a lovely cosy-casual feel. I have some clients who are going in this direction and I'm so excited to work on these projects. (And I'll to be sure to share!) In the meantime, here are some images to inspire!

Even a babies nursery can be neutral without being boring. So chic!

A Good Cause

2010-09-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday I will be attending the sixth annual Say It With Flowers ALS fundraising event. The event is hosted by the Red Sox wives and is held to raise money for those suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. Registration for the event will start at 9 a.m., followed by a floral-arranging class from 10 to 11:30 a.m., a wine reception with silent auction from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and a luncheon with live auction from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Christina Marie Interiors is donating a full-scale design plan for one room in a residential setting to the silent auction. I'm hoping this will catch the attention of some of the ladies there and raise some money for the cause. If you would like to donate to ALS you can visit their site and make a donation here.

If I had a Dining Room.....

2010-09-01T13:34:00.000-07:00

.......... it would go something like this:

This Drapery Fabric

This Dining Table

These chairs

This buffet

With this mirror above

This rug

These lanterns

And some accessories

Love.

Dining Room Designs/ T.V. Room Designs

2010-07-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

Have a look at some new designs I've recently completed for my client in Newton, MA. These designs are for the Informal Living Room/ T.V. Room. The client wanted something edgier and more contemporary. Here's what I designed for the T.V. Room -

The Space:

The Design:

In the Dining Room the client wanted to do something about the dark wood of the fireplace surround and also wanted to get away from the dark wood of the dining set. Here's a look at the designs for the Dining Room -

The Space:

The Design:

Newton, MA Project

2010-06-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

I've taken on some exciting new projects lately and they've been keeping me pretty busy these past few weeks. One project includes decorating a condo in a beautiful 19th century Victorian in Newton, MA. The house was originally built as a nursing home in the 1800s and has some interesting rooms which now must serve as living space for the homeowner. One such room is at the front of the house and has a curved wall making the room feel very round- this makes decorating a bit more of a challenge. At this point the homeowner has some furnishings in the room (sofa, desk, armoire etc.) but none of them really seem to fit because of their straight lines. They awkwardly stick into the room and don't feel at all at home. It's kind of like trying to stick a square peg into a circular hole.
This room is the clients formal living room and I'm helping my client make sense of the space through furniture solutions. The client has also requested that we create a bit more of an informal yet sophisticated atmosphere- different form what currently exists. Here's a look at some before pictures and also a peek at some of the design elements so far.

Before Pictures - Circular Formal Living Room:

Design Board:

Later I'll be posting about my Lincoln, MA project. Enjoy the weekend everyone!