Project - Living Room II

Here are pictures from a living room project I've been working on over the last year or so in Crestline.  For those of you outside of Alabama, Crestline is one of the four villages or areas in the city of Mountain Brook.  It's a lovely area with lots of gorgeous homes ranging from large tudors to small cozy bungalows all within walking distance to lots of fabulous shops and restaurants.

My clients live in a cozy bungalow that has tons of character.  They are young and hip and not afraid of color.  In this case, we embraced the fabulous Heriz rug they already owned.  We played up the putty brown tones in the rug and used them on the window treatments (which my client made) and upholstered pieces.  We then pulled out the grays and teals of the rug by way of artwork and accent pillows.  That's the wonderful thing about a Heriz - you can always find a color in them you love.

Mandi Smith T Interiors 

photo by Alison Gault

We also mixed traditional and modern elements in the space.  This allows the interiors to blend and "fit" with the style of the house (which is rather traditional) while still reflecting the more modern personalities of the couple who call this space home.

Mandi Smith T Interiors 

photo by Alison Gault

My clients love to entertain, and they use every single room in their home.  They also have two small children.  So, the goal with this project was to give them affordable high style (by using lots of items they already owned) while keeping it comfortable and kid friendly.  

Mandi Smith T Interiors 

photo by Alison Gault

Here is just one small example of all those elements.  This accessory is made of brass which is totally current and modern.  It was also not expensive (under $35).  It looks very fragile - but truthfully, you can throw it across the room, and it still looks great.  So all the elements exist - affordable, high style, kid friendly.

Mandi Smith T Interiors 

photo by Alison Gault

When planning this design, the goal was to make every piece in the space count.  The buffet acts as storage while giving us a fabulous secondary focal point.  It also brings in a rich wood which every space needs.  The coffee table while beautiful is still large and sturdy enough to act as an ottoman where you can actually kick your feet up.  Lastly, the ottoman in front of the bergere' chair acts as additional seating during a gathering.  Make every piece count. 

Mandi Smith T Interiors 

photo by Alison Gault

This mirror is very old and has been in my client's family for years.  By layering some modern pieces on top of it, we have created a current look.

Mandi Smith T Interiors 

photo by Alison Gault

Believe me - You really can have affordable high style that is also comfortable and accessible.  It just takes some thoughtful planning.  M.

Mantle Refinishing Tutorial

What a weekend!  I hope everyone had a nice relaxing break.   The weather here in Birmingham was so sunny and wonderful.  It was a bit chilly, but I'll take it any day over drizzle which we have had our share of lately.  

In between outings to enjoy the weather, I managed to put this post together.  

If you recall, a few weeks ago, I promised to show you how we refinished the mantle in our family room.  For a refresher, here is the project planning for the media area and here is the finished product.   I was so surprised by just how simple it was to refinish the mantle (wish the rest of the project had gone this smoothly!)

This mantle board was in my childhood home growing up.  Then about 13 years ago my parent's home was struck by lighting and burned for a total loss.  This was one of the only things salvaged from the architecture of the home.  Here's what it looked like after the fire . . . 

 In this picture, you can really see the smoke damage. 

With an electric sander using a medium grade sandpaper, we (notice the liberal use of the word "we" here) sanded off as much of the blackened, charred layer as we could remove.  You really need to use a electric sander for this step - it would have taken forever to do it by hand.  

 There was one spot which was particularly trying.  My Mom had a grouping of brass candlesticks with tapered candles on this end of the mantle.  All the wax melted into the wood and created a sticky gooey mess.  We went through several sanding pads on this one spot.

   We removed as much of the smoke layer as possible without sanding the mantle entirely smooth.  I really wanted it to still have a rustic feel.

Now for the staining . . .  OK, here's the deal.  For years, I have been disappointed with staining projects.  The finished product never seems to be dark enough.  I always followed the directions of selecting a stain the color I want the finished product.  I always apply the stain and then wipe over it with a dry cloth.  But, it never looks good to me.  

  So this time, I vowed not to make these mistakes.  I purchased the darkest stain Minwax makes called Ebony.  The guy in Home Depot even tried to talk me out of it.  He kept saying, "it's going to be black, really black, just so you know."  He had almost talked me out of it when I remembered all my previous projects.  So, I ignored him and went with it!

All I did was brush the stain on using a sponge brush.  I did two coats.  Also, I did not wipe it off after applying the coats.  In fact, it was so quick and easy that I forgot to take a picture of it!  

 I also chose not to finish it with a varnish and really like the rustic look of it. 

What I learned from this project?  You don't need to be afraid to try something new.  I read a lot of blog posts on staining techniques and not a single one said anything about wiping off the stain.  Anything would have been an improvement on the looks of this mantle, and you can fix almost anything you try like this when it comes to wood.  Just sand it off and try something else.  M. 

Style At Home Feature Article

A few weeks ago I was asked to participate in a series by Style At Home.com on creative budget friendly ideas related to artwork.

The article featured ten bloggers and their clever ways to create and highlight artwork.   I was absolutely thrilled (and extremely flattered) to be included with what I consider to be the movers and shakers in the blog world!  Many of these blogs are part of my morning coffee routine, and I read them daily.

In addition to the blogs, Style at Home.com is truly cutting edge.  This innovative offshoot of one of my favorite Canadian magazines, Style At Home, is really a fabulous resource for interior design inspiration.     If you have not had an opportunity to check it out, I would highly recommend it.

Here is the post they featured from the Muse.

If you missed my post and would like to read the tutorial on this project click here - Picture Hanging Detail.  

If you would like to read about all the other creative ideas fellow bloggers shared in the series, click on over and check it out.  Style At Home - Artwork.  

PS: I know I don't say this often enough, but the comments you leave on my blog lift me up and encourage more than you could ever imagine.  I don't always have the time to respond to everyone who comments, but please know I read them all.  Thank you, thank you for continuing to support me by reading my posts and giving me such positive feedback!  M.

Project - Living Room

I just finished a photo shoot for a couple of my recent projects!   

The one I am sharing with you today is a project I did for a dear friend, Amy.  She is so fun and easy to work with mainly because (in all honestly) she is totally trusting and let's me do whatever I think looks best (within the budget, of course).  Gotta love a client like that! 

For this project, Amy's parents were downsizing (actually moving to the lake full time) and she got to pick her favorite pieces from her parent's house, most of which were too formal for the lake.  

My goal was to make it all work and look as though it had been a part of the room from the beginning.  So, I put together a design plan using many of her current pieces along with some of the fabulous additions from her parents.   I also used some fresh fabrics for pillows and the tablecloth to finish the look. 

This is all you get to see today!  There are more, but we must pace ourselves.

  I also need to mention all these beautiful images were taken by the oh so talented Alison Gault.  Alison is a portrait photographer by trade.  You would not believe some of the images she has taken of children in motion!  I talked her into trying her had at some interior shots, and I really love how these turned out.

 If you would like more information on Alison and her sitting fees, I would love to share her information with you.  Just drop me an email!  Alison is another lawyer turned something else, just like me.  It's amazing how many of us there are out there.  M. 

Drapery Detail

Just a few drapery details I've been noticing . . . .

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As they say, "the devil's in the details."  I hope today kicks off your week to a great start! M. 

Happy Friday

Wow.  It's been another crazy week for me.  I am so very glad that we have a weekend ahead of us.  Today I'm posting over at The Mustard Ceiling in series entitled, "The Inside Scoop."  The totally amazing Elizabeth interviewed me, along with several other bloggers, about our thoughts on interior design.  If you want to get the scoop, hop on over there and check it out. 

Just click here - The Mustard Ceiling

Also, while you're there, you may want to look around Elizabeth's fabulous blog.  It is chocked full of inspiration on everything from design trends to DIY projects with detailed tutorials.  

Enjoy your weekend, everybody.  I'll catch up with you next week! M.

Exteriors - Layering Tricks

As with interiors, the outside of your home needs layers to make it interesting and welcoming from the street.  Here are some things to think about to add some fabulous layering to the outside of your home.  

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The front door is such and important focal point to your home.  Make the most of it with doors that compliment the style of your home.

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  Can't figure out what style door will look best?  Start by evaluating the style of your home.  This is a great website to help you figure it out - House Styles Index

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Think of your door hardware as the first opportunity to let your personal style and taste shine.  This is one of the easiest things to change and with huge results.

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To shutter or not to shutter that is the question . . .
I love the looks of shutters.  I think they are such a pretty layer.

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But this is gorgeous too!

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Also known as "shutter dogs" these add a bit of jewelry to the shutters.  They also turn a so so shutter into something that looks expensive and important. 

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There are so many materials to choose from with railings, an the styles are endless.

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Not only is this an easy fix, it is one of the least expensive ways to update your curb appeal.  In fact they are so affordable, you can switch them out seasonally. 

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I also love the look of vines softening the entryway of a home.

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Now is the perfect time of year to sit down and really think about your curb appeal (with a hot cup of chocolate).  Make a plan using these simple ideas.  Once the weather warms up, you'll be ready to make the changes!  M.