The Waiting Is The Hardest Part

Last week it was The Grateful Dead....this week it's Tom Petty.  I'm feeling musical I guess.  My son will be so proud.

Seriously, the waiting is killing me!  I want escrow to close and I want to be moved so I can commence decorating.

Here are some pretty rooms that I want to copy right down to every last detail (it's ok to do that right?)  

This one above from Jennifer Laraia Designs has me thinking about a sectional for the first time ever.  It's so pretty and inviting. 

Cannot shake this one.  Danielle Moss.  The painting reminds me of the Cougar Town painting and I'm in love with the brass sconces from Euro Style Lighting.  White sofa, no brainer for me.

I've had a crush on these chairs (above) for a long time but always thought they might be too modern for me until I saw how Liz Bachman styled hers with sheepskin and ikat pillows.  Love!

I really love the light and airy feeling in this dining room (Liz Bachman again).  I've always loved the West Elm chairs but never would have thought of using them with this table....love them together.

And if I could squeeze in this little tulip table (decor8) that would make me happy.  Here's an eye opener....almost all of the dining tables in my Pinterest  board are tulip tables.  I've never owned one.  Apparently I really like them a lot.

And of course you remember this bedroom.  This is going to happen, some way some how...and by some how I mean without the $1300 nightstands.

 

And could we please throw in one of these cuties....loved this Jonathan Adler pillow for awhile now.  Just buy it already.

Six months of NOT buying stuff while house hunting is no fun!  

I'm ready to shop and agonize over every decision and second guess myself to death and wonder if I have any taste at all.  Yep, that is my decorating process.  
 

#happyhumpday

xo

~Karen~

 



City Living

City living = small {tiny} spaces

 

 

 

 

 

{Caitlin Fleming - Sacramento Street}

 

 

 

{Jordan Ferney - Oh Happy Day 500 sq feet}

 

 

{Domnino Spring 2013}

 

 

With style and creativity, these designers make living in tiny quarters look easy.  
Desirable even.

#livingwithless

 

 

 

Hope you're having an awesome day.

 

xo

~Karen~





 

Grey and Scout

Sometimes I come across a style that makes me rethink everything.  I get pretty excited when that happens. 
Stylist Liz Bachman writes the blog Grey and Scout...you may already know it, but if not you must check it out.

Feast your eyes on Liz's lovely home.
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love her style.  Check her out.


#sochic


xo
~Karen~


(all images via Grey and Scout with permission from lovely Liz)

E-Design and Why It's Awesome

About a year ago I was really struggling to get my dining and living rooms together.  I had been reading design blogs for a couple of years and thought I had absorbed some design skills.  Haha!  Doesn't work like that.  I was so frustrated because those talented gals (and guys) make it look so easy that I was sure I could achieve the look I wanted.  Wrong!  You non-designer types know exactly what I'm talking about, right?

 

 

 

I realized I needed help and e-design was the perfect solution.  I highly recommend it!  It's totally afordable and can really save you from making costly mistakes, not to mention help you get the rooms you really want.

My dining room below...
not possible without e-design.

 

Before this great invention, ordinary people like myself could never have afforded to hire a professional designer.  Along with their higher fees, they sometimes add 20%-40% to the price of everything they buy for your rooms.  No offense to designers...you are totally worth it, but that can add a lot to the price of a design.  So if you're on a budget, like most of us, connecting with a talented designer through the internet is a fantastic alternative.

 

 

 

How does e-design work?

 

1. Start checking out design blogs and find a designer whose style you like.  I looked for one whose home I also liked, not just their client projects.  Somewhere on their blog it will say if they do online or e-design consulting.  You will contact them via that link on their blog.  

 

2.  The designer will contact you with the details of what their services and fees are.  Typically you will pay a set fee for a room design that will include a couple of phone conversations with the designer, a design plan and sources for everything you need to purchase to implement the plan. 

 

3.  You will then email the designer pictures of your room along with dimensions, your budget, what colors and styles you like, how you intend to use the room...stuff like that.

 

4.  This is where you usually have the first phone conversation with the designer to further discuss your likes and dislikes, and what you want to accomplish in the room.

 

5.  Once the designer has completed your room plan, you will be sent an invoice to pay for the service either through Paypal or via check through the mail.

 

6.  Once the designer has received your payment, they will email you the plan and sources.

  

7.  At this point there is usually a second phone conversation wherein you discuss the plan, the sources and your general giddiness at how much you love your designer for giving you this fabulous plan for your room.

Happiness ensues.

 

 For my living & dining rooms, I worked with Lauren of The Cottage Mix.  Lauren's style is light, neutral, a bit coastal & traditional with texture and great woodwork.  I was instantly drawn to Lauren's style when I first laid eyes on her foyer (below) which I think is absolute perfection.  It was love at first sight for me.

  
So I contacted Lauren, sent her my awful before photos (see below...yikes) and she got to work.  

 

I cannot stress this enough (hence to bold type)...from the moment I contacted Lauren, I felt a tremendous relief of pressure just knowing that help was on the way and I was no longer going to drown in that design black hole of confusion and indecision. 
(Cue the angels singing here.)

Above is part of the design plan that Lauren created for my dining room showing lighting, host chairs and fabric choices. I was keeping my table and had already purchased four wicker chairs.  We also talked about adding four pieces of art around my existing mirror.  Lauren suggested these frames from Pottery Barn which I purchased and used to frame four sea fans that I bought at Wertz Bros in Santa Monica.  That's how my dining room below came to exist...

thanks to e-design.

 

 

In my living room I wanted to keep my white sofa and white chairs.  Lauren used a  painting I already had to pull the other colors...green and blue.  Here was part of the plan:

I purchased the green striped rug from William Sonoma Home and a new tv cabinet from PB according to Lauren's plan.  We added some new accessories and some custom pillows & some John Robshaw pillows.  I had a 4" navy linen border added to my PB cotton panels (Lauren had done this in her living room and I liked it).  Voila...it all came together thanks to working with a pro.

I cannot even begin to count all the money I've wasted buying pieces of furniture that didn't work...my kids received a lot of free stuff from my mistakes.  The cost of an e-design is more than worth it, not to mention the fact that I was not capable of getting the look I wanted by myself.  Had to just suck it up and admit that.

 

My sister Linee and I both love the style of Mary Ann at Classic Casual Home.  What's not to love about her gorgeous rooms?

 

 

  

 

  Linee recently worked with Mary Ann on her living room and she is thrilled with the plan Mary Ann has come up with.  Linee had her basic furniture pieces and fabrics in place but was frustrated at not being able to pull it all together.  Mary Ann came in and took it to the finish line with this gorgeous plan that included lighting, drapes, flooring, rugs and accessories:

 

I can't wait to see Linee implement this plan and I'm especially excited because this is where our family spends Christmas.  Awesome!  It's gonna be fantastic.

 

 

Another of my favorite designers is Rene of the blog Cottage & Vine.  Rene is such a sweet person and I love her design style.  Here is a fun design board Rene created for an e-design client:

 

 

I love the way Rene created a room plan that is modern, yet warm...colorful yet calm.  It's called talent people...it's not accidental, it's talent.

 

Another fun design team is the mother-daughter duo of Powell Brower Home...Nancy & Bethany.  Here is one of their cool design boards for an e-design client:

 

 

 

Nancy & Bethany also offer a service they call "Design in a Box". 

 

 

 

After a telephone consultation, they put together a box containing a plan with paint colors, flooring materials, fabrics, and furniture & lighting sources.  Bethany says this service is great way to save money and complete your room on your own timeframe.

 

There are so many choices out there for

e-design...literally thousands.  The beauty of this internet thing is that we can connect globally and you can find a designer that you love and is in your budget...regardless of where you live. 

 

Find one you like and just go for it! 

 

#you'llthankmelater

 

 

~Karen~  

 

  

 



I'm on The Cottage Mix

I was excited to discover this morning that Lauren of The Cottage Mix (one of my very favorite blogs)

is featuring my living room on her blog! 

How fun!  Pop over and check it out here...you will love The Cottage Mix.
 

 

 

 

  

You can also read about my dining room e-design here on The Cottage Mix.


Thanks for visiting.

~Karen~



Staging Your Home To Sell

 

 

As I told you the other day, I'm packing up and moving from the suburbs back to my hometown...the Hollywood/Studio City area...not exactly sure where I will end up yet.   

 

So in order to get going with my big plan I need to sell my house.  Towards that end, I've been clearing out and purging stuff (even more than I usually do).  Another thing I've been doing is staging my home.  Staging your home for sale is all the rage...everyone is doing it.  Sometimes I think it looks kinda fake, like when the dining room table is set for a full meal.  No one really has their table set all the time (do they?).  
However, if it's done right, staging can be very effective. 
It's all about creating a feeling of a certain lifestyle.  The scene you set should show the potential buyers what a lovely life they will have if only they will buy
THIS home.

 

 

You want them to be able to picture themselves having breakfast or a cup of coffee in your kitchen.

 

 

Of course you love your family photos & memories but pack 'em up.  Don't remind the buyer that another family lives here, you want them to picture themselves living here.  A good replacement for photos is a stack of books. 

Looks clean and organized. 

 

You're going for uncluttered, so even if you have to pack up some of your clothes, it's worth it to show that your closets are spacious...plenty of room.  I didn't have to do that...I don't have that many clothes anyway!

 

 



I won't bore you with pictures of my  bathroom cabinets, but trust me, they are clean & tidy.  Buyers look everywhere.  Snoopymcsnoopersons!

It's all about creating a feeling...they think if they buy your house, they too will live a neat and tidy lifestyle.

Seriously, I even slightly staged my refrigerator. Don't laugh..they will look in there.  If your fridge is dirty or messy, it will help if it's cleaned up.

 

 

If possible, keep lots of fresh flowers around the house when you are selling.  If that's not practical, live plants are a good option but I happen to think fake plants are worse than no plants.  What do you think?

 

Staging is really about common sense.  Think about what you would like to see when looking at a home. 
Clean, uncluttered, well-maintained, neutral.
But if you need help, there are plenty of talented peeps out there who will do it for you.  Seems like it would be a fun job.

So come on over for a glass of wine in the backyard and picture yourself living here.

It's lovely I promise.

 

Thanks for visiting!

 

~Karen~