A client's home office design project!

I just wrapped up a client's project recently. I was hired to makeover her spacious home office. In her questionnaire, my client told me that she wanted a modern, girly and chic home office that feels warm and looks colorful. Her favorite colors are pink, yellow, blue and silver.  She is also a great mint fan and wanted me to incorporate a few modern mint filing cabinets that she saw on a website for her home office. She wanted to keep her tv, a stylish silver side table (it's gorgeous, by the way!) and a floor lamp (but get a new lamp shade).



She sent me a couple of beautiful inspiration pictures and photos of her home. When I saw the inspiration images, I knew exactly what she wanted and was very excited to get started. 



This is what her room looks like now.

The best thing about this project? The budget! I was so thrilled to have a great budget to work with so I can pick some really nice things for her home office. Also, with a bigger budget, your options are so much wider, obviously!



I splurged on the statement pieces, mostly on the big investment pieces. A big bulk of the budget goes to things that she can enjoy for a long, long time like the sofa, desk, desk chair, entertainment unit, light fixture and coffee table. Meanwhile, I kept the rest of the furniture and accessories affordable yet still fun and fabulous! These are the design boards that I came up with! 

For the wall color, I recommended two color options. She can either pick a very pale blue or a very pale pink color. According to my client, her room doesn't receive a lot of natural lighting during the day so I wanted to keep the wall color light for a bright and airy feeling. 

While sourcing for all the pieces for the office design, I found these stunning mirrored wall sconces! I was absolutely smitten with them. As much as I wanted to use them, I didn't incorporate them into the design in the end because there isn't any wall space anymore. I really don't want to overcrowd the room for the sake of accessorizing because I think it's really important to have some "breathing space" in a room so your eyes can rest. Perhaps I can keep this mirror in mind and use them in the future.

When I showed my client the design boards, she was thrilled with them. She loved it and thought that the design was very functional. She works from home so I really wanted her to have as much storage as she possibly can. We made a few changes and additions and that's it. She has ordered a few of the items after test driving them in person and told me she would order the rest of the items over the weekend! She is also interested to have me decorate her daughters' bedroom in the near future. I can't wait to get started!

Don't you just love it when both you and your client share the same design taste? It definitely makes the whole design process a lot smoother and easier.  Honestly, I can't wait for her to pull the whole design together and hopefully, she will send me the "Afters" pictures! I will share any updates and progress on her home office whenever possible so follow along and check back regularly!

If you need help decorating your home, please click here for further information regarding my design services. Email me at mixandchic(at)yahoo(dot)com for details.

Read More »

Add Comment

AN Client's Project

A client's master bedroom project update!

Remember the master bedroom project I was working on for one of my clients, Kathy earlier? You may read about our collaboration here. Recently, she has sent me some pictures of her bedroom's progress.


Here's the moodboard I created for her master bedroom.

All the furniture in her master bedroom is staying. Kathy and her husband, Robert loves red. Here's the picture of her master bedroom when we first started:



Before:

Progress:

Before:

Progress:

Before:

Progress:

Kathy and Robert's master bedroom isn't styled yet and far from being finished but everything is coming along nicely. Currently, Kathy is working on her curtains. I can't wait to see everything in its place. I am so excited about this makeover! I will continue to 

update this makeover project in the future, so stay tuned.

If you need help decorating your home, please click here for further information regarding my design services. Don't forget the promotional 50% discount is still available. Email me at mixandchic(at)yahoo(dot)com for details.

Read More »

Add Comment

AN Client's Project

A client's master bedroom project!

Recently, I have been busy working on a client's online decorating project. My client, Kathy has hired me to help her with two rooms, her master bedroom and living room. We started with her master bedroom first.



This is how her master bedroom looks like now.

As you can see, her bedroom has wonderful peaked ceilings and beautiful big windows that overlooks her backyard. Her bedroom is neutral, roomy and has a lot of potential.





In the questionnaire, Kathy wrote that she loves a little bit of vintage, handmade textiles and pieces that feel collected over time but nothing shabby chic. At the same time, she also likes the clean lines of contemporary furniture. She is drawn to blues, greens, reds and turquoise.





On the other hand, her husband, Robert loves sophisticated casual transitional style. His favorite colors are blues (in all shades), reds, grays and blacks. 





Overall, they wanted their master bedroom to feel warm, inviting, comfortable with some color, drama and pizzazz. They don't mind a little bit of bold color or a funky piece in their bedroom.





Kathy loves to read and has collected a lot of artwork. She hoped I can incorporate some of her art in her bedroom. All her bedroom furniture has to stay. Their favorite artwork that is currently above their bed has to stay as well.





They wanted a pair of new curtains, a pair of table lamps, a reading corner with a lamp and a nightstand for Kathy. They have an armchair and are planning to get it reupholstered. Since they do not have a proper bed, they hope to find a headboard or bed frame but they do not want anything upholstered.





After getting to know their style, their likes and dislikes, I came up with this mood board: 

I was sourcing for the headboard/ bed frame at first but during the first two days during our design collaboration, I saw this rug on One King's Lane and couldn't resist!

It is a very gorgeous rug and measures at 8' x 11'. It is a very good size rug and will work with her king size bed wonderfully. It couldn't be more perfect with the handmade textile look that Kathy loves and the color red that they both like. The price tag was $529 and I thought was a good deal considering it is made of 100% wool.

Kathy loves the rug as much as I do but she was a little concerned about the overall budget. Before the sales end, I sourced for all the must-have items to tally the grand total. I still went slightly over her original budget. Fortunately, Kathy bought the rug and it becomes the starting point of our whole design scheme.

For the wall color, I wanted something neutral and light to balance the bold color and patterns so I picked a light gray color for their bedroom.

However, they really liked the blue (above). They tried the blue paint color on their wall but Kathy didn't like it. I suggested a few blue gray paints, they tried it but still wasn't sure. Eventually, they picked a slightly darker gray similar to the one I suggested and they love it! I am happy that they eventually found a color they both love. 

Paint colors are always tricky because the same color might look vastly different in two different houses due to the amount of lighting received so it's always a good idea to try paint samples, just to be sure.

For her chair reupholstery fabric, I gave them a few options to choose from. We all decided on our favorite, the Duralee Kalah Blue fabric.

For window treatment, my first thought was red silk curtains. I found a great pair of red silk curtains at West Elm on sale but when Kathy decided to order it the next day, it was out of stock. Bummer!

After checking out other curtain options, Kathy decided to make them herself and go to a different direction. We decided to use white curtains and add this gorgeous red greek key trim for extra pizzazz.

It wasn't easy trying to find inexpensive red and white greek key trims online but I eventually found them on Etsy. I think the white curtains with the greek key pattern will be very chic, classic and sophisticated, something that Robert will love.

Although I have selected many of the key pieces for their bedroom, there are still a few small areas that required a bit of styling. I tried to stay on the original budget as much as I can so I incorporated a lot of things they already owned like artwork and books for the finishing touches. Using a mix of different artwork and books in a room will instantly create a cozy, collected, lived-in feel, something that Kathy is looking for.

Here is what I came up with to style her bedroom.

Besides artwork, Kathy also has a Greek figurine and a vase so I group them together with her Greek isle canvases to create a meaningful vignette. Kathy was born in Greece and I really wanted to give her something that is close to her heart. Unsurprisingly, she loves the vignette.

During the design process, we agreed on a headboard but finally went for a bed frame. I gave them a list of great options and they picked their favorite. However, they found a wonderful King size bed locally that they both love. It was on clearance for just $529 so I encouraged them to go for it. Here is the new bed that they picked:

Since their bedroom ceiling is quite high, I really wanted something above their bed to draw the eyes up. With all the hard lines of their dark furniture, I wanted something round or something with curves to soften them so I suggested a round mirror. Kathy wasn't sure about the mirror idea at first. She wanted her favorite artwork to stay above her bed.

As a designer, I wanted my client to be happy with their space. However, if Kathy really likes her artwork to stay above the bed, I am going to make it work. Still undecided, I came up with a side by side comparison moodboard, one with her artwork and one with a round mirror above her bed for her to consider.

After she looked at the moodboard comparison, she decided to go with the mirror option. As a plus, Robert also loved the mirror too.

I think the mirror looks gorgeous. It is also visually light and will add a lot of drama and style in the bedroom.

The last moodboard I did is the vignette for the dresser.

I am glad that both Kathy and Robert like my designs. We hit a few design bumps along the way but I certainly had a lot fun putting this master bedroom design together. Kathy is a great client to work with and she is quick with her responses. Clients who give prompt feedback are a blessing because we can made design decisions fast and move forward in a timely manner. I also appreciate she took the time to send me lots of inspirational images and let me know exactly what they like and didn't like. And that truly helped me get a sense of both their style easily.

I am looking forward to see the result of Kathy and Robert's master bedroom makeover. I am sure you are excited to see the final outcome of our design collaboration as well. I will share any updates and progress on their bedroom whenever possible so follow along and check back regularly!

If you need help decorating your home, please click here for further information regarding my design services. 

Read More »

Add Comment

AN Client's Project

A client's living room and dining room project!

I just wrapped up another client's project recently. Remember the online room design giveaway I did during April? I had two winners and one of them is Lilli from Blushing Cheeks. 





She asked me if I would consider her living and dining space as one area or if I am going to focus solely on her living room for the design collaboration. I told her that I would normally consider that to be two separate rooms for paying clients but because it is a giveaway for my readers, I volunteered to help her with both spaces.





Lilli's living and dining room area are quite neutral. In her questionnaire, she told me she couldn't paint the walls because it is a rental unit. She is also tired of the country and vintage look. She loves shabby chic but she is bored with the cream. When both rooms are completed, she wants them to feel casual yet elegant, current and with a modern glam vibe.





Here is how her current living room and dining room look like: 

She likes greens, pinks, whites, creams, silvers, corals, yellows, turquoises and light blues. Everything can stay or go except for the furniture and crystal barware.



Here are the moodboards I created for her.

The living room. (first draft)

From the pictures of her living room and dining room she sent me, I thought her furniture layout for tv watching is slightly inconvenient so I suggested that she switched both rooms. Her entertainment unit will be relocated along the wall where the door is and her sofa will be placed directly opposite her entertainment unit.

Since she got tired with all the cream but still wanted to keep all her furniture, I suggested that she paints them in turquoise, her favorite color, then distress them to achieve the shabby chic look she is after. She is a fan of chevron rugs so I picked a stylish gray and white zig zag rug for both her rooms.

I selected a silver sequined pillow for her sofa and an inexpensive starburst mirror above the fireplace mantel to give her that little bit of glam she is looking for. Since painting the wall is not an option, I try to incorporate more colors in the accessories to break up all the neutrals. I picked a fresh color palette that also comprises all her favorite colors to keep the rooms looking modern and updated.

The dining room. (first draft)

After switching both rooms, the dining room will now have a fireplace. I suggested that she uses a beautiful green geometric pattern fabric as the table cloth to introduce more colors in her dining area.

I also sent her a few fabric options for the dining chair seat because she intended to reupholster her dining room chairs for a fresh new look. She loves pink and animal stripe motifs so in the end, that is what she picked.

In her inspirational pictures, she showed me a lot of colorful rooms with high end crystal chandeliers so I knew I needed to get her a crystal chandelier for the wow factor. After browsing online for a while, I found a website with many inexpensive real crystal chandeliers. I gave her a long list of my favorites and in the end, she picked this.

Isn't this chandelier gorgeous? It is elegant, glamorous and surprisingly budget-friendly which costs less than $200.

Console table vignette in the dining room . (first draft)

After switching both rooms, her new dining area will be quite bare so I suggested that she relocates her console table to the wall where she puts her sofa now to create a new vignette. That way, she can still display her barware on the console table and at the same time, add some visual interest on the blank wall without spending a lot.

I sent her the moodboards after they are completed and I was thrilled when she told me she loved it. She also showed her friends the moodboards. All her female friends love it except her husband. Apparently, he is not a fan of feminine colors and bold patterns. So, I asked her to get her husband's input and suggested that he picked a few inspiration pictures for me. In order to make any necessary changes, I needed to know what he likes.

In the inspirational pictures that he sent me, the images has bright and cheery colors with minimal patterns and a little bit of gray. I made a few changes to my original moodboards but still kept some of the elements that Lilli was after.

Here are my revised moodboards:

The living room. (final draft)

The second time around, she told me she wanted to repaint all her furniture in white and ditch the shabby chic look so I picked all white furniture in my moodboard to show her how everything would work with all the new changes.

The dining room. (final draft)

She said she wanted to repaint the table so we took the table cloth idea off the moodboard. I picked a nice yellow geometric fabric for the dining chairs to replace the pink striped fabric.

What do you think of both moodboards? Which versions do you prefer? The first version or the revised version?

Personally, I like the first version more because you know me, I am a big fan of colors and patterns. I also love the pillow combinations as well.

During this design collaboration, I have discovered a new color scheme that I loved! The hot pink, bright turquoise and green color combo is youthful, fun and fresh at the same time and I hope to incorporate this color palette when I get a chance in the future.

I am looking forward to see Lilli's living and dining room makeover. I am sure you are excited to see the final outcome of our design collaboration as well. I promise to share any updates and progress on Lilli's home as soon as I can so stay tuned and check back regularly!

If you need help decorating your home, please click here for further information regarding my design services. 

Read More »

Add Comment

AN Client's Project

A client's living room project revealed!

I am so excited to share my first design project reveal with you! This design project means a lot to me because it's the first design I did for others and it's also the first design reveal I have received so far.

Do you remember the online room design giveaway I did during the Christmas holiday last year? One of the winners, the lovely Tara from The Silver Lining wanted me to help her with the living room. 

She loves neutrals but she wanted me to incorporate some patterns and colors into the new design. Her goal is for her living room to look casual, feel cozy and look pulled together. Style wise, she loves a mix of traditional, shabby chic and transitional. Her only requirement is that her sofa, console table, ottoman, curtains and her new paint color had to stay while the rest can go or moved to another room. She doesn't have a specific budget but wishes to spend as little as possible because she will be moving soon. 

You may read about our design collaboration here and her makeover progress here. She ran into a few hiccups during the implementation process but she tackled each and every obstacle like a champ.

Here is the result of her living room now:  

I think Tara did a wonderful job implementing the overall design, don't you think? We exchanged like hundreds of emails during our collaboration process but after I sent her the final moodboards, we had minimal exchange of emails. 

I encouraged her to send me an email if she is unsure about anything during the implementation process but the only "real" email she sent me was to ask if the lamp shade was too big for the lamp base. LOL. After our design collaboration ended, most of the emails were sent by me, usually notifying her about a great sale or a list of "perfect" items I found for her space. :) I swear Tara was mostly on her own during the design implementation, so major kudos to her for the fantastic design outcome!

The before and after at a glance:

Before

After

Before

After

The final version of all the moodboards at a glance:

The entertainment wall.

The pillow arrangement.

The console table vignette.

According to Tara, her living room is not 100% complete. She is still looking to purchase a few items to finish the room but it already looks like a completed room to me. You can read more about her plans for her living room here. What are your thoughts? Do you like Tara's interpretation of our design collaboration? 

If you need help decorating your home, please click here for further information regarding my design services. 

Read More »

Add Comment

AN Before And After, Client's Project, Reveal