Geometric fabrics & Blue Master Bedroom

My Intern and I had a great install yesterday afternoon for a wonderful retired couple that needed a master bedroom revamp!  I've really enjoyed working with my intern, Audra, she is a lovely high school student who is going into Interior Design when she goes off to college next year! 
 She is an honor student and is excited about an Interior Design career.  I hope to have her working along side me the rest of her senior year which is an amazing opportunity for me and for her!  It was especially helpful because I've lost my voice and could hardly communicate!
 
BEFORE
 
If you know me, I don't do the "matchy matchy" thing. 
 
AFTER
 
My clients had friends over from out of town so they were in the living room waiting anxiously while they sipped wine.  It was fun to hear them enjoying each other as they had a wine tasting of several different wines they had purchased!   They were so excited for the reveal!
 
 
Mixing it up makes it WAY more interesting. You don't want your "custom" space to look like it was a bed in a bag where all the fabrics are the same. 
 
 
At least that's what I prefer for my designs.
 
BEFORE
 
 
AFTER
 
The boxes on the bed are filled with chocolates now.  However, they can be used later for putting items that you want to hide to alleviate the clutter (medicines, remotes, tissues, etc.)
 
 
We had all the bedding custom made (my workroom is fantastic) and then incorporated some of the items the client had already into the design. 
 
 
This beautiful tapestry is important to them and is  from their travels together.  Therefore, the colors were my inspiration  for the room.  They really wanted this treasure placed in their bedroom. 
 
 
It really looks great with the new fabrics would you say?  They already had the bed, dressers and side tables so I was happy to incorporate them into the design.
 
 
They have a beautiful home on the golf course and love to bird watch. 
 
 
 I thought the lamps I chose were perfect for them and I couldn't believe I found them!
 
   I especially love the velvet pillow shams with the bedspread fabric on the cording.  Really pulls all the colors together.  DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS.  Soft cotton down filled pillows are a nice contrast against the velvet.
 
 
My client absolutely loves every shade of blue so we added this amazing bed skirt to the bed.  I'm  just crazy about this geometric pattern and the pleating is not too fussy.
 
 
I always love to add an unexpected pop of color to my designs.  In this room it was an apple green pillow with a crisp linen floral medallion pattern.  A happy surprise in this traditional bedroom.  My job is to stretch my clients a little which means taking risks and stretching them a bit.  I chose several fabrics for them to choose from for the bedding and then fortunately they completely trusted me in the pillow selections (I've decorated her entire home so we've built that trust :)  and she LOVED the combinations we selected!
 
Shhhh.....we tucked a few chocolates under their pillows!
 
We added some new towels and bath mats to their bathroom too and they feel like butter!  Soft and luxurious.  NEVER skimp on towels and linens.  Spend more money on these items that you come in contact with each time you step out of the bath or shower.
  
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Decorator & Client Relationship

 
I promised I would post before and after photos of the house I recently finished.  Their entire home was remodeled and updated.  Anytime you are doing a remodel it is a huge interruption to every day life for the client.  These clients truly got to experience organized chaos as we invaded their home!  The great thing about it was that we completed the entire project in 8 weeks which I thought was amazing for all that we accomplished.
 
 
Fortunately, I have an amazing crew that always comes through for me.  Everything from the floors to the painting to the granite, turned out beautifully.  There are always bumps in the road when you are doing a remodel but what I appreciate with my team is that we work together so well and we are all committed to making the client happy.  They very rarely say "no that can't be done" and are always willing to find a solution to problems that we encounter along the way.
 
 
Entire home remodels are incredibly stressful and it's a long process.  The client and I see each other almost daily and it's crucial to me that we build a strong relationship during that time period.  It is so important that the client and decorator have a great relationship. I take my job seriously when it comes to this relationship so there is honesty, compassion, reliability, trust, encouragement and most of all fun in the midst of complete demolition at times.  I find it an incredible honor when they say
 "I trust you"
 
I'm  blessed to develop these kind of relationships with all my clients. 
 They were incredibly generous and wrote a beautiful review on Houzz.com
 
 
"Ruthie Staalsen made my dreams come true. I can easily give her my highest recommendation. She took our outdated home and made it pop! It is now stunning, classy and elegant. We couldn't be happier. We did a complete home remodel, update and renew. It seemed like an overwhelming task for me to tackle on my own, so I hired Ruthie. She had remodeled my friends home, which I loved, so I had complete confidence in her abilities and taste.
From my first meeting with Ruthie, I knew this was going to be fun and exciting. The minute she walked in my house she started sharing her wonderful ideas and tips to make my house more current. She is extremely confident in her choices which made me feel confident. I knew I had found a treasure! She is professional, experienced and respectful to all. She kept the project on schedule and solved all problems with a positive attitude.
The most fun was the install day when Ruthie really works her magic! We came home to color and beauty. Lots of new items to enjoy and old items in new places. So fresh and inviting. Thank you Ruthie! You truly are the best!"
 
 
Thank you Mark and Linda for allowing us to invade your home so we could transform it! 
 
 

Who wouldn't sleep tight in this master bed?  I created this headboard because I wanted it to be higher than usual.  Many times I see headboards hung too low.  By the time you get the euro shams on the bed with a few pillows, the beautiful headboard is covered up.  We hung this one on the wall so it has a grander appearance!  Perfect for sitting in bed to lean against while you read or drink your morning coffee.
 

 

Newly painted beams and hardwood floors makes this room incredible now.
 
New black leathered counter tops were added to their bar area.  The leathered granite is honed down so it's not shiny and has a wavy feel to it.  I really LOVE it!
  
Looks beautiful doesn't it?  It is now a conversational piece in the room.
 

 
I never skimp on lighting!  It is the jewelry in every kitchen.  We always include dimmers so the light can be adjusted as needed.  I love being able to adjust the light to the mood I feel, especially when entertaining.
 
 
 
We gave the bar area a little more curve and that really made the space look fantastic.
 
 
I don't have before pictures of the dining room :( so you will have to just see the after :(!
 
We added new drapes, rug, parson chairs and put new hardware on the china cabinet. 
 
Of course the new accessories make this room sparkle.
 
Hope you enjoyed the tour.  Thanks to Marquette Bellinghausen with Simple Treasures Photography my incredibly talented friend, that always come through for me with her gorgeous photography.  You rock girlfriend and thanks for photographing my little topiary trees as they were (even though it bugged you that they weren't both upright).  I love the artistic twist this image has.
 
 
Today is an exciting day because I pick up my youngest daughter from the airport after being gone for 10.  She was on a missions trip to Czech Republic.  While she was there she became ill and had to be hospitalized.  I'm incredibly grateful to all those that cared for her and can't wait to hug all their necks at the airport today.
 
You can see a quick video of their trip here created by one of the students that went on the trip! 
 
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Vintage Lamps and Camels on the beach?

 
I found this vintage lamp at an estate sale. It was covered in dust and looked incredibly worn out.  I loved the color of the glass and knew it could/would be a gem.  My intern Audra painted the base black and we spiffed up the glass! 
 
It is now a shining star in my living room.  I love it combined with my camel saddle that I've had for about 10 years (also found at an estate sale).  Don't you love the vibrant color combinations?  I thought showing you the picture in black and white first would be cool?
 
 
 
The saddle under my glass table is important to me because of my memory riding camels on the beach in Kenya! 
That's my brother behind me displaying his free spirit!
 
 
These two beauties were also given a makeover.  My neighbor across the street had them on the curb for garbage day and I couldn't just leave them there.  They were brass and looked really dated to me but had great lines.  I made sure they worked and my intern did a great job painting them.   I love some old brass lamps but these needed help!  We will add a cute shade to each of them and they will be adorable in the right spot!
 
Happy Friday!  Remember that the weekends are great times to find great deals at estate sales!  Look for a diamond in the rough.  There are some great treasures out there.
 
Ridden a camel on the beach lately?  Happy Weekend!
 
Visit my website DecRenew Interiors to see  my Design Portfolio.


Decorating Details & Piano Room

 
Yesterday I had a full day install for an entire home. We recently remodeled the home and yesterday was the detail day where we rehung pictures, placed new rugs, added some accessories, hung draperies and headboards, etc.  I always incorporate what the client has during my installs because most of the time they have items I can definitely re-purpose or include to make the entire space feel collected over time vs. all brand new and "showroom" like. 
 
 
Here are a few snapshots I took of the day.  More professional photographs coming soon! 
Thought you might enjoy looking into what we did yesterday!  The best part of the day is that I hired my niece Jess to help me.  My Intern Audra is on vacation and I needed help!   Spending the day with her was awesome.  She was my right hand girl all day and did an amazing job! 
 
 
We used the existing bedspread and added the headboard, duvet and throw pillows.
I was so happy with the way it all coordinated together!  Can you believe we bought the pillows separately? The set didn't come together but they sure look that way.  Purchasing the duvet cover online was much cheaper than having a custom one made.  It was a great way to save money so we could have gorgeous mercury lamps!  The duvet cover is from Pottery Barn.
 
A lot of times after a remodel, the client isn't able to afford all the decorating details because their funds have been depleted. However, this is what makes the home complete. It's the décor that makes it all come together! I know it gets incredibly expensive to redecorate but I LOVE to "use what the client has" and add in my touch if budget is something the client is concerned about. 
I move rugs from room to room, steal lampshades from different lamps in the house, rummage through closets & cabinets (with the clients permission of course) and sometimes have furniture repainted ahead of time. It's a fun shopping day for me!
 
Showcases the granite and backsplash.  The newly installed LED lights really make the details shine!
 
 
I brought out some of their china and showed them how they can mix and match pieces to create a more eclectic look.
 
 
This tray was in her living room but it belongs in the kitchen. 
 
 
I added this beautiful bowl to their china cabinet.
 
New parsons chairs and a rug were added to the dining room so now it's less "matchy matchy".  We also added new hardware to her existing china cabinet.
 
New pillows were added to her existing suede couch in her piano room.  Now it looks sophisticated and classy.  This is the waiting room for her piano students that come through her home all day long.
 
New rug in the piano room to warm up the space and add texture and color.   It also coordinates with the adjacent dining room.
 
 
Hope you enjoyed!  Now off to unload my car with all the leftovers from yesterday!  On to another install on Tuesday!  Stay tuned!
 
Visit my website DecRenew Interiors to see my Design Portfolio!

Hooked on Monkey Hooks

Do you have trouble hanging pictures?  Are you not handy with a hammer? You may have already been using these little gadgets but if you haven't, let me introduce Monkey Hooks to you.  They can be found at any home improvement store.
 
 
 
I use these when I'm doing my installs to hang pictures and all sorts of things. 
 
 
They are EASY to use and come in different sizes for different weights. 
 
Watch this Youtube video to see how they work! 
 
Just wanted to let you in on a designer secret!  Go hang some pictures!
 
Visit my website at DecRenew Interiors to see my design portfolio.