Creating homes as unique as you are!

 True fulfullment is being able to enrich a families life by creating a home that suits their lifestyle. My goal at DecRenew Interiors is to create a space that is as unique as the client.

 Our tag line is: "Creating homes as unique as you are."

 I  met with this client after they had been living in their newly built home for a year.  This is the second home that I have had the opportunity to decorate for them.  It is always such a pleasure to work with the same client over and over again.

 The drapery fabric (mainly the colors)  was my inspiration for pulling the entire room together.  I adore all the  vibrancy and so does  my client.  As you scroll through the after pictures below, you will see how I made sure these colors were all married together somehow.  Different textures, patterns, shapes, etc. together created a mixed up, eclectic style with a transitional flair.

They had some things that I knew we could repurpose.   These two club chairs were reupholstered because the client loved them and they were super comfy.

 They just needed a makeover after being used in their gameroom surrounded by kids and all that goes with that!

My goal is to use as much of what the client "already have" in order to save them as much money as possible.  Of course, only if the item was  still stylish :)  Often times, my clients will say "really, keep these old things" and I say "yes, they/it has HUGE potential."

Ruthie Decorating tip:  Use unique items for your flowers. This candle holder was perfect for the fresh flowers on the coffee table.  Make sure that the item is not pourous if you place the flowers directly in the vase.  If it is, I put a small drinking glass inside the vase and use that for the flowers.  

 We were going to redo these two ottomans.  As the room started to come together, I thought they could stay "as is" since they go beautifully with the animal print rug.  I'm crazy about the round side table.  Such great detail!

Gus loves his new home too!

 The coffee table is so unique and the texture and color make the reupholstered chairs united.  See how the detail of the book on the coffee table pulls together the ottoman color?

Those are the details that I think about for days and days before the installation.  I often wake up in the middle of the night and get up and write things down.

What color florals to use is also a huge decision.  

Notice how these flowers make the entire room pop.

The new gray sectional is perfect for their family life.  This family room is where everything happens in their house.

The stripes and houndtooth patterned pillows add a masculine touch against the more feminine draperies.

Adding unique wooden side tables makes the room feel warm and cozy.  With the high ceilings in this room, we needed that.  Also adds that shape that we needed to soften the edges.

Unique lamps and a fun shade add personality, fun and a more relaxed feel.  The painting on the mantel is huge and is all the mantel needs to make a statement.  Less fussy!

The chair pillows add a punch of turquoise without going over the top with this bold color.

  I found a cake platter in one of the kitchen cabinets and created this vignette.

Ruthie Decorating Tip: Accessories placed in different heights make more of  statement and draws your eye into each item.  Look for bowls, books, boxes, etc. to raise things up.  It's more appealing to your eye. 

This telephone was in their junk pile.  I rescued it because I think it adds some history to the room.

I have a love for lamps and this one is to die for!

The family also enjoys playing batgammon.  I placed it out as decor since it is used often.  The kids loved seeing their treasures out and displayed.  I also placed some of their other items like family pictures, grandma's clock, etc.

Paired with this cute piece of pottery that their son made a few weeks ago, it makes for a nice combination.

So you probably want to see a totaly before and after right?

It's a hard room to get a good picture of the entire space because of the light that pours in (a good problem to have).  These are the best we could do but it gives you an idea of the dramatic transformation.

BEFORE

AFTER

I loved what my client said when she walked in her new family room.

 "Is this really my house?  I don't feel worthy of this gorgeous space!"  

Yes, you are worthy!!!!  I so appreciate the opportunity to work with such a wonderful, worthy family!  Thanks for trusting me and for allowing me to be part of this project.

Thanks for joining me for this recap! I'll be posting before and after pictures of their dining room next.

See above!

Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos

Wishing you a wonderful day of FREEDOM today as you celebrate with your families!

(The shells and coral I collected on the beach)

I just returned home after a great time in Cabo, Mexico  this past week!   I have never in my life needed a vacation away like I did this time.   I was in much need of a mind declutter from projects, all the hats I wear and needed a time to think about nothing but being with Mr. S.

 It is always so incredibly wonderful to get away and have time to be still.  At first the quiet was kind of weird to get use to.  However, the more I heard the natural sounds around me, the more I craved the sounds of that peacefulness.

I can't say enough about the resort where we stayed.  It was amazing!  The service was INCREDIBLE, the views were breathtaking, the food was absolutely delicious (and my husband is a foodie)  and the grounds were immaculate!

My girls went to Czech Republic to teach English for 10 days so it was the perfect opportunity for us to get away together!

Enjoy this quick video of all the beauty I captured on our adventure.  No words can express what it was like but pictures can start to give you a glimpse!

God bless vacations and GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Tropical Bamboo Gazebo

 

Okay, so you wonder what we are up to on the weekends?

 Well, my husband and daughters have been extremely busy doing some updates  to our cabana.

 My husband built our cabana about 4 years ago (see above picture) because our previous one (canvas)  collapsed in a snowstorm (see previous below).   The above picture is before it had the terra cotta tiles put on the roof.

We are outdoor people and love to sit outside on summer evenings.

 Being that I grew up in Africa and my husband in Papua New Guinea, outdoor living, even if it's hot, appeals to us.

We decided that we wanted bamboo as the walls around the cabana to make it more private and tropical.

We found these bamboo panels online and knew they would be perfect!  My girls are looking to make money for their missions trip that is coming up this summer.  So...my handy husband put them both to work and is teaching them how to work hard, that's for sure.  He even had them using the drill by the time they were done.  He was PROUD.

Our paradise!  We feel as if we have escaped to another place when we are in our backyard.

Hope you have a great weekend.  Take some time to sit out on your patio.  Great conversations happen when you take time to just sit and enjoy each other.

Fresh Decorating Ideas for the Color Blue

Yesterday was a great day!  It is always fabulous to have a job in your head for so long and watch it come to life.  I put together a design plan for my client after our Initial Consultation and I listened carefully to what they wanted their family room to look and feel like once it was totally transformed.

They desired something comfy, crisp,  relaxing and wanted blue and gray to be the color scheme, combined with warm tones as well.

I presented the plan to her and she LOVED it.    A design plan is a great way for the client and I to get on the same page before we start the job which is ALWAYS a good idea.  It is a chance for my client to see my vision for their space and helps them visualize themselves what it could look like.

Some of the items I actually know where I'm going to purchase, other items are a concept or an idea and will be selected/created as I go.

My job is to then make that vision come to life.  After all the main items are finalized, all the details start falling into place. It's a process and my creative juices are constantly working while choosing every single item.

I pour myself into my designs and it's my baby for about 6 weeks.

Every selection is chosen for a reason and I make sure each item is the right color & scale.  I'm known for adding a touch of fabulous texture, and I always  incorporate accessories soft curves and shape.

The Design Plan also allows us to get realistic about the budget and helps us prioritize what we really can and can't do.   Of course, there are always changes and adjustments to the plan and budget, and some special surprises I save for the install day which always makes it fun!

So yesterday, we cleared the room with the old furniture & rug.  We installed the custom sectional which the client loved because it is super comfy and perfect for their family life. The only piece they wanted to keep was their bookshelf which I agreed to (because I had a plan)  and I suggested that we reuse their console table since it was the perfect height and color.

BEFORE

AFTER

What a difference!  What do you think?

Here is the console table in it's new spot,  just cleaned it up (thanks to good "Old English").

We added these gorgeous ginger jars with some branchy greenery to create height.

We have a new coffee table on order but in the meantime, we used their existing one.  We added an incredible bench which is made from an an old door.  I had it custom painted to work with the room.  There are tiny bits of blue paint peeking through.  The artwork is so cool and I almost kept it for ME!  This was my added bit of texture!

I originally planned for the painting to be above the bench, but once we placed it, it wasn't as beautiful there.  I opted to hang it to the left of the bookshelves because the colors really came to life on that wall.  On install day, my client usually trusts me to make the best decisions and believe me, we make sure each item is in the perfect place.  Things get moved around several times before they find their true home and sense of belonging :)

The painting was created especially for the room.  We knew what fabrics we were using so the artist "Mary Howe" with Design Inspirations created this one for me.  The two of us make a great team, I give her my ideas, concepts, colors, etc. and she creates it based on the vision I've presented to the client.   She is incredibly talented and the artwork in the room always makes the space have personality.

Ruthie Tip:  If you have a dark bookshelf in your living space, a way to lighten it up and update it, is to use lighter accessories.  Don't use items like wrought iron or dark photo frames, they just disappear with a dark background. As you can see above, I used a lot of gray and white accessories to make the items show up on the dark bookshelf.  This same concept applies to your fireplace mantel.  I actually found the ceramic books at an estate sale (they were bright gold)  and had them painted and they are now gorgeous.

These two dark blue velvet chairs were added underneath the window for another little sitting area.  They swivel so you can turn them around to watch TV.  I'm in love with the draperies too.  The blue glass lamp is stunning up against the window.

I have 2 more installs this month so I'll post pictures as soon as I'm finished with those.  Hope these images have inspired you to make your home beautiful!

If you would like to see more of my work, visit my website at https://www.ruthiestaalsen.com

Marble Love

We are almost finished with a master bathroom remodel.  My client wanted a marble shower, gorgeous lighting, custom vanities and a free standing tub!

and....that is what we gave her.  It has turned out beautifully and I'm crazy about all the selections.

Here is a before so you can see what we had to work with.

The shower glass gets put in next week and we will do a photo shoot soon.  I'll post pictures as soon as it is all done!