What paint and some styling can do to improve your home!

I love it when a client calls and says "we need some updating to our home and we need your help guiding us through the decision making process so we don't make mistakes"

Yes, that's me!  They hired me to assist with remodeling their home within the budget they had set aside.  I helped them prioritize what was important to do right now and what could wait.

I thought I'd show you how it all turned out. Let's start with the stairs.

BEFORE

AFTER

To update the stairscase, on a budget, we decided to paint the spindals white and we stained the banister a rich espresso.  It transformed it instantly and made their entry so stylish and inviting.

We added a beautiful patterned carpet and that made the staircase the star of the show when you walk in the front door.

Next up is the kitchen which needed a facelift for sure.

BEFORE

We didn't have the budget to do the floors and we figured they can do that at a different time.

AFTER

The client really wanted new countertops so that was our priority.  We selected a neutral countertop and extended the countertop on the island to give her more prepping room.

 We added a gray subway tile backsplash and removed the overhead lighting and added recessed lighting.  I just love the mercury glass pendants we chose for above the island, it coordinates beautifully with the new flush mount fixture above the sink.

We painted behind some of the open shelving and staged it with some of the items she already had.

Next was the family room.

BEFORE

AFTER

We painted this entire room to lighten it up and added new carpet. We took down the drapes (they were too short), hung new artwork and added lamps for a touch of color. The client wanted a fresh, clean look so that's what we did for her.

The couch had too many "matchy" pillows.

Ruthie Tip: When you purchase a couch that comes with all the matching pillows, that really cheapens the look.  By taking some of the matching pillows out and adding a few throw pillows to break it up, it gives it an instant makeover and looks more collected, rather than cookie cutter matching set.

Next up was the fireplace.

BEFORE

This fireplace brick was really pink and wasn't modern enough for the client.  We decided to paint it a gorgeous gray to give it a makeover. It worked and turned out beautiful.

AFTER

We took out the ugly fan and added a stunning chandelier that makes this fireplace come alive.  Paint covers a multitide of sins!  The mantel itself was a little small so we added corbels underneath the mantel and that made it look more to scale.

I absolutely love this kind of transformation.  The client wanted their home updated so they could enjoy it more.  It doesn't always mean you have to gut the entire place. What I love about my job is that I get to give home owners ideas that can update their homes without breaking the bank.

Of course, I have clients that want to gut the entire house and transform it all because they do have the budget to do so and that is awesome!  However, I also love to see families update their homes conservatively too.  Some people choose to do nothing because they can't afford it. Don't do nothing, any home can be turned into something wonderful with some good ideas and creativity.

I'm off to Highpoint tomorrow to be a part of the Design Bloggers Tour.  Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to see behind the scenes.  So looking forward to getting to know these fabulous bloggers and seeing all the new trends in design for 2017/2018.

I'm also taking over Interior Design Society's National Instagram account on Friday while I'm at Highpoint. Follow along too for new trends and behind the scenes showroom tours.

Peek into our Dwell with Dignity Thrift Studio 2017

We have been working hard on our Dwell with Dignity Thrift Studio space. It has been a joy to do this vignette in memory of Dot Greenlee.

Swirl artwork was by Jennifer Ayyed and light blue glass rock artwork by Latoya Jones. Acrylic bases done by E&D Plastics.

Thank you to IDS Dallas Chapter for selecting me, along with Barbara Gilbert and Nicole Arnold to honor Dot in this way.

Artwork by Christi Meril

Dot was known for her use of bright colors, specifically pink.

Art by Artist Mary Howe

We wanted our space to be bright and happy, just like Dot.

Thank you to our main sponsors Robert Allen, Kisabeth Furniture and Nomads Loom. The stunning floral arrangements were donated by Curate Florals (Linda Baker, IDS President).

After we finished the space, the designers that knew her well said the space is a great representation of what she loved.

The lighting in our vignette is spectacular and I want every single light fixture for  my home.  The above fixture is from Currey and Company and it gave our installers fits. Very heavy and lots of sharp edges.  It is the star of the show in our vignette.

One of IDS Members, Josh with Stal Timber donated these unique side tables made from 100 year old beams. They are spectacular!  Paired with the rug from Nomads Loom and the navy velvet chair and sofa donated by Kisabeth Furniture, they are just gorgeous.

Follow me on Instagram to see more behind the scenes clips of our vignette and the event itself.

Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek.  This Charity event will be held on April 5th, just in time for my 50th birthday!  You can purchase tickets at https://www.dwellwithdignity.com. It is the event of the year, I promise!

If you can't make it to the party, Thrift Studio 2017 will be open to the public, starting April 6th and will be open for a month.

Stay tuned for more photos after the event is over.  Hope to see you there!

High Point Market Design Bloggers Spring Tour 2017

I just returned home from sunny Los Angeles! I attended the Design Bloggers Conference! It is my favorite conference because I get to spend time with my designer friends and get to meet new designers and bloggers as well.

When you own your own business, it is really hard to make time to get away for conferences like this. What I have learned is that it is crucial that you take time away from your every day work life so you can be inspired, encouraged, and filled up. This conference is that for me.

Dwell by Cheryl and Artful Interiors are two of those great friends that I have made through this conference.

I also got to spend an evening with a few Dallas Designers, which was a treat.

Brooke Giannetti with Velvet and Linen was one of the speakers, and she was so fantastic. Brooke was one of the first blogs that I started following when blogs were just beginning. I latched on to every word she said when I first started blogging and learned so much from her.

She was a true example of a great designer with a casual spirit that connected with her audience. If you haven't had a chance to read her story, do it! Her husband is an architect and they are so lovely together and so incredibly gifted. They are extra special because they too have chickens, just like us!

Another of my favorite speakers was Lord Spencer, Lady Diana's brother. He spoke about his 13 Acre estate in England and it was fascinating to hear his stories!

I got to eat on the patio at the Beverly Hills Hotel and we got a glimpse of Kim Kardashian. Of course, we only got a quick glimpse of her but it was still a fun movie star sighting. Can you believe these gorgeous flowers in their lobby?

One of the awesome things that was announced while I was at the conference was that I was selected to be on the High Point Market Design Bloggers Spring Tour along with these wonderful designers!

Visit High Point Market Design Bloggers Spring Tour 2017 to see each participant.

I am so excited about this because it is yet another opportunity for me to connect with new designers. I also look forward to being introduced to new vendors and contacts during market.

These are the wonderful bloggers I will be on the tour with:

Courtney Allison, www.frenchcountrycottage.net
Margot Austin, www.thedesigneditblog.com
Elle Cole, www.ellecoleblog.com
Nina Magon, www.livestylishdaily.com
Lisa Mende, www.lisamendedesign.blogspot.com
Michiel Perry, www.blacksouthernbelle.com
Me, Jana Platina Phipps, www.trimqueen.com
Ruthie Staalsen, www.ruthiestaalsen.com
Laura Umansky, www.laurauinteriordesign.com
Rhoda Vickers, www.southernhospitalityblog.com

Our sponsors for the tour?

Meet the sponsoring companies and showrooms we will be touring.  Thank you sponsors for this opportunity!  See you there!

Dwell with Dignity Thrift Studio & IDS DFW

 

Dwell with Dignity’s Thrift Studio event is a fundraiser like no other! Thrift Studio is a 30-day pop-up shop created to provide financial viability and fundraising for Dwell with Dignity by selling donated furniture, housewares, accessories and high-end designer finds to the public. Since the concept launched in Dallas in 2011, the event has grown into a highly anticipated and can’t-miss event for DWD supporters, the interior design community and the general public looking for a fabulous deal on home furnishings.

Thrift Studio kicks off with a Preview Party which is a ticketed event where guests can shop the pop-up shop before it opens to the general public. Inside, Thrift Studio shoppers find stunning vignettes created by leading designers, showrooms and retailers featuring donated high-end home decor items sold at significant discounts with 100% of sales benefitting Dwell with Dignity’s mission.

Thrift Studio provides one-third of the operating revenue that allows Dwell with Dignity to change lives through design by bringing good design to those who can afford it the least. In 2016 Dwell with Dignity will complete 22 projects providing fresh starts for 20 families and 2 community partners.

Their approach of one household at a time allows them to be integral to breaking the cycle of poverty. They provide the stability, comfort and pride needed to change the course of the lives of the families they help. See above photos.

They cannot do it without the support of their largest fundraiser, Thrift Studio.

I am incredibly honored to have been chosen as one of the leading designers for this years Thrift Studio event. I am involved in the Dallas IDS chapter (Interior Design Society) and 3 designers were selected to create a vignette in memory of Dot Greenlee. Dot was a member of IDS for years and very loved in the design community. I am honored to work alongside two very talented designers,  Barbara Gilbert and Nicole Arnold for this event.  It has been a wonderful process so far and we are excited about what we have put together for our vignette.

If you are a designer and you are not a part of IDS, you should be! http://www.idsdfw.com/

We are thankful for our sponsors:  Kisabeth Furniture, Nomads Loom and Robert Allen

We would love it if you would come out to this event and support Dwell with Dignity!

SAVE THE DATE; This years thrift studio will take place on April 5th.

    If you would like to see more about Thrift Studio, follow my Instagram and Facebook Page so you can watch the behind the scenes process and get final details once the event gets closer.

Hope the rest of your weekend is fabulous!

Ruthie Staalsen; Behind Her Brand

My co-authors and I have been working on a fabulous new book that launched on February 6. It’s designed for the emerging entrepreneur who is ready to step out, step up, and step into what they feel called to do in business. I am super excited and I just wanted to share it with you guys.

Ruthie Book

The name of the book is Behind Her Brand: Entrepreneur Edition, Vol. 6.

Each chapter takes you on journeys of real life lessons, obstacles, think tank processes, disappointments, and the victories of 12 successful female entrepreneurs who turned their brand into catalysts for their business successes. I can’t wait for you to read it and GROW!

We answer some of the following questions:

How have you defined your voice in your market?

What three things do you wish you had known when  you started?

What makes you a woman of impact?

What advice would you give someone who is wanting to take their business to the next level?

What 3 characteristics describe what made you successful and why?

I have found that the best way to learn is from those that have gone before you.  I share the challenges I face as an entrepeneur as well as the joys and rewards of being in business for yourself.  I share the story of my childhood living overseas and how that shaped and formed me to become an Entrepeneur.

If you are just getting started out there as an Entrepeneur, or are considering starting a business, this book will be very helpful.

I hope that the the things I share about my experiences as a business owner will inspire you.

I wrote a poem for my book launch, as part of my speech. My husband said I should share it, so here goes......

CONNECTING LIFE AND HOME

by Ruthie Staalsen

_________________________________________________________________________

HOME is where we get carried across the threshold for the first time,

or bring our babies home from the hospital.

It’s where we gather around our table laughing so hard it hurts

and where dad flashes the porch light indicating it’s time to bring in his daughter……pronto.

It’s where your friend calls and tells you she has cancer

and where we evaluate life’s tough questions and instill values and traditions.

HOME is where we get encouragement over a cup of earl gray tea

or cry tears nobody else can see.

It’s where we stand together in our kitchen, united as a family, praying for a hurting loved one.

It's where we watch our kids drive away for the first time

and where your dog snores louder than your husband.

HOME is where good friends cook breakfast for dinner just because they love the experience of being together.

HOME is where you hope to hear the words, “Mom, I got accepted into nursing school!”

and HOME is a haven where we can let our guards down.

It is our refuge, our strength, and our safe place.

As an interior designer, I have the honor of creating beautiful environments so that these memories and traditions can take place.

It’s a joy, a gift, and a privilege.

You can order my book by clicking this link: http://store.decrenew.com

A big shout out to Kimmberly Pitts, Founder of Ulmpact Publishing Group for compiling this wonderful book. http://www.uimpactpublishing.com