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.
  
Visit my website, https://www.ruthiestaalsen.com to see my Design Portfolio!
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Il Borghetto Holiday Home, Tuscany

 
While we were in Tuscany, in the town of San Gimignano,  we were privileged to stay at this beautiful home called  IL Borghetto. 
 
BEFORE
 

We got to know the recent owners of the home and it was fascinating to hear the history behind this once ruin.  The new owners purchased the villa in 1999 after it had been abandoned for 50 years.  They spent 2 years restoring the ruin to its original beauty. 
 
AFTER
 
They were incredibly drawn to the views from the home and decided they were willing to restore it!
 
 
Can you blame them?  Just look at these views. 
 
 
Incredible and wonderful to wake up to each day.
 
BEFORE
 
The home was dilapidated.  The roof was caved in and large trees were growing up from within the building.  The restorative work of IL Borghetto was completed taking into account the various historical architectural phases during which the Villa was built, recuperating and adding value to the structure and emphasizing the medieval elements.
 
BEFORE
 
They told us that every one of their family members played a part in restoring this home.  They all cleared out the rubble, removed the trash and did all they could before the contractors got to work.  From the young children to the grandparents. 
 
AFTER
 
AFTER
 
The Villa is surrounded by a large park with secular Cypress tress.
 
The family is incredibly gifted all they way from an Architect who drew up the plans to a grandmother that does all the cooking.  The husbands keep the grounds and welcome the guests, making them feel at home.  Every family member has a part in keeping this holiday home going day to day.
 
AFTER
 
The grounds are huge so I can't imagine keeping up a place like this, can you?
 
AFTER
 
They really did a beautiful job restoring the main house into 11 apartments. 
 
AFTER
 
 They can now be rented while you are on holiday.  The home is close to several towns including Siena, Pisa and Florence.
 
AFTER
 
Each apartment resembles a typical Tuscan atmosphere and they are all very cozy and comfortable. We were in a 2 bedroom apartment but there are bigger ones available too. 
 
 
 It was fun to be able to cook for ourselves once in a while.
 
AFTER
 
All totally remodeled and air conditioned! 
 
AFTER
 
 All the windows open up to the beautiful views.
 
AFTER
 
The best part of the entire stay is that the family makes all the guests feel like they are a part of their family. They told us that is one of their main goals.  They don't want their guests to feel like guests, they want them to feel like family!  I LOVE THAT!
 
AFTER
 
During the day you would see couples or families gathered around chatting together and enjoying each others company.
 
AFTER
 
They served us dinner on the patio overlooking the gorgeous vineyards. They chatted with us, told us stories about their families, educated us about local wines, laughed with us and seemed delighted to serve all their guests.  Grandma was in the kitchen cooking away and the rest of the family made us feel at home while we were all gathered around the tables in the moonlight.
 
 
Lavender, basil, rosemary, mint and many other herbs were all over the property and smelled heavenly.  My fondest memory was watching their grandma pick the herbs for that evenings dinner - priceless, but that is their normal way of living. All the meals they served were fresh from the garden and absolutely delicious! 
 
AFTER
 
There are patios and balconies tucked away all around the property and there is a wifi area too!  We did stay clear from that so we wouldn't become sucked into the real world while on vacation.
 
AFTER
 
PARVA SED APTA MIHI  means "Small but suitable for me"
LOVE THIS!
 
AFTER
 
We spent time at their pool reading and soaking in the sun.  I loved hearing all the different accents in the background from all over the world.  I met couples from Australia, England & Switzerland.
 
AFTER
 
We drove away feeling like we had stayed with a local Italian family for 4 days.  They were incredibly hospitable and it was exactly what we were looking for in our stay!
 
 
They have laundry services, cooking classes, massages under the cabana and most of all, a quiet place for rest and relaxation! 
 
 
Visit their website here to read more details about this restored villa.
 
 
Thank you IL Borghetto Family for your amazing hospitality, either we will be back or we will send many of our friends your way!
 
Visit my website, DecRenew Interiors to see my Design Portfolio and to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest :)
 


Europe and a time to celebrate love.

 
I'm back from a lovely vacation with the love of my life celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary!  He was my high school sweetheart (met at age 15) and we dated for 6 years.  Married young at 21 and have had an incredible journey together.
 
We were babies!
 
  I can't say that it has been perfect, but we have loved each other through many ups and downs.  We have grown to respect each other lovingly and strive to cheer each other on with our dreams as a couple and individually.  It's hard work but I'm excited that we can celebrate 25 years with many, many more to come! 
 
Here is a recap of our 10 days away!
 
 
We spent a day in New York.  I had never been so it was a treat to start the week visiting a beautiful, bustling city.
 
 
Starting to relax and unwind as we took the boat to the Statue of Liberty!
 
 
Of course, I loved capturing the color as we walked the streets.
 
 
We landed in Milan and had an incredible day admiring architecture.
 
 
 
 
We then went by train to Venice.
 
 
Breathtaking views from the street.
 
 
  Had an incredible time on a speed boat touring!
 
 
 
 
and enjoyed the night life!
 
 
Yes, we were crazy tourists with our hats but it was incredibly HOT!
 
We rented a car and drove to Tuscany and spent 4 days at a beautiful home amongst vineyards and rolling hills.  A separate post will be coming soon about the story of how this ruin was transformed into a stunning vacation home.
 
(the view from our window)
 
It was a beautiful time to relax and enjoy some quiet time.
 
 
This is the view from the pool
 
 
So peaceful.
 
 
We took a cooking class from a local chef  that brought herbs, wine, olive oil, fresh vegetables and eggs from her farm. The flavors were delicious!
 
 
The translator was incredible and we learned how to cook an amazing meal from appetizers to dessert.  Of course the men joined us afterwards to enjoy the food we prepared.
 
 
We ate our way around Tuscany! 
 
 
Oh my goodness....my hair was pathetic because of no blow dryer....urgg.. He looks pretty amazing though!
 
 
We finished up in Paris and had an incredibly romantic time!  Paris is definitely the place for love!  We had been to Paris before a several years ago over Thanksgiving with our kids. 

It was beautiful then and was just as wonderful as I remembered.

 

 
My favorite part was hanging in the coffee shops people watching and drinking latte's as we ate fresh chocolate croissants.
 
 
I convinced my man that the Paris Flea Market was worth going to and I was right!  We had an amazing day digging through treasures. 
 
Our hotel was incredibly quaint and had been recently remodeled.  It was right on a busy street where locals were buying their daily bread, cheese and meat.  It was fun to be a part of the locals that live there and away from most of the tourists. 
 
 
 
I especially loved the fresh flowers that could be picked up along with your other goods while shopping.
 
 
Just about every restaurant has outside seating and boy do they pack them all in!  It somehow makes it magical.
 
 
It's always good to get away!  This trip was especially wonderful because it was a trip with my man as well as our amazing friends who were celebrating their 20th! 
 
Over our many dinners, we laughed a lot and talked about what it is that keeps a marriage strong.  We had some interesting and thought provoking conversations!  Great friends they are!
 
 
Now it's time to get to work and start a diet! 
 
I have to thank the grandparents for having our kids for the entire 10 days.  They hit the road in their RV with all 4 grandchildren and gave them a fantastic time.  I am incredibly thankful to them for allowing us to get away and we didn't have to worry for one second. 
 
Feeling inspired and thankful!
 
Visit  my website DecRenew Interiors to see my Design Portfolio!
 
 
 

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.