Designers Challenge 101

For todays post I have been invited to take part in a designers challenge by my fellow blogger Amanda Burge of AB Home Interiors.  Amanda leads a very similar professional life to mine, in that not only is she a designer and blogger but she also has her own home decor shop too!  Which I think is pretty cool. 

(photo from Amanda's web)

It was Amanda's idea to bring together a small group of design loving bloggers where we all post blogs on the same topic the same day.  A family friendly family room.  She invited me to participate along with 5 other very talented designers and bloggers to show you our stuff. 

Traci Zellar of Traci Zeller Designs

Kelly Berg of Arte Styling

Kelly James of Design Ties

Dayka Robinson of Meditations on Life and style

Kathy Passarette of Creative home expressions

Amanda Burdge of Abhomeinteriors.com

 These are all very talented creative women and I am thrilled to be part of this group!

The challenge is to design a family room on a budget of $6000.00 all included.  I'm always up for a challenge. This sounds easy enough but it can be very tough to do (more about that in my last paragraph). 

 It's always been my philosophy that everything always takes longer then expected and costs more money.  Words to live by :)  and be sure to repeat to clients!  The reality of the situation is that yes it is hard to accomplish but it can be done.  However, it's nuch easier if you use some of the furnishings or accessories that you already have and incorporate them into your new space.

For this challenge I am going to press my easy button and look at a project we completed last year that falls within the budget parameters of the challenge.  If any of you don't have an easy button on your desk I strongly urge you to go out and get one.  Staples has them for 4 dollars.  I'm telling you they work :) ... if for nothing other than a daily smile or positive affirmation or both. 

I always like to start off with a before image. 

This was the previous home owners version of the family room.   

My clients purchased the house and hired me to give this room an entirely different vibe and feel.  The room had pretty good bones to start with... including that marvelous cultured stone fireplace flanked by custom built-in cabinets.  It also had 2" white wood blinds that would be staying.  We added the drapery window treatments but for this challenge I did not include them in the pricing.  That would have put me way way over!

My clients sold most of their existing furniture from their previous residence and wanted to start fresh, completely from scratch. No Problem. They desired a relaxing calm room to chill out and entertain family and friends. 

 It's definitely a family friendly room and this entire room comes in within the alloted budget of this design challenge.  Everything in this room was sourced or supplied from Moving Designz Home & Cottage.




A close up of the 4 seater sofa, cushions and floor lamp.

The bookcase is decorated very minimalistic, just enough not too much.  My new clients hate clutter! 

Simple yet elegant cocktail table accessories.

A beautiful mirror completes the stone fireplace with the homeowners antique silver candle sticks.  And note we painted the mantle piece white.

Now for the furniture breakdown:

1 Lyric 4 seater sofa $1300.00

1 Lyric 3 seater sofa $1100.00

2 Brushed chrome dimming floor lamps $350.00

1 Espresso finished cocktail table $850.00

1 Expresso finished side table $275.00

1 Comfy leather club chair  $790.00

1 8 X 10 Cream shag area rug  $980.00

Accessories:

1 Cream throw blanket  $45.00

5 Assorted feather filled toss cushions $150.00

1 Glass vase $12.00

5 White pillar candles $50.00

2 Silver Starfish $13.50

2 Glass dishes $24.00

1 Green orchid plant $29.00

1 Silver round mirror $199.00

Total = $6167.50  Yes, slightly over but I think I did good... Do you?

Thank you Amanda for asking me to participate in this challenge.   Hmmmm ....    I wonder what the other bloggers will do? 
Under normal circumstances I would start fresh and do a mock up of an entirely new room design.  But these days nothing is normal for me... read on...

We are very busy preparing to move the shop, finalizing all the moving details, packing box after box, ordering new merchandise, designing the new store, and keeping up with our design projects. 

We are finishing packing all day today, Oct 01.  Yesterday was our last day open in Summerside.  The movers are coming tomorrow. Next week we will be settling in and setting up the new shop. It's all so exciting. Our Charlottetown address is 98 Fitzroy St in the new Homburg Financial Tower, main floor. 

More about our new space here: 

 

 http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Business/2010-09-23/article-1787456/Homburg-Financial-Tower-officially-opens-tonight/1

(Anita to the left, then Ashley and Susan on the right)

Here's my wonderful very talented team last Wednesday night as we attended the grand opening for the new building.    These girls have been working so hard over the last month checking things off our never ending "to do" list.  Thank you to both of you, I'm lucky to have you with me :)

And Thank You to our very loyal customers from all over and especially our Summerside friends.

  Please come visit us, we will miss you.

Thanks for reading.  Have a great weekend!

Susan

The Window Dilemna... Solved.

For todays post, which will likely go down in history as my shortest ever, I am going to share a window treatment tip for any of you that are moving, helping others move or have a window that you're not quite sure what to do with.  I'm talking temporary window treatments that provide instant privacy. 

The reason I am posting on this topic is because this weekend I made a residence move to Charlottetown.  My new place has alot of neighbours with alot of windows and direct views into my unit, see above.  I measured my windows for custom shades but in the meantime I need something to get me by until they are in.  I'm sure most of us remember the days at University or having your first apartment or home and your windows were completely bare.  That's when the feeling that the entire world can see you really hits because at night yes they can.  Problem solved.

Enter the Redi Shade... I picked these inexpensive paper shades up at The Home Depot yesterday.  There is also a website with lots of different options and colours  http://redishade.com/store/index.html

No special tools are required.  All you need are sissors, a measuring tape, a straight edge and a utility knife.  The shades are made of paper and have an adhesive strip that attaches to the inside of the window frame.

My patio doors were looking a little bare. 

Within minutes I had complete privacy and coverage for $15.00.  This was so easy.

   Here's a closer look.  Paper pleated shades.  They come with little white clothes pins so you can actually make them go up and down.  These ones are light filtering so my rooms still stay nice and bright. $7.00 each.

For my bedroom I opted for the room darkening version.  The colour is a soft grey and they really do block the morning sunshine.  All told, I spent $60.00 to cover 5 large windows and a patio door.  Easy, fast, affordable.   I'm sure most of you have heard of these but just in case I thought I would pass this info along.

Thanks for reading.  Have a great week!

Susan

Shopping Etc. Girl

For todays post I have a secret I can share... finally.  I've been bursting at the seams with this news!

In late May I was contacted by Style at Home magazine.  I remember walking into my office after just returning from a job site, possibly the SGG house. I spend alot of time there, I'm almost done.  I miss it already :)

 Anita was in the office and on the phone when I walked in after a site meeting.  She took one look at me, winked and then said to the caller "one moment please".  Then she turned to me and said... "you're just in time, take a deep breath Style at Home is on the phone.  Remember to breathe"

Our conversation led to being asked to contribute to the August 2010 Edition of the Style at Home.  It just hit the shelves today.  For this issue I would be writing and taking photographs for the Shops Etc. column with the focus on PEI.  After I caught my breath and came back to earth I got to work on getting the page ready for production. 

Here's my page.  I am absolutely thrilled... And just to be a little more clear on the subject,  I am actually BEYOND THRILLED...SEVERELY THRILLED and then some :)  Style at Home is my favorite magazine.

This is part (emphasis on part) of my stack of them at home.  These "stacks" are in my upstairs bathroom, for now, I'm having my bookshelf painted.  I've been a subscriber for years and years and add a few more years and we're just about there. I think the "stack' went back to 2003.  I can't seem to part with them.  It's a sickness but in a good way.

Two years ago almost to the day SAH profiled my shop, Moving Designz Home & Cottage as one of the best places to shop in Canada.  I felt very lucky then too!!!  I'm definitely a fan, always have been always will be.  There's the special magic of being included in an issue.  It is all very special to me.  

And these are more of my "stacks".   I keep these ones within easy reach, in my livingroom, tucked under the cocktail table just in case I need a quick design fix or current inspiration.  Which I always do.  Does that make me a hoarder?  Uh huh :)  But wait there's more...

I have another basket in my main bathroom.  And the rest of them have migrated to the shop.  We use them regularly in our displays.

See that magazine on the tray, we had Style at Home on the tray for this bedroom display from last summer.  I actually posted on this some time ago.  We keep the magazine in the store to show ideas, products, and beautiful homes so people can see how to achieve a designer look with our "stuff".  It's great inspiration and it lets our customers know we are on top of the trends. 

Here's a close up of the seaside inspiration page (from above photo) which ironically enough, was a home designed by another creative PEI Islander, David Lopes architect. 

Personally, Style at Home has helped me to communicate my message more effectively on the job, particularly with carpenters.  I saw this perfect built in cabinet on the cover of the magazine several months ago.  I photocopied it and gave it to Mike (my carpenter...who is extraordinaire)  and said this is exactly what I want.   Can you build it for me?  He said no problem and then he did, as he always does.

My useless livingroom closet was about to become a Style at Home inspired built in cabinet. 

Wait a second there's more irony here... just for fun before I show the after picture I have to show you a close up of the magazine that was on my garden stool at the time when I took this photo before the do over.

Style at Home, Of Course!!!  Really folks this was not planned. I am not kidding you.  I posted on this long before the magazine approached me.  I think SAH magazines make great accessories!

The after shot and I got exactly what I wanted.  Thank you Mike :)  Thank you Style at Home.

My shelves are styled differently because the magazine is only inspiration.  You have to make things your personal style and then own it.

We've been serving lemon flavoured water for the last month in our store inspired by our Westin water experience in Toronto this past year.  Voila, this month it was "a do" in the S@H workbook.... How cool is that?  I swear to God we did not plan any of this.  However we did plant the sign after the article:).  Thanks Ashley, she's the sign gal.

Another of Ashley's signs and another huge month for us, finishing One Grafton (which will be featured on my next post), contributing to the SAH page, working to finish two cottages simultaneously, with three more rooms on the go, one cottage and three lofts and finishing up the SGG house.  Whew! 

XOXO  to Mike Robison - Kelly's Flower Shoppe.  I enjoyed this flower arrangement, from photographing it, to having it on my diningroom table for a week.  Loved it!  You did good ... my friend.

 XOXO Peter and Nash - The Dunes Art Gallery and Studio.  You truly have an amazing shop, I want the world to know.  Oh... I so love, love this piece.  It is amazing!

XOXO Pilar Sheppard - Pilar Sheppard Gallery.  This bear has caught my heart, like... forever.

XOXO  Wilfred and Gloria - Riverview Antiques.  True collectors...I always find special things out of the ordinary like these gorgeous colourful glass buoys. 

 

Thank you to the wonderful team at SAH magazine, Amanda, Julia and Margot.  Thank you so much for the opportunity to be in your lovely magazine not once but twice.  See you next month at the SGG house ;)  I hear three times a charm.

And fellow bloggers, friends, readers and clients ... if there's one thing or two or three I've learned from this experience... read on.

Work at what you LOVE.

THINK of the possibilities.

Live your DREAMS and DREAM big.

IMAGINE anything you want.

And LIVE WHAT YOU LOVE

A special hug to Anita, Ashley, Mike and Parker, my shop crew.  You make my job easier.  Love you all!!!


Thank you for reading.  Have a wonderful week!
cheers
Susan